JP3155169B2 - Toner remaining output device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to relates to a toner remaining amount output equipment which detects and outputs the amount of toner remaining in the toner cartridge used in copiers and laser printers.

2. Description of the Related Art In a laser printer or a copying machine, printing or copying is performed using toner in a replaceable toner cartridge. This since the toner cartridge is a consumable item, necessary Ru to build a structure that its precise replacement to be able to realize.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art A toner cartridge is provided with a sensor for detecting running out of toner. From now on, in conventional laser printers and copiers, when this sensor outputs out of toner, the fact is displayed on the operation panel to instruct the user to replace the toner cartridge. how it has adopted a.

[0004]

However, if the method of instructing replacement of the toner cartridge when the toner cartridge runs out of toner as in the prior art is adopted, how much toner remains Since it is not known whether the toner cartridge has been replaced, the preparation of the toner cartridge to be replaced is delayed, so that the toner cartridge cannot be replaced accurately .

The present invention was made in view of such circumstances, and purpose of providing the toner remaining output device which detects and outputs the amount of toner remaining in the toner cartridge.

[0006]

Means for Solving the Problems] illustrates the principle configuration of the toner remaining amount output device of the present invention in FIG.

In FIG . 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a main body device such as a laser printer or a copying machine, which includes a toner cartridge 11 having an output function of running out of toner, a toner use mechanism 12 using toner of the toner cartridge 11, and a toner cartridge 11 And an operation panel 14 serving as a user interface.

The toner remaining amount output device 13 according to the present invention comprises:
Counter means 15, second counter means 16, counter control means 17, calculation means 18, and output means 19
May be further provided, and the determining means 20 may be further provided.

The first counter 15 counts the amount of toner used by the toner use mechanism 12. The second counter means 16 counts the amount of toner used by the toner use mechanism 12 since the toner has run out, while setting the count value to the count start value when the toner cartridge 11 outputs the running out of toner.

When the count value of the second counter means 16 reaches a specified value, the counter control means 17 sets the specified value (the count value of the second counter means 16) in the first counter means 15. After that, the second counter means 16
Is cleared to a non-count value. The calculation means 18
The remaining amount of toner in the toner cartridge 11 is calculated. The output unit 19 outputs to the operation panel 14 the toner remaining amount calculated by the calculation unit 18 or a message indicating that the toner is out of toner or a new toner cartridge is started.

The deciding means 20 comprises a second counter means 16
When the count value of the first counter means 15 reaches the specified value, the count value of the first counter means 15 and the specified value (the second counter means 1
By calculating a difference value between the difference value and the difference value calculated in the past, the average value of the difference value and a difference value calculated in the past is calculated.
The toner amount of the toner cartridge 11 is determined. Here, when the determination means 20 is provided, the counter control means 17, that processes so as to ensure a difference value calculation processing determining means 20.

The execution means described in claim 3 is a
Having the functions of the setting means 20 and the counter control means 17
become.

[0013]

In the toner remaining amount output device 13 of the present invention, when the determination means 20 is not provided, the first counter means 1 is provided.
5 when the second counter 16 counts the amount of toner used and the second counter 16 counts the amount of toner used since the toner runs out.
When the count value reaches the specified value, the specified value (the count value of the second counter means 16) is set in the first counter means 15, and then the count value of the second counter means 16 is not counted. Clear to a numerical value.

That is, the counter control means 17
When the count value of the counter means 16 reaches the specified value, it is determined that running out of toner has been eliminated by replacing the toner cartridge 11 with a new toner cartridge 11, and the amount of toner used by the new toner cartridge 11 is reduced to the second value. By setting the count value of the second counter means 16 in the first counter means 15 in correspondence with the count by the counter means 16 of the By processing to count the toner usage of the new toner cartridge 11 and clearing the count value of the second counter means 16 to a non-count value,
The processing is performed so as to display that the toner usage amount counted by the first counter means 15 is correct.

The calculating means 18 calculates the expected value of the toner amount of the toner cartridge 11 set in advance and the toner cartridge 1 counted by the first counter means 15.
1 and the toner cartridge 11
Is calculated. Here, the calculated remaining toner amount is valid when the count value of the second counter means 16 indicates a non-count value.

