JP2013050825A - Print control apparatus, print control method, and print control system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a user not accustomed to use of a printer or an information processor to easily obtain consumables without hesitation, and improve recovery efficiency of used consumables to achieve effective use of resources.SOLUTION: A PC of the present invention includes a display control unit 323 that displays a print setting screen that receives an input for setting a print condition an MFP corresponding to respective functions included in the MFP. The print setting screen includes a replacement request screen that receives a replacement request instruction of a toner cartridge including information on the number of printable sheets indicating the remaining amount of a toner cartridge attached to the MFP, and a recovery request screen that receives consumption of a recovery request instruction of the toner cartridge.

Description

  The present invention relates to a print control apparatus, a print control method, and a print control system.

  A technique for ordering consumables designated by a user via a network is known as a conventional technique. For example, in Patent Document 1, in the print status monitor screen, the remaining amount of ink in each of a plurality of ink tanks is displayed as a bar-shaped indicator, and if the capacity recommends that the ink tank needs to be replaced, an icon is used for the user. Is displayed in an easy-to-understand manner.

  The print status monitor screen described in Patent Document 1 is displayed when a state that should be presented to the user occurs in the printer, such as when the remaining amount of ink is insufficient or when a paper jam occurs during printing. It is a screen and includes a WEB support button. The WEB support button displayed on the print status monitor screen is a button for using a support service such as ink purchase via the Internet. According to the screen displayed after the user presses the WEB support button, the user can purchase ink by pressing the button included in the screen.

  However, the technique described in Patent Document 1 purchases ink according to a screen provided from the WEB site. Therefore, the displayed ordering screen is changed regardless of the user's intention. For this reason, WEB support can be used by users who are accustomed to purchasing products using the WEB service. However, for users who are not used to it, he / she is hesitant about the ordering screen that is changed regardless of the intention. There is a problem that sufficient support cannot be obtained.

  On the other hand, as another technique for ordering consumables, a technique described in Patent Document 2 is known. When the host device controlling the printer described in Patent Document 2 executes printing, the printer for “consumable ordering” is selected in the drop-down list for displaying the printer name, so that the consumption for ordering consumables is selected. Displays an item ordering screen, accepts input of ordering item information for specifying consumables to be ordered on the consumables ordering screen, and sends print data including the accepted ordering item information and ordering processing commands to the printer . Then, the printer that has received the print data orders a consumable item via the network from the order management server according to the print data. In such a technique of Patent Document 2, since the ordering screen is fixed, even a user who is unfamiliar with purchasing products using the WEB service does not hesitate on the displayed ordering screen.

  Further, in Patent Document 3, when a user replaces a consumable item to be collected, the device main unit recognizes the consumable item, and when the used consumable item is not returned during an arbitrary period, the device main unit prompts the return. It describes that the process is performed and the process is switched in stages according to the amount of the consumable used after the process is replaced. As a result, it is possible to increase the recovery rate of used consumables necessary for recycling and reuse, and to reduce illegal dumping of consumables.

JP 2005-059303 A (published March 10, 2005) JP 2007-226506 A (published September 6, 2007) JP 2006-166291 A (published June 22, 2006)

  However, in the technique described in Patent Document 2, it is necessary to designate a printer “consumables ordering” in a drop-down list displaying a printer name and display a consumables ordering screen. The printer “consumables ordering” does not originally exist, and the act of selecting the printer “consumables ordering” in the drop-down list is only in accordance with the agreement for displaying the consumables ordering screen. For this reason, the user must know in advance the procedure for displaying the consumables ordering screen for ordering consumables. If the user does not know the procedure for displaying the consumables ordering screen for ordering consumables, the existence significance is lost. Furthermore, for users who are unfamiliar with the use of information processing devices such as printers and higher-level devices, the user cannot understand how to display the consumables ordering screen for ordering consumables, making it difficult to purchase consumables. There is.

  Moreover, the techniques described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 do not have any means for collecting used consumables. For this reason, in the techniques described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, there is a problem that used consumables are taken out as unnecessary garbage, and resources are not effectively used as recycled consumables.

  Here, by using the technique described in Patent Document 3, it is possible to increase the recovery rate of used consumables necessary for recycling and reuse. However, it cannot be said that it is a collection method considering the convenience of the user.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and the object of the present invention is to easily obtain consumables without hesitation even if the user is unfamiliar with the use of a printer or information processing apparatus. The present invention also provides a print control apparatus, a print control method, and a print control system that can increase the collection efficiency of used consumables and can effectively use resources.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a printing control apparatus according to the present invention is a printing control apparatus that controls a printing apparatus to which a consumable is mounted, and performs printing corresponding to each function of the printing apparatus with respect to the printing apparatus. Display control means for displaying a print setting screen for accepting condition setting input on the display unit, wherein the print setting screen is a replacement request screen for receiving a replacement request instruction for requesting a service center to replace the consumables by a service person And a collection request screen for accepting a collection request instruction for requesting the service center to collect the consumables by a service person.

  According to the above configuration, the print setting screen for accepting the input of the print condition setting corresponding to each function of the printing device with respect to the printing device is displayed on the display unit, and the print setting screen is attached to the printing device. An exchange request screen for accepting an exchange request instruction for requesting the service center to exchange consumables and a collection request screen for accepting a collection request instruction for requesting the service center to collect consumables are included.

  Therefore, the user uses the replacement request screen as if setting and inputting the printing conditions without performing a special action such as selecting a printer “consumable supply order” in the drop-down list. Goods can be obtained. In addition, since the collection request screen can be used together with the exchange request, the collection efficiency of used consumables can be improved and the resources can be effectively used.

  In addition, since the replacement request screen / collection request screen is a screen included in the print setting screen, it may be changed regardless of the user's intention, such as a consumables ordering screen provided from the WEB site. It is always a fixed screen. Therefore, even a user who is not used to purchasing products using the WEB service can easily obtain desired consumables without hesitation in inputting instructions to the screen. In addition, consumables can be obtained by a very simple operation for a user who does not want to contact the service center.

  In the print control apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable that the replacement request screen includes consumables remaining amount information indicating an index of the remaining amount of consumables attached to the printing apparatus. .

  By including consumables remaining amount information indicating the remaining amount of consumables, the user can recognize the remaining amount of consumables from the replacement request screen. The exchange request can be appropriately requested without missing the timing.

  Further, in the printing control apparatus of the present invention, the printing control apparatus includes a detecting unit that detects the presence of a consumable that is mounted on the printing apparatus and whose remaining amount is less than a threshold value, and the display control unit includes: When the detection means detects the presence of consumables whose remaining amount is below the threshold, the replacement request screen and the collection request screen are displayed on other screens included in the print setting screen when the print setting screen is displayed. It can also be configured to display with priority.

  Normally, the print setting screen often displays a main screen for specifying single-sided printing or double-sided printing. However, according to the above configuration, there are consumables whose remaining amount falls below the threshold value. As a print setting screen, an exchange request screen and a collection request screen are preferentially displayed. Therefore, the user can strongly recognize the necessity of requesting replacement of consumables from the replacement request screen and the collection request screen that are displayed preferentially, and it is possible to effectively stop the printing apparatus due to the consumables being exhausted. It can be avoided.

  In the print control apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable that the display control unit displays the collection request screen after the replacement request screen when a replacement request instruction is made on the replacement request screen. .

  With this configuration, a consumable replacement request can be made only when a consumable replacement request is actually made and a consumable replacement service is provided from the service center. It is possible to avoid a situation in which a service person visits the service center separately from the service center when collection is specified separately.

  Further, in the print control apparatus of the present invention, the print setting screen further includes a resource saving screen that displays a print condition capable of reducing the consumption amount of the consumables from a default and receives a setting input. It can also be.

  According to this, printing conditions that can reduce the consumption of the consumables from the default can be set on the resource saving screen, so that the consumables that are short of the remaining amount before the consumables arrive at the user. It is possible to effectively avoid the occurrence of a situation in which the remaining amount runs out.

  In this case, it further comprises detection means for detecting the presence of a consumable that is mounted on the printing apparatus and whose remaining amount falls below a threshold value, and the display control means is provided with the detection means. When the presence of consumables whose amount is below a threshold is detected, the resource saving screen may be displayed after the replacement request screen or the collection request screen.

  According to this, the resource saving screen can be displayed at an appropriate time when the consumables are in a shortage state.

  Examples of the consumable item include a toner cartridge or an ink cartridge containing a colorant. In this case, the consumable item remaining amount information may be a printable number of sheets calculated based on the remaining amount of the colorant and the consumption history of the colorant.

  Rather than displaying the remaining amount of the colorant directly as a numerical value, it is possible to inform the user in an easy-to-understand manner that the situation where the colorant runs out is nearer when it is displayed with the number of printable sheets according to the user's usage.

  On the resource saving screen, as a display of printing conditions that can reduce the consumption of the consumables from the default, a preview image that is printed with image adjustment setting values that can reduce the consumption of the colorant is displayed. It is preferable.

  According to the above configuration, by checking the preview image, the user can easily determine whether or not to specify printing conditions that can reduce the colorant consumption, and the colorant consumption can be reduced. It is possible to increase the chance that the printing conditions are specified.

  On the resource saving screen, a change from the image adjustment setting value that can reduce the colorant consumption can be accepted, and a preview image printed with the changed image adjustment setting value may be displayed. preferable.

  According to the above configuration, it is possible to adjust the printing condition by the user while confirming the preview image under the printing condition that can reduce the colorant consumption, so the printing condition that can reduce the colorant consumption is specified. Can be increased even more.

  Further, the printing control apparatus of the present invention is an image adjustment table that associates a colorant consumption reduction ratio with an image adjustment setting value, and has an image adjustment setting in which the colorant consumption is set to be low at a high consumption reduction ratio. A storage unit that stores an image adjustment table in which values are associated; and the consumables remaining amount information includes the plurality of consumables when a plurality of consumables used for forming a full-color image is attached to the printing apparatus. The printable number of sheets corresponding to the remaining amount of the colorant in each product, and the smaller number of printable sheets corresponding to the remaining amount of the plurality of consumables with respect to the larger number of printable sheets Image adjustment setting means for calculating the consumption reduction ratio as the consumption reduction ratio, and the display control means is associated with the calculated consumption reduction ratio according to the image adjustment table. Displaying the resource saving screen using the image adjustment setting.

  According to the above configuration, the consumables remaining amount information indicates the number of printable sheets corresponding to the remaining amount of the colorant in each of the plurality of consumables when a plurality of consumables forming a full-color image is mounted on the printing apparatus. The ratio of the smaller number of printable sheets to the larger number of printable sheets is calculated as the consumption reduction ratio for the two printable sheets corresponding to the remaining number of consumables. In accordance with the image adjustment table that associates the reduction ratio with the image adjustment setting value, the resource saving screen is displayed using the image adjustment setting value associated with the consumption reduction ratio.

  In other words, the ratio of the smaller number of printable sheets to the larger number of printable sheets for the two printable sheet numbers corresponding to the remaining amount of a plurality of consumables used for forming a full-color image is the consumption reduction ratio. The corresponding image adjustment setting value is displayed on the resource saving screen.

  As a result, if the print job is executed according to the image adjustment setting value on the resource saving screen, one of the two printable sheets that has a small number of prints can be prevented from running out of the remaining amount first, and a full color image cannot be formed. Can be effectively avoided.

  In order to solve the above problems, a printing control system of the present invention is a printing control system including a printing device on which a consumable is mounted and a printing control device that controls the printing device, and the printing device includes: Comparing the remaining amount of consumables for estimating the remaining amount of the mounted consumables with the threshold of the consumables estimated by the remaining amount of consumables and the threshold, the remaining amount is less than the threshold In some cases, a determination unit that determines that the remaining amount of the mounted consumable item is about to be short of the remaining amount, and transmits consumable item remaining amount information including the determination result determined by the determination unit to the print control apparatus A display for displaying on the display unit a print setting screen for accepting a print condition setting input corresponding to each function of the printing apparatus with respect to the printing apparatus. Equipped with control means, front The print setting screen includes a replacement request screen for receiving a replacement request instruction for requesting the service center to replace the consumables by a service person, and a collection for receiving a collection request instruction for requesting the service center to recover the consumable parts by a service person. And a request screen.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a printing control method of the present invention is a printing control method executed using a printing control device that controls a printing device on which a consumable item is mounted, and the printing device for the printing device An exchange request for requesting a service center to exchange the consumables by a service person, including a step of displaying on the display unit a print setting screen that accepts a print condition setting input according to each function of An exchange request screen for receiving an instruction and a collection request screen for receiving a collection request instruction for requesting the service center to collect the consumables by a service person are included.

  According to the above system or method, even users who are unfamiliar with the use of printers and information processing devices can easily obtain consumables without hesitation, and increase the collection efficiency of used consumables. Thus, effective use of resources can be achieved.

  The printing control apparatus and the printing apparatus may be realized by a computer. In this case, a program for causing the printing control and the printing apparatus to be realized by the computer by causing the computer to operate as each unit, and the program. A recorded computer-readable recording medium is also included in the scope of the present invention.

  The present invention enables a user who is unfamiliar with the use of a printer or an information processing apparatus to easily obtain consumables without hesitation, and also improves the collection efficiency of used consumables and improves resource efficiency. There is an effect that it can be used.

It is a figure which shows an example of the whole outline | summary of the consumables exchange / collection request | requirement system in this Embodiment. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating an example of a schematic structure of an MFP. FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a toner cartridge. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a packing material for a toner cartridge. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of an MFP. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of functions of a control unit included in MFP 100 together with data stored in a storage unit. FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a toner consumption table. It is a figure which shows an example of a log | history table. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the hardware constitutions of PC. It is a functional block diagram which shows an example of the function of the control part with which PC is provided. It is a figure which shows an example of a printing initial screen with a 1st window. It is a figure which shows an example of an image adjustment table. It is the 1st figure which shows an example of a print setting screen with the 2nd window displayed on the display, and is a figure showing an example where a main screen is displayed as an example of a print setting screen. It is the 2nd figure shown with the 2nd window displayed on the display as an example of a print setting screen, and is a figure showing an example where an exchange setting screen is displayed as an example of a print setting screen. It is a figure which shows an example of the exchange confirmation screen displayed in the 2nd window. It is a figure which shows an example of the collection | recovery setting screen displayed in the 2nd window. It is a figure which shows an example of the collection | recovery setting screen displayed in the 2nd window. It is a figure which shows an example of the serviceman call notification screen displayed in the 2nd window. It is a figure which shows an example of the service man call completion screen displayed in the 2nd window. It is a figure which shows an example of the image adjustment screen displayed in the 2nd window. It is a figure which shows an example of the paper screen displayed in the 2nd window. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of printable sheet number information generation / transmission processing. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of a service man call and an energy-saving printing request process. FIG. 24 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of a service man call / energy saving print request process, which is a continuation of FIG. 23. It is a flowchart which shows an example of a consumable goods selection process. It is a flowchart which shows an example of a collection request confirmation process. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of a first print execution request process. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of an energy saving setting process. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of second print execution request processing. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of image formation control processing. It is a figure which shows an example of the flow of recycling of consumables for reproduction | regeneration.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the overall outline of a consumable replacement / collection request system according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, a consumables replacement / collection request system (printing control system) 1 includes a plurality of multifunction peripherals (hereinafter referred to as “MFPs”) 100, a server PC 101, A portable terminal 110 and PCs (print control devices) 120 and 130 are included. An MFP (printing apparatus) 100 is an example of an image forming apparatus, and includes a plurality of functions such as a scanner function, a copy function, a facsimile function, and a printer function.

