JP2017037128A - Image forming apparatus and consumable management program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus that displays a state of use of a consumable item removed from the apparatus, to allow a user to confirm the state of use of the consumable item removed from the apparatus.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus acquires a state of use of a consumable item attached to the image forming apparatus, updates a consumable management table including information indicating the state of the consumable item attached to the image forming apparatus and information indicating the state of a consumable item removed from the image forming apparatus (300 to 304), and displays information in the updated consumable management table (308). The image forming apparatus displays the state of use of consumables attached to the image forming apparatus and consumables not attached to the apparatus, to allow a user to confirm a state of use of the removed consumable item even after the consumable item has been removed from the image forming apparatus.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a consumable management program.

  In Patent Document 1, when a consumable such as a toner cartridge containing toner is provided with a memory and the consumable is mounted on an image forming apparatus, the amount of the consumable used is included as information on the consumable. An image forming apparatus is disclosed that notifies a user of the remaining amount of toner and the number of printable sheets by reading and writing corresponding information to and from a memory.

JP-A-9-120208

  The image forming apparatus can acquire information regarding the consumable when the consumable is mounted on the image forming apparatus, but the information regarding the consumable replaced and removed from the main body of the image forming apparatus is not acquired. Can not.

  The present invention is a consumable that can be used in the image forming apparatus main body including consumables removed from the image forming apparatus main body, as compared with checking the consumption state of the consumables mounted on the image forming apparatus main body. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and a consumable item management program that can easily check the consumable state of a consumable item.

  The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 includes a detection unit that detects attachment and detachment of each of a plurality of consumables that can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body, and a consumable that is detected by the detection unit. A first control unit that performs control to store in the storage unit the information indicating the mounting and removal of the battery and the identification information that identifies the consumable that has been detected to be mounted and removed by the detection unit, and stores in the storage unit And a second control unit that performs control to display information indicating a consumption state of a target consumable item removed from the image forming apparatus main body on a display device based on the received information.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the image forming apparatus includes a consumption state detection unit that detects a consumption state of a consumable item attached to the image forming apparatus main body, and the first control unit. Performs control to store the information indicating the consumption state of the detected consumable item in the storage unit in association with the identification information of the consumable item in which the consumption state is detected, and the second control unit includes: Based on the information stored in the storage unit, control is performed to display information indicating the consumption state of the target consumable on the display device.

  The image forming apparatus according to claim 3 is the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second control unit is information indicating a consumption state of a consumable that is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body. Is displayed together with information indicating the consumption state of the target consumable.

  The image forming apparatus according to a fourth aspect is the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the first control unit detects that a consumable is mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus. Information indicating the wearing of the consumable that has been detected to be mounted on the image forming apparatus main body when the identification information for identifying the consumable that has been detected to be mounted is not stored in the storage unit; Control for storing the consumable identification information in the storage unit is performed.

  An image forming apparatus according to a fifth aspect is the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the first control unit detects the removal of a consumable from the image forming apparatus main body. If it is determined in advance that it is not necessary to reattach the consumable item detected to be removed to the image forming apparatus main body, information on the consumable item detected to be removed is deleted from the storage unit. Take control.

  An image forming apparatus according to a sixth aspect is the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the first control unit detects the removal of a consumable from the image forming apparatus main body. If it is, the second storage unit performs control to store information indicating the date and time of removal in the storage unit as information indicating the removal, and the second control unit performs the removal based on the information stored in the storage unit. When the elapsed time from the specified date and time exceeds a predetermined time, control is performed to display a warning on the display device as information indicating the consumption state of the target consumable.

  An image forming apparatus according to a seventh aspect is the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the storage unit is mounted on at least one of the plurality of consumables. When a consumable item equipped with the storage unit is installed and removed, the control unit removes the consumable item equipped with the storage unit and the date and time when the consumable item equipped with the storage unit is installed. Information indicating each date and time is stored as information indicating attachment and removal in a storage unit mounted on a consumable that has been detected to be attached and removed, and the second control unit stores information in the storage unit. When the elapsed time from the stored date and time of removal exceeds a predetermined time, control is performed to display a warning on the display device as information indicating the consumption state

  An image forming apparatus according to an eighth aspect is the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, wherein the consumable is at least one of a toner cartridge and a drum cartridge containing toner. is there.

  A consumable management program according to a ninth aspect of the present invention detects attachment and detachment of each of a plurality of consumables that can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body, and indicates attachment and removal of the detected consumables. The information is stored in the storage unit in association with the identification information for identifying the consumables that are detected to be attached and removed, and the object is removed from the image forming apparatus main body based on the information stored in the storage unit The computer is caused to execute a process including displaying information indicating the consumption state of the consumable item on the display device at a predetermined timing.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the first aspect, the main body of the image forming apparatus including the consumables removed from the main body of the image forming apparatus as compared with checking the consumption state of the consumables attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus. It is possible to easily check the consumption state of consumables that can be used in the above.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the second aspect, it is possible to check the consumption state of the consumable item with higher accuracy than when the consumption state of the consumable item is not detected.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the third aspect, more consumables that can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body than in the case where the information indicating the consumption state of the consumables attached to the image forming apparatus main body is not displayed. The wear state can be confirmed.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the fourth aspect, compared to the case where information indicating the consumption state of the consumable item is not stored in the storage unit when it is detected that the consumable item in which the identification information is not stored is attached to the image forming apparatus. Thus, it is possible to suppress a user's work load associated with storing information indicating a consumption state of a consumable item for which identification information is not stored.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the fifth aspect, when the removal of the consumable item is detected from the image forming apparatus, the user's information associated with the deletion of the consumable item information is less than when the consumable item information is not deleted from the storage unit. The workload can be reduced.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the sixth aspect, the consumable item associated with the elapsed time after the consumable item is removed, as compared with a case where no warning is displayed when a predetermined time has elapsed since the consumable item was removed from the image forming device. The deterioration of quality can be suppressed.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the seventh aspect, compared to the case where the storage unit is not provided with the consumable item, it is used in the other image forming device by displaying the information indicating the consumption state of the consumable item removed from the other image forming apparatus. It is possible to suppress the deterioration of the quality of the consumed consumables.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the eighth aspect, it is possible to suppress the deterioration of the quality of the image formed by the image forming apparatus as compared with the case where the consumable is not applied to at least one of the toner cartridge and the drum cartridge.

  According to the consumables management program of claim 9, the image forming apparatus includes the consumables removed from the image forming apparatus main body, as compared with checking the consumption state of the consumables attached to the image forming apparatus main body. It is possible to easily check the consumption state of consumables that can be used in the main body.

1 is a configuration diagram illustrating an example of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram illustrating an example of an image forming unit according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram illustrating an example of a toner image forming unit according to the first embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the control part which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is an image figure which shows an example of the consumables management table which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the computer which can implement | achieve the control part which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the consumables management process which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is an image figure which shows an example of the display screen which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the consumables information registration process which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is an image figure which shows an example of the display screen which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the consumables information deletion process which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is an image figure which shows an example of the display screen which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the process at the time of mounting | wearing of the consumable which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of a process which registers the consumable information which concerns on 1st Embodiment in a consumables management table. It is an image figure which shows an example of the selection screen which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the process at the time of removal of the consumable goods which concern on 1st Embodiment. It is an image figure which shows an example of the deletion confirmation screen of consumables information which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the alerting | reporting process regarding the consumable goods information which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the consumables management process which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is an image figure which shows an example of the warning screen and warning detailed screen which concern on 2nd Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the elapsed time after removing the consumable which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the consumables management process which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the elapsed time after removing the consumable goods which concern on 3rd Embodiment. It is an image figure which shows an example of the consumable goods which concern on 4th Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the control part which concerns on 4th Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the computer which can implement | achieve the control part which concerns on 4th Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the process which reads / writes information in the consumables management process which concerns on 4th Embodiment.

  Hereinafter, an example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. An arrow H shown in the drawing indicates the apparatus height direction, and an arrow W indicates the apparatus width direction. Further, a direction orthogonal to each of the apparatus height direction and the apparatus width direction will be described as the apparatus depth direction.

[First Embodiment]
[Entire configuration of image forming apparatus]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an overall configuration of the image forming apparatus 10 as viewed from the front side as an example of the configuration of the image forming apparatus 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 10 includes an image forming unit 12 that forms an image on a sheet member P as an example of a recording medium by an electrophotographic method, a medium transport unit 50 that transports the sheet member P, And a post-processing unit 60 that performs post-processing and the like on the sheet member P on which the image is formed. In addition, the image forming apparatus 10 includes a control unit 70 that controls the units and the power supply unit 80, and a power supply unit 80 that supplies power to the units including the control unit 70. Note that a display 72 and a console 74 are connected to the control unit 70 (details will be described later).

