Printer management system

Abstract

To facilitate registering a length of a medium in a system which manages a printer for printing on a rolled medium.SOLUTION: A printer management system 1 for managing a printer for printing on a rolled medium, comprises: a medium registration unit 103 in which a plurality of types of medium rolls are registered; a length registration unit 104 in which a length of the medium is registered for each of the plurality of types of medium rolls registered in the medium registration unit 103; an input unit 81 to which a type of a medium roll attached to the printer can be inputted; and a length acquisition unit 107 which refers to a length of a medium of each type registered in the length registration unit 104 to acquire a length of the medium attached to the printer from the type of the medium roll inputted to the input unit 81.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a printer management system.

Background Art

[0002] A printer management system for managing the remaining amount of media has been conventionally known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a printing system that estimates the remaining number of cut sheets in a paper tray and transfers a print job to an alternative printer when it is determined that the number of cut sheets is insufficient for the printing volume. In the printing system described in Patent Document 1, the remaining number of cut sheets is estimated by measuring the thickness of the cut sheets stacked in the paper tray.

[0003] Printers of a type that feed media from a media roll in which the media is wound in a roll shape and perform printing on the fed media have also been conventionally known. For example, Patent Document 2 discloses a printer including a media supply device that rotatably supports a roll around which sheet-like media is wound, a platen that supports the media fed from the roll, a transport device that transports the media supported by the platen, and a print head.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In a system for managing a printer that prints on media fed from a media roll, when attempting to manage the remaining amount of media as in the printing system described in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to register the length of the media on the media roll. Although it is possible to have the user input the length of the media, such an operation places a burden on the user.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and an object thereof is to provide a system for managing a printer that prints on roll-shaped media, the system being easy to register the length of the media.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The printer management system disclosed herein is a system for managing a printer that feeds the media from a media roll in which the media is wound in a roll shape and prints on the fed media, the system including a media registration unit in which a plurality of types of the media rolls are registered, a length registration unit in which the length of the media is registered for each type of the media roll registered in the media registration unit, an input unit capable of inputting the type of the media roll to be mounted on the printer, and a length acquisition unit that refers to the length of the media for each type registered in the length registration unit and acquires the length of the media to be mounted on the printer from the type of the media roll input to the input unit.

[0008] According to the above printer management system, if the type of the media roll to be mounted on the printer is input, the length of the media of the media roll is acquired. Therefore, the length of the media to be mounted on the printer can be easily registered.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, a printer management system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that the embodiments described here are not intended to particularly limit the present invention. Also, members and parts having the same function are denoted by the same reference numerals, and overlapping descriptions are omitted or simplified as appropriate.

[0011] [First Embodiment] [Configuration of Printer Management System] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of a printer management system (hereinafter, management system 1) according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the management system 1 includes a server 100 on the cloud 2. The server 100 is communicably connected to a plurality of printers 10. However, the server 100 may not be a server on the cloud 2. The printer 10 may be connected to the server 100 via a computer or the like connected to the printer 10. The management system 1 manages each of one or more printers 10 connected to the server 100. The management system 1 receives, for example, a self-diagnosis result regarding the state from the printer 10 and transmits guidance on maintenance, replenishment of consumables, etc. to the user of the printer 10 (specifically, for example, a computer connected to the printer 10). Here, the matters managed by the management system 1 include the remaining amount management of the media 5 attached to the printer 10.

[0012] Figure 2 is a schematic partial cutaway view of the printer 10. As shown in Figure 2, the printer 10 is a printer that feeds out the medium 5 from a medium roll 5A in which the medium 5 is wound in a roll shape and performs printing on the fed-out medium 5. Here, the printer 10 is a so-called roll-to-roll type printer that winds up the medium 5 after printing. However, some of the printers connected to the management system 1 may not be printers of the type that perform printing on the medium fed out from the medium roll.