  The plurality of MFPs 100, the mobile terminal 110, and the PCs 120 and 130 are connected via the network 102 and can communicate with each other. The mobile terminal 110 may be, for example, a tablet terminal device, a mobile terminal device such as a smartphone, a mobile phone, or the like. The network 102 is a local area network (LAN), and the connection form may be wired or wireless. The network 102 is not limited to a LAN, and may be a wide area network (WAN), a public switched telephone network (PSTN), or the like.

  Further, the network 102 is connected to the Internet 105 via a gateway, and the plurality of MFPs 100, the portable terminals 110, and the PCs 120 and 130 can communicate with the server PC 101 connected to the Internet 105. Communication may be performed using the satellite communication infrastructure 103.

  Server PC 101 in the present embodiment is a server installed by a service center that accepts sales and collection of consumables used in MFP 100. In response to a request from the MFP 100, the service center visits a user who owns the MFP 100 to deliver and replace the toner cartridge, which is a consumable item requested for replacement, and to collect the toner cartridge requested to be collected. To collect.

  As the service center, for example, the organization that operates the service center includes a leasing company that leases the MFP 100, a dealer that sells the MFP 100, a manufacturer of the MFP 100, a manufacturer of consumables, and a cloud provider (dedicated business that provides a cloud computing service) Etc.).

  The PCs 120 and 130 are general personal computers, and a driver program for controlling the MFP 100 is installed. Therefore, PCs 120 and 130 can transmit print data to MFP 100 to form an image of the print data.

  FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an example of a schematic structure of the MFP. As shown in FIG. 2, the MFP 100 includes an image forming unit 20 and a document reading unit 30. The image forming unit 20 is configured to include four image forming stations P1 to P4. Each of the four image forming stations P1 to P4 includes a developing device 2, a photosensitive drum 3, a charger 5, a cleaner unit 4, and five toner cartridges 98, and basically has the same configuration. However, each image forming station P individually has identification information, and a control unit 201 (see FIG. 5) described later can distinguish each image forming station P individually. By providing four image forming stations P, the MFP 100 can form an image using four colors of toner (developer). The four color toners are black (B1, B2), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y), respectively, and are accommodated in five toner cartridges 98, respectively. Note that, when the toner cartridge 98 containing B1 runs out of toner, it automatically switches to the toner cartridge 98 containing B2.

  The charger 5 is a charging means for uniformly charging the surface of the photosensitive drum 3 to a predetermined potential. A contact type charger such as a roller type or a brush type may be used in addition to a non-contact type. is there.

  The exposure unit 8 forms an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image data by exposing the surface of the charged photosensitive drum 3 according to the input image data. The exposure unit 8 can be configured as a laser scanning unit (LSU) including a laser emitting portion, a reflection mirror, and the like, or an EL or LED writing head in which light emitting elements are arranged in an array.

  The developing device 2 develops the electrostatic latent images formed on the respective photosensitive drums 3 by using toner to make them visible. An electrostatic latent image on each photosensitive drum 3 is formed for each color component included in the image data, and is developed by each developing device 2. The developing device 2 is provided with a toner concentration sensor 119 (see FIG. 5), which will be described later, for detecting the toner concentration in the developing device 2. The toner concentration sensor 119 is a magnetic permeability sensor, for example, and reads the magnetic permeability of iron contained in a carrier per unit volume around the bottom surface of the developing device 2. The greater the magnetic permeability, the lower the toner concentration. The toner concentration sensor outputs the read magnetic permeability to the control unit 201 described later.

  The cleaner unit 4 removes and collects toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 3 after development and image transfer.

  The intermediate transfer belt unit 6 disposed above the photosensitive drum 3 includes an intermediate transfer belt 61, an intermediate transfer belt driving roller 62, an intermediate transfer belt driven roller 63, an intermediate transfer roller 64, and an intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit 65. ing. Four intermediate transfer rollers 64 are provided corresponding to the four image forming stations P1 to P4.

  The intermediate transfer belt driving roller 62, the intermediate transfer belt driven roller 63, and the intermediate transfer roller 64 are driven to rotate by stretching the intermediate transfer belt 61. Each intermediate transfer roller 64 provides a transfer bias for transferring the toner image on the photosensitive drum 3 onto the intermediate transfer belt 61.

  The intermediate transfer belt 61 is provided in contact with each photosensitive drum 3. The toner image of each color formed on the photosensitive drum 3 has a function of forming a multi-color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 61 by sequentially superimposing and transferring the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 61. . The intermediate transfer belt 61 is formed in an endless shape using, for example, a film having a thickness of about 100 μm to 150 μm.

  Transfer of the toner image from the photosensitive drum 3 to the intermediate transfer belt 61 is performed by an intermediate transfer roller 64 that is in contact with the back side of the intermediate transfer belt 61. A high-voltage transfer bias (a high voltage having a polarity (+) opposite to the toner charging polarity (−)) is applied to the intermediate transfer roller 64 in order to transfer the toner image. The intermediate transfer roller 64 is a roller whose base is a metal (for example, stainless steel) shaft having a diameter of 8 to 10 mm and whose surface is covered with a conductive elastic material (for example, EPDM, urethane foam, or the like). With this conductive elastic material, a high voltage can be uniformly applied to the intermediate transfer belt 61. In this embodiment, a roller shape is used as the transfer electrode, but a brush or the like can also be used.

  As described above, the electrostatic images visualized according to the hues on the photosensitive drums 3 are stacked on the intermediate transfer belt 61. As described above, the laminated image information is transferred onto the sheet by the transfer roller 10 disposed at a contact position between the sheet and the intermediate transfer belt 61 described later by the rotation of the intermediate transfer belt 61.

  At this time, the intermediate transfer belt 61 and the transfer roller 10 are pressed against each other at a predetermined nip, and a voltage for transferring the toner onto the sheet is applied to the transfer roller 10 (the polarity opposite to the toner charging polarity (−)). (+) High voltage). Furthermore, in order to obtain the above nip constantly, the transfer roller 10 uses either the transfer roller 10 or the intermediate transfer belt drive roller 62 as a hard material (metal or the like) and the other as a soft material such as an elastic roller (an elastic rubber roller). Or a foaming resin roller or the like).

  Further, as described above, the toner adhering to the intermediate transfer belt 61 due to contact with the photosensitive drum 3 or the toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 61 without being transferred onto the sheet by the transfer roller 10 is used in the next step. In order to cause a color mixture of toner, the intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit 65 is configured to remove and collect the toner. The intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit 65 is provided with a cleaning blade that is in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 61, for example, as a cleaning member. The intermediate transfer belt 61 that is in contact with the cleaning blade is supported by the intermediate transfer belt driven roller 63 from the back side. Has been.

  The paper feed cassette 81 is a tray for storing paper used for image formation, and is provided below the exposure unit 8 in the MFP 100. In addition, paper used for image formation can be placed in the manual paper feed cassette 82. A paper discharge tray 91 provided at the top of the MFP 100 is a tray for collecting printed sheets face down.

  Further, the MFP 100 is provided with a substantially vertical sheet conveyance path S for sending the sheets of the sheet feeding cassette 81 and the manual sheet feeding cassette 82 to the sheet discharge tray 91 via the transfer roller 10 and the fixing unit 7. Yes. In the vicinity of the paper transport path S from the paper feed cassette 81 or the manual paper feed cassette 82 to the paper discharge tray 91, pickup rollers 11a and 11b, a plurality of transport rollers 12a to 12d, a registration roller 13, a transfer roller 10, and a fixing unit. 7 etc. are arranged.

  The transport rollers 12 a to 12 d are small rollers for promoting and assisting the transport of paper, and a plurality of transport rollers 12 a to 12 d are provided along the paper transport path S. The pickup roller 11 a is provided near the end of the paper feed cassette 81, picks up paper one by one from the paper feed cassette 81, and supplies it to the paper transport path S. Similarly, the pickup roller 11 b is provided near the end of the manual paper feed cassette 82, picks up paper one by one from the manual paper feed cassette 82, and supplies it to the paper transport path S.

  The registration roller 13 temporarily holds the paper conveyed through the paper conveyance path S. The sheet has a function of conveying the sheet to the transfer roller 10 at the timing when the leading edge of the toner image on the photosensitive drum 3 is aligned with the leading edge of the sheet.

  Further, a paper detection sensor 14 is disposed in the vicinity of the registration roller 13 on the downstream side of the registration roller 13 in the paper conveyance direction. The sheet detection sensor 14 detects a sheet passing through the registration roller 13 and is a registration sensor configured by, for example, a photo interrupter.

  The fixing unit 7 includes a heat roller 71 and a pressure roller 72, and the heat roller 71 and the pressure roller 72 are configured to rotate with a sheet interposed therebetween. The heat roller 71 is set to have a predetermined fixing temperature by a control unit 201 (see FIG. 5) based on a signal from a temperature detector (not shown). By pressing, the multi-color toner image transferred onto the paper is melted, mixed, and pressed to be thermally fixed to the paper. Further, an external fixing belt 73 for fixing the heat roller 71 from the outside is provided.

  Next, the paper transport path S will be described in detail. As described above, the MFP 100 is provided with the paper feed cassette 81 and the manual paper feed cassette 82 for storing paper in advance. Pickup rollers 11a and 11b are arranged to feed paper from the paper feed cassettes 81 and 82, and guide the paper one by one to the paper transport path S.

  The paper conveyed from each of the paper feed cassettes 81 and 82 is conveyed to the registration roller 13 by the conveyance roller 12a in the paper conveyance path S, and the transfer roller is aligned with the timing of aligning the leading edge of the paper and the leading edge of the image information on the intermediate transfer belt 61. 10 and image information is written on the paper. Thereafter, the sheet passes through the fixing unit 7 so that the unfixed toner on the sheet is melted and fixed by heat, and is discharged onto the sheet discharge tray 91 through the transport roller 12b disposed thereafter.

The sheet transport path S is used when a single-sided printing request is made on the paper. On the other hand, when a double-sided printing request is made, the single-sided printing is finished as described above, and the rear end of the paper that has passed through the fixing unit 7 Is gripped by the final transport roller 12b, the transport roller 12b rotates reversely to guide the paper to the transport rollers 12c and 12d. Then, after printing is performed on the back side of the sheet through the registration roller 13, the sheet is discharged to the discharge tray 91.

  The document reading unit 30 mainly includes an automatic document feeder 29 and a scanning unit 90. The plurality of document sheets placed on the placing table of the automatic document feeder 29 are sequentially supplied to the upper part of the scanning unit 90, and the document is read.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a toner cartridge. FIG. 3A is a perspective view showing an overview of the toner cartridge, and FIG. 3B is a front view of the toner cartridge. As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the toner cartridge 98 includes a toner cartridge main body and a storage unit 150 provided on the front side thereof. The toner cartridge main body 141 stores one of four types of toner, and the stored toner is supplied to the developing device 2 corresponding to the toner from the supply port 143.

  The storage unit 150 includes screws 155a and 155b, a terminal 153, and positioning bosses 151a and 151b. The storage unit 150 is fixed by screws 155a and 155b at the mounting position of the toner cartridge main body 141. The storage unit 150 is fixed by positioning bosses 151 a and 151 b at the mounting position of the toner cartridge 98 in the image forming unit 20. As a result, the terminal 153 of the storage unit 150 and the terminal of the MFP 100 come into contact with each other, so that the storage unit 150 and the MFP 100 are electrically connected. As a result, MFP 100 can communicate with storage unit 150 and extracts information stored in storage unit 150.

  Note that although the storage unit 150 is a contact-type nonvolatile memory here, the present invention is not limited to this. The storage unit 150 may be a non-contact type using radio such as an IC chip, a barcode, and a QR code (registered trademark).

  In addition, the toner cartridge 98 has a carbon footprint mark (registered trademark) indicating a conversion value obtained by converting greenhouse gases emitted in the entire life cycle of products and services (from raw material procurement to disposal / recycling) into the amount of carbon dioxide. ) May be attached. FIG. 4 shows an example in which a carbon footprint mark 161 is attached to the packing material of the toner cartridge 98. As a result, it is possible for a user with high environmental awareness to easily recognize that the manufacturer of the toner cartridge 98 is actively working to reduce greenhouse gases. The carbon footprint mark 161 may be attached to the toner cartridge 98 itself.

Furthermore, in addition to the carbon footprint mark 161, a description of the carbon footprint mark may be added. In the example of FIG. 4, an explanatory note is attached to the packing material region 163 of the toner cartridge 98. As a result, it is possible to easily recognize that the user is a consumables manufacturer who is working on reducing greenhouse gases, and to give a sense of security to users who are particularly environmentally conscious. In addition, for users with low environmental awareness, the importance of reducing greenhouse gases can be noticed and promoted, thereby contributing to the prevention of global warming. The greenhouse gases include six types of CO ₂ , CH ₄ , N ₂ O, HFC _S , PFC _S, and SF ₆ that were targeted by the Kyoto Protocol. The amount converted to CO ₂ is shown.

The CO ₂ emission amount is calculated by the following general formula using an LCA (life cycle assessment) method.
General formula: CO ₂ emissions = Σ (activity amount x CO ₂ emissions intensity)
i represents the amount of activity (process) from the above-mentioned raw material procurement to disposal / recycling. The unit of the CO ₂ emission amount is represented by a unit representing weight such as (kg), (g), and (t). The life cycle stage and the amount of activity can be handled as in the following (1) to (5).
(1) The amount of activity at the raw material procurement stage is the amount of material used.
(2) The amount of activity at the production stage is assembly weight and power consumption during production.
(3) The amount of activity at the distribution stage is the transportation amount (the product of the transportation distance, loading ratio, and truck loading).
(4) The amount of activity in the usage / maintenance stage is the amount of power consumed during use.
(5) The amount of activity at the disposal / recycling stage is landfill weight and recycled weight.

  In the present embodiment, the service center where the server PC 101 is installed manages a plurality of types of toner cartridges. The server PC 101 receives a service man call notified by the user via the PCs 120 and 130. The service man call includes information on the type of toner cartridge for which replacement is requested, information on whether or not used toner cartridges are collected, and the number of toner cartridges to be collected. The service center arranges a service person on the basis of the information included in the service person call in the server PC 101, causes the user of the PC 120, 130 to deliver the desired toner cartridge, and requests to collect the used toner cartridge To recover. Thus, the user can receive the used toner cartridge 98 from the service person and replace it with an unused toner cartridge.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the MFP. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the MFP 100 includes a control unit 201, a storage unit 202 for storing a program executed by the control unit 201, and a control unit 211 for controlling the peripheral device 220.

  The control unit 201 is connected to the display unit 204, the operation unit 205, the data communication control unit 206, the document reading unit 207, the image processing unit 208, the image forming unit 209, the fixing unit 210, the toner concentration sensor 119, and the cartridge motor 212, respectively. , The entire MFP 100 is controlled.

  The data communication control unit 206 includes a LAN terminal 206a that is an interface for communication using a communication protocol, and a serial interface terminal 206b for serial communication. The data communication control unit 206 transmits / receives data to / from an external device connected to the LAN terminal 206a or the serial interface terminal 206b in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 201.

