JP5887743B2 - Printer device and maintenance system thereof - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer apparatus that performs printing on a recording medium using a recording agent such as an ink ribbon, toner, and ink, and a maintenance system thereof.

  In general, in a printer device that prints and records on a recording medium such as paper using an ink ribbon, toner, ink, etc. as a recording agent, the recording agent decreases with printing, or the ink on the ribbon becomes thin, Since print fading and printing defects occur, the print density after printing is periodically detected, and if the print density falls below the predetermined print density, an alarm is output and a guidance for prompting replacement of the recording agent is displayed to notify the operator. It has become.

  For example, a print character is detected by an optical sensor, the detection result is binarized at two slice levels, a print density such as a hyphen for date printing in the last print line is detected, and the slice level below the high print density side. However, there is a technique for outputting an alarm signal when the slice level is equal to or higher than the lower slice level and prompting replacement of the ink ribbon (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  Alternatively, when the printing density of the mark printed by the previous printing is detected and it is determined that the printing density is equal to or lower than the reference density, printing is performed for a predetermined number of prints. There is also a technique for prompting replacement of the ink ribbon (for example, see Patent Document 2).

Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 54-036014 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 05-020478

  However, the print density is generally influenced by the state of the print medium such as thickness, crease, wrinkle, and bulge, the type of characters to be printed, the printing position, the temperature and humidity environment, and the state of the ribbon such as scratches and dryness. It is easy to be received and variation occurs. In the technique of Patent Document 1, determination is performed by one density determination. Therefore, when an alarm occurs due to the variation even once even when the print density is lower than a predetermined print density, it is still usable. Nevertheless, there was a problem of exchanging.

  Similarly, the technique of Patent Document 2 also causes a determination error due to the above-described variation, and outputs an alarm for prompting replacement after printing a predetermined number of printed characters from the determination, so that the variation due to the printed characters is added to the above-described variation. There was a problem that an error occurred in the replacement time.

The present invention adopts the following configuration in order to solve the above-described problems. That is, a printer device for recording transaction data on a recording medium using a recording agent, the recording amount counting means for counting the recorded amount of the recording, and the optical for reading the recorded character or mark on the recording medium Reading unit, recording density determining means for determining whether or not the recording density is normal based on data read by the optical reading unit every time each transaction data is printed, and the number of times the recording density is determined And a normal determination number counting unit that counts the number of times the recording density determination unit determines that the recording density is normal. The determination is performed for each predetermined count value of the recording amount counting unit. The ratio of the value of the number of normal judgments counted by the number of times of normal judgment counted by the means for counting the number of normal judgments to the value of the number of times of judgment counted by the number of times counting means Calculated as a normal determination rate for each predetermined count value of the stage, normal determination rate out calculation was made to determine the service life of the recording agent when it becomes less than a predetermined reference value.

Alternatively, a normal determination rate storage unit that calculates and stores a normal determination rate as a normal determination rate for each predetermined count amount of the recording amount counting unit and calculates the normal determination rate. A determination date storage means for storing a determination date, and based on the stored normal determination rate and determination date, a change in the normal determination rate with respect to the determination date is linearly approximated, and the approximated normal determination rate is a predetermined reference value The following time was predicted as the life of the recording agent.

  Alternatively, in another invention, a maintenance system including the printer device and a maintenance terminal for maintaining the printer device, wherein the maintenance terminal includes a recording amount counting unit, a determination number counting unit, and a normal determination number of the printer device. A recording density data storage unit capable of acquiring and storing a count value of the counting unit, and at the maintenance terminal, the normal determination number of times with respect to the value of the determination number counting unit for each predetermined count amount of the recording amount counting unit; The ratio of the values is calculated as a normal determination rate, and when the calculated normal determination rate is equal to or less than a predetermined reference value, it is determined that the life of the recording agent.

  Alternatively, the maintenance terminal includes a recording density data storage unit capable of storing the normal determination rate and the determination date, and the maintenance terminal determines a normal determination rate for the determination date based on the normal determination rate and the determination date. A linear approximation is performed on the change in the recording medium, and the time when the approximated normal judgment rate becomes a predetermined reference value or less is predicted as the life of the recording agent.

Alternatively, the printer device is a printer device of an automatic transaction device that records a transaction content by performing a predetermined transaction, and the maintenance terminal has the normal determination rate when an alarm for the life of the recording agent is generated. A pre-alarm generation determination rate storage means for storing a pre-alarm generation determination rate that is the normal determination rate set in advance according to the transaction volume with the recording before a predetermined period from the time point, and the stored pre-alarm generation determination An advance alarm corresponding to the transaction volume is generated based on the rate.

  According to the printer device and the printer device maintenance system of the present invention, since it is configured as described above, it is possible to accurately determine the replacement timing of the recording agent without being affected by variations in recording density due to printing or printing. Can do.

