JP2013101194A - Image forming apparatus, system, printer driver, and method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus, a system, a printer driver, and a method for reducing printing failure such as printing blur or vanishing (transfer failure) of character and symbols when a non-genuine product is used for replacing a component of an image forming apparatus so as to suppress wasteful use of recording paper and toner, and providing a method for improving print quality.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus 100 includes: an image forming unit 103 that forms an image; and a non-genuine product determination unit 101a that determines whether or not a toner cartridge 108a that is a replacement component of the image forming unit 103 is a non-genuine product. When the non-genuine product determination unit 101a determines that a replacement component of the image forming unit is a non-genuine product, a control unit 101 prohibits a user to change a toner density adjustment value, and sets a toner density adjustment value to a predetermined default value, for example, the toner density adjustment value at the factory shipment before printing.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, a system, a printer driver, and a method. More specifically, when a replacement part is a non-genuine product, image formation is performed with a toner density adjustment value set to a predetermined default value. The present invention relates to an apparatus, a system, a printer driver, and a method.

  Replacement parts such as photosensitive drums, transfer belts, and toner cartridges used in image forming apparatuses such as multifunction peripherals supply genuine supplies to ensure the print quality. There are an increasing number of cases where third parties other than sales manufacturers sell supplies as compatible parts. Although compatible parts are supplied at a low price, the printing quality is not guaranteed at all, and the equipment is not maintained by the seller of compatible parts. In addition, these multifunction devices are not designed to support non-genuine supplies, so when non-genuine products are used, printing may be blurred due to environmental conditions such as high temperature / high humidity and low temperature / low humidity. , Fogging and the like have occurred remarkably, and deterioration of print quality has been a problem.

  Patent Document 1 describes an image forming apparatus that can identify whether or not a replacement part is a genuine product. The image forming apparatus reads the toner manufacturer company name information from the memory tag built in the toner cartridge, compares the read company name information with the company name information stored in advance, and if they match, the image forming apparatus is attached. The toner cartridge is determined to be a genuine product, the company name information is displayed on the display unit, and the image density correction operation is executed. If they do not match, the installed toner cartridge is a non-genuine product. The company name information is not displayed on the display unit, and the image density correction operation is not executed.

  Patent Document 2 describes an image forming apparatus that can select a first mode that presumes the use of genuine consumables and a second mode that permits the use of non-genuine consumables. The image forming apparatus includes: a consumables determination unit that determines whether a mounted consumable is genuine or non-genuine; a print job reception unit that receives a print instruction; and a print job reception when the first mode is selected. If the consumables used to reproduce the color instructed to print by means include consumables determined to be non-genuine by the consumables determination means, without using the consumables determined to be non-genuine, An image is formed using only consumables determined to be genuine.

JP 2010-266588 A JP 2009-300694 A

  Usually, since the above-mentioned supplies are replaced or replenished by an administrator, the general user is printing as if good printing is performed. In such a case, the combination evaluation of the printing device and the supplies has not been sufficiently performed. Therefore, even if a small amount of printing is performed, “blurring” or “fogging” may occur, or a part of a large amount of printing may occur. There was a problem that stable printing could not be performed, such as occurrence of “fogging” or “fogging” on the page.

  Even when good toner transfer can be performed on the recording paper, due to the relationship between the toner and the fixing set temperature, toner peeling due to a low temperature setting or “fogging” due to a high temperature setting occurs. Due to problems, it was necessary to check for imperfect transfer and fixing when important documents were printed.

  On the other hand, in the techniques described in the above-mentioned patent documents 1 and 2, genuine cartridges and non-genuine products inserted are discriminated, and if they are non-genuine products, an image quality improvement function is activated for the user. Although it is reported that (density correction) is not performed or the image quality adjustment that matches the characteristics of the non-genuine product is shown, the print density adjustment value adjusted by a serviceman etc. is initialized or readjusted It is not a thing.

  If non-genuine products are used, even if a small amount of printing occurs due to environmental changes such as temperature, humidity, paper quality, etc., even if a small amount of printing occurs, “blurring” or “fogging” occurs, or printing on some pages of a large amount of printing ”And“ fogging ”may occur, and stable printing may not be possible, or toner may be transferred to the recording paper well, so there is no guarantee that the toner can be transferred reliably, and the printed matter is stored. When using it as a data for printing or sending a printed matter to the outside, it is necessary to confirm whether there is a transfer defect or a fixing defect for all the recording sheets.

  In addition, even when the user adjusts the toner density necessary for image quality adjustment such as copy density adjustment and image adjustment, if a non-genuine product is used, it is guaranteed that the user can make the desired image quality adjustment. There wasn't. On the other hand, the factory-set value of the toner density adjustment value is normally set to a value that is unlikely to cause printing defects, assuming a use environment such as average temperature, humidity, and paper quality.