[0013] As shown in Figure 2, according to a preferred embodiment, one printer 10 includes a medium supply mechanism 20, a platen 30, a recording head 40, a head moving device 50, a conveyance device 60, a winding device 70, a control device 80 (see Figure 1), and an operation panel 90 (see Figure 1). Hereinafter, for convenience, the side on which the operation panel 90 is provided is referred to as the front of the printer 10.

[0014] The medium supply mechanism 20 rotatably supports the medium roll 5A in the front-rear direction. When the medium 5 is fed out from the medium roll 5A and conveyed forward, the medium roll 5A rotates forward passively. The medium 5 is, for example, a recording paper. However, the medium 5 is not limited to recording paper. For example, the medium 5 may be a sheet or the like formed of a resin material such as PVC or polyester. The medium roll 5A is basically commercially available and has a specific model, product name, etc. attached. Hereinafter, when referring to the "type" of the medium roll 5A, the "type" refers to a symbol that can distinguish individual medium rolls 5A such as this model and product name. Specifically, the management system 1 registers, for example, the model and the manufacturer (or seller) as the type of the medium roll 5A. The medium roll 5A has its width, length, material, thickness, color, etc. determined by its type.

[0015] The platen 30 is provided in front of the media supply mechanism 20. The platen 30 supports the media 5 fed out from the media roll 5A. Printing is performed on the platen 30. The recording head 40 is disposed above the platen 30. The recording head 40 includes, for example, an inkjet head that discharges ink toward the platen 30. However, the recording head 40 is not limited to an inkjet type.

[0016] The head moving device 50 moves the carriage 45 carrying the recording head 40 in the left - right direction. As shown in FIG. 2, the head moving device 50 includes a guide rail 51. The guide rail 51 extends in the left - right direction. The carriage 45 is slidably engaged with the guide rail 51. The head moving device 50 includes a feed motor (not shown) and a belt (not shown) that runs in the left - right direction when the feed motor rotates. The belt is fixed to the carriage 45.

[0017] The conveyance device 60 conveys the media 5 in the front - rear direction. As shown in FIG. 2, the conveyance device 60 includes a plurality of grit rollers 61 and a plurality of pinch rollers 62 (only one of each is shown). The grit rollers 61 are embedded in the platen 30. The grit rollers 61 are rotated in the front - rear direction by a feed motor (not shown). The pinch rollers 62 are provided above the grit rollers 61 so as to face the grit rollers 61. The pinch rollers 62 are configured to be movable in the up - down direction. When the pinch rollers 62 are lowered to sandwich the media 5 between the pinch rollers 62 and the grit rollers 61 and the grit rollers 61 are rotated in this state, the media 5 moves in the front - rear direction.

[0018] The winding device 70 is provided on the front side of the printer 10. The winding device 70 winds the printed medium 5 in a roll shape. The winding device 70 is configured to support and rotate the winding core 6. Thereby, the printed medium 5 after printing is wound around the winding core 6. Note that the configuration of the printer 10 described above is merely an example and is not limited thereto. The configurations of a plurality of printers 10 may be different from each other.

[0019] The control device 80 controls the operations of each part of the printer 10. Also, various settings related to printing are performed. The control device 80 is communicably connected to the server 100. In the present embodiment, a part of the functions of the management system 1 is borne by the control device 80. However, all of the functions of the management system 1 may be borne by a configuration external to the printer 10 such as the server 100, for example. The configuration of the control device 80 is not particularly limited. The control device 80 is, for example, a microcomputer. The hardware configuration of the microcomputer is not particularly limited, but for example, an interface (I / F) for receiving print data and the like from an external device such as a host computer, a central processing unit (CPU) that executes instructions of a control program, a ROM (read only memory) that stores a program executed by the CPU, a RAM (random access memory) used as a working area for expanding the program, and a storage device such as a memory for storing programs and various data.

