JP2013186434A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem in which: when printing is continued by using a toner extra use function after the occurrence of "toner depletion error," if the printing is continued while toner is completely used up, a printer itself may be broken.SOLUTION: When printing is continued by using a toner extra use function after the occurrence of "toner depletion error," density measurement is performed at an execution timing in a density measurement execution timing table according to a failure property of a printer. When a decrease in density is recognized from a density measurement result, the printing is immediately stopped and resumption of the printing is inhibited except replacement of a toner cartridge.

Description

  The present invention relates to a control method for a printing apparatus having a toner excess use function.

  In an electrophotographic printing apparatus such as a laser printer, in consideration of simple user maintenance, a photosensitive drum for forming an electrostatic latent image and a container filled with toner as a recording material are used as an integrated toner cartridge. It is easy to handle at the time of replacement. By executing the printing, the toner filled in the toner cartridge decreases. However, when the toner is completely removed, nothing is printed even if the printing is executed.

  Normally, printing is automatically stopped before printing is rubbed, and a toner-free error is displayed to prompt the user to replace the toner cartridge. Therefore, the printing apparatus needs to detect the remaining amount of toner in the toner cartridge. In general, the remaining amount of toner is determined using an optical sensor.

  However, since the accuracy of the mounted optical sensor is not so good for cost reasons, it is often possible to print without rubbing hundreds of pages even if it is determined that there is no toner. Although the accuracy of judgment is not good, this operation specification is used in order to reliably stop printing before rubbing.)

  Therefore, for the purpose of improving the toner remaining amount detection system, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, a toner warning (a warning level when the remaining amount of toner is less than a certain amount) is detected by a normal toner remaining amount detecting means. After that, there is a method of detecting the remaining amount of toner more accurately by forming a density measurement image and measuring the density of the image.

JP 2001-194844 A

  As described above, in the conventional toner-free detection method, printing is stopped and a toner cartridge is requested to be replaced even though toner capable of printing several hundred pages still remains. However, there are not a few requests from users who want to execute printing until just before the rubbing.

  Therefore, after detecting the absence of toner, printing is stopped once and the cartridge needs to be replaced. However, a function of excessive use of toner has been installed that enables continuous printing at the user's own risk.

  This excessive toner use function allows the user to use up the toner without waste, but this function also causes a failure. For example, full-color printing using a rotary development rotary system that performs full-color printing by developing an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive drum while rotating a plurality of toner cartridges (containing toner and a developing device) mounted on the development rotary. There is a device.

  This rotary developing rotary type full-color printing apparatus has a mechanism for rotating the toner cartridge, and toner is used as a lubricant for the rotational movement. For this reason, if printing is continued even if the toner runs out completely, the rotary for rotating the toner cartridge is locked at a certain point and cannot move. As described above, although there is a user merit in the excessive toner use function, there is a problem that if the printing is continued in a state where the toner is completely exhausted, the printing apparatus itself breaks down.

(Means 1)
In order to achieve the above object, the printing apparatus of the present invention has the following configuration.
That is,
In a printing apparatus configured so that a consumable containing at least toner as a recording agent is made into a cartridge and can be replaced,
Measuring means for measuring the remaining amount of toner in the cartridge;
Determination means for determining a toner-free error based on the toner remaining amount measured by the measurement means;
Printing stop means for temporarily stopping printing when the determination means determines that there is no toner error;
A printing continuation means for allowing printing to be continued in a state where printing is temporarily stopped by the printing stopping means;
When the patch data of the expected density is output and printing is continued by the density measurement means for measuring the density and the print continuation means, the density by the density measurement means is determined by the density measurement execution timing table according to the failure characteristics of the printing apparatus. A determination means for determining the measurement timing;
Concentration measurement execution means for executing concentration measurement by the concentration measurement means at the timing determined by the determination means;
An acquisition unit that acquires the result of the concentration measurement performed by the concentration measurement execution unit;
A comparison means for comparing the concentration measurement result acquired by the acquisition means with a predetermined threshold;
Means for stopping printing and requesting cartridge replacement when the comparing means determines that the measured density is lower than the threshold;
Have

(Means 2)
In order to achieve the above object, the printing apparatus of the present invention has the following configuration.
That is,
The density measurement execution timing table according to the failure characteristics of the printing apparatus used by the determination unit is an average number of printed pages until the failure occurs when printing is continued after the determination unit determines “no toner”. On the other hand, the interval is shortened step by step.

