WO2020032330A1 - Toner amount display of image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Toner amount display of image forming apparatus Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2020032330A1
WO2020032330A1 PCT/KR2018/015834 KR2018015834W WO2020032330A1 WO 2020032330 A1 WO2020032330 A1 WO 2020032330A1 KR 2018015834 W KR2018015834 W KR 2018015834W WO 2020032330 A1 WO2020032330 A1 WO 2020032330A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
toner
light
display
image forming
forming apparatus
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/KR2018/015834
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Sung Jin Park
Original Assignee
Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L. P.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L. P. filed Critical Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L. P.
Publication of WO2020032330A1 publication Critical patent/WO2020032330A1/en

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/06—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing
    • G03G15/08—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing using a solid developer, e.g. powder developer
    • G03G15/0822—Arrangements for preparing, mixing, supplying or dispensing developer
    • G03G15/0848—Arrangements for testing or measuring developer properties or quality, e.g. charge, size, flowability
    • G03G15/0856—Detection or control means for the developer level
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/06—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing
    • G03G15/08—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing using a solid developer, e.g. powder developer
    • G03G15/0894—Reconditioning of the developer unit, i.e. reusing or recycling parts of the unit, e.g. resealing of the unit before refilling with toner
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/50—Machine control of apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern, e.g. regulating differents parts of the machine, multimode copiers, microprocessor control
    • G03G15/5016—User-machine interface; Display panels; Control console
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/55—Self-diagnostics; Malfunction or lifetime display
    • G03G15/553—Monitoring or warning means for exhaustion or lifetime end of consumables, e.g. indication of insufficient copy sheet quantity for a job
    • G03G15/556—Monitoring or warning means for exhaustion or lifetime end of consumables, e.g. indication of insufficient copy sheet quantity for a job for toner consumption, e.g. pixel counting, toner coverage detection or toner density measurement
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G21/00—Arrangements not provided for by groups G03G13/00 - G03G19/00, e.g. cleaning, elimination of residual charge
    • G03G21/16—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements
    • G03G21/18—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements using a processing cartridge, whereby the process cartridge comprises at least two image processing means in a single unit
    • G03G21/1803—Arrangements or disposition of the complete process cartridge or parts thereof
    • G03G21/181—Manufacturing or assembling, recycling, reuse, transportation, packaging or storage

Definitions

  • An image forming apparatus refers to a device which prints printing data that is generated from a terminal device, such as a computer, to printing paper.
  • An example of an image forming apparatus may be a copier, a printer, a scanner, a facsimile, or a multi-function peripheral (MFP) which realizes functions of a copier, a printer, a scanner, or a facsimile in a single device, and so on.
  • MFP multi-function peripheral
  • An image forming apparatus using a laser printing method uses toner to print an image.
  • the toner is used whenever an image forming job is processed and is exhausted if toner is used for a predetermined time or longer.
  • FIG. 1 is a view illustrating an image forming apparatus, according to an example
  • FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus, according to an example
  • FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a more specific configuration of an image forming apparatus, according to an example
  • FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a printing engine, according to an example
  • FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a toner cartridge, according to an example
  • FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a toner refilling device, according to an example
  • FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a display, according to an example
  • FIG. 8 illustrates an operation of a display when a color of a main body of an image forming apparatus is white, according to an example
  • FIG. 9 illustrates an operation of a display when a color of a main body of an image forming apparatus is black, according to an example
  • FIG. 10 illustrates a display operation when a toner refill is deemed necessary, according to an example
  • FIG. 11 illustrates a display operation in a toner refill process, according to an example.
  • FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a method for displaying a toner amount, according to an example.
  • image forming job may mean various jobs related to the image (e.g., printing, copying, scanning, or faxing), such as forming an image or generating / storing / transmitting an image file, and "job” may mean not only an image forming operation but also a series of processes which are necessary for performing an image forming operation.
  • image forming apparatus refers to a device that prints print data generated by a terminal device such as a computer on a recording paper.
