JP4293033B2 - Refill management system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention is a technique for managing the number of refills when consumables (toner, ink, etc.) are refilled in a consumable container (toner cartridge, ink cartridge, etc.) attached to a device (printer, etc.). It is about.

  As a device that can be connected to a network, there is a device such as a printer that uses a consumable container filled with consumables. In such a device, when all of the consumables in the consumable container are consumed, the consumable container is generally replaced with an unused one. In some cases, only consumables are used after being refilled.

  For example, in an ink jet printer, an ink cartridge filled with ink is installed in the apparatus and used for various printing, and after that, when all the ink in the ink cartridge is consumed, a new ink is used. There are cases where the ink cartridge is used after being replaced, but there is also a case where the ink cartridge is used as it is, and the ink cartridge is refilled with new ink.

  However, when the consumable item is refilled without changing the consumable item container as described above, the device may be adversely affected if the number of refills is increased.

  For example, in an ink jet printer, if refilling of ink is repeatedly performed on the same ink cartridge, there is a possibility that the quality of printing is deteriorated or the durability performance of the printer engine is impaired.

  Therefore, it is determined whether or not the consumable container attached to the device is a consumable container (hereinafter referred to as a refill product) in which the refill of the consumable is performed, and the number of times the refill is performed (the number of refills). It is important to understand

  In addition, as a technique which performs this kind of determination, the technique described in the following literature is mentioned as a related thing, for example.

JP 2003-320658 A

  On the other hand, a device driver for driving a device is provided by a manufacturer who manufactures the device or a related company (hereinafter referred to as a device manufacturer), and uses a consumable manufactured by the device manufacturer. If so, it is designed to drive the device most appropriately.

  However, when a person other than the device manufacturer refills the consumables in the consumable container, the characteristics of the consumables are often different from the original ones, and the device cannot be driven optimally. May be adversely affected.

  For example, in an ink jet printer, when an ink cartridge in which ink has been refilled by a person other than the printer manufacturer or the like is used, there is a possibility that the print quality may deteriorate or the durability performance of the printer engine may be impaired.

  Therefore, the object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and to have an adverse effect on the device due to excessive refilling of the same consumable container or refilling of consumables by a person other than the device manufacturer. It is to provide a technique for suppressing the above.

In order to achieve at least a part of the above object, a first system of the present invention includes a server and a device connected to the server via a network, and a consumable container mounted on the device. A refill management system for managing the refill of consumables,
The server
For each consumable container, identification information for identifying the consumable container, a first refill number of times the consumable container has been refilled, and the consumable container A management table for storing the second refill count in which the consumables have been refilled by the manufacturer who manufactured the device or its affiliated company,
For the consumable container attached to the device, the first refill count registered in the management table corresponding to the identification information of the consumable container and the second refill count are compared, and When the first number of refills exceeds the second number of refills, a predetermined message is transmitted to the device;
The gist is that the device receives the message transmitted from the server and informs the received message to the outside.

As described above, in the first system, the server uses the first and second refill times (device manufacturing) registered for the consumable container attached to the device in the management table corresponding to the identification information. And the number of refills by the business). If the first refill count exceeds the second refill count, it can be assumed that the consumables have been refilled by a person other than the device manufacturer or the like. On the other hand, a predetermined message is transmitted. The device receives the message and broadcasts the message to the outside.

Therefore, according to the first system, when the refill of the consumables for the consumable container is performed by a person other than the device manufacturer or the like, a predetermined message is notified from the printer. Attention can be urged and adverse effects on the device due to refilling of consumables by a person other than the device manufacturer or the like can be suppressed.
Note that the affiliates of the manufacturer that manufactured the device include those who manufacture consumable containers and consumables and those who sell consumable containers and consumables under the control of the device manufacturer.

  As a method of notifying the message to the outside by the printer, the message may be displayed on a display panel or the like, or the message may be posted on a Web page launched by the printer, The message may be transmitted by voice through a speaker or the like, or the message may be printed and output.

The first server of the present invention is a server that is connected to a device via a network and that can manage the refill of consumables for a consumable container attached to the device,
For each consumable container, identification information for identifying the consumable container, a first refill number of times the consumable container has been refilled, and the consumable container A management table for storing the second refill count in which the consumables have been refilled by the manufacturer who manufactured the device or its affiliated company,
For the consumable container attached to the device, the first refill count registered in the management table corresponding to the identification information of the consumable container and the second refill count are compared, and The gist is to transmit a predetermined message to the device when the first number of refills exceeds the second number of refills.

  By using such a first server, the same effects as those of the first system described above can be obtained.

