JP2009300694A - Image forming apparatus, control method, and control program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce a risk of a damage to an apparatus and a risk of image quality degradation, caused by use of a nongenuine consumable having no quality guarantee. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus, wherein a selection can be made between a first mode assuming use of genuine consumable and a second mode allowing use of nongenuine consumable, is provided with: at least a consumable determination means determining whether a mounted consumable is genuine; a print job receiving means receiving a printing instruction; and an image forming means. When the first mode is selected, the image forming means uses only a consumable determined to be genuine to form an image without using a consumable determined to be nongenuine, if consumables to be used for reproducing colors indicated to be printed by the print job receiving means include the consumable determined to be nongenuine by the consumable determination means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, a control method, and a control program, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus, a control method, and a control program that appropriately form an image depending on whether a consumable is a non-genuine product or a non-genuine product.

  In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, a photosensitive drum uniformly charged by a charging device is irradiated with light from an exposure device to form an electrostatic latent image, and toner is attached to the electrostatic latent image by a developing device. The toner image is visualized as a toner image, the toner image is transferred from the photosensitive drum to a paper medium via an intermediate transfer belt, and then the toner image is fixed on the paper medium by heating and pressing with a fixing device. It is carried out.

  In such an image forming apparatus, various consumables such as toner and ink are used. These consumables include genuine products provided by authorized companies and non-genuine products provided by third parties. When a genuine product is used, problems such as failure of the image forming apparatus and degradation of image quality occur.

  With respect to such problems, some conventional image forming apparatuses prohibit printing operations when non-genuine consumables such as toner and ink are detected. The printing operation is not prohibited, but in order to avoid the risk of failure due to non-genuine consumables and the occurrence of defective images, the number of times of image stabilization is increased, the development, transfer, and fixing processes are changed. A method of printing at a different speed has also been proposed. In addition, it is possible to use non-genuine units at the user's will and select and control the operation mode according to the genuine / non-genuine detection results. ) Has also been proposed (see Patent Documents 1 and 2 below).

JP 2005-326740 A JP 2005-326731 A

  However, when a non-genuine consumable is installed, the conventional image forming apparatus only changes the operation mode suitable for the non-genuine and permits the use of the non-genuine product. In addition, even if the operation is performed in an operation mode different from that of the genuine product, the use of the non-genuine product is accompanied by the risk of damage to the apparatus and the risk of image quality degradation.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its main purpose is to reduce the risk of device damage and image quality degradation due to the use of non-genuine consumables whose quality is not guaranteed. Another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus, a control method, and a control program.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is mounted in an image forming apparatus capable of selecting a first mode that presumes the use of genuine consumables and a second mode that permits the use of non-genuine consumables. Consumables determination means for determining whether the consumables are genuine or non-genuine, print job reception means for receiving a print instruction, and when the first mode is selected, the print job reception means is instructed to print If the consumable used for reproducing the color includes a consumable determined as non-genuine by the consumable determination means, it is determined as genuine without using the consumable determined as non-genuine. Image forming means for forming an image using only the consumables.

  In the present invention, the image forming unit outputs the black output to the YMCK when the consumable determining unit determines that only the K color consumable is non-genuine among the YMCK consumables. An image can be formed by combining with the product.

  In the present invention, the image forming unit determines that only the consumables of K color among the consumables of each color of YMCK are genuine by the consumables determining unit, and the color print instruction is given by the print job receiving unit. When the image is received, the color image may be converted into a grayscale image, and the image may be formed using only the K color consumables.

  Also, in the present invention, the image forming means determines that one of the consumables of YMCK color among the consumables of YMCK is determined to be non-genuine by the consumable goods determining means, and the print job accepting means. When a color printing instruction is received, the color including the color of consumables determined as non-genuine is converted to a specific color that can be reproduced with only two colors of consumables determined as genuine. It can also be set as the structure to form.

  In the present invention, the image forming means determines that, among the consumables of each color of YMCK, the K color is determined to be genuine by the consumables determining means, and two of the YMC color consumables are determined to be non-genuine. In addition, when a color print instruction is received by the print job receiving unit, a color image other than black is converted into a specific color that can be reproduced only by a consumable item determined to be a genuine product, and an image is formed. You can also.

  In the present invention, the image forming means determines that, among the consumables of each color of YMCK, the K color is determined to be non-genuine by the consumables determination means, and two of the YMC color consumables are non-genuine. If it is determined, the image may be formed with only a single color of consumables determined to be genuine.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that the consumable item includes any one of a developing unit, a toner cartridge, an ink bottle, and a print head.

  The present invention also causes a computer to function as at least the image forming means described in any one of the above.

