Printing apparatus, information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program

Abstract

To urge maintenance by easily determining that a use region is changed in a printer, an information processing device, an information processing method and a program.SOLUTION: An information processing device such as a printer 1 comprises: a language switching unit 51 which switches a display language; a setting change unit 52 which performs a setting change; and a notification unit 53 which performs notification (step S13) that urges execution of maintenance on the basis of execution of switching of the display language (step S11: YES) and setting change (step S12: YES).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, an inkjet printer that receives data of a display language from an external storage device and switches the display language has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this inkjet printer, the display language can be switched according to the region where it is shipped after manufacture.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, an information processing apparatus such as a printing apparatus may be moved to and used in another different language region after shipment. When the information processing apparatus is moved and used, maintenance such as changing to appropriate settings according to each region may be required. The appropriate settings are, for example, settings corresponding to differences in supply voltage, and in the case of a printing apparatus, a color profile, paper settings, and the like. If appropriate settings are not made, the information processing apparatus may malfunction or the function (for example, print quality) may deteriorate.

[0005] The change in the usage area of the information processing apparatus can be determined based on time information obtained from an NTP (Network Time Protocol) server or the like, or area information obtained from a GPS (Global Positioning System) or the like. However, when the information processing apparatus is not connected to an external network and time information cannot be obtained, or when area information cannot be obtained from the GPS, etc., it is impossible to determine that the usage area of the information processing apparatus has changed. In this case, appropriate settings are not made, which may lead to malfunctions of the information processing apparatus or degradation of functions (such as print quality).

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus, an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program that can easily determine that the usage area has changed and prompt maintenance.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] In one aspect, a printing apparatus includes a language switching unit that switches the display language, a setting change unit that changes settings, and a notification unit that performs a notification prompting the execution of maintenance based on the switching of the display language and the change of the settings.

Effects of the Invention

[0008] According to the above aspect, it is possible to easily determine that the usage area has changed and prompt maintenance.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, a printing apparatus, an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0011] <First Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a printing apparatus 1 in the first embodiment.

[0012] The printing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a medium supply unit 10, a conveyance unit 20, a printing unit 30, a medium discharge unit 40, a control unit 50, a storage unit 60, an operation panel 70, and a communication unit 80. The printing apparatus 1 is an example of an information processing apparatus. Although not shown, the printing apparatus 1 may also include a scanner or the like that reads image data from a document.

[0013] The medium supply unit 10 has a loading table on which media such as paper are loaded, and supplies the media loaded on this loading table toward the printing unit 30.

[0014] The conveyance unit 20 has, for example, rollers, belts, etc., and conveys the medium inside the printing apparatus 1.

[0015] The printing unit 30 performs printing on the medium conveyed by the conveyance unit 20. The printing method of the printing unit 30 is not particularly limited, and is, for example, an inkjet printing method, a stencil printing method, etc.

[0016] The medium discharge unit 40 has a loading table on which the medium is loaded and exposed to the outside of the printing apparatus 1, and discharges the medium on which printing has been performed by the printing unit 30 onto the loading table.

[0017] The control unit 50 includes, for example, one or more processors (e.g., a CPU: Central Processing Unit) that function as an arithmetic processing unit for controlling the operations of each part of the printing apparatus 1. This processor functions as a language switching unit 51, a setting change unit 52, and a notification unit 53 by reading and executing a predetermined program from the storage unit 60 or from a storage medium (non-transitory computer-readable recording medium) detachable from the printing apparatus 1.

[0018] The language switching unit 51 switches the display language to be displayed on the display unit 71. For example, the language switching unit 51 switches the character code to another character code stored in the storage unit 60 or another character code acquired from an external device such as a server via the communication unit 80. The character code is, for example, Shift_JIS for Japanese or Unicode (UTF-8) for Chinese.

[0019] The setting change unit 52 changes various settings such as the printing settings of the printing unit 30, such as color mode settings, the conveyance settings of the conveyance unit 20, and time settings. The setting change unit 52 performs, for example, manual setting changes during maintenance based on an input operation at the input unit 72 of a user (e.g., a general user, a maintenance staff, etc.), and automatic setting changes accompanying the update of the functions of the printing apparatus 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the color mode setting is a setting such as single-color magenta for Japan or single-color red for China. This color mode is an example of related settings associated with each language. For example, single-color magenta is associated with Japanese, and single-color red is associated with Chinese. The display language and the related settings associated with this display language may be stored in the storage unit 60 in a table or the like that represents a correspondence relationship.