The second server of the present invention is a server that is connected to a device via a network and that can manage refill of consumables for a consumable container attached to the device,
For each consumable container, identification information for identifying the consumable container, a first refill number of times the consumable container has been refilled, and the consumable container A management table for storing the second refill count in which the consumables have been refilled by the manufacturer who manufactured the device or its affiliated company,
For the consumable container attached to the device, the first refill count registered in the management table corresponding to the identification information of the consumable container and the second refill count are compared, and When the first number of refills exceeds the second number of refills, among an administrator who manages the system including the server, a serviceman who can perform maintenance on the device, and a user of the device, The gist is to send an e-mail addressed to at least one.

As described above, in the second server, for the consumable container mounted on the device, the first refill count and the second refill count registered in the management table corresponding to the identification information (by the device manufacturer or the like) The number of refills). If the first refill count exceeds the second refill count, it can be considered that the consumables have been refilled by a person other than the device manufacturer or the like. And an e-mail addressed to at least one of the users.

Therefore, according to the second server, when the consumable item is refilled with respect to the consumable item container by a person other than the device manufacturer or the like, an e-mail is transmitted to either the administrator, the serviceman, or the user. The person can be alerted that the refill has been performed by someone other than the device manufacturer.

  Note that the administrator, serviceman, and user include not only individuals but also groups such as departments and sections and organizations such as companies.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described aspects of the device invention such as the refill management system and the server, but can also be realized as a method invention such as a refill management method. Further, aspects as a computer program for constructing those methods and apparatuses, aspects as a recording medium recording such a computer program, data signals embodied in a carrier wave including the computer program, etc. It can also be realized in various ways.

  When the present invention is configured as a computer program or a recording medium on which the program is recorded, the entire program for controlling the server may be configured, or only a part that performs the function of the present invention may be configured. Good. The recording medium includes a flexible disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a magneto-optical disk, an IC card, a ROM cartridge, a punch card, a printed matter on which a code such as a barcode is printed, a computer internal storage device (RAM or Various types of computer-readable media such as a memory such as a ROM and an external storage device can be used.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in the following order based on examples.
A. Example configuration:
B. : Example operation:
B-1. Printer side operation 1:
B-2. Server side operation:
B-3. Printer side operation 2:
B-4. Effects of the embodiment:
C. Variations:

A. Example configuration:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a refill management system as an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the refill management system according to the present embodiment includes a server 100 and printers 200, 400, and 500 that are connected to each other via a network 300. In this embodiment, the printers 200, 400, and 500 are assumed to be ink jet printers.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the server 100 stores a CPU 110 for performing various processes and controls according to a program, and temporarily stores data obtained during the process. A network 120 (hereinafter, abbreviated as network I / F) circuit 130 for communicating with other devices via the network 300, and a hard disk device 140 for storing various tables. And mainly.

  In addition, the server 100 includes a keyboard, a mouse, a tablet, and the like. The server 100 includes an input device for inputting an instruction from an administrator, a CRT, a liquid crystal display, and the like, and displays data contents. 1 is also provided, but is omitted in FIG.

  Further, the CPU 110 functions as the refill management unit 122, the refill determination unit 124, and the mail creation unit 126 by executing the program stored in the memory 120. Further, as will be described later, a remaining amount management table 142 for managing the remaining amount of ink in the ink cartridge and a refill management table 144 for managing the number of refills of the ink cartridge are prepared in the hard disk device 140. Has been.

  The program may be provided to the server 100 using a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, memory card, or the like, or from a program server (not shown) that supplies the program, or the like. You may make it take in in server 100 via. Further, a part of the program may be constituted by an operating system program. In the present embodiment, the refill management unit 122, the refill determination unit 124, and the mail creation unit 126 are realized by software. However, these may be realized by hardware.

  On the other hand, like the server 100, the printer 200 stores a CPU 210 for performing various processes and controls according to a program, and the program, and temporarily stores data obtained during the process. Cartridge 220 for obtaining various information from the ink cartridge 270 mounted on the printer 200, and a network I / F circuit 230 for communicating with other devices via the network 300. It mainly includes an access unit 240, a printer engine 250 that is a mechanism part that actually performs printing, and a display panel 260 that includes a liquid crystal panel and the like and displays desired information to the user.

  The ink cartridge 270 stores ink (not shown) therein, and also includes a remaining amount detection sensor 272 for detecting the remaining amount of the ink, and an IC 274 for storing information. ing. In the IC 274, a unique identification number assigned to the ink cartridge 270 is stored in order to identify the ink cartridge 270.

  The other printers 400 and 500 have the same configuration as the printer 200, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  As the network 300, various networks such as the Internet, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), and a telephone communication network can be applied.

