JP3322819B2 - Printer device control method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer device which is connected to an information processing system and uses it to reliably store the replacement history of a toner cartridge and accumulate operation history data with high accuracy. The present invention relates to a control method for improving maintainability.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the development of image forming technology using a laser beam, its application range has been applied from the field of copying machines and image transmission apparatuses to the field of printer apparatuses connected to information processing systems. Further, by applying these techniques, the range of the content to be printed out by the printer device has been expanded to the image output other than characters.

In order to use the printer with these laser beams without requiring special technical knowledge to the operator, there is a method in which each part of the printer is unitized and replaced during maintenance for each unit. Have been.

For example, by integrating a drum for transferring an image onto a medium such as paper and a toner cartridge for forming an image into one unit, an operator of the apparatus can easily perform the replacement work without soiling the hands. Can be
Further, it is possible to prevent the image quality from being deteriorated due to the deterioration of the drum.

Usually, when the remaining amount of toner becomes low, the apparatus issues a warning and informs an operator that the time to replace the toner cartridge is imminent. Various methods have been devised for recognizing the remaining amount of toner.

Here, as a method of more surely recognizing the remaining toner amount, there is a method of counting the number of printouts in a toner cartridge including a drum, and issuing a warning of a low remaining toner amount when the number reaches a preset number. .

The above-described method of incorporating the counter is performed by using an EEPROM as a storage element in a unit of a toner cartridge.
And stores the operating status such as the output number of the toner cartridge in the EEPROM.

Further, in a printer device equipped with the above-mentioned toner cartridge, it is necessary to grasp the operation status of the printer device in order to perform a proper maintenance operation.

As a part of the operation status data of the printer, the number of output sheets stored in the toner cartridge is copied to a storage unit of the printer, and when the toner cartridge is replaced, the number of times of replacement is changed. Alternatively, the actual operation number of each replaced toner cartridge is recorded.

A method of recording operation history data according to a conventional technique will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of the printer device. The toner cartridge A21 mounted on the device mechanism A02 of the printer A01 has an EEPROM A22, and the data of the number of prints recorded in the EEPROM A22 is M2.

The device control unit A of the printer device A01
The arithmetic control unit A41 of the EEPROM 04 is the EEPROM unit A22.
The number data M2 of the number of prints is read and stored in the EEPROM unit A42 built in the device control unit A04 to obtain the number data M4. However, posting from M2 to M4 is 5
It is performed for each sheet, and the arithmetic control unit A41 by the transfer operation is performed.
To reduce the burden on

When the toner cartridge A21 of the printer A01 is replaced, the number data M4 is moved to the history storage area of the EEPROM A42.

FIG. 8 is a processing flow of operation status data in replacing a toner cartridge. Step R01
When the cover of the printer A01 is opened / closed, a cover opening / closing signal is obtained by a sensor that senses the opening / closing of the cover, and the process proceeds to step R02 to set a cover opening / closing flag. This is because opening and closing of the cover is not necessary in normal operation, and there is a possibility that the toner cartridge A21 has been replaced.

The process proceeds to step R03, where the arithmetic control unit A41
Indicates that the printer A01 is operable (READ)
(Y state). If it is not in the READY state, the process proceeds to step R10 to clear the open / close flag, and the processing flow of the operating status data ends.

At step R03, the printer A01
Is in the READY state, the process proceeds to step R04, where the arithmetic control unit A41 reads the number data M2. Next, proceeding to step R05, if the number data M2 is 0, it is determined that the toner cartridge A21 has been updated when the cover is opened and closed in step R01, and the process proceeds to step R06, where the arithmetic control unit A41 reads the number data M4. .

If the number data M4 indicates a value larger than 0 in step R07, it is determined that the updated record of the toner cartridge A21 is not stored, and step R
In step R08, the number data M4 is moved to the history storage area of the EEPROM unit A42 to update the history data. In step R09, the number data M4 is updated to 0 in accordance with the number data M2. Proceeding to R10, the open / close flag is cleared, and the processing flow of the operation status data ends.