[0020] The operation panel 90 is connected to the control device 80 and displays status information of the printer 10 and the like. Further, the operation panel 90 is configured to be able to operate the printer 10 and set the printer 10. FIG. 3 is a front view of the operation panel 90. As shown in FIG. 3, the operation panel 90 includes a display 91 and operation buttons 92. Here, the operation buttons 92 are provided separately from the display 91, but may be, for example, buttons or the like displayed on a touch panel type display 91. The display 91 is configured to be able to display character information. As will be described later, a list of the media rolls 5A is displayed as character information on the display 91. The operation buttons 92 are an example of an input device configured to be able to select one from the list of the media rolls 5A.

[0021] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the management system 1. As shown in FIG. 4, the management system 1 includes a printer identification unit 101, a corresponding width registration unit 102, a media registration unit 103, a media length registration unit 104, a media width registration unit 105, a media display unit 106, a media input unit 81, a media length acquisition unit 107, and a media length display unit 108. In the present embodiment, the function of the media input unit 81 is borne by the control device 80 of the printer 10, and the functions of the other processing units are borne by the server 100. However, the function of the media input unit 81 may also be borne by the server 100. In that case, the operation panel 90 may function as a display device and an input device that displays a screen processed by the server 100. Note that a part of the functions of the management system 1 may be borne by a computer or the like connected to the printer 10. The configuration of the management system 1 is not limited to that shown in FIG. 4. Also, descriptions and illustrations of processing units that process matters other than the length management of the media 5 among the processing units of the management system 1 and the control device 80 are omitted.

[0022] The printer identification unit 101 identifies each printer 10 connected to the management system 1. The printer identification unit 101 recognizes the model and serial number of each printer 10. From the identification information of each individual printer 10, the printer 10 that is the source of the transmitted information and the printer 10 to which a command or the like should be sent are recognized.

[0023] In the compatible width registration unit 102, the range of the width of the media 5 that can be installed is registered for each type of printer 10. Since the type (model) of the printer 10 can be known from the identification information of each printer 10, the range of the width of the media 5 that can be installed in each printer 10 can be specified by referring to the information on the registered width range in the compatible width registration unit 102.

[0024] A plurality of types of media rolls 5A are registered in the media registration unit 103. Here, in the media registration unit 103, the models and manufacturers (or sellers) of a plurality of types of media rolls 5A are registered. It is desirable that a wide variety of media rolls 5A that are in circulation in the market are registered in the media registration unit 103. In the media length registration unit 104, the length of the media 5 is registered for each type of media roll 5A registered in the media registration unit 103. In the media width registration unit 105, the width of the media 5 is registered for each type of media roll 5A registered in the media registration unit 103. Other information on a plurality of types of media rolls 5A, such as material information, may be further registered in the management system 1. In the management system 1, it is desirable that the addition and deletion of the types of media rolls 5A and the update of the length, width, and other information of the media rolls 5A for each type are performed at any time.

[0025] The media display unit 106 displays a list of some or all of the media rolls 5A registered in the media registration unit 103 on the display 91 of the printer 10. The media display unit 106 compares the width of each type of media 5 registered in the media width registration unit 105 with the range of the width of the media 5 registered in the corresponding width registration unit 102, and selectively displays the media rolls 5A having a width within the range registered in the corresponding width registration unit 102 from among the media rolls 5A registered in the media registration unit 103. The media display unit 106 selectively displays the media rolls 5A with a width that can be mounted on each printer 10 on the operation panel 90 of the printer 10.

[0026] As a method of selective display, for example, only the media rolls 5A with a width that can be mounted on the printer 10 can be displayed. However, other methods can also be adopted as the method of selective display. For example, the media rolls 5A with a width that can be mounted on the printer 10 can be displayed first, and the media rolls 5A with a width that cannot be mounted can be displayed in a non-selectable form thereafter. The method of selective display is not particularly limited as long as it can distinguish between the media rolls 5A with a width that can be mounted on the printer 10 and the media rolls 5A with a width that cannot be mounted.

