Information processing device, head management method, and head management system

Abstract

To provide an information processing apparatus, a head management method, and a head management system that can reduce a period during which an image forming apparatus cannot be used.SOLUTION: A server 10 is an information processing apparatus that is connected with a printer and manages delivery of a print head with which a print head mounted in the printer can be replaced, and the server comprises: a replacement information acquisition unit 16 that acquires, from the printer, replacement information indicating that the print head mounted in the printer has been replaced with the delivered print head; and a replacement processing unit 17 that, when the replacement information acquisition unit 16 acquires the replacement information, instructs additional delivery of a print head.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, a head management method, and a head management system.

Background Art

[0002] As shown in Patent Document 1, a system for automatically ordering consumables such as printers is known. In the system described in Patent Document 1, a computer that monitors the state of a printer is connected to an ordering server via a network, and when the remaining amount of the recording agent in the printer drops below a predetermined value, an email for automatic ordering is sent to the ordering server. When the ordering server receives this email and performs a procedure for ordering the recording agent, the recording agent is delivered to the user. Therefore, the user can obtain a replacement recording agent before the remaining amount of the recording agent runs out and the printer becomes unusable.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in a system for delivering replacement parts due to a printer failure or the like, it is difficult to detect in advance the timing for replacement, and delivery has been performed in response to an order from the user. Therefore, when an order is placed at the timing when replacement becomes necessary due to a failure or the like, there has been a period during which the printer cannot be used until the parts are delivered.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The information processing device is connected to an image forming apparatus and manages the delivery of a second head and a third head that are interchangeable with a first head mounted on the image forming apparatus. The device comprises: an exchange information acquisition unit that acquires exchange information from the image forming apparatus indicating that the first head has been replaced with the second head; and an exchange processing unit that, when the exchange information acquisition unit acquires the exchange information, instructs the delivery of the third head.

[0006] The head management method is a head management method for managing the delivery of a second head and a third head that are interchangeable with a first head mounted on an image forming apparatus, and comprises the steps of: obtaining exchange information from the image forming apparatus indicating that the first head has been replaced with the second head; and, when the exchange information is obtained, instructing the delivery of the third head.

[0007] The head management system comprises an image forming apparatus and an information processing device connected to the image forming apparatus and for managing the delivery of a second head and a third head that are interchangeable with a first head mounted on the image forming apparatus, wherein the information processing device includes an exchange information acquisition unit that acquires exchange information from the image forming apparatus indicating that the first head has been replaced with the second head, and an exchange processing unit that, when the exchange information acquisition unit acquires the exchange information, instructs the delivery of the third head. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] A diagram showing an example of the general configuration of a head management system. [Figure 2] A block diagram showing the internal configuration of the printer. [Figure 3] A block diagram showing the internal configuration of the server. [Figure 4] A block diagram showing the internal configuration of the terminal device. [Figure 5A] A flowchart illustrating the head management method. [Figure 5B] A flowchart illustrating the head management method. [Figure 5C]A flowchart illustrating the head management method. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The head management system according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the general configuration of the head management system 1 of this embodiment. As shown in Figure 1, the head management system 1 includes a server 10, a sales company terminal 20, a logistics terminal 30, a delivery terminal 40, a user terminal 50, and a printer 60, all of which are connected to each other via a network such as the Internet. The printer 60 is equipped with a replaceable print head 66, and the server 10 manages the delivery of replacement print heads 66 and the collection of print heads 66 that have been removed due to replacement.

[0010] The sales company terminal 20 is a terminal device managed by a sales company that sells the printer 60 and print head 66, and is operated by the sales representative in charge of these sales. In this embodiment, this sales representative is also responsible for managing the delivery and collection of the print head 66. The logistics terminal 30 is a terminal device installed at a logistics base where the inventory of print head 66 is stored, and is operated by the logistics representative who manages the inventory of print head 66. The delivery terminal 40 is a terminal device operated by the delivery representative of the delivery company, and is carried by the delivery representative when delivering the print head 66 from the logistics base to the user. The user terminal 50 is a terminal device operated by the user who manages the printer 60. Hereafter, the sales company terminal 20, logistics terminal 30, delivery terminal 40, and user terminal 50 will also be referred to as terminal devices 20, 30, 40, and 50, respectively. The server 10 is an information processing device that forms the core of the head management system 1, and receives information input from each terminal device 20 to 50 and the printer 60, and processes it accordingly. Furthermore, server 10 notifies each terminal device 20-50 of various information.