1 is a configuration diagram of a printer apparatus according to a first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a printer device control unit of the printer device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a printing operation of the printer device according to the first exemplary embodiment. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a print density determination operation of the printer device according to the first exemplary embodiment. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an ink ribbon life determination operation of the printer device according to the first exemplary embodiment. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an ink ribbon life determination operation of the printer device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of a print density determination result storage unit of the printer apparatus according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of an ink ribbon life prediction operation of the printer device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a print density determination operation of the printer device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a flowchart of ink ribbon life determination and storage operation of the printer apparatus according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an ink ribbon life prediction operation of the printer device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of a printer apparatus maintenance system according to a third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of a printer apparatus maintenance system according to a fourth embodiment. FIG. 10 is an operation explanatory diagram of a printer apparatus maintenance system according to a fourth embodiment. FIG. 10 is an ink ribbon life determination operation flowchart of the printer apparatus maintenance system of Embodiment 4.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Elements common to the drawings are given the same reference numerals.

  In the following description, a bankbook printer installed in an automatic transaction apparatus that is installed in a financial institution or the like and performs transactions such as deposits and withdrawals by operations of customers and the like will be described as an example, and an ink ribbon is used as a recording agent. Although described as an example of printing, other general printer devices or dedicated printers may be used, and printing may be performed using toner or ink.

(Constitution)
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of the printer apparatus according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the printer apparatus control unit 8 according to the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printer apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment includes a medium intake / exhaust port 2 that sucks / discharges a medium 20 such as a passbook, a conveyance path 3 that guides conveyance of the medium 20, and a medium 20. A magnetic R / W unit 5 that reads and writes magnetic information of a magnetic stripe (not shown), an optical reading unit 6 that optically reads characters and marks printed on the medium 20, and an impact dot using an ink ribbon The printing unit 7 that prints on the medium 20 by the head, the medium transport mechanism unit 4 that transports the medium 20, and the operation of the above-described units and the communication with the host control unit 9 that performs operation instruction and monitoring are described later. Part 8 is provided.

  Next, the configuration of the printer apparatus control unit 8 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in the figure, the printer apparatus control unit 8 determines whether the print density is normal or thin from data obtained by optically reading the prints or marks on the medium 20 by the optical reading unit 6. A print density determination unit 10 as a determination unit, a print density determination result storage unit 11 that stores the print density determination result, a print amount storage unit 16 that stores the number of print characters, a print density normal determination rate RD0, and a lifetime The main control unit 12 that performs the determination control is provided.

  The printing amount storage unit 16 includes a printing character number counter 13 as a recording amount counting unit that stores the number of printed characters. The printing density determination result storage unit 11 performs the printing counted by the printing character number counter 13. The determination number counter 14 as a determination number counting means for storing the number of times of determination of the print density, and the print density normal as the normal determination number counting means for storing the number of times determined as the normal print density in the print density determination number counter 14 A determination number counter 15 is provided.

(Operation)
With the above configuration, the printer apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment operates as follows. This operation will be described in detail below with reference to the printing operation flowchart of FIG. 3, the printing density determination operation flowchart of FIG. 4, the ink ribbon life determination operation flowchart of FIG. 5, and the ink ribbon life determination operation illustration of FIG. To do.

  First, the printing operation will be described with reference to the printing operation flowchart of FIG. First, when the medium 20 is inserted from the medium intake / exhaust port 2 of the printer apparatus 1 by the operation of the customer, the medium 20 is guided and transported to the transport path 3 by the medium transport mechanism section 4, and the magnetic R / W section 5. Then, it passes through the optical reading unit 6 and is conveyed to the printing unit 7, where transaction data and the like are printed (step S01).

  At this time, the main control unit 12 calculates the number of characters to be printed by the printing operation (step S02), and increases the count value of the print character number counter 13 in the print amount storage unit 16 by the calculated number of print characters (step S03).

  Then, the medium 20 printed as described above is conveyed to the optical reading unit 6 to determine the print density. This print density determination operation will be described below with reference to FIG.

  First, the print density determination unit 10 of the printer apparatus control unit 8 determines whether the print density is a normal level or a thin level using the image data read by the optical reading unit 6, and the main control unit 12 The determination result is read (step S11). Whether the print density is normal level or light level is determined at a predetermined interval for each transaction data print or each page print, and the transaction printed at the last line of each transaction data or at the end of each page. The print density of date hyphens and marks may be determined by a predetermined threshold, that is, the print thinness determination level PD1 as shown in FIG.

  Then, the main control unit 12 adds +1 to the counter value of the print density determination number counter 14 in the print density determination result storage unit 11 (step S12), and then determines whether or not the print density determination result is normal. If it is determined that the level is normal, +1 is added to the counter value of the print density normal determination number counter 15 in the print density determination result storage unit 11 (step S14). If the print density determination result is not a normal level, the process proceeds to the next step S15 without changing the counter value of the print density normal determination number counter 15.