  • Examples of such an image forming apparatus include a copier, a printer, a scanner, a facsimile, or a multi-function printer (MFP) that combines two or more the functions of the copier, the printer, the scanner, and the facsimile through a single device.
  • the term may refer to any device capable of performing image forming operations, such as a copier, a printer, a scanner, a fax machine, a multi-function printer (MFP), or a display apparatus.
  • hard copy means an operation of outputting an image to a print medium such as paper
  • soft copy means an operation of outputting an image to a display device such as a TV or a monitor or to a memory.
  • print data may mean data converted into a printable format in the printer. If the printer supports direct printing, the file itself may be print data.
  • the term "user” may mean a person who performs an operation related to an image forming operation using an image forming apparatus or a device connected with an image forming apparatus by wire or wirelessly.
  • the term “administrator” may mean a person who has authority to access all the functions and systems of the image forming apparatus. The “administrator” and the “user” may be the same person.
  • FIG. 1 is a view illustrating an image forming apparatus, according to an example.
  • an image forming apparatus 100 includes a main body 1 and a display 110 disposed on a front side of the main body 1.
  • the main body 1 supports each configuration in the image forming apparatus 100 and may be referred to as a housing.
  • the display 110 may be disposed on a front side of the main body 1.
  • the display 110 may be disposed in a direction in which the image forming apparatus 100 discharges printing paper.
  • the display 110 may indicate an operating state of the image forming apparatus 100 and display, for example, information on a toner amount and information on whether toner refill of the image forming apparatus 100 is necessary.
  • the display 110 may include a plurality of light-emitting areas arranged in a line and a background area disposed around the plurality of light-emitting areas, display the amount of toner using one or more of the light-emitting areas, and display whether toner refill is required using a background area.
  • the display 110 which displays information on the amount of toner, may be disposed on the front side of the image forming apparatus 100, and thus, the toner amount and whether toner refill of the image forming apparatus 100 is necessary can be more easily confirmed.
  • the image forming apparatus 100 may include an electrophotographic system using toner (i.e., a laser printer). However, in other examples, the image forming apparatus 100 may use ink and the display 110 may also be applied to inkjet printers.
  • Example configurations of an image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.
  • FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus, according to an example.
  • the image forming apparatus 100 includes the display 110, a printing engine 120, and a processor 130.
  • the display 110 may display various kinds of information provided by the image forming apparatus 100. For example, the display 110 may display information on an amount of toner filled in a toner cartridge 200 in the image forming apparatus 100. Further, the display 110 may indicate that the toner in the toner cartridge 200 needs to be refilled when the toner is below a preset amount.
  • the display 110 may include a plurality of lighting areas (e.g., light-emitting areas) and a background area arranged around the plurality of lighting areas.
  • the lighting areas of the display 110 may be arranged in a line. Examples of shapes and display forms of the lighting area and the background area will be described later with reference to FIGS. 7 to 11.
  • the printing engine 120 may form an image.
  • the printing engine 120 may perform printing using toner contained in the toner cartridge 200.
  • the printing engine 120 may include various consumable devices which are directly or indirectly involved in an image forming job.
  • a charging device, an exposure device, a developing device, a transferring device, a fixing device, various rollers, a belt, an organic photo conductor (OPC) drum, and the like can be consumable devices.
  • various types of devices requiring replacement, such as a developing device may be defined as a consumable device.
  • One of such consumable devices is a toner cartridge, and the toner cartridge can perform the function as the developing device as described above. An example configuration and operation of a printing engine will be described later with reference to FIG. 4.
  • the toner cartridge 200 is a device which provides toner to a developing device and toner in the toner cartridge 200 can be refilled by a toner refill device.
  • An example configuration and operation of a toner cartridge will be described later with reference to FIG. 5.
  • the processor 130 may control components in the image forming apparatus 100.
  • the processor 130 when receiving printing data from a printing control terminal device (not shown), may control the printing engine 120 so that the received printing data is printed.
  • the printing control terminal device may be an electronic device which provides the printing data and may be a personal computer (PC), a notebook, a tablet PC, a smartphone, a server, and the like.