<Configuration of image forming unit>
FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of the image forming unit 12 as viewed from the front side as an example of the configuration of the image forming unit 12 included in the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of the toner image forming unit 20 as viewed from the front side as an example of the configuration of the toner image forming unit 20 included in the image forming unit 12. The image forming unit 12 performs multicolor image formation using five colors of toner (developer) of special colors (V), yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming unit 12 includes a photosensitive drum 21, which is an example of a latent image holding member, a charger 22, an exposure device 23, a developing device 24, and a cleaning device 25. Yes. The image forming unit 12 includes a toner image forming unit 20 (see also FIG. 3) that forms a toner image, a transfer device 30 that transfers the image formed by the toner image forming unit 20 to the sheet member P, and a sheet member. And a fixing device 40 for fixing the toner image transferred to P to the sheet member P.

  A plurality of toner image forming units 20 are provided so as to form a toner image for each color. In this embodiment, a total of five toner image forming portions 20 of special colors (V), yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) are provided. The parenthesized English letters (V), (Y), (M), (C), and (K) shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 indicate that they correspond to the above-described colors. In the following description, when distinguishing each of the special colors, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, the description will be made with reference numerals with V, Y, M, C, and K letters added after the numbers. If not necessary, the letters V, Y, M, C, and K after the numbers are omitted.

  In the developing device 24, a removable toner cartridge 27 is connected to an image forming apparatus 10 as an example of a consumable through a supply path (not shown), and a developer G containing toner contained in the toner cartridge 27 is supplied. The As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the toner cartridges 27 for the respective colors are arranged side by side in the apparatus width direction in front view with respect to the photosensitive drum 21 and the exposure apparatus 23 and can be individually replaced. An attachment / detachment detection sensor 90 that detects attachment / detachment of the toner cartridge 27 of each color as an example of the detection unit from the image forming apparatus 10 is provided in a peripheral portion of the toner cartridge 27 of each color of the image forming apparatus 10. Further, a reading sensor 92 for reading information from the toner cartridge 27 of each color is provided in a peripheral portion of the toner cartridge 27 of each color of the image forming apparatus 10. The toner cartridge 27 is given at least identification information 102 (see FIG. 4) indicating an identification number such as a serial number for identifying the toner cartridge 27. Identification information 102 (see FIG. 4) indicating the identification number assigned to the toner cartridge 27 is read by the reading sensor 92. An example of the identification information 102 indicating the identification number assigned to the toner cartridge 27 is barcode information.

  The transfer device 30 transfers a toner image for five colors onto a sheet member P at a transfer nip NT from a transfer belt 31 as an example of a toner image holding member on which toner images for five colors are primarily transferred. .

  In the present embodiment, the special color (V) is any one of a metal color for adding a metallic luster to an image and a user-specific corporate color that is used more frequently than other colors. Can be used.

(Photosensitive drum)
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the photosensitive drum 21 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and is driven to rotate around its own axis by a driving unit (not shown). As an example, a photosensitive layer having a negative charging polarity is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 21. Note that an overcoat layer may be formed on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 21. The photosensitive drums 21 of the respective colors are arranged in a straight line along the apparatus width direction when viewed from the front. In this embodiment, the photosensitive drum 21 is included in a drum cartridge that can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus 10 as an example of a consumable item, and the photosensitive drum 21 can be individually replaced by replacing the drum cartridge. . Further, a drum attachment / detachment detection sensor 90 </ b> A (for detecting attachment / detachment of the photosensitive drum 21 (drum cartridge) as an example of a detection unit from the image forming apparatus 10 is provided at a peripheral portion of the replaceable photosensitive drum 21 (drum cartridge). 4) is provided. Further, at least identification information indicating an identification number such as a serial number for identifying the photosensitive drum 21 is assigned to the photosensitive drum 21 (drum cartridge), and the identification information indicating the assigned identification number is read sensor 92A. (See FIG. 4).

(Charger)
The charger 22 charges the outer peripheral surface (photosensitive layer) of the photosensitive drum 21 to a negative polarity. In this embodiment, the charger 22 is a corona discharge type (non-contact charging type) scorotron charger.

(Exposure equipment)
The exposure device 23 forms an electrostatic latent image on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 21. Specifically, the exposure light L (see FIG. 3) modulated according to the image data received from the image signal processing unit constituting the control unit 70 is applied to the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 21 charged by the charger 22. Irradiate. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 21 by irradiation of the exposure light L by the exposure device 23. In the present embodiment, the exposure device 23 is configured to expose the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 while scanning a light beam emitted from a light source with an optical scanning unit (optical system) including a polygon mirror and an Fθ lens. .

(Developer)
The developing device 24 forms a toner image on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 21 by developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 21 with the developer G containing toner. The developing device 24 includes at least a container 24A that stores the developer G, and a developing roll 24B that supplies the developer G stored in the container 24A to the photosensitive drum 21 while rotating. A toner cartridge 27 for replenishing the developer G is connected to the container 24A via a replenishment path (not shown).

  A developing bias voltage is applied to the developing roll 24B. The developing bias voltage is a voltage applied between the photosensitive drum 21 and the developing roll 24B. Due to the potential difference generated between the developing roll 24B and the photosensitive drum 21 by applying the developing bias voltage, the photosensitive drum. The electrostatic latent image 21 is visualized as a toner image.

(Cleaning device)
The cleaning device 25 includes a blade 25 </ b> A that scrapes off toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 from the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 after the toner image is transferred to the transfer device 30. Although not shown, the cleaning device 25 further includes a housing that collects toner scraped by the blade 25A (see FIG. 3), and a transport device that transports the toner in the housing to a waste toner box. .

(Transfer device)
The transfer device 30 performs primary transfer by superimposing the toner images of the photosensitive drums 21 of the respective colors on the transfer belt 31, and secondarily transfers the superimposed toner images to the sheet member P (see FIG. 2).

  As shown in FIG. 2, specifically, the transfer belt 31 has an endless shape and is wound around a plurality of rolls 32. Among the plurality of rolls 32, the roll 32D shown in FIG. 2 functions as a drive roll that rotates the transfer belt 31 in the arrow A direction by the power of a motor (not shown). Of the plurality of rolls 32, the roll 32 </ b> T illustrated in FIG. 2 functions as a tension applying roll that applies tension to the transfer belt 31. Among the plurality of rolls 32, the roll 32 </ b> B illustrated in FIG. 2 functions as a counter roll of the secondary transfer roll 34.

  The transfer belt 31 is in contact with the photosensitive drum 21 of each color from below at the upper side extending in the apparatus width direction, and the image (toner image) of each photosensitive drum 21 is transferred from the primary transfer roll 33. The image is transferred upon application of. Further, the transfer belt 31 forms a transfer nip NT by contacting the secondary transfer roll 34 at the apex on the lower end side forming an obtuse angle, and receives the transfer bias voltage from the secondary transfer roll 34 to receive the transfer nip. The toner image is transferred to the sheet member P that passes NT.

(Fixing device)
As shown in FIG. 2, the fixing device 40 fixes the toner image on the sheet member P to which the toner image has been transferred by the transfer device 30. Although not shown, the fixing device 40 heats and pressurizes the toner image in a fixing nip NF formed by a fixing unit 41 including a fixing belt wound around a plurality of rolls and a pressure roll 42. The toner image is fixed to the sheet member P. For example, at least one of the rolls (not shown) is a heating roll that is provided with, for example, a heater and is rotated by a driving force transmitted from a motor (not shown) so that the fixing unit 41 is in the direction of arrow R shown in FIG. The toner image can be fixed to the sheet member P by applying pressure while heating.

<Medium transport unit>
The medium conveyance unit 50 includes a medium supply unit 52 that supplies the sheet member P to the image forming unit 12 and a medium discharge unit 54 that discharges the sheet member P on which an image is formed. The medium conveyance unit 50 includes a medium return unit 56 used when images are formed on both surfaces of the sheet member P, and an intermediate conveyance unit 58 that conveys the sheet member P from the transfer device 30 to the fixing device 40. It is configured.

  The medium supply unit 52 supplies the sheet members P one by one to the transfer nip NT of the image forming unit 12 in accordance with the transfer timing. The medium discharge unit 54 discharges the sheet member P on which the toner image is fixed by the fixing device 40 and formed on the outside of the apparatus. When the medium returning unit 56 forms an image on the other side of the sheet member P on which the toner image is fixed on one side, the medium returning unit 56 inverts the sheet member P so that the image forming unit 12 (medium supply unit 52) Return to.

<Post-processing section>
As shown in FIG. 1, the post-processing unit 60 includes a medium cooling unit 62 that cools the sheet member P on which an image is formed by the image forming unit 12, a correction device 64 that corrects the curvature of the sheet member P, and a sheet member. And an image inspection unit 66 for inspecting an image formed on P. Each unit constituting the post-processing unit 60 is disposed in the medium discharge unit 54 of the medium transport unit 50.

