JP2005111891A - Printing apparatus, printing control method, and computer-readable recording medium storing program for executing the method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing apparatus with high operability by eliminating unnecessary error notification, a printing control method, and a computer-readable recording medium storing a program for executing the method. According to the printing control method of the present invention, the number of occurrences of error information is counted, and error information is notified to the user when the counted number of occurrences of error information reaches a predetermined allowable number of error occurrences. The determination criterion of whether or not is checked, and control is performed so that error information is not notified to the user when the criterion is not satisfied.
[Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, a printing control method, and a computer-readable recording medium storing a program for executing the method, and in particular, notifies error information of various errors that occur during operation of the apparatus by e-mail, for example. The present invention relates to a method for efficiently reporting error information to a user by eliminating unnecessary error notification.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, several image forming apparatuses having a function of transmitting error information of a printing apparatus to a user from the printing apparatus side by electronic medium means such as e-mail have been proposed. As one of them, in Patent Document 1, when any error occurs when the power is turned on or when the apparatus is operating, a process for shifting to error processing and notifying the error content is performed.
Patent No. 2,518,584

  However, since an error content is notified every time an error occurs as in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, when a toner bottle is removed at a toner near end or the like, shaken again, and used again, the error notification is performed again within a short time. There was a problem that the error notification came twice.

  The present invention has been made to solve this problem, and eliminates useless error notification and has high operability, a printing apparatus, a printing control method, and a computer-readable record storing a program for executing the method The purpose is to provide a medium.

  In order to solve the above problem, the printing apparatus of the present invention having a notification function for notifying a user of error information relating to an error that has occurred in the apparatus, an error occurrence number counting means for counting the number of occurrences of error information, A determination means for collating a determination criterion as to whether or not to notify the user of error information when the number of occurrences of error information counted by the error occurrence count counting means reaches a predetermined allowable number of error occurrences; And control means for controlling not to notify the user of the error information when it is not satisfied. Therefore, it is possible to provide a printing apparatus with high operability by eliminating useless error notification.

  If the error is toner near end or toner end, the determination criterion is a predetermined allowable number of prints, and the number of occurrences of toner near end or toner end has reached a predetermined allowable number of occurrences of error, and the number of prints at that time is predetermined. If it is less than the allowable number of prints, it is possible to eliminate useless error notification by not notifying the user of error information.

  Furthermore, when the error is that the device door has been opened, the criterion is a predetermined allowable time between the door opening and the next door opening. If the interval time of the door opening at that time does not reach the predetermined allowable time, it is possible to eliminate useless error notification by not notifying the user of error information.

  Further, by setting the allowable number of error occurrences, the allowable number of prints, and the allowable time to be variable, it is possible to eliminate fine error notifications according to the type of error.

  According to the printing apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to efficiently notify a user of error information by eliminating useless error notification, and to improve operability.

  According to the printing control method of the present invention, the number of occurrences of error information is counted, and a criterion for determining whether to notify the user of error information when the counted number of occurrences of error information reaches a predetermined allowable error occurrence number The control is performed so that error information is not notified to the user when the determination criterion is not satisfied.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Note that the printing apparatus of this embodiment shown in the figure will be described by taking an example of a multifunction machine having an Internet function and a communication function. In FIG. 1, a multifunction machine 10 serving as a printing apparatus according to the present embodiment is performed by an image forming unit 11 that forms an image, a CPU 12 that controls the entire apparatus and performs various calculations, a ROM 13 that stores various data, and a CPU 12. A RAM 14 that stores control and calculation programs, a sensor 15 such as a toner near-end sensor and a cover open sensor installed in the apparatus, and a toner near-end detected by the toner near-end sensor, for example. A counter 16 such as a toner counter that counts variables, a print counter that counts the number of sheets printed by the image forming unit 11, and a timer 17 such as a cover timer that counts the time between the cover open and the next cover open; Connected to the Internet network or general line network, for example, Is configured to include a communication unit 18 to send a notification such as error information E-Mail or FAX to the address, the components are connected to each other via an internal bus 19.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printing control method according to the first embodiment of another invention. Here, the count value of the toner counter included in the counter 16 of FIG. 1 is a variable indicating how many times the toner near-end detected by the toner near-end sensor included in the sensor 15 of FIG. The count value of the print counter included in the counter 16 of FIG. 1 is a variable indicating the number of printed sheets until the next toner near end is detected.