  When a cable for connecting to the Internet 105 is connected to the LAN terminal 206a, the data communication control unit 206 communicates with the server PC 101 connected via the LAN terminal 206a.

  A memory card 206c with a built-in flash memory can be connected to the serial interface terminal 206b. The control unit 201 can update the program by controlling the data communication control unit 206 to read out a program to be executed by the control unit 201 from the memory card 206 c and store it in the storage unit 202.

  The storage medium for storing the program executed by the control unit 201 is not limited to a memory card, and may be a medium such as a flexible memory, an optical disk, an IC card, an optical card, a mask ROM, an EEPROM, or other semiconductor memory. .

  The document reading unit 207 includes a light source that irradiates light to the document conveyed to the document reading position and a photoelectric conversion element that receives light reflected from the document, and scans a document image corresponding to the size of the document. The photoelectric conversion element converts the received light into image data that is an electrical signal and outputs the image data to the image processing unit 208.

  The image processing unit 208 performs various data processing such as shading correction on the image data input from the document reading unit 207, and then outputs the data to the image forming unit 209. A paper feed unit (not shown) conveys the paper stored in the paper feed cassette 81 and the manual paper feed cassette 82 to the image forming unit 209.

  The image forming unit 209 forms an image on a sheet conveyed by a sheet feeding unit (not shown) based on the image data after data processing. Then, the image forming unit 209 discharges the paper on which the image has been formed onto the paper discharge tray 91.

  The fixing unit 210 (corresponding to the fixing unit 7) melts and fixes the toner image formed on the paper by the image forming unit 209 to the paper.

  The sheet detection sensor 14 is turned on when a sheet is present at the arrangement position, and is turned off when no sheet is present at the arrangement position. In the present embodiment, the paper detection sensor 14 is disposed in the vicinity of the registration roller 13, and the number and size of the paper that has passed through the registration roller 13 are determined by turning on and off the signal output from the paper detection sensor 14. Can be detected. An output signal from the paper detection sensor 14 is input to the control unit 201.

  The control unit 201 controls the toner density in the developing device 2. Since the toner in the developing device 2 is consumed every time printing is performed, the toner density decreases. The control unit 201 appropriately supplies the toner stored in the toner cartridge 98 to the developing device 2 so that the toner concentration in the developing device 2 falls within a predetermined density range.

  The cartridge motor 212 rotates a supply roller (not shown) disposed in the vicinity of a toner supply port (not shown) of the toner cartridge 98 and supplies the toner stored in the toner cartridge 98 to the developing device 2. When the toner in the developing device 2 is consumed by printing and decreases, the output of the toner density sensor 119 increases. When the output of the toner density sensor 119 exceeds the first predetermined value and becomes higher (the toner density in the developing device 2 becomes smaller than the predetermined value), the output of the toner density sensor 119 becomes the first predetermined value. Until the second predetermined value is reached, the toner is replenished in the developing device 2. Since the toner supply amount is proportional to the drive time of the cartridge motor 212, the toner amount supplied from the toner cartridge 98 can be estimated based on the drive time of the cartridge motor 212.

  The display unit 204 uses a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic ELD (Electro Luminescence Display), a display such as electronic paper using electrophoresis, a plasma display (PDP), a plasma tube array display (PTAD), and an electron-emitting device. A display device such as a display (FED, SED) or the like, which displays an instruction menu such as a setting screen for the user and a screen including information on acquired image data.

  The operation unit 205 includes a plurality of keys, and accepts input of various instructions, data such as characters and numbers by user operations corresponding to the keys. The plurality of keys provided in the operation unit 205 are hard keys provided with switches. Note that the operation unit 205 may include a touch panel as a part of the key, or may be configured by the touch panel itself. When the operation unit 205 includes a touch panel, or when the operation unit 205 includes a touch panel, the touch panel is provided on the display unit 204. Note that gesture input using a finger wearable wearable interface may be used.

  FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of functions of the control unit included in the MFP, together with data stored in the storage unit. As shown in FIG. 6, the control unit 201 includes a request receiving unit 231, a toner remaining amount estimating unit (consumable item remaining amount estimating unit) 233, a determining unit (determining unit) 235, and a printable sheet number information transmitting unit. (Consumables remaining amount information transmitting means) 237, print request receiving unit 239, image formation control unit 241, print number counting unit 251, history table management unit 253, printable number calculating unit (printable number calculating) Means, consumption history acquisition means) 255.

  The storage unit 202 stores threshold data 243, a toner consumption table 263, and a history table 261, which will be described later.

  The request reception unit 231 receives a request for transmission of the printable number transmitted from either the PC 120 or 130. Upon receiving a request for transmission of the printable number of sheets, the request reception unit 231 outputs an estimation instruction to the remaining toner amount estimation unit 233, and includes the apparatus identification information of the PC that has requested transmission of the printable number of sheets in the transmission instruction. The information is output to the printable sheet number information transmission unit 237.

  The toner remaining amount estimation unit 233 estimates the remaining amount of toner in the toner cartridge 98. When the toner remaining amount estimating unit 233 receives an estimation instruction from the request receiving unit 231, the remaining toner amount data including the estimated remaining toner amount and toner cartridge identification information for identifying the toner cartridge 98 is stored in five toner cartridges. 98, and the generated toner remaining amount data is output to the history table management unit 253. Further, the toner remaining amount estimation unit 233 is not related to the estimation instruction from the request reception unit 231, and the toner of the toner cartridge 98 is also at a predetermined timing such as when the MFP 100 is turned on or when process control is performed. Estimate the remaining amount.

  The remaining amount of toner is calculated by subtracting the cumulative toner consumption from the initial amount of toner stored in the toner cartridge 98. The accumulated toner consumption amount may be calculated by storing the toner consumption amount as a history from the time when the toner cartridge 98 is replaced, and accumulating the toner consumption amount of the history up to now. Specifically, the calculation is performed based on the toner consumption amount table 263 stored in the storage unit 202.

  The toner remaining amount estimation unit 233 monitors the toner consumption amount of the toner cartridge and calculates the toner consumption amount for each of the five toner cartridges 98. Then, toner consumption amount data including the calculated toner consumption amount and toner cartridge identification information is generated for each of the five toner cartridges 98 and added to the toner consumption amount table 263 stored in the storage unit 202 and stored.

  Examples of the toner consumption calculation method include a first calculation method, a second calculation method, and a third calculation method described below. The first calculation method is a method for calculating the toner consumption based on the gradation for each pixel of the image data. The toner consumption increases as the pixel size increases and the gradation for each pixel increases. For this reason, it is possible to estimate the toner consumption based on the gradation of the image data.

  In the first calculation method, the toner remaining amount estimation unit 233 counts the gradation of image data of the input multi-value image (for example, a multi-gradation image such as 16 gradations or 256 gradations) for each pixel. The weighting corresponding to the gradation value is performed for each pixel with respect to the counted gradation value. The weighting increases as the gradation value increases. This is because the toner consumption increases as the gradation value increases. The toner remaining amount estimation unit 233 specifies the weighted gradation value as the pixel count value, and integrates the pixel count value calculated for all the pixels included in the image data. Then, the integrated pixel count value is converted into a toner consumption amount.

  The second calculation method is a method for calculating the toner consumption based on the driving time of the cartridge motor 212. Specifically, in the second calculation method, the remaining toner amount estimation unit 233 accumulates the driving time of the cartridge motor 212 and calculates the toner supply amount corresponding to the accumulated driving time as the toner consumption amount.

  The third calculation method is a method for calculating the toner consumption based on the toner density in the developing device 2. The toner density in the developing device 2 is controlled to be an ideal value by the control unit 201. However, when the remaining amount of toner in the toner cartridge 98 decreases, sufficient toner is not supplied to the developing device 2. . As a result, the toner density in the developing device 2 is not kept constant but gradually decreases. For this reason, it is possible to estimate the toner consumption based on the toner concentration in the developing device 2 in a state where the replenishing toner in the toner cartridge 98 becomes empty and the toner cannot be replenished in the developing device 2. It is.

  In the third calculation method, the toner remaining amount estimation unit 233 calculates the toner consumption amount by converting the change amount of the toner density in the developing device 2 into the consumed toner amount. The amount of change in toner density may be specified by comparing a plurality of predetermined threshold values with the toner density in the developing device 2, for example.

  Here, the toner remaining amount estimation unit 233 preferably calculates the toner consumption amount by appropriately combining the first to third calculation methods. For example, the toner remaining amount estimation unit 233 calculates the toner consumption amount by the second calculation method until the toner remaining amount reaches 30% of the maximum toner amount that can be accommodated in the toner cartridge 98, and accommodates it in the toner cartridge 98. When the remaining amount of toner reaches a range of 10 to 30% of the maximum possible toner amount, the toner consumption amount is calculated by the first calculation method, and the maximum toner amount that can be accommodated in the toner cartridge 98 is 5 to 5%. When the remaining amount of toner has reached the 10% range, the toner consumption is calculated by the third calculation method.

  The remaining toner amount estimation unit 233 also has a function as a toner consumption amount calculation unit. When the toner consumption amount is calculated by the first calculation method, the toner consumption amount estimation unit 233 consumes the print job every time the print job is executed. The calculated toner amount is calculated, and the calculated value is stored in the toner consumption table 263 together with the date. When the toner consumption amount is calculated by the second calculation method, the toner consumption amount (corresponding to the toner replenishment amount) is calculated according to the driving time each time the cartridge motor 212 is driven, and the calculated value is set to the date. At the same time, it is stored in the toner consumption table 263. When the toner consumption amount is calculated by the third calculation method, the toner consumption amount is calculated based on the output of the toner density sensor 119 every time a predetermined number of sheets are printed, and the calculated value is stored in the toner consumption amount table 263 together with the date.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a toner consumption table. As shown in FIG. 7, the toner consumption table 263 includes a toner consumption record. The toner consumption record includes a date item and a toner consumption item. In the date item, the date when the toner consumption amount is calculated by the toner remaining amount estimation unit 233 is set. In the toner consumption amount item, the toner consumption amounts calculated for each of the five toner cartridges 98 are set on the date when the toner consumption amount calculation unit 233 calculates the toner consumption amount. Specifically, the toner consumption amount included in each of the five toner consumption amount data is set.

  Returning again to FIG. 6, the printed sheet count unit 251 counts the number of sheets that have passed through the registration roller 13, that is, the number of printed sheets, by turning on and off the signal output from the sheet detection sensor 14. Specifically, “1” is added to the number of prints every time the sheet passes through the registration roller 13. The number of printed sheets is from the start to the end of one print job. The printed sheet count unit 251 counts the number of printed sheets for each print job to be executed, and outputs the counted number of printed sheets to the history table management unit 253. Here, the printed sheet count unit 251 counts in terms of A4 size / single-sided printing. For example, the number of printed sheets is 4 for double-sided printing of one A3 size sheet. In the case of single-sided printing of 5 sheets of A5 size, the number of printed sheets is 2.5.

  The history table management unit 253 displays job identification information for identifying a print job, a date when the print job is executed, and the number of sheets printed by executing the print job in response to execution of the print job. A history record including (A4 / single-sided print conversion) is generated for each print job, and is added to the history table 261 stored in the storage unit 202 and stored.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a history table. As shown in FIG. 8, the history table includes a history record for each print job. The history record includes a print job item, a date item, and a print number item. In the print job item, job identification information of the print job is set. In the date item, a date when the print job is executed is set. In the item of the number of prints, the number of sheets printed by executing the print job is set. Specifically, the number of prints counted by the print number counting unit 251 is set.

  Returning to FIG. 6 again, the printable sheet number calculation unit 255 calculates the printable sheet number obtained by converting the remaining amount of toner in the toner cartridge 98 into the print sheet number in accordance with the history table 261 and the toner consumption table 263 stored in the storage unit 202. Calculation is performed for each of the five toner cartridges 98. Specifically, the number of printable sheets is calculated by dividing the toner consumption amount per sheet in a predetermined period from the toner remaining amount of the toner cartridge 98 estimated by the toner remaining amount estimating unit 233. The toner consumption amount per sheet is calculated by dividing the cumulative toner consumption amount in a predetermined period calculated according to the toner consumption amount table 263 from the cumulative number of printed sheets in the predetermined period calculated according to the history table 261. To do. Here, the predetermined period is, for example, one month, and the beginning and end of the period for which the cumulative number of printed sheets is calculated correspond to the beginning and end of the period for which the cumulative number of printed sheets is calculated, respectively. The printable sheet number calculation unit 255 generates printable sheet number data including the calculated printable sheet number and toner cartridge identification information for each of the five toner cartridges 98, and outputs the printable sheet number data to the printable sheet number information transmission unit 237 and the determination unit 235. To do.

  The determination unit 235 determines whether there is a toner cartridge 98 that is short of remaining amount. The toner cartridge 98 that is short of the remaining amount is determined based on the five printable sheet number data generated by the printable sheet number calculating unit 255 and the threshold data 243 stored in the storage unit 202.

  The threshold data 243 is a value indicating that the number of printable sheets corresponding to the remaining amount of toner in the toner cartridge 98 is almost insufficient, and is 10,000 sheets here.

  The determination unit 235 compares the printable sheet number included in each of the five printable sheet number data generated by the printable sheet number calculation unit 255 with the threshold value indicated by the threshold value data 243, and the printable sheet number is indicated by the threshold value data 243. On the condition that it is less than the threshold value, the toner cartridge 98 specified by the determination target printable sheet number data is determined to be short of the remaining amount.

  The determination unit 235 includes the toner cartridge identification information of the toner cartridge 98 determined to be short of the remaining amount in the first determination result indicating that the toner cartridge 98 is short of the remaining amount. When there are a plurality of toner cartridges 98 that are determined to be short of the remaining amount, a plurality of toner cartridge identification information is included in the first determination result. The determination unit 235 outputs the first determination result to the printable sheet number information transmission unit 237. When there is no toner cartridge 98 that is short of remaining amount, the determination unit 235 outputs a second determination result indicating that to the printable sheet number information transmission unit 237.

  In response to a request from the PCs 120 and 130, the printable sheet number information transmission unit 237 displays printable sheet number information (consumables remaining amount information) indicating the remaining amount of toner in the toner cartridge 98 for the printable sheet number of the PCs 120 and 130. Send to what you requested to send. Specifically, when the generated five printable sheet number data is input from the printable sheet number calculating unit 255, the printable sheet number information transmitting unit 237 causes the input five printable sheet number data and the determination unit 235 to input the printable sheet number information. The printable sheet number information including the determined determination result is transmitted to the PC specified by the device identification information included in the transmission instruction input from the request receiving unit 231 via the data communication control unit 206.

  The print request receiving unit 239 receives a print request command for requesting execution of printing from either the PC 120 or 130. The print request command includes print target data and print condition information. The print request reception unit 239 outputs the print condition information and the print target data received via the data communication control unit 206 to the image formation control unit 241.

  The image formation control unit 241 controls the image formation unit 209 to form an image of data to be printed according to the printing condition information.

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a PC. Since the functions and configurations of the PC 120 and the PC 130 are the same, the case of the PC 120 will be described as an example here. As shown in FIG. 9, the PC 120 includes a control unit 301 that controls the whole, a storage unit 307 that stores programs executed by the control unit 301, an operation unit 303 that receives input of user operations, a display unit, and the like. Each of the 305 and the communication I / F unit 309 is connected to the bus 311.