(Means 3)
In order to achieve the above object, the printing apparatus of the present invention has the following configuration.
That is,
The density measurement execution timing table according to the failure characteristics of the printing apparatus used by the determination unit is an average print dot count number until failure when the determination unit determines that there is no toner and continues printing. In contrast, gradually reduce the interval,
It is characterized by that.

(Means 4)
In order to achieve the above object, the printing apparatus of the present invention has the following configuration.
That is,
The density patch measured by the density measuring unit is printed only for the color determined as “no toner” by the determining unit.
It is characterized by that.

  According to the present invention, after a “no toner error” occurs, density measurement is performed at the execution timing in the density measurement execution timing table according to the failure characteristics of the printing apparatus even when printing is continued with the excessive toner use function. By detecting a decrease in density, it is possible to reliably avoid a failure of the printing apparatus due to excessive use of density.

1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an internal structure of a rotary developing rotary type color laser printer (LBP) according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the control system containing LBP of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the control structure of LBP in this invention Example. It is a figure which shows the example of the density measurement execution timing table by the printing page count in an Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the density measurement execution timing table by the printing dot count in this invention Example. It is a flowchart which shows the control procedure of LBP in this invention Example 1.

[Example 1]
DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the constituent elements described in this embodiment are merely examples, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to them.

[Description of laser beam printer]
Before describing the configuration of the present embodiment, the internal structure of a rotary developing rotary type color laser printer (LBP) to which the present embodiment is applied will be described with reference to FIG.

  In FIG. 1, a scanner (711) includes a laser output unit (not shown) for converting an image signal into an optical signal, a polyhedron (for example, an octahedron) polygon mirror (712), and a motor for rotating the mirror (712). (Not shown), an f / θ lens (imaging lens, 713), etc. The laser light emitted from the laser output unit is reflected by one side of the polygon mirror (712), and the f / θ lens (713) and the reflection mirror. The surface of the photosensitive drum (715) rotating in the direction of the arrow through (714) is linearly scanned (raster scan), whereby an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the original image is scanned on the photosensitive drum (715). It will be formed on the surface.

  Around the photosensitive drum (715), a primary charger (717), an entire exposure lamp (718), a cleaner unit (723) for collecting residual toner that has not been transferred, and a pre-transfer charger (724) are disposed. ing.

  The developing unit (726) is a unit that develops an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum (715) by laser exposure, and has the following configuration. The developing sleeves (731Y, 731M, 731C, 731Bk) are in direct contact with the photosensitive drum 715 for direct development. The toner hoppers (730Y, 730M, 730C, 730Bk) hold spare toner. The screen (732) transfers the developer. The sleeve (731Y, 731M, 731C, 731Bk), the toner hopper (730Y, 730M, 730C, 730Bk), and the screw (732) are disposed around the central axis P of the developing unit (726).

  Note that the symbols Y, M, C, and Bk of the above-described constituent elements indicate colors. That is, “Y” is yellow, “M” is magenta, “C” is cyan, and “Bk” is black.

  The developer unit position sensor (742) detects the rotational position of the developer unit (726). When forming a yellow toner image, yellow toner development processing is performed at the position shown in FIG. When a magenta toner image is formed, the developing unit (726) is rotated about the axis P in the drawing so that the developing sleeve (731M) in the magenta developing unit is in contact with the photosensitive drum (715). To. Cyan and black development work in the same way. Here, although it is also a problem in the present invention, if the printing is continued even when the toner is completely removed, the developing unit (726) that rotates around the axis P using the toner as a lubricant is locked, and a rotary lock failure occurs. .

  The transfer drum (716) transfers the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum (715) to a sheet. The actuator plate (719) detects the moving position of the transfer drum (716). The position sensor (720) detects that the transfer drum (716) has moved to the home position by approaching the actuator plate (719). The actuator plate (719), the position sensor (720), the transfer drum cleaner (725), the paper pressing roller (727), and the gradual charger (729) are transfer chargers and are arranged around the transfer roller (716). Yes. On the other hand, the paper feed cassettes (735, 736) store paper (paper sheets, 791).