In response to the calculating process by the calculating means 18, when the count value of the second counter means 16 indicates a non-count value, the output means 19 determines that the remaining toner amount calculated by the calculating means 18 is correct. Therefore, the calculated remaining amount of toner is output to the operation panel 14. On the other hand, the count value of the second counter means 16 is other than the non-count value,
In other words, when the original count value is indicated, the count value has not reached the specified value, so that the toner cartridge 11 has been replaced with a new toner cartridge 11 or the toner cartridge 11 which has output toner has been reused. Since it cannot be determined whether the toner cartridge is out of toner or the new toner cartridge is started to be mounted, the operation panel 14 is output.

On the other hand, when the determining means 20 is provided, the determining means 20 determines whether the count value of the first counter means 15 and the specified value are equal to each other when the count value of the second counter means 16 reaches a specified value. Is calculated to determine the toner amount of the toner cartridge 11, or the average value of the difference value and the difference value calculated in the past is calculated to determine the toner amount of the toner cartridge 11. Then, in response to this, the calculating unit 18 determines that the determining unit 2
The toner remaining amount of the toner cartridge 11 is calculated using the determined toner amount of 0 and the toner usage amount of the toner cartridge 11 counted by the first counter unit 15.

That is, when the count value of the second counter means 16 reaches the specified value, the deciding means 20 determines that running out of toner has been eliminated by replacing the toner cartridge 11 with a new one, The toner usage of the new toner cartridge 11 is counted by the second counter means 16, and the total value of the toner usage of the previous toner cartridge 11 and the toner usage of the new toner cartridge 11 is the first value. By calculating a difference value between the count value of the first counter means 15 and the count value of the second counter means 16 in correspondence with the count by the counter means 15, the toner amount of the toner cartridge 11 is calculated. Is determined, or the average value of the difference value and the difference value calculated in the past is calculated, so that the toner amount of the toner cartridge 11 is determined. Than it is.

The toner remaining amount of the toner cartridge 11 is calculated by using the determined toner amount of the toner cartridge 11 and the toner usage amount of the toner cartridge 11 counted by the first counter 15. Go.

In this manner, the toner remaining amount output device 13 of the present invention detects and outputs how much toner remains in the toner cartridge 11 while considering replacement of the toner cartridge 11. From doing
The user also gone to change preparation of the toner cartridge 11 is delayed, ing to the toner cartridge 11 can be accurately replaced.

[0021]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to embodiments.

FIG . 2 shows a device configuration of a laser printer 50 in which the toner remaining amount output device of the present invention is mounted.

As shown in FIG.
Is controlled by controlling the engine 52 by receiving a print instruction from a host device, a replaceable toner cartridge 51 having an output function of running out of toner, an engine 52 for executing print processing using the toner of the toner cartridge 51, and a print instruction. It comprises a controller 53 for controlling the printing process and a liquid crystal display 54 as a user interface.

The controller 53 includes a CPU 55 and a non-volatile memory 56, and also includes a counter A57, a counter B58, and a counter C59 for realizing the present invention.

As will be described later, this counter A57
The counter B58 counts the amount of toner used by the engine 52 after the toner cartridge 51 is replaced. The counter B58 counts the amount of toner used by the engine 52 after the toner cartridge 51 runs out of toner.
A process of holding the toner amount of the toner cartridge 51 obtained by the replacement of the toner cartridge 51 each time is executed.

Here, the counter B58 is prepared so that the counter A57 realizes an accurate toner use amount counting process. By this counter B58,
The counter A57 can count an accurate amount of toner used by the engine 52 after the replacement of the toner cartridge 51. Therefore, if the toner amount of the toner cartridge 51 is known, the toner amount and the toner counted by the counter A57 can be counted. Using the used amount, the remaining amount of toner in the toner cartridge 51 can be detected.