In step R05, the number data M2 is set to 0.
Otherwise, it is determined that the toner cartridge A21 was not updated when the cover was opened and closed in step R01, and
Proceeding to step R09, the number data M4 is
2, the open / close flag is cleared, and the processing flow of the operation status data ends.

Further, if the number data M4 indicates 0 in step R07, the toner cartridge A21 is updated when the cover is opened and closed in step R01, and the EEPROM is used.
The unit A42 also determines that the history data has moved to the history storage area, proceeds to step R09, confirms the update of the number data M4 again, clears the open / close flag, and ends the processing flow of the operation status data. I do.

According to the processing flow described above, the operation control section A41 of the printer A01 detects that the toner cartridge A21 has been replaced when the power is turned on, and the operation status history data can be automatically stored.

FIG. 8 is a processing flow of the operation status data in the replacement of the toner cartridge performed when the power of the printer is turned off. When the power of the printer is turned on in step R21, the process proceeds to step R22, and the arithmetic control unit A41 confirms that the printer A01 is in an operable state (READY state). READY
If it is not in the state, the processing flow of the operation status data ends, and waits until the state becomes the READY state.

At step R22, the printer A01
Is in the READY state, the process proceeds to step R23, where the arithmetic control unit A41 reads the number data M2. Next, proceeding to step R24, if the number data M2 is 0, the printer A01 determines that the toner cartridge A21 has been updated during the power-off time, and proceeds to step R25 to calculate the number data M4. Read.

If the number data M4 indicates a value greater than 0 in step R26, it is determined that the updated record of the toner cartridge A21 is not stored, and the process proceeds to step R26.
In step R27, the number data M4 is moved to the history storage area of the EEPROM A42 to update the history data. In step R27, the number data M4 is updated to 0 in accordance with the number data M2. The processing flow of the operation status data ends.

In step R24, the number data M2 is set to 0.
If not, the printer A01 determines that the toner cartridge A21 has not been updated during the power-off,
Proceeding to step R28, the number data M4 is
2, and the processing flow of the operation status data ends.

Further, if the number data M4 indicates 0 in step R26, the toner cartridge A21 of the printer A01 is updated while the power is turned off, and the above-described EEPRO
The M unit A42 also determines that the history data has moved to the history storage area, proceeds to step R28, confirms again the update of the number data M4, and ends the processing flow of the operation status data.

According to the processing flow described above, the operation control unit A41 of the printer A01 detects that the toner cartridge A21 has been replaced while the power is off, and the operation status history data can be automatically stored.

[0027]

As described above, according to the conventional method of controlling a printer apparatus, when a toner cartridge is replaced with a new one, it is reliably detected and its operation history data is stored. Yes, but it has the following problems.

1) The toner cartridge to be replaced and updated is not always a new one. For example, if a toner cartridge which has already been used is installed halfway, the replacement of the toner cartridge cannot be detected.
The accuracy of the operation history data stored in the printer device is greatly reduced, and accurate information cannot be obtained in a follow-up investigation when a failure occurs.

2) For example, in a case where a plurality of toner cartridges are repeatedly inserted and removed during a maintenance operation or the like, the accuracy of the operation history data accumulated in the printer device is greatly reduced by keeping a record of the replacement during that time. In this case, accurate information cannot be obtained in a follow-up investigation at the time of a subsequent failure.

[0030]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention employs the following means.

1) When the power of the printer is turned on or immediately after the opening and closing of the cover of the printer is detected, the arithmetic and control unit of the printer reads the number-of-printed-sheet data stored in the toner cartridge, and Is compared with the data of the number of prints stored in the EEPROM section of the apparatus control section of the printer apparatus. At this time, if a difference equal to or greater than a preset value is found between the two types of sheet number data, it is determined that the toner cartridge has been replaced during the power-off period of the printer device or during opening of the cover. Further, when the number of prints stored in the toner cartridge indicates 0, it is recognized that a new toner cartridge has been installed.

By taking this measure, the replacement of the toner cartridge updated by the replacement work, whether it is new or has already been used, is detected, and the operation result of the toner cartridge updated by the replacement work is further detected. An effect is obtained in that the contents are grasped by the arithmetic control unit of the printer device.