  The present invention has been made in view of these circumstances. When it is detected that a non-genuine product other than a genuine product supplied by the apparatus manufacturer is used inside the image forming apparatus, the image forming unit By setting the toner density adjustment value to a predetermined default value, printing defects such as blurring of printing, characters and symbols disappearing (not transferred) can be reduced, waste of recording paper and toner can be suppressed, and users can be prevented. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus, a system, a printer driver, and a method capable of providing a printing quality improving method.

  In order to solve the above problems, the first technical means of the present invention includes an image forming unit that forms an image, a non-genuine product determination unit that determines whether or not a replacement part of the image forming unit is a non-genuine product, An image forming apparatus including a control unit that controls the image forming unit, and when the non-genuine product determination unit determines that a replacement part of the image forming unit is a non-genuine product, The toner density adjustment value in the image forming unit is set to a predetermined default value.

  A second technical means is characterized in that, in the first technical means, the predetermined default value is a toner density adjustment value at the time of factory shipment.

  According to a third technical means, in the first or second technical means, when the non-genuine product determination unit cannot acquire predetermined information from the replacement part of the image forming unit, the replacement part is a non-genuine product. It is characterized by determining.

  According to a fourth technical means, in any one of the first to third technical means, when the non-genuine product determination unit determines that the replacement part of the image forming unit is a non-genuine product, the control unit This is characterized in that the change of the toner density adjustment value from the user is prohibited.

  A fifth technical means is an image forming system in which an information processing apparatus in which a printer driver is installed and an image forming apparatus controlled by the printer driver are connected via a network, and the image forming apparatus includes: An image forming unit that forms an image according to image forming conditions, a non-genuine product determination unit that determines whether or not a replacement part of the image forming unit is a non-genuine product, and a result of determination by the non-genuine product determination unit A communication unit that transmits to the image forming apparatus, and the printer driver of the information processing apparatus, when the determination result from the image forming apparatus is a non-genuine product, as the image forming condition, The image quality adjustment value is set to a default value.

  According to a sixth technical means, in the fifth technical means, when the determination result from the image forming apparatus is a non-genuine product, the printer driver inputs the print condition of the printer driver as the image forming condition. Of the image forming conditions that can be input from the screen, setting of image quality adjustment values at the time of printing is prohibited.

  According to a seventh technical means, in the fifth or sixth technical means, when the determination result from the image forming apparatus is a non-genuine product, the printer driver displays on the display unit of the information processing apparatus at the time of printing. The image quality adjustment value is prohibited from being displayed.

  According to an eighth technical means, in any one of the fifth to seventh technical means, when the printer driver cannot obtain a determination result from the image forming apparatus, the image forming condition is the image quality at the time of printing. The adjustment value is set to a default value.

  According to a ninth technical means, in any one of the fifth to eighth technical means, the image quality adjustment value at the time of printing includes at least one of brightness, contrast, saturation, and color balance. It is a thing.

  A tenth technical means is a printer driver installed in the information processing apparatus in the image forming system which is any one of the fifth to ninth technical means.

  An eleventh technical means is an image forming method in an image forming apparatus comprising an image forming unit for forming an image and a control unit for controlling the image forming unit, wherein a replacement part of the image forming unit is non-genuine. Non-genuine product determination step for determining whether the product is a genuine product, and toner density adjustment in the image forming unit as an image forming condition when the replacement part of the image forming unit is determined to be a non-genuine product by the non-genuine product determination step A toner density setting step for setting a value to a predetermined default value and a printing step for performing printing in accordance with the image forming conditions are provided.

  A twelfth technical means is an image forming method in an image forming system in which an information processing apparatus in which a printer driver is installed and an image forming apparatus controlled by the printer driver are connected via a network. A non-genuine product determination step in which the forming device determines whether or not the replacement part of the image forming unit is a non-genuine product, a communication step of transmitting a determination result in the non-genuine product determination step to the information processing device, and image forming conditions An image that can be input from the print condition input screen of the printer driver when the determination result from the image forming apparatus is a non-genuine product. Among the formation conditions, an input restriction step for prohibiting setting of an image quality adjustment value at the time of printing, and as the image formation conditions, Is obtained by, characterized in that the image quality adjustment values when printing in serial image forming apparatus having an image quality adjustment value setting step of setting a predetermined default value.

  According to the present invention, when it is detected that a non-genuine product is used in the image forming apparatus, the toner density setting value at the time of printing is set to a predetermined default value, for example, regardless of the toner density adjustment value set by the user. By setting the toner density adjustment value at the time of shipment from the factory, printing defects such as blurring of printing and disappearance of characters / symbols are reduced, recording paper and toner are not wasted, and the toner density adjustment value from the user This change is prohibited, and the user is notified of the reason why the toner density adjustment value is returned to the factory default value. Also, even if the use of non-genuine products is detected, the operation of the image forming device will not be stopped.Therefore, users are encouraged to purchase genuine products supplies, and until they purchase genuine products, users can use non-genuine supplies as draft prints of documents. It can be used and is less likely to impair user convenience.