[0020] The notification unit 53 gives a notification prompting the execution of maintenance based on the switching of the display language and the change of settings. For example, as shown in FIG. 4 on the display unit 71, the notification unit 53 may prompt the user to execute maintenance by displaying a maintenance notification screen 71a with the content "The image adjustment may not be appropriate. Please contact the service provider." The notification unit 53 may give a notification by voice output, or may give a notification to an external device such as a user terminal via the communication unit 80. Note that the notification unit 53 may also give a notification prompting the execution of maintenance at a predetermined timing (for example, every few years or every few months) based on the start date of use of the printing device 1 stored in the hard disk device of the storage unit 60, or at a predetermined timing based on the number of prints. Further, for the notification prompting the execution of maintenance based on the switching of the display language and the change of settings, the notification unit 53 may wait for the above-mentioned predetermined timing, or may wait for other notification timings such as when replacing consumables, and give the notification simultaneously at these timings.

[0021] The storage unit 60 includes, for example, a ROM (Read Only Memory), which is a read-only semiconductor memory in which a predetermined control program is pre-recorded, a RAM (Random Access Memory), which is a semiconductor memory that can be written to and read from as needed when the processor executes various control programs, and other memories, and a hard disk device.

[0022] The operation panel 70 includes a display unit 71 that displays various information, and an input unit 72 that receives input of various information by a user (for example, a general user, a maintenance staff, etc.). When the display unit 71 has a touch panel, the display unit 71 also serves as the input unit 72. Note that the maintenance staff may be a person selected from general users or a maintenance staff specialized in maintenance.

[0023] The communication unit 80 is an interface unit that exchanges various types of information with various devices such as user terminals connected wirelessly or wired via a network.

[0024] As described above, the information processing apparatus taking the printing apparatus 1 as an example performs switching and setting changes of the display language, and based on the switching and setting changes of these display languages being performed, performs a notification prompting the execution of maintenance. From the perspective of the method, the information processing method includes a step of switching the display language, a step of making a setting change, and a step of performing a notification prompting the execution of maintenance based on the switching and setting change of the display language being performed.

[0025] Also, from the perspective of the program, the program causes a computer (for example, a computer of the information processing apparatus such as the control unit 50 of the printing apparatus 1) to execute a function of switching the display language, a function of making a setting change, and a function of performing a notification prompting the execution of maintenance based on the switching and setting change of the display language being performed.

[0026] Note that the above information processing method and program may be performed by a second information processing apparatus that controls the first information processing apparatus such as a printing apparatus (control such as switching the display language and making a setting change). This second information processing apparatus is, for example, a dedicated printing control apparatus that controls the first information processing apparatus, or a user terminal such as a smartphone, tablet, or personal computer that controls the first information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus in this specification may be the above first information processing apparatus, or may be the above second information processing apparatus.

[0027] Next, the maintenance notification process in the first embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 2. In the flowchart shown in FIG. 2, the notification unit 53 does not perform a notification prompting the execution of maintenance based on the switching of the display language and the setting change, but performs a notification prompting the execution of maintenance based on the switching of the display language and the setting change to the related setting associated with the display language after the switching. That is, the flowchart shown in FIG. 2 takes, as an example, the setting change to the related setting associated with the display language after the switching, which is one of the conditions for performing the notification prompting the execution of maintenance.

[0028] The process of the flowchart shown in FIG. 2 is performed by the notification unit 53 when a setting change (excluding the setting change performed in association with the maintenance notification, for example) is made by the setting change unit 52.

[0029] First, the notification unit 53 determines whether the display language has been switched by the language switching unit 51 (step S11). Since it is rare for the setting change and the display language switching to be performed at exactly the same timing, the notification unit 53 may determine whether the display language has been switched within a specified period after the setting change. Alternatively, the notification unit 53 may determine whether the display language has been switched within a specified period before the setting change.

[0030] In addition, in order for the notification unit 53 to exclude the case where the use of the display language after the switching and the setting after the setting change is temporary, it is advisable to determine whether the use of the display language after the switching and the setting after the setting change satisfies the continuous use condition. This continuous use condition is, for example, a specified use period and a specified number of printings (an example of the specified number of uses).

[0031] If the notification unit 53 determines that there is no switching of the display language (step S11: NO), the process shown in FIG. 2 ends.

[0032] If the notification unit 53 determines that there has been a change in the display language (step S11: YES), it determines whether the setting change is a change to a related setting associated with the display language after the change (step S12).

[0033] For example, as described above, when the notification unit 53 determines that the color mode has been changed to single - color red for China, which is associated with the display language after the change (Chinese), it may determine that the setting change is a change to a related setting associated with the display language after the change (step S12: YES).