  The medium cooling unit 62, the correction device 64, and the image inspection unit 66 constituting the post-processing unit 60 are arranged in this order from the upstream side in the discharge direction of the sheet member P in the medium discharge unit 54. Post-processing is performed on the sheet member P in the discharging process.

[Image forming operation]
Next, an outline of an image forming process on the sheet member P and a post-processing process by the image forming apparatus 10 will be described.

  As illustrated in FIG. 1, the control unit 70 that has received the image formation command operates the toner image forming unit 20, the transfer device 30, and the fixing device 40. Accordingly, the photosensitive drum 21 and the developing roll 24B are rotated, and the transfer belt 31 is rotated. Further, the pressure roller 42 is rotated and the fixing unit 41 is rotated. Further, in synchronization with these operations, the control unit 70 operates the medium conveyance unit 50 and the like.

  As a result, the photosensitive drums 21 of the respective colors are charged by the charger 22 while being rotated. In addition, the control unit 70 sends the image data that has been subjected to image processing by the image signal processing unit to each exposure device 23. Each exposure device 23 emits each exposure light L according to the image data and exposes each charged photosensitive drum 21. Then, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the outer peripheral surface of each photosensitive drum 21. The electrostatic latent image formed on each photoconductor drum 21 is developed by the developer G supplied from the developing device 24. As a result, toner images of corresponding colors among the special colors (V), yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) are formed on the photosensitive drums 21 of the respective colors. The

  The toner images of the respective colors formed on the photosensitive drums 21 of the respective colors are sequentially transferred to the rotating transfer belt 31 by applying a transfer bias voltage through the primary transfer rolls 33 of the respective colors. As a result, a superimposed toner image in which toner images for five colors are superimposed is formed on the transfer belt 31. The superimposed toner image is conveyed to the transfer nip NT by the rotation of the transfer belt 31. The sheet member P is supplied to the transfer nip NT in synchronism with the conveyance of the superimposed toner image by the medium supply unit 52. By applying a transfer bias voltage at the transfer nip NT, the superimposed toner image is transferred from the transfer belt 31 to the sheet member P.

  The sheet member P to which the superimposed toner image has been transferred is conveyed by the intermediate conveyance unit 58 while being sucked with negative pressure from the transfer nip NT of the transfer device 30 toward the fixing nip NF of the fixing device 40. The fixing device 40 applies heat and pressure (fixing energy) to the sheet member P that passes through the fixing nip NF. As a result, the superimposed toner image transferred to the sheet member P is fixed to the sheet member P.

  The sheet member P discharged from the fixing device 40 is processed by the post-processing unit 60 while being conveyed by the medium discharge unit 54 toward the discharge medium receiving unit outside the apparatus. The sheet member P heated in the fixing process is first cooled in the medium cooling unit 62. Next, the curvature of the sheet member P is corrected by the correction device 64. Furthermore, the superimposed toner image fixed on the sheet member P is detected by the image inspection unit 66 for the presence and extent of toner density defects, image defects, image position defects, and the like. Then, the sheet member P is discharged to the medium discharge unit 54.

  On the other hand, when an image is formed on a non-image surface on which an image of the sheet member P is not formed (in the case of double-sided printing), the control unit 70 uses the conveyance path of the sheet member P after passing through the image inspection unit 66 as a medium. The discharge unit 54 is switched to the medium return unit 56. As a result, the sheet member P is turned upside down and sent to the medium supply unit 52. An image is formed (fixed) on the back surface of the sheet member P in the same process as the image forming process on the front surface. The sheet member P is discharged out of the apparatus by the medium discharge unit 54 through a process similar to a post-processing process after image formation on the surface.

  Next, the control unit 70 will be described. The control unit 70 controls each unit of the image forming apparatus 10. The control unit 70 also includes, as a first control unit and a second control unit, consumables including the consumables attached to the image forming apparatus 10 and the toner cartridge 27 removed from the image forming apparatus 10 as management targets. Control for managing consumables that can be used in the image forming apparatus 10 is performed.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of the control unit 70 according to the present embodiment. The control unit 70 includes a consumables management unit 110 and a basic operation control unit 120. A storage device in which a consumable item management table 218 is stored is connected to the consumable item management unit 110. The consumable management table 218 stores information regarding consumables that can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus 10 (details will be described later). Note that the storage device in which the consumable item management table 218 is stored may be provided outside the control unit 70. In addition, the consumables management unit 110 and the basic operation control unit 120 are connected so as to be able to exchange information. An attachment / detachment detection sensor 90 and a reading sensor 92 are connected to the consumables management unit 110. Further, the consumable management unit 110 detects a remaining amount detection sensor 94 for detecting the remaining amount of the developer G in the toner cartridge 27 as a consumption state detection unit and the number of sheet members P on which image formation (printing) has been performed. The number detection sensor 96 to be connected is connected. The consumable management unit 110 can accumulate the number of sheets detected by the number-of-sheets detection sensor 96 as a cumulative number. From the remaining amount of developer G detected by the remaining amount detection sensor 94 and the number of sheets detected by the number detection sensor 96, the consumption state of the consumables can be obtained. A driving member 29 that drives an agitator 28 for stirring the developer G in the toner cartridge 27 is connected to the basic operation control unit 120. The basic operation control unit 120 is connected to various mechanism units 101 of the image forming apparatus 10 including the image forming unit 12, the medium conveying unit 50, and the post-processing unit 60.

  The remaining amount detection sensor 94 and the number detection sensor 96 connected to the consumables management unit 110 are connected to the basic operation control unit 120, and the consumable item management unit 110 receives the remaining amount detection sensors 94 and 94 from the basic operation control unit 120. The sensor output value of the number detection sensor 96 may be acquired.

  The basic operation control unit 120 performs basic operation control of the image forming apparatus 10 including image processing for converting an input image into an image for printing and printing processing for printing the image processed image. That is, the basic operation control unit 120 controls the various mechanism units 101 of the image forming apparatus 10 including the image forming unit 12, the medium transport unit 50, and the post-processing unit 60 in order to perform the image forming operation of the image forming apparatus 10. . Under the control of the basic operation control unit 120, the basic operation of the image forming apparatus 10 is performed, and the image forming operation of the image forming apparatus 10 is executed as described above.

  In addition, the basic operation control unit 120 can also acquire information about consumables in image processing and printing processing. For example, the basic operation control unit 120 obtains the consumption amount of the developer G for each color by obtaining the consumption amount of the developer G of each color from data for generating an image processed image as a toner image. To do. Further, the basic operation control unit 120 can obtain the cumulative number of sheet members P on which image formation has been performed by counting and accumulating the number of sheet members P on which image formation has been performed by the photosensitive drum 21. Information regarding the consumables acquired in the image processing and the printing processing can be output from the basic operation control unit 120 to the consumables management unit 110.

  The consumables management unit 110 manages consumables that can be used in the image forming apparatus 10, including a process for obtaining information about consumables used in the image forming apparatus 10 and a process for presenting (displaying) information about consumables. Do. The consumable item management unit 110 uses the sensor output values detected by the attachment / detachment detection sensor 90, the reading sensor 92, the remaining amount detection sensor 94, and the sheet number detection sensor 96, and information stored in the consumable item management table 218. Get information. In addition, the consumables management unit 110 displays information on the acquired consumables on the display 72.

  By the way, in the image forming apparatus 10, the image forming process and the post-processing process for the sheet member P are executed by the image forming operation. In the image forming process, the special colors (V), yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (with the developer G containing the toner of each color accommodated in the toner cartridge 27 of each color mounted on the image forming apparatus 10 ( A toner image of a corresponding color is formed among C) and black (K). Since the developer G is consumed as a result of its use, the toner cartridge 27 of each color mounted in the image forming apparatus 10 is managed by the control unit 70 in terms of the consumption state such as the amount of developer G used and the remaining amount. Further, the photosensitive drum 21 is also consumed (deteriorated) due to its use, so that the photosensitive drum 21 attached to the image forming apparatus 10 is consumed according to the processing conditions such as the number of images formed by the control unit 70 and the cumulative number. State is managed.

  However, for example, the toner cartridge 27V used to form a special color (V) toner image may be removed from the image forming apparatus 10 when not in use, and the removed toner cartridge 27V is the image forming apparatus 10. Not manageable.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, the control unit 70 manages consumables such as the toner cartridge 27 mounted on the image forming apparatus 10 and consumables such as the toner cartridge 27 removed from the image forming apparatus 10.

  FIG. 5 shows a consumable management table in which various types of information are tabulated as an example of information regarding consumables used to manage consumables including consumables such as the toner cartridge 27 removed from the image forming apparatus 10. 218 is shown. As shown in FIG. 5, the consumable management table 218 associates each type of consumable with each of consumable types, identification numbers, information indicating the use status of consumables, and information indicating condition settings. Consumable information is stored.