1 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment in which an image forming apparatus according to the present invention is configured as a multifunction peripheral. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a main part of an image forming apparatus and an information processing apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a toner cartridge that is a replacement part. It is a flowchart for demonstrating an example of the image forming method by the image forming apparatus of this invention. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an appearance of an operation panel included in the image forming apparatus. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the initial screen at the time of copy mode. It is a flowchart for demonstrating an example of operation | movement of the information processing apparatus in the image forming system of this invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a printing condition input screen by a printer driver when a toner cartridge is a genuine product. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a printing condition input screen by a printer driver when a toner cartridge is a non-genuine product.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of an image forming apparatus, a method, a system, and a printer driver according to the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment in which an image forming apparatus according to the present invention is configured as a multifunction peripheral, and illustrates an example of an image forming apparatus configured as a multifunction peripheral having a scanner function.
The image forming apparatus 100 forms an image on recording paper by transmitting image data transmitted from the outside or read by a scanner (image reading means), and includes an apparatus main body 130 and an automatic document processing apparatus 120.

The apparatus main body 130 includes an exposure unit 1, a developing device 2, a photosensitive drum 3, a cleaner unit 4, a charger 5, an intermediate transfer belt unit 6, a fixing unit 7, a paper feed cassette 81, a paper discharge tray 91, and the like.
A document placing table 92 made of transparent glass is provided on the upper portion of the apparatus main body 130, and an automatic document processing device 120 that automatically conveys the document to the document placing table 92 is attached on the upper side. The automatic document processing device 120 is configured to be rotatable in the direction of arrow M, and the document can be placed manually by opening the document table 92.

  The apparatus main body 130 has an image reading unit 90 accommodated in a housing. The image reading means 90 is a reduction optical system image reading means composed of a light source unit 93 that holds the light source and the first mirror, a mirror unit 94 that holds the second and third mirrors, and a lens and the CCD 95. . In addition, the apparatus main body 130 is provided with an operation panel (not shown) so that a user can input an operation. Further, the apparatus main body 130 includes means for inputting image data from an externally connected apparatus, or means for reading image data from a portable recording medium (none of which is shown).

  The image data handled in the image forming apparatus 100 corresponds to, for example, four color images of black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y). Accordingly, four each of the developing device 2, the photosensitive drum (image carrier) 3, the charger 5, and the cleaner unit 4 are provided so as to form four types of latent images corresponding to the respective colors. An image station is configured.

The charger 5 is a charging means for uniformly charging the surface of the photosensitive drum 3 to a predetermined potential. In addition to the charger type as shown in FIG. 1, a contact type roller type or brush type charger is used. Sometimes used.
The exposure unit 1 is configured as a laser scanning unit (LSU) provided with a laser emitting portion, a reflection mirror, and the like. The exposure unit 1 includes a polygon mirror that scans a laser beam and optical elements such as a lens and a mirror for guiding the laser beam reflected by the polygon mirror to the photosensitive drum 3. In addition, as the exposure unit 1, for example, a method using an EL or LED writing head in which light emitting elements are arranged in an array can be employed.

  The exposure unit 1 has a function of forming an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image data on the surface thereof by exposing the charged photosensitive drum 3 according to the input image data. The developing unit 2 visualizes the electrostatic latent images formed on the respective photosensitive drums 3 with toners of four colors (Y, M, C, K). The cleaner unit 4 removes and collects toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 3 after development and image transfer. As will be described later, in the present invention, when a non-genuine product is used in the image forming apparatus, the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 3 is converted into toner of four colors (Y, M, C, K). Thus, the toner density adjustment value at the time of visualizing is forcibly set to a predetermined default value, for example, a toner density adjustment value at the time of factory shipment.

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. I have. Four intermediate transfer rollers 64 are provided corresponding to each color of Y, M, C, and K.
The intermediate transfer belt driving roller 62, the intermediate transfer belt driven roller 63, and the intermediate transfer roller 64 are driven to rotate while the intermediate transfer belt 61 is stretched. 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. Then, the color toner images (multicolor toner images) are formed on the intermediate transfer belt 61 by sequentially superimposing and transferring the respective color toner images formed on the photosensitive drum 3 onto 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 configuration example, 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 respective hues on the respective photosensitive drums 3 are stacked on the intermediate transfer belt 61. The stacked electrostatic images are transferred onto the recording sheet by the rotation of the intermediate transfer belt 61 by a transfer roller 10 which is a secondary transfer mechanism unit disposed at a contact position between the sheet and the intermediate transfer belt 61 described later. The The secondary transfer mechanism is not limited to a transfer roller, and a corona charger or a transfer belt can also be used.

  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 paper is applied to the transfer roller 10 (the polarity opposite to the toner charging polarity (−)). (+) High voltage). Further, in order to obtain the 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 (elasticity such as an elastic roller). Rubber roller, foaming resin roller, etc.).