  • the processor 130 may be configured as a single device such as a central processing unit (CPU), or may be configured as a plurality of devices such as a clock generation circuit, CPU, and a graphic processor.
  • CPU central processing unit
  • the processor 130 may be configured as a single device such as a central processing unit (CPU), or may be configured as a plurality of devices such as a clock generation circuit, CPU, and a graphic processor.
  • the processor 130 may determine an amount of toner in the toner cartridge 200 and control the display 110 so that the determined toner amount is displayed.
  • the processor 130 may control the display 110 to illuminate a light-emitting area corresponding to the amount of toner identified among the plurality of light-emitting areas of the display 110.
  • the processor 130 may control the display 110 to emit light corresponding to the color of toner in the toner cartridge 200, and a color of the background area may also be the same as the color of the light-emitting area.
  • the printing engine 120 may include a plurality of toner cartridges of different toner colors. For example, a toner cartridge for each of a cyan / magenta / yellow / black color can be included.
  • the processor 130 may control the display 110 to display a toner amount of each of the plurality of toner cartridges in a predetermined time interval unit.
  • the predetermined time may be 0.5 seconds, but is not limited thereto.
  • the processor 130 may control the display 110 to sequentially display the toner amount (i.e., black toner) of a black toner cartridge, display the toner amount (i.e., cyan toner) of a cyan toner cartridge after 0.5 seconds, display the toner amount (i.e., magenta toner) of a magenta toner cartridge after 0.5 seconds, and display the toner amount (i.e., yellow toner) of a yellow toner cartridge after 0.5 seconds.
  • This display operation can be repeatedly performed during the operation of the image forming apparatus 100.
  • the above-described display operation may be continuously performed when power is applied, and may be performed only in the wake-up mode or the normal mode. That is, the display operation may not be performed in the power saving mode.
  • the processor 130 when displaying a toner amount of each of the aforementioned plurality of toner cartridges, may control the display 110 so that the light-emitting area and the background area have a color corresponding to the toner color of the toner cartridge 200 which is currently displayed.
  • a user may intuitively see colors that are displayed on the display 110 and recognize an amount of toner for a corresponding toner cartridge.
  • the processor 130 may indicate the necessity of toner refilling by using the background area. For example, the processor 130 may control the display 110 such that the background area blinks by a predetermined time unit if the amount of toner in the toner cartridge is less than a predetermined value.
  • the predetermined time may be 0.5 seconds, but is not limited thereto.
  • the image forming apparatus 100 includes a plurality of toner cartridges and the toner amount of any one of the plurality of toner cartridges is less than or equal to a predetermined value
  • the toner amount of each toner cartridge is displayed in a first time unit, and when the toner amount of the toner cartridge having the toner amount that is equal to or less than the predetermined value is displayed, the background area may blink in a second time unit shorter than the first time unit.
  • a display time corresponding to a normal toner cartridge and a display time corresponding to a toner cartridge lacking toner may be different. For example, if the amount of toner in the black cartridge is insufficient, the amount of toner in the cyan / magenta / yellow toner cartridge may be displayed at 0.5 second intervals, and the amount of toner in the black cartridge may be displayed for a time of 1 second or more.
  • the processor 130 may determine whether the connected toner refilling device is usable (e.g., genuine, authorized, etc.). In an example, the processor 130 may not only confirm whether the connected toner refilling device is a genuine device or a device having a usage history, but may also determine whether the toner color of the toner refilling device and the toner color of the toner cartridge 200 that needs to be refilled coincide with each other.
  • the processor 130 may not only confirm whether the connected toner refilling device is a genuine device or a device having a usage history, but may also determine whether the toner color of the toner refilling device and the toner color of the toner cartridge 200 that needs to be refilled coincide with each other.
  • the processor 130 may control the toner cartridge 200 so that the toner in the toner refilling device is injected into the toner cartridge 200 if it is confirmed that the toner refilling device is usable.
  • the toner cartridge 200 may include a hole through which the toner can be injected and a locking member that electrically opens and closes the hole.