  The information indicating the type of consumable is information for intuitively grasping the consumable such as the name of the consumable. The information indicating the identification number is information for uniquely identifying the consumable such as a serial number. In FIG. 5, the information indicating the type of the consumable is attached to the information indicating the type of the toner cartridge 27 attached to the image forming apparatus 10 (information indicating the color of the donor included in the developer G). The case where the number which shows a position is attached | subjected with the symbol # is shown.

  The information indicating the usage state of the consumable is information related to the usage status of the consumable, and in this embodiment, information indicating each of the remaining amount (%), the registration date / time, the mounting date / time, and the removal date / time is included. . The remaining amount (%) is an example of information indicating a consumption state, and is information indicating a ratio where the initial value of the amount of consumables that can be used (including the time until the expiration date) is 100. The registration date and time is information indicating the date and time when the consumable item is registered in the consumable item management table 218, the mounting date and time is information indicating the date and time when the registered consumable item is removed from the image forming apparatus 10, and the removal date and time is This is information indicating the date and time when the registered consumable item is mounted on the image forming apparatus 10. For example, the attachment date and time and the removal date and time correspond to information indicating the attachment and removal of the consumable item, and can determine whether the corresponding consumable item is attached or removed. For example, when a consumable is mounted on the image forming apparatus 10, information indicating the mounting date is stored, and information indicating the removal date is deleted. Further, when the consumable item is removed, information indicating the removal date and time is stored, and the information indicating the mounting date and time is deleted. As described above, by storing any information of the mounting date and time and the removing date and time, it is possible to determine whether or not the corresponding consumable is mounted or removed. Further, when only the registration date and time are stored, and the mounting date and time and the removal date and time are not stored, it can be determined that the corresponding consumable item is only registered as a management target.

  The information indicating the condition setting is information indicating a condition setting relating to handling of the consumable information when processing such as registration or deletion is performed when the consumable is attached or detached. In the present embodiment, the registration condition, the deletion condition, and the warning condition Information indicating each of these is associated.

  As the registration condition, a condition value that defines what processing is performed when consumable information of the same type of consumable has been registered in the consumable management table 218 is set. An example of the condition value of the registration condition is information indicating any one of forced deletion, same consumables warning, and non-processing. Forcible deletion of the condition values of the registration condition indicates that the consumable information for the same type of consumable is already deleted when the consumable information for the same type of consumable has already been registered. Indicates a warning indicating that the consumable information of the consumable has already been registered. Further, non-processing among the condition values of the registration condition indicates that no processing is performed. Until the condition value of the registration condition is set, an unset state in which information indicating that the condition value is not set is stored as an initial value is set. Further, without setting in an unset state, any one of forced deletion, the same consumables warning, or non-processing, for example, a non-processing condition value may be set as an initial value.

  The deletion condition is information in which a condition that determines what processing is performed on the consumable information of the removed consumable when the consumable is removed from the image forming apparatus 10 is set. An example of the condition value of the deletion condition is information indicating any one of forced deletion, deletion confirmation, and non-processing. Forcible deletion of the condition values of the deletion condition indicates that the consumable information of the consumable that has been removed when the consumable is removed from the image forming apparatus 10 is forcibly deleted. Indicates that confirmation of deletion is to be promoted. Moreover, non-processing among the condition values of the deletion condition indicates that no processing is performed. Until the condition value of the deletion condition is set, an unset state in which information indicating that the condition value is not set is stored as an initial value is set. Further, any of the forcible deletion, the deletion confirmation, or the non-processing, for example, a non-processing condition value may be set as the initial value without setting the unset state.

  The warning condition is information in which a condition that defines what kind of processing is to be performed as a consumable to be warned when the consumable is not attached to the image forming apparatus 10 is set. An example of the condition value of the warning condition is information indicating display or non-display. Of the condition values of the warning condition, the display indicates that a warning related to the use state of the consumable as a warning regarding the consumption state of the consumable is displayed, and the non-display indicates that no warning is displayed. It should be noted that until the display or non-display is determined as the condition value of the warning condition, an unset state in which information indicating that no condition value is set as an initial value is stored. In addition, a display or non-display condition value may be set as an initial value without entering an unset state.

  In the present embodiment, the initial value of each condition value of the registration condition, the deletion condition, and the warning condition used as information indicating the condition setting is determined by the user in advance.

The control unit 70 shown in FIG. 4 can be realized by a computer, for example.
In FIG. 6, an example of a computer that can implement the control unit 70 is shown as a computer 200. The computer 200 includes a CPU 210, a memory 212, a nonvolatile storage unit 214, and an input / output port (I / O) 222, which are connected to each other via a bus 224. The I / O 222 is connected to the attachment / detachment detection sensor 90, the reading sensor 92, the remaining amount detection sensor 94, the number detection sensor 96, the display 72, the console 74, and various mechanisms 101 of the image forming apparatus 10.

  The storage unit 214 can be realized by an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), a flash memory, or the like. A storage unit 214 serving as a recording medium stores a consumable item management program 216, a consumable item management table 218, a basic operation control program 220, and various data 221 for causing the computer 200 to function as the control unit 70. The CPU 210 reads out each of the consumables management program 216 and the basic operation control program 220 from the storage unit 214, expands it in the memory 212, and executes each process. As a result, the computer 200 that has executed the consumable management program 216 and the basic operation control program 220 operates as the control unit 70 shown in FIG.

  The basic operation control program 220 is a program for controlling the image forming operation of the image forming apparatus 10. That is, the CPU 210 executes the basic operation control program 220, whereby the image forming operation of the image forming apparatus 10 is executed, and the various mechanism units 101 of the image forming apparatus 10 for performing the image forming operation of the image forming apparatus 10 are set. Control. As a result, the computer 200 that has executed the basic operation control program 220 operates as the basic operation control unit 120 shown in FIG.

  The consumables management program 216 is a program for executing management of consumables used in the image forming apparatus including the removed consumables. The CPU 210 operates as the consumables management unit 110 by executing the consumables management program 216. That is, the control unit 70 is realized by the computer 200, and the computer 200 operates as the consumable item management unit 110 illustrated in FIG. 4 by executing the consumable item management program 216.

  Next, the operation of the computer 200 functioning as the control unit 70 will be described.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of the flow of consumable item management processing of the computer 200 that functions as the consumable item management unit 110 of the control unit 70 when the CPU 210 executes the consumable item management program 216. The CPU 210 executes the processing routine shown in FIG. 7 periodically, for example, at predetermined time intervals. In the process shown in FIG. 7 to be described below, the computer 200 controls the process of storing the information indicating the attachment and removal of the consumables in the consumables management table 218 in association with the consumables identification information 102. This corresponds to the function of the unit 70 operating as the first control unit. Further, the process of displaying the information indicating the consumption state of the consumable item on the display 72 corresponds to a function of the computer 200 operating as the second control unit in the control unit 70.

  First, in step 300, the consumables management table 218 stored in the storage unit 214 is read. In the next step 302, the usage state of the consumables used in the image forming apparatus 10 is acquired. That is, the consumables management unit 110 detects the toner cartridges 27 of the respective colors attached to the image forming apparatus 10 by the attachment / detachment detection sensor 90, and uses the identification information 102 indicating the identification numbers assigned to the attached toner cartridges 27. Reading is performed by the reading sensor 92. The consumable management unit 110 also detects the photosensitive drum 21 (drum cartridge) mounted by the attachment / detachment detection sensor 90A, and reads the identification information indicating the identification number by the reading sensor 92A. In addition, the consumable management unit 110 acquires information indicating the remaining amount of the developer G in each toner cartridge 27 mounted on the image forming apparatus 10 detected by the remaining amount detection sensor 94. Further, the consumable management unit 110 acquires information indicating the number of sheets (and the cumulative number) of sheet members P on which image formation (printing) has been detected by the number detection sensor 96. The consumable management unit 110 performs image processing and printing processing such as the consumption amount of the developer G of each color from the basic operation control unit 120 and the number of sheets (cumulative number) formed on the sheet member P by the photosensitive drum 21. You may acquire the information which shows the use condition of the consumable in.

  In the next step 304, the consumables management table 218 is updated with information indicating the usage state of the consumables acquired in step 302. In step 306, it is determined whether or not display of the use state of the consumable is requested from the console 74 by determining a signal from the console 74. If a negative determination is made in step 306, the process proceeds to step 318. If an affirmative determination is made, the process proceeds to step 308. In this embodiment, an example has been described in which information indicating the usage state of a consumable is displayed in response to a display request for information indicating the usage state of the consumable from the console 74. However, a display request from the console 74 is described. However, it is not limited to this, and the process may be performed while always displaying (the process of step 306 is omitted).

  In step 308, a consumable status display process is executed. That is, the consumables management unit 110 displays each piece of information of the updated consumables management table 218 on the display 72.