  Further, as described above, the toner adhered to the intermediate transfer belt 61 by contacting the photosensitive drum 3 or the toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 61 without being transferred to the recording paper by the transfer roller 10 is used in the next step. Therefore, the intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit 65 is configured to remove and collect the toner. The intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit 65 includes a cleaning blade as a cleaning member that comes into contact with the intermediate transfer belt 61. The intermediate transfer belt 61 that comes into contact with the cleaning blade is supported by an intermediate transfer belt driven roller 63 from the back side. ing.

  The paper feed cassette 81 is a tray for storing recording paper (sheets) used for image formation, and is provided below the exposure unit 1 of the apparatus main body 130. In addition, recording paper used for image formation can also be placed in the manual paper feed cassette 82. A paper discharge tray 91 provided above the apparatus main body 110 is a tray for collecting printed recording sheets face down.

  In addition, the apparatus main body 110 includes a substantially vertical sheet conveyance path S1 for feeding the recording 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. Is provided. In the vicinity of the paper transport path S1 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 12a to 12d are small rollers for promoting and assisting the transport of the recording paper, and a plurality of the transport rollers 12a to 12d are provided along the paper transport path S1. The pickup roller 11a is provided near the end of the paper feed cassette 81, picks up recording paper one by one from the paper feed cassette 81, and supplies it to the paper transport path S1. Similarly, the pickup roller 11b is provided near the end of the manual paper feed cassette 82, picks up recording paper from the manual paper feed cassette 82 one by one, and supplies it to the paper transport path S1.

  The registration roller 13 temporarily holds the recording paper that is being transported through the paper transport path S1. The recording paper is transported 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 recording paper.

  The fixing unit 7 includes a heat roller 71 and a pressure roller 72. The heat roller 71 and the pressure roller 72 are configured to rotate with the recording paper interposed therebetween. The heat roller 71 is set so as to reach a predetermined fixing temperature by a control means based on a signal from a temperature detector (not shown). It has the function of fusing, mixing, and pressing the multicolor toner image transferred to the paper, and thermally fixing the recording paper. An external heating belt 73 for heating the heat roller 71 from the outside is provided.

  Next, the recording paper conveyance path will be described more specifically. As described above, the image forming apparatus 100 is provided with the paper feed cassette 81 and the manual paper feed cassette 82 that store recording paper in advance. In order to feed the recording paper from these paper feed cassettes 81 and 82, pickup rollers 11a and 11b are respectively arranged so as to guide the recording paper one by one to the paper transport path S1.

  The recording 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 S1, and the timing at which the leading edge of the recording paper and the leading edge of the image information on the intermediate transfer belt 61 are aligned. The image information is written on the recording paper. Thereafter, the recording paper passes through the fixing unit 7, whereby the unfixed toner on the recording paper is melted and fixed by heat, and is then discharged onto the paper discharge tray 91 through the conveying roller 12 b disposed thereafter.

  The above-mentioned transport path is for a single-sided printing request for recording paper. On the other hand, for a double-sided printing request, the single-sided printing is finished and the recording paper after passing through the fixing unit 7 as described above. When the end is gripped by the final transport roller 12b, the transport roller 12b rotates in reverse to guide the recording paper to the transport path S2 in which the transport rollers 12c and 12d are arranged. Then, the conveyance path S2 joins the conveyance path S1, and the recording paper is conveyed from the registration roller 13 to the transfer roller 10. At this time, since the front and back sides of the recording paper are reversed at the stage of joining from the conveyance path S2 to S1, the transfer roller 10 performs printing on the back side of the recording paper. Then, the recording paper printed on the back surface is fixed by the fixing unit 7 and discharged to the paper discharge tray 91.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a main part of the image forming apparatus and the information processing apparatus according to the present invention. The image forming apparatus 100 is configured as, for example, the above-described multifunction peripheral, and controls the functions of the image forming apparatus 100 and is realized by a microcomputer having a CPU, ROM, RAM, and the like, and an operation unit 102a. And an operation panel 102 including a display unit 102 b, an image forming unit 103 that forms an image of image data on recording paper according to the control of the control unit 101, and a communication unit 104 for connecting to the information processing apparatus 200 via the network N. A storage unit 105 such as a hard disk, a reading unit 106 that reads ID information from an IC chip attached to the toner cartridge 108, a sensor circuit 107 that includes various sensors and peripheral circuits that process signals from the sensors, and replacement parts Toner cartridge 108 and toner density setting unit 109a as an example Configured to include an image processing unit 109 with.

  The operation panel 102 includes an operation unit 102a and a display unit 102b. The operation unit 102a receives an operation input by a user and outputs the operation input to the control unit 101. The display unit 102b displays an operation screen and various information. The display unit 102b may be configured with a touch panel that can perform an input operation on the operation screen. In this case, the display unit 102b can accept an operation input by the user in the same manner as the operation unit 102a.

  The main object of the present invention is to perform printing with a toner density adjustment value set to a predetermined default value, for example, a factory default toner density adjustment value when a non-genuine product is used as a replacement part, This is to notify that printing cannot be performed at a toner density (print density). As a configuration for this, the image forming apparatus 100 includes a non-genuine product determination unit 101a that determines whether or not a replacement part of the image forming unit 103 is a non-genuine product, and an image formation condition input from an image formation condition input unit. And a control unit 101 that controls the image forming unit 103.