  Next, the main control unit 12 compares the value of the print character number counter 13 of the print amount storage unit 16 with a predetermined print character number Nα set in advance (step S15). A life determination process is performed (step S16). The specified print character number Nα is the number of print characters for which the print density determination by the print density determination unit 10 is performed several times to several tens of times, and is about 1000 characters as the number of print characters that can detect the change in the print density of the ink ribbon. do it.

  On the other hand, if the value of the print character counter 13 is smaller than the specified print character number Nα in step S15, it is not necessary to determine the life of the ink ribbon yet, and the ink ribbon life determination process in step S16 and the counter clear in step S17 are performed. This process ends without performing the process.

  Then, after completing the ink ribbon life determination process in step S16, which will be described later, the counters of the print character number counter 13, the print density determination number counter 14 and the print density normal determination number counter 15 are cleared (step S17). The process ends.

  Next, the ink ribbon life determination process in step S16 will be described with reference to the operation flowchart of FIG. 5 and the ink ribbon life determination operation explanatory diagram of FIG.

  First, an outline of the ink ribbon life determination operation will be described using the ink ribbon life determination operation explanatory diagram of FIG.

  The upper graph in FIG. 6 is a graph showing the transition of the print density with respect to the number of print characters. The print density PD gradually decreases as the number of print characters increases from the density of the initial value PD0, and the print determined to have a low print density. It becomes the low density determination level PD1, and further changes to the no print density determination level PDX where it is determined that there is no printing.

  Then, from the density of the initial value PD0, the print density light determination level PD1 is set as a normal print density determination range, and from the print density light determination level PD1 is set as the print density low determination level PDX, from the print density no determination level PDX. The print density is determined using the low level as the no-print density determination range.

  On the other hand, in the lower graph, the horizontal axis indicates the number of print characters, and the print density determination result for each unit within the specified print character number Nα is shown as the print density determination rate RD. The print density is determined to be normal. The determination rate RD0 changes as indicated by a solid line, and gradually decreases from 100% as the print density PD falls below the print density thin determination level PD1, which is a level at which the print density is determined to be low, and the ink ribbon alarm specified value RDα After that, it decreases to 0%.

  On the other hand, the print density thin determination rate RD1 at which it is determined that the print density is low gradually increases from 0% as shown by the broken line. Note that, after the print density absence determination level PDX, the print density light determination rate RD1 and the print density absence determination rate RDX transition so as to be contradictory.

  Next, the ink ribbon life determination process in step 16 will be described in detail below with reference to FIG. 5 and FIG.

  First, the print density normality determination rate RD0, in which the print density determination result is determined to be normal within the specified number of print characters Nα, is set as the value of the print density normality determination number counter 15 / the value of the print density determination number counter 14 × 100. Calculate (step S21).

  The calculated print density normality determination rate RD0 is compared with the ink ribbon life alarm specified value RDα (step S22). If the print density normal determination rate RD0 is less than the ink ribbon life alarm specified value RDα, it is determined that the ink ribbon life is determined. Then, an ink ribbon life alarm or the like is notified to the host control device 9 (step S23), and the host control device 9 that has received this notifies the operator of the life of the ink ribbon by displaying it.

  Note that the ink ribbon life alarm specified value RDα is set to about 40%, for example, in consideration of a period for preparing a replacement ink ribbon that becomes a margin up to the no-printing density determination level PDX in FIG. Good.

  As described above, the life of the ink ribbon is determined based on the print density normality determination rate RD0 for each predetermined number of print characters, instead of determining the life of the ink ribbon based on a single print density determination result. Therefore, it is accurate without being affected by the state of the printing medium such as thickness, crease, wrinkle, bulge, etc., the type of characters to be printed, the printing position, the temperature and humidity environment, the scratches on the ink ribbon, and the conditions such as dryness. It is possible to notify the operator by detecting the replacement time of the ink ribbon.

(Effect of Example 1)
As described above, according to the printer device of the first embodiment, since the life of the ink ribbon is determined based on the normal print density determination rate for each predetermined number of print characters, it is affected by variations in print density. In this case, it is possible to determine the replacement timing of the ink ribbon.

(Constitution)
Since the configuration of the printer apparatus according to the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, detailed description thereof is omitted for the sake of brevity.

  The configuration of the printer device control unit 8 of the printer device 1 of the second embodiment is a configuration in which the print density determination result storage unit 11 of the printer device control unit 8 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. It has become.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 7, the print density determination result storage unit 21 of the printer apparatus control unit 8 according to the second embodiment includes the specified print character number Nα in addition to the print density determination number counter 14 and the print density normal determination number counter 15. A normal determination rate storage unit 17 and a determination date storage unit 18 for storing the result of the print density normal determination rate RD0 calculated for each unit, together with the determination date, for the latest several times (for example, five times) are provided. The ink ribbon life arrival date can be predicted based on the normal density determination rate RD0 and the determination date.