  In FIG. 8, a display screen 130 displaying each piece of information of the consumables management table 218 on the display 72 is shown as an example. As shown in FIG. 8, the displayed information of the consumable item management table 218 is classified into a mounted toner cartridge 27 and a non-mounted toner cartridge 27. FIG. 8 shows a case where drum cartridges including the photosensitive drum 21 as an example of consumables other than the toner cartridge 27 are classified and displayed as installed drum cartridges and non-installed drum cartridges. Yes.

  Note that the display screen 130 illustrated in FIG. 8 is an example in which display setting values are determined and displayed as the usage state of the consumables. For example, the remaining amount of the developer G can be visually checked in four stages between 0% and 100% based on the information indicating the remaining amount of the information indicating the usage state of the consumables of each toner cartridge 27. Is displayed. A message with a predetermined display setting value is displayed according to the level of the remaining amount of the developer G. In the example shown in FIG. 8, when the remaining amount of the developer G becomes approximately 0%, a message “Preparing for reserve” is displayed, and a message “Good” is displayed in other cases.

  In this way, by displaying the usage state of the consumables that are already attached to the image forming apparatus 10 and the consumable parts that are not attached to the image forming apparatus 10, in addition to the usage state of the consumables already attached to the image forming apparatus 10, the image forming apparatus 10. The user can confirm the usage state of the consumables not attached to the device. That is, even when a consumable item is removed from the image forming apparatus 10, the user can check the usage state of the removed consumable item.

  Next, processing for registering or deleting consumable information in the consumable management table 218 is executed in accordance with a user instruction (manual). Specifically, first, in step 310 shown in FIG. 7, it is determined whether or not a registration request indicating a request for registering consumable information has been made. That is, the consumables management unit 110 determines whether or not a registration request has been made by determining whether or not the signal from the console 74 is a signal indicating a registration request. If the determination in step 310 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 312 to execute consumable information registration processing.

  FIG. 9 shows an example of the flow of consumable information registration processing. In step 330, consumable information is acquired. That is, the consumables management unit 110 displays information for prompting the input of consumables information on the display 72, and acquires consumables information of the input consumables by reading a signal from the console 74. In step 330, information indicating a consumable information registration request is also acquired. In the next step 332, it is determined whether or not the read signal from the console 74 is information indicating a consumable information registration request. If a negative determination is made, the processing routine is terminated. On the other hand, if an affirmative determination is made in step 332, processing for registering the consumable information acquired in step 330 in the consumable management table 218 is executed in step 334.

  FIG. 10 shows an example of the transition of the display screen displayed on the display 72 in the consumable information registration process. As shown in FIG. 10, the display screen 132 displayed on the display 72 includes a new registration button 134, a registration deletion button 136, and a return button 138 below the area where each piece of information in the consumables management table 218 is displayed. It is out. The user instructs the new registration button 134 on the console 74, whereby an information screen 140 that prompts the user to input consumable information is displayed on the display 72. The information screen 140 includes an input display area 142 for an identification number of a consumable such as the cartridge 27, a registration button 144, and a return button 146. When the user inputs an identification number on the console 74 and designates the registration button 144, the consumable information is registered in the consumable management table 218, and each information of the consumable management table 218 including the registered consumable information is stored. Is displayed on the display 72 as a display screen 148.

  Note that consumables information including at least identification information 102 indicating the identification number is registered in the consumables management table 218 in accordance with an instruction of the registration button 144 after the identification number is input. After instructing the registration button 144, it is preferable to prompt the input of information indicating the type and use state of the consumable by the process shown in FIG. 9 and register the input information. The example shown in FIG. 10 shows a case where each piece of information included in the consumable information input by the user is registered.

  Further, when the user designates the registration deletion button 136 on the console 74, a screen 150 (FIG. 12), which will be described in detail later, is displayed on the display 72. Further, when the user instructs the return button 138 on the console 74, the process returns to the process immediately before the display screen 132, and the previous screen is displayed on the display 72.

  On the other hand, if a negative determination is made at step 310 shown in FIG. 7, the process proceeds to step 314. In step 314, it is determined whether or not a deletion request indicating a request to delete the consumable information has been made. That is, the consumables management unit 110 determines whether or not a deletion request has been made by determining whether or not the signal from the console 74 is a signal indicating a deletion request. If a negative determination is made in step 314, the process proceeds directly to step 318. If an affirmative determination is made, the consumables information deletion process is executed in step 316, and then the process proceeds to step 318.

  FIG. 11 shows an example of the flow of consumable information deletion processing. In step 340, the consumable information is acquired and a selection screen for selecting the acquired consumable information is displayed. That is, the consumable item management unit 110 displays the consumable item information to be displayed on the display 72 so as to be selectable by the console 74. In the next step 342, it is determined whether or not at least one of the consumable information displayed so as to be selectable has been selected by reading a signal from the console 74. If the determination is negative, the processing routine is terminated. To do. On the other hand, if an affirmative determination is made in step 342, update processing of the consumables management table 218 is executed in step 344. That is, the consumable part management unit 110 updates the consumable part management table 218 by executing processing for deleting the selected consumable part information from the consumable part management table 218.

  FIG. 12 shows an example of the transition of the display screen displayed on the display 72 in the consumable information deletion process. When the registration deletion button 136 on the display screen 132 shown in FIG. 10 is instructed by the user on the console 74, the selection screen 150 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 12, the selection screen 150 includes a selection area 152 in which each piece of consumable information can be selected on the left side of the area where each piece of information in the consumable management table 218 is displayed. The selection screen 150 includes a delete button 154 and a return button 156 below. The user designates the instruction area 153 corresponding to the consumable information to be deleted in the selection area 152 on the console 74, whereby the display of the designated instruction area 153 is changed (in FIG. 12, the background is changed from white to black). Is shown). The user selects consumable information to be deleted on the console 74, and then instructs the delete button 154 to delete the selected consumable information from the consumable management table 218. The consumable management table after the deletion is deleted. Each piece of information 218 is displayed on the display 72 as a display screen 158. The display screen 158 displays only the non-mounted cartridge portion in the selection screen 150.

  As described above, since the consumable information can be registered or deleted according to the user's instruction (manual), the consumables used in the image forming apparatus 10 and the non-use consumables are consumables according to the user's intention. Information can be registered or deleted.

  Next, processing for registering or deleting consumable information in the consumable management table 218 is performed by attaching and detaching the consumable. Specifically, it is first determined in step 318 shown in FIG. 7 whether or not the consumable item has been attached or detached. That is, the consumable item management unit 110 determines whether or not a consumable item has been attached or detached from the sensor output of the attachment / detachment detection sensor 90 or the like. If a negative determination is made in step 318, this processing routine is terminated as it is. On the other hand, if an affirmative determination is made in step 318, the process proceeds to step 320 to determine whether or not a consumable item has been attached. If an affirmative determination is made in step 320, the process proceeds to step 322 to execute a process for wearing consumables.

  FIG. 13 shows an example of the flow of processing at the time of mounting. In step 350, identification information 102 of the attached consumable item is acquired. That is, the consumable item management unit 110 acquires the consumable item identification information 102 by acquiring the sensor output value of the reading sensor 92. In the next step 352, it is determined whether or not the consumable information indicating the consumable of the identification information 102 acquired in step 350 is not registered in the consumable management table 218. That is, the consumable part management unit 110 determines whether the acquired identification information 102 is not registered in the consumable part management table 218. If the consumable part management unit 110 makes an affirmative determination in step 352, the process proceeds to step 354 and registers consumable part information indicating the consumable part of the identification information 102 acquired in step 350 in the consumable part management table 218. On the other hand, if the consumable part management unit 110 makes a negative determination in step 352, since the consumable part information has already been registered, at least the mounting date and time of the consumable part information registered in the consumable part management table 218 is displayed. The consumables management table 218 is updated by updating the date and time.

  When a new consumable item is newly attached to the image forming apparatus 10, consumable item information indicating a consumable item with the same attribute classified into the same type may already be registered in the consumable item management table 218. In this case, it may be preferable to delete the registered consumable information, or it may be preferable to keep it as it is. Therefore, in this embodiment, a registration condition when a new consumable item is registered in the consumable item management table 218 is defined, and processing for the registered consumable item information is executed based on the registration condition.

  FIG. 14 shows an example of the flow of processing for registering consumable information in the consumable management table 218 when a new consumable is attached to the image forming apparatus 10. An example of the flow of the process illustrated in FIG. 14 is an example of a process that details the process illustrated in Step 354 illustrated in FIG. 13.

  In step 360, the consumables management table 218 is read, and the registration condition in the condition setting is acquired. In the next step 362, it is determined whether there is a consumable having the same attribute. That is, the consumables management unit 110 determines whether or not the consumables management table 218 includes the consumable information of the type that matches the consumables information of the mounted consumables, so that the consumables having the same attribute. It is determined whether or not there is. If no consumable item with the same attribute is registered in the consumable item management table 218, the consumable item management unit 110 makes a negative determination in step 362 and proceeds to step 376 to obtain consumable item information of the attached consumable item. By registering, the consumables management table 218 is updated.