  The image processing unit 109 has a function of performing image change processing on image data read by a scanner (image reading unit) and print data transmitted from the outside such as the information processing apparatus 200. Examples of the image changing process include a magnification designation scaling setting, a paper designation scaling setting, a binding margin setting, an aggregation setting called n in 1, and the like. Further, the image processing unit 109 includes a toner density setting unit 109a for performing toner density adjustment necessary for image quality adjustment such as copy density adjustment and image adjustment as one function of the image change processing.

  When the non-genuine product determination unit 101a determines that the replacement part of the image forming unit 103 is a non-genuine product, the control unit 101 determines that the toner density adjustment value of the image data to be printed is a predetermined default value, For example, the toner density setting unit 109a of the image processing unit 109 sets the toner density adjustment value at the time of shipment from the factory, and causes the image forming unit 103 to print image data based on the toner density adjustment value. Note that the non-genuine product determination unit 101 a is realized as a function of the control unit 101.

  Further, in the above, the replacement part means a part that constitutes a part of the apparatus from the viewpoint of function and whose performance can be recovered and maintained by replacement. For example, in the case of the image forming apparatus 100, the toner cartridge (or developing cartridge), the photosensitive member cartridge, the cartridge in which the developing member and the photosensitive member are integrally formed, the ink cartridge, the ink tank, and the print head are integrally formed. A cartridge, a thermal transfer type ink sheet cartridge, and the like correspond to this. These replacement parts may be called supplies. In the description of this embodiment, the toner cartridge 108 is described as an example of a replacement part, but the present invention is not limited to this.

  In FIG. 2, the non-genuine product determination unit 101 a determines whether the toner cartridge 108 attached to the image forming apparatus 100 is a genuine product or a non-genuine product. The non-genuine product determination method is realized using the techniques described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 described above, and conventionally known techniques such as JP-A-2002-202697 and JP-A-2009-145396. The method is not particularly limited. Hereinafter, as an example of a non-genuine product determination method performed by the non-genuine product determination unit 101a, a case where determination is performed in the image forming apparatus 100 will be described as an example. Also good.

The toner cartridge 108 records unique ID information that can individually identify the toner cartridge 108. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, it is mounted as an IC chip 108a, and ID information is recorded in advance in a nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM or a ferroelectric memory. Alternatively, this ID information may be configured by a simple method such as a barcode. The ID information may be the manufacturer's identification number or the like because it is sufficient to know that the manufacturer is at least a genuine manufacturer. The configuration of the reading unit 106 differs depending on the form of ID information given to the toner cartridge 108. For example, when the ID information is a bar code, the reading unit 106 is a bar code reader, and when the ID information is an IC chip, the reading unit 106 is configured by an electric or high frequency reading unit.
Consists of means.

  The storage unit 105 stores ID information of genuine products of the toner cartridge in advance. When the replacement of the toner cartridge 108 is confirmed, the non-genuine product determination unit 101a is read by the reading unit 106. The ID information of the toner cartridge 108 and the genuine product ID information stored in the storage unit 105 are compared to determine whether or not they match. Note that the manufacturer of the image forming apparatus 100 may store all ID information of genuine toner cartridges in the storage unit 105 at the manufacturing stage. When the ID information matches, it is determined as a genuine product, and when the ID information does not match, it is determined as a non-genuine product. It should be noted that some non-genuine products may not be provided with ID information. Therefore, even if the reading unit 106 cannot read the ID information, the product is determined to be a non-genuine product.

  In the above, replacement mounting of the toner cartridge 108 can be detected by the sensor circuit 107. As described above, the sensor circuit 107 includes various sensors and peripheral circuits that process signals from the sensors. The sensor includes a mechanical or optical door sensor and a cartridge sensor. The door sensor is a sensor that detects whether the door of the image forming apparatus 100 is open or closed, and the cartridge sensor is a sensor that detects whether or not the toner cartridge 108 is attached to the image forming apparatus 100. Peripheral circuits include a waveform shaping circuit for shaping the waveform of the sensor output, a filter circuit, a binarization circuit, a voltage level adjustment circuit, and the like. The sensor output is converted into a digital signal having a logic level of, for example, 0-5V. Convert.

  If the sensor circuit 107 detects that the toner cartridge 108 has been replaced, the control unit 101 accesses the IC chip 108a and instructs the reading unit 106 to read the ID information. Then, the non-genuine product determination unit 101a compares the ID information read by the reading unit 106 with the ID information stored in the storage unit 105, thereby determining whether the replaced toner cartridge 108 is a genuine product or not. Judge whether it is a genuine product. In this manner, the non-genuine product determination unit 101a can determine whether the ID information matches or does not match. Even when the reading unit 106 cannot read, it is determined that there is a mismatch, that is, a non-genuine product.