The amount of toner used by the engine 52 can be obtained by counting the number of prints, the number of print lines, the number of print dots, and the values obtained by correcting these with a print density coefficient.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show an embodiment of the processing flow of the controller 53 executed to realize the toner remaining amount output processing of the present invention. Next, the toner remaining amount output processing of the present invention will be described in detail according to this processing flow.

The controller 53 of the laser printer 50
When the power is turned on, as shown in the processing flow of FIGS. 3 and 4 , first, in step 1, the counters A57 and B58 stored in the nonvolatile memory 56 are read.
Is read. That is, the count values of the counters A57 and B58 at the end of the previous printing process are read.

Subsequently, in step 2, it is checked whether or not the count value of the counter B58 indicates "0". As described later, the count value of the counter B58 is "0".
Is displayed, it means that the count value of the counter A57 is valid. When a value other than "0" is displayed, whether the toner cartridge 51 has been replaced with a new toner cartridge 51 or the toner cartridge which has output the toner out is output. This means that it is in a state where it cannot be determined whether or not 51 is reused. If it is determined in step 2 that the count value of the counter B 58 is displaying a value other than "0", the process proceeds to step 3, where the liquid crystal display 54 displays an undetermined remaining amount of toner.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step 2 that the count value of the counter B58 indicates "0", that is, the count value of the counter A57 is
When it is determined that the correct amount of toner used after replacement of the toner cartridge 1 is displayed, the process proceeds to step 4 and the preset toner amount “α” of the toner cartridge 51 is used.

[0032]

(Equation 1)

According [0033], seeking the amount of toner remaining in the toner cartridge 51, and displays the remaining amount of toner in the liquid crystal display 54 according to the display form shown in Fig.

When the processing of steps 3 and 4 is completed, subsequently, in step 5, the process waits for a print instruction from the host device to enter a print start wait state. When there is a print instruction from the host device, the process proceeds to step 6. Proceed to engine 52
To start page printing. Subsequently, in step 7, the amount of toner used by the counter A57 is counted up in accordance with the amount of toner used in the printing process.

Subsequently, in step 8, it is checked whether or not the count value of the counter B58 is displaying "0", and it is determined that the count value of the counter B58 is displaying "0". In other words, when it is determined that the count value of the counter A57 indicates the correct amount of toner used after the replacement of the toner cartridge 51, step 9
Then, the remaining amount of toner in the toner cartridge 51 is obtained and displayed on the liquid crystal display 54 in accordance with the above-mentioned [Equation 1].

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 8 that the count value of the counter B58 is other than "0", the flow advances to step 10 to match the amount of toner used in the printing process in step 6. After counting up the toner usage amount counted by the counter B58, in the following step 11, whether the toner cartridge 51 has been replaced with a new toner cartridge 51 or the toner cartridge
In response to the fact that it cannot be determined whether or not 1 is reused, the liquid crystal display 54 displays an undetermined amount of toner.

When the processing in steps 9 and 11 is completed, subsequently, in step 12, it is determined whether or not the engine 52 has output toner out of the toner cartridge 51, and the toner out is output. When the determination is made, the process proceeds to step 13, where the cover is opened and closed to replace the toner cartridge 51. At this time, the toner cartridge 51 may be replaced with a new one, but depending on the user, the removed toner cartridge 51 may be shaken and reused. continue,
In step 14, the count value of the counter B58 is set to the initial count value "1". That is, when the toner out condition is output, the count value of the counter B58 is always set to the initial count value "1".

When the processing in step 14 is completed, and when it is determined in step 12 that the toner is not exhausted, the flow advances to step 15 to determine whether the count value of the counter B58 has exceeded a specified value. When it is determined that the amount of toner is not exceeded, the process returns to step S5, and the amount of toner used by the counter A57 is counted up in accordance with the execution of the printing process.
The toner usage amount after the toner runs out counted by the counter B58 is counted up. If it is determined in step 15 that the count value of the counter B58 exceeds the specified value by this count-up process, the process proceeds to step 16, and
The amount of toner used by the counter B58 is counted by the counter A5.
The count value of the counter B58 is set to "0" in a subsequent step 17, and the process returns to the step 5.

