JP4948862B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a consumable sensor and energy-saving function for detecting one or more consumable wear degrees used in the printing process.

  In general, an image forming apparatus that forms an image using an electrophotographic process or the like has an operation mode in an energy saving state so that power consumption during standby can be reduced. In such an image forming apparatus, in the image forming process, members such as a toner and a photosensitive member (hereinafter referred to as “consumables”) serving as a developer are consumed. When replenishment or replacement is necessary, and the need arises, it is necessary to notify the user of that fact and request replenishment or replacement of the consumables.

Therefore, for example, when it is necessary to notify the user of the remaining amount of consumables and information about the consumable state, a sensor that detects the remaining amount of consumables when the state of the device is in an energy saving state, etc. When the component is in a state where power is not supplied, the component is set to the power supply state in order to detect information again.
JP 2003-316218 A

  However, putting the device in the power supply state only for the purpose of providing information on the remaining amount of consumables and the consumption state reduces the energy saving effect.

  Apart from that, notifying the information on the remaining amount of consumables and the consumption state uniformly regardless of the user who requested the information has a security problem and unnecessarily puts the device in a power supply state. This will increase the number of times and reduce energy efficiency.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image forming apparatus capable of appropriately displaying the remaining amount of consumables, the state of consumption, and the like.

The image forming apparatus of the present invention is an image forming apparatus having a consumable sensor and energy saving function for detecting one or more consumable wear degrees used in the printing process, the consumption of the administrator and the user group The storage means for storing display authority information indicating whether or not the consumption level of the item is displayed for each type of the consumable item, and during the energy saving operation, when the user requests the display of the consumption level of the consumable item, If it is determined by referring to the display authority information that the requesting user is an administrator or a user group who has display authority for a certain consumable item, the degree of consumption of the consumable item is detected. An administrator or a user who has energized the consumables sensor for display and causes the display unit to display the degree of consumption of the consumables detected by the consumables sensor, and the requesting user does not have display authority for the certain consumables Herd If it is determined that the over THE, without energizing the consumable sensor for detecting the degree of wear of the consumable, in which is not performed also display the consumption degree of the consumable.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, when it is necessary to display the remaining amount or the consumable state of the consumables in the energy saving state, only the consumable sensor is operated, so that the energy saving effect is reduced. Can be avoided.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows an example of a printer apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, a system control unit 1 includes operation control of each unit of the printer apparatus, paper feed control, print control, communication processing performed with an external host apparatus via a host interface circuit (described later), and a network control unit. System memory for performing various data processing such as communication control with an external device (to be described later) and various user interface processing when a user operates the printer device Reference numeral 2 stores various control programs executed by the system control unit 1 and constitutes a work area of the system control unit 1. ROM (read only memory) and RAM (random access memory) Consists of The parameter memory 3 is for storing and holding various kinds of information unique to the printer, and is composed of an NV-RAM (nonvolatile RAM).

  The image processing unit 4 applies various image processing to the image data to be printed. The operation display unit 5 constitutes a user interface for the user to operate the printer apparatus. It is composed of a liquid crystal display device, a touch panel, and appropriate hard keys (not shown).

  The frame memory 6 is for storing print data for one page. The printer engine 7 is for recording and outputting an image on transfer paper by an electrophotographic process. This is for detecting the state of each part of the printer engine 7. Here, the sensor group 8 includes a consumable sensor for detecting a remaining amount and a consumption level of the consumable in the printer engine 7. Consumables include, for example, toner used at the time of development (detecting the remaining amount of toner), a photosensitive member for carrying an electrostatic latent image and a toner image (detecting the degree of consumption), and the like.

  The host interface circuit 9 includes a general-purpose communication unit such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus), and is connected to an external host device (information processing device for creating print data such as a personal computer device). This is for exchanging data.

  The network interface circuit 10 is for connecting the printer apparatus to a network (not shown), and the network control unit 11 is for controlling various communication operations performed with other terminals via the network. It is.

  The power supply unit 12 generates a plurality of power sources and supplies them to appropriate portions. In this case, the power supply PA1 is supplied to the operation display unit 5, and the power supply PA2 is a system control unit 1, system memory 2, parameter memory 3, image processing unit 4, frame memory 6, host interface circuit 9, network interface. A control unit CU including a circuit 10, a network control unit 11, and an internal bus 14 (described later) is supplied. A power supply PA 3 is supplied to the sensor group 8, and a power supply PA 4 is supplied to the printer engine 7.

  These system control unit 1, system memory 2, parameter memory 3, image processing unit 4, operation display unit 5, frame memory 6, printer engine 7, sensor group 8, host interface circuit 9, and network control unit 11 Data exchange between these units connected to the internal bus 14 is performed mainly via the internal bus 14.

  The power supply control unit 13 shifts the device to the energy saving state according to the signal SC1 applied from the system control unit 1, and shifts the device from the energy saving state to the normal power supply state according to the signal SC2 applied from the operation display unit 5. This is for power control.