  On the other hand, if consumables having the same attribute have been registered in the consumable management table 218, the consumable management unit 110 makes an affirmative determination in step 362, and in step 364, in the consumables information of the registered consumables having the same attribute. It is determined whether or not the registration condition K is unprocessed. If the registration condition K is not processed, the consumables management unit 110 makes an affirmative determination in step 364 and proceeds to step 376 as it is. On the other hand, when the consumables management unit 110 makes a negative determination in step 364, the consumables management unit 110 proceeds to step 366 and determines whether or not the registration condition K is forcible deletion. If the registration condition K is forced deletion, the consumables management unit 110 makes an affirmative determination in step 366, deletes the registered consumable information in step 368, and proceeds to step 376. On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step 366, the consumables management unit 110 proceeds to step 370, determines whether or not the registration condition K is the same consumables warning, and if a negative determination is made, proceeds to step 376 as it is. . On the other hand, if the registration condition K is the same consumables warning, the consumables management unit 110 can make an affirmative determination in step 370 and can instruct to selectively delete the consumables information of consumables having the same attribute in step 372. Display a confirmation screen. Next, in step 374, the consumables management unit 110 determines whether or not consumables information of consumables having the same attribute has been selected and instructed to be deleted on the confirmation screen. If a negative determination is made, the process proceeds directly to step 376. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 368.

  FIG. 15 shows a selection screen 160 displayed on the display 72 as an example of the confirmation screen. As shown in FIG. 15, the selection screen 160 includes a selection area 162 in which each piece of consumable information of consumables having the same attribute can be selected. The selection screen 160 includes a delete button 164 and a return button 166 below. The user designates the instruction area 163 corresponding to the consumable information to be deleted in the selection area 162 on the console 74, whereby the display of the designated instruction area 163 is changed (in FIG. 15, the background is changed from white to black). Is shown). The user selects consumable information to be deleted on the console 74 and then instructs the delete button 164 to delete the selected consumable information from the consumable management table 218.

  As described above, when the consumable information of the consumable having the same attribute has been registered, the consumable information of the consumable having the same attribute can be deleted according to the condition specified by the user. As a result, when the consumables to be used in the image forming apparatus 10 are mounted, the consumable information of the consumables to be used can be registered and the consumable information of the unused consumables can be deleted. .

  Next, a case where the consumable item is removed will be described. If a negative determination is made in step 320 shown in FIG. 7, the process proceeds to step 324, where it is determined whether the consumable has been removed. If an affirmative determination is made in step 324, the process proceeds to step 326, and the process for removing consumables is executed.

  FIG. 16 shows an example of the flow of processing when removing consumables. In step 378, the identification information 102 of the removed consumable is specified. That is, the consumable item management unit 110 specifies the consumable item identification information 102 by acquiring the sensor output value of the reading sensor 92 immediately before the consumable item is removed.

  In the next step 380, it is determined whether or not the removed consumable is in an unusable state. In the present embodiment, it is determined whether or not the consumable item is in an unusable state by determining whether or not the information indicating the remaining amount among the use states registered in the consumable item management table 218 indicates 0 or less than a predetermined amount. Judge whether or not. That is, the consumable part management unit 110 determines that the consumable part management unit 110 is in an unusable state when the remaining amount of the consumable part information of the removed consumable part indicates less than a predetermined amount. If the remaining amount is greater than or equal to the predetermined amount, the consumable is in a usable state, a negative determination is made at step 380, and the process proceeds to step 384. On the other hand, if an affirmative determination is made in step 380, a warning condition is set in step 382. That is, the consumable part management unit 110 registers the display as a condition value of the condition setting warning condition in the consumable part management table 218. In the processing of step 382, non-display can be registered by user selection. Note that the processing of step 380 and step 382 shown in FIG. 16 is not limited to being included in the consumable removal process, and may be performed periodically.

  Next, in step 384, the consumables management unit 110 reads the consumables management table 218 and acquires the deletion condition J of the condition settings. In the next step 386, it is determined whether or not the deletion condition J in the consumable information of the removed consumable is unprocessed. If the deletion condition J is non-processing, the consumables management unit 110 makes an affirmative determination in step 386, updates the consumables management table 218 as it is in step 388, and ends this processing routine. In step 388, the consumable item management table 218 is updated by acquiring the date and time when the consumable item was removed and registering the acquired date and time as the removal date and time in the consumable item usage state of the consumable item management table 218. To do.

  On the other hand, when the consumable part management unit 110 makes a negative determination in step 386, the consumable part management unit 110 proceeds to step 390 and determines whether or not the deletion condition J is forcible deletion. If the deletion condition J is forced deletion, the consumables management unit 110 makes an affirmative determination in step 390, deletes the consumables information of the removed consumables in step 398, and ends this processing routine. On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step 390, the consumables management unit 110 proceeds to step 392, determines whether or not the deletion condition J is deletion confirmation, and proceeds to step 388 if a negative determination is made. On the other hand, if the deletion condition J is deletion confirmation, the consumables management unit 110 makes an affirmative determination in step 392 and displays a deletion confirmation screen in step 394. Next, in step 396, the consumables management unit 110 determines whether or not the consumables information of the consumables removed on the deletion confirmation screen has been instructed to be deleted. If a negative determination is made, the process proceeds to step 388, where an affirmative determination is made. If so, the process proceeds to step 398.

  FIG. 17 shows a confirmation screen 170 displayed on the display 72 as an example of the deletion confirmation screen. As shown in FIG. 17, the confirmation screen 170 displays a message 172 for confirming that the consumable information on the removed consumable is to be deleted. The confirmation screen 170 includes a button 174 for accepting deletion and a button 176 for denying deletion. The user confirms the deletion of the consumable information on the display 72 and instructs the button 174 on the console 74 to delete the consumable information from the consumable management table 218. On the other hand, when the button 176 is designated, the consumable information is not deleted from the consumable management table 218.

  As described above, by setting the consumable information deletion condition for each consumable, it becomes possible to manage the deletion of the consumable information of the removed consumable. Further, for example, if a deletion condition is set for a consumable to be used by replacing a toner cartridge 27 of a different color at the mounting position of the same toner cartridge 27 as in a specific color, the specific color Consumables information of the removed consumables can be managed for the consumables used at the same toner cartridge 27 mounting position. For example, a user who does not use a specific color can set the condition value of the deletion condition to forced deletion, so that the consumable information is deleted when the consumable is removed, simplifying the management of the consumable information. Can be.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the removed consumables are also managed, and therefore the consumables that are not attached to the image forming apparatus 10 can be used without being attached to the image forming apparatus 10. Can be confirmed.

  By the way, the user can check the usage state of the consumables including the consumables information displayed on the display 72, that is, the consumables information of the removed consumables. However, it is predicted that the user's confirmation of the consumables removed from the image forming apparatus 10 tends to be neglected. Accordingly, it is preferable that the user is notified of the consumables removed from the image forming apparatus 10, for example, when a warning or the like is present in the consumables.

  FIG. 18 shows a flow of a warning display process periodically executed by the image forming apparatus 10 as an example of a positive notification process regarding the consumable information of the removed consumable. In step 400, the consumables management unit 110 reads the consumables management table 218 and identifies the removed consumables registered in the consumables management table 218. In the next step 402, it is determined whether or not there is a consumable item for which the condition value of the warning condition in the consumable item information of the removed consumable item is displayed. If there is no consumable item for which the condition value of the warning condition is displayed, the consumable item management unit 110 makes a negative determination in step 402 and ends this processing routine as it is. On the other hand, if there is a consumable item for which the condition value of the warning condition is displayed, the consumable item management unit 110 makes an affirmative determination in step 402 and acquires a display setting value in step 404.

  That is, the display setting value (message such as “Preparation for spare”) is displayed on the display 72 as the use state of the consumables (see FIG. 8). In this case, based on the information indicating the remaining amount of the developer G in each toner cartridge 27, the display setting value of the consumable state is determined and displayed as the consumable state of the toner cartridge 27. In step 404, a message corresponding to the remaining amount of the developer G is acquired as a display setting value. For example, when the remaining amount of the developer G is approximately 0%, a “preparation is prepared” message is acquired as a display setting value, and in other cases, a “good” message is acquired as a display setting value.

  In the next step 406, the consumable information, that is, the information including the display setting value acquired in step 404 is displayed on the display 72, and then this processing routine is terminated. As described above, according to the warning display process according to the present embodiment, it is possible to actively notify the user of a warning regarding the removed consumables.

  In the present embodiment, the case where a warning or the like is notified to the user by displaying the information on the display 72 has been described. However, the notification of the warning or the like is not limited to the display on the display 72. Notification to a physical user may be used. As an example of notification to a physical user, at least one of notifying an alarm by light emission by an issuing element, notifying an alarm by sound by a sounding device, and notifying an alarm by vibration by a vibrator can be given. .