  First, when the power of the printing apparatus is turned on, both the toner counter and print counter variables of the counter 16 in FIG. 1 are initialized (step S101), and the print counter is incremented by 1 each time printing is performed (step S102; YES). . The print counter is incremented by 1 each time printing is performed until the toner near-end sensor included in the sensor 15 in FIG. 1 detects the toner near-end (step S103, step S104; NO). When the first toner near end is detected by the toner near end sensor (step S104; YES), the count value of the toner counter is incremented by 1 for the first time and the count value of the toner counter becomes 1 (step S105). . Next, the CPU 12 in FIG. 1 checks whether or not the count value of the toner counter is a predetermined allowable number of occurrences of toner air end, for example, 2 or more (step S106). Since the count value is 1, the CPU 12 clears the count value of the print counter to 0, and an e-mail notification is sent by the communication unit 18 in FIG. 1 to notify the designated address that the toner near end has been reached (step S106). NO, steps S107, S108). Here, instead of taking out the toner bottle and replacing the new toner bottle, if the taken-out toner bottle is shaken well and then set again, the bias of the toner becomes uniform, and the toner near-end is not reached again, so that there is no warning. There are times when it can be. In this case, when the toner near end is detected again by the toner near end sensor after a while, the count value of the toner counter becomes 2, and the condition different from the first flow is entered. In the flow in step S106, the count value of the toner counter becomes 2 or more (step S106; YES), and the CPU 12 checks whether the count value of the print counter is an allowable number of prints as a determination criterion, for example, 1000 or more (step S106). S109). That is, the number of prints from the time when the first toner near end occurs until the second toner near end is checked. If the number is smaller than 1000, the CPU 12 determines that the toner bottle has not been replaced with a new one, and the previously installed toner bottle has been remounted, and only the count value of the print counter is cleared. Here, it is assumed that no e-mail notification is issued (step S109; NO, step S110). On the other hand, if it is determined in step S109 that the number of sheets is 1000 or more, the CPU 12 determines that a new toner bottle has been replaced when the previous toner near-end occurs, clears the count value of the print counter, and indicates that a toner near-end has occurred. Is sent to the address designated by the communication unit 18 (step S109; YES, steps S111, S107, S108).

  In the above error, the toner near end is set as an example. However, this may be the toner end, and applies to all maintenance kits related to printing. Further, although the upper limit of the count value of the toner counter, which is the predetermined allowable number of occurrences of toner air end, is set to 2 times, the present invention is not limited to this. To do. Furthermore, although the upper limit of the count value of the print counter, which is the allowable number of prints as a determination criterion, is set to 1000, it is not limited to this, and can be set appropriately by the user or service person according to specifications and operability. . In addition, the toner counter may be expanded to a toner near counter or a toner end counter and managed separately. The upper limit of the count value of the toner near counter and the upper limit of the count value of the toner end counter are independently variable and set appropriately. It shall be possible. Furthermore, the print counter may be expanded to a toner near print counter or a toner end print counter and managed separately. The upper limit of the count value of the toner near print counter and the upper limit of the count value of the toner end print counter may be independently set appropriately. It shall be variable and settable.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the print control method according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Here, the count value of the cover open counter included in the counter 16 of FIG. 1 is a variable indicating how many times the cover open detected by the cover open sensor included in the sensor 15 of FIG. The time of the cover timer included in the timer 17 of FIG. 1 is a variable indicating the elapsed time until the next cover open is detected.

  First, the count value of the cover open counter of the counter 16 in FIG. 1 is initialized when the printing apparatus is turned on (step S201), and the first cover open sensor is detected by the cover open sensor included in the sensor 15 in FIG. When this is done (step S202; YES), the count value of the cover open counter is incremented by 1 for the first time (step S203), and the count value of the cover open counter becomes 1. Note that the cover timer included in the timer 17 of FIG. 1 starts timing. Next, the CPU 12 in FIG. 1 checks whether or not the count value of the cover open counter is a predetermined allowable number of cover open occurrences, for example, 2 or more (step S204). 1 is cleared (step S204; NO), the time of the cover timer included in the timer 17 in FIG. 1 is cleared to 0 (step S205), and the cover is open at the address designated by the communication unit 18 in FIG. E-Mail notification is made (step S206), and the process returns to step S202. Next, when the cover is opened again after the cover is closed again (step S202; YES), the count value of the cover open counter becomes 2 (step S203, step S204; YES). It is checked whether or not the time of the cover timer is an allowable time as a criterion, for example, 25 hours or more (step S207). That is, here, the elapsed time from the first cover open occurrence to the second cover open is checked. If it is within 25 hours (step S207; NO), the CPU 12 determines that the cover is open immediately after the first time the cover is closed, and clears only the cover timer. The mail is not issued and the cover time is restarted and the process is terminated (step S208). On the other hand, if it is determined that the time is 25 hours or longer (step S207; YES), the CPU 12 determines that the notification does not cause a complicated notification and clears the time of the cover timer of the timer 17 (step S205). An e-mail notification indicating that the cover is open is issued to the address designated by the communication unit 18 (step S206), and the process returns to step S202.