[0011] The following describes in detail each part of the head management system 1. Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the printer 60. As shown in Figure 2, the printer 60 comprises a printer control unit 61, a printer storage unit 62, a printer communication unit 63, a printer operation unit 64, a printer display unit 65, a print head 66 as a head, a transport mechanism 67, a head movement unit 68, and a head detection unit 69. In this embodiment, the printer 60 is an inkjet type image forming device that forms an image, i.e., prints, by ejecting liquid ink from the print head 66. In other words, the print head 66 is an inkjet head.

[0012] The printer control unit 61 is configured to include a CPU (Central Processing Unit), etc., and controls the operation of the printer 60 by operating according to a program (not shown) stored in the printer storage unit 62.

[0013] The printer storage unit 62 is composed of a storage device such as memory, and in addition to the program described above, it stores various setting data and printer IDs, which are identification information for identifying individual printers 60. The printer ID corresponds to the device identification information.

[0014] The printer communication unit 63 is equipped with various interface circuits for communicating with external devices. In this embodiment, the printer communication unit 63 includes an interface circuit for communication via a network NW.

[0015] The printer operation unit 64 is composed of operation buttons and the like, accepts input operations made by the user, and transmits them to the printer control unit 61. The printer display unit 65 is composed of a liquid crystal display, an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display, an LED (Light Emitting Diode), etc., and displays information etc. based on the control of the printer control unit 61. Note that the printer operation unit 64 may have a configuration integrated with the printer display unit 65 like a touch panel.

[0016] A plurality of nozzles for discharging ink are formed in the print head 66. The print head 66 discharges the ink supplied from an ink tank (not shown) to a print medium (not shown) based on the control of the printer control unit 61.

[0017] The conveyance mechanism 67 conveys the print medium set in the printer 60 in a predetermined conveyance direction based on the control of the printer control unit 61 so that the print medium passes through the position where the ink is discharged by the print head 66. The head movement unit 68 reciprocally moves the print head 66 in the main scanning direction intersecting the conveyance direction based on the control of the printer control unit 61.

[0018] The printer control unit 61 forms a raster line in which dots are arranged along the main scanning direction on the print medium by performing main scanning in which ink is discharged from the nozzles of the print head 66 while moving the print head 66 in the main scanning direction. Also, the printer control unit 61 can discharge ink over a wide range of the print medium by alternately performing this main scanning and sub-scanning in which the print medium is moved along the conveyance direction. The printer control unit 61 controls the above operations based on print data supplied from the user terminal 50 or another computer (not shown) etc., thereby forming an image based on the print data on the print medium.

[0019] In the printing head 66, depending on the usage status of the printer 60, malfunctions such as blockage of foreign matter in the nozzles may occur. Therefore, the printing head 66 is configured to be replaceable, and a repair person from a sales company or the like, or a user who has received predetermined education can replace the printing head 66. When the user replaces the printing head 66, the cost and time can be suppressed compared to the case of requesting the sales company for replacement. Hereinafter, the replacement of the printing head 66 by a user who has received predetermined education is also referred to as "self-repair".

[0020] The head detection unit 69 detects the printing head 66 mounted on the printer 60 based on the control of the printer control unit 61. Specifically, a non-volatile memory (not shown) is attached to the printing head 66, and a head ID, which is identification information for identifying each printing head 66, is written in the memory. The head detection unit 69 is connected to this memory and detects the printing head 66 by reading the head ID from the memory. Further, the head detection unit 69 can detect that the printing head 66 has been replaced based on the read head ID. Note that a QR code (registered trademark) in which the head ID is written is also attached to the printing head 66. The head ID corresponds to the head identification information.

[0021] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the server 10. As shown in FIG. 3, the server 10 is constituted by, for example, a general-purpose computer, and includes a server control unit 11, a server storage unit 12, and a server communication unit 13. The server storage unit 12 and the server communication unit 13 are connected to the server control unit 11 via a bus or the like.

[0022] The server control unit 11 consists of a CPU and memory such as RAM (Random Access Memory) and ROM (Read Only Memory). The server control unit 11 operates according to an OS (Operating System) and various application programs (not shown) stored in the server storage unit 12, thereby controlling the operation of the server 10 and executing various operations in response to requests from client terminal devices 20-50 and the printer 60.