[Second Embodiment]
A second embodiment according to the present invention will be described. Since the second embodiment has substantially the same configuration as the first embodiment, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  When a usable consumable attached to the image forming apparatus 10 is removed, it is stored in a storage place or the like until it is reattached to the image forming apparatus 10 for the purpose of re-use and until the start of use. It is common.

  However, when consumables are stored for a long period of time or in a high-temperature and high-humidity environment, the quality of the consumables may deteriorate. For example, when the toner cartridge 27 is stored for a long period of time or in a high-temperature and high-humidity environment, so-called toner blocking may occur in which the developer G containing toner contained in the toner cartridge 27 aggregates and solidifies. When the toner cartridge 27 is mounted on the image forming apparatus 10 in a state where toner blocking has occurred, in order to stir the developer G in the toner cartridge 27, the agitator 28 may be driven by a driving member 29 such as a motor. Since the developer G is solidified, the agitator 28 may not be driven and the developer G may not be stirred. Further, since the developer G is solidified, the replenishment of the developer G may not be performed normally and a replenishment failure may occur. Furthermore, an excessive load torque is applied to the drive member 29 such as a motor, and the drive member 29 such as a motor may be damaged.

  In order to eliminate such a problem that occurs when the toner cartridge 27 is mounted on the image forming apparatus 10, a sufficient countermeasure to stir and pulverize the lump of developer G inside by shaking the toner cartridge 27 or the like is necessary. It was carried out before mounting on the device 10.

  However, since it is difficult to determine whether toner blocking has occurred in the toner cartridge 27 from the appearance of the toner cartridge 27 removed from the image forming apparatus 10, the toner cartridge in a state where toner blocking has occurred. 27 may be attached to the image forming apparatus 10.

  Therefore, in the present exemplary embodiment, the toner cartridge 27 removed from the image forming apparatus 10 is taken as an example of a consumable, and is removed while managing the state of the consumable so as to be able to suppress problems that occur when the toner cartridge 27 is remounted on the image forming apparatus 10. Provided is an image forming apparatus capable of appropriately notifying a user of a countermeasure for a consumable item.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the computer 200 functioning as the control unit 70 according to the second embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 19 shows an example of the flow of consumable item management processing in the computer 200 that functions as the consumable item management unit 110 of the control unit 70 when the CPU 210 executes the consumable item management program 216. The CPU 210 periodically executes the processing routine shown in FIG.

  First, in step 410, processing shown in FIG. 7 is executed as registration / deletion / update processing of consumable information. Since the process of step 410 is the same as that of the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted. In the next step 412, the current date and time and the removal date and time of the consumables are acquired, and the elapsed time is calculated. That is, the consumable part management unit 110 acquires the current date and time and information indicating the date and time when the consumable part is removed, which is stored in the consumable part management table 218. Then, the difference between the acquired current date and time and the removal date and time of the consumable is obtained, and the obtained difference value is calculated as the elapsed time. In the next step 414, it is determined whether there is a consumable item whose elapsed time exceeds a predetermined time. The predetermined time is determined in advance as a period from when the consumable is removed from the image forming apparatus 10 until it is predicted that the quality of the consumable will deteriorate. For example, in the case of the toner cartridge 27, a period (for example, 50 days) in which toner blocking is predicted to occur is set.

  If there are only consumables that have been removed from the image forming apparatus 10 for a predetermined time or less, a negative determination is made in step 414 and the processing routine is terminated. On the other hand, if affirmative determination is made in step 414 and there is a consumable item that has exceeded a predetermined time after being removed from the image forming apparatus 10, a warning display process is executed in step 416. The warning display process is a process for performing a warning display for notifying that a predetermined time when it is predicted that quality degradation will occur in the removed consumables has been exceeded.

  FIG. 20 shows a warning screen 180 and a warning details screen 186 displayed on the display 72 as an example of a warning display, with the toner cartridge 27 removed from the image forming apparatus 10 as an example of a consumable item. As shown in FIG. 20, the warning screen 180 is used to alert the user to the state of the consumable information of the consumable that is predicted to deteriorate in the consumable information of the removed consumable. Is displayed, a “Caution” message 182 is displayed. Further, on the right side of the message 182, a detail button 184 for further displaying details of the attention content is displayed. When the user designates the details button 184 on the console 74, a warning details screen 186 showing details of the attention content is displayed. As a result, the user can check the consumables that are predicted to cause quality degradation, and can also check detailed contents of the caution.

  Next, in step 418 shown in FIG. 19, a warning deletion process is executed. The warning deletion process is a process for deleting the warning display displayed in step 416. Specifically, in step 420, a display process for prompting agitation is executed until confirmation of completion of the agitation operation for suppressing the deterioration of the quality of the consumables is completed (affirmative determination in step 422). When the confirmation of completion of the agitation work is completed, in step 424, the warning display is deleted and the elapsed time is reset. That is, the consumable item management unit 110 acquires the current date and time as the completion date and time of the agitation work, and updates information indicating the date and time of removal of the consumable item management table 218 with the acquired current date and time.

  FIG. 21 shows an example of an elapsed time characteristic in which the toner cartridge 27 removed from the image forming apparatus 10 is an example of a consumable item. The display 72 shows the relationship between the elapsed time and the warning display in the elapsed time characteristic. An example of a display screen 188 for prompting agitation displayed in FIG. As shown in FIG. 21, when the toner cartridge 27 is removed as a consumable item at the date and time t1, and the elapsed time exceeds a predetermined time T1 (date and time t2), a display process for prompting stirring is executed, and a display screen 188 for prompting stirring is performed. Is displayed. The display screen 188 includes an agitation completion button 190 for instructing completion of the agitation operation and a button 192 for returning to processing without instructing completion. That is, after confirming the display screen 188, the user shakes the warped toner cartridge 27 up and down, left and right, and then agitates and completes the agitation (pressing the agitation completion button 190). The consumables management unit 110 ends confirmation of the agitation work by detecting that the user has operated the console 74 to instruct the agitation completion button 190 included in the display screen 188 (Yes in step 422). ). Thereby, as shown in FIG. 21, the elapsed time is reset.

  Thus, by displaying the display screen 188 for prompting stirring and resetting the elapsed time when the completion input of the stirring work is input, the periodic stirring work by the user can be promoted and removed from the image forming apparatus 10. The toner cartridge 27 can be maintained in a good state.

  In the present embodiment, a case has been described in which a display for continuously urging stirring is performed until a stirring completion input is input. However, when a stirring completion input is not performed, the present processing routine may be terminated as it is. In this case, it is detected by an interruption process or the like that a stirring completion input has been input, the process proceeds to step 424, the warning display is deleted, and the elapsed time can be reset. In this embodiment, the case where the warning deletion process is executed in step 418 has been described. However, the warning deletion process in step 418 may be omitted. In this case, the warning display can be deleted by a separate process.

[Third Embodiment]
A third embodiment according to the present invention will be described. The third embodiment has substantially the same configuration as the first embodiment and the second embodiment, and thus the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  In the second embodiment, in the warning display process, a warning is displayed when a predetermined time over which it is predicted that quality degradation will occur in the removed consumables is exceeded. On the other hand, the third embodiment performs warning display step by step.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the computer 200 functioning as the control unit 70 according to the third embodiment will be described. In the third embodiment, the first predetermined time T1 and the second predetermined time T2 (T1 <T) are the elapsed time from when the consumable is removed from the image forming apparatus 10 until it is predicted that the quality of the consumable will deteriorate. T2) is predetermined. The first predetermined time T <b> 1 and the second predetermined time T <b> 2 are set in advance to a period from when the consumable is removed from the image forming apparatus 10 until it is predicted that the quality of the consumable will deteriorate. For example, in the case of the toner cartridge 27, a period (for example, 50 days) in which toner blocking is predicted to occur in the toner cartridge 27 that has passed the first predetermined time is set as the first predetermined time. In addition, as the second predetermined time, a period (for example, 200 days) in which the image quality of the print image is predicted to deteriorate when the toner cartridge 27 that has passed the second predetermined time is mounted and printed is set. .

  FIG. 22 shows an example of the flow of consumable item management processing in the computer 200 that functions as the consumable item management unit 110 of the control unit 70 when the consumable item management program 216 is executed by the CPU 210. The CPU 210 periodically executes the processing routine shown in FIG.

  First, in step 410, processing shown in FIG. 7 is executed as registration / deletion / update processing of consumable information. Since the process of step 410 is the same as that of the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted. In the next step 412, as in the second embodiment, the current date and time and the removal date and time of the consumable are acquired, and the elapsed time is calculated. In the next step 430, it is determined whether or not there is a consumable whose elapsed time has exceeded the first predetermined time T1. If there are only consumables that have been removed from the image forming apparatus 10 for a first predetermined time or less, a negative determination is made in step 430 and the present processing routine is terminated.