  When the non-genuine product determination unit 101a determines that the replacement part of the image forming unit 103 is a non-genuine product, the control unit 101 sets the toner density adjustment value to a predetermined default value, for example, factory shipment, as described above. The image forming unit is set to perform printing after setting the toner density adjustment value at the time. Note that, as an example, the case where the replacement part is the toner cartridge 108 has been described. However, when the image forming apparatus 100 has a configuration in which a plurality of parts can be replaced, whether or not each replacement part is a non-genuine product as described above. If the determination is made and it is determined that at least one replacement part is a non-genuine product, printing may be performed with the toner density adjustment value at the time of shipment from the factory.

  Next, the information processing apparatus 200 is, for example, a general-purpose PC (personal computer), and controls the communication unit 201 for connecting to the image forming apparatus 100 via the network N and each function of the information processing apparatus 200. An arithmetic processing unit 202 including a CPU, RAM, ROM, and the like, a storage unit 203 such as a hard disk in which the printer driver 203a is installed, an input unit 204 such as a keyboard and a mouse, and a display unit 205 such as a liquid crystal display. It is configured with.

  The printer driver 203a is software (program) for controlling the image forming apparatus 100 to execute image forming processing (printing processing). The printer driver 203 a is read from the storage unit 203 by the arithmetic processing unit 202 and executed on the RAM of the arithmetic processing unit 202 when printing is performed. Then, the printer driver 203a displays a print condition input screen (also referred to as a print condition setting screen) on the display unit 205, thereby presenting various image forming conditions to the user and the user input unit 204. The image forming conditions are set according to the input operation from. The image forming conditions are sent together with the print data to the image forming apparatus 100 via the communication unit 201. In the image forming apparatus 100, the print data is processed by the image processing unit 109 according to the image forming conditions, and the processed print data is processed. The image forming unit 103 prints on the recording paper.

Hereinafter, the operation of the image forming apparatus in the image forming system of the present invention will be described by taking the copy mode as an example.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the image forming apparatus in the image forming system of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of an appearance of an operation panel provided in the image forming apparatus, and FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of an initial screen in the copy mode. In this example, a case where an ID information read command is generated when the sensor circuit 107 detects the mounting of the toner cartridge 108 based on the configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 in FIG. 2 will be described.

  First, the control unit 101 determines whether or not an ID information read command from the sensor circuit 107 is generated with the mounting of the toner cartridge 108 (step S11), and determines that an ID information read command is generated (step S11). If YES, the reading unit 106 is instructed to read the ID information of the toner cartridge 108 (step S12). If it is determined in step S11 that no ID information read command has been issued (NO), the process shifts to a standby state in step S11.

  Next, the non-genuine product determination unit 101a of the control unit 101 compares the ID information read by the reading unit 106 with the ID information (registered ID information) stored in the storage unit 105 (step S13). Then, it is determined whether or not they match (step S14). If they match (YES), the toner cartridge 108 is determined to be a genuine product, and the storage unit 105 indicates that it is a genuine product as genuine product determination information. (Step S15). If they do not match, the toner cartridge 108 is determined to be a non-genuine product, and is stored in the storage unit 105 as genuine product determination information (step S19). Here, step S14 corresponds to the non-genuine product determination step of the present invention.

  In step S15, after storing the genuine product as genuine product determination information, the process proceeds to step S16, and a normal initial screen is displayed. Here, the normal initial screen is, for example, the initial screen 300 as shown in FIG. 6A in the copy mode, and a message 301 “Copy can be read” is displayed. It is a screen for accepting settings of various copy conditions during copying from the user. This initial screen 300 is displayed on the display unit 102b of the operation panel 102. On this normal initial screen 300, a copy density display 302 that can be selected by the user for adjusting the copy density is displayed.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the operation panel 102 includes an operation unit 102a and a display unit 102b, and the display unit 102b is a touch panel. The display unit 102b can accept an input by a user's touch operation via the touch panel. For example, when performing a copy, the user normally presses the copy mode selection button 102d of the operation unit 102a to copy. An initial screen 300 in the mode is displayed on the display unit 102b.

  Although not shown in FIG. 4, in step S16, the setting of various copy conditions is received from the user to set the image forming conditions, and printing is performed with the default or the copy density specified by the user. The toner density is set by the toner density setting unit 109a of the image processing unit 109. After step S16, the process proceeds to step S17 to determine whether or not the print button 102c on the operation panel shown in FIG. 5 has been pressed. If the print button (start button) 102c is pressed in step S17, the process proceeds to step S18, and the image is printed on the recording paper at the default or specified copy density based on the image data of the original read by the image reading means 90. Formation is made. If the print button is not pressed in step S17, the process waits until it is pressed.