2) The printer device entrusts the person in charge of the maintenance work to select whether or not to store the record of the operation results of the toner cartridge when the printer device is operated by designating the maintenance mode. If it is selected not to save the record of insertion and removal of the toner cartridge, a flag is set, and the flag is saved until the next power-on.

By taking this measure, for example, the history data that does not need to be stored, which is generated by the toner cartridge temporarily replaced during the maintenance work, is excluded from the storage target, and the temporarily replaced history data is temporarily replaced during the maintenance work. Even if the power is turned off while the toner cartridge is kept as it is, the operation of checking the data at the next power-on is continued so that necessary data can be stored.

[0035]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention takes the following forms.

1) In the printer device, when the power is turned on or when the cover is opened or closed, the device control unit prints data on the number of prints stored in an EEPROM unit built in the printer device and the toner attached to the printer device. The toner cartridge is compared and collated with the print number data stored in the EEPROM section incorporated in the cartridge, and when the difference between the two exceeds a preset value, the toner cartridge is turned off when the power of the printer apparatus is turned off or when the cover is opened. When the exchange is detected, the number data stored in the printer is moved to the history storage area.

With this configuration, the printer device checks whether or not the toner cartridge has been replaced when the power is turned on or when the cover is opened or closed. Is stored as a part of the operation status data of the printer device.

2) The above-mentioned device control unit is provided with an EEPRO built in a toner cartridge mounted on the printer device.
It is detected that the value of the number-of-prints data stored in the M section is 0, and it is determined that an unused toner cartridge is mounted when the cover of the printer is opened or while the power is turned off. Furthermore, the value of the number-of-prints data stored in the EEPROM unit incorporated in the toner cartridge is not 0, and the difference from the number-of-prints data stored in the EEPROM unit incorporated in the printer is a predetermined value. If it exceeds, it is determined that the toner cartridge has been replaced and mounted on a toner cartridge that has already been used when the cover of the printer apparatus is opened or while the power is turned off.

By taking this form, the above-mentioned printer device can be replaced with a new toner cartridge or a used toner cartridge when the power is turned off or when the cover is opened. The operation of determining whether the cartridge is a cartridge is obtained.

3) During the maintenance mode designated in advance, when the printer detects that the toner cartridge has been replaced at the time of opening the cover of the printer, the printer operates as described above. E built into the device
The movement of the print number data stored in the EPROM unit to the history storage area is released by the selection of the operator.

By taking this form, the printer device selects a portion that does not need to be stored, such as a temporarily installed toner cartridge, from the replacement history of the toner cartridges performed during the maintenance mode. And release the save.

4) When it is specified to cancel the storage by selecting a portion that does not need to be stored during the maintenance mode of the printer device, a save area is set in an EEPROM portion provided in the device control portion. And saves the print number data stored in the EEPROM section, and sets a flag indicating that the print number data has been saved.

By adopting this mode, for example, the provisional designation of the printer apparatus as not storing the number data of the toner cartridge replaced during the operation in the maintenance mode, and the power supply without restoring the original toner cartridge Even when the power is turned off, the next time the power is turned on, the above-described flag is used to save the number data of the toner cartridge.

[0044]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A representative embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 shows a configuration according to the present invention. The device mechanism B02 of the printer device B01 has a toner cartridge B21, and further includes the toner cartridge B21.
Has an EEPROM section B22 for storing the number data N2 printed by using the toner cartridge B21.

The device control unit B04 built in the printer device B01 includes an arithmetic control unit B41 and an EEPRO.
An M section B43 is provided. The EEPROM section B43 reads the number data N2 at intervals of a predetermined number of prints, and updates the number data N4 in accordance with the number data N2.

Here, for example, the interval at which the number data N2 is read is set to five, and every time the number data N2 increases by 5, the arithmetic control unit B41 reads N2 and stores the number data N4 stored in the EEPROM unit B43 with the aforementioned number data. It is updated according to the number data N2.