  The communication I / F unit 309 is an interface for connecting the PC 120 to the network 102. The control unit 301 communicates with a plurality of MFPs 100, portable terminals 110, or PCs 130 via the communication I / F unit 309 to transmit / receive data. The communication I / F unit 309 can communicate with a computer connected to the Internet 105 via the network 102, for example, the server PC 101.

  FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of functions of the control unit included in the PC. As illustrated in FIG. 10, the control unit 301 includes a printable sheet number request unit 321, a display control unit (display control unit) 323, an operation reception unit 325 that receives a user operation, an image adjustment setting unit 331, A print request unit 335 and a serviceman call notification unit 333 are included. The printable number request unit 321, the display control unit 323, the operation reception unit 325, the image adjustment setting unit (image adjustment setting unit) 331, the serviceman call notification unit 333, and the print request unit 335 are formed by executing a printer driver program. The In addition, an operating system program is installed in the PC 120, and the control unit 301 executes the operating system program.

  When the user presses the print button displayed using the operation unit 303 while the data to be printed is being displayed, the operating system accepts a print instruction and displays a print initial screen for setting print conditions in the window. To display. When the user inputs a print condition setting instruction using the operation unit 303 in accordance with the print initial screen displayed in the window, the operating system accepts the print condition setting instruction, and the control unit 301 executes the printer driver program. . Thus, a printable sheet number request unit 321, a display control unit 323, an operation reception unit 325, an image adjustment setting unit 331, a serviceman call notification unit 333, and a print request unit 335 are formed. Hereinafter, the window in which the initial print screen is displayed is referred to as a first window.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of the print initial screen together with the first window. As shown in FIG. 11, a print initial screen 351 displayed in the first window 350 is a screen for setting print conditions such as the print range and the number of copies. The print initial screen 351 includes a property button 353. The property button 353 is associated with a command for requesting the printer driver to display a screen for setting print conditions. When the user presses the property button 353, the printer driver of the printer displayed in the drop-down list for displaying the printer name is activated and a print setting screen is displayed.

  Returning to FIG. 10, the printable number request unit 321 requests the MFP 100 to transmit the printable number corresponding to the remaining amount of toner in the toner cartridge 98. In the present embodiment, when the printable number request unit 321 receives a print condition setting instruction from the operating system, the printable number requesting unit 321 requests the printable number of sheets at the timing when the print setting screen is displayed. In this embodiment, the printer driver is activated and the print setting screen is displayed to request the printable number of sheets. However, the PC 120 and the MFP 100 perform communication appropriately using the communication protocol. The printable number information may be acquired, and the activated print driver may refer to the information acquired from the MFP 100 and stored in the PC 120.

  The MFP 100 that has received the transmission request for the printable sheet number transmits printable sheet number information including the five printable sheet number data corresponding to the five toner cartridges 98 and the determination result. The printable sheet number information transmitted from the MFP 100 is received via the communication I / F unit 309, and the received printable sheet number information is output to the display control unit 323 and the image adjustment setting unit 331.

  The display control unit 323 controls the display unit 305 to display various screens. Specifically, the display control unit 323 displays a print setting screen that can be set in more detail that cannot be set on the print initial screen 351 in a window different from the first window 350. Hereinafter, the window in which the print setting screen is displayed is referred to as a second window.

  As will be described in detail later, the print setting screen includes at least a main screen, an exchange request screen, a collection request screen, and a resource saving screen (image adjustment screen, paper screen). The display control unit 323 displays the main screen. One of the exchange request screen, the collection request screen, and the resource saving screen is displayed in the second window.

  The main screen (reference numeral 410 in FIG. 13) is a screen for setting print conditions such as the number of copies, single-sided printing and double-sided printing, and N-up printing for printing N pages on one side. The replacement request screen (reference numeral 450 in FIG. 14) is a screen for requesting replacement of the toner cartridge 98 as well as indicating the number of printable sheets corresponding to the remaining amount of toner in the toner cartridge 98 described later. The collection request screen (reference numeral 550 in FIG. 16) is a screen for requesting collection of the used toner cartridge 98. The resource saving screen (reference numeral 700 in FIG. 20 and reference numeral 750 in FIG. 21) is a screen for reducing the amount of consumables used by adjusting the image or changing the paper size. is there. The image adjustment includes at least image density adjustment, image dot density adjustment, and image contrast adjustment. In the image adjustment screen, the density setting value, the dot density setting value, and the contrast setting value can be changed from the default settings as adjustment setting values related to image adjustment.

  In the present embodiment, the display control unit 323 displays the first determination result indicating that there is a toner cartridge 98 whose determination result included in the printable sheet number information received by the printable sheet number requesting unit 321 is short of the remaining amount. Is displayed, the replacement request screen is displayed in the second window. If the determination result is the second determination result indicating that there is no toner cartridge 98 that is short of the remaining amount, the main screen is displayed in the second window. To do. The display control unit 323 displays tabs corresponding to screens that are not displayed in the second window among the main screen, the replacement request screen, the collection request screen, and the resource saving screen using the multi-window. May be. In this case, when the user designates a tab, the display control unit 323 switches to a screen corresponding to the designated tab.

  The replacement request screen is a screen for receiving a replacement request instruction for requesting the service center to replace the toner cartridge, which is a consumable item, by the service person. The exchange request screen includes an exchange setting screen (reference numeral 450 in FIG. 14), an exchange confirmation screen (reference numeral 500 in FIG. 15), a serviceman call notification screen (reference numeral 600 in FIG. 18) described later, and a serviceman. And a call completion screen (reference numeral 650 in FIG. 19).

  The replacement setting screen is a screen for indicating the number of printable sheets corresponding to the remaining amount of toner in the toner cartridge 98 and for allowing the user to specify the type of the toner cartridge 98 to be replaced and to set a service man call requesting replacement. . The exchange confirmation screen is a screen that allows the user to confirm the contents set on the exchange setting screen. When the user inputs a confirmation instruction, the contents set on the exchange setting screen are confirmed as the exchange request contents.

  The collection request screen is a screen for receiving a collection request instruction for requesting the service center to collect the consumables by a service person. The collection request screen includes a collection setting screen (reference numeral 550 in FIG. 16), a service man call notification screen, and a service man call completion screen. The collection setting screen is a screen that allows the user to set whether to collect toner cartridges and the number of toner cartridges to be collected.

  The service man call notification screen and the service man call completion screen are common screens belonging to both the exchange request screen and the collection request screen. Since both the request for exchange and the request for collection can be performed by the service man call, a service man call setting screen is provided as a screen for confirming both contents of the exchange request and the collection request at the same time.

  The serviceman call notification screen also serves as a screen for allowing the user to confirm the contents set on the collection setting screen. By instructing notification (determination) of the service man call on the screen, the content set on the collection setting screen is confirmed as the collection request content. When the user instructs notification (determination) of the service man call and the content of the collection request is confirmed, the service man call is notified to the server PC 101 installed in the sales company together with the content of the exchange request that has been confirmed previously.

  The service man call completion screen is a screen indicating that the service man call has been notified with the exchange request content and the collection request content determined on the service man call notification screen.

  The operation reception unit 325 includes a serviceman call operation reception unit 327 and an image adjustment operation reception unit 329. The service man call operation accepting unit 327 accepts an operation for exchanging the toner cartridge or performing a service man call requesting the number of toner cartridges together with the toner cartridge exchange. The service man call operation accepting unit 327 accepts the instruction when the user designates the type of toner cartridge in the operation unit 303 and sets the service man call according to the exchange setting screen displayed in the second window, and confirms the exchange. The display control unit 323 is instructed to switch to the screen.

  When the user inputs an instruction to determine a service man call requested by the user using the operation unit 303 according to the exchange confirmation screen displayed in the second window, the service man call operation accepting unit 327 receives the exchange setting screen. A notification of a service man call requesting replacement of the toner cartridge of the type specified in is received, the replacement request content is generated, and the display control unit 323 is instructed to switch to the collection setting screen.

  When the user designates the number of toner cartridges 98 using the operation unit 303 according to the collection setting screen displayed in the second window and sets a service man call requesting collection, The display control unit 323 is instructed to switch to the serviceman call notification screen.

  The serviceman call operation accepting unit 327 uses the operation unit 303 according to the serviceman call notification screen displayed in the second window, and the type of toner cartridge 98 that the user desires to replace and the toner cartridge that the user desires to collect. When the serviceman call notification instruction is input after confirming the number of 98, a collection request content including the number information of the toner cartridges to be collected designated on the collection setting screen is generated, together with the exchange request content generated previously. The serviceman call notification unit 333 includes the serviceman call notification instruction for notifying the serviceman call.

  When the serviceman call operation reception unit 327 outputs the serviceman call notification instruction, the serviceman call operation reception unit 327 instructs the display control unit 323 to switch to the serviceman call completion screen.

  The image adjustment operation accepting unit 329 accepts an operation for adjusting an image input by the user to the operation unit in accordance with an image adjustment screen (reference numeral 700 in FIG. 20) described later. The operation for adjusting the image includes an operation for adjusting the density of the image, an operation for adjusting the dot density of the image, an operation for adjusting the contrast of the image, or a combination thereof.

  The image adjustment operation reception unit 329 identifies the index selected by the operation for adjusting the density of the image, and receives the density setting value associated with the index as the adjusted value. Also for the dot density setting value and contrast setting value, the position of the index selected by the operation to adjust the image dot density and the operation to adjust the contrast of the image is specified, and the value associated with the index is adjusted Accept as. In this embodiment, in each adjustment, an index is provided and the adjustment is performed in stages. However, the adjustment may be made continuously.

  When an operation for adjusting an image is performed, the image adjustment operation reception unit 329 outputs the received adjustment setting value to the display control unit 323 and the image adjustment setting unit 331.

  The operation accepting unit 325 performs display control to switch to the paper screen (reference numeral 750 in FIG. 21) when the user inputs a confirmation instruction for image adjustment to the operation unit 303 according to the image adjustment screen displayed in the second window. The unit 323 is instructed. The operation accepting unit 325 accepts an operation for determining the paper size that is input to the operation unit by the user according to the paper screen.

The display control unit 323 switches the screen to be displayed in the window in response to a screen switching instruction from the serviceman call operation reception unit 327 and the image adjustment operation reception unit 329. In the state where the exchange setting screen is displayed in the second window, the display control unit 323
When the serviceman call operation accepting unit 327 receives an input of a serviceman call request for replacement by the user and receives a screen switching instruction, a replacement confirmation screen is displayed in the second window.

  In the state where the exchange confirmation screen is displayed in the second window, the display control unit 323 accepts an input of a serviceman call determination instruction to request replacement by the user, and the serviceman call operation accepting unit 327 switches the screen. When the instruction is received, a collection setting screen is displayed in the second window.

  When the collection setting screen is displayed in the second window, the display control unit 323 inputs the setting of the service man call requesting the collection including the number of toner cartridges 98 desired to be collected by the user. When the operation receiving unit 327 receives an instruction to switch the screen, a serviceman call notification screen is displayed in the second window.

  In the state where the serviceman call notification screen is displayed in the second window, the display control unit 323 receives the input of the serviceman call notification instruction including the exchange request content / collection request content by the serviceman call operation reception unit 327. When a screen switching instruction is received, a serviceman call completion screen is displayed in the second window.

  The display control unit 323 switches the screen displayed in the second window to the image adjustment screen after a predetermined time has elapsed since the serviceman call completion screen was displayed in the second window. However, the switching of the image adjustment screen is a first determination result indicating that there is a toner cartridge 98 that is near the shortage of the remaining amount in the determination result included in the printable sheet number information received by the printable sheet number request unit 321. As a condition.

  In addition, the display control unit 323 adjusts the adjustment setting values (density setting value, dot density setting) set as defaults in the image density adjustment, the image dot density adjustment, and the image contrast adjustment on the image adjustment screen, respectively. Value and contrast setting value) are displayed differently from other indexes. For example, a frame surrounding an index associated with the default adjustment setting value displayed on the image adjustment screen may be displayed or hatched. Further, when the display control unit 323 receives an input from the image adjustment operation reception unit 329 that an index different from the index associated with the default adjustment setting value is selected in the operation of adjusting the image, The display form of the selected indicator is displayed differently from other indicators.

  Note that the display of the image adjustment screen is not limited to that after a predetermined time has elapsed since the serviceman call completion screen was displayed in the second window. The operation receiving unit 325 may display the image adjustment screen in the second window by receiving an instruction to display the image adjustment screen, for example, an operation to instruct a tab corresponding to the image adjustment screen. In this embodiment, the replacement request screen / collection request screen is displayed before the image adjustment screen. However, the image adjustment screen may be displayed before the replacement request screen / collection request screen. Good. Further, the replacement request screen and the collection request screen may be displayed together, or the exchange request screen may include a content to be input on the collection request screen.

  The display control unit 323 displays a paper screen in the second window when receiving an instruction to switch the screen by the image adjustment operation receiving unit 329 while the image adjustment screen is displayed in the second window. The display of the paper screen is not limited to when the image adjustment operation receiving unit 329 receives a screen switching instruction in a state where the image adjustment screen is displayed in the second window. The operation receiving unit 325 may display the paper screen in the second window by receiving a paper screen display instruction, for example, an operation for instructing a tab corresponding to the paper screen.

  The image adjustment setting unit 331 determines an adjustment setting value according to an image adjustment table 361 (see FIG. 12) described later stored in the storage unit 307. When the determination result included in the printable sheet number information received by the printable sheet number requesting unit 321 is the second determination result indicating that there is no toner cartridge 98 that is short of the remaining amount, the image adjustment setting unit 331 displays an image. With reference to the adjustment table 361, an adjustment setting value (density setting value, dot density setting value, contrast setting value) with a reduction rate of 0% is acquired and set as a default. On the other hand, the image adjustment setting unit 331 determines that the determination result included in the printable sheet number information received by the printable sheet number requesting unit 321 is the first determination result indicating that there is a toner cartridge 98 that is short of the remaining amount. Then, the reduction ratio is calculated based on the number of printable sheets of the toner cartridge 98 that is determined to be short of the remaining amount. Then, an adjustment setting value (density setting value, dot density setting value, contrast setting value) corresponding to the calculated reduction ratio is acquired with reference to the image adjustment table 361 and set as a default.

  In the present embodiment, the image adjustment setting unit 331 pays attention to the reduction rate of the toner consumption amount in two of the five toner cartridges 98 that have a small printable number corresponding to the remaining amount of toner, and the larger of the two. The ratio is determined by calculating the ratio of the smaller printable sheet number to the other printable sheet number. The two toner cartridges 98 having the smallest printable number are toner cartridges identified by the first and second smallest printable sheet number data among the five printable sheet number information input from the printable sheet number request unit 321. is there.

  When there are a plurality of first printable sheet number data or a second smallest printable sheet number data, the toner cartridge specified by any one of the plurality of printable sheet number data may be specified as a representative. .

  The image adjustment table 361 associates the reduction rate of toner consumption with the adjustment setting value. The toner consumption can be reduced as the density setting value, the dot density setting value, and the contrast setting value are lowered. Therefore, in the image adjustment table 361, the density setting value, the dot density setting value, and the contrast setting value corresponding to the reduction ratio are set according to the reduction ratio.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of the image adjustment table. As shown in FIG. 12, the image adjustment table 361 includes an image adjustment record that associates a reduction rate of toner consumption with an adjustment setting value for adjusting an image. The image adjustment record includes a consumption reduction ratio item, an image density item, an image dot density item, and an image contrast item. The consumption reduction ratio item is set in 10 steps with a reduction rate of 0 to 90% in increments of 10%. The image density item, the image dot density item, and the image contrast item are each reduced in 10 steps. Depending on the rate, a density setting value, a dot density setting value, and an image contrast setting value are set. An adjustment setting value is configured by an image density item, an image dot density item, and an image contrast item.