  Next, after storing that it is a non-genuine product as genuine product determination information in step S19, the process proceeds to step S20, and an initial screen with a message indicating that the copy density cannot be adjusted is displayed. The initial screen with a message indicating that the copy density cannot be adjusted is, for example, the initial screen 310 in the copy mode as shown in FIG. 6B. This message is a screen for displaying a message 311 “cannot be performed” and accepting setting of various copy conditions at the time of copying from the user. In this initial screen 310, the copy density display 302 that can be selected for the user to adjust the copy density is displayed in gray, so that the user cannot adjust the copy density.

  Although not shown in FIG. 4, in step S20, various copy condition settings are received from the user to set image formation conditions, and toner density adjustment values are set to predetermined default values, for example, factory shipments. The toner density is set by the toner density setting unit 109a of the image processing unit 109 so that printing is performed after setting the toner density adjustment value at the time. This step corresponds to the toner concentration setting step of the present invention.

  After step S20, the process proceeds to step S21, where it is determined whether or not the print button 102c on the operation panel shown in FIG. 5 has been pressed. If the print button 102c is pressed in step S21, the process proceeds to step S22, and the toner density adjustment value is set to a predetermined default value based on the image data of the original read by the image reading means 90, for example, at the time of factory shipment. The image is formed on the recording paper after the toner density adjustment value is set. If the print button is not pressed in step S21, the process waits until it is pressed. Here, step S18 and step S22 correspond to the printing step of the present invention. If the ID read command described in step S11 is generated during the standby state in steps S17 and S21, the process proceeds to step S11 and the subsequent processing is repeated.

Next, a print processing example by the image forming system including the image forming apparatus 100 and the information processing apparatus 200 will be described.
The operation flow of the image forming apparatus is the same in the printing process by the image forming system up to step S15 or step S19 of the operation flow shown in FIG. 4, and genuine product determination information is stored in the storage unit 105 of the image forming apparatus 100. The description will be made on the assumption that it is stored.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the information processing apparatus in the image forming system of the present invention. FIGS. 8 and 9 are diagrams showing an example of a printing condition input screen by the printer driver. .
First, the arithmetic processing unit 202 determines whether or not the printer driver 203a has been activated by a user operation (step S31). When the printer driver 203a is activated (in the case of YES), the arithmetic processing unit 202 causes the image forming apparatus 100 to On the other hand, transmission of genuine product determination information is requested (step S32). If it is determined in step S31 that the printer driver 203a has not been activated (NO), the process shifts to a standby state in step S31.

  After step S32, genuine product determination information is acquired from the image forming apparatus 100 (step S33), and the process proceeds to step S34. In step S34, it is determined whether or not a non-genuine product is used in the image processing apparatus 100 based on the genuine product determination information. If it is determined that a non-genuine product is not used, that is, a genuine product is used, the process proceeds to step S35, and printing of normal image forming conditions without restricting toner density adjustment is performed. A condition input screen is displayed on the display unit 205. Here, the printing condition input screen for normal image forming conditions is an input screen for a conventional printer driver for setting various printing conditions. From this input screen, for example, a printing condition input screen as shown in FIG. The adjustment screen 320 can be selected. On the image adjustment screen 320, the user can adjust and set image quality adjustments such as brightness 321, contrast 322, saturation 323, and color balance 324, that is, adjustment values relating to toner density to desired values. Yes.

  Next, when it is determined in step S34 that a non-genuine product is used, the process proceeds to step S36, and a print condition input screen for image forming conditions in which image adjustment is prohibited is displayed on the display unit 205. Here, the print condition input screen of the image forming conditions for which image adjustment is prohibited is, for example, a series of print condition input screens selected by screen selection when the user tries to adjust the toner density. An image adjustment screen 330 is included as a print condition input screen as shown in FIG. In this image adjustment screen 330, adjustments relating to toner density such as brightness 321, contrast 322, saturation 323, and color balance 324, which can be set by the user on the image adjustment screen 320 under normal image forming conditions, are prohibited. The corresponding setting item is hidden or grayed out so that it cannot be selected.

  Further, by displaying a message 331 “Image cannot be adjusted because non-genuine toner is installed”, the user can adjust the toner density such as brightness 321, contrast 322, saturation 323, and color balance 324. By notifying the reason why the product cannot be used, the user's recognition of the non-genuine product may be improved. Step S36 corresponds to the input restriction step of the present invention.