The flow of the check operation performed by detecting the opening and closing of the cover while the printer B01 is energized will be described with reference to the configuration diagram of FIG. 1 and the flowchart shown in FIG.

When the cover is opened in step S01 and then the cover is closed, the process proceeds to step S02, where the arithmetic control unit sets a cover open / close flag.

In step S03, the printer B01
Is in the READY state. Next, in step S04, the number data N2 stored in the EEPROM section incorporated in the toner cartridge B21 is read, and it is confirmed again in step S05 that the printer device B01 is in the READY state.

If it is not confirmed in step S03 or step S05 that the printer B01 is in the READY state, the flow advances to step S25 to clear the cover open / close flag and end the flow of the check operation.

In step S05, the printer B01
If the value of N2 is 0, the process proceeds to step S06. If the value of N2 is 0, the toner cartridge B21 is replaced at the time of opening the cover detected in step S01. It is determined that B21 has been mounted.

In step S07, the number data N4 stored in the EEPROM B42 is read.

If the number data N4 indicates a value greater than 0 in step S08, the flow advances to step S09 to set a new flag indicating that a new toner cartridge B21 is mounted, and in step S10 the number data N4 is set.
And the new flag are transferred to the history storage area of the EEPROM section B42.

In step S11, the number data N4 is stored in the EEPROM section B built in the toner cartridge B21.
The number is changed in accordance with the number data N2 of the data 22. In this case, since the number data N2 is 0, the number data N4
Is also 0.

In step S12, the open / close flag is cleared.
Next, the new flag is cleared, and the flow of the check operation ends.

If the number data N2 is not 0 in step S06, the process proceeds to step S20, where the number data N2
Is compared with the value of the number data N4. Step S2
If the number data N2 is larger than the number data N4, the process proceeds to step S22, where the number data N2 and the number data N
When it is confirmed that there is a difference of 6 or more from the toner cartridge 4, the toner cartridge B21 is different from the conventional toner cartridge.
It is determined that the toner cartridge has been replaced with another toner cartridge (used cartridge) that has already been used for printing, and the process proceeds to step S23.

In step S23, the number data N4 is transcribed to the history storage area of the EEPROM B42. Next, in step S24, the number-of-sheets data N4 is stored in the EEPROM B2 built in the toner cartridge B21.
The number is changed in accordance with the number data N2 of 2.

In step S25, the cover open / close flag is cleared, and the flow of the check operation is terminated.

If the number data N2 is not larger than the number data N4 in step S21, that is, if the number data N2 is equal to the number data N4 or the number data N
If 2 is smaller than the number data N4, it is determined that the toner cartridge B21 has been replaced from a conventional toner cartridge to a used cartridge, and step S23 is performed.
Proceed to.

If the difference between the number data N2 and the number data N4 does not exceed 6 in step S22, it is determined that the toner cartridge B21 has not been replaced with the conventional toner cartridge, and the flow advances to step S24 to proceed to step S24. Is updated in accordance with the number data N2.

The flow of the checking operation performed when the printer B01 is turned on will be described with reference to the configuration diagram of FIG. 1 and the flowchart shown in FIG.

When the power of the printer is turned on in step S31, the flow advances to step S32, where the printer is
Confirm that it is in the EASY state.

Next, the process proceeds to step S33, in which the number data N2 stored in the EEPROM section incorporated in the toner cartridge B21 is read, and it is confirmed again in step S34 that the printer B01 is in the READY state.

If the printer B01 is not in the READY state in step S32 or step S34, the flow of the check operation is ended as it is.

In step S34, the printer B01
If it is confirmed that is in the READY state, the process proceeds to step S35. If the value of the number data N2 is 0, the toner cartridge B21 is replaced during the power-off before the power is turned on in step S31. It is determined that a new toner cartridge has been installed.

In step S36, the number data N4 stored in the EEPROM B42 is read.

If the number data N4 indicates a value larger than 0 in step S37, the flow advances to step S38 to set a new flag indicating that a new toner cartridge B21 is mounted, and in step S39, the number data N4 is set.
And the new flag are transferred to the history storage area of the EEPROM section B42.