  In addition, when the image adjustment operation accepting unit 329 receives a change of the adjustment setting value (change from the adjustment setting value set as a default), the image adjustment setting unit 331 updates the adjustment setting value for adjusting the image. To do. Specifically, when at least one of the density setting value change, the dot density setting value change, and the contrast setting value change is received by the image adjustment operation receiving unit 329, the adjustment setting value of the received adjustment item is newly set. Set as the appropriate adjustment setting value. The image adjustment setting unit 331 outputs the updated adjustment setting value to the display control unit 323 and the print request unit 335. When accepting a change in the paper size on the paper screen, the image adjustment operation accepting unit 329 outputs the updated paper size to the print request unit 335.

  The display control unit 323 includes an exchange / collection request screen generation unit 341, a message generation unit 343, an image adjustment screen generation unit 345, a preview image generation unit 347, and a paper screen generation unit 349.

  Message generation unit 343 generates an insufficient remaining amount message based on the determination result determined by MFP 100. Specifically, the remaining amount is determined on the condition that the determination result included in the printable sheet number information received by the printable sheet number request unit 321 is the first determination result indicating the presence of the toner cartridge 98 that is short of the remaining amount. Generate a shortage message. The toner shortage shortage message generated by the message generation unit 343 is a print corresponding to the toner remaining amount of the toner cartridge 98 specified by the toner cartridge identification information included in the determination result input from the printable number request unit 321. This is a message indicating that the possible number of sheets is small. For example, the message about the shortage of the remaining amount is a message “Yellow toner is low. Serviceman call is recommended.” The message generation unit 343 outputs the generated shortage remaining message to the exchange / collection request screen generation unit 341.

  When the service man call operation accepting unit 327 receives an instruction for setting a service man call requesting exchange, the message generating unit 343 generates an exchange request confirmation message. Specifically, a message for confirming whether or not to confirm with the content for requesting replacement of the replacement toner cartridge received by the serviceman call operation receiving unit 327 on the replacement setting screen is generated as a replacement request confirmation message. To do. The replacement request confirmation message is, for example, a message such as “Are you sure you want to replace the yellow toner cartridge?” The message generator 343 outputs the generated exchange request confirmation message to the exchange / collection request screen generator 341.

  The message generation unit 343 generates an exchange request setting message when the serviceman call operation reception unit 327 receives an instruction to determine a serviceman call requesting exchange by the user. Specifically, if there is a toner cartridge 98 to be collected together with a message indicating that the replacement of the toner cartridge to be replaced received by the serviceman call operation receiving unit 327 is requested on the replacement setting screen, A message for confirming the number is generated as a collection request setting message. The collection request setting message is, for example, “A service man call requesting replacement of a yellow toner cartridge has been set. If there are any toner cartridges to be collected? Set the collection request along with the number of toner cartridges.” Message. The message generator 343 outputs the generated collection request setting message to the exchange / collection request screen generator 341.

  When the service man call operation accepting unit 327 receives a service man call setting instruction for requesting collection, the message generating unit 343 generates a collection request confirmation message. Specifically, a message for confirming the presence or absence of the toner cartridge 98 to be collected is displayed together with a message indicating that the replacement of the toner cartridge to be replaced received by the serviceman call operation receiving unit 327 is requested on the replacement setting screen. And generated as a collection request confirmation message. The collection request confirmation message is, for example, “A service man call requesting replacement of a yellow toner cartridge has been set. If there are any toner cartridges to be collected? Set the collection request along with the number of toner cartridges.” Message. The message generator 343 outputs the generated collection request confirmation message to the exchange / collection request screen generator 341.

  When the serviceman call operation receiving unit 327 receives a serviceman call notification determination instruction, the message generation unit 343 generates a serviceman call notification completion message. Specifically, a message indicating that the notification to the service man call is normally completed is generated as a service man call notification completion message. The notification completion message is, for example, a message “Contacting the service center has been completed normally”. The message generator 343 outputs the generated notification completion message to the exchange / collection request screen generator 341.

  The exchange / collection request screen generation unit 341 generates an exchange request screen and a collection request screen based on the printable sheet number information received by the printable sheet number request unit 321 and the message generated by the message generation unit 343. Specifically, an exchange setting screen, an exchange confirmation screen, a collection setting screen, a service man call notification screen, and a service man call completion screen are generated.

  When the determination result of the printable sheet number information is a second determination result indicating that there is no toner cartridge 98 that is short of the remaining amount, the replacement / collection request screen generation unit 341 displays the five printable sheet numbers of the printable sheet number information. An exchange setting screen including the printable sheet number and toner cartridge identification information included in each data is generated. When the determination result of the printable sheet number information is the first determination result indicating that there is a toner cartridge 98 that is nearly short of the remaining amount, the printable sheet number and the toner included in each of the five printable sheet number data of the printable sheet number information An exchange setting screen including cartridge identification information and a shortage remaining amount message generated by the message generation unit 343 is generated.

  The exchange / collection request screen generation unit 341 receives an exchange confirmation including the exchange request confirmation message generated by the message generation unit 343 when the service man call operation reception unit 327 receives a serviceman call setting instruction to request replacement. Generate a screen.

  The exchange / collection request screen generation unit 341 includes a collection request setting message generated by the message generation unit 343 when the serviceman call operation reception unit 327 receives an instruction to determine a serviceman call to be exchanged by the user. Generate a recovery setting screen.

  The exchange / collection request screen generation unit 341 includes the collection request confirmation message generated by the message generation unit 343 when the serviceman call operation reception unit 327 receives a serviceman call setting instruction requesting collection by the user. Generate a service man call notification screen.

  When the serviceman call operation accepting unit 327 receives a serviceman call notification determination instruction from the user, the exchange / collection request screen generating unit 341 includes a serviceman call notification completion message generated by the message generating unit 343. Generate a call completion screen.

  FIG. 13 is a first diagram showing an example of the print setting screen together with the second window displayed on the display. Here, a case will be described as an example where there is no toner cartridge 98 that is short of remaining amount. As shown in FIG. 13, the second window 400 is displayed in the display area 405 of the display, and the print setting screen is displayed in the second window 400. Here, since there is no toner cartridge 98 that is nearly short of the remaining amount, the print setting screen displayed in the second window 400 when the user presses the property button 353 of the print initial screen 351 is the main screen 410. . On the main screen 410, the user can set print conditions such as the number of copies, double-sided printing and single-sided printing, and N-up printing for printing N pages on one side.

  A plurality of tabs are displayed in the second window 400, and the user can instruct any of the plurality of tabs. The plurality of tabs include at least a main tab 411, a paper tab 413, and a cartridge tab 415. The cartridge tab 415 may be displayed on condition that the user is authenticated by an authentication password input to the operation unit 303 by the user. As the authentication password, user identification information for identifying the user may be used. User authentication may be set in advance.

  The main tab 411 is associated with a command for requesting display of the main screen 410. The paper tab 413 is associated with a command for requesting display of a paper screen. The cartridge tab 415 is associated with a command for requesting display of a replacement request screen. When the user designates any of the main tab 411, the paper tab 413, and the cartridge tab 415, a screen corresponding to the designated tab is displayed. Here, since the main screen 410 is displayed in the second window 400, the paper tab 413 or the cartridge tab 415 can be designated.

  The second window 400 includes an OK button 421, a cancel button 423, and a close button 425. The OK button 421 is associated with a command for effectively setting various conditions set on the screen to be displayed in the second window.

  When the user presses the OK button 421, the display of the second window 400 ends after the print conditions designated by the user on the print setting screen are set to be valid. The cancel button 423 and the close button 425 are associated with commands for invalidating various conditions set on the display target screen in the second window. When the user presses the cancel button 423 or the close button 425, the display of the second window 400 ends after the print conditions specified by the user on the print setting screen are set to invalid. When the OK button 421, the cancel button 423, and the close button 425 are pressed while the second window is displayed, conditions are valid / invalid, screen transitions, and the like are common.

  FIG. 14 is a second diagram illustrating an example of the print setting screen together with the second window displayed on the display. Here, a case will be described as an example where there is a toner cartridge 98 that is short of remaining amount. As shown in FIG. 14, a print setting screen is displayed in the second window 400. Here, since there is a toner cartridge 98 that is almost short of the remaining amount, the print setting screen displayed in the second window 400 when the user presses the property button 353 of the print initial screen 351 is one of the replacement request screens. It is an exchange setting screen 450 which is a screen. The replacement setting screen 450 includes a message display area 451, a toner remaining amount display area 453, a toner cartridge selection instruction area 455, a service man call setting button 471, and a service man call non-setting button 473.

  The remaining toner display area 453 is an area for displaying the number of printable sheets corresponding to the remaining amount of toner in each of the five toner cartridges 98. In the toner remaining amount display area 453, five printable sheet number data received from the MFP 100 are displayed. The number of printable sheets is indicated by a 5-level scale.

  The first row shows that an amount of toner corresponding to 10,000 or less printable sheets remains in the toner cartridge 98. The second row indicates that the toner cartridge 98 has an amount of toner corresponding to the range of 10,000 to 20,000 printable sheets. The third row indicates that the toner cartridge 98 has an amount of toner corresponding to a range of 20,000 to 30,000 printable sheets. The fourth row indicates that the toner cartridge 98 has an amount of toner corresponding to the range of 30,000 to 40,000 printable sheets. The fifth row indicates that the toner cartridge 98 has an amount of toner corresponding to the range of 40,000 to 50,000 printable sheets. For example, the number of printable sheets corresponding to the remaining amount of toner in the Y toner cartridge 98 is the first stage, indicating that an amount of toner corresponding to 10,000 sheets or less remains in the Y toner cartridge 98. . That is, the user indicates that at most the remaining 10,000 sheets can be printed using the toner contained in the Y toner cartridge 98. As a result, the user who sees the scale of the printable number of sheets of the Y toner cartridge 98 displayed in the toner remaining amount display area 453 can visually recognize that the printable number is small. You can easily know the timing.

  The message display area 451 is an area for displaying that the toner cartridge 98 is about to run out. If the determination result received from the MFP 100 is the first determination result indicating that there is a toner cartridge that is nearly short of the remaining amount, the message display area 451 is specified by the toner cartridge identification information included in the first determination result. A shortage message is displayed indicating that the number of printable sheets corresponding to the remaining amount of toner stored in the toner cartridge 98 is low. Here, the message “Yellow toner is low. Serviceman call is recommended.” Indicates that the toner cartridge 98 for Y is about to run out. For this reason, the user can recognize the toner cartridge near the shortage of the remaining amount by the message, and can easily know the replacement timing of the toner cartridge. Further, it is possible to easily know the toner cartridge to be requested for replacement.

  The toner cartridge selection instruction area 455 is an area that allows the user to select a toner cartridge that can be replaced. The toner cartridge selection instruction area 455 includes a check box for each toner cartridge identification information of the toner cartridge 98. Here, a check box 461 for setting the B1 toner cartridge as a replacement target and check boxes 462, 463, 464, and 465 for setting each of the B2, C, M, or Y toner cartridges as replacement targets are displayed. Including. Here, it is displayed that the Y toner cartridge is set to be replaced.

  The service man call setting button 471 is a button for instructing setting of a service man call requesting replacement of a toner cartridge. When the user presses the service man call setting button 471, a service man call requesting replacement of the type of toner cartridge set in the toner cartridge selection instruction area 455 is set, and a replacement confirmation screen is displayed in the second window 400. The

  The serviceman call non-setting button 473 is a button for instructing not to perform a serviceman call. When the user presses the service man call non-setting button 473, the replacement of the toner cartridge is not requested. When the user presses the serviceman call non-setting button 473, if the replacement setting screen 450 is displayed with priority over the main screen 410, the main screen 410 is displayed, and the cartridge tab 415 is instructed to change the setting. If the screen 450 is displayed, the display of the second window 400 ends.

  Note that, here, when there is a toner cartridge 98 that is short of the remaining amount, the screen displayed in the second window 400 is the replacement setting screen 450. However, the main screen 410 is displayed in the second window 400 and replaced. The user may be prompted to switch to the setting screen. For example, if the cartridge tab 415 is blinked, the user's attention can be drawn, so that the user can be prompted to press the cartridge tab 415 and the display can be switched to the replacement setting screen.

  As described above, the replacement setting screen 450 displays the remaining toner amount display area 453 for displaying the remaining toner amount of each of the five toner cartridges 98 and the cartridges that can be requested for replacement by the user. And a toner cartridge selection instruction area 455 for setting the target. For this reason, the user designates the type of toner cartridge to be requested for replacement in the toner cartridge selection instruction area 455 while confirming the toner cartridge in which the printable number of sheets is small with reference to the toner remaining amount display area 453. Can do. Thus, it is possible to prevent a situation in which a cartridge other than a toner cartridge having a small printable number is designated as a replacement target, and the user can obtain a desired toner cartridge.

  FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of an exchange confirmation screen displayed in the second window. As shown in FIG. 15, the replacement confirmation screen 500 includes a message display area 501, a determination button 503, a setting cancel button 505, a previous screen button 507, and an initial screen button 509.

  The message display area 501 is an area for displaying the contents set on the exchange setting screen 450. The message display area 501 further displays a message for prompting the user to select whether or not to perform a serviceman call after confirming the contents set on the exchange setting screen. Here, a message “Are you sure you want to replace the yellow toner cartridge with a service man call? If yes, please select.” Is displayed. As a result, the user can confirm the replacement request after confirming the type of toner cartridge to be replaced again.

  The decision button 503 is a button for instructing confirmation of the content for requesting replacement of the toner cartridge to be replaced. When the user presses the enter button 503, a service call notification is prepared with the exchange request content set on the exchange setting screen 450, and the collection setting screen 550 is displayed. A setting cancel button 505 is a button for instructing cancellation of the setting of a service man call requesting replacement. When the user presses the setting cancel button 505, the confirmed exchange request is canceled. When the user presses the setting cancel button 505, if the previous replacement setting screen 450 is displayed with priority over the main screen 410, an image adjustment screen described later is displayed, and the previous one is displayed. If the cartridge tab 415 is instructed and displayed on the replacement setting screen 450, the display of the second window 400 ends.

  The previous screen button 507 is a button for instructing to return to the previous screen. When the user presses the previous screen button 507, the replacement setting screen 450 displayed immediately before the replacement confirmation screen 500 is displayed in the second window 400. At this time, the replacement setting screen 450 may be in a state in which a check box specified by the set type of toner cartridge to be replaced is checked. This eliminates the need to re-designate a toner cartridge that has already been designated for replacement. In addition, when requesting replacement of an additional toner cartridge, it is only necessary to additionally specify a toner cartridge to be replaced. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the number of operations for designating the toner cartridge by the user.

  An initial screen button 509 is a button for instructing to display a screen set as a default. Here, it is assumed that the main screen 410 is set to default. When the user presses the initial screen button 509, the main screen 410 is displayed in the second window 400.

  FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of the collection setting screen displayed in the second window. As shown in FIG. 16, the collection setting screen 550 includes a message display area 551, a collection instruction area 552, a determination button 571, a previous screen button 572, and an initial screen button 509.