  The present invention is also a control method for controlling image formation in an image forming apparatus, the first mode premised on the use of genuine consumables, or the second mode that permits the use of non-genuine consumables. A first step for selecting whether the consumables are genuine or non-genuine, a third step for accepting a print instruction, and a print instruction when the first mode is selected. If the consumables used to reproduce the specified color include consumables determined to be non-genuine, only consumables determined to be genuine are used without using the consumables determined to be non-genuine. And at least a fourth step of forming an image using.

  According to the image forming apparatus, the control method, and the control program of the present invention, the risk of damage to the apparatus and the risk of image quality deterioration due to the use of non-genuine consumables whose quality is not guaranteed is reduced, and the consumables are An image can be appropriately formed according to whether it is a genuine product or a non-genuine product.

  The reason for this is that when the image forming device is operated in a mode that assumes the use of genuine products, it determines whether each of the installed consumables is genuine or non-genuine and includes non-genuine products. This is because the image forming operation is controlled so that printing can be executed without using the non-genuine product.

  As shown in the background art, there are genuine and non-genuine consumables used in the image forming apparatus. If a non-genuine product is used, the image forming apparatus may fail or the image quality may deteriorate. Problems such as deterioration occur.

  To solve this problem, a method has been proposed to change to an operation mode suitable for non-genuine when operating on the premise that non-genuine products are used. There is no change in use, and there is a considerable risk of device damage and image quality degradation.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, a genuine product mode that uses only genuine consumables is provided in one of the plurality of operation modes, and when the genuine product mode is selected, a plurality of consumables mounted on the apparatus are selected. Even if a non-genuine product is included, the image forming operation is controlled so that printing can be performed without using the non-genuine product.

  In other words, when the non-genuine product permission mode is selected, printing is accepted regardless of whether the installed consumable is a genuine product or a non-genuine product, while it is installed when the genuine product mode is selected. Instead of using consumables that are different from genuine ones, only genuine consumables are converted into printable images and output. As a result, it is possible to reduce the risk of device damage and the risk of image quality degradation caused by using non-genuine consumables.

  In order to describe the above-described embodiment of the present invention in more detail, an image forming apparatus, a control method, and a control program according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the structure of the image forming apparatus of this embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the main functions of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image forming apparatus of this embodiment, and FIGS. 4 and 5 are specific examples of the operation mode selection table of this embodiment.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a composite printer to which this embodiment is applied, and the printing operation will be outlined with reference to this figure.

  When a print start request is transmitted from an image controller (not shown) to the image forming apparatus, the printing apparatus feeds paper from the paper feed cassette 1 by the paper feed roller 2, along the paper feed path 3. The sheet is moved and waits at the position where the timing sensor 30 is reached.

  On the other hand, the transfer belt drive roller 9 rotates the transfer belt 8 to form images on the transfer belt 8 by the process units Y, M, C, and K that form images of the respective colors. The timing roller 4 is driven in accordance with the timing at which the image position reaches the secondary transfer roller 5 position, so that the leading edge position of the sheet coincides with the image position.

  Then, by applying a transfer voltage (about +2000 V) to the secondary transfer roller 5, toner that forms an image on the transfer belt 8 (toner charged negatively in the present image forming apparatus) is transferred to the opposing roller 6. And the secondary transfer roller 5. The transferred toner image is fixed on the paper by the fixing roller 7.

  The fixed sheet is conveyed to the paper discharge tray 10 by the horizontal conveyance unit 60. The horizontal transport unit 60 is provided with a horizontal transport unit sensor 61 for detecting paper, and detects the paper passing through the horizontal transport unit 60.

  The scanner unit 40 can be opened and closed so that JAM processing can be performed when JAM occurs in the horizontal conveyance unit 60. The scanner unit 40 is provided with a scanning unit 41 having a charge coupled device (CCD) and an exposure lamp for reading an image of the original, and scans the original placed on the platen glass 42 to read the original. Do.

  A document transport device 50 for automatically transporting a document is mounted on the upper portion of the scanner unit 40, and the document loaded on the document tray 51 is transported to the reading position 43 of the scanner 40, while transporting the document. Reading is performed, and the document is discharged onto the document discharge tray 53.

  The document image data read by the scanner unit 40 and the document transport unit 50 is sent to a scanner controller (not shown), processed by the image controller (not shown), and when a copy operation is designated, the image data is sent to the printer. When the scan operation is designated, the image data is converted into image data and output. When the fax operation is designated, fax transmission is performed.

