KR20060066276A - Method and apparatus for confirming errors using cartridge production information in image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed are an error checking method and apparatus using cartridge production information. An error checking method using the cartridge production information may include: (a) storing history information of the cartridge production device; (b) if an error occurs in a memory provided in the cartridge, determining whether the corresponding cartridge producing device is normal by checking production information of the cartridge with reference to history information of the cartridge producing device; (c) determining that the memory error is caused when the cartridge is operated when the cartridge producing apparatus is normal; And (d) determining that the memory error is caused during the production of the cartridge when the cartridge producing device is abnormal.

Description

Method and apparatus for confirming errors using cartridge production information in image forming system}

1 is a block diagram conceptually showing a configuration of an error checking apparatus using cartridge production information according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image forming system shown in FIG. 1;

3 is a view for explaining cartridge information stored in the second storage unit in FIG. 2, and

4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of an error checking method using cartridge production information according to the present invention.

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

110 ... server 112 ... first transceiver

114 ... First storage 116 ... Production information confirmation

210 ... second transmission / reception unit 220 ... second storage unit

230 ... third storage unit 240 ... control unit

250 ... Printing

The present invention relates to an error checking method and apparatus using cartridge information in an image forming system. In particular, by additionally recording cartridge production information in a cartridge memory, whether or not an error in the cartridge memory is caused by a cartridge operation is generated. It relates to a method and an apparatus for identifying whether an error has occurred.

In general, an image forming system includes a developing apparatus, a transfer apparatus, and a fixing apparatus. The developing apparatus forms a predetermined image using a developer supplied from a toner cartridge on an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive medium by a laser scanning unit. The transfer apparatus is provided to be rotated to face the photosensitive medium with the paper sandwiched therebetween, so as to transfer the image formed on the photosensitive medium to the paper. Further, the fixing apparatus fuses the image transferred to the sheet by the transfer apparatus by applying a predetermined heat and pressure.

The toner cartridge used to develop a predetermined image in such an image forming system has a memory in which toner cartridge information such as toner cartridge provider, toner status, remaining amount of toner, and the like is stored. The memory included in the toner cartridge includes a memory referred to as a cartridge replace unit memory (CRUM). Hereinafter, the memory included in the cartridge is referred to as cartridge memory or CRUM. The image forming system reads the toner cartridge information stored in the memory and performs a print job before performing the print job according to a user's print command.

That is, the toner cartridge information stored in the cartridge memory is read according to the user's printing command, and the toner cartridge can be used based on the toner cartridge information such as remaining amount of toner, toner status, serial number of the toner cartridge, and the like. If it is determined that the toner cartridge is usable, a print job is performed using the toner cartridge. On the other hand, when the toner cartridge is not a toner cartridge corresponding to the image forming system or when the remaining amount of the toner is insufficient to perform a print job corresponding to the user's print command, a warning message is generated to notify the user. After performing a print job using the toner cartridge, updated information on the remaining amount of toner or the state of the toner is stored in the cartridge memory.

In such an image forming system, errors in the cartridge memory may occur while the cartridge is in use. However, in the related art, it is difficult to check whether the error of the cartridge memory is an error occurring during operation of the cartridge or an error occurring from the production of the cartridge. Thus, even in the case of an error generated from the production of the cartridge, a situation in which the cartridge is discarded in a state in which the exact cause of the error is not found occurs, which causes a waste of resources.

Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem The present invention provides a method and apparatus for additionally recording cartridge production information in a cartridge memory so as to determine whether an error in the cartridge memory is caused by a cartridge operation or a cartridge produced error. To provide.

In the image forming system for solving the technical problem, the error checking method using the cartridge production information according to the present invention comprises the steps of: (a) storing history information of the cartridge production machine; (b) if an error occurs in a memory provided in the cartridge, determining whether the corresponding cartridge producing device is normal by checking production information of the cartridge with reference to history information of the cartridge producing device; (c) determining that the memory error is caused when the cartridge is operated when the cartridge producing apparatus is normal; And (d) determining that the memory error is caused when the cartridge is produced when the cartridge producing apparatus is abnormal.

In the image forming system for solving the technical problem, the error checking apparatus using the cartridge production information according to the present invention includes a first storage unit for storing history information of the cartridge production apparatus; A second storage unit attached to the cartridge and storing product information, usage information, and production information of the cartridge; A production information checking unit which checks the production information of the cartridge by referring to the history information of the cartridge producing device stored in the first storage unit and determines whether the corresponding cartridge producing device is normal; And when the cartridge production device is normal, when the error occurs in the second storage unit. When the cartridge production device is normal, it is determined that the memory error is caused when the cartridge is operated, and the cartridge production device is abnormal. It characterized in that it comprises a control unit for determining that the memory error caused in the production of the cartridge.

Hereinafter, an error checking method and apparatus using cartridge production information according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an error checking apparatus using cartridge production information according to the present invention, and is largely comprised of a server 110 and an image forming system 150. The server 110 includes a first transceiver 112, a first storage 114, and a production information checker 116. Meanwhile, the server 110 is connected to the image forming system 150 by a wired or wireless network 130.

