Image forming system

Abstract

To efficiently perform transmission and reception of information on consumption of toner or ink, while transmitting necessary information, between an image forming apparatus and an information processing apparatus, while reducing the amount of information communication, for each of a plurality of toner containers or a plurality of ink cartridges provided in the image forming apparatus.SOLUTION: In an image forming system Sy of the present invention, when consumable part configuration information is transmitted from an image forming apparatus 10 and is received by a communication unit 34, a control unit 41 of an information processing apparatus 30 determines a toner container in which supply of toner indicated by the consumable part configuration information is made effective, causes the communication unit 34 to transmit a communication request for consumption information of the effective toner container to the image forming apparatus 10, and when the consumption information of the effective toner container is transmitted from the image forming apparatus 10 and is received by the communication unit 34, stores the consumption information of the effective toner container.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming system including an image forming apparatus and an information processing apparatus that performs data communication with the image forming apparatus, and more particularly to a technique for collecting consumption information of consumable parts of the image forming apparatus by the information processing apparatus. [Background technology]

[0002] Image forming devices include electrophotographic devices that deposit toner onto recording paper to form an image on the recording paper, and inkjet devices that eject ink onto the recording paper to form an image on the recording paper. Electrophotographic devices use a toner container that stores toner and supplies the toner from the toner container, while inkjet devices use ink cartridges that store ink and supply the ink from the ink cartridge.

[0003] On the other hand, in the consumable usage estimation approach described in Patent Document 1, an offline estimation device acquires version information, configuration setting information, and color printing resources of a digital front end (DFE) from a printing device. The offline estimation device uses the DFE version information to select an available raster image processor (RIP) within the printing system. The offline estimation device configures the RIP with the configuration settings in the configuration setting information and provides an ink or toner usage estimate using the configured RIP. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2023-140317 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In order to perform the above-described maintenance of the image forming apparatus appropriately, it is necessary to collect and manage information regarding the consumption of toner in the toner container, information regarding the consumption of ink in the ink cartridge, etc. For example, it is conceivable to collect and manage such consumption information by transmitting and receiving it between the image forming apparatus and the information processing device. Furthermore, when transmitting and receiving information regarding the consumption of toner or ink for each of the multiple toner containers or multiple ink cartridges provided in the image forming apparatus between the image forming apparatus and the information processing device, it is desirable to transmit and receive the necessary information efficiently by reducing the amount of information communication.

[0006] In Patent Document 1, an offline estimation device provides an estimate of ink or toner usage for a printing device, but it does not describe a technology for efficiently sending and receiving information about toner or ink consumption for multiple toner containers or multiple ink cartridges, as described above.

[0007] The present invention has been developed in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to efficiently transmit necessary information regarding toner or ink consumption for each of multiple toner containers or multiple ink cartridges provided in the image forming device between the image forming device and an information processing device while reducing the amount of information communication. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] An image forming system according to one aspect of the present invention is an image forming system including an image forming apparatus and an information processing apparatus which performs data communication with the image forming apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit which forms an image on recording paper, a plurality of consumable parts for supplying consumables used in forming the image, and a first communication unit which performs data communication with the information processing apparatus, and for each of the consumable parts, sets the consumable part for which the consumables are to be supplied as valid, generates consumable part configuration information indicating the valid consumable parts, causes the first communication unit to transmit the consumable part configuration information to the information processing apparatus, and receives a communication request for consumable information of the valid consumable parts from the information processing apparatus for each of the valid consumable parts indicated by the consumable part configuration information. and a first control unit that, when the consumable part configuration information is transmitted from the image forming device and received by the first communication unit, generates consumption information of the valid consumable part and causes the first communication unit to transmit it to the information processing device.The information processing device is also equipped with a second communication unit that performs data communication with the image forming device, and a second control unit that, when the consumable part configuration information is transmitted from the image forming device and received by the second communication unit, determines the valid consumable part indicated by the consumable part configuration information and causes the second communication unit to transmit a communication request for consumption information of the valid consumable part to the image forming device, and stores the consumption information of the valid consumable part when the consumption information of the valid consumable part is transmitted from the image forming device and received by the second communication unit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to efficiently transmit necessary information regarding toner or ink consumption for each of multiple toner containers or multiple ink cartridges provided in the image forming device between the image forming device and the information processing device while reducing the amount of information communication. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and a configuration of an image forming apparatus and a configuration of an information processing apparatus in the image forming system. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an image forming apparatus. [Figure 3] 2 is a front view schematically showing a container loading unit in the image forming apparatus as viewed from the front. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a side view schematically showing a container loading section. [Figure 5] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating examples of icons of toner containers displayed on a screen of a display unit of an image forming apparatus. [Figure 6] 10A, 10B, and 10C are diagrams showing examples of combinations of mounting positions of toner containers indicated by consumable part configuration information. [Figure 7] 10 is a flowchart showing a control procedure for transmitting consumption information of a toner container from an image forming apparatus to an information processing apparatus. [Figure 8] 10A, 10B, and 10C are diagrams showing examples of combinations of icons of toner containers displayed on the screen of a display unit of an information processing device. [Figure 9] 10A, 10B, and 10C are diagrams showing examples of consumption information of each toner container transmitted from an image forming apparatus to an information processing apparatus. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] An image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention, as well as the configuration of an image forming apparatus and an information processing apparatus in the image forming system. In the image forming system Sy of this embodiment, an image forming apparatus 10 and an information processing apparatus 30 are connected via a network (such as an intranet) N.