  • the processor 130 may control the display 110 so that a light-emitting area which corresponds to a toner amount increasing section of the toner cartridge, from among the plurality of light-emitting areas, may blink in a predetermined time unit. An example of such an operation will be described later with reference to FIG. 11.
  • FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a more specific configuration of an image forming apparatus, according to an example.
  • the image forming apparatus 100 may include the display 110, the printing engine 120, the processor 130, a communication device 140, a memory 150, and an inputter 160.
  • the display 110 and the printing engine 120 have been described with reference to FIG. 2, and a redundant description will be omitted.
  • the processor 130 has been described with reference to FIG. 2 and thus, the contents described in FIG. 2 are not again described but only the contents related to the configuration added in FIG. 3 will be described below.
  • the communication device 140 is connected to a print control terminal device (not shown), and can receive print data from the print control terminal device.
  • the communication device 140 is formed to connect the image forming apparatus 100 to an external device, and may be connected to an external device (e.g., a print control terminal device) via a local area network (LAN) or the Internet network, a universal serial bus (USB) port or a wireless communication (e.g., WiFi 802.11a / b / g / n, NFC, Bluetooth, etc.) port.
  • LAN local area network
  • USB universal serial bus
  • WiFi 802.11a / b / g / n e.g., WiFi 802.11a / b / g / n, NFC, Bluetooth, etc.
  • the communication device 140 can communicate with a toner refilling device, such as a toner refilling device 400 which will be described below with reference to FIG. 6.
  • a toner refilling device such as a toner refilling device 400 which will be described below with reference to FIG. 6.
  • the communication device 140 may communicate with the toner refiling device.
  • the communication device 140 may be electrically connected to the toner refilling device through a plurality of terminals mounted to the toner cartridge 200 or communicate with the toner refilling device using a radio frequency identification (RFID) method.
  • RFID radio frequency identification
  • the communication device 140 may transmit information about the toner cartridge 200 to a management server (not shown) or an administrator (e.g., the terminal device of the administrator).
  • the processor 130 may perform communication with the toner refilling device using the communication device 140.
  • the processor 130 may perform communication with the toner refilling device by performing encryption on the transferred data.
  • Various encryption algorithms can be used such as Rivest-Shamir-Adleman (RSA), elliptic-curve cryptography (ECC) asymmetric key algorithm, ARIA, triple DES (TDES), SEED, advanced encryption standard (AES) symmetric key algorithm, etc.
  • the processor 130 may perform an authentication procedure to determine whether the toner refilling device is a legitimate device based on information provided from the toner refiling device.
  • the processor 130 may control the display 110 to indicate that the toner refilling device is not usable.
  • the processor 130 may control the display 110 to indicate an amount of toner to be provided in a toner refilling process, if it is determined that the toner refilling device is usable.
  • the display 110 may indicate only the toner amount of the toner cartridge during the current refill process. That is, a display operation for the toner amount of another toner cartridge in which toner refilling has not been performed may be temporarily stopped.
  • the memory 150 may store print data received through the communication device 140.
  • the memory 150 may store history information of a printing job which is performed by the image forming apparatus 100.
  • the memory 150 may store information regarding a toner refill history of the toner cartridge 200.
  • the memory 150 may be implemented as a storage medium in the image forming apparatus 100, or an external storage medium, for example, a removable disk including a USB memory, a web server through a network, or the like.
  • the memory 150 may be composed of a plurality of memory elements.
  • the memory may include a first memory for storing data necessary for the operation of the image forming apparatus and a second memory for storing information related to a customer replaceable unit monitor (CRUM) device (not shown) or a toner refilling device.
  • CRUM customer replaceable unit monitor
  • the second memory may be a non-transitory memory such as an Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM).
  • EEPROM Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory
  • the inputter 160 may receive a control command to select a function from a user.
  • the function may include a printing function, a copying function, a scanning function, a fax transmission function, etc.
  • the inputter 160 may be implemented as one or more touch keys, a touch screen, or the like.
  • the image forming apparatus 100 may refill and use toner without replacing the toner cartridge 200.