  The message display area 551 is an area for confirming whether there is a toner cartridge to be collected and, if there is, a collection request setting message for designating the number of toner cartridges. In the message display area 551, a message for prompting the user to input whether or not to request the collection of the toner cartridge is displayed. Here, the message “Service man call requesting replacement of yellow toner cartridge has been set. Are there any toner cartridges to collect? Enter the number of toner cartridges and set the collection request.” Is displayed. As a result, the user can simultaneously instruct the collection of the used toner cartridge following the replacement request.

  The collection instruction area 552 is an area that allows the user to request collection of toner cartridges and specify the number of toner cartridges. The collection instruction area 552 includes a check box 661 with a collected toner cartridge for setting the collection of the toner cartridge and a check box 562 without a collected toner cartridge for not setting the collection of the toner cartridge. In the collection instruction area 552, a pull-down menu for setting the number of toner cartridges to be counted is displayed. FIG. 17 shows an example of a collection setting screen in which five collection settings are made.

  The decision button 571 is a button for instructing setting of contents for requesting collection of the toner cartridge 98. When the user presses the enter button 503, a serviceman call notification screen 600 for confirming the contents set on the collection setting screen 550 is displayed.

  The previous screen button 572 is a button for instructing to return to the previous screen. When the user presses the previous screen button 572, the replacement confirmation screen 500 displayed immediately before the collection setting screen 550 is displayed in the second window 400.

  FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of a serviceman call notification screen displayed in the second window. As shown in FIG. 18, the serviceman call notification screen 600 includes a message display area 601, a determination button 671, a contact cancel button 672, a previous screen button 673, and an initial screen button 509.

  The message display area 601 is an area for displaying a collection request confirmation that confirms the collection request contents and, if there is no error, prompts the user to select a service call notification decision. Here, a message is also displayed for the exchange request content so that the exchange request content can be confirmed. In this case, the message “Yellow toner cartridge service man call has been set. There are 5 toner cartridges to collect. Are you sure you want to do this? .

  The decision button 671 is a button for confirming and instructing a service man call notification including the exchange request content / collection request content. When the user depresses the determination button 671, the setting contents set on the collection setting screen 550 are confirmed as the collection request contents, and the service request notification including both of these request contents together with the exchange request contents confirmed on the exchange confirmation screen 500 Is instructed to the serviceman call notification unit 333, and the serviceman call notification unit 333 notifies the service center. Thereafter, a service man call completion screen 650 is displayed.

  The contact cancel button 672 is a button for instructing cancellation of notification of a service man call requesting replacement or replacement / collection. When the user presses the contact cancel button 672, the confirmed exchange request or exchange / collection request is canceled. When the user presses the contact cancel button 672, the second window 400 displays a replacement confirmation screen 500 that is two pages before the serviceman call notification screen.

  The previous screen button 673 is a button for instructing to return to the previous screen. When the user presses the previous screen button 673, the collection setting screen 550 displayed immediately before the serviceman call notification screen 600 is displayed in the second window 400. At this time, the collection setting screen 550 may be in a state in which a check box for designating the presence or absence of a collection cartridge is checked, or in a state in which the number is designated.

  FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example of a serviceman call completion screen displayed in the second window. As shown in FIG. 19, the service man call completion screen 650 includes a message display area 651.

  The message display area 651 is an area for displaying that the notification of serviceman call is completed with the confirmed exchange request contents or the exchange request contents and the collection request contents. Thereby, the user can recognize that the notification of the service man call requesting the exchange or the exchange / collection is completed. In the present embodiment, a message indicating switching to the image adjustment screen is further displayed in message display area 651. In this case, the message “Contacting the service center has been completed successfully. Display the image adjustment screen.

  Referring back to FIG. 10 again, the preview image generation unit 347 previews based on the adjustment setting value set as the default according to the toner consumption reduction ratio acquired by the image adjustment setting unit 331 with reference to the image adjustment table 361. Generate an image. The preview image is generated by reflecting the density specified by the density setting value, the dot density setting value by the dot density and the contrast specified by the contrast setting value. The preview image generation unit 347 outputs the generated preview image to the image adjustment screen generation unit 345. Also, the preview image generation unit 347 generates a new preview image each time the adjustment setting value is updated by the image adjustment setting unit 331 and outputs the preview image to the image adjustment screen generation unit 345.

  The image adjustment screen generation unit 345 generates an image adjustment screen. Specifically, an image adjustment screen including at least a preview image input from the preview image generation unit 347 and an image adjustment area for accepting image adjustment is generated. The preview image included in the image adjustment screen is updated every time the preview image is generated by the preview image generation unit 347. Therefore, the user can check the updated preview image when at least one of the image density, the image dot density, and the image contrast is changed by an operation for adjusting the image.

  FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image adjustment screen displayed in the second window. As shown in FIG. 20, the image adjustment screen 700 includes a preview image 701, a reduction ratio display area 703, an image adjustment area 705, and a next screen button 707.

  The reduction rate display area 703 is an area for displaying a reduction rate of toner consumption. In the reduction ratio display area 703, the ratio of the smaller printable sheet number to the larger printable sheet number for two of the five toner cartridges 98 with the smaller printable sheet number is displayed as a toner consumption reduction ratio. . In other words, the reduction rate of the toner consumption specified by the image adjustment setting unit 331 is displayed.

  The image adjustment area 705 is an area for setting adjustment setting values. In the image adjustment area 705, there are six levels of indices indicating six different density setting values for adjusting the image density, and six levels of indices indicating six different dot density setting values for adjusting the image dot density. And six levels of indicators indicating six different contrast setting values for adjusting the image contrast.

  Each of the six indicators of the density setting value can be exclusively selected, and the indicator displayed on the side closer to the position where the character string “High” is shown is a higher value. Each of the six indices of the dot density setting value can be selected exclusively in the same manner, and the index displayed on the side closer to the position where the character string “High” is displayed is higher. The same applies to the six indexes of the contrast setting value. Each of the indexes can be selected exclusively, and the index displayed on the side closer to the position where the character string “High” is displayed is higher.

  In each adjustment item in the image adjustment area 705, the adjustment setting value specified by the index at the position where the character string “High” is shown corresponds to the reduction ratio 0% in the image adjustment table 361 shown in FIG. It corresponds to an adjustment setting value (image setting value, dot density setting value, contrast setting value). In the image adjustment area 705, the image adjustment setting unit 331 updates the adjustment setting value as appropriate by changing the index of each adjustment item from that corresponding to the adjustment setting value corresponding to the reduction ratio.

  The preview image 701 is an image specified by the adjustment setting value specified by the image adjustment area 705. Specifically, the image is set by the preview image generation unit 347 to the density specified by the density setting value, the dot density specified by the dot density setting value, and the contrast specified by the contrast setting value. For this reason, the user who views the preview image 701 can confirm the mode of the image formed on the paper before printing. Note that the preview image 701 may be a preview image using a reference image, or a preview image generated based on an image of data to be printed.

  A next screen button 707 (a button displayed as “next screen” in the figure) is a button for the user to confirm the adjustment setting value. When the user presses the next screen button 707, when the user presses the next screen button 707, the adjustment setting value specified by the index displayed with a frame in the image adjustment area 705 is confirmed, and is displayed in the second window. The paper screen is displayed.

  Returning to FIG. 10 again, the paper screen generation unit 349 generates a paper screen. Specifically, a paper screen including at least a preview image input from the preview image generation unit 347 and a paper size setting area for setting the paper size is generated. The paper size setting area includes a plurality of types of paper sizes, and one is set as a default. The paper size set as the default is preferably one size smaller than the specified size. This is because the printing range is narrowed, the toner consumption can be suppressed, and it is not excessively reduced. The operation accepting unit 325 accepts a designated paper size among a plurality of paper sizes included in the paper size setting area, and changes the paper size setting. Therefore, the paper screen generation unit 349 generates a paper screen updated to the changed paper size.

  In the present embodiment, the default setting of the paper size is a first setting that indicates that there is a toner cartridge 98 whose determination result included in the printable sheet number information received by the printable sheet number request unit 321 is short of the remaining amount. It is a condition that it is a judgment result.

  FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating an example of a paper screen displayed in the second window. As shown in FIG. 21, the paper screen 750 includes a preview image 751, a paper size setting area 753, a print button 755, a print cancel button 757, a previous screen button 759, and an initial screen button 509.

  The preview image 751 is an image identified by the adjustment setting value determined on the image adjustment screen 700. The paper size setting area 753 is an area for setting one of a plurality of types of paper sizes. Here, the paper size setting area 753 is a pull-down menu and displays that the paper size “B5” is set to the default. In the paper size setting area 753, the user can change to a paper size other than “B5”.

  The print button 755 is a button for instructing execution of printing. When the user presses the print button 755, an image is formed by instructing the MFP 100 to form an image of data to be printed under the print conditions set on the print setting screen.

  The print cancel button 757 is a button for instructing cancellation of printing. When the user presses the print cancel button 757, the image formation of the data to be printed is cancelled.

  The previous screen button 759 is a button for instructing to return to the previous screen. When the user presses the previous screen button 759, the image adjustment screen 700 displayed immediately before the paper screen 750 is displayed in the second window. At this time, a fixed adjustment setting value may be set on the image adjustment screen 700 or may be returned to a default state.

  As described above, the initial screen button 509 is a button for instructing to display a screen set as a default. In this embodiment, when the user presses the initial screen button 509, the main screen 410 is displayed. Is displayed in the second window.

  Referring back to FIG. 10 again, the service man call notification unit 333 receives the service man call notification instruction for requesting replacement or replacement / collection by the service man call operation reception unit 327, and thereby the service man call notification instruction is received. The MFP 100 is notified of the fact.

  The serviceman call notification unit 333 sends the exchange request content or the exchange request content / collection request content included in the serviceman call notification instruction input from the serviceman call operation reception unit 327 via the communication I / F unit 309 to the MFP 100. Send to. As a result, a service person visits from the service center, the requested toner cartridge is replaced, and the requested number of toner cartridges are collected.

  The service person is the address registered in the server PC 101 of the service center by the user of each of the PCs 120 and 130 in which the printer driver for controlling the MFP 100 is installed. In this case, the server PC 101 may store the device identification information and the address of each of the PCs 120 and 130 as address data in association with each other, or store the user identification information and the address of the user of each of the PCs 120 and 130 in association with each other. You may do it.

  The print request unit 335 receives the print instruction from the operation reception unit 325, print condition information including the adjustment setting value set by the image adjustment setting unit 331 and the set paper size, and the print target. The print request command including the data is transmitted to the MFP 100 via the communication I / F unit 309.

  As described above, when the user presses the property button 353 on the print initial screen 351, the print setting screen is displayed. Therefore, the user can confirm the printable number of sheets corresponding to the remaining amount of toner in each of the five toner cartridges 98 when setting the print condition on the print setting screen. Further, when the user presses the property button 353 on the print initial screen 351, a screen corresponding to the determination result determined in the MFP 100 is displayed. That is, when the determination result indicates that there is no toner cartridge 98 that is short of remaining amount, the main screen 410 is displayed, and when the determination result indicates that there is a toner cartridge 98 that is short of remaining amount. An exchange setting screen 450 is displayed. As a result, when the state of the shortage of the remaining amount has occurred in any of the five toner cartridges 98, the replacement setting screen 450 is displayed in preference to the other screens. The user can easily recognize the toner cartridge to be requested. Further, when the printable number of sheets of any of the five toner cartridges is almost insufficient, the user does not get lost on the screen for requesting replacement of the toner cartridge. Thereby, when the printable number of toner cartridges is almost insufficient, even a user who is not familiar with the operation on the screen can easily obtain the necessary toner cartridge. Further, it is possible to prompt the user to request replacement of the toner cartridge by a message about the shortage of the remaining amount, and it is possible to prevent a situation where the toner cartridges are insufficient.

  Further, the toner cartridge obtained from the print setting screen created by the printer driver is a genuine toner cartridge. Therefore, the failure of the image forming apparatus due to the use of non-genuine consumables that are not sold through the regular sales route can be suppressed, and maintenance costs can be further reduced, thereby contributing to cost reduction. Further, in the consumables manufacturer that manages and manages the service center, the user can continue to use the consumables manufactured in-house, which leads to an increase in sales.

  As described above, when any of the five toner cartridges 98 indicates that the remaining amount is short, the image adjustment screen 700 and the paper screen 650 are displayed in the second window 400 after the replacement request screen / collection request screen. Is done. In the image adjustment screen 700, adjustment setting values (image density, image dot density, and image contrast) that can reduce toner consumption are set by default for the toner cartridge 98 with a small remaining amount. If an image is formed according to the default setting, the toner consumption can be suppressed. Also, on the paper screen 650, the paper size that can reduce the toner consumption is set as a default, so if an image is formed according to the default setting, the printing range is narrower than that of a paper with a large paper size. Thus, toner consumption can be suppressed. Therefore, since it is possible to set the toner consumption amount to be suppressed on the image adjustment screen 700 and the paper screen 650, the toner cartridge that is requested to be replaced on the replacement request screen is short of the remaining amount until the user reaches the user. A decrease in the toner amount of the toner cartridge can be suppressed. As a result, it is possible to prevent the remaining amount of toner from occurring during the period until the toner cartridge is obtained, thereby preventing interruption of the printing operation.

  FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of printable sheet number information generation / transmission processing. The printable sheet number information generation / transmission process is a process executed by the control unit 201 when the control unit 201 executes a printable sheet number information generation / transmission program stored in the ROM or the HDD. As shown in FIG. 20, it is determined whether or not a request for transmission of the printable number has been made (step S01). If there is a request for transmission of the printable number of sheets from either PC 120 or 130 (YES in step S01), the process proceeds to step S02. That is, the printable sheet number information generation / transmission process is a process executed in response to a printable sheet number transmission request from either of the PCs 120 and 130.

  In step S02, a cumulative toner consumption amount by executing the print job is acquired. Specifically, the toner consumption record up to the present included in the toner consumption table 263 stored in the storage unit 202 is selected one by one, and the toner consumption is accumulated.

  In the next step S03, the remaining amount of toner in the five toner cartridges 98 is estimated. Specifically, the remaining amount of toner is estimated by subtracting the cumulative toner consumption acquired in step S02 from the initial amount of toner stored in the toner cartridge 98. Then, for each of the five toner cartridges 98, toner remaining amount data including toner cartridge identification information and the estimated toner remaining amount is generated.

  In the next step S04, the history table 261 stored in the storage unit 202 is read, and the process proceeds to step S05.

  In step S05, history records included in a predetermined period are selected one by one from the history table 261 read in step S04. Then, the number of printed sheets included in the selected history record is accumulated (step S06).

  In the next step S07, the toner consumption amount table 263 stored in the storage unit 202 is read. Then, the toner consumption amount records included in the read toner consumption amount table 263 are selected one by one for the same predetermined period as in step S06 (step S08), and the toner consumption amount is accumulated (step S09).

  In step S10, the number of printable sheets is calculated for each of the five toner cartridges 98. Specifically, the number of printable sheets is calculated by dividing the toner consumption amount per sheet from the toner remaining amount estimated in step S03. The toner consumption amount per sheet is calculated by dividing the cumulative toner consumption amount calculated in step S09 by the cumulative print number calculated in step S06.