The first transceiver 112 receives the cartridge production information together with the production information confirmation request signal of the toner cartridge from the image forming system 150 and provides the cartridge production information to the production information verification unit 116, or the production information verification unit 116. Transmits a signal according to the production information checking result to the image forming system 150. In addition, the network 130 receives the production information of each cartridge from the cartridge manufacturer's server (not shown).

The first storage unit 114, for each cartridge used in the at least one image forming system 110 connected to the network 130, history information of the cartridge production machine received through the first transceiver 112 Save it. The history information of the cartridge production apparatus stored in the first storage unit 114 includes the serial number of the production apparatus of the cartridge mounted in each image forming system connected to the network 130, and the version of the jig firmware of the production apparatus used for producing the cartridge. And the utility program version of the PC or host device used to produce the cartridge. At this time, if the cartridge manufacturer's server (not shown) has an error in the cartridge production device, the jig firmware version is updated after the error is corrected, and the cartridge manufacturer's server (not shown) has a serial number of the corresponding production device. The updated version of the jig firmware corresponding to the transmission to the error checking device 110 via the network 130, the error checking device 110 stores the history information of such production equipment in the first storage unit 114 do. On the other hand, when operating the cartridge production machine using a utility program on a separate PC or host device, if an error occurs in the utility program, the version of the utility program is updated after the error is corrected, and the server of the cartridge manufacturer C) transmits the updated version of the utility program corresponding to the serial number of the corresponding production device to the error checking device 110 through the network 130, and the error checking device 110 records the history information of such a cartridge production device. Is stored in the first storage unit 114. That is, the history information of the production equipment includes whether the first version of the jig firmware is an error and the updated version, and whether the first version of the utility program is an error and the updated version.

The production information checking unit 116 receives the corresponding cartridge production information together with the production information confirmation request signal of the cartridge from the image forming system 150 through the first transmitting and receiving unit 112, and then receives the corresponding cartridge production information from the first storage unit 114. Search the serial number of the cartridge production apparatus, and check the history information of the cartridge production apparatus corresponding to the serial number of the found cartridge production apparatus. As a result of checking the history information of the cartridge production device, the version of the jig firmware or the utility program corresponding to the serial number of the cartridge production device included in the received cartridge production information indicates that the production device in which the error occurred or the utility program in which the error occurred If it does not correspond to and generates a normal signal of the production equipment and transmits to the image forming system 150 through the first transceiver 112. On the other hand, as a result of checking the history information of the cartridge production device, the version of the jig firmware or the version of the utility program corresponding to the serial number of the cartridge production device included in the received cartridge production information, or the error occurs in the production device or error occurs In the case of the utility program, an error signal for the production apparatus is generated and transmitted to the image forming system 150 through the first transceiver 112.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of the image forming system 150 of FIG. 1, and includes a second transceiver 210, a second storage 220, a third storage 230, and a controller 240. , And a printing unit 250.

The second transceiver 210 receives image data to be printed from a host computer (not shown) such as a personal computer (PC), a personal digital assistant (PDA), a notebook computer, or the like. In addition, the second transceiver 210 receives a normal signal or abnormal signal of the production apparatus from the error checking device 110 and provides it to the controller 240. In addition, the second transceiver 210 transmits the production information confirmation request signal and the cartridge production information generated by the controller 240 to the production information confirmation unit 116 of the error checking apparatus 110.

The second storage unit 220 corresponds to a memory attached to a cartridge mounted on the image forming system 150, that is, a CRUM, and stores and updates cartridge information including cartridge product information, cartridge usage information, and cartridge production information. do. The cartridge product information consists of vendor information, cartridge manufacturing date, cartridge serial number, etc., which are information on the main manager who manages the cartridge of the image forming apparatus.The cartridge usage information includes the toner capacity of the cartridge, the cartridge loading date, and the total. It consists of the number of pages printed, and the cartridge production information consists of the version of the jig firmware used for cartridge production, the utility used for cartridge production, the serial number of the cartridge production equipment, and the like. The third storage unit 230 stores various programs necessary for driving the image forming system 150.

The controller 240 controls the overall operation of the image forming system using various programs stored in the third storage unit 230, and controls various control signals for printing image data received through the second transceiver 210. Create and print When the cartridge information output command is input, the controller 240 reads the cartridge information stored in the second storage unit 230 and provides it to the printing unit 250. In addition, the controller 240 generates a production information confirmation request signal when an error with respect to the second storage unit 220 occurs and provides the cartridge information with the cartridge production information to the error checking apparatus 110 through the data transmitter 260. In addition, the control unit 240 receives a production device normal signal or a production device abnormal signal from the error checking device 110 through the second transceiver 210, and informs the user through a display unit (not shown).