[0023] The server storage unit 12 is composed of storage devices such as a hard disk drive or an SSD (Solid State Drive) and stores the OS and various application programs mentioned above. The application programs stored in the server storage unit 12 include a head management program 18 that manages the delivery, replacement, and retrieval of the print head 66. In addition, the server storage unit 12 of this embodiment stores a head management database 19. Various information about the user, printer 60, and the print head 66 to be delivered is stored in association with each other in the head management database 19, and this information constitutes the delivery history, replacement history, and retrieval history of the print head 66.

[0024] The server communication unit 13 is equipped with various interface circuits for communicating with external devices. The server communication unit 13 in this embodiment includes an interface circuit for communication via a network NW, and can communicate with each terminal device 20-50 and the printer 60 via the network NW.

[0025] The server control unit 11 includes an identification information acquisition unit 14, a delivery result acquisition unit 15, a replacement information acquisition unit 16, and a replacement processing unit 17 as functional units implemented by the head management program 18. The identification information acquisition unit 14 acquires the head ID of the print head 66 from each terminal device 20-50 and the printer 60 during the process from delivery to the user to collection of the print head 66. The delivery result acquisition unit 15 acquires the actual delivery address from the delivery terminal 40 when the print head 66 is delivered to the user. The replacement information acquisition unit 16 acquires replacement information from the printer 60 when the print head 66 of the printer 60 is replaced. The replacement processing unit 17 performs processing according to the delivery result and replacement result of the print head 66. Details of each of these functional units will be described later.

[0026] Furthermore, the server control unit 11, which operates according to the head management program 18, also functions as a web server and displays a predetermined web page on each of the client terminal devices 20-50 in response to requests from each terminal device 20-50. Personnel or users operating each of the terminal devices 20-50 can access this web page and input various information, thereby sending this information to the server 10. Hereafter, the web page displayed by the server control unit 11 operating according to the head management program 18 will also be referred to as the "head management page".

[0027] Figure 4 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of each terminal device 20 to 50. As shown in Figure 4, each terminal device 20 to 50 is composed of a personal computer or a tablet-type mobile terminal. Each terminal device 20 to 50 includes a terminal control unit 21, a terminal storage unit 22, a terminal communication unit 23, a terminal operation unit 24, a terminal display unit 25, and an imaging unit 26.

[0028] The terminal control unit 21 is composed of a CPU and memory such as RAM and ROM, and controls the operation of terminal devices 20 to 50 by operating according to an OS (not shown) and various application programs stored in the terminal storage unit 22. The terminal storage unit 22 is composed of a storage device such as a hard disk drive, SSD, or memory, and stores various data in addition to the OS and various application programs mentioned above. The terminal communication unit 23 is equipped with various interface circuits for communicating with external devices. The terminal communication unit 23 in this embodiment includes an interface circuit for communication via a network NW.

[0029] The terminal operation unit 24 consists of a keyboard and a pointing device, and receives input operations performed by each operator or user and transmits them to the terminal control unit 21. The terminal display unit 25 consists of a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display, and displays images based on the control of the terminal control unit 21. The terminal operation unit 24 may be integrated with the terminal display unit 25, such as a touch panel. Alternatively, the terminal operation unit 24 and the terminal display unit 25 may be separated from the main body of the terminal devices 20 to 50, as in a desktop computer.

[0030] The imaging unit 26 includes a camera and outputs the captured image to the terminal control unit 21. In this embodiment, the imaging unit 26 is used to capture QR codes. However, the sales company terminal 20 and the user terminal 50 do not necessarily have to be equipped with an imaging unit 26.

[0031] In this embodiment, the terminal storage unit 22 has an application program installed that can display web pages supplied from the server 10, such as a web browser. As mentioned above, the terminal devices 20 to 50 may be desktop or notebook personal computers, or they may be portable terminals. However, the delivery terminal 40 is assumed to be a portable terminal as it is a terminal device carried by the delivery person during delivery. Furthermore, each terminal device 20 to 50 is not limited to general-purpose equipment, but may also be equipment dedicated to the head management system 1.

[0032] Next, we will explain the head management method using head management system 1. Figures 5A, 5B, and 5C are flowcharts showing the head management method. These flowcharts include steps S101-S106 showing the actions of sales personnel at a sales company, steps S201-S204 showing the actions of logistics personnel at a logistics center, steps S301-S303 showing the actions of delivery personnel at a delivery company, steps S401-S408 showing the actions of a user, and steps S501-S514 showing the actions of server 10.