B. Example operation:
B-1. Printer side operation 1:
First, the operation on the printer side in FIG. 1 will be described. Since both printers operate in the same manner, the printer 200 will be described as a representative, and description of other printers will be omitted. Also, as for the operation of the printer 200, description of well-known operations such as printing operation is omitted, and the remaining ink amount uploading process, which is a feature of the present invention, will be described in detail below.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the remaining ink upload process in the printer 200 in FIG. The ink remaining amount upload process shown in FIG. 2 is started after the printer 200 is turned on, or after a new ink cartridge 270 is attached to the printer 200 by replacing the ink cartridge 270 or the like.

  When such processing is started, the CPU 210 first accesses the ink cartridge 270 via the cartridge information access unit 240 and reads and acquires the identification number from the IC 274 of the ink cartridge 270. In the ink cartridge 270, the remaining amount detection sensor 272 detects the remaining amount of ink remaining in the ink cartridge 270, and the CPU 210 acquires the detected remaining ink amount from the remaining amount detection sensor 272 ( Step S12).

  The remaining amount detection sensor 272 measures, for example, the height of the ink liquid level in the ink cartridge 270 and derives the remaining amount of ink from the measurement result. At this time, when the height of the ink liquid surface is the highest, the ink remaining amount is 100%, and when the height is almost 0, the ink remaining amount is 0%.

  Next, the CPU 210 accesses the server 100 from the network I / F circuit 230 via the network 300, and uploads the acquired identification number and remaining ink amount of the ink cartridge 270 to the server 100 (step S14). The operation on the server side will be described later.

  Subsequently, the CPU 210 writes the uploaded identification number and the remaining ink amount in the memory 220 (step S16). At this time, the written ink remaining amount is defined as Ra [%].

  Thereafter, every time printing is performed (or at regular time intervals), the CPU 210 accesses the ink cartridge 270 via the cartridge information access unit 240 and detects it from the remaining amount detection sensor 272 at that time. The remaining ink level is acquired (step S18). At this time, the acquired ink remaining amount is Rb [%].

  Then, the CPU 210 reads the most recently uploaded ink remaining amount Ra from the memory 220 and compares it with the current ink remaining amount Rb acquired from the remaining amount detecting sensor 272. Then, it is determined whether or not the current ink remaining amount Rb is α [%] less than the uploaded ink remaining amount Ra, that is, whether Rb <Ra−α is satisfied (step S20). Note that α is set to an appropriate value in advance from the amount of ink normally used for printing in the printer.

  As a result of the determination, if the current ink remaining amount Rb has not yet decreased by α from the uploaded ink remaining amount Ra, the process returns to step S18, and the CPU 210 executes the next printing (or is constant). ), The ink cartridge 270 is accessed again, the remaining amount of ink detected at that time is acquired from the remaining amount detection sensor 272, and the same processing is repeated thereafter.

  On the other hand, if the current ink remaining amount Rb is less than the uploaded ink remaining amount Ra by α, the process returns to step S14, and the CPU 210 accesses the server 100 again and determines the identification number of the ink cartridge 270. The acquired remaining ink amount is uploaded to the server 100, and the same processing is repeated thereafter.

  Thus, the remaining ink upload process shown in FIG. 2 is repeated until the printer 200 is turned off.

  By the way, for example, when the installed ink cartridge is removed and another new ink cartridge is installed in order to replace the ink cartridge while the printer 200 is turned on, as shown in FIG. Since the ink remaining amount upload process shown in FIG. 2 is newly started, the CPU 210 first acquires the identification number and the ink remaining amount from the replaced new ink cartridge 270 (step S12), and the server 100 (Step S14). In this case, as a matter of course, the identification number and remaining ink amount of the ink cartridge 270 are uploaded different from the identification number and remaining ink amount of the ink cartridge that has been mounted so far.

  On the other hand, for example, while the printer 200 is powered on, the ink cartridge attached to the printer 200 is once removed, and after the ink is refilled to the ink cartridge, the ink cartridge is attached again. Similarly, since the ink remaining amount upload process shown in FIG. 2 is newly started, the CPU 210 acquires the identification number and the ink remaining amount from the ink cartridge 270 that has been refilled with ink (step S12). And uploading to the server 100 (step S14). However, in this case, the identification number of the ink cartridge 270 is uploaded as before, and the ink remaining amount is uploaded more than before.

B-2. Server side operation:
Next, the operation on the server side in FIG. 1 will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the refill product determination processing routine in the server 100 in FIG.