In this way, as shown in FIG. 6 , when the running out of toner is output while counting the amount of toner used in the toner cartridge 51 by using the counter A57, the running out of toner is performed by using the counter B58. In the subsequent toner consumption counting process, the remaining amount of toner is undefined on the liquid crystal display 54. When the counted value exceeds the specified value, the toner is replaced with a new toner cartridge 51 after the last running out of toner. We judge that.

Then, the new toner cartridge 5
The count value of the counter B58 is changed to the counter A in accordance with the fact that the toner usage amount of
By setting it to 57, the counter A 57 is thereafter used to count the amount of toner used in the new toner cartridge 51, and the counter B is used.
By clearing the count value of the counter 58 to "0", it is displayed that the count value of the counter A57 is valid, and the remaining amount of toner in the toner cartridge 51 is obtained according to the above-mentioned [Equation 1]. 54, and the count-up process of the counter B58 is stopped.

As described above, the controller 53 executes the processing flow of FIGS. 3 and 4 so that the toner cartridge 51 can be replaced while taking into account the replacement of the toner cartridge 51.
Since the processing is performed so as to detect and output how much toner remains, the user can accurately replace the toner cartridge 51 without delay in preparing to replace the toner cartridge 51.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show another embodiment of the processing flow of the controller 53 executed to realize the toner remaining amount output processing of the present invention.

In the processing flow shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 , the amount of toner remaining in the toner cartridge 51 is obtained in accordance with the equation (1) using the preset toner amount "α" of the toner cartridge 51. However, in this processing flow, the toner cartridge 5 obtained by replacing the toner cartridge 51 in the past N times is used.
By adopting a configuration in which a counter C59 for holding the toner amount of 1 is prepared, while using the latest held value while updating the held value of the counter C59,

[0044]

(Equation 2)

Accordingly, the present invention is characterized in that the remaining amount of toner in the toner cartridge 51 is obtained and displayed on the liquid crystal display 54.

[0046] and the process flow shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, FIG.
If will be described differences of the processing flow shown in 3 and 4, in the processing flow shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, in step 1, the counter A is stored in the nonvolatile memory 56
7 and 8 are read, whereas in the processing flow shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 , the counter A5 stored in the non-volatile memory 56 in step 1
7, processing is performed to read the count values of the counters B58 and C59.

[0047] In the process flow shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, in Step 4 and Step 9, according to equation (1) type, whereas determining the amount of toner remaining in the toner cartridge 51, FIG. 7 and FIG. In the processing flow shown in FIG. 8 , in steps 4 and 9, processing is performed so as to obtain the remaining amount of toner in the toner cartridge 51 according to the equation (2).

That is, since the counter C59 holds the toner amount of the toner cartridge 51 obtained by replacing the toner cartridge 51 in the past N times, the toner amount is used to calculate the toner amount in accordance with the equation (2). Then, processing is performed so as to obtain the remaining amount of toner in the toner cartridge 51.

In the processing flow shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 , at step 16, the amount of toner used by the counter B58 is set as the count value of the counter A57, and at the following step 17, the count value of the counter B58 is set. for the "0" is cleared to go back to step 5, the process flow shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, in step 16,

[0050]

(Equation 3)

According to the above, a new hold value of the counter C59 is obtained, and in a succeeding step 17, the toner usage amount counted by the counter B58 is set as a count value of the counter A57, and in a succeeding step 18, the count value of the counter B58 is set to " The processing is performed such that the process returns to step 5 after clearing to "0". Here, the value of N in Expression 3 is “0”.
It may be.

That is, as can be seen from FIG. 6 , when the count value of the counter B58 exceeds the specified value, it is determined that the toner cartridge 51 has been replaced with a new toner cartridge 51 after the last run out of toner.
The toner usage of the toner cartridge 51 is counted by the counter B 58, and the total value of the toner usage of the previous toner cartridge 51 and the toner usage of the new toner cartridge 51 is counted by the counter A 57. The new holding value of the counter C59 is calculated according to the following [Equation 3].