[0027] The media input unit 81 is configured to be able to input the type of the media roll 5A mounted on the printer 10. In the present embodiment, the media input unit 81 is configured to be able to select one of the media rolls 5A selectively displayed by the media display unit 106. The media input unit 81 includes an input device provided in the printer 10, here the operation button 92, and is configured to be able to select one of the media rolls 5A displayed by the media display unit 106 using the operation button 92. Note that the media input unit 81 may also display a selection screen for the media roll 5A on a computer or the like connected to the printer 10.

[0028] The media length acquisition unit 107 refers to the lengths of the media 5 for each type registered in the media length registration unit 104, and acquires the length of the media 5 to be mounted on the printer 10 from the type of the media roll 5A input to the media input unit 81. The media length display unit 108 causes the length of the media 5 acquired by the media length acquisition unit 107 to be displayed on the display 91 of the operation panel 90.

[0029] The management system 1 may include an input unit through which the user can directly input the length of the media 5 when using a media roll 5A not registered in the media registration unit 103.

[0030] [Registration of Media Length] Hereinafter, the operation of registering the length of the media 5 will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the media length registration. As shown in FIG. 5, in the media length registration operation, first, a start command for media length registration is input in step S01. When the media length registration is started, in step S02, the model of the target printer 10 is searched. In step S03, a media roll 5A having a width that can be mounted on the target printer 10 is selected based on the model of the printer 10. For example, if the minimum width of the media 5 that can be used in the target printer 10 is W1 mm and the maximum width is W2 mm according to the model specifications, a media roll 5A having a width of W1 mm or more and W2 mm or less is selected.

[0031] In step S04, the media roll 5A selected in step S03 is selectively displayed on the operation panel 90 of the printer 10. The selected media roll 5A is listed and displayed on the operation panel 90. FIG. 3 shows an example of the list display of the available media rolls 5A. As shown in FIG. 3, in a preferred example of the list display, a plurality of selected media rolls 5A are arranged vertically and displayed. As information on each individual media roll 5A, the manufacturer (Company X, Company Y, Company Z, etc.), the model or product name of the media roll 5A (A, B, C, etc.), and the length of the media 5 (L1[m], L2[m], L3[m], etc.) are displayed. A media roll 5A that cannot be selected due to incorrect width may be, for example, grayed out. In the list display, a radio button 91a for selecting one media roll 5A is displayed. The selection operation can be performed with the operation button 92 while looking at the display 91 of the operation panel 90.

[0032] In step S05, the user selects one media roll 5A from the list display. In step S06, the length of the media roll 5A selected as the media roll 5A to be installed is registered in the management system 1. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, when the media roll 5A of model A manufactured by Company X is selected, L1 is registered as the length of the media 5. This length L1 is the initial length of the media 5. The remaining length of the media 5 is obtained by subtracting the consumption amount of the media 5 from this initial length L1 each time. The management system 1 performs management such as issuing a warning, for example, when the remaining length of the media 5 decreases.

[0033] [Operation and Effect of the First Embodiment] Hereinafter, the operation and effect that can be achieved by the management system 1 of the printer 10 according to the present embodiment will be described.

[0034] The management system 1 of the printer 10 according to this embodiment is a system that manages a printer 10 that feeds out the medium 5 from a media roll 5A in which the medium 5 is wound in a roll shape and performs printing on the fed-out medium 5. The management system 1 includes a media registration unit 103 in which a plurality of types of media rolls 5A are registered, a media length registration unit 104 in which the length of the medium 5 is registered for each type of the media roll 5A registered in the media registration unit 103, a media input unit 81 capable of inputting the type of the media roll 5A attached to the printer 10, and a media length acquisition unit 107 that refers to the length of the medium 5 for each type registered in the media length registration unit 104 and acquires the length of the medium 5 attached to the printer 10 from the type of the media roll 5A input to the media input unit 81. According to such a management system 1, if the type of the media roll 5A attached to the printer 10 is input, the length of the medium 5 of the media roll 5A is acquired. Therefore, the length of the medium 5 attached to the printer 10 can be easily registered. According to such a management system 1, for example, compared with a system in which the user manually inputs the length of the medium 5, the length of the medium 5 can be easily registered.