[0033] As shown in Figures 5A to 5C, the sales representative of the sales company sells the printer 60 to the user (step S101) and concludes a self-repair maintenance contract with the user (steps S102, S401). This maintenance contract is an agreement that a user who has received the prescribed training will perform the replacement of the print head 66.

[0034] After the user installs the printer 60 and connects it to the network NW, the user accesses the head management page from the user terminal 50 and enters user information (step S402) and printer information (step S403). User information includes the user's name or the name of the organization to which the user belongs, the delivery address to which the replacement print head 66 should be delivered, and the email address. Printer information includes the model name of the printer 60 and the printer ID. This information entered by the user terminal 50 is sent to the server 10. The server control unit 11 retrieves the entered user information and registers it in the head management database 19 (step S501), and also retrieves the entered printer information and registers it in the head management database 19 in association with the user information (step S502).

[0035] Subsequently, the sales representative accesses the head management page from the sales company terminal 20 and performs an operation to enable self-repair for the registered printer 60 (step S103). Upon receiving the above operation, the server control unit 11 adds information indicating that self-repair is enabled to the printer information and updates the printer information (step S503).

[0036] Once self-repair is enabled, the user can purchase a replacement print head 66. The user accesses the head management page from the user terminal 50 and requests the purchase of a replacement print head 66 (step S404). It is desirable that this purchase be made before a print head 66 fails, rather than after. For this reason, the first replacement print head 66 may be delivered after the self-repair contract is concluded, without waiting for a purchase request from the user.

[0037] When the server control unit 11 receives a purchase request from a user, it notifies the sales company terminal 20 that a purchase request has been made (step S504). Upon receiving this notification, the sales representative instructs the logistics terminal 30 from the sales company terminal 20 to deliver the print head 66 to the user (step S104).

[0038] Upon receiving this instruction, the logistics staff selects one print head 66 to be delivered from the inventory of print heads 66. At the logistics center, each print head 66 is housed in an individual box, and the surface of the individual box has a QR code identical to the QR code attached to the print head 66, i.e., a QR code on which the head ID of the housed print head 66 is written. When the logistics staff accesses the head management page from the logistics staff terminal 30 and scans the QR code attached to the individual box of the selected print head 66 with the imaging unit 26 of the logistics staff terminal 30, the logistics staff terminal 30 reads the head ID from the image of the scanned QR code and transmits it to the server 10 (step S201).

[0039] The identification information acquisition unit 14 of the server 10 acquires the transmitted head ID and registers it in the delivery history of the head management database 19, associating it with the user information of the user who made the purchase request (step S505). The acquisition and registration of the head ID is performed before the print head 66 is delivered. The head ID registered in step S505 can be later referenced as a history of delivery instructions. In the head management database 19, the user information includes the delivery address, so the head ID registered in the delivery history is associated with the delivery address to which the print head 66 should be delivered. Also, since the user information is associated with printer information, the head ID registered in the delivery history is associated with the printer ID included in the corresponding printer information. In other words, this registration determines the printer 60 to which the delivered print head 66 should be installed. In other words, the combination of print head 66 and printer 60 is determined. Subsequently, the logistics person arranges for the delivery of the print head 66 with the delivery company (step S202).

[0040] The delivery person receives the print head 66 to be delivered from the logistics center and delivers it to the delivery destination (step S301). After arriving at the delivery destination, before delivering the print head 66 to the user, the delivery person accesses the head management page from the delivery terminal 40 and scans the QR code on the individual packaging box of the print head 66 with the imaging unit 26 of the delivery terminal 40. Once this scan is completed, the delivery terminal 40 reads the head ID from the image of the scanned QR code and transmits it to the server 10 (step S302). The identification information acquisition unit 14 of the server 10 obtains the transmitted head ID and registers it in the delivery history of the head management database 19 in association with the user information of the user who made the purchase request (step S506).

[0041] Furthermore, the delivery person accesses the head management page from the delivery terminal 40 and enters the delivery address as information for the actual delivery destination (step S303). The delivery result acquisition unit 15 of the server 10 acquires the entered delivery address and registers it in the delivery history of the head management database 19, associating it with the user information of the user who made the purchase request (step S507). The head ID and delivery address registered in steps S506 and S507 can be referenced later as a history of completed deliveries.