  Next, control of the image forming apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  The printer control unit stores data such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), ROM (Read Only Memory) for storing control firmware, parameters for executing firmware, and data processing. It is composed of a RAM (Random Access Memory) as an area. Information from various sensors is input to the printer control unit and used for processing determination by the CPU. In addition, the printer control unit drives a motor to execute paper conveyance and image forming processing.

  The process unit is a unit for forming an image and has functions of development, transfer, and fixing.

  The image control unit includes a scanner unit for reading a document, a document transport unit that transports the document to the scanner unit, an operation panel unit that displays device information to the operator and receives instructions from the operator, and a FAX or LAN ( It is connected to an external network that substitutes for (Local Area Network), processes higher-level control, and instructs the printer control unit to perform an image forming operation.

  A plurality of consumables equipped with NV (Non-Volatile) memory are connected to the printer control unit, and the printer control unit obtains consumable information from information in the NV memory mounted on the consumables. To do. This consumable information includes not only information for determining whether the consumable to be controlled in this embodiment is a genuine product or a non-genuine product, but also destination information, consumption level of consumables, and image formation. Information for selecting and determining the optimum control at the time is stored.

  Further, the printer control unit and the image control unit (hereinafter simply referred to as a control unit) provide consumables determination means for determining whether a plurality of mounted consumables are genuine products or non-genuine products, and print instructions. Based on the print job acceptance means to accept, the set operation mode (genuine product mode / non-genuine product permission mode), consumable information (genuine product / non-genuine product) and the type of print job (color / monochrome), It also functions as image forming means for forming an image. In particular, when a genuine product mode that assumes the use of a genuine product is selected, the image forming means prints the image data instructed to print depending on whether each consumable product is a genuine product or a non-genuine product. An image is formed so that the color of the image is converted into printable image data using only genuine products. In addition, each means of the said control part may be comprised as hardware, and may be comprised as software (a control program which functions a computer as said each means).

  Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, in step S101, the operator sets an operation mode using a UI device including a liquid crystal panel, an LED, a switch, and the like mounted on the device. In this embodiment, the “genuine product mode” using only genuine consumables and the “non-genuine product permission mode” regardless of whether the consumables installed are genuine products or non-genuine products. The operation mode can be selected. Note that the operation modes are not limited to two types, and if there is a difference in operation, three or more operation modes may be selected. The operation mode may be set from an information terminal device connected to the device by interface means including a network.

  Next, in step S102, the control unit (control program) determines the set operation mode. If the operation mode is “genuine product mode”, the process proceeds to step S103, and the operation mode is “non-genuine product permission mode”. ", The process proceeds to step S107.

  When the operation mode is the “genuine product mode”, in step S103, the control unit (control program) determines whether each mounted consumable product is a genuine product or a non-genuine product. A method for determining whether the product is a genuine product or a non-genuine product is not particularly limited, but the most common method is to read and determine data stored in the NV memory mounted on each consumable product.

  Next, in step S104, the control unit (control program) waits for reception of a print job after acquiring consumable information. If a print job is received, the process proceeds to step S105.

  Next, in step S105, the control unit (control program) refers to the operation mode selection table stored in advance, and determines whether the consumable item is genuine / non-genuine and whether the received print job is a color job or a monochrome job. Based on this, an operation mode is determined. This operation mode selection table will be described later.

  In step S106, the control unit (control program) causes the process unit to execute printing in accordance with the determined operation mode. At that time, if all the consumables are non-genuine, such as when certain conditions are met, printing is prohibited and the fact that printing is impossible is displayed on the UI device or information terminal device screen of the image forming apparatus. .

  When the operation mode is “non-genuine product permission mode” in step S102, in step S107, the control unit (control program) determines whether each mounted consumable product is a genuine product or a non-genuine product, and step In step S108, reception of a print job is awaited. If a print job is accepted, the process proceeds to step S109.

  Next, in step S109, the control unit (control program) determines whether the mounted consumables are all genuine products or non-genuine products based on the consumable product determination result. If all the consumables are genuine products, the operation mode is switched to “genuine product mode” in step S114, and printing is executed.

  On the other hand, if the non-genuine product is included in the consumables, the control unit (control program) stores a history log using the non-genuine product in step S110. The log is recorded on the NV-ROM mounted on the main body (not the NV-memory mounted on the consumables and is not shown in FIG. 2), and the use history of the consumables is used to determine the service guarantee. use.

  In step S111, the control unit (control program) determines whether the received print job is a color job or a monochrome job.

  If the received print job is a color job, in step S112, the control unit (control program) causes the process unit to perform color printing using all of the YMCK consumables installed. At this time, in order to avoid the risk of failure and the occurrence of defective images due to non-genuine consumables, the number of times of image stabilization may be increased, the development, transfer, and fixing processes may be changed, or the system speed may be changed. .