[0012] In this image forming system Sy, the image forming device 10 is an MFP (multi-function peripheral) that combines multiple functions such as a copy function and a scanner function. The image forming device 10 includes a display unit 11, an operation unit 12, a touch panel 13, a communication unit 14, an image reading unit 15, an image forming unit 16, a non-volatile memory 17, a storage unit 18, a control unit 19, a container loading unit 48, remaining amount sensors 22, empty sensors 23, RFID readers 24, and container sensors 25. These components are capable of transmitting and receiving data or signals to and from each other via a bus.

[0013] The display unit 11 is configured by a liquid crystal display (LCD) or an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display.

[0014] A touch panel 13 is superimposed on the screen of the display unit 11. The touch panel 13 detects contact (touch) with the user's finger or the like on the touch panel 13 together with the contact position, and outputs a detection signal indicating the coordinates of the contact position to the control unit 21 of the control unit 19. This makes it possible to input instructions based on a GUI (Graphical User Interface) displayed on the screen of the display unit 11 via the touch panel 13. Therefore, the touch panel 13 functions as an operation unit through which instructions from the user are input to the screen of the display unit 11.

[0015] The operation unit 12 includes hardware keys such as a numeric keypad, a decision key, a start key, etc. The operation unit 12 receives instructions input from the user based on the operation of each key.

[0016] The image reading unit 15 has an image pickup element that optically reads an image of a document, and generates image data that represents the image of the document.

[0017] The image forming unit 16 includes a photosensitive drum, a charging device that uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum, an exposure device that exposes the surface of the photosensitive drum to light to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum, a developing device that develops the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum into a toner image, and a transfer device that transfers the toner image (image) on the surface of the photosensitive drum to recording paper, and prints an image represented by the image data on the recording paper.

[0018] The communication unit 14 is a communication interface that includes a communication module such as a LAN chip, etc. The communication unit 14 is connected to the information processing device 30 via a network (such as an intranet) N, and performs data communication with the information processing device 30.

[0019] The storage unit 18 is a large-capacity storage device such as an SSD (Solid State Drive) or an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and stores various application programs and various data.

[0020] The control unit 19 is composed of a processor, a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), etc. The processor is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), or an MPU (Micro Processing Unit). The control unit 19 functions as a control unit 21 when a control program stored in the ROM or the storage unit 18 is executed by the processor.

[0021] The control unit 21 is responsible for overall control of the image forming apparatus 10. In addition, the control unit 19 is connected to the display unit 11, the operation unit 12, the touch panel 13, the communication unit 14, the image reading unit 15, the image forming unit 16, the non-volatile memory 17, the storage unit 18, the container loading unit 48, the remaining amount sensors 22, the empty sensors 23, the RFID readers 24, and the container sensors 25.

[0022] The control unit 21 controls the above-mentioned components and transmits and receives signals or data to and from the components. The control unit 21 functions as a processing unit that executes various processes. The control unit 21 also has the function of controlling the display unit 11 and the communication unit 14.

[0023] The container loading section 48, the remaining amount sensors 22, the empty sensors 23, the RFID readers 24, and the container sensors 25 will be described in detail later.

[0024] Furthermore, in the image forming system Sy, the information processing device 30 is connected to the image forming device 10 via a network N, and transmits and receives data to and from the image forming device 10. The information processing device 30 includes a display unit 31, an operation unit 32, a touch panel 33, a communication unit 34, a storage unit 38, and a control unit 39, and these components can transmit and receive data or signals to and from each other via a bus.

[0025] The display unit 31 is configured by a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, or the like.

[0026] A touch panel 33 is superimposed on the screen of the display unit 31. The touch panel 33 detects contact (touch) with the user's finger or the like on the touch panel 33, along with the contact position, and outputs a detection signal indicating the coordinates of the contact position to the control unit 41 of the control unit 39. This makes it possible to receive instructions based on the GUI displayed on the screen of the display unit 31 via the touch panel 33.

[0027] The operation unit 32 includes hardware keys such as a numeric keypad, a decision key, a start key, etc. The operation unit 32 receives instructions input from the user based on the operation of each key.

[0028] The communication unit 34 is a communication interface, and is connected to the image forming apparatus 10 via the network N to transmit and receive data to and from the image forming apparatus 10.

[0029] The storage unit 38 is a storage device such as an SSD or HDD, and stores programs and various data.

[0030] The control unit 39 is composed of a processor, RAM, ROM, etc. The control unit 39 functions as a control unit 41 when a program stored in the ROM or the storage unit 38 is executed by the processor.

[0031] The control unit 41 is responsible for overall control of the information processing device 30. The control unit 39 is connected to the display unit 31, the operation unit 32, the touch panel 33, the communication unit , the storage unit , and the like.

[0032] The control unit 41 controls the above-mentioned components and transmits and receives signals or data to and from the components. The control unit 41 functions as a processing unit that executes various processes. The control unit 41 also has the function of controlling the display unit 31 and the communication unit 34.

[0033] Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 2, the image forming apparatus 10 of this embodiment is an MFP (multi-function peripheral) that combines multiple functions such as a copy function and a printer function. The image forming apparatus 10 includes an image reading unit 15 and an image forming unit 16.

[0034] The image reading unit 15 has an image pickup element (CCD sensor, CIS) that optically reads an image of the document, and generates image data that represents the image of the document.