[0042] Subsequently, the server control unit 11 determines, based on the delivery history, whether the print head 66 was delivered to the correct destination (step S508). Specifically, the server control unit 11 determines whether the delivery address entered by the delivery person, i.e., the delivery address acquired by the delivery result acquisition unit 15, matches the delivery address included in the user information, i.e., the delivery address associated with the head ID of the delivered print head 66. If the delivery addresses do not match (step S508: NO), the exchange processing unit 17 of the server 10 notifies the sales company terminal 20 that there has been a delivery error, i.e., a misdelivery (step S509). Upon receiving this notification, the sales person takes action to address the misdelivery, such as contacting the logistics person or delivery person to arrange for redelivery (step S105). On the other hand, if the print head 66 was delivered to the correct destination (step S508: YES), the server control unit 11 executes the processes from step S510 onward.

[0043] When the print head 66 is delivered, the user stores the delivered print head 66 until the print head 66 currently installed in the printer 60 fails (step S405). The user uses the printer 60 daily and determines whether the print head 66 is faulty based on the print results, etc. (step S406). If there are no problems with the print results, etc. and the print head 66 is not faulty (step S406: NO), the user continues to use the printer 60 and repeats the determination of whether or not there is a fault. On the other hand, if the user determines that the print head 66 has failed (step S406: YES), the user replaces the faulty print head 66 with the delivered replacement print head 66 (step S407).

[0044] When replacing the print head 66, the user removes the faulty print head 66 from the printer 60 with the printer powered off, and installs the new print head 66 that was delivered and stored into the printer 60. When the printer 60 is then powered on, the printer 60 resumes operation, and first, the head detection unit 69 reads the head ID from the memory of the newly installed print head 66. The printer 60 then sends the read head ID along with its own printer ID to the server 10. The head ID and printer ID sent by the printer 60 here correspond to replacement information indicating that the print head 66 has been replaced. In other words, the replacement information includes the head ID of the installed print head 66 and the printer ID of the printer 60 on which the print head 66 was replaced.

[0045] The replacement information acquisition unit 16 of the server 10 acquires the head ID and printer ID transmitted as replacement information and registers them in the replacement history of the head management database 19 (step S510). Specifically, the replacement information acquisition unit 16 associates the acquired printer ID with the acquired head ID, i.e., the head ID of the newly installed print head 66 and the head ID of the print head 66 that was installed before the replacement, and registers them in the replacement history.

[0046] Subsequently, the server control unit 11 determines whether the combination of the print head 66 and printer 60 is correct based on the transmitted head ID and printer ID (step S511). If the combination is incorrect (step S511: NO), that is, if the head ID and printer ID transmitted as replacement information do not correspond, the replacement processing unit 17 of the server 10 notifies the sales company terminal 20 that there has been an error in the combination of the print head 66 and printer 60, i.e., a mis-installation (step S512). Upon receiving this notification, the sales representative takes action to address the mis-installation, such as contacting the user (step S106). The replacement processing unit 17 may also notify the user terminal 50 or printer 60 of the mis-installation in addition to the sales company terminal 20. In this case, the user can be made aware of the mis-installation as quickly as possible. On the other hand, if the combination of the print head 66 and printer 60 is correct (step S511: YES), the server control unit 11 executes the processes from step S513 onwards.

[0047] Furthermore, in the above, "cases where the head ID and printer ID do not correspond" include not only cases where a print head 66 associated with a different printer 60 is installed, but also cases where the head ID included in the replacement information is not registered in the delivery history, and cases where the head ID could not be read from the installed print head 66.

[0048] Next, the replacement processing unit 17 of the server 10 instructs the logistics terminal 30 to deliver a new print head 66 that can be installed in the printer 60 (step S513). This print head 66 is for the next replacement and will be installed when the print head 66 that was replaced this time fails. When the logistics terminal 30 receives this delivery instruction, the operations from step S201 onwards described above are repeated for the new print head 66 to be delivered.

[0049] Furthermore, once the user has finished replacing the print head 66, they send the removed print head 66 to the logistics center (step S408). In other words, the print head 66 is collected at the logistics center. When the print head 66 is collected, the logistics staff access the head management page from the logistics staff terminal 30 and scan the QR code attached to the surface of the collected print head 66 with the imaging unit 26 of the logistics staff terminal 30. Once this scan is completed, the logistics staff terminal 30 reads the head ID from the image of the scanned QR code and transmits it to the server 10 (step S203). The identification information acquisition unit 14 of the server 10 acquires the transmitted head ID, i.e., the head ID of the collected print head 66, associates it with the user's user information, and registers it in the collection history of the head management database 19 (step S514). After that, the logistics staff takes appropriate action on the collected print head 66, such as repair or disposal (step S204).