[0034] In this case, as described above, for example, the notification unit 53 causes the display unit 71 to display a maintenance notification screen 71a with the content "There may be a problem with the image adjustment. Please contact the service provider." as shown in FIG. 4, to prompt the user to perform maintenance (step S13). When the notification of the execution of this maintenance is made, and when the change is not a change to a related setting associated with the display language after the change (step S12: NO), the process shown in FIG. 2 ends.

[0035] The user prompted to perform maintenance may contact a maintenance staff (service provider), and the maintenance staff specialized in maintenance may perform the operation of the maintenance. Also, when the user prompted to perform maintenance is a maintenance staff selected from general users, the user may perform the maintenance operation by themselves.

[0036] The notification unit 53 may also notify the content of the maintenance to be performed in the area after the movement of the printing apparatus 1. For example, when the supply voltage differs depending on the area before and after the movement of the printing apparatus 1, the content of this maintenance is, for example, the drive voltage of the inkjet head of the printing unit 30. Also, the content of the maintenance may be, for example, color adjustment according to the area of the destination (for example, color adjustment using a color profile for expressing a specific red color in China).

[0037] If maintenance is not performed even after a predetermined period has elapsed since the notification prompting the execution of maintenance is given, the notification unit 53 may give a notification prompting the execution of maintenance again. Further, if maintenance is not performed even when the notification unit 53 gives a notification prompting the execution of maintenance a plurality of times, the notification unit 53 may give a notification by a warning display (such as that the image quality cannot be guaranteed) at the time of printing or the like. If maintenance is not performed even after the warning display, printing with restricted functions of the printing apparatus 1 (for example, printing at a reduced printing speed, printing with a reduced printing density, etc.) may be performed. Further, the notification unit 53 may stop the use of the printing apparatus 1. Here, the restriction of the functions of the printing apparatus 1 and the stop of use are performed to prevent failures and prevent deterioration of quality.

[0038] Note that if the difference in the setting conditions to be made in maintenance due to the regional change of the printing apparatus 1 (for example, the difference in the head drive voltage, etc.) is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the functions of the printing apparatus 1 and the stop of use should be performed earlier than when the difference is less than the predetermined value. Further, when maintenance is not necessary, the notification unit 53 may omit the notification process for the execution of maintenance.

[0039] In the first embodiment described above, the printing apparatus 1, which is an example of an information processing apparatus, includes a language switching unit 51 that switches the display language, a setting change unit 52 that makes a setting change, and a notification unit 53 that gives a notification prompting the execution of maintenance based on the switching of the display language and the fact that the setting change has been made.

[0040] Further, the information processing method is, for example, an information processing method performed by an information processing apparatus, and includes a step of switching the display language, a step of making a setting change, and a step of giving a notification prompting the execution of maintenance based on the switching of the display language and the fact that the setting change has been made. Further, the program causes a computer (for example, a computer of the information processing apparatus such as the control unit 50 of the printing apparatus 1) to execute a function of switching the display language, a function of making a setting change, and a function of giving a notification prompting the execution of maintenance based on the switching of the display language and the fact that the setting change has been made.

[0041] Therefore, based on the switching of the display language and the change of settings, it can be determined that the printing apparatus 1 is being moved to and used in different regions. As a result, even when time information cannot be obtained from an NTP server or the like, or when region information cannot be obtained from GPS or the like, it is possible to easily determine that the usage region has changed. Also, since it can be determined that the usage region of the printing apparatus 1 has changed, it is possible to prompt maintenance required due to the change of the usage region at an appropriate timing and with appropriate content. Therefore, according to the first embodiment, it is possible to easily determine that the usage region has changed and prompt maintenance.

[0042] Also, in the first embodiment, the notification unit 53 performs a notification prompting the execution of maintenance based on the fact that the continued use conditions of the switched display language and the settings after the setting change are satisfied. As a result, it is possible to exclude cases where the switching of the display language or the setting change is temporary, so that it is possible to more accurately determine that the printing apparatus 1 is being moved to and used in different regions. Therefore, false notifications of maintenance can be prevented.

[0043] Also, in the first embodiment, the setting change includes a change in related settings (for example, color mode) associated with the display language, and the notification unit 53 performs a notification prompting the execution of maintenance based on the fact that a change in the display language and a change in related settings (for example, single - color red) associated with the switched display language (for example, Chinese) have been made. As a result, it is possible to exclude cases where a setting change that has little relevance to moving the printing apparatus 1 to different regions has been made, so that it is possible to more accurately determine that the printing apparatus 1 is being moved to and used in different regions. Therefore, false notifications of maintenance can be prevented.