(Operation)
With the above configuration, the printer apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment operates as follows. This operation is described using the ink ribbon life prediction operation explanatory diagram of FIG. 8, the print density determination operation flowchart of FIG. 9, the ink ribbon life determination and storage operation flowchart of FIG. 10, and the ink ribbon life prediction operation flowchart of FIG. This will be described below. Since the printing operation is the same as that of the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. 3, detailed description thereof is omitted for the sake of brevity.

  First, an outline of ink ribbon life prediction of the printer apparatus according to the second embodiment will be described using the ink ribbon life prediction operation explanatory diagram of FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram in which the print density normal determination rate RD0 is plotted within the specified number of print characters Nα described in the first embodiment, with the determination date as the horizontal axis.

  As shown in the figure, when the print density PD starts to decrease, the print density normal determination rate RD0 begins to gradually decrease as the number of print characters increases. In a short period, the decrease in the print density normal determination rate RD0 can be linearly approximated as shown by a one-dot chain line in the figure.

  As shown in FIG. 7, this linear approximation is performed every Nth unit of the specified print character number Nα from the latest determination date Tn stored in the print density determination result storage unit 21 to N times before, in this example, N = 4 times before. Using the print density normal determination rate RD0 and the determination date stored in the determination date storage unit 18, for example, linear approximation is performed by the least square method or the like.

  Then, using the approximated linear equation, the number of days when the print density normality determination rate RD0 decreases to the ink ribbon life alarm specified value RDα is predicted as the expected life reaching number Tx.

  Hereinafter, as shown in FIG. 7, the print density normality determination until the latest determination date Tn stored in the print density determination result storage unit 21, that is, April 21 as the reference date four times before May 31. A specific example will be described below in which a linear approximation is performed using the rate RD0 and the expected life reaching number Tx is predicted.

  First, as shown in FIG. 7B, the number of days elapsed from the reference determination date D0 (April 21) is calculated, a correspondence table with the print density normality determination rate RD0 is created, and based on the correspondence table. Then, the following A to D are calculated, and the following E is set to “5” because it is the number of data, in this example, 5 times. Note that the number of data is not limited to 5 times, but may be 4 times or less, and conversely, the data may be linearly approximated by 6 times or more. In the case of data of 5 times in this example, it is obtained as follows.

A = sum of the printing density normality determination rate RD0 of the latest five times = 399
B: Sum of the last 5 days = 100
C = sum of squares of the last 5 days = 3000
D = number of days in the last 5 times × print density normality determination rate RD0 = 7470
E: Number of data = 5

When the linear approximation formula is y = ax + b, the calculation is performed as follows.
Inclination a = (E × D−A × B) / (E × C−B × B) = − 0.51
Intercept b = (C × A−D × B) / (E × C−B × B) = 90

  In other words, the linear approximation formula is obtained as y = −0.51x + 90, and the print density normal determination rate RD0 is 90% at x = 0 corresponding to the reference date D0 four times before the last, and the slope is about 1 / It is approximated by two straight lines.

  Next, the ink ribbon life arrival prediction date Dx at which the print density normality determination rate RD0 becomes the ink ribbon life alarm specified value RDα is calculated as follows.

  That is, assuming that the ink ribbon life alarm specified value RDα is 40%, the estimated number of days Tx of reaching the ink ribbon life is obtained by Tx = (40% −b) / a. In this example, Tx = (40% −90%). /−0.51=98 days, and it is predicted that the normal print density determination rate RD0 is 90% on the reference determination date D0, which is four times before, and 40% after Tx = 98 days. The expected ribbon life arrival date Dx is obtained by D0 + Tx.

  In this example, the most recent reference date D0 four times before is April 21, and the expected number of days Tx of reaching the ink ribbon life is 98 days. Therefore, July 28, which is 98 days after April 21, is the ink date. It is predicted that the ribbon life expectation date Dx will be reached.

  Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the print density determination operation flowchart of FIG. 9, the ink ribbon life determination and storage operation flowchart of FIG. 10, and the ink ribbon life prediction operation flowchart of FIG. Since steps S11 to S15 and S17 of the print density determination operation in FIG. 9 are the same as the density determination operation of the first embodiment, the description thereof will be simplified.

  First, the print density determination unit 10 of the printer apparatus control unit 8 determines whether the print density is a normal level or a thin level using the image data read by the optical reading unit 6, and the main control unit 12 The determination result is read, +1 is added to the counter value of the print density determination number counter 14 in the print density determination result storage unit 21, and then it is determined whether or not the print density determination result is normal. In this case, +1 is added to the counter value of the print density normality determination number counter 15 in the print density determination result storage unit 21, and the value of the print character number counter 13 in the print amount storage unit 16 is compared with a preset predetermined print character number Nα ( Steps S11 to S15).

  If the number of print characters Nα is equal to or greater than the specified value, the ink ribbon life determination storage process shown in FIG. 10 described later is performed (step S36), and then the print character number counter 13, the print density determination number counter 14, and the print density normal determination number counter 15 are displayed. Are cleared (step S17), and the print density determination process is terminated.