  Normally, the system control unit 1 outputs a signal SC1 to the power supply control unit 13 when the standby state continues for a certain time or when the operation display unit 5 is instructed to shift to the energy saving state by a user operation. Command to shift to energy saving state.

  Thereby, the power supply control part 13 interrupts | blocks power supplies other than power supply PA1. Accordingly, in the energy saving state, only the operation display unit 5 operates.

  Further, in the energy saving state, when the energy saving cancel key (not shown) of the operation display unit 5 is operated and the signal SC2 is applied from the operation display unit 5, the energy saving state is canceled and the normal power state is restored. Therefore, the power sources PA1, PA2, PA3, and PA4 are supplied to the corresponding elements.

  In addition, the printer apparatus stores consumables management information as shown in FIG. 2A and apparatus status information as shown in FIG. The consumable item management information stores the degree of consumption of the photoconductor detected by the consumable item sensor and the remaining amount of toner.

  Here, as the degree of wear of the photoconductor, for example, the number of rotations of the photoconductor is converted to printing on A4 standard paper, and it is determined as “replacement” at 45000 times and “replacement” at 50000 times. .

  Further, since the toner remaining amount detection value is detected in increments of 5% from 0 to 100%, it is determined that “replacement (near end)” is 15%, and “replacement (end)” is 0%. Determined.

  The apparatus state information is for storing the state of the display panel of the operation display unit 5 and the operation state (including the power supply state) of the printer engine 7.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5C, display authority information storing authority of each user type with respect to the display of the type of consumables and the degree of wear is also stored.

  Since these consumables management information, apparatus state information, and display authority information are stored in the parameter memory 3, they are retained even in the energy saving state.

  With the above configuration, when the printer device is in an energy saving state or the like, the operation display unit 5 is operated when power is not supplied to some parts including the sensor group 8 that detects the remaining amount of consumables. When a display request for consumables management information is made, the printer apparatus performs processing as shown in FIG.

  That is, when a consumables management information request is received (process 101), the power supply PA3 is supplied to the consumables remaining amount detection sensor (sensor group 8) (process 102), and the remaining amount of consumables is detected (process 103).

  Next, the consumables management information is displayed according to the authority of the operating user (process 104). When the display is completed, the supply of the power supply PA3 to the consumables remaining amount detection sensor is stopped (process 105).

  FIG. 4 shows an example of the consumable management information display process (process 104).

  When a consumable management information request is received (process 201), consumable management information is acquired (process 202), and display authority information corresponding to the requesting user at that time is acquired (process 203).

  It is checked whether or not “displayable” is stored for the toner in the acquired display authority information (determination 204). When the result of determination 204 is YES, the remaining toner information is acquired with reference to the consumable management information. Then (process 205), the character string information and layout information stored in advance are referred to (process 206, 207), and toner remaining amount display data is created (process 208). Further, when the result of determination 204 is NO, the processes 205 to 208 are not executed.

  Next, it is checked whether or not “display possible” is stored for the photoconductor in the acquired display authority information (determination 209). When the result of determination 209 is YES, the photoconductor information is referred to by referring to the consumable management information. Is obtained (process 210), the character string information and layout information stored in advance are referred to (process 211, 212), and photoconductor lifetime display data is created (process 213). Further, when the result of determination 209 is NO, processes 210 to 213 are not executed.

  Thus, when the display data according to the user authority is created, the created display data is displayed on the screen of the operation display unit 5 (process 214).

  In this way, in this case, when a display request for consumables management information is made in an energy-saving state, the parts inside the device that are only required to acquire and display the consumables management information are activated for the minimum necessary time. By making the state, the energy consumption efficiency can be increased.

  FIG. 5 shows another example of processing executed by the printer device when a display request for consumable management information is made.

  That is, when a consumables management information request is received (process 301), the power supply PA3 is supplied to the consumables remaining amount detection sensor (sensor group 8) (process 302), and the remaining amount of consumables is detected (process 303).

  Here, it is checked whether or not the information has been updated (determination 304). When the result of determination 304 is YES, the contents of the consumable management information are updated (processing 305). Further, when the result of determination 304 is NO, processing 305 is not executed.

  Next, the consumables management information is displayed according to the authority of the operating user (process 306; see FIG. 4). When the display ends, the supply of the power supply PA3 to the consumables remaining amount detection sensor is stopped (process 307).

  In this way, in this case, since the consumables management information is updated with the latest detection value of the consumables remaining amount detection sensor, the information is displayed at all times. be able to.

  FIG. 6 shows an example of processing of the printer apparatus when a print request is received after a consumables management information display request is made.

  That is, when a consumables management information request is received (process 401), the power supply PA3 is supplied to the consumables remaining amount detection sensor (sensor group 8) (process 402), and the remaining amount of consumables is detected (process 403).

  Here, it is checked whether or not the information has been updated (determination 404). When the result of determination 404 is YES, the contents of the consumables management information are updated (process 405). Further, when the result of determination 404 is NO, processing 405 is not executed. Next, consumables management information is displayed according to the authority of the operating user (process 406; see FIG. 4).

  When a print job is received (process 407), the power saving state is restored to the normal power supply state, and the received print job is printed (process 408).