In step S40, the number data N4 is stored in the EEPROM section B built in the toner cartridge B21.
The number is changed in accordance with the number data N2 of the data 22. In this case, since the number data N2 is 0, the number data N4
Is also 0.

At step S41, the new flag is cleared.
The flow of the check operation ends.

If the number data N2 is not 0 in step S35, the process proceeds to step S45, where the number data N2
Is compared with the value of the number data N4. Step S4
If the number data N2 is larger than the number data N4 in step S6, the process proceeds to step S47, where the number data N2 and the number data N
When it is confirmed that there is a difference of 6 or more from the toner cartridge 4, the toner cartridge B21 is different from the conventional toner cartridge.
It is determined that the cartridge has been replaced with a used cartridge, and step S is performed.
Go to 48.

In step S48, the number data N4 is transcribed to the history storage area of the EEPROM B42. Next, in step S49, the EEPROM unit B2 which stores the number data N4 in the toner cartridge B21.
The number is changed according to the number data N2 of 2 and the flow of the check operation is terminated.

If the number data N2 is not larger than the number data N4 in step S46, that is, if the number data N2 is equal to the number data N4 or the number data N
If 2 is smaller than the number data N4, it is determined that the toner cartridge B21 has been replaced with a used cartridge from the conventional toner cartridge, and step S48 is performed.
Proceed to.

If the difference between the number data N2 and the number data N4 does not exceed 6 in step S47, it is determined that the toner cartridge B21 has not been replaced with the conventional toner cartridge, and the flow advances to step S49 to proceed to step S49. Is updated in accordance with the number data N2.

With reference to the configuration diagram of FIG. 1 and the flowchart shown in FIG. 4, a flow of a check operation performed when the printer B01 is designated to the maintenance mode will be described.

In step S51, the operation mode of the printer B01 is designated as the maintenance mode by the operation section B32 of the operation panel B03, and the display section B31 displays that the current mode is the maintenance mode.

When the cover is opened in step S52 and then the cover is closed, the operation proceeds to step S53, where the arithmetic control unit sets a cover open / close flag.

At step S54, the printer B01
Is in the READY state. Then, the process proceeds to a step S55, wherein the number data N2 stored in the EEPROM section incorporated in the toner cartridge B21 is read.

In step S54, the printer B01
If it is not confirmed that is in the READY state, the process proceeds to step S67 to clear the cover open / close flag and terminate the flow of the check operation. At this time, step S68 is skipped.

In step S54, the printer B01
Is not in the READY state, the process proceeds to step S56. If the value of N2 is 0, the process proceeds to step S5.
When the cover is opened, the toner cartridge B2 is detected.
1 is replaced and a new toner cartridge B21 is determined to be installed.

At step S57, the number data N4 stored in the EEPROM B42 is read.

If the number data N4 indicates a value larger than 0 in step S58, the flow advances to step S59 to set a new flag indicating that a new toner cartridge B21 is mounted.

In step S60, the number data N2 and the number data N4 are compared. As confirmed in steps S56 and S58, since the number data N2 is 0 and the number data N4 is larger than 0, the process directly proceeds to step S62 in step S61 to determine the difference between the number data N2 and the number data N4. After checking that there are 6 or more, the process proceeds to step S63.

In step S63, the operator in the maintenance mode determines whether or not the number data 2 of the toner cartridge B21 newly mounted by replacement is stored as a history. The flow of the selection operation will be described later.

In step S64, a history flag for designating the storage of the number data N4 is checked. In step S66, the number data N4 is transcribed to the history storage area of the EEPROM B42, and the process proceeds to step S66. Update in accordance with data N2.

If the history flag for designating the storage of the number data N4 cannot be confirmed in step S64, the flow advances to step S66 to change the number data N4 to the number data N2.
Update to match.

In step S67, the open / close flag is cleared.
Further, in step S68, the new flag is cleared, and the check operation ends.

In step S56, the number data N2 is set to 0.
If not, at least the toner cartridge B21
Is not replaced with a new one, and step S6
The process proceeds to 0 and the number data N2 and the number data N4 are compared.