[0044] <Second Embodiment> In the second embodiment, this is an example where the above-described setting change is a time change. For other matters, since they can be the same as those in the first embodiment described above, only the different matters will be described.

[0045] FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the maintenance notification process in the second embodiment.

[0046] The process of the flowchart shown in FIG. 5 is performed by the notification unit 53 when the time change is made by the setting change unit 52. This time change may be made by the setting change unit 52 based on the user's operation, or may be made by the setting change unit 52 based on the time information acquired from the NTP server. Note that the notification unit 53 may perform the process of the flowchart shown in FIG. 5 only when the time change to the time in the region where the display language is used is made.

[0047] First, the notification unit 53 determines whether the display language has been switched within a specified period (for example, several hours or several days) after the time change, or within a specified period before the time change (step S21). Note that the notification unit 53 may determine whether the display language has been switched without determining the specified period.

[0048] Also in the second embodiment, similar to the first embodiment described above, the notification unit 53 may determine whether the use of the switched display language and the time after the time change satisfies the continuous use condition.

[0049] If the notification unit 53 determines that there is no switching of the display language within the specified period (step S21: NO), the process shown in FIG. 5 ends.

[0050] If the notification unit 53 determines that the display language has been switched within the specified period (step S21: YES), as described above, for example, by causing the display unit 71 to display the maintenance notification screen 71a with the content "There may be a problem with the image adjustment. Please contact the service provider." as shown in FIG. 4, the user is prompted to perform maintenance (step S22). Then, the process shown in FIG. 5 ends.

[0051] In the second embodiment described above, for the same matters as those in the first embodiment, the same effects can be obtained, that is, the effects such as easily determining that the usage area of the printing apparatus 1 has changed and prompting maintenance can be obtained.

[0052] Also, in the second embodiment, the setting change includes a time change, and the notification unit 53 performs a notification prompting the execution of maintenance based on the fact that the period between the switching of the display language and the time change is within the specified period. As a result, since it is possible to exclude the case where the period between the switching of the display language and the time change is long and the relevance is low, it is possible to more accurately determine that the printing apparatus 1 is being used after being moved to a different area. Therefore, false notifications for maintenance can be prevented.

[0053] Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments as they are, and components can be modified and embodied without departing from the gist thereof at the implementation stage. Also, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of components disclosed in the above-described embodiments. For example, all the components shown in the embodiments may be appropriately combined. Of course, various modifications and applications are possible without departing from the gist of the invention. Hereinafter, the invention described in the claims of the present application at the time of filing is appended.

[0054] [Appendix 1] A language switching unit that switches the display language; A setting change unit that makes a setting change; A notification unit that performs a notification prompting execution of maintenance based on the switching of the display language and the fact that the setting change has been made A printing apparatus characterized by comprising the same.

[0055] [Appendix 2] The notification unit performs a notification prompting execution of the maintenance based on the fact that the use of the switched display language and the setting after the setting change satisfies the continuous use condition. The printing apparatus according to Appendix 1, characterized by the above.

[0056] [Appendix 3] The setting change includes a setting change of related settings associated with the display language. The notification unit performs a notification prompting execution of the maintenance based on the switching of the display language and the fact that a setting change has been made to the related settings associated with the switched display language. The printing apparatus according to Appendix 1 or 2, characterized by the above.

[0057] [Appendix 4] The setting change includes a time change. The notification unit performs a notification prompting execution of the maintenance based on the fact that the period between the switching of the display language and the time change is within a specified period. The printing apparatus according to any one of Appendices 1 to 3, characterized by the above.

[0058] [Appendix 5] A language switching unit that switches the display language, A setting change unit that makes a setting change, A notification unit that performs a notification prompting execution of maintenance based on the switching of the display language and the fact that the setting change has been made An information processing apparatus characterized by comprising the same.

[0059] [Appendix 6] A step of switching the display language, A step of making a setting change, A step of performing a notification to prompt the execution of maintenance based on the switching of the display language and the fact that the setting change has been made An information processing method characterized by including this.

[0060] [Appendix 7] A function of switching the display language, A function of making a setting change, A function of performing a notification to prompt the execution of maintenance based on the switching of the display language and the fact that the setting change has been made A program characterized by causing a computer to execute this.