  Next, the ink ribbon life determination storage process in step S36 will be described with reference to FIG. Using the values of the print density determination number counter 14 and the print density normal determination number counter 15 counted in steps S11 to S14 for each predetermined print character number Nα, the print density normal determination rate RD0 for each predetermined print character number Nα unit. As shown in FIG. 7, the print density normal determination rate RD0 calculated in the “most recent” recording order position of the normal determination rate storage unit 17 as shown in FIG. 7 is stored (step S31), and the same recording order position of the determination date storage unit 18 is stored. The determination date is stored (step S32).

  At this time, the data before the latest is shifted one by one, and the oldest data is deleted. As a result, the latest N print density normality determination rates RD0 and determination dates are stored.

  When the print density determination process of FIG. 9 and the ink ribbon life determination storage process of FIG. 10 are finished, the main control unit 12 of the second embodiment performs the ink ribbon life prediction process shown in FIG.

  That is, as described with reference to FIG. 8 described above, the determination date is determined using the latest N determination dates and the print density normal determination rate RD0 stored in the normal determination rate storage unit 17 and the determination date storage unit 18. A decrease in the print density normal determination rate RD0 with respect to is linearly approximated by the least square method, and the expected life reaching number Tx that is less than or equal to the ink ribbon life alarm specified value RDα is calculated (step S41).

  Then, the upper control unit 9 is notified of the expected life date Dx of the ink ribbon obtained by adding the reference date D0 to the calculated expected life date Tx of the ink ribbon (step S42).

  Receiving this, the host controller 9 displays the expected life date Dx on the display unit or the like of the host controller 9 to inform the operator. As a result, the operator can know the expected life date Dx of the ink ribbon in advance, and can reliably arrange the ink ribbon to be replaced.

(Effect of Example 2)
As described above, according to the second embodiment, a determination date storage unit and a normal determination rate storage unit that store the print density normal determination rate and the determination date for each predetermined print character number for the most recent predetermined number of times are provided, Using the print density normal judgment rate and judgment date for the number of times, the decrease in the print density normal judgment rate can be linearly approximated to predict the expected life reaching date when the print density normal judgment rate will decrease to the specified ink ribbon life alarm specified value. As a result, it is possible to accurately know the expected date of reaching the life of the ink ribbon in advance, and it is possible to reliably arrange the ink ribbon to be replaced.

(Constitution)
FIG. 12 is a configuration diagram of the maintenance system of the printer device 1 according to the third embodiment, and is a configuration diagram when the printer device 1 is provided as a passbook slip printer in the automatic transaction device 100 that performs transactions such as deposits and withdrawals.

  In other words, the maintenance system for the printer apparatus 1 according to the third embodiment is such that the automatic transaction apparatus 100 including the printer apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment and the host control apparatus 9 illustrated in FIG. It is configured to be connected to a remote maintenance terminal 30 that performs state monitoring.

  In addition, although the example which connected the one automatic transaction apparatus 1 to the remote maintenance terminal 30 was shown in this figure, the structure which connected the several automatic transaction apparatus 1 may be sufficient. Further, the example in which the printer apparatus 1 is connected to the remote maintenance terminal 30 via the host controller 9 of the automatic transaction apparatus 100 has been shown, but the printer apparatus 1 is directly connected to the remote maintenance terminal 30. Also good.

  The printer control unit 8 of the printer apparatus 1 includes a print character number counter 13 in the print amount storage unit 16 as in the configuration of the printer control unit 8 shown in FIG. The storage unit 11 includes a print density determination number counter 14 and a print density normal determination number counter 15.

  On the other hand, the remote maintenance terminal 30 is provided with a print density data storage unit 31 that acquires and stores print density data, which will be described later, from the printer device 1 via the communication means 40, and the counter value of the character counter 13 is set as the print character counter value. 33, the counter value of the print density determination number counter 14 can be stored in the print density determination number counter value 34, and the counter value of the print density normal determination number counter 15 can be stored in the print density normal determination number counter value 35. In the case of a maintenance system in which a plurality of automatic transaction apparatuses 1 are provided, the print character count counter value 33, the print density determination count counter value 34, and the print density normal determination count provided in the print density data storage unit 31 of the remote maintenance terminal 30 are used. The counter value 35 may be provided for the number of automatic transaction apparatuses 1.

(Operation)
With the above configuration, the maintenance system of the printer apparatus 1 according to the third embodiment operates as follows. The printing operation of the printer apparatus 1 is the same as the operation of FIG. 3 described in the first embodiment, and the printing density determination operation performed in the printer apparatus 1 is also described in the first embodiment except for steps S15 and S16. The operation is the same as that of FIG.