  On the other hand, if the received print job is a monochrome job, in step S113, the control unit (control program) causes the process unit to perform monochrome printing using the mounted K color consumable. Even at this time, in order to avoid the risk of malfunction or defective images due to non-genuine consumables, even if the number of times of image stabilization is increased, the development, transfer and fixing processes are changed, or the system speed is changed. good.

  Next, the operation mode when the genuine product mode is selected will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 4 is an operation mode selection table that is referred to when the genuine product mode is selected, and shows a list of operation modes on condition that only genuine products are used. For example, there are sixteen combinations of whether each of the four color consumables installed is genuine or non-genuine. For each of the 16 determination results, there are two types of print jobs, color jobs and monochrome jobs, for a total of 32 combinations. Hereinafter, it demonstrates individually.

  When all four colors of consumables are genuine, both color JOB and monochrome JOB are printed using consumables necessary for color reproduction.

  If a monochrome JOB is accepted with the K consumables determined to be genuine, monochrome printing can be performed using the K consumables, and whether the YMC consumables are genuine or non-genuine Is not affected.

  If only the K color is non-genuine, image formation is performed without using the K color consumables. For black, printing is performed by superimposing genuine consumables YMC and reproducing them with a composite color.

  If only one of the YMC colors is determined to be a non-genuine product, and a color job is accepted with a K color consumable product determined to be a genuine product, the black part will be imaged with a K consumable product. The color portion is converted into a plurality of colors that can be reproduced with two-color consumables determined to be genuine products, and printing is performed. In that case, images having the same color tone and different densities may be used.

  If only one of the YMC colors is determined to be a non-genuine product, and a color JOB is received in a state where a K-color consumable product is determined to be a non-genuine product, two-color consumption determined to be a genuine product. Convert to multiple colors that can be reproduced on the product and print. The black part of the image data is reproduced with the highest density color that can be reproduced with two colors judged to be genuine, and the colored part is expressed with a color that is clearly different from the color synthesized with black, and the difference between the black part and the color part Create and print an image that understands.

  If only one of the YMC colors is determined to be genuine, and the color JOB is accepted with the K color consumable determined to be genuine, the black part will be imaged with the K consumable, The color portion is printed with a single color consumable determined to be a genuine product, converted into a so-called two-color image, and printed. The density of the color portion may be one type, or the color image may be reproduced with different densities.

  If only one of the YMC colors is determined to be a genuine product and the K color consumable product is determined to be a non-genuine product, it is converted into a single-color image of only one genuine product and printed.

  When a color job is accepted in a state where only the K color is determined to be a genuine product, it is converted into a monochrome grayscale image or a black binary image called a line drawing and printed.

  If all consumables of YMCK are determined to be non-genuine products, printing operations are prohibited for both color jobs and monochrome jobs. Only in this case, it is desirable to display the print prohibition state on the UI device or the like before accepting the print job, but the print prohibition may be displayed at the timing when the print job is accepted.

  Note that the operation mode presented in FIG. 4 is an example, and each operation mode may be a mode that operates without using a non-genuine product, and is not limited to the above description.

  Next, the operation mode when the non-genuine product mode is selected will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 5 is an operation mode selection table that is referred to when the non-genuine product permission mode is selected. In this case, there are two combinations of operation modes: whether all four color consumables are genuine or non-genuine, and print job is a color job or monochrome job. There are 4 ways. Hereinafter, it demonstrates individually.

  If a non-genuine product is included in the setting of “non-genuine product permission mode”, use the consumables of the required color depending on whether it is a color job or monochrome job. To execute the printing operation. At this time, simultaneously with printing, a history of executing printing using non-genuine consumables is left in the main body as reference information for apparatus maintenance. However, at this time, in order to avoid the risk of malfunction or defective images due to non-genuine consumables, even if the number of times of image stabilization is increased, the development, transfer and fixing processes are changed, or the system speed is changed. good.

  If all installed consumables are genuine in the “Non-genuine product permission mode” setting, the user determines that the setting is incorrect and does not leave a history of printing using non-genuine consumables in the machine. Return to the genuine product mode and continue printing.

  In this way, when genuine product mode is selected, non-genuine consumables are converted to printable images using only genuine consumables without using consumables that are different from the genuine products that are installed. It is possible to reduce the risk of damage to the device and the risk of image quality degradation caused by using the product.

  In the above embodiment, the control of the present invention is executed for the image forming apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and any apparatus in which a genuine product and a non-genuine product are used. It can be similarly applied to.