  On the other hand, if there is a consumable that has exceeded the first predetermined time since it was removed from the image forming apparatus 10, an affirmative decision is made in step 430, and in step 432, it is determined whether the elapsed time is within a second predetermined time T2. . When the elapsed time of the consumables removed from the image forming apparatus 10 exceeds the first predetermined time and is within the second predetermined time T2 (Yes in Step 432), the first warning display process is executed in Step 434, and Step The process proceeds to 418. In the first warning display process, a first warning display for notifying that a first predetermined time in which the quality deterioration related to toner blocking is predicted to occur in the removed consumable is exceeded is performed. On the other hand, when the elapsed time of the consumables removed from the image forming apparatus 10 exceeds the second predetermined time T2 (No in Step 432), the second warning display process is executed in Step 436, and the process proceeds to Step 418. Transition. In the second warning display process, a second warning display for notifying that a second predetermined time that is predicted to cause quality degradation related to degradation of the image quality of the printed image due to printing using the removed consumable has been exceeded. carry out.

  In FIG. 23, the toner cartridge 27 removed from the image forming apparatus 10 is an example of a consumable item, and an example of elapsed time characteristics and a first warning displayed on the display 72 as an example of a first warning display and a second warning display. A warning screen 194 and a second warning screen 196 are shown. As shown in FIG. 23, when the toner cartridge 27 is removed at the date and time t1, and the elapsed time exceeds the first predetermined time T1 (date and time t2), a first warning screen 194 that prompts stirring is displayed. Further, when the elapsed time exceeds the second predetermined time T2 (date and time t2A), a second warning screen 196 that prompts a reduction in the image quality of the print image is displayed.

  As described above, the warning screen is displayed step by step according to the elapsed time after the image forming apparatus 10 is detached from the image forming apparatus 10, so that the warning display can be notified to the user in detail.

  When there are a plurality of consumables that have passed the first predetermined time since they were removed from the image forming apparatus 10 and include consumables that have passed the second predetermined time, the first warning screen 194 and the second warning screen 196 may be displayed according to the elapsed time.

[Fourth Embodiment]
A fourth embodiment according to the present invention will be described. Since the fourth embodiment has substantially the same configuration as the first to third embodiments, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the case where the reading sensor 92 reads the identification information 102 (see FIG. 4) indicating the identification number given to the toner cartridge 27 has been described as an example of the consumable item. In the fourth embodiment, a consumable item includes a memory, and information is read from and written to the memory included in the consumable item.

  FIG. 24 shows a toner cartridge 27 that includes a memory 104 as an example of a consumable that includes a storage unit. FIG. 25 shows an example of the control unit 70 according to the present embodiment. In the control unit 70 according to the present embodiment, a read / write sensor 93 is connected to the consumables management unit 110 instead of the read sensor 92 shown in FIG. Further, in FIG. 26, an example of a computer that can realize the control unit 70 is shown as a computer 200. In the computer 200 according to the present embodiment, a read / write sensor 93 is connected to the consumables management unit 110 instead of the read sensor 92 shown in FIG.

  Next, the operation of the computer 200 functioning as the control unit 70 according to the fourth embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 27 shows a flow of a process for reading and writing information to and from the memory 104 provided for the consumables in the computer 200 that functions as the consumables management unit 110 of the control unit 70 by executing the consumables management program 216 by the CPU 210. An example is shown. The CPU 210 periodically executes the processing routine shown in FIG. Here, in order to simplify the following description, a case where the toner cartridge 27 includes the memory 104 will be described as an example of a consumable item.

  First, in step 440, the toner cartridge 27 including the memory 104 is specified. That is, the consumable management unit 110 identifies a consumable having the memory 104 that can be read and written by the read / write sensor 93. In the next step 442, the current date and time are acquired, and in the next step 444, the consumables management table 218 is updated. That is, the consumables management unit 110 acquires the current date and time, and updates information indicating the removal date and time of the toner cartridge 27 stored in the consumables management table 218 with the information indicating the acquired current date and time. Thereby, the information indicating the removal date and time of the toner cartridge 27 is periodically updated. In the next step 446, consumable information including information indicating the updated removal date and time of the toner cartridge 27 is written in the memory 104. As a result, information indicating the removal date and time included in the consumable information stored in the memory 104 provided in the toner cartridge 27 is periodically updated. Therefore, information indicating the date and time of removal can be stored in the memory 104 provided in the toner cartridge 27 without detecting that the toner cartridge 27 is removed from the image forming apparatus 10.

  In this embodiment, the case has been described in which the consumable information is written in the memory 104 after the consumable management table 218 is updated. However, the consumable information may be directly written in the memory 104 by omitting step 444.

  The image forming apparatus 10 including the read / write sensor 93 can acquire consumable information from the memory 104 when the toner cartridge 27 including the memory 104 is attached. As a result, the image forming apparatus 10 acquires the consumable information from the memory 104 when the toner cartridge 27 used in an image forming apparatus other than the image forming apparatus is mounted, and thereby the quality of the mounted toner cartridge 27 is determined. A warning can be displayed when deterioration is predicted to occur.

  In this embodiment, the case where consumable information including information indicating the removal date and time is written in the memory 104 mounted on the toner cartridge 27 has been described. However, only information indicating the removal date and time may be stored.

  Although the present invention has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments, and various other embodiments can be taken within the scope of the present invention. is there.

  In each of the above embodiments, the processing performed by executing the program stored in the storage unit 214 has been described. However, the processing of the program may be realized by hardware.

  Further, the processing in each of the above embodiments may be stored and distributed as a program in a storage medium such as an optical disk.

10. Image forming apparatus (an example of an image forming apparatus)
12 Image forming unit 70 Control unit (an example of a first control unit and a second control unit)
90 Detachment detection sensor (an example of a detection unit)
90A drum attachment / detachment detection sensor (an example of a detection unit)
92 Reading sensor 92A Reading sensor 94 Remaining amount detection sensor (an example of a consumption state detection unit)
96 Number detection sensor (an example of a consumption state detection unit)
104 memory (an example of a storage unit)
214 Storage unit (an example of a storage unit)

Claims (9)

A detection unit that detects attachment and removal of each of a plurality of consumables that can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus body;
First control is performed to associate information indicating attachment / detachment of consumables detected by the detection unit with identification information for identifying the consumables detected to be attached / detached by the detection unit and store the information in the storage unit. A control unit;
A second control unit that performs control to display information indicating a consumption state of a target consumable item removed from the image forming apparatus main body on a display device based on information stored in the storage unit at a predetermined timing;
An image forming apparatus comprising: A consumable state detection unit for detecting a consumable state of the consumables attached to the image forming apparatus main body,
The first control unit performs control to store information indicating a consumption state of the detected consumable item in the storage unit in association with identification information of the consumable item in which the consumption state is detected,
The second control unit performs control to display information indicating a consumption state of the target consumable item on a display device based on the information stored in the storage unit.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The second control unit performs control to display information indicating a consumption state of a consumable item attached to the image forming apparatus main body together with information indicating a consumption state of the target consumable item.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. When the first control unit detects that the consumable is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body, and the identification information for identifying the consumable that has been detected to be mounted is not stored in the storage unit, Performing control for storing in the storage unit information indicating the wearing of the consumable that has been detected to be attached to the image forming apparatus main body and the identification information of the consumable.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. It is predetermined that the first control unit detects the removal of the consumable from the image forming apparatus main body and does not need to reattach the consumable that has been detected to be removed from the image forming apparatus main body. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the image forming apparatus performs control to delete, from the storage unit, information related to the consumable that has been detected to be removed. The first control unit performs control to store information indicating the date and time of removal in the storage unit as information indicating the removal when the removal of the consumable item from the image forming apparatus main body is detected,
Based on the information stored in the storage unit, the second control unit warns as information indicating a consumption state of the target consumable when an elapsed time from the date and time of removal exceeds a predetermined time. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein control is performed to display the image on the display device. The storage unit is mounted on at least one of the plurality of consumables,
When the consumable with the storage unit is mounted and removed, the first control unit has a date and time when the consumable with the storage unit is mounted and a consumable with the storage unit mounted. Information indicating each of the removed date and time is stored as information indicating the mounting and removal in a storage unit mounted on the consumable that has been detected to be mounted and removed,
The second control unit performs control to display a warning on the display device as information indicating the exhaustion state when an elapsed time from the removed date and time stored in the storage unit exceeds a predetermined time. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the consumable is at least one of a toner cartridge and a drum cartridge in which toner is accommodated. Detecting the attachment and detachment of each of a plurality of consumables that can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body,
Storing information indicating attachment / detachment of the detected consumables and identification information for identifying the consumables detected to be attached / detached in the storage unit;
Based on the information stored in the storage unit, information indicating a consumption state of a target consumable removed from the image forming apparatus main body is displayed on a display device at a predetermined timing.
Consumables management program for causing a computer to execute processing including the above.