[0050] As described above, the following effects can be obtained according to this embodiment.

[0051] (1) According to this embodiment, when the print head 66 is replaced, a new print head 66 to be used for the next replacement is delivered, so the period during which the printer 60 is unusable can be shortened compared to when the purchase procedure is carried out after a malfunction or other problem occurs with the print head 66.

[0052] (2) According to this embodiment, if the combination of head ID and printer ID transmitted after the replacement of the print head 66 is different from the combination determined before delivery, the server 10 notifies the sales company terminal 20, so that the sales representative can recognize that a misinstallation may have occurred.

[0053] (3) According to this embodiment, if the delivery destination associated with the print head 66 before delivery is different from the actual delivery destination, the server 10 notifies the sales company terminal 20, so that the sales representative can recognize that a misdelivery may have occurred.

[0054] In the above embodiment, if the print head 66 that was installed before the replacement in step S407 is referred to as the first head, then the print head 66 after replacement corresponds to the second head, and the next replacement print head 66 delivered in response to the delivery instruction in step S513 after the replacement corresponds to the third head. The second and third heads have the same configuration as the first head and can be said to be interchangeable with the first head. Furthermore, step S510, which acquires and registers the head ID transmitted from the printer 60 as replacement information, corresponds to the process of acquiring replacement information, and step S513, which instructs the delivery of a new print head 66 after the replacement, corresponds to the process of instructing the delivery of the third head.

[0055] The above embodiment may be modified as follows.

[0056] In the above embodiment, the replacement processing unit 17 of the server 10 instructs the delivery of the next replacement print head 66 after the print head 66 has been replaced and replacement information has been acquired. However, the timing of instructing delivery is not limited to immediately after acquiring the replacement information. For example, the delivery instruction may be given after a predetermined period has elapsed since acquiring the replacement information. The predetermined period may be, for example, several days or several weeks.

[0057] In the above embodiment, notifications and instructions made by the exchange processing unit 17 of the server 10 may be made via a web page, or by other means such as email.

[0058] In the above embodiment, three organizations—a sales company, a logistics center, and a delivery company—are involved in the delivery of the print head 66, but the embodiment is not limited to this. For example, one organization may perform the functions of two or three of these organizations. In this case, two or three of the sales company terminal 20, logistics terminal 30, and delivery terminal 40 may be the same. Alternatively, some of the functions of the three organizations may be performed by other organizations, such as agents.

[0059] In the above embodiment, the user information includes the delivery address as delivery destination information, and the delivery result acquisition unit 15 of the server 10 acquires the delivery address entered by the delivery person as delivery destination information. However, the delivery destination information does not need to be limited to an address; it can be any information that can identify the delivery destination. For example, if the delivery destination is an organization such as a company, it may be the name of the organization, or it may be location information represented by latitude and longitude, etc.

[0060] Although the above embodiment describes the delivery of a replaceable print head 66, it can also be applied to the delivery of other components, such as a cap that protects the print head 66 when not in use, or a filter placed in the ink flow path.

[0061] In the above embodiment, one printer 60 is connected to the head management system 1, but multiple printers 60 may be connected. Furthermore, these multiple printers 60 may be managed by the same user or by different users.

[0062] In the above embodiment, the printer 60 is a device that prints an image onto a printing medium, and may be a serial printer, lateral printer, line printer, page printer, etc. Furthermore, the printing method is not limited to inkjet, but may be thermal, dot impact, laser, etc. In other words, the print head 66 is not limited to an inkjet head, but may be a head of another type, such as a thermal print head. In addition, the printer 60 only needs to have a printing function that prints on a printing medium, and may be a multifunction device that also has functions other than printing. Furthermore, the printer 60 is not limited to a two-dimensional medium, but may be a device that prints on a three-dimensional curved surface medium. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0063] 1...Head management system, 10...Server, 11...Server control unit, 12...Server storage unit, 13...Server communication unit, 14...Identification information acquisition unit, 15...Delivery result acquisition unit, 16...Exchange information acquisition unit, 17...Exchange processing unit, 18...Head management program, 19...Head management database, 20...Sales company terminal, 21...Terminal control unit, 22...Terminal storage unit, 23...Terminal communication unit, 24...Terminal operation unit, 25...Terminal display unit, 26...Imaging unit, 30...Logistics terminal, 40...Delivery terminal, 50...User terminal, 60...Printer, 61...Printer control unit, 62...Printer storage unit, 63...Printer communication unit, 64...Printer operation unit, 65...Printer display unit, 66...Print head, 67...Transport mechanism, 68...Head movement unit, 69...Head detection unit, NW...Network.