[0035] The image forming unit 16 forms an image represented by the image data on recording paper and includes a magenta image forming unit 3M, a cyan image forming unit 3C, a yellow image forming unit 3Y, and a black image forming unit 3K. In each of the image forming units 3M, 3C, 3Y, and 3K, the surface of the photosensitive drum 4 is uniformly charged, the surface of the photosensitive drum 4 is exposed by the exposure unit 2 to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 4, and the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 4 is developed into an image made of toner by the developing device 7, and the image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 4 is primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 5. A color image is thus formed on the intermediate transfer belt 5. This color image is secondarily transferred to the recording paper P, which has been transported from the paper feed unit 44 through the transport path 8, at a nip region NP between the intermediate transfer belt 5 and the secondary transfer roller 6.

[0036] Thereafter, the recording paper P is heated and pressed in the fixing device 45, the toner image on the recording paper P is fixed by heat and pressure, and the recording paper P is then discharged onto a discharge tray 47 via discharge rollers 46.

[0037] In addition, above each image forming unit 3M, 3C, 3Y, and 3K, there is provided a container loading section 48 that supplies magenta toner, cyan toner, yellow toner, and black toner to the developing device 7 of each image forming unit 3M, 3C, 3Y, and 3K.

[0038] FIG. 3 is a front view schematically illustrating the container loading unit 48 as viewed from the front of the image forming apparatus 10. FIG. 4 is a side view schematically illustrating the container loading unit 48. The container loading unit 48 is a mechanism into which toner containers are loaded. The operation of each unit in the container loading unit 48 is controlled by the control unit 21. The container loading unit 48 is configured with eight hexagonal cylindrical housings 51 provided on the image forming apparatus 10 side, four sets of toner transport units 54A and 54K, and eight toner containers 52M, 52C, 52Y, and 52K that are detachably attached to each cylindrical housing 51. The four sets of toner transport units 54A and 54K are assigned to a pair of toner containers 52M, a pair of toner containers 52C, a pair of toner containers 52Y, and a pair of toner containers 52K, respectively.

[0039] As shown in Fig. 3, a total of eight hexagonal cylindrical housings 51 are provided stacked in two tiers, one above the other, as viewed from the front. As shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, four cylindrical toner containers 52M, 52C, 52Y, and 52K are inserted horizontally into the four upper cylindrical housings 51, and four cylindrical toner containers 52M, 52C, 52Y, and 52K are also inserted horizontally into the four lower cylindrical housings 51.

[0040] The upper toner container 52M and the lower toner container 52M are adjacent to each other in the vertical diagonal direction, contain magenta toner, and supply the magenta toner to the developing device 7 of the image forming unit 3M via the respective toner transport units 54A and 54K. The upper toner container 52C and the lower toner container 52C are adjacent to each other in the vertical diagonal direction, contain cyan toner, and supply the cyan toner to the developing device 7 of the image forming unit 3C via the respective toner transport units 54A and 54K. The upper toner container 52Y and the lower toner container 52Y are adjacent to each other in the vertical diagonal direction, contain yellow toner, and supply the yellow toner to the developing device 7 of the image forming unit 3Y via the respective toner transport units 54A and 54K. The upper toner container 52K and the lower toner container 52K are adjacent to each other in the vertical diagonal direction, contain black toner, and supply the black toner to the developing device 7 of the image forming unit 3Kk through the respective toner transport units 54A and 54K.

[0041] Each of the toner containers 52M, 52C, 52Y, and 52K has a hollow cylindrical container 56 and a support portion 61. Toner is stored inside the hollow cylindrical container 56. The rear end of the cylindrical container 56 is open, and the front end of the cylindrical container 56 is closed. A gear 57 is provided on the outer periphery of the rear end of the cylindrical container 56, and a knob 58 is provided on the end face of the front end of the cylindrical container 56.

[0042] A spiral groove 59 is formed on the outer periphery of the cylindrical container 56. This spiral groove 59 forms a spiral protrusion that protrudes inward of the cylindrical container 56. Inside the cylindrical housing 51, the cylindrical container 56 is supported rotatably around its center, and a gear 57 on the rear end side of the cylindrical container 56 is engaged with a drive gear (not shown) provided on the image forming apparatus 10 side. This drive gear is driven to rotate by a motor (not shown), which rotates the gear 57 and also rotates the cylindrical container 56. As the cylindrical container 56 rotates, the toner in the cylindrical container 56 is transported to the rear end side by the spiral protrusion that protrudes inward of the cylindrical container 56.

[0043] The support part 61 has a case 62, a fitting lid 63, and a shutter 64. The case 62 is held and fixed on the image forming apparatus 10 side in a state in which the toner container is inserted and attached into the cylindrical housing 51. The fitting lid 63 is supported inside the case 62 and is fixed together with the case 62.

[0044] The fitting lid 63 has a cylindrical portion 63A that is rotatably fitted into the opening at the rear end of the cylindrical container 56, and a toner discharge port 63C provided on the lower side of the cylindrical portion 63A, and closes the rear end of the cylindrical portion 63A. The outer periphery of the cylindrical portion 63A is rotatably and tightly fitted into the inner periphery of the opening at the rear end of the cylindrical container 56, so that even if the cylindrical container 56 rotates, the cylindrical portion 63A does not rotate, and toner does not leak from between the cylindrical container 56 and the cylindrical portion 63A.

[0045] The shutter 64 is provided at the toner discharge port 63C of the fitting lid body 63. When the toner container is inserted into and attached to the cylindrical housing 51, the shutter 64 is moved to open the toner discharge port 63C, and when the toner container is pulled out of the cylindrical housing 51, the shutter 64 is moved in the opposite direction to close the toner discharge port 63C.