In step S61, it is confirmed that the number data N2 is larger than the number data N4.
If it is confirmed in Step 2 that the difference between the number data N2 and the number data N4 is 6 or more, it is determined that the toner cartridge B21 has been replaced with a used toner cartridge, and the process proceeds to Step S63.

If it is confirmed in step S61 that the number data N2 is not larger than the number data N4, it is determined that the toner cartridge B21 has been replaced with a used toner cartridge, and the flow advances to step S63.

If the difference between the number data N2 and the number data N4 is less than 6 in step S62, it is determined that the toner cartridge B21 has not been replaced, and the flow advances to step S66 to change the number data N4 to the number data N2.
Update to match.

In step S62, the number data N
2 is 0 and the above-mentioned number data N2 and number data N
If there is no difference of 6 or more from toner cartridge B21
Has been updated to a new product with almost no use, and it can be determined that the history data does not need to be stored. Therefore, the process proceeds to step S66, and the number data N4 is replaced with the number data N2.
In step S67, the flag indicating the opening / closing of the cover is cleared, and in step S68, the new flag is cleared, and the check operation ends.

Based on the configuration diagram of FIG. 1 and the flowchart shown in FIG. 5, step S6 in the description of FIG.
The details of the flow of the selection operation as to whether or not the number data N2 of the toner cartridge B21 whose exchange has been confirmed and described as No. 3 is stored as a part of the history data will be described.

The configuration of the printer B01 will be supplementarily described with reference to FIG. EEP built in device control unit B04
The ROM section B42 sets an evacuation area B43 when necessary, and an EEPROM built in the toner cartridge B21.
The number data N2 stored in the section B22 is read and stored in the save area B43, and is set as save data N5. Further, a save flag indicating the existence of the save data N5 is set.

The operator makes a selection as to whether or not the number data N2 of the toner cartridge B21 whose exchange has been confirmed in step S631 is stored as a part of the history data. A history flag for designating storage of data N4 is set.

If it is determined in step S631 that the number data N2 of the toner cartridge B21 confirmed to be replaced is not stored as a part of the history data, step S6 is performed.
Go to step S33, check the save flag indicating the existence of the save data N5, and if the save flag can be checked, go to step S6.
In step 34, the number data N2 is compared with the save data N5.

If it is determined in step S635 that the save data N5 matches the number data N2, the flow advances to step S636 to clear the save flag and further clear the save data N5.

If the evacuation flag cannot be confirmed in step S633, the flow advances to step S637 to read the number data N2 and save the data in the evacuation area B43 to obtain evacuation data N5.

If no match between the save data N5 and the number data N2 is found in step S635, the process is left as it is.

By the selection operation described above, the printer B
The operator in the maintenance mode selects whether or not the number data N2 of the toner cartridge B21 replaced during the operation of the maintenance mode in the maintenance mode is stored as a history.

After the flow described above, for example, when the original toner cartridge B21 is mounted again, the opening / closing of the cover is detected again in step S52 shown in FIG. 4, and further in step S631 in the flow shown in FIG. By designating that the number data N2 is to be retained, N2 of the original toner cartridge B21 is inherited as the number data N4, and the evacuation flag is cleared.

The flow of the checking operation performed when the power of the printer B01 is turned on will be described with reference to the configuration diagram of FIG. 1 and the flowchart shown in FIG.

When the power of the printer is turned on in step S71, the flow advances to step S72, where the printer is
Confirm that it is in the EASY state.

In step S72, the printer B01
If it is not confirmed that is in the READY state, the flow of the check operation is terminated.

In step S72, the printer B01
Can be confirmed to be in the READY state, the flow proceeds to step S73, and the existence of the evacuation flag is confirmed.

When the existence of the evacuation flag is confirmed, the evacuation data is present, and the printer B01 operates in the maintenance mode in the previous operation state, and further operates during the operation in the maintenance mode. It is specified that the cartridge B21 is replaced and the number data N2 is not stored, and it is finally determined that the power is turned off without mounting the original toner cartridge B21.

