JP6170485B2 - Cartridge regeneration method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a cartridge regeneration method for quickly and accurately identifying whether or not a cartridge type in a process is a target (to be regenerated) cartridge type and suppressing erroneous shipment in the process of regenerating the cartridge. About.

  A so-called regenerated cartridge is a collected or provided cartridge, and is used at the recycling factory. The manufacturer of the printer, the type of printer, the ink or toner to be stored (hereinafter collectively referred to as toner). Ink or toner of an appropriate color is stored in a cartridge type determined for each color, and thereafter, a check operation is further performed on the basis of manufacturer, printer type, and stored color, and the product is shipped.

  For example, in the shipping line after storing toner, it is not a test print to check whether the correct color toner is stored in the printer type cartridge of the ordered printer manufacturer. We are making efforts to prevent erroneous shipments.

  Here, as for the toner color, only the color is supplied from the toner supply facility in the toner storage process. For example, when a black toner is currently ordered, another color toner is stored in the cartridge. It will never be done. However, in some rare cases, the cartridge for storing toner may be transported to the toner supply facility in which one of the printer manufacturer, printer type, and color is incorrect.

  That is, when the correct order is to store “black toner” in “cartridge A” that should store “black toner used for type A printer of company A”, “cyan color used for type b printer of company B” The “cartridge B” containing the “toner” may be transported to the toner supply facility and reach the shipping line with the “black” toner contained in the cartridge B. As a result, the stored color Is correct, but the cartridge that contains the toner may be incorrect.

  The reliability of the regenerated toner can be improved by confirming that the cartridge can be mounted on the printer type of the printer manufacturer and that the toner color can be printed by test printing after mounting.

  However, recent cartridges have a function to memorize various situations, and when test printing is performed, the test printing is also counted (stored) as being used. I can't.

  Therefore, as described above, in the shipping line, immediately before shipment, it is visually confirmed whether a cartridge in which the stored color is correct but one or both of the manufacturer and the printer type is incorrect is visually checked.

  However, recently, cartridges have been shared due to cost reduction, and the overall shape is almost the same. When mounted on the printer, the part exposed to the opposite side of the printer side is the manufacturer, printer type, and cartridge. There are many types of cartridges that have (unique) discriminators formed with slightly different shapes for each cartridge type that is classified according to the storage color. In addition, there is a limit to the identification work only by visual observation.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a point for preventing erroneous attachment to a printer. However, before reaching the printer, the identification shape is not separated by anything other than the operator's visual inspection on the shipping line. In the line, there is still a problem that it can only be identified by the visual observation of the operator.

JP 7-168430 A

  The problem to be solved is that, in the past including patent documents, when a large number of cartridges flow in the reproduction process, it is difficult to instantaneously identify an identification object that has only a slight difference in shape even if it is visually recognized. Even if it does not depend on the shape of the identification object, the manufacturer, printer type, and the color to be stored (should) should be identified simultaneously and instantaneously from the individual labels and inscriptions that flow through the reproduction process. Is inefficient, and in any case, this identification work is highly likely to be influenced by the skill level and concentration of the operator.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is a method for storing ink or toner used in a printer and regenerating the cartridge after using the ink or toner, wherein an identification jig is brought into contact with the cartridge, The main feature is that the cartridge type is identified based on whether or not the shape formed on the identification jig matches the identification body formed uniquely for each cartridge type, and whether or not reproduction is possible is determined. .

  In the present invention, instead of visual observation, an identification body formed uniquely for each cartridge type is used by using an identification jig. Specifically, the identification jig is brought into contact with the identification body and formed on the identification jig. By identifying the cartridge type to be regenerated based on whether or not the shape and the identifier match, it is possible to quickly and surely determine whether or not reproducibility is possible.