  • the image forming apparatus 100 may indicate the amount of toner in the toner cartridge 200 through the display 110, so that the user can intuitively determine the amount of toner and more easily determine whether the toner needs to be refilled.
  • the image forming apparatus 100 is shown and described as having only the display as shown in FIG. 1, in other examples, the image forming apparatus 100 may further include an additional display in addition to the display illustrated in FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a printing engine, according to an example.
  • a printing engine may include a photosensitive drum 121, a charger 122, an exposure device 123, a developing device 200, a transfer device 125, and a fixing device 128.
  • the photosensitive drum 121 may be referred to as a photosensitive drum, a photosensitive belt, or the like depending on its form.
  • the charger 122 charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 121 to a uniform potential.
  • the charger 122 may be implemented in the form of a corona charger, a charging roller, a charging brush, or the like.
  • the exposure device 123 changes the surface potential of the photosensitive drum 121 according to the image information to be printed, thereby forming an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 121.
  • the developing device 200 (e.g., toner cartridge) accommodates a developer therein, and supplies the developer to the electrostatic latent image to develop the electrostatic latent image into a visible image.
  • the developing device 200 may include a developing roller 127 for supplying the developer to the electrostatic latent image.
  • An example of a shape and a configuration of the toner cartridge 200 will be described later with reference to FIG. 5.
  • the visible image formed on the photosensitive drum 121 is transferred to a recording medium P by the transfer device 125 or an intermediary transfer belt (not shown).
  • the fixing device 128 fixes the visible image on the recording medium P by applying heat and / or pressure to the visible image on the recording medium P.
  • the printing operation is completed by this series of processes.
  • the aforementioned developer is used whenever an image forming job is performed and is exhausted if it is used for more than a predetermined number of times.
  • a toner cartridge includes various components, it may be desired to refill the toner without replacing the toner cartridge. Examples of a toner cartridge capable of being refilled with toner and a device for refilling the toner in the toner cartridge will be described below with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.
  • FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a toner cartridge, according to an example.
  • the toner cartridge 200 includes toner.
  • the toner cartridge 200 may include first terminals 210 to be electrically connected to an image forming apparatus, second terminals 220 to be electrically connected to a toner refilling device, and a hole 230 to receive of toner.
  • the first terminals 210 may be electrically connected to terminals inside an image forming apparatus when the toner cartridge 200 is mounted in the image forming apparatus.
  • the first terminals 210 may transceive not only a signal for communication between the image forming apparatus and the toner cartridge 200 but also a signal for communication with the CRUM device (not shown) attached to the toner cartridge 200 or the toner refilling device.
  • the second terminals 220 may be electrically connected to the terminals of a toner refilling device when the toner refilling device is connected to the hole 230 for refilling.
  • the second terminals can transmit and receive signals between the image forming apparatus and the toner refilling device.
  • the hole 230 may include a hole for receiving toner from a toner refilling device.
  • a locking member (not shown) for electrically opening and closing the hole may be disposed at an upper portion of the hole 230 or an intermediate position of the hole 230.
  • the locking member (not shown) is a device for opening and closing the hole 230 according to an electrical signal, and may be driven by a device such as a solenoid.
  • the toner cartridge 200 can be selectively injected with toner from the toner refilling device only when the use of the toner refilling device is confirmed.
  • FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a toner refilling device, according to an example.
  • a toner refilling device 400 may have a bottle shape capable of containing toner, and may have an outlet through which toner can be injected into a hole of a toner cartridge.
  • the toner refilling device 400 has a transparent window 410 on one side thereof and allows the user to determine the amount of toner contained in the toner refilling device 400 through the transparent window 410.
  • This transparent window 410 may be composed of three transparent windows 411, 413, and 415 in an arrangement similar to a form of the display 110.
  • the plurality of transparent windows 411, 413, and 415 may be arranged in a line and have the same width and different lengths.
  • the transparent window 410 is disposed on only one side of the toner refilling device 400.
  • a transparent window may be disposed on each of the plurality of side surfaces of the toner refilling device 400.
  • FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a display, according to an example.