The flow advances to step S74 to delete the number data N4, and thereafter store the save data N5 to newly set the number data N4. Next, clear the contents of the evacuation area,
Further, the evacuation flag is cleared, and the flow advances to step S76 to read the number data N2.

If the evacuation flag cannot be confirmed in step S73, the flow directly advances to step S76 to read the number data N2.

If the value of the number data N2 is 0 in step S77, it is determined in step S71 that the toner cartridge B21 has been replaced and a new toner cartridge has been mounted during power-off before power-on. .

At step S78, the number data N4 stored in the EEPROM B42 is read.

If the number data N4 indicates a value larger than 0 in step S79, the flow advances to step S80 to set a new flag indicating that a new toner cartridge B21 is mounted, and in step S81, the number data N4 is set.
And the new flag are transferred to the history storage area of the EEPROM section B42.

In step S82, the number data N4 is stored in the EEPROM section B built in the toner cartridge B21.
The number is changed in accordance with the number data N2 of the data 22. In this case, since the number data N2 is 0, the number data N4
Is also 0.

In step S83, the new flag is cleared.
The flow of the check operation ends.

If the number data N2 is not 0 in step S77 and if the number data N4 indicates 0 in step S79, the flow advances to step S85 to compare the number data N2 with the number data N4.

If it is determined in step S86 that the number data N2 is larger than the number data N4, the flow advances to step S87. This time, it is confirmed that the difference between the number data N2 and the number data N is 6 or more. N4 is transcribed to the history storage area of the EEPROM section B42.

The flow advances to step S89 to update the above-mentioned number data N4 in accordance with the number data N2.

If the number data N2 is not larger than the number data N4 in step S86, step S88.
Proceed to.

If the difference between the number data N2 and the number data N is not 6 or more in step S87, the flow advances to step S89.

According to the flow described above, the printer B01 is operated in the maintenance mode, the toner cartridge is replaced, and the instruction is issued not to save the data on the number of sheets of the replaced toner cartridge as history data. Even if the power is turned off without returning to the cartridge, the number data N4 of the mounted toner cartridges can be stored as a part of the history data to be stored in the check at the next power-on.

[0120]

According to the present invention, the following effects can be expected.

1) In the printer device, when the power is turned on or when the cover is opened or closed, the device control unit prints data on the number of prints stored in an EEPROM unit built in the printer device and the toner attached to the printer device. The toner cartridge is compared and collated with the print number data stored in the EEPROM section incorporated in the cartridge, and when the difference between the two exceeds a preset value, the toner cartridge is turned off when the power of the printer apparatus is turned off or when the cover is opened. When the exchange is detected, the number data stored in the printer is moved to the history storage area.

By taking this measure, the printer device checks whether or not the toner cartridge has been replaced when the power is turned on or when the cover is opened or closed. Is automatically saved as a part of the operation status data of the printer device, so that the replacement history of the toner cartridge can be surely grasped in the investigation such as the occurrence of a failure of the printer device. .

2) The above-mentioned device control unit is provided with an EEPRO built in a toner cartridge mounted on the printer.
By detecting that the value of the number-of-prints data stored in the M section is 0, it is determined that an unused toner cartridge has been mounted when the cover of the printer apparatus is opened or while the power is turned off. Furthermore, the value of the number-of-prints data stored in the EEPROM unit incorporated in the toner cartridge is not 0, and the difference from the number-of-prints data stored in the EEPROM unit incorporated in the printer is a predetermined value. When it exceeds, it is determined that the toner cartridge has been replaced with a toner cartridge having a history of being used when the cover of the printer device is opened or while the power is turned off.

By taking this measure, the printer device can be replaced with a new one when the power is turned off or when the cover is opened, or the history of the toner cartridge that has already been used. It is automatically added to the operation status data stored in the printer device, and the replacement history of the toner cartridge can be surely grasped in the investigation such as when a failure occurs in the printer device. The effect is obtained.