  Although the upper limit of the count value of the cover open counter, which is the predetermined allowable number of occurrences of toner air end, is set to 2 times, it is not limited to this, and can be set appropriately by the user or service person according to specifications and operability And In addition, although the upper limit of the cover timer, which is an allowable time as a criterion, is set to 25 hours, the upper limit is not limited to this, and can be set as appropriate by the user or serviceman according to specifications and operability. In addition, the cover open counter may be extended to other errors such as paper end and tray open and managed separately, and the upper limit of paper end and the upper limit of tray open can be independently varied and set. To do. In addition, the cover timer may be expanded to a paper end counter or tray open counter and managed separately, and the upper limit of the count value of the tray open counter and the upper limit of the count value of the paper end counter can be set independently. Shall. Furthermore, whenever the count value of the cover open counter changes, the value is stored in NVRAM, the time when the cover open occurred first is stored in NVRAM, and then the time is obtained from the hardware with a real-time clock function and compared. By doing so, the elapsed time can be captured even after the power is turned on / off.

  Next, FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a specific apparatus configuration for starting a program for executing each embodiment of the print control method of the present invention. That is, this figure shows hardware constructed from a microprocessor or the like that executes software according to the printing control method in the above embodiment. In the figure, the print control system includes an interface (hereinafter abbreviated as I / F) 21, a CPU 22, a ROM 23, a RAM 24, a display device 25, a hard disk 26, a keyboard 27, and a CD-ROM drive 28. In addition, a general-purpose processing device is prepared, and a readable recording medium 29 such as a CD-ROM stores a program for executing the printing control method of the present invention. Further, a control signal is input from an external device via the I / F 21, and a command of the operator or a program of the present invention is automatically started by the keyboard 27. Then, the CPU 22 performs control processing associated with the above-described printing control method according to the program, stores the processing result in a storage device such as the RAM 24 or the hard disk 26, and outputs it to the display device 25 or the like as necessary. As described above, by using the recording medium recorded with the program for executing the print control method of the present invention, it is possible to construct a print control system for general use without changing the existing system.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said Example, It cannot be overemphasized that various deformation | transformation and substitution are possible if it is description in a claim.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the printing control method which concerns on 1st Example of another invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the printing control method which concerns on 2nd Example of another invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the specific apparatus for starting the program which performs each Example of the printing control method of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

10; MFP, 11; Image forming unit, 12; CPU, 13; ROM,
14; RAM, 15; sensor, 16; counter, 17; timer,
18: Communication unit, 19: Internal bus.

Claims (6)

In a printing apparatus having a notification function for notifying a user of error information regarding an error that has occurred in the apparatus,
An error occurrence number counting means for counting the number of occurrences of the error information;
A determination unit for collating a determination criterion as to whether or not to notify the user of the error information when the number of occurrences of the error information counted by the error occurrence number counting unit reaches a predetermined error generation allowable number;
And a control unit configured to control the error information not to be notified to a user when the determination unit does not satisfy the determination criterion.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the error is toner near end or toner end, the determination criterion is a predetermined allowable number of prints.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the error is that the door of the apparatus is opened, the determination criterion is a predetermined allowable time between the door opening and the next door opening.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the allowable number of error occurrences, the allowable number of printed sheets, and the allowable time are set variably. In a print control method for controlling a notification function for notifying a user of error information related to an error occurring in a printing apparatus,
Counting the number of occurrences of the error information, collating a criterion for determining whether to notify the user of the error information when the counted number of occurrences of the error information reaches a predetermined allowable number of error occurrences, and determining the criterion If not, control is performed so as not to notify the user of the error information. A computer-readable recording medium storing a program for executing the printing control method according to claim 5.

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