  In the embodiment, it is assumed that, for example, A4 size paper is stored in the paper feed cassette (735), and A3 size paper is stored in the paper feed cassette (736). When the paper is fed and conveyed, the paper is fed from the cassette (735, 736) by the paper feed rollers (737, 738). The timing of feeding and transporting is taken by timing rollers (739, 740, 741). Through these, the paper guide (490) is guided to the paper guide (490) and the leading end is wound around the transfer drum (716) while being held by the gripper (728), and the process proceeds to the image forming process.

  Note that which one of the paper feed cassettes (735, 736) is selected is determined by an instruction from the printer controller (700), and only the selected paper feed roller rotates. With the above configuration, full-color printing with four colors of YMCK is realized.

[Description of printer control system]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the printer control system according to the embodiment of the present invention. Here, a rotary developing rotary color laser beam printer (FIG. 1) will be described as an example.

  In FIG. 2, reference numeral (100) denotes a host computer, which is a document in which figures, images, characters, tables (including spreadsheets, etc.) are mixed based on a document processing program stored in a ROM (103) program ROM. A CPU (101) that executes processing is provided, and the CPU (301) comprehensively controls each device connected to the system bus (104). The ROM (103) program ROM stores a control program of the CPU (101), and the font ROM of the ROM (103) stores font data used for the document processing. The data ROM of the ROM (103) stores various data used when the document processing is performed.

  Reference numeral (102) denotes a RAM which functions as a main memory, work area, etc. of the CPU (101). (105) is a keyboard controller (KBC) which controls key input from a keyboard (109) or a pointing device (not shown). (106) is a CRT controller (CRTC), which controls the display on the CRT display (110). A memory controller (MC) 107 is an external memory (111) such as a hard disk (HD) or floppy (registered trademark) disk (FD) that stores a boot program, various applications, font data, user files, edit files, and the like. ) And control access. Reference numeral (108) denotes an I / F unit (interface unit) which is connected to the printer (200) via a predetermined bidirectional interface (150) and executes communication control processing with the printer controller unit (210).

  Note that the CPU (101) executes, for example, outline font development (rasterization) processing on the display information RAM set on the RAM (102) to enable WYSIWYG on the CRT (110). Further, the CPU (101) opens various windows registered based on commands instructed by a mouse cursor (not shown) on the CRT (1) 10, and executes various data processing.

  In the printer (200), reference numeral (201) denotes a printer CPU, which comprehensively accesses various devices connected to the system bus (204) based on a control program stored in a program ROM of the ROM (203). And an image signal as output information is output to the printing mechanism unit (220) connected via the printing unit interface (205). Further, in the program ROM of the ROM (203), a control program of the CPU (201) as shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 6 and 7 is stored.

  The CPU (201) can communicate with the host computer via the I / F unit (301), and is configured to notify the host computer (100) of information in the printer.

  Reference numeral (202) denotes a RAM that functions as a main memory, work area, and the like for the CPU (201), and is configured such that the memory capacity can be expanded by an optional RAM connected to an expansion port (not shown). The RAM (202) is used as a drawing memory for storing image data received from the host computer, a video signal ON / OFF information storage area, and other work areas.

  (230) is provided with a switch, an LED display, and the like for operation on the operation panel described above. A memory controller (MC) (206) controls access to the hard disk (207) that stores print data received from the host computer.

  In the LBP (200) having the above-described configuration, a processing operation by the control unit according to the embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining the processing configuration of printer control in the CPU (201) of the printer (200) shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 3, reference numeral (100) denotes a host computer which outputs print information including print data and control codes to the printer (200). The printer (200) is roughly composed of a controller unit (210), an operation panel (230), and a printing mechanism unit (220).

  The controller unit (210) includes an input / output interface unit (301), a print data / command analysis unit (302), an image generation unit (303), and an image memory (304) which are connection means with the host computer (100). , A print control unit (305), a status control unit (306), and a density measurement control unit (307).

  The input / output interface unit (301) is a communication unit that transmits and receives print data and control commands / statuses to and from the host computer (100). Data received via the input / output interface unit (301) is transferred to the print data / command analysis unit (302).