[0046] As described above, as the cylindrical container 56 rotates, the toner in the cylindrical container 56 is transported toward the rear end by the spiral protrusion protruding from the inside of the cylindrical container 56, and the toner is guided inside the tubular portion 63A of the fitting lid body 63 and discharged downward through the toner discharge port 63C of the fitting lid body 63.

[0047] Each of the toner transport units 54A and 54K fixed to the image forming apparatus 10 includes a receiving portion 65, a vertical transport pipe 66, a horizontal transport pipe 67, and a common junction transport pipe 68. The receiving portion 65 of the toner transport unit 54A is engaged with the toner discharge opening 63C of the fitting lid 63 of the upper toner container. The receiving portion 65 of the toner transport unit 54K is engaged with the toner discharge opening 63C of the fitting lid 63 of the lower toner container.

[0048] In both toner transport units 54A and 54K, toner discharged from the toner discharge port 63C of the fitting lid 63 of the toner container is received through a receiver 65 and guided through a vertical transport pipe 66 to a horizontal transport pipe 67. In the vertical transport pipe 66, the toner is transported by gravity falling. In the horizontal transport pipe 67, a screw provided inside the horizontal transport pipe 67 is rotated, and the toner is transported horizontally by this screw.

[0049] In a pair of toner conveying units 54A, 54K that receive toner of the same color from the toner discharge outlets 63C of the upper and lower toner containers that are adjacent to each other diagonally in the vertical direction, each horizontal conveying pipe 67 is connected to the upper end of a junction conveying pipe 68, and the toner is guided from each horizontal conveying pipe 67 to the junction conveying pipe 68 where it is joined, and the toner is supplied to the developing device 7 through the junction conveying pipe 68.

[0050] As a result, the magenta toner contained in the upper and lower toner containers 52M is supplied to the developing device 7 of the image forming unit 3M through the respective toner transport units 54A and 54K. The cyan toner contained in the upper and lower toner containers 52C is supplied to the developing device 7 of the image forming unit 3C through the respective toner transport units 54A and 54K. The yellow toner contained in the upper and lower toner containers 52Y is supplied to the developing device 7 of the image forming unit 3Y through the respective toner transport units 54A and 54K. The black toner contained in the upper and lower toner containers 52K is supplied to the developing device 7 of the image forming unit 3K through the respective toner transport units 54A and 54K.

[0051] Each cylindrical housing 51 is also provided with an empty sensor 23 (shown in FIG. 1) that detects whether the toner container is empty. The empty sensor 23 is, for example, a magnetic permeability sensor that detects toner inside the vertical transport pipe 66. When the empty sensor 23 provided in the vertical transport pipe 66 of the toner transport unit 54A that receives toner from the upper toner container does not detect toner inside the vertical transport pipe 66, the upper toner container is empty. When the empty sensor 23 provided in the vertical transport pipe 66 of the toner transport unit 54K that receives toner from the lower toner container does not detect toner inside the vertical transport pipe 66, the lower toner container is empty.

[0052] Each cylindrical housing 51 is also provided with a remaining amount sensor 22 (shown in FIG. 1) that detects the amount of toner remaining inside the toner container.

[0053] 1, the image forming apparatus 10 is equipped with the container loading unit 48, the remaining amount sensors 22, and the empty sensors 23, as well as the RFID readers 24 and the container sensors 25. The remaining amount sensors 22 are, for example, magnetic sensors.

[0054] Each RFID (radio frequency identification) reader 24 is provided in each cylindrical housing 51, and reads toner container information TD from an RFID tag (not shown) of each toner container inserted into each cylindrical housing 51. Each toner container is provided with an RFID tag, and the toner container information TD is stored in this RFID tag.

[0055] Each container sensor 25 is provided in each cylindrical housing 51 and detects the presence or absence of each toner container inserted into each cylindrical housing 51, and is, for example, a limit switch that turns on and off depending on the insertion or removal of a toner container.

[0056] A more detailed configuration of the container loading section 48 is described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2052-52544 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2019-56802, both of which were previously filed by the applicant of the present invention.

[0057] In image forming apparatus 10 configured as described above, for example, a user places an original document on image reading unit 15 and operates the start key of operation unit 12. In response to the operation of the start key, control unit 21 causes image reading unit 15 to read the image of the original document, and causes image forming unit 16 to print the image of the original document on recording paper.

[0058] Furthermore, the control unit 21 of the image forming apparatus 10 generates information regarding toner consumption in each of the toner containers 52M, 52C, 52Y, and 52K in the container loading unit 48, and causes the communication unit 14 to transmit this information to the information processing device 30. When the communication unit 34 receives information regarding toner consumption in each of the toner containers 52M, 52C, 52Y, and 52K, the control unit 41 of the information processing device 30 stores this information in the storage unit 38. However, when transmitting and receiving information regarding toner consumption for each of the toner containers 52M, 52C, 52Y, and 52K between the image forming apparatus 10 and the information processing device 30, it is desirable to transmit necessary information while reducing the amount of information communication and performing the transmission efficiently.

[0059] Therefore, in this embodiment, the control unit 21 of the image forming apparatus 10 sets a toner container for which toner supply is enabled, i.e., a toner container to which toner is to be supplied, as a valid toner container, generates consumable part configuration information KD indicating the installation position (upper row, lower row, horizontal arrangement order, etc.) for each toner container set as valid, and causes the communication unit 14 to transmit the consumable part configuration information KD to the information processing device 30. The control unit 21 generates consumable part configuration information KD for toner containers that are not set as valid, but does not cause the communication unit 14 to transmit the consumable part configuration information KD to the information processing device 30. Alternatively, the control unit 21 may not generate consumable part configuration information KD for toner containers that are not set as valid.