  First, in the printer apparatus 1 in the maintenance system for the printer apparatus 1 according to the third embodiment, the remote maintenance terminal 30 is counted by the communication unit 40 via the host controller 9 in steps S11 to S14 in FIG. The counter values of the print character counter 13, the print density determination count counter 14 and the print density normal determination count counter 15 are acquired every predetermined time, and the print character count counter value 33 of the print density data storage unit 31 is printed. The density determination number counter value 34 and the print density normality determination number counter value 35 are stored respectively.

  Then, as a process corresponding to step S15 in FIG. 4, it is determined by the control program of the remote maintenance terminal 30 whether or not the print character number counter value 33 stored in the print density data storage unit 31 is equal to or greater than the specified print character number Nα. When the specified number of print characters Nα or more, the ink ribbon life is determined. It is determined whether or not the number of print characters has exceeded the specified number of print characters Nα by the printer device 1, and when the number of print characters to be specified exceeds the number Nα, the communication means 40 notifies the remote maintenance terminal 30 accordingly. It may be.

  As the process corresponding to step S16 in FIG. 4, the ink ribbon life determination operation performed by the control program of the remote maintenance terminal 30 is the same as the ink ribbon life determination operation of the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. However, the counter value used for this determination is not the counter value of each counter in the printer 1 but uses each counter value stored in the print density data storage unit 31 of the remote maintenance terminal 30.

  That is, the normal print density determination rate RD0, in which the print density determination result is determined to be normal within the specified number of print characters Nα, is calculated by dividing the normal print density determination count counter value 35 by the print density determination count counter value 34. Compared with the ink ribbon life alarm specified value RDα, if it is less than the ink ribbon life alarm specified value RDα, it is determined that the ink ribbon life is reached, and the operator is notified by a display on the display section of the remote maintenance terminal 30 or a buzzer. (Steps S21 to S23).

  At this time, the ink ribbon life alarm is also notified to the host controller 9 of the automatic transaction apparatus 1 so that the automatic transaction apparatus 100 also displays the ink ribbon life alarm to the operator.

  In the above description of the third embodiment, the example in which the printer device 1 is the printer device of the first embodiment has been described. However, the printer device 1 is the printer device of the second embodiment, and the remote maintenance terminal 30 performs FIG. The normal determination rate and the determination date stored in the normal determination rate storage unit 17 and the determination date storage unit 18 of the print density determination result storage unit 21 of the printer apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 11 may be performed using the normal determination rate and determination date stored in the unit 31 and acquired and stored by the control program of the remote maintenance terminal 30.

  Alternatively, the remote maintenance terminal 30 acquires the counter values of the print density determination number counter 14 and the print density normal determination number counter 15 of the printer apparatus 1, calculates the normal determination rate, and stores the calculation result and the determination date. Then, the ink ribbon life prediction process may be performed.

(Effect of Example 3)
As described above, according to the printer apparatus maintenance system of the third embodiment, at the remote maintenance terminal, the counter values of the printer character number counter, the print density determination number counter, and the print density normal determination number counter are set at predetermined intervals. Since the ink ribbon life determination can be performed based on each acquired and stored counter value, the determination threshold value such as the ink ribbon life alarm specified value can be obtained without changing the firmware on the printer device side. Can be easily changed on the remote maintenance terminal side.

(Constitution)
FIG. 13 is a configuration diagram illustrating a configuration of the maintenance system of the printer device 1 according to the fourth embodiment. In the maintenance system for the printer apparatus 1 according to the fourth embodiment, the prior alarm occurrence determination rate 36 corresponding to the transaction amount for each apparatus can be stored in the print density data storage unit 41 of the remote maintenance terminal 30. In the case of a maintenance system in which a plurality of automatic transaction apparatuses 1 are provided, the print character number counter value 33 and the print density determination number counter value 34 provided in the print density data storage unit 31 of the remote maintenance terminal 30 as in the third embodiment. In addition, the print density normal determination number counter value 35 is provided for the number of automatic transaction apparatuses 1, and the prior alarm occurrence determination rate 36 is also provided for the number of the automatic transaction apparatus 1. Other configurations are the same as the configurations of the third embodiment, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted for the sake of brevity.

(Operation)
With the above configuration, the printer apparatus maintenance system according to the fourth embodiment operates as follows. This operation will be described in detail below with reference to the operation explanatory diagram of FIG. 14 and the operation flowchart of FIG.

  Similar to the printer apparatus maintenance system of the third embodiment, the printing operation of the printer apparatus 1 is the same as the operation of the printer apparatus of the first embodiment shown in FIG. Except for step S15 and step S16, the operation is the same as that of FIG. 4, and thus the detailed description of the same operation is omitted for the sake of brevity.

  First, using the operation explanatory diagram of FIG. 14, an ink ribbon life alarm is generated according to the transaction amount of each apparatus with printing for every predetermined period, which is the gist of the invention of the printer apparatus maintenance system of the fourth embodiment. An outline of the operation will be described. An example of the transaction involving printing is a passbook transaction, but it may be a transaction involving printing of transaction details or both. Then, the transaction amount may be obtained by determining the frequency of the transaction with printing from the past transaction history or the transition thereof, and using the frequency of the transaction or the transition thereof as the transaction amount of the automatic transaction apparatus.