  The print data / command analysis unit (302) is configured by a control program according to each print control command system and print job control language, and print data related to drawing such as character printing, graphics, and images is stored in the image forming unit (303). ) As print information, and commands other than drawing, such as paper feed selection and reset commands, are sent to the print control unit (305) for processing.

  In the image forming unit (303), each object such as a character or an image is sequentially bitmap-developed and stored in the image memory (304). The bitmap data stored in the image memory is converted into a video signal by the print control unit (305) and output to the print mechanism unit (220).

  The status control unit (306) determines various printer statuses based on information from the print control unit (305), displays the printer status on the operation panel (230), and from the host computer (100). It has a function to send back the status of the printer in response to the issued status information command. Next, the density measurement control unit (307) is control means for printing patch data of an arbitrary density and measuring the density of the printed patch data (calibration). The processing operation shown in FIG. Run.

  Next, the printing mechanism unit (220) is a mechanism for forming a received video signal on a recording medium as a visible image. An operation panel (230) is a user interface for setting and displaying various printer states.

  Next, the processing operation of the concentration measurement control unit (307) in the first embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, in step S11, the remaining amount of toner in the toner cartridge is monitored to check whether no toner has occurred. Here, the remaining amount of toner is measured by an optical sensor provided in the printing mechanism unit 220.

  If no toner is detected, printing is stopped in step S12, and a “no toner error” is displayed on the operation panel (230). In step S13, the process waits for the replacement of the toner cartridge in which the “no toner error” has occurred with another toner cartridge. If the toner cartridge has been replaced, the process returns to step S11. In step S14, the process waits whether the user has instructed the execution of the excessive toner use function.

  A method for instructing execution of the excessive toner use function may be a key operation on the operation panel (230) or a method using a control command from the host computer, but is not limited thereto, and any instruction method may be used.

  When the user uses the excessive toner use function, the process advances to step S15 to initialize the currently selected table number “A” in the density measurement execution timing table created in advance according to the failure characteristics of the printing apparatus. .

  FIG. 4 is a concentration measurement execution timing table according to the first embodiment. Specifically, A = 1. The print page counter “N” is also initialized to N = 0. In step S16, the density measurement execution page count indicated by the table number “A” in the density measurement execution timing table is substituted into “P”. From the density measurement execution timing table of FIG. 4, P = 100. In step S17, the process waits for one page to be printed. When one page printing is completed, the print page counter “N” is updated (incremented) in step S18.

  The print page counter “N” updated in step S19 is compared with the density measurement execution page count “P”. If “P> N”, the process returns to step S17 to wait for the end of printing of the next page. That is, steps S17 to S19 are repeated until the number of printed pages reaches the value P.

  On the other hand, if the condition “P = <N” is satisfied, the process proceeds to step S110. In step S110, the patch data is printed, and density measurement for measuring the density is executed. Density measurement uses a function (density measurement calibration) originally for correcting image density, and the patch data to be printed is also used as it is for density correction.

  In step S111, the density measurement value measured in step S110 is acquired from the printing mechanism unit (220). Next, in step 112, the density measurement value acquired in step S111 is compared with a preset threshold value (density value). As this threshold value, it is preferable to set a density value in such a state that print rubbing can be clearly determined visually, but where the threshold value is set is not limited in this patent. If the measured density value is less than or equal to the threshold value, a decrease in print density has been confirmed, and if printing is continued further, it is determined that there is a possibility that the printing apparatus may break down. “No toner error” is displayed on the panel (230). This error cannot be cleared unless the user replaces the toner cartridge.

  On the other hand, if the concentration measurement value is greater than or equal to the threshold value in step S112, the process proceeds to step S113, where it is confirmed whether the table number “A” in the currently selected concentration measurement execution timing table is 5 or more, and A> = 5. If there is, the value of “A” is not changed. That is, when the value of the table number “A” becomes 5, thereafter, density measurement is executed for each number of density measurement execution pages of the table number 5. If A <5, the table number “A” is updated (incremented) in step S114. In step S115, the print page counter “N” is initialized to N = 0, and the process returns to step S16.

  In the processing operation of this flowchart, if printing is continued using the toner excess use function after the “no toner error” occurs, density measurement is performed each time printing for the page count set in the order of the table number in the density measurement execution timing table is completed. To check whether the print density has fallen below the threshold.