[0060] In the information processing device 30, when the consumable part configuration information KD is received by the communication unit 34, the control unit 41 determines the installation position of each toner container indicated by the consumable part configuration information KD, and causes the communication unit 34 to send information indicating the installation position of the toner container and a communication request for the consumable information SD to the image forming device 10 for each toner container.

[0061] In the image forming device 10, when the communication unit 14 receives a request for communication of the toner container installation position and consumption information, the communication unit 14 generates consumption information SD for the toner container at that installation position, and causes the communication unit 14 to transmit information indicating the toner container installation position (or information indicating the toner container installed at that installation position; the same applies below) and the consumption information SD for the toner container to the image forming device 10.

[0062] In the information processing device 30, when information indicating the installation position of the toner container and toner container consumption information SD is received by the communication unit 34, the control unit 41 stores the toner container installation position and toner container consumption information SD in the memory unit 38, and displays warnings and the like based on the toner container consumption information SD on the screen of the display unit 31.

[0063] In this way, the toner container consumption information SD is transmitted from the image forming apparatus 10 to the information processing apparatus 30 and collected for each valid toner container indicated by the consumable part configuration information KD, i.e., for each toner container to which toner is supplied. Furthermore, the consumption information SD is not transmitted for toner containers to which toner is not supplied. As a result, the consumption information SD is transmitted only for toner containers that truly require management.

[0064] The consumable part configuration information KD is set by a service technician through operation of the operation unit 12 during initial setup of the image forming apparatus 10 and stored in the nonvolatile memory 17. For example, the control unit 21 of the image forming apparatus 10 displays icons ICM, ICC, ICY, and ICK corresponding to the toner containers 52M, 52C, 52Y, and 52K in the upper row, and icons ICM, ICC, ICY, and ICK corresponding to the toner containers 52M, 52C, 52Y, and 52K in the lower row, on the screen of the display unit 111, as shown in FIG. 5 . The service technician selects an icon corresponding to the toner container to be enabled from the icons displayed on the display unit 111 and touches the icon. The control unit 21 enables the toner container corresponding to the touched icon via the touch panel 13, generates consumable part configuration information KD indicating the installation position of the toner container, and stores the consumable part configuration information KD in the nonvolatile memory 17.

[0065] In addition, the cylindrical container 56 of the toner container attached to the cylindrical housing 51 is rotated and toner is supplied from the toner container, so that when the control unit 21 of the image forming device 10 operates a motor (not shown) for rotating the cylindrical container 56 of the toner container and rotates the cylindrical container 56, toner is supplied from the toner container.

[0066] Here, for example, when all of the upper and lower toner containers 52M, 52C, 52Y, and 52K are attached to their respective cylindrical housings 51 of the container loading section 48, and the consumable part configuration information KD indicates the attachment positions of the upper and lower toner containers 52M, 52C, 52Y, and 52K as shown in FIG. 6(A), i.e., when the supply of toner from the upper and lower toner containers 52M, 52C, 52Y, and 52K is enabled, the control section 21 of the image forming device 10 rotates the cylindrical container 56 of the toner container for each of the toner containers 52M, 52C, 52Y, and 52K using a motor (not shown), causing the toner container to supply toner.

[0067] 6B, if the consumable part configuration information KD indicates the installation positions of the lower toner containers 52M, 52C, 52Y, and 52K, and therefore the toner supply from the lower toner containers 52M, 52C, 52Y, and 52K is enabled, the control unit 21 of the image forming apparatus 10 rotates the cylindrical container 56 of each of the lower toner containers 52M, 52C, 52Y, and 52K using a motor (not shown) to supply toner from the toner container. Furthermore, for the upper toner containers 52M, 52C, 52Y, and 52K, the control unit 21 does not rotate the cylindrical container 56 of the toner container using a motor (not shown) and does not supply toner from the toner container, regardless of whether the toner container is installed in the cylindrical housing 51.

[0068] Furthermore, when the consumable part configuration information KD indicates the installation position of the upper toner container 52K and each of the lower toner containers 52M, 52C, 52Y, and 52K as shown in FIG. 6(C), and therefore the supply of toner from the upper toner container 52K and each of the lower toner containers 52M, 52C, 52Y, and 52K is set to be enabled, the control unit 21 of the image forming device 10 rotates the cylindrical container 56 of the upper toner container 52K using a motor (not shown) to cause the toner container 52K to supply toner, and also rotates the cylindrical container 56 of each of the lower toner containers 52M, 52C, 52Y, and 52K using a motor (not shown) to cause the toner container to supply toner. Furthermore, for the other toner containers 52M, 52C, and 52Y on the upper level, the control unit 21 does not rotate the cylindrical containers 56 of the toner containers using a motor (not shown), regardless of whether the toner containers are attached to the cylindrical housing 51 or not, and does not allow the toner containers to supply toner.

[0069] On the other hand, the toner container consumption information SD indicates, for example, whether the toner container is genuine or non-genuine, the color of toner contained in the toner container, the amount of toner remaining, whether the toner container is empty, whether the toner container is attached or not, etc. Furthermore, the control unit 21 of the image forming apparatus 10 may generate as toner container consumption information SD the information on whether the toner container is genuine or non-genuine, the color of toner, the amount of toner remaining, whether the toner container is empty, and whether the toner container is attached or not, which are selected in response to an operation of the operation unit 12 by a service technician or an operation of the GUI displayed on the display unit 11 via the touch panel 13.