  The present invention can be used for image forming apparatuses such as printers and MFPs (Multi Function Peripherals), and use control of consumables in the image forming apparatuses.

1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the structure of an image forming apparatus (composite printer) according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating main functions of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is an example of the operation mode selection table referred when the genuine product mode is selected. It is an example of the operation mode selection table referred when non-genuine product permission mode is selected.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Paper feed cassette 2 Paper feed roller 3 Paper feed path 4 Timing roller 5 Secondary transfer roller 6 Opposing roller 7 Fixing roller 8 Transfer belt 9 Transfer belt drive roller 10 Paper discharge tray 30 Timing sensor 40 Scanner unit 41 Scan unit 42 Platen glass 43 Reading position 50 Document transport device 51 Document tray 53 Document discharge tray 60 Horizontal transport unit 61 Horizontal transport unit sensor

Claims (15)

In an image forming apparatus capable of selecting a first mode based on the use of genuine consumables and a second mode permitting the use of non-genuine consumables,
Consumables determination means for determining whether a mounted consumable is genuine or non-genuine,
A print job accepting means for accepting a print instruction;
When the first mode is selected, the consumable used for reproducing the color instructed to be printed by the print job accepting unit includes a consumable determined as non-genuine by the consumable determining unit. Comprises at least image forming means for forming an image using only the consumables determined to be genuine without using the consumables determined to be non-genuine. .   The image forming unit combines the black output with the YMC color consumables when only the K color consumables are determined to be non-genuine by the consumable determination unit among the YMCK consumables. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an image is formed.   In the image forming unit, if only the consumables for K color are determined to be genuine by the consumables determining unit among the consumables for each color of YMCK, and the color print instruction is received by the print job receiving unit, The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image is converted into a grayscale image, and the image is formed using only the K-color consumables.   The image forming unit determines that one of the YMCK consumables is non-genuine by the consumable determining unit and the color print instruction is received by the print job receiving unit. In this case, an image is formed by converting a color including a consumable color determined to be non-genuine into a specific color that can be reproduced with only two color consumables determined to be genuine. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.   The image forming means determines that, among the consumables for each color of YMCK, the K color is determined to be genuine by the consumables determination means, and two of the YMC color consumables are determined to be non-genuine, and a print job is accepted 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein when a color print instruction is received by the means, a color image other than black is converted into a specific color that can be reproduced only by a consumable product determined to be a genuine product, and the image is formed. The image forming apparatus described.   When the consumables determination unit determines that the K color is non-genuine and two of the YMCK consumables are determined to be non-genuine, the image forming unit is genuine. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an image is formed with a single color of only consumables determined to be.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the consumable includes one of a developing unit, a toner cartridge, an ink bottle, and a print head. Computer at least
A control program that functions as the image forming unit according to claim 1. A control method for controlling image formation in an image forming apparatus,
A first step of selecting a first mode based on the use of genuine consumables or a second mode permitting the use of non-genuine consumables;
A second step of determining whether the consumables installed are genuine or non-genuine;
A third step of accepting a print instruction;
When the first mode is selected, if the consumable used for reproducing the color instructed for printing includes the consumable determined as non-genuine, the consumable determined as non-genuine is used. A control method comprising at least a fourth step of forming an image using only consumables determined as genuine without being used.   In the fourth step, when only the K color consumables are determined to be non-genuine among the YMCK color consumables, the black output is synthesized with the YMC color consumables to form an image. The control method according to claim 9.   In the fourth step, among the consumables of each color of YMCK, if only the consumable of K color is determined to be genuine and a color printing instruction is accepted, the color image is converted into a grayscale image, and K color The control method according to claim 9, wherein an image is formed using only the consumables.   In the fourth step, if one of the YMCK consumables is determined to be non-genuine and a color printing instruction is received, the consumable determined to be non-genuine. The control method according to claim 9, wherein an image is formed by converting a color including two colors into a specific color that can be reproduced with only two consumables determined to be genuine.   In the fourth step, when the consumables of each color of YMCK are determined to be genuine K color, two of the consumables of YMC color are determined to be non-genuine, and a color printing instruction is accepted, The control method according to claim 9, wherein the image is formed by converting a color image other than black into a specific color that can be reproduced only with consumables determined to be genuine products.   In the fourth step, among the consumables of each color of YMCK, if the K color is determined to be non-genuine and two of the YMC color consumables are determined to be non-genuine, the consumables determined to be genuine The control method according to claim 9, wherein an image is formed with only a single color.   The control method according to claim 9, wherein the consumable includes one of a developing unit, a toner cartridge, an ink bottle, and a print head.

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