  When the processing routine shown in FIG. 3 is started, the CPU 110 functions as the refill management unit 122 and the refill determination unit 124, as described above, and the refill management unit 122 first performs one of the operations via the network 300. It is determined whether or not there has been an upload of the ink remaining amount from the printer (step S102). Thereafter, when there is an upload from any printer, the refill management unit 122 acquires the uploaded identification number and ink remaining amount via the network I / F circuit 130 (step S104). At this time, the acquired ink remaining amount is Rc [%].

  Next, the refill management unit 122 refers to the remaining amount management table 142 or the like in the hard disk device 140 and determines whether or not the acquired identification number is a registered identification number (step S106). If not registered yet, the obtained identification number is registered in the remaining amount management table 142 and the refill management table 144 (step S108).

  Subsequently, the refill determination unit 124 determines that the ink cartridge for the acquired identification number has not been refilled this time (step S110), and the refill management unit 122 uses the ink remaining amount Rc acquired earlier as the remaining amount management. In the table 142, registration is performed in association with the previously registered identification number (step S112), and the processing routine ends.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the remaining amount management table 142 in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, in the remaining amount management table 142, the identification number and the remaining amount of ink are registered for each ink cartridge. Any of these registered information is information regarding an ink cartridge that is currently mounted on a printer on the network 300 or that has been mounted in the past.

  Therefore, for example, as described above, in the printer 200, when the ink cartridge is replaced with another new ink cartridge, the ink cartridge that has been mounted until then is transferred from the printer 200 to the server 100 before the replacement. The ID number (for example, “# 12345”) and the remaining amount of ink were uploaded and registered in the remaining amount management table 142 as shown in FIG. The ink cartridge identification number (for example, “# 32346”) and the remaining ink amount are uploaded and newly registered in the remaining amount management table 142 as shown in FIG.

  On the other hand, as a result of the determination in step S106, if the identification number acquired by uploading has already been registered, the refill determination unit 124 acquires the acquired registered identification from the remaining amount management table 142 in the hard disk device 140. Read the remaining ink level corresponding to the number. At this time, the read ink remaining amount is Rd [%].

  Next, the refill determination unit 124 compares the ink remaining amount Rc acquired by uploading with the ink remaining amount Rd read from the remaining amount management table 142. Then, it is determined whether or not the acquired ink remaining amount Rc is equal to or less than the ink remaining amount Rd registered in the remaining amount management table 142, that is, whether Rc ≦ Rd is satisfied (Step S1). S116). In this case, it is preferable to make a determination in consideration of a measurement error of the remaining amount of ink.

  As a result of the determination, when the acquired ink remaining amount Rc is equal to or less than the ink remaining amount Rd registered in the remaining amount management table 142, the refill determining unit 124 has the acquired identification number. The attached ink cartridge is determined not to be refilled this time (step S110), and the refill management unit 122 corresponds the acquired remaining ink amount Rc to the acquired registered identification number in the remaining amount management table 142. The ink remaining amount is overwritten and registered (step S112), and the processing routine ends.

  On the other hand, when the acquired ink remaining amount Rc is greater than the ink remaining amount Rd registered in the remaining amount management table 142, the refill determination unit 124 determines that the ink cartridge with the acquired identification number is attached. Is determined to have been refilled this time (step S118).

  That is, for example, as described above, when ink is refilled in the ink cartridge in the printer 200, before the refill, the printer 200 to the server 100 sends an identification number of the ink cartridge, for example, “# 24153”. Assuming that, for example, “5%” is uploaded as the remaining amount of ink and is registered in the remaining amount management table 142 as shown in FIG. 4, ink is refilled in the same ink cartridge after refilling. For example, “100%” is uploaded as the remaining ink amount for the identification number “# 24153” of the same ink cartridge, as shown by the dotted line in FIG. .

  Therefore, for the same identification number (“# 24153” in the above example), the remaining ink amount Rc (“100%” in the above example) acquired by upload is the remaining ink amount registered in the remaining amount management table 142. If it is greater than Rd (“5%” in the above example), it can be determined that the product is a refill product.

  Next, the refill management unit 122 registers 1 in the refill management table 144 in the hard disk device 140 by incrementing by 1 as the number of determination refills corresponding to the acquired identification number (step S120).

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the refill management table 144 in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, in the refill management table 144, for each ink cartridge, an identification number, a determination refill count, and a manufacturer refill count are registered correspondingly. Here, the number of determination refills is the number of times that the refill determination unit 124 has determined that the ink cartridge with the identification number is a refill product (number of determination refills). This is the number of refills acquired from a supplier. The number of manufacturer refills will be described in detail later. Here, the number of determination refills is Na, and the number of manufacturer refills is Nb. In addition, as in the case of the remaining amount management table 142, all of the registered information is information related to the ink cartridge that is currently mounted on any printer on the network 300 or has been mounted in the past. It is.