[0070] Furthermore, the control unit 21 of the image forming apparatus 10 determines, for each toner container, the color of toner contained in the toner container and whether the toner container is genuine or non-genuine, based on the toner container information TD read from the toner container's RFID tag by the RFID reader 24 provided in the cylindrical housing 51. The control unit 21 also determines, for each toner container, the amount of toner remaining in the toner container based on the detection output of the remaining amount sensor 22 provided in the cylindrical housing 51. The control unit 21 also determines, for each toner container, the empty state of the toner container based on the detection output of the empty sensor 23 provided in the cylindrical housing 51. The control unit 21 also determines, for each toner container, whether the toner container is installed or not, based on the detection output of the container sensor 25 provided in the cylindrical housing 51.

[0071] Next, the control procedure for transmitting the toner container consumption information from the image forming apparatus 10 to the information processing apparatus 30 as described above will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

[0072] When the power of the image forming device 10 is turned on and the image forming device 10 is started up, the control unit 21 of the image forming device 10 accesses the information processing device 30 through the communication unit 14, reads the consumable part configuration information KD from the non-volatile memory 17, and causes the communication unit 14 to transmit the consumable part configuration information KD to the information processing device 30 (S101).

[0073] In the information processing device 30, when the consumable part configuration information KD is received by the communication unit 34 (S201), the control unit 41 determines and acquires the installation position of each toner container indicated by the consumable part configuration information KD, i.e., the installation position of each toner container that enables the supply of toner (S202), and displays this determined installation position of each toner container on the screen of the display unit 31 (S203).

[0074] For example, if the consumable part configuration information KD indicates the installation positions of the upper and lower toner containers 52M, 52C, 52Y, and 52K as shown in FIG. 6(A), the icons ICM, ICC, ICY, and ICK corresponding to the upper toner containers 52M, 52C, 52Y, and 52K, and the icons ICM, ICC, ICY, and ICK corresponding to the lower toner containers 52M, 52C, 52Y, and 52K, respectively, are displayed on the screen of the display unit 31 as shown in FIG. 8(A).

[0075] Furthermore, when the consumable part configuration information KD indicates the installation positions of the lower toner containers 52M, 52C, 52Y, and 52K as shown in FIG. 6(B), the icons ICM, ICC, ICY, and ICK corresponding to the lower toner containers 52M, 52C, 52Y, and 52K are displayed on the screen of the display unit 31 as shown in FIG. 8(B).

[0076] Furthermore, when the consumable part configuration information KD indicates the installation position of the upper toner container 52K and the installation positions of each of the lower toner containers 52M, 52C, 52Y, and 52K as shown in Figure 6(C), an icon ICK corresponding to the upper toner container 52K and icons ICM, ICC, ICY, and ICK corresponding to each of the lower toner containers 52M, 52C, 52Y, and 52K are displayed on the screen of the display unit 31 as shown in Figure 8(C).

[0077] When a fixed period (for example, one-hour period) or a preset time comes (S204), the control unit 41 of the information processing device 30 selects one of the mounting positions of each toner container acquired in S202 (S205), and transmits a communication request for the mounting position and consumption information SD of the selected toner container to the image forming device 10 via the communication unit 34 (S206).

[0078] In the image forming device 10, when a request for communication of the toner container mounting position and consumption information is received by the communication unit 14 (S102), the toner container consumption information SD indicated by the toner container mounting position is generated (S103), and the toner container mounting position and the toner container consumption information SD are transmitted to the information processing device 30 via the communication unit 14 (S104).

[0079] In the information processing device 30, when the toner container mounting position and toner container consumption information are received by the communication unit 34 (S207), the control unit 41 stores the toner container mounting position and toner container consumption information SD in the memory unit 38 (S208).

[0080] The control unit 41 of the information processing device 30 determines whether or not a warning related to the toner container is issued based on the toner container consumption information SD (S209), and if it determines that a warning is issued (S209 "Yes"), it causes the display unit 31 to display a warning related to the toner container on its screen (S210). For example, the control unit 41 determines the color and amount of toner contained in the toner container indicated by the toner container consumption information SD, and determines whether the amount of toner remaining in the toner container is equal to or less than a preset threshold (S209), and if it determines that the amount of toner remaining in the toner container is equal to or less than the threshold (S209 "Yes"), it causes the display unit 31 to display the color of toner contained in the toner container and a message that the amount of toner remaining in the toner container is low on its screen (S210). Alternatively, the control unit 41 determines whether the toner container consumption information SD indicates that the toner container is empty (S209), and if it determines that the toner container is empty (S209 "Yes"), it causes the display unit 31 to display the color of the toner contained in the toner container and the fact that the toner container is empty on its screen (S210). The control unit 41 also determines whether the toner container consumption information SD indicates that the toner container is not installed (S209), and if it determines that the toner container is not installed (S209 "Yes"), it causes the display unit 31 to display the color of the toner contained in the toner container and the fact that the toner container is not installed on its screen (S210). Methods of displaying the warning include changing the display color of an icon corresponding to the toner container for which it has been determined that a warning exists, and displaying a message indicating the content of the warning.

[0081] The control unit 41 of the information processing device 30 determines whether the toner container consumption information SD indicates that the toner container is a non-genuine product (S209), and if it determines that the toner container is a non-genuine product (S209 "Yes"), it may display on the screen of the display unit 31 (S210) that the toner container is a non-genuine product. In this case, a message indicating the content of the warning is displayed, and the icon corresponding to the non-genuine toner container is erased.