Claims

1. An information processing device that manages the delivery of a second head and a third head, which are connected to an image forming apparatus and are interchangeable with a first head mounted on the image forming apparatus, A replacement information acquisition unit that acquires replacement information from the image forming apparatus indicating that the first head has been replaced with the second head, When the exchange information acquisition unit acquires the exchange information, the exchange processing unit instructs the delivery of the third head, The system includes an identification information acquisition unit that acquires head identification information for identifying the second head before the second head is delivered, The head identification information acquired by the identification information acquisition unit is associated with apparatus identification information for identifying the image forming apparatus to which the second head is to be mounted before the second head is delivered. The exchange information includes the head identification information of the mounted second head and the apparatus identification information of the image forming apparatus to which the second head is mounted. The exchange processing unit is an information processing device that provides notification when the device identification information included in the exchange information does not correspond to the head identification information included in the exchange information.

2. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, The second head further comprises a delivery result acquisition unit that acquires information on the delivery destination to which the delivery was actually made. The head identification information acquired by the identification information acquisition unit is associated with the delivery destination information to which the second head should be delivered before the second head is delivered. The exchange processing unit is an information processing device that provides notification when the delivery destination information obtained by the delivery result acquisition unit differs from the delivery destination information associated with the head identification information.

3. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, The exchange processing unit is an information processing device that, after a predetermined period has elapsed since acquiring the exchange information, instructs the delivery of the third head.

4. A head management method, performed by an information processing device connected to an image forming apparatus, for managing the distribution of a second head and a third head that are interchangeable with the first head mounted on the image forming apparatus, A first step of obtaining replacement information from the image forming apparatus indicating that the first head has been replaced with the second head, A second step is to obtain head identification information for identifying the second head before the second head is delivered, The head identification information obtained in the second step is associated with apparatus identification information for identifying the image forming apparatus to which the second head is to be installed before the second head is delivered. The exchange information includes the head identification information of the mounted second head and the apparatus identification information of the image forming apparatus to which the second head is mounted. If the device identification information included in the exchange information does not correspond to the head identification information included in the exchange information, a notification is made. A head management method comprising the step of instructing the delivery of the third head when the aforementioned exchange information is obtained.

5. A head management system comprising an image forming apparatus and an information processing device connected to the image forming apparatus and responsible for managing the distribution of a second head and a third head that are interchangeable with a first head mounted on the image forming apparatus, The aforementioned information processing device is A replacement information acquisition unit that acquires replacement information from the image forming apparatus indicating that the first head has been replaced with the second head, When the exchange information acquisition unit acquires the exchange information, the exchange processing unit instructs the delivery of the third head, The system includes an identification information acquisition unit that acquires head identification information for identifying the second head before the second head is delivered, The head identification information acquired by the identification information acquisition unit is associated with apparatus identification information for identifying the image forming apparatus to which the second head is to be mounted before the second head is delivered. The exchange information includes the head identification information of the mounted second head and the apparatus identification information of the image forming apparatus to which the second head is mounted. The replacement processing unit is a head management system that provides notification when the device identification information included in the replacement information does not correspond to the head identification information included in the replacement information.

6. An information processing device that manages the delivery of a second head and a third head, which are connected to an image forming apparatus and are interchangeable with a first head mounted on the image forming apparatus, A replacement information acquisition unit that acquires replacement information from the image forming apparatus indicating that the first head has been replaced with the second head, When the exchange information acquisition unit acquires the exchange information, the exchange processing unit instructs the delivery of the third head, Before the second head is delivered, an identification information acquisition unit acquires head identification information for identifying the second head, The second head includes a delivery result acquisition unit that acquires information on the delivery destination to which the delivery was actually made, The head identification information acquired by the identification information acquisition unit is associated with the delivery destination information to which the second head should be delivered before the second head is delivered. The exchange processing unit is an information processing device that provides notification when the delivery destination information obtained by the delivery result acquisition unit differs from the delivery destination information associated with the head identification information.

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