3) During the maintenance mode designated in advance, when the printer detects that the toner cartridge has been replaced when the cover of the printer is opened, the printer operates as described above. E built into the device
The movement of the print number data stored in the EPROM unit to the history storage area is released by the selection of the operator.

By taking this form, the printer device selects a portion that does not need to be stored, such as a temporarily installed toner cartridge, from the replacement history of the toner cartridges performed during the maintenance mode. Can be selected and released, and the accuracy of the operation status data stored by the printer device is prevented from being lowered, so that it is possible to surely grasp the replacement history of the toner cartridge when investigating a failure or the like. obtain.

4) When it is specified to cancel the storage by selecting a portion that does not need to be stored during the maintenance mode of the printer device, a save area is set in the EEPROM portion of the device control portion, and And saves the print number data stored in the EEPROM section, and sets a flag indicating that the print number data has been saved.

By taking this form, for example, the printer device is temporarily set to not save the number data of the toner cartridge replaced during the operation period in the maintenance mode, and the power supply is not restored to the original toner cartridge. Even when the power is turned off, the number data of the toner cartridge is stored with the flag at the next power-on, so that the replacement history of the toner cartridge can be surely grasped in the investigation at the time of failure or the like.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart (1) according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart (2) according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart (3) according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart (4) according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart (5) according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram according to a conventional technique.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart (1) according to a conventional technique.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart (2) according to a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

 B01: Printer device B02: Device mechanism unit B03: Operation panel B04: Device control unit B05: Host device B21: Toner cartridge B22: EEPROM unit B31: Display unit B32: Operation unit B41: Operation control unit B42: EEPROM unit B43: Evacuation Area N2, N4: Number data N5: Save data

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-6-35258 (JP, A) JP-A-3-152569 (JP, A) JP-A-8-241018 (JP, A) JP-A-8-69214 (JP) JP-A-7-261528 (JP, A) JP-A-3-243978 (JP, A) JP-A-7-281563 (JP, A) JP-A-3-269446 (JP, A) 62-79258 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03G 15/00 G03G 15/08 G03G 21/00-21/04 B41J 29/00-29/70

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A printed sheet executed by a printer device (B01)
Each time the number reaches the predetermined number,
Cartridge (B2) attached to the printer (B01)
Sheets stored in EEPROM section (B22) built in 1)
The numerical data (N2) is stored in the printer device (B01).
EEPROM section (B4) incorporated in the placement control section (B04).
Transfer to 2) and replace with the stored number data (N4)
And opening and closing of the cover of the printer device (B01) is detected
In this case, the device control unit (B04) and the arithmetic control unit (B41)
The number of sheets stored in the EEPROM (B42)
(N4) and the printer (B01)
EEPROM built into toner cartridge (B21)
And compares it with the number data (N2) stored in the section (B22).
In addition, the number data (N4) and the number data (N
Check that the difference from 2) exceeds the preset value.
And sure, the when the cover door opening of the printer device (B01)
It is determined that the toner cartridge (B21) has been replaced.
The number data (N4) is stored in the EEPROM section.
(B42), and moves to the history storage area to
Printer device as part of the operation result data of (B01)
In the control method of (1), the operation mode of the printer (B01) is designated in advance as the maintenance mode, so that the toner cartridge is opened when the cover of the printer (B01) is opened during the maintenance mode. Even if the arithmetic control unit (B41) detects that (B21) has been replaced, the arithmetic unit (B41) stores the number data (N4) in the EEPROM unit (B42).
To the history storage area of the printer device (B01)
A method of canceling the use of a part of the operation result data by a selection of an operator. 2. The printer device (B01) includes a toner cartridge (B01) during a period designated as a maintenance mode.
In case of cancellation by the selection of the operating personnel that also detect the exchange of 21) stores the count data (N2) of the
There are, a flag saved data area (B43) is set to said EEPROM section (B42), indicating that further saves the count data (N2) of said of saving the number data (N2) of said, With the replaced toner cartridge (B21) mounted, the printer (B21)
When cutting the power of 21), and wherein the urging operation history data stored in the operations staff if find a the flag to the next power on, claim
2. The method for controlling a printer device according to item 1 .