  That is, when the refill management unit 122 determines that the acquired identification number is a refill product for the first time by the refill determination unit 124, the refill management table 144 sets 1 as the number of determination refills corresponding to the identification number. Register. In addition, when the refill determination unit 124 determines that the acquired identification number is a refill product after the second time, the refill management table 144 determines the number of determination refills corresponding to the registered identification number. As a result, registration is increased by one.

  Therefore, for example, as described above, when the ink is refilled for the first time with respect to the ink cartridge having the identification number “# 24153” in the printer 200, the identification number “#” is displayed in the refill management table 144 as shown in FIG. One is registered as the number of determination refills corresponding to 24153 ".

  Further, for example, when the sixth ink refill is performed on the ink cartridge with the identification number “# 65432”, the number of determination refills registered so far for the identification number “# 58473” in the refill management table 144 “5” is incremented by 1 and registered as “6” as shown in FIG.

  Next, the refill management unit 122 and the refill determination unit 124 shift the processing to the refill number determination processing routine shown in FIG. 6 (step S122). FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the refill frequency determination processing routine in FIG.

  When the processing routine shown in FIG. 6 is started, the refill determination unit 124 reads the determination refill count Na corresponding to the acquired identification number from the refill management table 144, and the read determination refill count Na is preset. It is determined whether or not the limit number Nr is exceeded (step S202). Here, the limit number Nr is the allowable maximum number of times that refilling of ink can be repeatedly performed on the same ink cartridge in the printer, and the refilling of ink for the same ink cartridge exceeds this number. Doing so may cause a decrease in print quality or a failure in durability in the printer.

  As a result of the determination, if the determination refill number Na has not yet exceeded the limit number Nr, the refill management unit 122 proceeds to the process of step S208.

  On the other hand, when the determination refill number Na exceeds the limit number Nr, the refill management unit 122 assumes that there is a risk of causing a decrease in print quality or a failure in durability in the printer. From 130, the following error message M1 is transmitted to the uploaded printer via the network 300 (step S204).

  Error message M1: “The ink cartridge has been refilled more than the number of times it has been replaced. The print quality may be degraded or the printer engine's durability may be impaired.”

  In addition, the mail creating unit 126 creates an e-mail notifying that the determination refill number Na exceeds the limit number Nr, and is sent from the network I / F circuit 130 to the administrator and the service person via the network 300. Transmit (step S206). Here, the administrator is an administrator who manages the refill management system of the present embodiment, and the service person is a service person who can perform maintenance on the printer 200 and the like. Note that these e-mails preferably include information such as the identification number of the target ink cartridge, the name of the printer in which the ink cartridge is mounted, and the determination refill count Na. Further, instead of the service person, an e-mail may be transmitted to the service center.

  Accordingly, if the limit number Nr is set to “5”, for example, when the ink refill is performed for the sixth time for the ink cartridge with the identification number “# 65432”, as shown in FIG. Since “6” is read from the management table 144 as the number of determination refills and exceeds the limit number Nr = “5”, as described above, transmission of the error message M1 and transmission of e-mail are executed. Become.

  Next, the refill management unit 122 accesses a server (not shown) managed by a printer manufacturer or the like from the network I / F circuit 130 via the network 300, and based on the acquired identification number, The manufacturer refill count Nb corresponding to the identification number is acquired and registered in the refill management table 144 (step S208).

Here, the manufacturer refill count is the number of times ink refill has been performed on the ink cartridge to which the identification number is assigned by a printer manufacturer or the like. Specifically, for example, as a part of service, a printer manufacturer or the like collects an ink cartridge that has run out of ink from a user, refills the ink in the ink cartridge, and then sends the ink cartridge back to the user. As described above, when ink refilling is performed by a printer manufacturer or the like, since the ink manufactured by the printer manufacturer or the like, that is, the optimal ink for the printer is used, such an ink cartridge is used in the printer. Even if it is used for printing, there is little possibility that the printing quality will be deteriorated or that the durability of the printer engine will be impaired.
The server managed by the printer manufacturer or the like automatically registers the identification number of the ink cartridge when the ink refill is performed on the ink cartridge by the printer manufacturer or the like. The number of refills performed by a printer manufacturer or the like is accumulated.

  Subsequently, the refill determination unit 124 reads out the determination refill count Na and the manufacturer refill count Nb corresponding to the acquired identification number from the refill management table 144, and the read determination refill count Na is also the same as the read out manufacturer refill count Nb. It is determined whether or not it exceeds (step S210).