  • the display 110 may include a plurality of light-emitting areas 117 and a background area 119.
  • the plurality of light-emitting areas 117 may be arranged in a row, and an amount of toner in the toner cartridge 200 may be indicated by selective illumination of one or more of the plurality of light emitting areas 117.
  • the plurality of light-emitting areas 117 may include a first light-emitting area 111, a second light-emitting area 113, and a third light-emitting area 115.
  • the first light-emitting area 111 may be turned on (i.e., illuminated) to indicate that the amount of toner in the toner cartridge 200 is in the range of 0% to 20%.
  • the first light-emitting area 111 may be turned on (i.e., illuminated) together with the second light-emitting area 113 when the amount of toner in the toner cartridge is in the range of 20% to 50%.
  • the first light-emitting area 111 may be turned on (i.e., illuminated) together with the second light-emitting area 113 and the third light-emitting area 115 when the amount of toner in the toner cartridge is in the range of 50% to 100%.
  • the second light-emitting area 113 may be turned on (i.e., illuminated) to indicate that the amount of toner in the toner cartridge 200 is in the range of 20% to 50%.
  • the second light-emitting area 113 can be turned on (i.e., illuminated) together with the third light-emitting area 115 when the toner amount of the toner cartridge is in the range of 50% to 100%
  • the third light-emitting area 115 may be turned on (i.e., illuminated) to indicate that the amount of toner in the toner cartridge 200 is in the range of 50% to 100%.
  • the background area 119 is an area that emits light of the same color as the plurality of lighting areas 117.
  • a preset value for example, 10%
  • the background area 119 blinks in a predetermined time unit, and it is possible to indicate that the toner refill is necessary.
  • the display 110 may be implemented in a different configuration depending on the color of the main body 1 of the image forming apparatus 100.
  • the display 110 may be implemented as a reflective liquid crystal display (LCD).
  • LCD liquid crystal display
  • the display operation of the display 110 when the display 110 is implemented by a reflection type LCD will be described later with reference to FIG. 8.
  • OLED organic light emitting diode
  • the display operation of the display 110 when the OLED display 110 is implemented will be described later with reference to FIG. 9.
  • the display 110 may be divided into four areas, and the processor 130 may use a 2-bit control signal, i.e., four pieces of status information, to control the three light-emitting areas 111, 113, and 115, and the background area 119.
  • a 2-bit control signal i.e., four pieces of status information
  • a plurality of light-emitting area are composed of three light-emitting areas.
  • a plurality of light-emitting areas may be implemented by four or more (for example, seven) at the time of implementation.
  • FIG. 8 illustrates an operation of a display when a color of a main body of an image forming apparatus is white, according to an example.
  • the display 110 may be implemented as a reflective LCD.
  • the reflective LCD may have a reflectance of approximately 40% and may have a light gray background upon power-off.
  • the plurality of light-emitting areas and the background areas of the display 110 all have light gray color 810.
  • the light-emitting area(s) and the background area corresponding to the toner amount of the black cartridge have a black color 820.
  • the light-emitting area(s) and the background area corresponding to the amount of toner in the cyan cartridge may have a cyan color 830.
  • the light-emitting area(s) and the background area corresponding to the amount of toner in the magenta cartridge may have magenta color 840.
  • the light-emitting area(s) and the background area corresponding to the amount of toner in the yellow cartridge may have a yellow color 850.
  • FIG. 9 illustrates an operation of a display when a color of a main body of an image forming apparatus is black, according to an example.
  • the display 110 may be implemented as an OLED.
  • the OLED has a black color in a power-off state.
  • the plurality of light-emitting areas and background areas of the display 110 have black color 910.
  • the light-emitting area(s) and the background area corresponding to the toner amount of the black cartridge may have a black color 920.
  • the processor 130 may provide a white light emission signal only in a light-emitting area that is not used to indicate an amount of toner.
  • the light-emitting area(s) and the background area corresponding to the toner amount of the cyan cartridge may have cyan color 930.
  • the light-emitting area(s) and the background area corresponding to the toner amount of the magenta cartridge may have magenta color 940.