It is a perspective view which shows the identification jig | tool used for the cartridge reproduction | regenerating method of this invention, and the cartridge which is going to identify by this. It is a front view which shows the identification jig used for the cartridge reproduction | regeneration method of this invention. FIG. 4 is a plan view of cartridges of respective colors, (a) being black, (b) being cyan, (c) being magenta, and (d) being yellow. FIG. FIG. 6 shows a situation in which a cartridge is identified using an identification jig in the cartridge reproducing method of the present invention, wherein (a) is black, (b) is cyan, (c) is magenta, and (d) is yellow. It is the top view which made the identification jig contact | abut to an identification body. It is a front view which shows the identification jig | tool by the other example of this invention. The structure of the identification body of a cartridge to be identified using an identification jig according to another example in the cartridge reproducing method of the invention is shown, (a) is magenta, (b) is yellow, (c) is black, (d) is FIG. 6 is a plan view of each color cartridge. In the cartridge regeneration method of the present invention, a situation where a cartridge is identified by an identification jig according to still another example is shown, wherein (a) is magenta, (b) is yellow, (c) is black, and (d) is cyan. It is the top view which made the identification jig contact | abut to the identification body of the cartridge of this. 7A and 7B show an identification jig according to still another example of the cartridge reproducing method of the invention, in which FIG. 5A is a perspective view, and FIG. 5B is an enlarged perspective view of a part of a side.

  In the present invention, it is difficult to visually identify identifiers that have only a slight difference, and it is difficult to simultaneously and instantaneously identify individual cartridges and inscriptions that flow through the reproduction process, and The point that is highly likely to be affected by the level of skill and concentration of the operator, abutting the identification jig on the cartridge, the shape formed on the identification jig, and the identification body formed uniquely for each cartridge type The cartridge type is identified based on whether or not the two match, and improvement is made by determining whether or not reproduction is possible.

  In other words, the method of the present invention does not identify all cartridge types on the market, and the shape exposed to the printer from the printer side when mounted on the printer varies depending on the manufacturer, printer type, ink or toner storage color. The identification jig is used to determine which color cartridge is used for which printer type of which manufacturer, regarding the system in which the discriminator is formed, that is, the cartridge type divided by manufacturer, printer type, and storage color. Identify.

  For example, in the regeneration process, an identification jig is brought into contact with the identification body of the cartridge being transported to the shipping line, and if the shape formed on the identification jig matches the identification body, the cartridge is reproduced. If it does not match, it can be determined that the cartridge has been erroneously conveyed and should not be regenerated.

  In other words, the method of the present invention uses a discriminating jig and abuts the discriminating jig with the discriminating body of the cartridge. , Storage colors can be identified all at once.

  Therefore, even if there are many types of cartridges having unique identifiers with slightly different shapes, and even if the process has been transported in a mixed state, it can be easily identified physically and easily. It is possible to reliably prevent the intended cartridge to be regenerated from being shipped accidentally without being influenced by the level of proficiency or concentration.

  Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The cartridge reproduction method of the present invention is mainly performed using the identification jig 1, but the cartridge 11 to which the identification jig 1 in the reproduction method of the present invention can be applied (identifiable) is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, in this example (not shown), a storage unit that can be inserted into and removed from an electronic image forming apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a printer) and stores toner (in this example, since it is an electronic image forming apparatus). And an identification body P having a different shape depending on the manufacturer, printer type, and storage color of the cartridge is formed on the surface exposed to the upper surface when the housing 11A is attached to the printer. The system is the target.

  In this example, the identification body P is composed of 1 to 3 identification convex portions P1, P2 or P3, and there is a case where a concave portion D is formed on the upper surface of the identification convex portions P1 to P3. The identification body P has a manufacturer, a printer type, and a storage color set according to the number, formation position, shape, and interval between the identification convex portions P1 to P3. FIG. 3 shows the identification body P of the cartridge 11 that stores black, cyan, magenta, and yellow colors of the A printer type of manufacturer A.

  The concave portion D has a number of the identification convex portions P1 to P3, a forming position, a shape, and an interval between the concave portions D. It is used to discriminate such that when the projection formed on the lid is fitted, it is appropriate, and when it is not fitted (the lid does not close), it is erroneously attached.