[0082] The control unit 41 of the information processing device 30 determines whether there are any unselected mounting positions among the mounting positions of each toner container obtained in S202 (S211), and if it determines that there are any unselected mounting positions (S211 "Yes"), it selects the mounting position of another unselected toner container (S212), and causes the communication unit 34 to send a communication request for the mounting position and consumption information SD of this selected other toner container to the image forming device 10 (S206).

[0083] In the image forming device 10, when the communication unit 14 receives a request to communicate the installation position and consumption information SD of another toner container (S102), the control unit 21 generates consumption information SD of the toner container indicated by the installation position of the other toner container (S103), and causes the communication unit 14 to transmit the installation position of the toner container and the consumption information SD of the toner container to the information processing device 30 (S104).

[0084] Similarly, when the control unit 41 of the information processing device 30 receives the mounting position of the toner container and the toner container consumption information (S207), it stores the mounting position of the toner container and the toner container consumption information SD in the memory unit 38 (S208), determines whether or not there is a warning related to the toner container (S209), and if it determines that there is a warning (S209 "Yes"), it displays the warning related to the toner container on the screen of the display unit 31 (S210), determines whether or not there is an unselected mounting position among the mounting positions of each toner container acquired in S202 (S211), and if it determines that there is an unselected mounting position (S211 "Yes"), it selects the mounting position of the unselected toner container (S212), and sends a communication request for the mounting position and consumption information SD of the selected toner container to the image forming device 10 (S206). When the control unit 21 of the image forming device 10 receives a request to communicate the installation position and consumption information of the toner container (S102), it generates consumption information SD of the toner container indicated by the installation position of the toner container (S103) and transmits this to the information processing device 30 (S104).

[0085] Furthermore, when the control unit 41 of the information processing device 30 determines that there are no unselected mounting positions among the mounting positions of each toner container acquired in S202 and that all mounting positions have been selected (S211 "No"), the processing shown in Figure 7 ends.

[0086] In this way, the toner container consumption information SD is transmitted from the image forming apparatus 10 to the information processing apparatus 30 for each toner container installation position indicated by the consumable part configuration information KD, and therefore for each toner container to which toner is supplied. For example, if the consumable part configuration information KD indicates the installation positions of the upper and lower toner containers 52M, 52C, 52Y, and 52K as shown in Fig. 6(A), the consumption information SD for each of the upper and lower toner containers 52M, 52C, 52Y, and 52K is transmitted from the image forming apparatus 10 to the information processing apparatus 30 as shown in Fig. 9(A).

[0087] Furthermore, when the consumable part configuration information KD indicates the installation positions of each of the lower toner containers 52M, 52C, 52Y, and 52K as shown in Figure 6(B), the consumable part information SD of each of the lower toner containers 52M, 52C, 52Y, and 52K is sent from the image forming device 10 to the information processing device 30 as shown in Figure 9(B).

[0088] Furthermore, when the consumable part configuration information KD indicates the installation position of the upper toner container 52K and the installation positions of each of the lower toner containers 52M, 52C, 52Y, and 52K as shown in Figure 6(C), the consumption information SD of the upper toner container 52K and the consumption information SD of each of the lower toner containers 52M, 52C, 52Y, and 52K are transmitted from the image forming device 10 to the information processing device 30 as shown in Figure 9(C).

[0089] Therefore, for toner containers to which toner is not being supplied, the image forming device 10 does not send consumption information SD to the information processing device 30, so the amount of information communication is reduced while still transmitting necessary information between the image forming device 10 and the information processing device 30.

[0090] In the above embodiment, the control unit 41 of the information processing device 30 determines whether or not a warning related to the toner container is issued based on the toner container consumption information SD of the toner container (S209), and if it determines that a warning is issued (S209 "Yes"), it displays a warning related to the toner container on the screen of the display unit 31 (S210). Therefore, the control unit 41 displays a warning related to each toner container separately, but the information processing device 30 may be configured to accept in advance the selection of a toner container for which a warning is to be displayed in response to a service technician operating the operation unit 32 or operating the touch panel 33 based on a GUI displayed on the display unit 31. For example, the service technician selects the toner containers 52M, 52C, 52Y, and 52K in the lower row as the toner containers for which a warning is to be displayed. In this case, when the control unit 41 of the information processing device 30 determines that there is a warning for each of the lower toner containers 52M, 52C, 52Y, and 52K (S209 "Yes"), it causes the control unit 41 to display a warning for the toner container on the screen of the display unit 31 (S210), but does not determine whether there is a warning for each of the upper toner containers 52M, 52C, 52Y, and 52K, and does not cause a warning to be displayed on the screen of the display unit 31. Similarly, when the service technician selects each of the upper toner containers 52M, 52C, 52Y, and 52K as the target for which a warning is to be displayed, the control unit 41 of the information processing device 30 causes only the warning for each of the upper toner containers 52M, 52C, 52Y, and 52K to be displayed on the screen of the display unit 31.

[0091] Alternatively, the service technician may select the upper and lower toner containers 52M, 52C, 52Y, and 52K as targets for displaying a common warning. In this case, the control unit 41 of the information processing device 30 determines whether or not a warning is issued for each of the upper and lower toner containers that contain toner of the same color based on the consumption information SD of the toner containers (S209), and if it determines that a warning is issued for each of the toner containers (S209 "Yes"), it causes the display unit 31 to display a warning for each of the toner containers (S210).