  Here, the density measurement execution timing table of FIG. 4 shown as the present embodiment assumes a printing apparatus in which a rotary lock failure occurs when printing is continued for an average of about 300 pages after detecting “no toner error”. Was created. That is, in continuous printing after occurrence of the “toner-free error”, density measurement is performed more frequently as the page approaches 300 pages, and a decrease in print density is detected.

  As described above, according to the first exemplary embodiment, even when printing is continued by the excessive toner use function after the “no toner error” occurs, the execution in the density measurement execution timing table according to the failure characteristics of the printing apparatus is performed. By performing density measurement at the timing and detecting density reduction, there is an effect that it is possible to reliably avoid a rotary lock failure of the printing apparatus due to overuse of density.

[Example 2]
In the first embodiment, the density measurement execution timing table is created by the print page count, but in the second embodiment, the density measurement execution timing table is created by the dot count instead of the page count as shown in FIG. The dot count is a value representing how many dots are printed on a print portion (colored portion) of a target color at the time of printing, for example, in terms of 600 dpi.

  Instead of the print page counter “N” in the first embodiment, a print dot counter is provided, the same processing operation as in the first embodiment is performed, and the execution timing of density measurement is determined. In the page count, the toner consumption varies depending on the contents printed on one page. Therefore, although it is a guideline for determining the density measurement execution timing, there is a possibility that the accuracy may deteriorate.

  However, by using the dot count, it is possible to create a density measurement execution timing table that accurately reflects the toner consumption.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, since it is possible to create a density measurement execution timing table with higher accuracy, there is an effect of improving the accuracy of avoiding a rotary lock failure of the printing apparatus due to excessive use of density. is there.

[Example 3]
In the first embodiment, the same patch data as the density measurement for the purpose of normal print density correction is used for the density measurement for the purpose of avoiding the rotary lock failure due to excessive use of toner. In the density measurement for the purpose of avoiding the rotary lock failure, it is not necessary to perform the print density correction. Therefore, it is not necessary to measure the density other than the color in which the “no toner error” has occurred. Therefore, as Example 3, in density measurement for the purpose of avoiding a rotary lock failure, only the patch data of the color in which the “no toner error” has occurred is printed and the density is measured. In addition, since it is not necessary to print patch data having a plurality of densities, it is possible to measure the density by printing only one patch.

  As described above, according to the third embodiment, the density measurement for the purpose of avoiding the rotary lock failure has an effect of not wastefully consuming the toner by printing only the patch data of the color in which the “no toner error” has occurred.

100 Host computer 101 CPU
103 ROM
104 System bus 301 CPU

Claims (4)

In a printing apparatus configured so that a consumable containing at least toner as a recording agent is made into a cartridge and can be replaced,
Measuring means for measuring the remaining amount of toner in the cartridge;
Determination means for determining a toner-free error based on the toner remaining amount measured by the measurement means;
Printing stop means for temporarily stopping printing when the determination means determines that there is no toner error;
A printing continuation means for allowing printing to be continued in a state where printing is temporarily stopped by the printing stopping means;
When the patch data of the expected density is output and printing is continued by the density measurement means for measuring the density and the print continuation means, the density by the density measurement means is determined by the density measurement execution timing table according to the failure characteristics of the printing apparatus. A determination means for determining the measurement timing;
Concentration measurement execution means for executing concentration measurement by the concentration measurement means at the timing determined by the determination means;
An acquisition unit that acquires the result of the concentration measurement performed by the concentration measurement execution unit;
A comparison means for comparing the concentration measurement result acquired by the acquisition means with a predetermined threshold;
Means for stopping printing and requesting cartridge replacement when the comparing means determines that the measured density is lower than the threshold;
A printing apparatus comprising:   The density measurement execution timing table according to the failure characteristics of the printing apparatus used by the determination unit is an average number of printed pages until the failure occurs when printing is continued after the determination unit determines “no toner”. In contrast, the printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the interval is shortened step by step.   The density measurement execution timing table according to the failure characteristics of the printing apparatus used by the determination unit is an average print dot count number until failure when the determination unit determines that there is no toner and continues printing. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the interval is shortened step by step. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the density patch measured by the density measuring unit prints only the color determined as “no toner” by the determining unit.