  In the next step S11, five printable sheet number data are generated. Specifically, for each of the five toner cartridges 98, printable sheet number data including the toner cartridge identification information and the printable sheet number calculated in step S11 is generated for each of the five toner cartridges 98.

  In the next step S12, the threshold data 243 stored in the storage unit 202 is read, and the process proceeds to step S13.

  In step S13, one of the five printable sheet number data generated in step S11 is selected, and the process proceeds to step S14.

  In step S14, it is determined whether the printable number included in the printable number data selected in step S13 is smaller than the threshold value T indicated by the threshold value data 243 read in step S12. If the printable number is smaller than threshold value T, the process proceeds to step S15; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S16.

  In step S15, a first determination result indicating that there is a toner cartridge indicating that the toner remaining shortage is approaching is generated. Specifically, if it is determined in step S14 that the value is smaller than the threshold value T, a first determination result including toner cartridge identification information included in the printable sheet number data selected in step S14 is generated.

  In the next step S16, it is determined whether or not there is unselected printable sheet number data among the five printable sheet number data. If there is unselected printable sheet number data, the process returns to step S13; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S17.

  Note that the processes in steps S13 to S16 are repeated until there is no unselected printable sheet number data in step S16. Therefore, the first determination result is updated every time it is determined in step S15 that the printable sheet number included in the printable sheet number data selected in step S13 is smaller than the threshold value T. In other words, the first determination result includes toner cartridge identification information extracted from the five printable sheet number data including the printable sheet number determined to be smaller than the threshold T.

  In step S17, it is determined whether there is a printable number of toner cartridges 98 less than the threshold T. If it is determined in step S14 that there is a toner cartridge 98 that is determined to have a printable number less than the threshold value T, the process proceeds to step S19. If not, the process proceeds to step S18.

  In step S18, a second determination result indicating that there is no toner cartridge that is short of remaining amount is generated, and the process proceeds to step S19.

  In step S19, printable sheet number information including the five printable sheet number data generated in step S11 and the determination result generated in either step S15 or step S18 is generated. Then, the printable sheet number information is transmitted to the PC 120 or 130 that has requested transmission of the printable sheet number in step S01, and the printable sheet number information generation / transmission process ends.

  FIG. 23 and FIG. 24 are flowcharts showing an example of the flow of the service man call / energy saving printing request process. The service man call / energy saving printing request process is a process executed by the control unit 301 when the control unit 301 executes a service man call / energy saving printing request program stored in the ROM or HDD. As shown in FIG. 23, it is determined whether or not there is a print instruction. If the print button is pressed using operation unit 303 (YES in step S21), the process proceeds to step S22.

  In step S22, the print initial screen 351 shown in FIG. 11 is displayed in the first window 350, and the process proceeds to step S23.

  In step S23, the MFP 100 is requested for the number of printable sheets. Then, it is determined whether or not printable sheet number information has been received from MFP 100 (step S24). More specifically, the MFP 100 that has received the transmission request for the printable number of sheets transmits printable sheet number information including five printable sheet number data corresponding to the five toner cartridges 98 and the determination result. It is determined whether or not the printed printable sheet number information has been received via the communication I / F unit 309. If the printable sheet number information is received (YES in step S24), the process proceeds to step S25.

  In step S25, the determination result is extracted from the printable sheet number information received in step S24, and the process proceeds to step S26.

  In the next step S26, it is determined whether or not the property button 353 is pressed on the print initial screen 351 displayed in the first window 350 in step S22. If property button 353 is pressed, the process proceeds to step S27; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S32.

  In step S27, it is determined whether there is a toner cartridge 98 that is nearing short of the remaining amount. Specifically, it is determined whether or not the determination result extracted in step S25 is a first determination result indicating that there is a toner cartridge that is nearly short of the remaining amount. If the determination result extracted in step S25 is the first determination result indicating that there is a toner cartridge that is short of remaining amount, the process proceeds to step S33; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S28. Here, if the determination result extracted in step S25 is not the first determination result indicating that there is a toner cartridge that is short of the remaining amount, the second determination indicating that there is no toner cartridge that is short of the remaining amount. It is a result.

  In step S28, the main screen 410 shown in FIG. 12 is displayed in the second window 400, and the process proceeds to step S29.

  In step S29, it is determined whether or not the cartridge tab 415 is pressed in the second window 400. If cartridge tab 415 has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S33; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S30.

  Here, when a tab other than the cartridge tab 415 is pressed in the second window 400, a print setting screen corresponding to the pressed tab is displayed in the second window 400. Therefore, the user can set print conditions according to the print setting screen displayed in the second window 400.

  In step S30, it is determined whether or not there is an instruction to close second window 400. If there is an instruction to close second window 400, the process proceeds to step S31. If not, the process returns to step S29. The close instruction here is an operation of pressing one of the OK button 421, the cancel button 423, or the close button 425. When the OK button 421 is pressed, the print conditions specified on the print setting screen displayed in the second window 400 are valid.

  In step S31, the display of second window 400 is terminated, and the process proceeds to step S32.

  In step S32, the first print execution request process is executed, and the serviceman call / energy-saving print request process ends. The first print execution request process is a process for requesting MFP 100 to execute print of data to be printed under print conditions set according to a print setting screen displayed in second window 400, which will be described later.

  Step S33 is a case in which it is determined in step S30 that there is a toner cartridge 98 that is short of remaining amount. In step S33, an exchange setting screen 450 including a shortage message is displayed and displayed in second window 400, and the process proceeds to step S34.

  In step S34, it is determined whether or not the serviceman call setting button 471 is pressed on the exchange setting screen 450 displayed in step S33. If setting button 471 is pressed, the process proceeds to step S37; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S35.

  In step S35, it is determined whether or not there is an instruction to close second window 400. If so, the process proceeds to step S36; otherwise, the process returns to step S34. The close instruction here is an operation of pressing one of the OK button 421, the cancel button 423, or the close button 425. Also in this case, when the OK button 421 is pressed, the print conditions specified on the print setting screen displayed in the second window 400 become valid.

  In step S36, the display of second window 400 is terminated, and the process returns to step S26.

  In step S37, a consumable item selection process is executed, and the process proceeds to step S38. As will be described later, the consumables selection process displays a replacement confirmation screen 500 shown in FIG. 15 based on the contents set by the user on the replacement setting screen 450 displayed in the second window 400 in step S33, and the setting contents for the user. It is a process to confirm.

  In step S38, it is determined whether or not the enter button 503 has been pressed on the replacement confirmation screen 500 displayed in step S37. If the determination button 503 is pressed, the process proceeds to step S43 in FIG. 24. If not, the process proceeds to step S39.

  In step S39, it is determined whether or not the setting stop button 505 is pressed on the replacement confirmation screen 500 displayed in step S37. If setting stop button 505 is pressed, the process proceeds to step S40; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S41.

  In step S40, the previously set content is canceled using exchange setting screen 450, and the process proceeds to step S57 in FIG. Note that it is preferable that the process proceeds to S57 when resource saving is required, and the replacement request screen is displayed in S27 when the presence of a toner cartridge 98 with insufficient remaining amount is detected.

  In step S41, it is determined whether or not the previous screen button 507 has been pressed on the replacement confirmation screen 500. If the previous screen button 507 has been pressed, the process returns to step S33; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S42.

  In step S42, it is determined whether or not initial screen button 509 has been pressed. If initial screen button 509 is pressed, the process returns to step S28; otherwise, the process returns to step S38.

  As shown in FIG. 24, in step S43, the content set using the exchange setting screen 450 is confirmed as the exchange request content, and the process proceeds to step S44.

  In step S44, a collection setting screen 550 including a message asking whether to request toner cartridge collection is generated and displayed in the second window 400, and the process proceeds to step S45.

  In step S45, it is determined whether or not the enter button 571 has been pressed on the collection setting screen 550 displayed in step S44. If determination button 571 is pressed, the process proceeds to step S49; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S46.

  In step S46, it is determined whether or not the previous screen button 572 has been pressed on the collection setting screen 550. If the previous screen button 572 is pressed, the process returns to step S33 in FIG. 23. If not, the process proceeds to step S47.

  In step S47, it is determined whether or not the initial screen button 509 has been pressed. If initial screen button 509 is pressed, the process returns to step S28; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S48.

  In step S48, it is determined whether or not there is an instruction to close second window 400. If so, the process proceeds to step S36; otherwise, the process returns to step S45.

  In step S49, a collection request determination process is executed, and the process proceeds to step S50. The collection request confirmation process, which will be described later, is a service man call that also serves as a collection request confirmation screen shown in FIG. 18 based on the contents set by the user on the collection setting screen 550 displayed in the second window 400 in step S44. This is a process for displaying and confirming the notification screen 600.

  In step S50, it is determined whether or not determination button 671 has been pressed on serviceman call notification screen 600 displayed in step S49. If determination button 671 is pressed, the process proceeds to step S55; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S51.

  In step S51, it is determined whether or not contact stop button 672 is pressed on serviceman call notification screen 600 displayed in step S49. If contact stop button 672 is pressed, the process proceeds to step S37 in FIG. 23. If not, the process proceeds to step S52.

  In step S52, it is determined whether or not previous screen button 673 has been pressed on serviceman call notification screen 600. If previous screen button 673 is pressed, the process returns to step S44; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S53.

  In step S53, it is determined whether or not initial screen button 509 has been pressed. If initial screen button 509 is pressed, the process returns to step S28; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S54.

  In step S54, it is determined whether or not there is an instruction to close second window 400. If so, the process proceeds to step S36; otherwise, the process returns to step S50.

  In step S55, a service man call notification including the exchange request content / collection request content, which is instructed on the service man call notification screen, is transmitted to server PC 101, and the process proceeds to step S56.

  In step S56, a serviceman call completion screen 650 including a serviceman call completion message is generated and displayed in second window 400, and the process proceeds to step S57.

  In step S57, an energy saving setting process is executed, and the process proceeds to step S58. As will be described later, the energy saving setting process is a process of adjusting the image and setting the paper size so that the toner consumption is reduced.

  In step S58, the second print execution request process is executed, and the serviceman call / energy-saving print request process ends. The second print execution request process is a process of requesting MFP 100 to form an image of data to be printed with the image adjustment and paper size set in step S49, which will be described later.

  FIG. 25 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the consumable item selection process. The consumable item selection process is a process executed in step S37 of the serviceman call / energy-saving print request process shown in FIGS. As shown in FIG. 25, it is determined whether or not a replacement toner cartridge is designated on the replacement setting screen 450 displayed in step S33 of FIG. 23 (step S61). If the toner cartridge has been designated, the process proceeds to step S63; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S62.

  In the next step S62, a message screen prompting the user to specify the toner cartridge to be replaced is displayed in the third window, and the process returns to step S34 in FIG.

  In step S63, the setting content for requesting replacement with the toner cartridge designated in step S61 is confirmed.

  In the next step S64, an exchange confirmation screen 500 including an exchange contents confirmation message for confirming whether or not to confirm the exchange request serviceman call notification with the setting contents decided in step S63 is generated and displayed in the second window. 400 is displayed, and the consumables selection process is terminated.

  FIG. 26 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the collection request determination process. The collection request confirmation process is a process executed in step S49 of the service man call / energy-saving print request process shown in FIGS. As shown in FIG. 26, it is determined whether or not the collection cartridge is specified on the collection setting screen 550 displayed in step S44 of FIG. 24 (step S71). If it is designated that there is a collection cartridge, the process proceeds to step S72. If not, the process ends and the collection request determination process ends.

  In the next step S72, it is determined whether or not the number of toner cartridges to be collected is designated. If designated, the process proceeds to step S73. If not, the process proceeds to step S75.

  In step S75, a message screen prompting the user to specify the number of toner cartridges to be collected is displayed in the third window, and the process returns to step S50 in FIG.

  In step S73, the number of collection cartridges designated in step S72 is determined as the setting content for requesting collection.

  In the next step S74, a serviceman call notification screen 600 including a collection content confirmation message for confirming whether or not to confirm the serviceman call notification of the exchange request with the setting content determined in step S73 is generated and displayed. 2 is displayed in the window 400, and the exchange request confirmation process is terminated.

  FIG. 27 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of the first print execution request process. The first print execution request process is a process executed in step S32 of FIG. As shown in FIG. 27, it is determined whether or not there has been a print execution instruction on the print initial screen 351 displayed in the first window 350 (step S81). If there is a print execution instruction, the process proceeds to step S83; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S82.

  In step S <b> 82, it is determined whether or not there has been a print cancel instruction on the print initial screen 351 displayed in the first window 350. If there is a print cancel instruction, the process proceeds to step S84; otherwise, the process returns to step S81.

  In step S83, the MFP 100 is requested to execute a print job. Specifically, a print request command including data to be printed is transmitted to MFP 100 via communication I / F 309.

  In the next step S84, the display of the first window 350 is terminated, and the first print execution request process is terminated.

  FIG. 28 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of energy saving setting processing. The energy saving setting process is a process executed in step S57 of the service man call / energy saving printing request process shown in FIGS. As shown in FIG. 28, the reduction rate of the toner consumption is calculated (step S91). Specifically, the first and second smallest printable sheet number data are extracted from the printable sheet number data included in the printable sheet number information received in step S24 of FIG. 23, and the second smallest printable sheet number data is extracted. The ratio of the printable sheet number of the first smallest printable sheet number data to the printable sheet number is calculated as the toner consumption reduction ratio.

  In the next step S92, the image adjustment table 361 stored in the storage unit 307 is read. Then, an image adjustment record corresponding to the reduction rate of the toner consumption calculated in step S91 is extracted from the read image adjustment table 361 (step S93).

  In step S94, the density setting value, dot density setting value, and contrast setting value included in the image adjustment record extracted in step S93 are acquired as adjustment setting values. Then, the acquired adjustment setting value is set as a default (step S95).

  In the next step S96, a preview image is generated based on the default adjustment setting value set in step S95. Then, an image adjustment screen including the generated preview image and the toner consumption reduction ratio calculated in step S91 is generated (step S97) and displayed in the second window 400 (step S98).

  In the next step S99, it is determined whether or not the next screen button 607 has been pressed on the image adjustment screen 700 displayed in the second window 400 in step S98. If the next screen button 607 is pressed, the process proceeds to step S106; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S100.

  In step S100, it is determined whether or not there is an instruction to close second window 400. If there is an instruction to close second window 400, the process proceeds to step S103; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S101. The close instruction here is an operation of pressing one of the OK button 421, the cancel button 423, or the close button 425. When the OK button 421 is pressed, the print conditions specified on the print setting screen displayed in the second window 400 are valid.

  In step S101, it is determined whether or not an image adjustment operation has been performed on the image adjustment screen 700 displayed in the second window 400 in step S98. If there is an image adjustment operation, the process proceeds to step S102; otherwise, the process returns to step S99.

  In step S102, the adjustment setting value changed by the image adjustment operation in step S101 is updated, and the process returns to step S96.

  In step S103, it is determined whether or not the closing instruction in step S100 is an instruction by pressing the OK button 421. If the close instruction is not the OK button 421, the process proceeds to S104, and the adjustment set value is returned to the default set in step S95. Then, the display of the second window 400 is terminated (step S105), and the energy saving setting process is terminated. On the other hand, if the close instruction is the OK button 421 in step S103, step S104 is skipped, the process proceeds to step S105, the display of the second window 400 is terminated, and the energy saving setting process is terminated.

  In step 106, a paper size that is one size smaller than the paper size designated in advance is acquired. Then, the obtained paper size is set as a default (step S107).