  For example, four colors (hereinafter referred to as “black”, “cyan”, “magenta”, and “yellow”) of the cartridge 11 used in a printer of a certain printer type (hereinafter referred to as “A company a type”) shown in FIGS. Regarding the cartridges 11 of the respective colors, the identification body P of black as “cartridge 11B”, cyan as “cartridge 11C”, magenta as “cartridge 11M”, and yellow as “cartridge 11Y”) is formed as follows. (The recess D is not explained).

  In the A-type cartridge 11B of Company A shown in FIG. 3A, identification bodies P1, P2, P3 are formed at equal intervals in the center of the formation area of the identification body P. In the cartridge 11C of type A of company A shown in FIG. 3B, a wide discriminating body P1 is located at a left-shifted position in the drawing area of the discriminating body P. Each is formed.

  In the A type a cartridge 11M shown in FIG. 3 (c), an identification body P1 wider than the identification body P1 of the cartridge 11C is located at the left side of the illustrated region of the formation of the identification body P. An identification body P2 narrower than the identification body P2 of the cartridge 11C is formed at an interval. In the A-type cartridge 11Y of Company A shown in FIG. 3D, only the identification body P1 that is wider than the identification body P1 of the cartridge 11M is formed in the illustrated left side position of the formation area of the identification body P.

  For example, when the cartridge C in FIG. 3B and the cartridge M in FIG. 3C are conveyed in a mixed manner, the shape difference of the identification body P is slight. Therefore, in the present invention, the identification jig 1 is brought into contact with the identification body P in place of visual inspection in order to prevent the cartridge 11 for the wrong manufacturer's printer type from being shipped in the shipping stage of the reproduction cartridge. To identify.

  The discriminating jig 1 matches the shape of the discriminating body of the storage color to be discriminated on the inner edge of each of the sides 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D of the frame 2 and the frame 2 enclosing the entire discriminating body. Identification uneven portions 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d are formed, and a display portion 3 (3A, 3B, 3C, 3D) showing the color is provided.

  The identification jig 1 illustrated in this example can identify the four-color identification bodies P of the cartridges 11B, 11C, 11M, and 11Y used in the A company a-type printer shown in FIGS. 3 (a) to 3 (d). It has a configuration.

  In the case of this example, the identification jig 1 has an identification irregularity 2a on the inner edge of the side 2A of the frame 2 as shown in FIG. 4 (a). It matches with the identification body P of the cartridge 11B. Hereinafter, similarly, as shown in FIGS. 4B to 4D, the identification jig 1 has an identification uneven portion 2b on the inner edge of the side 2B, which is a type A cartridge shown in FIG. 3B. As shown in FIG. 4 (d), the identification body P of 11C and the identification unevenness portion 2c on the inner edge of the side 2C shown in FIG. The identification irregularities 2d at the inner edge of the side 2D shown in 3 (d) respectively match the identification body P of the A company type a cartridge 11Y.

  At this time, as shown in FIGS. 4A to 4D, the identification bodies P of the cartridges 11B, 11C, 11M, and 11Y are moved to the identification recesses 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d of the identification jig 1. If they match with each other, there is no abnormality, and if they do not match, whether the color is stored in another color cartridge 11 that is not the cartridge 11 in which the color of Company A is stored, or whether it is another manufacturer, If there is an error as to whether the color is stored in the wrong cartridge 11 of another type, it can be reliably and clearly identified.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5, the identification jig 1 of the present invention can be used with the front and back reversed. In FIG. 5 to FIG. 6, the identification jig 1 with the front and back reversed is described as “identification jig 1 ′”, and the identification jig 1 ′ is hatched to distinguish it from the identification jig 1. I will show you.

  The identification jig 1 ′ is used with the front and back sides of the identification jig 1 reversed, and when usable, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, for example, a cartridge 11B used in a “B company b type” printer. , 11C, 11M, 11Y.