  As a result of the determination, when the determination refill number Na is equal to the manufacturer refill number Nb, the refill management unit 122 determines that all the ink refills performed on the ink cartridge to which the identification number is assigned are the printer manufacturer. The processing is returned to the processing routine of FIG.

  On the contrary, when the determination refill number Na exceeds the maker refill number Nb, the refill management unit 122 indicates that the ink refill performed on the ink cartridge to which the identification number is attached is a printer manufacturer or the like. The network I / F circuit 130 uploads the printer that has been uploaded via the network 300 to the extent that the print quality may be deteriorated or the durability performance may be impaired in the printer. Then, the following error message M2 is transmitted (step S212).

  Error message M2: “Ink has not been refilled in the regular route. Print quality may be degraded or the printer engine's durability may be impaired.”

  In addition, the mail creating unit 126 creates an e-mail notifying that the determination refill number Na exceeds the manufacturer refill number Nb, and the system administrator and printer via the network 300 from the network I / F circuit 130. (Step S214), and then the process returns to the process routine of FIG. These e-mails preferably include information such as the identification number of the target ink cartridge, the name of the printer in which the ink cartridge is installed, the determination refill number Na, and the manufacturer refill number Nb.

  Therefore, for example, when the ink cartridge of the identification number “# 58473” is refilled for the third time and “2” is acquired as the manufacturer refill count Nb from the printer manufacturer or the like, as shown in FIG. Since “3” is read as the determination refill count Nb and “2” is read as the maker refill count Nb from the management table 144 and the determination refill count exceeds the maker refill count, as described above, the error message M2 Transmission or e-mail transmission is executed.

  Returning to FIG. 3, the refill management unit 122 then registers the acquired ink remaining amount Rc by overwriting the remaining ink amount corresponding to the acquired registered identification number in the remaining amount management table 142. (Step S112), and the processing routine ends.

  Therefore, for example, as described above, in the printer 200, the ink is refilled in the ink cartridge having the identification number “# 24153”, and the identification number “# 24153” and the remaining ink amount “100%” are received from the printer 200 to the server 100. In the case of uploading, in the remaining amount management table 142, as shown in FIG. 4, a new ink remaining amount “100” is added to the identification remaining amount “5%” for the identification number “# 24153”. % "Will be overwritten and registered.

  In this way, the server 100 manages, for each ink cartridge, the remaining ink amount of an ink cartridge that is currently attached to the printer on the network 300 or has been attached in the past, and makes a determination. The number of refills and the number of manufacturer refills are managed.

B-3. Printer side operation 2:
The operation on the printer side in FIG. 1 will be described again. As described above, all the printers operate in the same manner, so the printer 200 will be described as a representative, and the description of the other printers will be omitted.

  As described above, when the error message M1 or M2 is transmitted from the server 100 to the printer 200 via the network 300, the CPU 210 receives the error message M1 or M2 via the network I / F circuit 230. Are displayed on the display panel 260.

  This alerts the user of the printer 200 that there is a risk of causing degradation in print quality or failure in durability performance.

B-4. Effects of the embodiment:
Therefore, in this embodiment, when ink refilling is performed on an ink cartridge mounted on any printer on the network 300, has the refill count (determination refill count) Na exceeded the limit count Nr? It is possible to easily determine whether or not, and if it exceeds, it is possible to call attention to the user of the printer.

  In addition, it can be easily determined whether or not the ink refill has been performed by a printer manufacturer or the like, and if it is performed by a person other than the printer manufacturer or the like, the user of the printer is alerted. it can.

  In this way, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to suppress adverse effects on the printer due to exceeding the number of refills for the same consumable container or ink refilling by a person other than the printer manufacturer.

C. Variations:
The present invention is not limited to the above-described examples and embodiments, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the scope of the invention.

  In the above embodiment, the printer 200 displays the error message M1 or M2 transmitted from the server 100 on the display panel 260. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the printer 200 When 200 functions as a Web server, a printer management Web page may be launched by the printer 200, and the transmitted error message M1 or M2 may be posted on the Web page. In this case, the user of the printer 200 can view the above-described web page by connecting an information terminal such as a personal computer to the network 300 and accessing the web server of the printer 200 using the information terminal. In this case, a system administrator, a printer service person, and the like can also view the above-described Web page in the same manner.

  In the above-described embodiment, the e-mail is transmitted from the server 100 to the system administrator and the printer service person. However, the e-mail may be transmitted to the printer user.