Next, when the “OK” button is selected on the image adjustment screens 320 and 330 in FIGS.
For example, when an initial screen of a printing condition input screen (not shown) is displayed and printing is instructed on this initial screen, as described above, the image forming conditions set by the printer driver are set together with the print data via the communication unit 201. The image forming apparatus 100 processes the print data according to the image forming conditions in the image processing unit 109, and the processed print data is printed on the recording paper by the image forming unit 103. If a non-genuine product is used, the information processing apparatus 200 sets the toner density adjustment value to a predetermined default value that the image forming apparatus 100 has, and performs printing. Image forming conditions are sent.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Exposure unit, 2 ... Developing device, 3 ... Photoconductor drum, 4 ... Cleaner unit, 5 ... Charger, 6 ... Intermediate transfer belt unit, 7 ... Fixing unit, 10 ... Transfer roller, 11a, 11b ... Pickup roller, 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d ... conveying roller, 13 ... registration roller, 61 ... intermediate transfer belt, 62 ... intermediate transfer belt driving roller, 63 ... intermediate transfer belt driven roller, 64 ... intermediate transfer roller, 65 ... intermediate transfer belt cleaning Unit: 71 ... Heat roller, 72 ... Pressure roller, 73 ... External heating belt, 81 ... Paper feed cassette, 82 ... Manual paper feed cassette, 90 ... Image reading means, 91 ... Paper discharge tray, 92 ... Document placement table, 93 ... Light source unit, 94 ... Mirror unit, 95 ... CCD, 100 ... Image forming apparatus, 101 ... Control unit, 101a ... Non Authentic product determination unit, 102 ... operation panel, 102a ... operation unit, 102b, 205 ... display unit, 103 ... image forming unit, 104, 201 ... communication unit, 105, 203 ... storage unit, 106 ... reading unit, 107 ... sensor circuit , 108 ... Toner cartridge, 108a ... IC chip, 109 ... Image processing section, 109a ... Toner density setting section, 120 ... Automatic document processing apparatus, 130 ... Main body, 200 ... Information processing apparatus, 202 ... Arithmetic processing section, 203a ... Printer driver, 204, input unit, 300, 310, initial screen in copy mode, 320, 330, image adjustment screen.

Claims (12)

An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit that forms an image; a non-genuine product determining unit that determines whether or not a replacement part of the image forming unit is a non-genuine product; and a control unit that controls the image forming unit. There,
When the replacement part of the image forming unit is determined to be a non-genuine product by the non-genuine product determination unit, the control unit sets a toner density adjustment value in the image forming unit to a predetermined default value. An image forming apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined default value is a toner density adjustment value at the time of factory shipment.   3. The image according to claim 1, wherein the non-genuine product determination unit determines that the replacement part is a non-genuine product when predetermined information cannot be acquired from the replacement part of the image forming unit. Forming system.   The control unit prohibits a change in toner density adjustment value from a user when the non-genuine product determination unit determines that a replacement part of the image forming unit is a non-genuine product. 4. The image forming apparatus according to any one of items 1 to 3. An image forming system in which an information processing apparatus in which a printer driver is installed and an image forming apparatus controlled by the printer driver are connected via a network,
The image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit that forms an image according to an image forming condition; a non-genuine product determination unit that determines whether a replacement part of the image forming unit is a non-genuine product; and a determination by the non-genuine product determination unit A communication unit that transmits a result to the information processing apparatus,
The printer driver of the information processing apparatus sets an image quality adjustment value at the time of printing in the image forming apparatus as a default value as the image forming condition when the determination result from the image forming apparatus is a non-genuine product. An image forming system.   The printer driver, when the determination result from the image forming apparatus is a non-genuine product, out of the image forming conditions that can be input from the printing condition input screen of the printer driver as the image forming conditions. 6. The image forming system according to claim 5, wherein setting of an image quality adjustment value is prohibited.   When the determination result from the image forming apparatus is a non-genuine product, the printer driver displays on the display unit of the information processing apparatus a message that prohibits setting of image quality adjustment values during printing. The image forming system according to claim 5, wherein the image forming system is an image forming system.   8. The printer driver according to claim 5, wherein when the determination result from the image forming apparatus is not obtained, the image quality adjustment value at the time of printing is set as a default value as the image forming condition. The image forming system according to claim 1.   9. The image forming system according to claim 5, wherein the image quality adjustment value at the time of printing includes at least one of brightness, contrast, saturation, and color balance.   A printer driver installed in the information processing apparatus in the image forming system according to claim 5. An image forming method in an image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit that forms an image; and a control unit that controls the image forming unit,
A non-genuine product determination step of determining whether or not the replacement part of the image forming unit is a non-genuine product;
A toner density setting step for setting, as an image forming condition, a toner density adjustment value in the image forming unit to a predetermined default value when the replacement part of the image forming unit is determined to be a non-genuine product in the non-genuine product determining step; ,
A printing step for performing printing in accordance with the image forming conditions;
An image forming method comprising: An image forming method in an image forming system in which an information processing apparatus in which a printer driver is installed and an image forming apparatus controlled by the printer driver are connected via a network,
A non-genuine product determination step in which the image forming apparatus determines whether or not the replacement part of the image forming unit is a non-genuine product, a communication step of transmitting a determination result in the non-genuine product determination step to the information processing device, and an image A printing step for performing printing according to the forming conditions;
When the determination result from the image forming apparatus is a non-genuine product, the printer driver of the information processing apparatus adjusts the image quality at the time of printing among the image forming conditions that can be input from the printing condition input screen of the printer driver. An image including an input restriction step for prohibiting setting of a value, and an image quality adjustment value setting step for setting an image quality adjustment value at the time of printing in the image forming apparatus to a predetermined default value as the image forming condition Forming method.

Images