As described above, the controller 53 executes the processing flow of FIGS. 7 and 8 to request replacement of the toner cartridge 51 without requesting the setting of the toner amount of the toner cartridge 51. Since the processing is performed so as to detect and output how much toner remains in the toner cartridge 51, the user can accurately replace the toner cartridge 51 without delaying the preparation for replacing the toner cartridge 51. ing <br/> to.

Although the present invention has been disclosed in accordance with the illustrated embodiment,
The present invention is not limited to this. For example, in the embodiments, the present invention is disclosed according to the embodiment applied to the printer, but the present invention is not limited to the printer.

[0055]

As described above, in the toner remaining amount output device of the present invention, the amount of toner remaining in the toner cartridge is detected and output while considering replacement of the toner cartridge. since the user is also eliminated that the change preparation of the toner cartridge is delayed ing <br/> to the toner cartridge can be accurately replaced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a principle configuration diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a laser printer that implements the present invention.
It is.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for realizing a toner remaining amount output device according to the present invention .
It is an example of a processing flow to be executed.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for realizing a toner remaining amount output device according to the present invention .
It is an example of a processing flow to be executed.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a toner remaining amount output process.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a counting process of a counter A / counter B.
is there.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for realizing a toner remaining amount output device according to the present invention .
14 is another embodiment of a processing flow to be executed.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for realizing a toner remaining amount output device according to the present invention .
14 is another embodiment of a processing flow to be executed.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 main unit 11 toner cartridge 12 toner usage mechanism 13 remaining toner output device 14 operation panel 15 first counter means 16 second counter means 17 counter control unit 18 calculating unit 19 output means 20 determines hands stage

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A toner remaining amount output device for detecting and outputting a remaining toner amount of a toner cartridge for outputting a toner shortage, a first counter means for counting a toner usage amount, and outputting the toner shortage. Occasionally, a second counter means for counting the amount of toner used from the toner out of that, the when the count value of the second counter means reaches a prescribed value, said first counter means該規value after set, and the second counter counter control means for the count value by clearing the non-count means, the expected value of the amount of toner possessed by preparative toner cartridge, and the count value of said first counter means Calculating means for calculating the remaining amount of toner by using the second counter means, wherein the count value of the second counter means indicates a non-count value
In, that it comprises a output means you output a toner remaining amount calculated by the above SL calculating means, the toner remaining output apparatus characterized. 2. The toner remaining amount output device according to claim 1, wherein the output means indicates a count value of the second counter means.
Is out of toner or a new toner cartridge
Processing to output that the
That sense, the toner remaining output apparatus characterized. 3. A toner remaining amount output device for detecting and outputting a remaining toner amount of a toner cartridge which outputs a toner shortage, a first counter means for counting a toner usage amount, and outputting the toner shortage. when, a second counter means for counting the amount of toner used from the toner out of that, when the count value of said second counter means reaches a prescribed value, the count value of said first counter means from the difference value between該規value, the rewritable determine <br/> the amount of toner held by the toner cartridge, the specified value from the set to the first counter means, the count value of the second counter means executing means for clearing to a non-count value, and calculating means for calculating the toner amount determining of the execution unit, the toner remaining amount with the count value of said first counter means, said second counter Total measure If the value indicating a non-count value
In, that it comprises a output means you output a toner remaining amount calculated by the above SL calculating means, the toner remaining output apparatus characterized. 4. The toner remaining amount output device according to claim 3, wherein the output means indicates the count value of the second counter means.
Is out of toner or a new toner cartridge
Processing to output that the
That sense, the toner remaining output apparatus characterized. 5. The toner remaining amount output device according to claim 3, wherein the execution means includes a difference value newly calculated and a difference value calculated in the past.
By calculating the average value with the minute value, the toner cartridge
A toner remaining amount output device that performs processing to determine an amount of toner to be held . 6. A toner remaining amount output device according to claim 5,
The execution means calculates the average value of the difference values calculated in the past and its average value.
The difference that is newly calculated by adopting a configuration that manages the average number of times
Value, the average value and the average number of times, the toner cartridge
A toner remaining amount output device that performs processing to determine a toner amount of the toner.