Explanation of Signs

[0061] 1 Printing device 10 Media supply unit 20 Conveying unit 30 Printing unit 40 Media discharge unit 50 Control unit 51 Language switching unit 52 Setting change unit 53 Notification unit 60 Storage unit 70 Operation panel 71 Display unit 71a Maintenance notification screen 72 Input unit 80 Communication unit

Claims

1. A language switching unit that performs switching of the display language, A setting change unit that makes setting changes, A notification unit that gives a notification prompting execution of maintenance based on the switching of the display language and the making of the setting changes are provided, wherein the notification unit gives a notification prompting execution of the maintenance based on the continued use conditions that the use of the switched display language and the settings after the setting changes are a specified use period or a specified number of prints characterize a printing apparatus.

2. A language switching unit that performs switching of the display language, A setting change unit that makes setting changes, A notification unit that gives a notification prompting execution of maintenance based on the switching of the display language and the making of the setting changes are provided, wherein the setting changes include changes to related settings associated with the display language, and the notification unit gives a notification prompting execution of the maintenance based on the switching of the display language and the making of changes to the related settings associated with the switched display language characterize a printing apparatus.

3. A language switching unit that performs switching of the display language, A setting change unit that makes setting changes, A notification unit that gives a notification prompting execution of maintenance based on the switching of the display language and the making of the setting changes are provided, wherein the setting changes include a time change, and the notification unit gives a notification prompting execution of the maintenance based on the period between the switching of the display language and the time change being within a specified period characterize a printing apparatus.

4. A language switching unit that performs switching of the display language, A setting change unit that makes setting changes, A notification unit that gives a notification prompting execution of maintenance based on the switching of the display language and the making of the setting changes are provided, wherein the notification unit gives a notification prompting execution of the maintenance based on the continued use conditions that the use of the switched display language and the settings after the setting changes are a specified use period or a specified number of uses characterize an information processing apparatus.

5. A language switching unit that performs switching of the display language, A setting change unit that makes setting changes, A notification unit that gives a notification prompting execution of maintenance based on the switching of the display language and the making of the setting changes are provided, wherein the setting changes include changes to related settings associated with the display language, The notification unit performs a notification that prompts execution of the maintenance based on switching of the display language and a setting change to the related setting associated with the display language after the switching. An information processing apparatus characterized by the above.

6. A language switching unit that switches the display language, A setting change unit that makes a setting change, A notification unit that performs a notification that prompts execution of maintenance based on switching of the display language and the setting change being performed Comprising The setting change includes a time change, The notification unit performs a notification that prompts execution of the maintenance based on a period between the switching of the display language and the time change being within a specified period. An information processing apparatus characterized by the above.

7. A step of switching the display language, A step of making a setting change, A step of performing a notification that prompts execution of maintenance based on switching of the display language and the setting change being performed Including The step of performing the notification performs a notification that prompts execution of the maintenance based on use of the display language after switching and the setting after the setting change satisfying a continuous use condition of a specified use period or a specified number of uses. An information processing method characterized by the above.

8. A step of switching the display language, A step of making a setting change, A step of performing a notification that prompts execution of maintenance based on switching of the display language and the setting change being performed Including The setting change includes a setting change of a related setting associated with the display language, The step of performing the notification performs a notification that prompts execution of the maintenance based on switching of the display language and a setting change to the related setting associated with the display language after the switching being performed. An information processing method characterized by the above.

9. A step of switching the display language, A step of making a setting change, Including a step of performing a notification that prompts execution of maintenance based on switching of the display language and the setting change being performed, The setting change includes a time change, The step of performing the notification performs a notification that prompts execution of the maintenance based on a period between the switching of the display language and the time change being within a specified period. An information processing method characterized by the above.

10. A function of switching the display language, A function of making a setting change, A program that causes a computer to execute a function of giving a notification prompting the execution of maintenance based on the switching of the display language and the fact that the setting change has been made, and wherein the function of giving the notification gives a notification prompting the execution of the maintenance based on the fact that the use of the display language after the switching and the setting after the setting change satisfy a continuous use condition of a specified use period or a specified number of uses. A program characterized by the above.

11. A program that causes a computer to execute a function of switching the display language, a function of making a setting change, and a function of giving a notification prompting the execution of maintenance based on the switching of the display language and the fact that the setting change has been made, and wherein the setting change includes a setting change of related settings associated with the display language, and the function of giving the notification gives a notification prompting the execution of the maintenance based on the switching of the display language and the setting change to the related settings associated with the display language after the switching. A program characterized by the above.

12. A program that causes a computer to execute a function of switching the display language, a function of making a setting change, and a function of giving a notification prompting the execution of maintenance based on the switching of the display language and the fact that the setting change has been made, and wherein the setting change includes a time change, and the function of giving the notification gives a notification prompting the execution of the maintenance based on the fact that the period between the switching of the display language and the time change is within a specified period. A program characterized by the above. ​ ​ ​

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