[0035] In this embodiment, the printer 10 includes a display device capable of displaying character information, here, the display 91 of the operation panel 90. The management system 1 further includes a media display unit 106 that displays a list of some or all of the media rolls 5A registered in the media registration unit 103 on the display 91. The media input unit 81 includes an input device provided in the printer 10, here, the operation button 92 of the operation panel 90, and is configured to be able to select one of the media rolls 5A displayed by the media display unit 106 using the operation button 92. According to such a configuration, the registration work of the media roll 5A can be performed by the printer 10. Therefore, the user can continuously perform the registration work and the attachment work of the media roll 5A.

[0036] In this embodiment, the management system 1 further includes a media width registration unit 105 in which the width of the media 5 is registered for each type of the media roll 5A registered in the media registration unit 103, and a corresponding width registration unit 102 in which the range of the width of the media 5 that can be mounted on the printer 10 is registered. The media display unit 106 compares the width of the media 5 for each type registered in the media width registration unit 105 with the range of the width of the media 5 registered in the corresponding width registration unit 102, and selectively displays a media roll 5A having a width within the range registered in the corresponding width registration unit 102 from among the media rolls 5A registered in the media registration unit 103. The media input unit 81 is configured to be able to select one of the media rolls 5A selectively displayed by the media display unit 106. According to such a configuration, the selectable media roll 5A is preselected according to the width of the media 5 that can be mounted on the printer 10, and unnecessary options are not presented to the user. Therefore, the user can more easily perform the selection operation of the media roll 5A.

[0037] In this embodiment, the management system 1 further includes a media length display unit 108 that causes the length of the media 5 acquired by the media length acquisition unit 107 to be displayed on the display 91 of the operation panel 90. According to such a configuration, by checking the display on the display 91, the user can also know the initial length of the media 5.

[0038] [Second Embodiment] The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the width of the media 5 is measured and a media roll 5A having the same width as the measured width is selectively displayed. In other respects, the second embodiment may be the same as the first embodiment. In the following description of the second embodiment, members having the same functions as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment. Also, overlapping descriptions are omitted or simplified as appropriate.

[0039] The printer 10 corresponding to the management system 1 according to the second embodiment includes a measuring device capable of measuring the width of the loaded medium 5. FIG. 6 is a front view showing an example of the printer 10 corresponding to the management system 1 according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, the printer 10 according to a preferred example includes a camera 95 mounted on the carriage 45 as a measuring device. The camera 95 images the left and right ends of the medium 5 placed on the platen 30. The control device 80 of the printer 10 discriminates the left and right ends of the medium 5 from the image captured by the camera 95 by image processing technology. Thereby, the width of the medium 5 is measured. The position of the left end or the right end of the medium 5 may be the same regardless of the type of the medium 5, and in that case, only the position of the right end or the left end of the medium 5 may be measured.

[0040] The configuration of the measuring device capable of measuring the width of the loaded medium 5 is not particularly limited. The measuring device may be configured to irradiate light on the platen 30 and the medium 5 and detect the presence range of the medium 5 based on the difference between the intensity of the reflected light by the platen 30 and the intensity of the reflected light by the medium 5, for example. The configuration of the measuring device may differ depending on the printer 10, and some printers 10 may not include a measuring device. When registering the length of the medium 5 in the printer 10 that does not include a measuring device, the method of the first embodiment may be implemented.

[0041] The medium display unit 106 (see FIG. 4) is configured to selectively display the medium roll 5A having the same width as that measured by the measuring device from among the medium rolls 5A registered in the medium registration unit 103 (see FIG. 4). The medium input unit 81 (see FIG. 4) is configured to be able to select one of the medium rolls 5A selectively displayed by the medium display unit 106. Note that "the same width" as the width measured by the measuring device may have a range when the measurement accuracy of the measuring device is not high.