  In the above-described embodiment, the ink cartridge 270 includes the remaining amount detection sensor 272. However, the printer 200 may include a remaining amount detection sensor to detect the remaining ink amount of the mounted ink cartridge. The remaining ink amount acquired from the remaining amount detection sensor 272 is written in the memory 220 in the printer 200. However, the remaining ink amount may be written in the IC 274 of the remaining amount detection sensor 272, or written in both. It may be. Further, in the ink cartridge 270, a memory or the like may be used instead of the IC 274.

  In the above embodiment, the remaining amount of ink is detected steplessly by the remaining amount detection sensor. However, it may be detected in three steps of “Full”, “Low”, and “Empty”, or “Full”. , “Empty” may be detected in two stages. For example, in the case of two stages, in the server 100, when the acquired ink remaining amount is “Full” and the ink remaining amount “Empty” registered in the remaining amount management table 142 for a certain identification number, Since the remaining amount of ink is increasing, it is determined that the ink cartridge with the identification number is a refill product.

  In the above-described embodiment, an inkjet printer is taken as an example of a device connected to the network. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and various devices such as a laser printer, a thermal printer, and a sublimation printer can be used. It can be applied to a printer. In this case, for example, in a laser printer, the consumable container is a toner cartridge, and the consumable is toner. In a thermal printer or a sublimation printer, the consumable item is a ribbon cartridge or the like, and the consumable item is an ink ribbon or the like. Further, the present invention is not limited to such a printer, and can also be applied to a copying machine, a facsimile machine, a multifunction machine, and the like.

  Although not particularly mentioned in the above description of the embodiment, if the confidentiality is not sufficient in the network 300, the communication between the server 100 and the printer includes information encryption and an authentication procedure. It is preferable to go.

  In the above-described embodiments, the identification number is used to identify the ink cartridge. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any identification symbol, code, character, or the like can be used. It may be used.

  In the above-described embodiments, the description has been made based on the remaining amount of ink in the ink cartridge. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and instead of the remaining amount of ink, ink consumption and refilling of ink are possible. An amount or the like may be used. In that case, it is necessary to change the method of determination in step S20 of FIG. 2 or step S116 of FIG. 3 in accordance with the amount to be used.

  In the above-described embodiment, when the current ink remaining amount Rb acquired from the ink cartridge is reduced by α from the previously uploaded ink remaining amount Ra, the identification number and the current ink remaining amount are uploaded to the server 100 on the printer side. In addition, the uploaded identification number and ink remaining amount are written in the memory 220, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, on the printer side, the identification number acquired from the ink cartridge and the current ink remaining amount are written to the memory 220 at any time. If the acquired identification number is different from the previously written identification number, or the acquired current ink remaining amount is The acquired identification number and the remaining ink amount may be uploaded to 100 only when the remaining ink amount written last time is increased.

  Alternatively, on the printer side, the identification number and the current ink remaining amount are acquired from the ink cartridge as needed, all the acquired information is written in the memory 220, and a history of changes in the identification number and remaining ink amount is left. The history information may be uploaded to the server 100 only when there is an upload request from the server 100.

  In the above-described embodiment, the server 100 side holds and manages the determination refill count and the manufacturer refill count for each ink cartridge identification number. From 100, the number of refills may be acquired and held, and the number of refills may be printed out to inform the user.

  In such a case, if the printer cannot communicate with the server 100 via the network 300 and the above refill count cannot be acquired, the printing function is temporarily stopped during that time, and printing can be performed. It may not be possible.

  Further, when a new product detection sensor for detecting whether or not the installed ink cartridge is new is provided on the printer side, the sensor detects that the installed ink cartridge is new. In this case, the printer may not check the number of refills for the ink cartridge mounted on the server.

  On the printer side, if the number of refills of the installed ink cartridge exceeds a predetermined number of times, the printing function is temporarily stopped while the ink cartridge is installed, and printing is performed. You may not be able to do it.

It is a block diagram which shows the refill management system as one Example of this invention. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of remaining ink amount upload processing in the printer 200 in FIG. 1. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the refill goods determination process routine in the server 100 in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the residual amount management table 142 in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the refill management table 144 in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the refill frequency determination processing routine in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

100 ... server 110 ... CPU
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 120 ... Memory 122 ... Refill management part 124 ... Refill determination part 126 ... Mail preparation part 130 ... Network I / F circuit 140 ... Hard disk device 142 ... Residual amount management table 144 ... refill management table 200 ... printer 210 ... CPU
220 ... Memory 230 ... Network I / F circuit 240 ... Cartridge information access unit 250 ... Printer engine 260 ... Display panel 270 ... Ink cartridge 272 ... Remaining amount detection sensor 274. ..IC
300 ... Network 400,500 ... Printer

Claims (7)