  When the printing operation is completed, the remaining amount of consumables is detected again (process 409), and it is checked whether or not the information has been updated (decision 410). Update (processing 411). Further, when the result of determination 410 is NO, processing 411 is not executed.

  Next, the consumables management information is displayed according to the authority of the operating user (process 412; see FIG. 4). When the display is completed, the supply of the power supply PA3 to the consumables remaining amount detection sensor is stopped (process 413).

  Thus, in this case, when a print request is received after a display request for consumables management information is made in an energy saving state, the print operation is performed without stopping the power supply to the sensor group 8 even after the display is completed. Therefore, a smooth printing operation is possible.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of processing of the printer apparatus when a storage request is received from another terminal via a network after a consumables management information display request is made. This printer device stores received image data in an appropriate storage area when there is a storage request from another terminal via the network.

  That is, when a consumables management information request is received (process 501), the power supply PA3 is supplied to the consumables remaining amount detection sensor (sensor group 8) (process 502), and the consumables remaining amount is detected (process 503).

  Here, it is checked whether or not the information has been updated (determination 504). When the result of determination 504 is YES, the contents of the consumables management information are updated (processing 505). When the result of determination 504 is NO, processing 505 is not executed. Next, consumables management information is displayed according to the authority of the operating user (process 506; see FIG. 4).

  When a stored job is received (process 507), the energy-saving state is restored to the normal power supply state, and the received stored job is stored (process 508). When the accumulation operation is finished, the supply of the power supply PA3 to the consumables remaining amount detection sensor is stopped (process 509).

  FIG. 8 shows another example of processing executed by the printer device when a consumable management information display request is made.

  That is, when a consumables management information request is received (process 601), it is checked whether power is supplied to the consumables remaining amount detection sensor (sensor group 8) (decision 602). When the result of determination 602 is YES, the remaining amount of consumables is detected (process 603).

  Here, it is checked whether or not the information has been updated (determination 604). When the result of determination 604 is YES, the contents of the consumables management information are updated (process 605). If the result of determination 604 is NO, processing 605 is not executed.

  Next, consumables management information is displayed according to the authority of the operating user (process 606; see FIG. 4). If the result of determination 602 is NO, the process proceeds to process 606, and a display operation is performed with reference to the consumable management information held at that time.

  FIG. 9 shows still another example of processing executed by the printer device when a display request for consumable management information is made.

  That is, when a consumables management information request is received (process 701), it is checked whether or not the latest information can be acquired with reference to the display authority information (decision 702). When the result of determination 702 is YES, the remaining amount of consumables is detected (processing 703).

  Here, it is checked whether or not the information has been updated (determination 704). When the result of determination 704 is YES, the contents of the consumables management information are updated (processing 705). Further, when the result of determination 704 is NO, processing 705 is not executed.

Next, consumables management information is displayed according to the authority of the operating user (process 706; see FIG. 4). If the result of step 702 is NO, the process proceeds to the process 7 06, performed with reference to the display operation consumables management information stored at that time.

  In the embodiment described above, the power supply unit supplies power to the sensor group. However, the printer engine can have a function of supplying power to the sensor group. In this case, when a display request for consumable management information is made in an energy saving state, it is preferable to supply power to the printer engine and to turn on / off the power supply to the sensor group.

  Further, the present invention can be similarly applied to a printer device having a color printing function.

1 is a block diagram showing an example of a printer apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Schematic which showed an example of consumables management information, apparatus status information, and display authority information. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing executed by the printer device when a display request for consumables management information is made. The flowchart which showed an example of the consumables management information display process. 10 is a flowchart illustrating another example of processing executed by the printer device when a display request for consumables management information is made. 10 is a flowchart illustrating still another example of processing executed by the printer device when a display request for consumables management information is made. 10 is a flowchart showing still another example of processing executed by the printer device when a display request for consumables management information is made. 10 is a flowchart illustrating another example of processing executed by the printer device when a display request for consumables management information is made. 10 is a flowchart illustrating yet another example of processing executed by the printer device when a display request for consumables management information is made.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 System control part 2 System memory 3 Parameter memory 5 Operation display part 7 Printer engine 8 Sensor group 12 Power supply unit 13 Power supply control part

Claims (1)

In an image forming apparatus provided with a consumable sensor and an energy saving function for detecting the degree of consumption of one or more consumables used in a printing process,
Storage means for storing display authority information indicating whether or not the consumables display authority of the administrator and the user group is displayed for each type of the consumables ,
When the user requests the display of the consumption level of the consumables during the energy saving operation, the administrator or the user who has the display authority for the consumables with which the requesting user refers to the display authority information. If it is determined that the user is a group user, the consumable sensor for energizing the consumable supplies is energized, and the consumption level of the consumables detected by the consumable sensor is displayed on the display means. If it is determined that the user who has performed is an administrator or a user group who does not have display authority for the certain consumable item, the consumable sensor for detecting the consumption level of the consumable item is not energized. an image forming apparatus characterized by not perform display of consumption degree of the consumable.

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