JP2006145846A - Toner remaining amount notification method - Google Patents

Toner remaining amount notification method Download PDF

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JP2006145846A
JP2006145846A JP2004335892A JP2004335892A JP2006145846A JP 2006145846 A JP2006145846 A JP 2006145846A JP 2004335892 A JP2004335892 A JP 2004335892A JP 2004335892 A JP2004335892 A JP 2004335892A JP 2006145846 A JP2006145846 A JP 2006145846A
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remaining amount
toner
warning
threshold
threshold value
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JP2004335892A
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Japanese (ja)
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Naoteru Kumura
直輝 九村
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Canon Inc
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Canon Inc
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Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To recognize presence of a user and to generate an alarm before a standard toner remaining alarm is generated. <P>SOLUTION: A printer control section 20 processes information from a toner remaining amount detection sensor 30 and a paper discharge section sensor 40 and sends the result to a main controller section 10. On the basis of a threshold "b" that the users inputs through an operation section 50 having a display section and various keys and a standard threshold "a", the main controller section 10 operates as usual when a toner remaining amount "X" is larger than the threshold "b" and sends an alarm in response to detection by the paper discharge section sensor 40 when the toner remaining amount "X" is smaller than the threshold "b" and larger than the threshold "a". When the toner remaining amount "X" is smaller than the threshold "a", an alarm is generated as usual. The alarm is issued by display at the operation section 50 or/and sounding from a loudspeaker section 60. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

本発明は、画像形成装置のトナー残量告知方法に関する。   The present invention relates to a toner remaining amount notification method for an image forming apparatus.

従来、トナー残量告知は、記録トナーの残量がある一定以下になるとアラームによりトナーの補給を促す単純な構成であった（特許文献１参照）。
特開平０８―０４４２５７号公報 Conventionally, the toner remaining amount notification has a simple configuration that prompts toner supply by an alarm when the remaining amount of recording toner falls below a certain level (see Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 08-044257

しかしながら、従来の構成の場合、ユーザーがわざわざ出向かなければならず、非常に手間であるということが生じた。また、警告に気付かず、トナーが無くなってしまうということが生じた。さらに、絶えず警告音が鳴り続けるため、非常に耳障りであるということが生じた。本発明は、上記の問題点を解決するためになされたもので、本発明の目的は、ユーザーが来たことを認識し、トナー残量警告を発する画像形成装置を提供することである。   However, in the case of the conventional configuration, the user has to bother to go out, which is very troublesome. In addition, the user was unaware of the warning and the toner was used up. In addition, the alarm sound was constantly sounding, which caused it to be very annoying. The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that recognizes that a user has come and issues a toner remaining amount warning.

本発明に係る第１の発明は、トナー残量を検出する装置を有する画像形成装置において、トナー残量を段階的に検出する手段を有することを特徴とする。   According to a first aspect of the present invention, in an image forming apparatus having an apparatus for detecting the remaining amount of toner, the image forming apparatus has means for detecting the remaining amount of toner stepwise.

本発明に係る第２の発明は、前記画像形成装置において、トナー残量の警告を発する閾値を２個以上有する手段を有することを特徴とする。   According to a second aspect of the present invention, the image forming apparatus includes a unit having two or more thresholds for issuing a warning about the remaining amount of toner.

本発明に係る第３の発明は、前記画像形成装置において、印字された記録紙を排紙部において検出する手段（以後、排紙部センサーと呼ぶ）を有することを特徴とする。   According to a third aspect of the present invention, the image forming apparatus further includes means for detecting a printed recording sheet in a paper discharge unit (hereinafter referred to as a paper discharge unit sensor).

本発明に係る第４の発明は、前記画像形成装置において、ユーザーが入力できる装置を有することを特徴とする。   According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the image forming apparatus includes a device that allows a user to input.

本発明に係る第５の発明は、前記画像形成装置において、メッセージ表示、スピーカー又はブザーなどを含む鳴動装置を有することを特徴とする。   According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the image forming apparatus includes a sounding device including a message display, a speaker, a buzzer, or the like.

本発明に係る第６の発明は、前記画像形成装置において、標準の閾値“ａ”より大きく、ユーザーが入力した閾値“ｂ”より小さい時に、かつ、前記排紙部センサーの入力があったときに、標準の警告より早くトナー補充または交換の警告を発することを特徴とする。   According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus, when the threshold value “a” is larger than the standard threshold value “a” and smaller than the threshold value “b” input by the user, and the paper discharge unit sensor is input. In addition, the toner replenishment or replacement warning is issued earlier than the standard warning.

本発明に係る第７の発明は、前記画像形成装置において、標準の警告は鳴動であり、早期の警告ではメッセージ表示・ランプの点滅をさせることを特徴とする。   According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus, the standard warning is ringing, and the message is displayed and the lamp blinks in the early warning.