  • the light-emitting area(s) and the background area corresponding to the toner amount of the yellow cartridge may have yellow color 950.
  • the display 110 may be implemented as an OLED and thus, in a state when the image forming apparatus 100 is turned off, the display 110 may have a black color and may not be distinguished from the black color of the main body.
  • FIG. 10 illustrates a display operation when a toner refill is deemed necessary, according to an example.
  • the toner amount of a black toner cartridge is about 10%, so that toner refilling is required, and that the display 110 is implemented by a reflective LCD as shown in FIG. 8.
  • the toner amount of the black toner cartridge is 10%
  • only the first area of the plurality of blinking areas is lit.
  • the background area may also have black, and black 1010 and white 1020 may be alternately changed at a predetermined time interval (for example, 0.5 seconds).
  • the user may notice that the black toner cartridge has an error. Further, the user may intuitively recognize that an amount of toner of the black toner cartridge is low and refill is required, through information on the light-emitting area.
  • the background area blinks in a case where toner refilling is required.
  • the light-emitting area for indicating the amount of toner may blink, or a corresponding light-emitting area and the background area may blink simultaneously or reversely.
  • FIG. 11 illustrates a display operation in a toner refill process, according to an example.
  • the second light-emitting area of the plurality of light-emitting areas can blink 1120, 1130, and 1140.
  • the second light-emitting area may maintain a light-emitting state and the third light-emitting area may blink 1150, 1160, and 1170.
  • FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a method for displaying a toner amount, according to an example.
  • an amount of toner in a toner cartridge is determined in operation S1210.
  • the confirmed amount of toner is displayed using the display in operation S1220.
  • a display having a plurality of light-emitting areas arranged in a line and a background area arranged around the plurality of light-emitting areas, a light-emitting area corresponding to the identified amount of toner among the plurality of light-emitting areas is lit so that the user can determine the toner amount.
  • the toner amount of each of the plurality of cartridges may be sequentially displayed.
  • the display may display a color corresponding to the color of the cartridge that is currently displayed, so that the user can intuitively know to which toner cartridge the information currently displayed corresponds.
  • the background area may blink in a preset time unit.
  • a toner amount display method can refill and use the toner without replacing the toner cartridge 200. Further, in an example toner amount display method, the toner amount of the toner cartridge 200 is indicated through the display 110, so that the user can intuitively determine the amount of toner, and may determine whether the toner needs to be refilled.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
  • Control Or Security For Electrophotography (AREA)
PCT/KR2018/015834 2018-08-10 2018-12-13 Toner amount display of image forming apparatus WO2020032330A1 (en)

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KR1020180093746A KR20200018030A (ko) 2018-08-10 2018-08-10 화상형성장치의 토너량 표시
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Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2001255786A (ja) * 2000-01-07 2001-09-21 Canon Inc 電子写真画像形成装置
JP2005338386A (ja) * 2004-05-26 2005-12-08 Canon Inc カラー画像形成装置、補給指示表示方法、及びプログラム
JP2006163272A (ja) * 2004-12-10 2006-06-22 Seiko Epson Corp 印刷装置
JP2007271884A (ja) * 2006-03-31 2007-10-18 Sharp Corp トナー補給装置及びこれを用いた画像形成装置
US20090185814A1 (en) * 2008-01-18 2009-07-23 Xerox Corporation Document processing system with configurable graphic display of print consumable level

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2001255786A (ja) * 2000-01-07 2001-09-21 Canon Inc 電子写真画像形成装置
JP2005338386A (ja) * 2004-05-26 2005-12-08 Canon Inc カラー画像形成装置、補給指示表示方法、及びプログラム
JP2006163272A (ja) * 2004-12-10 2006-06-22 Seiko Epson Corp 印刷装置
JP2007271884A (ja) * 2006-03-31 2007-10-18 Sharp Corp トナー補給装置及びこれを用いた画像形成装置
US20090185814A1 (en) * 2008-01-18 2009-07-23 Xerox Corporation Document processing system with configurable graphic display of print consumable level

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