[0092] Furthermore, the control unit 21 of the image forming apparatus 10 may not only transmit the installation position of the toner container and the toner container consumption information SD to the information processing device 30 via the communication unit 14 (S104), but may also, like the control unit 41 of the information processing device 30, determine whether or not a warning related to the toner container exists based on the toner container consumption information SD, and if it determines that a warning exists, display the warning related to the toner container on the screen of the display unit 11. Furthermore, like the control unit 41 of the information processing device 30, when a service technician selects a toner container for which a warning is to be displayed, the control unit 21 of the image forming apparatus 10 may display only the warning related to the selected toner container on the screen of the display unit 11.

[0093] In addition, the control unit 41 of the information processing device 30 may determine whether or not a destination error has occurred for the toner container based on the toner container consumption information SD, and if it determines that a destination error has occurred, may display a warning for the toner container on the screen of the display unit 31.

[0094] Furthermore, the control unit 41 of the information processing device 30 selects one of the mounting positions of each toner container at a fixed period (for example, one hour period) or at a preset time, and causes the communication unit 34 to send a communication request for the mounting position of the toner container and consumption information SD to the image forming device 10. However, when the control unit 41 receives a selection of one of the mounting positions of each toner container based on the operation of the operation unit 32 by a serviceman, it may also cause the communication unit 34 to send a communication request for the mounting position of the selected toner container and consumption information SD to the image forming device 10 at any time.

[0095] Furthermore, while the above embodiment illustrates an electrophotographic image forming apparatus 10, the present invention can also be applied to an inkjet image forming apparatus equipped with multiple ink cartridges. In the case of an inkjet image forming apparatus, the control unit of the inkjet image forming apparatus generates consumable part configuration information KD indicating the installation position of each ink cartridge, and also generates consumable information SD for each ink cartridge indicating whether it is a genuine or non-genuine product, the color of ink contained in the ink cartridge, the remaining ink amount, the ink cartridge's empty state, and whether the ink cartridge is installed or not, and performs the processing shown in FIG. 8 by replacing each toner container of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus with each ink cartridge.

[0096] Furthermore, the configurations and processes of the above-described embodiments explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9 are merely embodiments of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to these configurations and processes. [Explanation of symbols]

[0097] 10 Image forming device 11 Display section 12 Control section 13 Touch Panel 14 Communications Department 15 Image reading unit 16 Image forming unit 17 Non-volatile memory 18 Memory section 19 Control Unit 21 Control Unit 22 Remaining amount sensor 23 Empty Sensor 24 RFID readers 25 Container Sensor 30 Information processing equipment 31 Display section 32 Operation section 33 Touch Panel 34 Communications Department 38 Memory section 39 Control Unit 41 Control Unit 48 Container Loading Section Sy Image Forming System

Claims

1. An image forming system including an image forming apparatus and an information processing apparatus that performs data communication with the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus, an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording sheet; a plurality of consumable parts for supplying consumable materials used in forming the image; a first communication unit that performs data communication with the information processing device; a first control unit that sets the consumable part to be supplied with the consumable material as valid for each of the consumable parts, generates consumable part configuration information indicating the valid consumable parts, causes the first communication unit to transmit the consumable part configuration information to the information processing device, and, when a communication request for consumption information of the valid consumable part is transmitted from the information processing device and received by the first communication unit, generates consumption information of the valid consumable part for each of the valid consumable parts indicated by the consumable part configuration information and causes the first communication unit to transmit the consumption information to the information processing device; The information processing device includes: a second communication unit that performs data communication with the image forming apparatus; an image forming system comprising: a second control unit that, when the consumable part configuration information is transmitted from the image forming device and received by the second communication unit, determines the valid consumable parts indicated by the consumable part configuration information, causes the second communication unit to transmit a communication request for consumption information of the valid consumable parts to the image forming device, and, when the consumption information of the valid consumable parts is transmitted from the image forming device and received by the second communication unit, stores the consumption information of the valid consumable parts.

2. the information processing device further includes a display unit, The image forming system according to claim 1 , wherein the second control unit of the information processing device, when acquiring consumption information of the valid consumable part, causes the display unit to display a warning indicating the consumption information about the valid consumable part.

3. the image forming apparatus forms an image on recording paper using the toner, which is the consumable material, by an electrophotographic method; each of the consumable parts is a toner container that contains the toner and is attached to the image forming apparatus; 2. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the consumable part configuration information is for a plurality of valid toner containers from which the toner is supplied.

4. As the toner containers, a plurality of toner containers each containing toner of the same color are provided, 3. The image forming system according to claim 2, wherein the consumable part configuration information indicates at least one valid toner container from which toner of the same color is supplied, among the toner containers containing the toner of the same color.

5. The image forming system of claim 4, wherein when the second control unit of the information processing device acquires consumption information for at least one active toner container to which the same color toner is supplied, the second control unit displays a warning regarding the at least one active toner container based on the consumption information on the display unit.

6. the image forming apparatus further includes a display unit, The image forming system of claim 4, wherein the first control unit of the image forming device generates consumption information for at least one active toner container to which toner of the same color is supplied, and causes the display unit to display a warning regarding the at least one active toner container based on the consumption information.

7. the image forming apparatus forms an image on recording paper using the ink, which is the consumable material, by an inkjet method; each of the consumable parts is an ink cartridge containing the ink, and is attached to the image forming device; 2. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the consumable part configuration information is for a plurality of valid ink cartridges to which the ink is supplied.

8. The image forming system of claim 1, wherein the consumable information is information indicating the remaining amount of the consumable material contained in the consumable part, the empty state of the consumable part, whether the consumable part is installed or not, or whether the consumable part is genuine or non-genuine.

9. The image forming system according to claim 1 , wherein the image forming device includes a nonvolatile memory that stores the consumable part configuration information.

Images