すなわち、トナー残量を段階的に検出し、残量がある閾値“ａ”以下になった時に、表示または鳴動によりトナー交換または補充の警告を発することができる画像形成装置において、印字された記録紙を排紙部において検出する手段（以後、排紙部センサーと呼ぶ）と、ユーザーが前記閾値“ａ”よりも大きい閾値“ｂ”を入力できる手段により、トナー残量の警告を発する閾値を２個以上有する手段を備え、標準の閾値“ａ”より大きく、ユーザーが入力した閾値“ｂ”より小さい時に、かつ、前記排紙部センサーの入力があったときに、標準の警告より早くトナー補充または交換の警告を発することを特徴とする。   In other words, when the remaining amount of toner is detected in stages and the remaining amount falls below a certain threshold value “a”, the printed recording is performed in the image forming apparatus capable of issuing a warning for toner replacement or replenishment by display or ringing. A threshold for issuing a warning of the remaining amount of toner is provided by means for detecting paper in the paper discharge unit (hereinafter referred to as a paper discharge unit sensor) and means for allowing the user to input a threshold “b” larger than the threshold “a”. A unit having two or more means, and a toner that is larger than a standard threshold value “a” and smaller than a threshold value “b” input by a user, and when there is an input from the paper discharge unit sensor, is faster than a standard warning. It is characterized by issuing a replenishment or replacement warning.

本発明に係る第１〜第７の発明によれば、トナー残量が少なくなってくれば、排紙部センサーの動きによって、ユーザーが来たことを認識し、警告を発する。従って、ユーザーがわざわざ出向むくことなく、トナー残量の警告を知ることができる。また、警告音に気付かず、トナーが無くなってしまうということがなくなる。さらに、絶えず警告音があまり鳴らないため、耳障りにならない等の効果を奏する。   According to the first to seventh aspects of the present invention, when the remaining amount of toner decreases, the movement of the paper discharge unit sensor recognizes that the user has come and issues a warning. Accordingly, it is possible to know the toner remaining amount warning without the user having to go out. In addition, the user does not notice the warning sound and does not run out of toner. Further, since the warning sound does not sound so much, the effect of not being harsh is obtained.

以下本発明を実施するための最良の形態を、実施例により詳しく説明する。   Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to examples.

図１は、本発明に係る画像形成装置の構成を示すブロック図である。図において、メインコントローラー部１０は、ＣＰＵ、各種制御回路を有し画像形成装置全体を統括制御するものである。プリンター部においてプリンター制御部２０は、メインコントローラー部１０からの画像データに基づき画像形成を行う。トナー残量検知センサー３０と排紙部センサー４０からの情報をプリンター制御部２０で処理し、その結果をメインコントローラー部１０に送る。メインコントローラー部１０は、表示部および各種キーを有する操作部５０からユーザーが入力した閾値“ｂ”と標準の閾値“ａ”に基づき、トナー残量“Ｘ”が閾値“ｂ”より大きければ通常どおりの動作を行い、トナー残量“Ｘ”が閾値“ｂ”より小さく閾値“ａ”より大きければ排紙部センサー４０の検知に応じて警告を発する、また、トナー残量“Ｘ”が閾値“ａ”より小さければ通常どおり警告を発する。警告は、操作部５０に表示する、または、スピーカー部６０より鳴動を行う、もしくはその両方を行う。   FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. In the figure, a main controller unit 10 has a CPU and various control circuits, and performs overall control of the entire image forming apparatus. In the printer unit, the printer control unit 20 forms an image based on the image data from the main controller unit 10. Information from the toner remaining amount detection sensor 30 and the paper discharge unit sensor 40 is processed by the printer control unit 20 and the result is sent to the main controller unit 10. Based on the threshold value “b” and the standard threshold value “a” input by the user from the display unit and the operation unit 50 having various keys, the main controller unit 10 is normal if the remaining toner amount “X” is larger than the threshold value “b”. When the toner remaining amount “X” is smaller than the threshold value “b” and larger than the threshold value “a”, a warning is issued in response to the detection of the paper discharge unit sensor 40, and the remaining toner amount “X” is the threshold value. If it is smaller than “a”, a warning is issued as usual. The warning is displayed on the operation unit 50 and / or sounded from the speaker unit 60.