[0042] According to the management system 1 of the printer 10 according to this embodiment, based on the actually measured width of the medium 5, the media roll 5A displayed as an option is limited. Therefore, the options presented to the user are further limited, and the user can more easily perform the selection operation of the media roll 5A.

[0043] [Other Embodiments] As described above, several preferred embodiments have been explained. However, the printer management system disclosed herein is not limited to the above-described embodiments. For example, in the above-described embodiments, the display device for displaying the media roll 5A in a list and the input device for selecting the media roll 5A were provided in the printer 10. However, the display device and the input device may be provided, for example, in a computer or a mobile terminal connected to the printer 10.

[0044] In the above-described embodiments, when using a media roll 5A not registered in the media registration unit 103, etc., the user directly inputs the length of the media 5. However, together with the direct input of the length, the input of specific information (for example, model number, etc.) of the media roll 5A may also be possible. By inputting the model number, etc. of the media roll 5A, for example, the unregistered media roll 5A can be presented to the user in the future. Also, the administrator of the management system 1 can add the unregistered media roll 5A to the registration.

[0045] Unless otherwise specified, the embodiments do not limit the present invention.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0046] 1 Management system 2 Cloud 5 Medium 5A Media roll 10 Printer 80 Control device 81 Media input unit (input unit) 90 Operation panel 91 Display (display device) 92 Operation Button (Input Device) 95 Camera (Measurement Device) 100 Server 102 Corresponding Width Registration Unit 103 Media Registration Unit 104 Media Length Registration Unit (Length Registration Unit) 105 Media Width Registration Unit (Width Registration Unit) 106 Media Display Unit 107 Media Length Acquisition Unit (Length Acquisition Unit) 108 Media Length Display Unit (Length Display Unit)

Claims

1. A system for managing a printer, wherein the printer is a printer that feeds out media from a media roll in which the media is wound in a roll shape and performs printing on the fed-out media, a media registration unit in which a plurality of types of the media rolls are registered, a length registration unit in which the length of the media is registered for each type of the media roll registered in the media registration unit, an input unit capable of inputting the type of the media roll to be attached to the printer, and a length acquisition unit that refers to the length of the media for each type registered in the length registration unit and acquires the length of the media to be attached to the printer from the type of the media roll input to the input unit. A management system for a printer.

2. The printer includes a display device capable of displaying character information, and further includes a media display unit that displays a list of some or all of the media rolls registered in the media registration unit on the display device, wherein the input unit includes an input device provided in the printer and is configured to be able to select one of the media rolls displayed by the media display unit using the input device. The management system for a printer according to Claim 1.

3. A display device capable of displaying character information, a media display unit that displays a list of some or all of the media rolls registered in the media registration unit on the display device, a width registration unit in which the width of the media is registered for each type of the media roll registered in the media registration unit, and a corresponding width registration unit in which the range of the width of the media that can be attached to the printer is registered. The media display unit compares the width of the media for each type registered in the width registration unit with the range of the width of the media registered in the corresponding width registration unit, and selectively displays the media rolls having a width within the range registered in the corresponding width registration unit from among the media rolls registered in the media registration unit. The input unit is configured to be able to select one of the media rolls selectively displayed by the media display unit. The management system for a printer according to Claim 1.

4. A display device capable of displaying character information, ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ A media display unit that causes a part or all of the media rolls registered in the media registration unit to be listed and displayed on the display device; A width registration unit that registers the width of the media for each type of media roll registered in the media registration unit; and The printer includes a measuring device capable of measuring the width of the mounted media. The media display unit is configured to selectively display a media roll having the same width as the width measured by the measuring device from among the media rolls registered in the media registration unit. The input unit is configured to be able to select one of the media rolls selectively displayed by the media display unit. The printer management system according to claim 1.

5. The printer includes a display device capable of displaying character information. The printer further includes a length display unit that causes the length of the media acquired by the length acquisition unit to be displayed on the display device. The printer management system according to claim 1.

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