  FIG. 14 is a plot of the results of the normal print density determination rate RD0 calculated for each of the prescribed print character number Nα units when the number of operating days is on the horizontal axis and the transaction amount is different. As shown in the figure, the normal determination rate RD0 of the print density gradually decreases as the number of operating days elapses, that is, the print amount increases, but the speed of the decrease is the transaction amount accompanying printing (every predetermined period. (Printing amount) varies slightly.

  For this reason, the ink ribbon life is set to the time when the print density normal determination rate RD0 becomes RD_0 or less and the ink ribbon life alarm is generated T days before the non-print density determination rate RD_0 or less. In this case, the prior alarm occurrence determination rate when the transaction amount is standard is RD_N. The pre-alarm occurrence determination rate when the transaction volume is larger than the standard is RD_E and needs to be larger than the standard RD_N value, and the pre-alarm occurrence determination rate when the transaction volume is smaller than the standard is RD_D and the standard The value needs to be smaller than the value of RD_N.

  That is, when the ink ribbon life alarm is generated in advance (before T days), it is necessary to set the prior alarm generation determination rate in accordance with the transaction amount accompanying printing, that is, for each apparatus.

  In the printer apparatus maintenance system of the fourth embodiment, a prior alarm generation determination rate corresponding to the transaction amount for each apparatus is set in advance in the prior alarm generation determination rate 36 of the print density data storage unit 41 in FIG.

  The operation flowchart of FIG. 15 shows an operation flowchart for generating an ink ribbon life alarm according to the transaction amount for each apparatus using the above-described prior alarm generation determination rate.

  First, the print density normality determination rate RD0 at which the print density determination result is determined to be normal within the specified print character number Nα unit is calculated as follows.

  That is, the print density normal determination number counter value 35 is divided by the print density determination number counter value 34 to calculate the print density normal determination rate RD0 (step S41). Then, the calculated print density normal determination rate RD0 is compared with a pre-alarm generation determination rate 36 set in advance according to the transaction amount for each apparatus (step S42).

  If the comparison result is less than the prior alarm generation determination rate 36 corresponding to the transaction amount for each apparatus, it is determined that the non-printing density determination rate RD_0 will be reached after T days, and an ink ribbon life alarm or the like is generated (step S43). ). On the other hand, if the comparison result is a prior alarm generation determination rate of 36 or more according to the transaction volume for each device, it is determined that the non-printing density determination rate RD_0 will not be reached after T days, and this processing is performed without generating an alarm. Exit.

  In the above description of the fourth embodiment, the prior alarm occurrence determination rate is set for each automatic transaction apparatus. However, the prior alarm occurrence determination rate is set for each period (season) in which the transaction amount increases or decreases. Alternatively, the prior alarm occurrence determination rate may be changed according to the timing for determining the density of the ink ribbon.

  In the above description of the printer apparatus maintenance system of the fourth embodiment, the example in which the prior alarm generation determination rate 36 is set in advance according to the transaction amount for each apparatus has been described. However, only the prior alarm generation determination rate with respect to the standard transaction amount is described. It may be set and the ratio of the transaction amount with respect to the standard transaction amount may be obtained, and the pre-alarm occurrence determination rate may be obtained by multiplying the ratio and the pre-alarm occurrence determination rate with respect to the standard transaction amount.

(Effect of Example 4)
As described above, according to the printer apparatus maintenance system of the fourth embodiment, the pre-alarm generation determination rate for each apparatus can be stored in the print density data storage unit of the remote maintenance terminal. In addition to the effects of the system, an ink ribbon life alarm can be generated in a timely manner according to the transaction volume of each device.

<< Other modifications >>
In the description of the printer device of the above embodiment, the life of the ink ribbon is determined based on the normal print density determination rate for each specified print character number Nα. However, the number of print lines or print pages is counted. You may make it determine the lifetime of an ink ribbon based on the printing density normal determination rate for every predetermined | prescribed printing line number or every printing page number.

  In the description of the printer device of the above embodiment, the ink ribbon life alarm specified value RDα for determining the specified print character number Nα and the print density normal determination rate has been described as a fixed value. These may be arbitrarily set.

  In the description of the printer apparatus of the above embodiment, it has been described that the life determination of the ink ribbon and the expected life date Dx of the ink ribbon are obtained based on the transition of the print density normal determination rate RD0. Based on the transition of RD1, the life of the ink ribbon may be determined or the expected life date Dx of the ink ribbon may be obtained.