A refill management system comprising: a server; and a device connected to the server via a network, wherein the refill management system manages refill of consumables for a consumable container attached to the device,
The server
For each consumable container, identification information for identifying the consumable container, a first refill number of times the consumable container has been refilled, and the consumable container A management table for storing the second refill count in which the consumables have been refilled by the manufacturer who manufactured the device or its affiliated company,
For the consumable container attached to the device, the first refill count registered in the management table corresponding to the identification information of the consumable container and the second refill count are compared, and When the first number of refills exceeds the second number of refills, a predetermined message is transmitted to the device;
The said device receives the said message transmitted from the said server, and alert | reports the received said message outside, The refill management system characterized by the above-mentioned. A server that is connected to a device via a network and that can manage the refill of consumables for a consumable container attached to the device,
For each consumable container, identification information for identifying the consumable container, a first refill number of times the consumable container has been refilled, and the consumable container A management table for storing the second refill count in which the consumables have been refilled by the manufacturer who manufactured the device or its affiliated company,
For the consumable container attached to the device, the first refill count registered in the management table corresponding to the identification information of the consumable container and the second refill count are compared, and A server that transmits a predetermined message to the device when the first number of refills exceeds the second number of refills. A server that is connected to a device via a network and that can manage the refill of consumables for a consumable container attached to the device,
For each consumable container, identification information for identifying the consumable container, a first refill number of times the consumable container has been refilled, and the consumable container A management table for storing the second refill count in which the consumables have been refilled by the manufacturer who manufactured the device or its affiliated company,
For the consumable container attached to the device, the first refill count registered in the management table corresponding to the identification information of the consumable container and the second refill count are compared, and When the first number of refills exceeds the second number of refills, among an administrator who manages the system including the server, a serviceman who can perform maintenance on the device, and a user of the device, A server characterized by transmitting an e-mail addressed to at least one. A refill management method for managing a refill of consumables for a consumable container attached to a device in a server connected to the device via a network,
(A) In the server, for each consumable container, identification information for identifying the consumable container, a first refill number of times when the consumable container has been refilled, and Preparing a management table for storing the consumable container in association with a second refill count in which the refill of the consumable was performed by the manufacturer that manufactured the device or its affiliated company;
(B) For the consumable container attached to the device, the server registers the first refill count and the second refill registered in the management table in correspondence with the identification information of the consumable container. Comparing the number of times;
(C) when the first refill count exceeds the second refill count, the server transmits a predetermined message to the device;
(D) the device receiving the message transmitted from the server and notifying the received message to the outside;
A refill management method comprising the steps of: A refill management method for managing a refill of consumables for a consumable container attached to a device in a server connected to the device via a network,
(A) In the server, for each consumable container, identification information for identifying the consumable container, a first refill number of times when the consumable container has been refilled, and Preparing a management table for storing the consumable container in association with a second refill count in which the refill of the consumable was performed by the manufacturer that manufactured the device or its affiliated company;
(B) For the consumable container attached to the device, the server registers the first refill count and the second refill registered in the management table in correspondence with the identification information of the consumable container. Comparing the number of times;
(C) When the first refill count exceeds the second refill count, an administrator who manages the system including the server, a serviceman capable of performing maintenance on the device, and the device Sending an e-mail addressed to at least one of the users;
A refill management method comprising the steps of: In a server connected to a device via a network, a computer program for managing refill of consumables for a consumable container attached to the device,
For each of the consumable containers prepared in the server, identification information for identifying the consumable containers, and the first refill count of refilling the consumables for the consumable containers, A function of accessing a management table that stores the consumable container in association with the second refill count in which the consumable has been refilled by the manufacturer that manufactured the device or its affiliated company. ,
A function for comparing the first refill count and the second refill count registered in the management table in correspondence with the identification information of the consumable container for the consumable container mounted on the device; ,
A function of transmitting a predetermined message to the device when the first number of refills exceeds the second number of refills;
A computer program for causing the server to realize the above. In a server connected to a device via a network, a computer program for managing refill of consumables for a consumable container attached to the device,
For each of the consumable containers prepared in the server, identification information for identifying the consumable containers, and the first refill count of refilling the consumables for the consumable containers, A function of accessing a management table that stores the consumable container in association with the second refill count in which the consumable has been refilled by the manufacturer that manufactured the device or its affiliated company. ,
A function for comparing the first refill count and the second refill count registered in the management table in correspondence with the identification information of the consumable container for the consumable container mounted on the device; ,
Among the administrator who manages the system including the server, the serviceman who can perform maintenance on the device, and the user of the device when the first refill number exceeds the second refill number A function to send an e-mail addressed to at least one;
A computer program for causing the server to realize the above.

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