  Here, the configuration of the identification body P of the cartridges 11B, 11C, 11M, and 11Y used in the B company b type printer will be described. In the B type b cartridge 11M of Company B shown in FIG. 6A, the identification bodies P1, P2, and P3 are formed at equal intervals in the center of the formation area of the identification body P. In the B type b cartridge 11Y of Company B shown in FIG. 6B, a wide discriminating body P2 is located at the right side of the drawing area of the discriminating body P, and the discriminating body P1 is spaced apart from the discriminating body P2. Each is formed.

  In the B type b cartridge 11B of Company B shown in FIG. 6C, an identification body P2 wider than the identification body P2 of the cartridge 11Y at the right side of the illustrated area of the formation area of the identification body P An identification body P1 narrower than the identification body P1 of the cartridge 11Y is formed at an interval. In the B type b cartridge 11C shown in FIG. 6 (d), only the identification body P1 wider than the identification body P2 of the cartridge 11B is formed at the right-side position of the formation area of the identification body P.

  The identification jig 1 ′ shown in FIG. 5 uses the identification jig 1 shown in FIG. 2 as reversed as described above. However, as shown in FIG. In order to identify the body P1, the following configuration changes are mainly made in the display section 3 ′ (3′A to 3′D).

  The identification jig 1 ′ has a side 2′C, an identification uneven portion 2′c, a display, and a display so that the “magenta” cartridge 11M can be identified by reversing the front and back at the part where black is identified by the identification jig 1. Part 3′C. The identification jig 1 ′ has a side 2′D, an identification uneven portion 2′d, and a display so that the “yellow” cartridge 11Y can be identified by reversing the front and back at the part where cyan is identified by the identification jig 1. Part 3′D.

  The identification jig 1 ′ has a side 2′A, an identification uneven part 2′a, and a display so that the “black” cartridge 11B can be identified by reversing the front and back at the part where the identification jig 1 identifies magenta. Part 3′A. The identification jig 1 ′ has a side 2′B, an identification uneven portion 2′b, and a display so that the “cyan” cartridge 11C can be identified by reversing the front and back at the part where yellow is identified by the identification jig 1. Part 3′B.

  In the case of this example, the identification jig 1 'has an identification irregularity 2'c on the inner edge of the side 2'C of the frame 2' as shown in FIG. It matches the identification body P of the B type b cartridge 11M shown. Hereinafter, similarly, as shown in FIGS. 7B to 7D, the identification jig 1 ′ has an identification uneven portion 2′d on the inner edge of the side 2′D as shown in FIG. 6B. The identification body P of the company b-type cartridge 11Y and the identification irregularity 2'a on the inner edge of the side 2'A shown in FIG. 7C are the identification body P of the company B-type cartridge 11B. As shown in FIG. 6D, the identification irregularities 2′b on the inner edge of the side 2′B shown in FIG. 6D are respectively matched with the identification body P of the B company b type cartridge 11C.

  At this time, as shown in FIGS. 7A to 7D, the identification bodies P of the cartridges 11M, 11Y, 11B, and 11C are moved to the identification recesses 2′c and 2′d of the identification jig 1 ′. , 2'a, 2'b, if there is a match, there is no abnormality, and if it does not match, the color of the different color cartridge 11 is not the cartridge 11 in which the color of company B is to be stored. If there is an error as to whether the color is stored in the cartridge 11 which is stored in the wrong cartridge 11 or is in a different type, it can be clearly and clearly identified.

  Moreover, although the identification uneven | corrugated part 2a-2d and the identification uneven | corrugated part 2'a-2'd were fixed to the above-mentioned identification jig | tool 1 and identification jig | tool 1 ', as shown, for example in FIG. If so, not only A company a type and B company b type, but also a wide range can be supported.