  As described above, the present invention can be widely used in printer apparatuses that perform printing on a print medium using a recording agent such as an ink ribbon, toner, ink, and the maintenance system thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer apparatus 4 Medium conveyance mechanism part 6 Optical reading part 7 Printing part 8 Printer apparatus control part 9 High-order control apparatus 10 Print density determination part 11, 21 Print density determination result memory | storage part 12 Main control part 13 Print character number counter 14 Print density determination Number counter 15 Print density normal determination number counter 16 Print amount storage unit 17 Normal determination rate storage unit 18 Determination date storage unit 20 Medium 30 Remote maintenance terminal 31, 41 Print density data storage unit 33 Print character number counter value 34 Print density determination number counter Value 35 Print density normal judgment count counter value 36 Prior alarm occurrence judgment rate according to transaction volume 100 Automatic transaction device PD Print density RD0 Print density normal judgment rate RDα Ink ribbon life alarm prescribed value Nα Specified number of printed characters D0 Standard judgment date Tx Life Estimated number of days to reach Dx

Claims (8)

A printer device for recording transaction data on a recording medium using a recording agent,
A recording amount counting means for counting the recording amount after the recording;
An optical reading unit for reading characters or marks recorded on the recording medium;
Recording density determination means for determining whether or not the recording density is normal based on the data read by the optical reading unit each time each transaction data is printed,
A determination number counting means for counting the number of times the determination of the recording density is performed;
A normal determination number counting means for counting the number of times determined as the normal recording density by the recording density determination means,
The number of normal judgments counted by the normal judgment number counting means for each predetermined count value of the recording amount counting means with respect to the value of the judgment number counted by the judgment number counting means for each predetermined count value of the recording quantity counting means Is calculated as a normal determination rate for each predetermined count value of the recording amount counting means, and when the calculated normal determination rate is equal to or less than a predetermined reference value, it is determined that the life of the recording agent A printer apparatus characterized by the above. For each predetermined count amount of the recording amount counting means, a normal determination rate storage means for calculating and storing a ratio of the normal determination number to the determination count counting means as a normal determination rate, and a determination date for calculating the normal determination rate are stored. Determination date storage means,
Based on the stored normal judgment rate and judgment date, a change in the normal judgment rate with respect to the judgment date is linearly approximated, and the time when the approximated normal judgment rate becomes a predetermined reference value or less is predicted as the life of the recording agent. The printer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: An automatic transaction apparatus having a printer device that records transaction data on a recording medium using a recording agent,
A recording amount counting means for counting the recording amount after the recording;
An optical reading unit for reading characters or marks recorded on the recording medium;
Recording density determination means for determining whether or not the recording density is normal based on the data read by the optical reading unit each time each transaction data is printed,
A determination number counting means for counting the number of times the determination of the recording density is performed;
A normal determination number counting means for counting the number of times determined as the normal recording density by the recording density determination means,
The number of normal judgments counted by the normal judgment number counting means for each predetermined count value of the recording amount counting means with respect to the value of the judgment number counted by the judgment number counting means for each predetermined count value of the recording quantity counting means Is calculated as a normal determination rate for each predetermined count value of the recording amount counting means, and when the calculated normal determination rate is equal to or less than a predetermined reference value, it is determined that the life of the recording agent An automatic transaction apparatus characterized by that. A maintenance system comprising the printer device according to claim 1 and a maintenance terminal for maintaining the printer device,
The maintenance terminal includes a recording density data storage unit capable of acquiring and storing the count values of the recording amount counting unit, the determination number counting unit, and the normal determination number counting unit of the printer device,
At the maintenance terminal, a ratio of the value of the normal determination number to the value of the determination number counting unit is calculated as a normal determination rate for each predetermined count amount of the recording amount counting unit, and the calculated normal determination rate is a predetermined value. A maintenance system characterized in that a recording medium life is determined when the value falls below a reference value. A maintenance system comprising the printer device according to claim 2 and a maintenance terminal for maintaining the printer device,
The maintenance terminal comprises a recording density data storage means capable of storing the normal determination rate and the determination date,
At the maintenance terminal, based on the normal determination rate and the determination date, the change in the normal determination rate with respect to the determination date is linearly approximated, and the time when the approximate normal determination rate becomes a predetermined reference value or less is the life of the recording agent A maintenance system characterized by the prediction. The printer device is a printer device of an automatic transaction device that performs a predetermined transaction and records transaction contents,
The maintenance terminal generates a pre-alarm that is the normal determination rate set in advance according to the transaction volume with the recording before a predetermined period from the time when the normal determination rate when the alarm of recording agent life is generated The prior alarm generation determination rate storage means for storing a determination rate is provided, and a prior alarm corresponding to the transaction volume is generated based on the stored prior alarm generation determination rate. Maintenance system.   The maintenance system according to claim 6, wherein a pre-alarm generation determination rate according to the transaction amount can be stored for each automatic transaction apparatus.   3. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the recording is printing or printing, the recording agent is an ink ribbon, toner, or ink, and the recording amount is the number of printed characters or the number of printed lines. The apparatus or the maintenance system according to any one of claims 4 to 6.

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