  In the next step S108, a paper screen indicating that the paper size set in step S107 is set as a default is displayed in the second window 400 including the preview image 701 generated in step S96. The process proceeds to step S109.

  In step S109, it is determined whether or not there has been an operation for changing the paper size on the paper screen 650 displayed in the second window 400 in step S108. If there is an operation to change the paper size, the process returns to step S107. If not, the energy saving setting process is terminated.

  FIG. 29 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary flow of a second print execution request process. The second print execution request process is a process executed in step S58 of the service man call / energy-saving print request process shown in FIGS. As shown in FIG. 29, it is determined whether or not the print button 755 has been pressed on the paper screen 750 displayed in the second window 400 in step S107 (step S110). If print button 755 is pressed, the process proceeds to step 114; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S111.

  In step S111, it is determined whether or not the print cancel button 757 is pressed on the paper screen 750 displayed in the second window 400 in step S107. If the print cancel button 757 is pressed, the process proceeds to step S115; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S112.

  In step S112, it is determined whether or not the previous screen button 759 has been pressed on the paper screen 750 displayed in the second window 400 in step S107. If previous screen button 759 has been pressed, the process returns to step S98; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S113.

  In step S113, it is determined whether or not the initial screen button 509 has been pressed on the paper screen 750 displayed in the second window 400 in step S107. If initial screen button 509 is pressed, the process returns to step S28; otherwise, the process returns to step S110.

  In step S114, the MFP 100 is requested to execute printing. Specifically, the printing condition information including the default adjustment setting value set in step S95 or the adjustment setting value updated in step S102, the paper size set in step S106, and the data to be printed. Then, it is included in a print request command for requesting print execution and transmitted to MFP 100 via communication I / F 309.

  In the next step S115, the display of the first and second windows is terminated, and the second print execution request process is terminated.

  FIG. 30 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of image formation control processing. The image formation control process is executed by the control unit 201 executing the image formation control program stored in the storage unit 202, and in steps S32 and S58 of the service man call / energy saving printing request shown in FIGS. It is a process executed in response to a request. As shown in FIG. 30, it is determined whether or not a print request has been made (step S121). Specifically, it is determined whether a print request command has been received from either PC 120 or 130. If a print request command is received (YES in step S121), the process proceeds to step S122.

  In step S122, an adjustment setting value is set according to the printing condition information included in the print request command. Then, the print condition is set for the paper size according to the print condition information (step S123).

  In the next step S124, an image of data included in the print request command is formed according to the adjustment setting value set in step S122 and the paper size set in step S123, and the process proceeds to step S125.

  In step S125, the number of sheets used in the print job executed in step S124 is acquired as the number of prints. Specifically, since the signal outputs ON / OFF every time the sheet passes through the detection area of the sheet detection sensor 14 in step S124, the number counted according to switching between ON and OFF is acquired as the number of printed sheets. . In addition, although the case of single-sided printing is assumed here, in the case of double-sided printing, it counts by converting into single-sided printing. Thereafter, the image formation control process ends.

  As described above, the PC 120 of the present invention is a print control apparatus that controls the MFP 100 in which the five toner cartridges 98 are mounted, and is a print that accepts input of setting conditions for the MFP 100 according to each function of the MFP 100. A display control unit 323 for displaying a setting screen on the display unit 204 is provided, and the print setting screen includes a replacement request screen for receiving a toner cartridge replacement request instruction and a collection request screen for receiving a used toner cartridge.

  Therefore, the user uses the replacement request screen as if to set and input printing conditions without performing a special action such as selecting a printer “consumable order” in the drop-down list. A cartridge is available. In addition, since the toner cartridge can be collected using the collection request screen together with the replacement request, the collection efficiency of the used consumables can be increased and the resources can be effectively used.

  In addition, since the replacement request screen / collection request screen is a screen included in the print setting screen, it may be changed regardless of the user's intention, such as a consumables ordering screen provided from the WEB site. It is always a fixed screen. Therefore, even a user who is not used to purchasing products using the WEB service can easily obtain desired consumables without hesitation in inputting instructions to the screen. In addition, consumables can be obtained by a very simple operation for a user who does not want to contact the service center.

  In addition, in the present embodiment, since the replacement request screen includes printable sheet number information indicating an indicator of the remaining amount of consumables, the user can recognize the remaining amount of consumables from the replacement request screen. If there is a consumable item (toner cartridge) that is short of the remaining amount, a replacement request for the consumable item can be appropriately performed.

  By increasing the collection efficiency of used toner cartridges, the collection process proceeds smoothly in the cycle shown in FIG. 20. Therefore, for manufacturers that provide consumables, it is possible to stabilize the production of recycled consumables. Can contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gases and the prevention of global warming.

  In addition, in this case, the printing conditions that can reduce the consumption of the consumables from the default can be set on the image adjustment screen 650, so that the consumables are almost exhausted until the consumables arrive at the user. It is possible to prevent the product from running out.

  In this embodiment, the image density, the dot density of the image, and the contrast of the image are adjusted as the image adjustment. However, the configuration for adjusting the color tone, the saturation, the brightness, the character size, the font, etc. May be further added. Further, the paper size as small as possible is set as the default, but it may be combined with double-sided printing, N-up printing, or the like as long as the toner consumption can be reduced.

  In the present exemplary embodiment, the determination unit 235 that determines whether the toner cartridge 98 is nearly short of the remaining amount based on the estimated remaining toner amount is provided on the MFP 100 side. However, the determination unit 235 is provided on the PC 120 and 130 side. You can also When the determination unit 235 is provided in the PCs 120 and 130, the determination unit 235 is realized by the printer driver of the MFP 100. In this case, the toner remaining amount information transmitting unit 237 on the MFP 100 side transmits toner remaining amount data including the estimated toner remaining amount and toner cartridge identification information for identifying the toner cartridge 98 to the PCs 120 and 130 side.

  In this embodiment, the number of printable sheets is converted as the remaining amount of toner, and this is used as the remaining amount information of consumables indicating the remaining amount of consumables. However, the remaining amount of toner is directly used as an index. It may be. In that case, the determination unit 235 may set a threshold corresponding to, for example, 20% of the maximum amount of toner that can be stored in the toner cartridge 98.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to MFP 100 having operation panel 50 has been described. However, the apparatus is not limited to MFP 100 having the above-described configuration as long as the apparatus includes display unit 51 capable of displaying a message or the like. Inkjet recording devices or other devices, such as home appliances, consumer devices (electronic devices and devices related to video, audio, communication, etc., or terminals, used by general consumers, in general households) Developed on the premise that it is intended for use, or for applications other than ordinary households, such as products and standards developed and designed based on that, and business equipment (corporations (corporations, schools, government offices), etc.) Product).

In the present embodiment, the user may be a general device administrator who manages MFP 100, or a professional qualification “carbon manager” for reducing CO ₂ emissions. This facilitates the popularization of recycled consumables with reduced greenhouse gas generation.

  Further, the toner cartridge 98 in the present embodiment may be given an offset credit. As a result, businesses that can suppress the generation of greenhouse gases, such as afforestation, ocean absorption and soil absorption, underground sequestration and ocean sequestration that are carbon dioxide storage, or renewable energy (hydropower generation) , Wind power generation, ocean current power generation, wave power generation, geothermal power generation, solar power generation, solar thermal power generation, tidal power generation, vibration power generation, etc.) and contribute to the prevention of global warming.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope shown in the claims, and embodiments obtained by appropriately combining technical means disclosed in different embodiments. Is also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  Finally, each block of MFP 100 and PCs 120 and 130, in particular, control units 201 and 201A and control unit 301 may be configured by hardware logic, or may be realized by software using a CPU as follows. .

  That is, the MFP 100 and the PCs 120 and 130 include a CPU (central processing unit) that executes instructions of a control program that realizes each function, a ROM (read only memory) that stores the program, and a RAM (random access memory) that expands the program. ), A storage device (recording medium) such as a memory for storing the program and various data. An object of the present invention is a recording medium in which program codes (execution format program, intermediate code program, source program) of control programs for MFP 100 and PCs 120 and 130, which are software for realizing the functions described above, are recorded so as to be readable by a computer. This can also be achieved by supplying the above to the MFP 100, PC 120, 130, and reading and executing the program code recorded on the recording medium by the computer (or CPU or MPU).

  Examples of the recording medium include a tape system such as a magnetic tape and a cassette tape, a magnetic disk such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk / hard disk, and an optical disk such as a CD-ROM / MO / MD / DVD / CD-R. Card system such as IC card, IC card (including memory card) / optical card, or semiconductor memory system such as mask ROM / EPROM / EEPROM / flash ROM.

  Further, MFP 100 and PCs 120 and 130 may be configured to be connectable to a communication network, and the program code may be supplied via the communication network. The communication network is not particularly limited. For example, the Internet, intranet, extranet, LAN, ISDN, VAN, CATV communication network, virtual private network, telephone line network, mobile communication network, satellite communication. A net or the like is available. Also, the transmission medium constituting the communication network is not particularly limited. For example, even in the case of wired such as IEEE 1394, USB, power line carrier, cable TV line, telephone line, ADSL line, etc., infrared rays such as IrDA and remote control, Bluetooth ( (Registered trademark), 802.11 wireless, HDR, mobile phone network, satellite line, terrestrial digital network, and the like can also be used. The present invention can also be realized in the form of a computer data signal embedded in a carrier wave in which the program code is embodied by electronic transmission.

1 Consumables replacement / collection request system (printing control system)
14 Paper detection sensor 98 Toner cartridge 100 MFP (printing apparatus)
120, 130 PC (printing control device)
119 Toner density sensors 201, 201A, 301 Control unit 231 Request receiving unit 233 Toner remaining amount estimating unit (consumable item remaining amount estimating means)
235 determination unit (determination means)
237 Printable sheet number information transmission unit (consumables remaining amount information transmission unit)
239 Print request reception unit 241 Image formation control unit 241, 243 Threshold data 251 Printed sheet count unit 253 Toner consumption table management unit 253 History table management unit 255 Printable sheet number calculation unit (printable sheet number calculation unit, consumption history acquisition unit)
261 History table 263 Toner consumption table 321 Printable sheet number request unit 323 Display control unit (display control unit, detection unit)
325 Operation reception unit 327 Serviceman call operation reception unit 329 Image adjustment operation reception unit 331 Image adjustment setting unit 333 Serviceman call notification unit 335 Print request unit 341 Exchange / collection request screen generation unit 343 Message generation unit 345 Image adjustment screen generation unit 347 Preview image generation unit 349 Paper screen generation unit 350 First window 351 Print initial screen 353 Property button 361 Image adjustment table 400 Second window 410 Main screen 450 Replacement setting screen 500 Replacement confirmation screen 550 Collection setting screen 600 Serviceman call notification screen 650 Serviceman call completion screen 700 Image adjustment screen

Claims (15)

A printing control device that controls a printing device to which a consumable is mounted,
Display control means for displaying on the display unit a print setting screen for accepting a print condition setting input corresponding to each function of the printing apparatus with respect to the printing apparatus;
The print setting screen receives a replacement request screen for receiving a replacement request instruction for requesting the service center to replace the consumables by a service person, and a collection request instruction for requesting the service center to recover the consumable parts by a service person. A print control apparatus including a collection request screen.   The printing control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the replacement request screen includes remaining consumable information indicating an indicator of a remaining amount of consumables attached to the printing apparatus. A detecting means for detecting the presence of a consumable that is mounted on the printing apparatus and whose remaining amount is less than a threshold;
The display control means prints the replacement request screen and the collection request screen on the print setting screen when displaying the print setting screen when the detection means detects the presence of a consumable whose remaining amount falls below a threshold value. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print control apparatus displays the image with priority over the other screens included in the print.   The display control means displays the collection request screen after the replacement request screen when an exchange request instruction is made on the replacement request screen. The printing control apparatus described.   5. The resource saving screen according to claim 1, wherein the print setting screen further includes a resource saving screen that displays a printing condition that can reduce a consumption amount of the consumable item from a default and receives a setting input. The printing control apparatus according to any one of the above. A detecting means for detecting the presence of a consumable that is mounted on the printing apparatus and whose remaining amount is less than a threshold;
The display control means displays the resource saving screen after the replacement request screen or the collection request screen when the detection means detects the presence of a consumable whose remaining amount falls below a threshold value. The printing control apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the printing control apparatus is a printing control apparatus.   The printing control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the consumable is a toner cartridge or an ink cartridge containing a colorant. The consumable is a toner cartridge or an ink cartridge containing a colorant,
The print control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the consumables remaining amount information is a printable number of sheets calculated based on a remaining amount of colorant and a consumption history of colorant. The consumable is a toner cartridge or an ink cartridge containing a colorant,
On the resource saving screen, as a display of printing conditions that can reduce the consumption of the consumables from the default, a preview image that is printed with image adjustment setting values that can reduce the consumption of the colorant is displayed. The print control apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the print control apparatus is a print control apparatus.   In the resource saving screen, it is possible to accept a change from an image adjustment setting value that can reduce the amount of colorant consumed, and a preview image printed with the changed image adjustment setting value is displayed. The printing control apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the printing control apparatus is a printing control apparatus. An image adjustment table that associates a colorant consumption reduction ratio with an image adjustment setting value, and stores an image adjustment table that associates a high consumption reduction ratio with an image adjustment setting value that defines a low colorant consumption amount A storage unit;
The consumables remaining amount information, when a plurality of consumables used for forming a full-color image is mounted on the printing apparatus, includes the printable number of sheets corresponding to the remaining amount of colorant in each of the plurality of consumables,
An image adjustment setting unit that calculates a ratio of a smaller printable sheet number to a larger printable sheet number as the consumption reduction ratio for the two printable sheet numbers corresponding to the remaining amount of the plurality of consumables. ,
The said display control means displays the said resource saving screen using the image adjustment setting value linked | related with the said consumption reduction ratio calculated according to the said image adjustment table. Print control device. A printing control system including a printing device on which consumables are mounted and a printing control device that controls the printing device,
The printing apparatus includes:
Consumables remaining amount estimating means for estimating the remaining amount of the worn consumables;
When the remaining amount of the consumables estimated by the consumable item remaining amount estimating means is compared with a threshold value and the remaining amount is less than the threshold value, the remaining amount of the mounted consumable item is approaching shortage. Determining means for determining
Consumables remaining amount information transmitting means for transmitting consumables remaining amount information including the determination result determined by the determining unit to the print control device,
The print control device includes:
Display control means for displaying on the display unit a print setting screen for accepting a print condition setting input corresponding to each function of the printing apparatus with respect to the printing apparatus;
The print setting screen receives a replacement request screen for receiving a replacement request instruction for requesting the service center to replace the consumables by a service person, and a collection request instruction for requesting the service center to recover the consumable parts by a service person. A print control system including a collection request screen. A print control method that is executed using a print control device that controls a printing device on which a consumable is mounted,
Including a step of displaying, on a display unit, a print setting screen for accepting a print condition setting input corresponding to each function of the printing device with respect to the printing device,
The print setting screen receives a replacement request screen for receiving a replacement request instruction for requesting the service center to replace the consumables by a service person, and a collection request instruction for requesting the service center to recover the consumable parts by a service person. A print control method comprising a collection request screen.   A program for operating the print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the program causes a computer to function as each of the units.   A computer-readable recording medium on which the program according to claim 14 is recorded.

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