図２は、本発明に係る画像形成装置の制御処理手順の一例を示すフローチャートであり、図中、Ｓ１〜Ｓ１１は各ステップを示す。まず、ユーザーが入力する閾値“ｂ”を設定する（Ｓ１）。プリンターが起動すると、まず、トナー残量“Ｘ”を検出し（Ｓ２）、閾値“ｂ”以上か判断し（Ｓ３）、それ以上ならスタンバイに移る（Ｓ８）。トナー残量“Ｘ”が閾値“ｂ”以下なら、標準の閾値“ａ”以上か判断し（Ｓ４）、それ以下なら警告を発する（Ｓ６）。また、それ以下なら、排紙部センサーの検知の動きを判断し（Ｓ５）、検知がないのならスタンバイに移る（Ｓ８）。排紙部センサーの検知の動きがあれば、人が来たと認識し警告を発する（Ｓ６）。警告が発せられればユーザーはトナーの交換または補充を行う（Ｓ７）。スタンバイ状態にある場合に（Ｓ８）、印刷ジョブがくると（Ｓ９）印字を行い（Ｓ１０）、トナー残量”Ｘ”を検出する（Ｓ２）。以後これらを繰り返す。   FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of a control processing procedure of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. In the figure, S1 to S11 indicate each step. First, a threshold “b” input by the user is set (S1). When the printer is started, first, the remaining amount of toner “X” is detected (S2), and it is determined whether it is equal to or greater than the threshold “b” (S3). If the remaining amount of toner “X” is less than or equal to the threshold “b”, it is determined whether it is greater than the standard threshold “a” (S4). If it is less than that, the movement of detection of the paper discharge unit sensor is judged (S5), and if there is no detection, the operation goes to standby (S8). If there is a detection movement of the paper discharge unit sensor, it recognizes that a person has come and issues a warning (S6). If a warning is issued, the user replaces or replenishes the toner (S7). In the standby state (S8), when a print job comes (S9), printing is performed (S10), and the remaining amount of toner “X” is detected (S2). These are repeated thereafter.

本発明に係る画像形成装置の構成を示すブロック図である。1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. 本発明における画像形成装置のフローチャートである。3 is a flowchart of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

符号の説明Explanation of symbols

１０ メインコントローラー
２０ プリンター制御部
３０ トナー残量センサー
４０ 排紙部センサー
５０ 操作部
６０ スピーカー 10 Main controller 20 Printer control unit 30 Remaining toner sensor 40 Paper discharge unit sensor 50 Operation unit 60 Speaker

Claims (3)

トナー残量を段階的に検出し、残量がある閾値“ａ”以下になった時に、表示または鳴動によりトナー交換または補充の警告を発することができる画像形成装置において、印字された記録紙を排紙部において検出する手段と、ユーザーが前記閾値“ａ”よりも大きい閾値“ｂ”を入力できる手段により、トナー残量の警告を発する閾値を２個以上有する手段を備え、
標準の閾値“ａ”より大きく、ユーザーが入力した閾値“ｂ”より小さい時に、かつ、前記排紙部センサーの入力があったときに、標準の警告より早くトナー補充または交換の警告を発することを特徴とするトナー残量告知方法。 In an image forming apparatus that can detect the remaining amount of toner step by step and issue a warning for replacement or replenishment of toner by display or ringing when the remaining amount falls below a certain threshold “a”, A means having two or more thresholds for issuing a warning about the remaining amount of toner by means for detecting in the paper discharge unit and means for allowing the user to input a threshold value “b” larger than the threshold value “a”;
To issue a toner replenishment or replacement warning earlier than the standard warning when the threshold value is larger than the standard threshold value “a” and smaller than the threshold value “b” input by the user and when the paper discharge unit sensor is input. A toner remaining amount notification method. 請求項１記載の排紙部センサーが反応した時に、前記の閾値“ｂ”を加味し警告を発することを特徴とするトナー残量告知方法。   2. A method for notifying a remaining amount of toner, wherein when the paper discharge unit sensor according to claim 1 reacts, a warning is issued in consideration of the threshold value “b”. 請求項１記載の標準の警告は鳴動であり、早期の警告ではメッセージ表示・ランプの点滅であることを特徴とするトナー残量告知方法。   2. The toner remaining amount notification method according to claim 1, wherein the standard warning is ringing, and the early warning is a message display / blinking of a lamp.
JP2004335892A 2004-11-19 2004-11-19 Toner remaining amount notification method Withdrawn JP2006145846A (en)

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Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN105867092A (en) * 2015-02-10 2016-08-17 佳能株式会社 Printing apparatus, and method for controlling the same
JP2019181709A (en) * 2018-04-03 2019-10-24 コニカミノルタ株式会社 Notification control program, warning notification method and image formation apparatus

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN105867092A (en) * 2015-02-10 2016-08-17 佳能株式会社 Printing apparatus, and method for controlling the same
JP2016148734A (en) * 2015-02-10 2016-08-18 キヤノン株式会社 Printer, method for controlling printer, and program
JP2019181709A (en) * 2018-04-03 2019-10-24 コニカミノルタ株式会社 Notification control program, warning notification method and image formation apparatus

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