The printing unit 250 includes various engines, and receives control signals and image data to print an image using a cartridge. Meanwhile, when a cartridge information output command is input by a user through a user interface such as an operation panel (not shown) of the image forming system 150, the print unit 250 may control the second storage unit under the control of the controller 240. The cartridge information read out from 220 is printed on predetermined media.

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating cartridge information stored in the second storage unit 220 in FIG. 2, and includes first to third regions 310, 320, and 330, and a cartridge is included in the first region 310. The product information, the cartridge usage information in the second area 320, and the cartridge production information in the third area 330 are recorded.

4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of an error checking method using cartridge production information according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, in step 410, the controller 240 monitors whether an error occurs in the cartridge memory. In step 420, if an error occurs in the cartridge memory, a cartridge production information confirmation request signal is generated and transmitted to the production information checking unit 116 of the error checking apparatus 110 together with the cartridge production information.

In operation 430, the production information checking unit 116 checks the production information by referring to the production equipment history information related to the serial number of the corresponding production device stored in the first storage unit 114. In operation 440, the jig firmware version or the utility program version related to the serial number of the corresponding production device may be determined based on the production equipment history information to correspond to the jig firmware of the production device in which the error occurs or the utility program in which the error occurs.

In step 450, as a result of referring to the production equipment history information, if the jig firmware version or utility program version related to the serial number of the corresponding production equipment corresponds to the jig firmware or the utility program in which the error occurs, the production occurs. A device abnormal signal is generated and transmitted to the control unit 240, and the control unit 240 determines that the cartridge memory error is an error generated during cartridge production and informs the user through a display unit (not shown).

In step 460, as a result of referring to the production equipment history information, if the jig firmware version or utility program version related to the serial number of the corresponding production equipment does not correspond to the jig firmware or the utility program in which the error occurs, The device normal signal is generated and transmitted to the control unit 240, and the control unit 240 determines that the cartridge memory error is an error generated during the operation of the cartridge and notifies the user to the display unit (not shown).

The invention can also be embodied as computer readable code on a computer readable recording medium. The computer-readable recording medium includes all kinds of recording devices in which data that can be read by a computer system is stored. Examples of computer-readable recording media include ROM, RAM, CD-ROM, magnetic tape, floppy disk, optical data storage, and the like, which are also implemented in the form of a carrier wave (for example, transmission over the Internet). It also includes. The computer readable recording medium can also be distributed over network coupled computer systems so that the computer readable code is stored and executed in a distributed fashion. And functional programs, codes and code segments for implementing the present invention can be easily inferred by programmers in the art to which the present invention belongs.

 According to the error checking method and apparatus using the cartridge production information according to the present invention in the image forming system as described above, in addition to the cartridge product information and cartridge usage information in the cartridge memory, the cartridge production information is further recorded, By checking the cartridge production information by referring to the history information of the cartridge production device in case of an error, there is an advantage that it is easier to determine whether the error in the cartridge memory error occurred when the cartridge was operating or when the cartridge was produced. .

Although the present invention has been described with reference to one embodiment shown in the drawings, this is merely exemplary and will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various modifications and variations can be made therefrom. Therefore, the true technical protection scope of the present invention will be defined by the technical spirit of the appended claims.

Claims (5)

(a) storing history information of the cartridge producing machine; (b) if an error occurs in a memory provided in the cartridge, determining whether the corresponding cartridge producing device is normal by checking production information of the cartridge with reference to history information of the cartridge producing device; (c) determining that the memory error is caused when the cartridge is operated when the cartridge producing apparatus is normal; And and (d) determining that the memory error is caused at the time of production of the cartridge when the cartridge production apparatus is abnormal. The method of claim 1, wherein the history information of the cartridge producing device comprises a version history of a jig firmware corresponding to the serial number of the cartridge producing device and a version history of a utility program corresponding to the serial number of the cartridge producing device. An error checking method using cartridge information in an image forming system. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) (b1) determining whether the version of the jig firmware corresponding to the serial number of the cartridge producing device corresponds to the jig firmware of the cartridge producing device in which the error occurs in the history information of the cartridge producing device; And and (b2) determining whether the version of the utility program corresponding to the serial number of the cartridge producing machine corresponds to the utility program in which the error occurs in the history information of the cartridge producing machine. Error checking method using. A first storage unit for storing history information of the cartridge producing machine; A second storage unit attached to the cartridge and storing product information, usage information, and production information of the cartridge; A production information checking unit which checks the production information of the cartridge by referring to the history information of the cartridge producing device stored in the first storage unit and determines whether the corresponding cartridge producing device is normal; And If an error occurs in the second storage unit, as a result of checking the production information of the cartridge production device, if the cartridge production device is normal, it is determined that the memory error is caused during operation of the cartridge, and if the cartridge production device is abnormal And a control unit for determining that a memory error is caused during the production of the cartridge. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the cartridge production information stored in the second storage unit comprises a serial number of the cartridge production device, a jig firmware version of the cartridge production device, and a utility program version for the cartridge production device. An error checking apparatus using cartridge information in an image forming system.

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