  That is, the identification jig 10 shown in FIG. 8A has an identification irregularity portion that matches the shape of the identification object P of the stored color to be identified at the inner edge of each side of the frame body 20 that surrounds the entire identification object P. 20a is formed so as to be movable along the inner wall surface of the frame 20 in the direction of the adjacent side, and the display of the storage color display unit 30 can be changed.

  As shown in FIG. 8B, a groove 20b is formed on the inner wall surface of each side 20A of the frame body 20 from the inner side to the outer side of each side 20A. A fist hole 20c is formed in the same length in the direction orthogonal to 20b (the front and back direction of the frame body 20). That is, in this example, the groove 20b and the fistula 20c form a T-shaped rail portion 20B in a cross-sectional view and a lateral direction, and the rail portion 20B protrudes from the inner wall surface of the side 20A of the identification uneven portion 20a. A laterally T-shaped movable portion 20C formed on the back side of is fitted.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8B, the display unit 30 is, for example, a dial unit 30A that changes display by rotation, and B, C, M, and Y are displayed for each position rotated by 90 °. . If the display unit 30A is rotated to show the color to be identified on each side, the identification is not erroneous.

  In the drawing, the identification jig 10 is provided with an identification concave and convex portion 20a so that the identification jig 1 shown in FIG. 2 can identify each color of the cartridge 11 (FIG. 3) of each color used in the A company a printer. However, if the identification uneven portion 20a is moved, not only the cartridges 11 of the respective colors used in the printer B type printer B shown in FIG.

  In the above description, the identification jig 1 used in the cartridge reproducing method of the present invention fixes the manufacturer and the printer type to, for example, the A company a type, and the like, for example, the identification uneven portions 2a to 2d on each side 2A to 2D are stored in colors. (B, C, M, Y) respectively, and the storage color thereof is configured to be indicated by the display unit 3. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The identification irregularities 2a to 2d on the sides 2A to 2D correspond to manufacturers (A company, B company, C company, D company) and printer types (a type, b type, c type, d type), respectively, and their manufacturer names. Alternatively, the printer type may be configured to be indicated by the display unit 3.

  In the above description, the regeneration process in which the cartridge regeneration method of the present invention is performed is described immediately before shipment after the toner is stored in the cartridge. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the cartridge is transported to the facility for supplying the toner. In the process, by discriminating the suitability of the cartridge type (manufacturer, printer type, storage color) for the supplied toner, the toner is not wasted if the cartridge type is wrong after storage.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Identification jig 2 Frame 2A-2D Side 2a-2d Identification uneven | corrugated part 3 Display part 3A-3D Display part 1 'Identification jig 2' Frame 2'A-2'D Side 2'a-2'd Identification Uneven portion 3 'Display portion 3'A-3'D Display portion 10 Identification jig 20 Frame body 20A Side 20a Identification uneven portion 20b Groove 20c Fistula 20B Rail portion 20C Movable portion 30 Display portion 30A Dial portion

Claims (2)

  A method of storing ink or toner used in a printer and regenerating a cartridge after using the ink or toner, wherein an identification jig is brought into contact with the cartridge, and a shape formed on the identification jig, and the cartridge A cartridge reproduction method characterized by discriminating whether or not reproduction is possible by discriminating a cartridge type based on whether or not an identifier formed uniquely for each type matches.   The cartridge for identifying whether or not it is reproducible is a system in which an identification body having a different shape according to the storage color of the manufacturer, printer type, ink, or toner is formed at a portion exposed from the printer side when mounted on the printer, In order to identify the cartridge type on the basis of the manufacturer, the printer type in which the cartridge is used, and the storage color, the identification jig includes a frame body that surrounds the entire identification body, and inner edges of each side of the frame body. The identification irregularities that match the shape of the identification object to be identified are formed together with either the manufacturer, printer type, or storage color, and the storage colors and manufacturers corresponding to the identification irregularities on each side. 2. A display portion of any one of the printer type and the printer type is provided, and the identification unevenness portion displayed on the display portion of the identification jig is brought into contact with the identification body. Cartridge reproduction method of mounting.

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