JP5343451B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To decrease the number of information reading means and to reduce the cost by obtaining information on parts in the interior of an apparatus and information on paper using the common information reading means. <P>SOLUTION: A first RFID 102 includes a non-volatile memory storing information on a toner bottle 101, an RFID information reading part 103 is provided in the vicinity thereof, and an antenna (a first antenna) not shown for communicating with the first RFID 102 in non-contact state is connected thereto. A second RFID 104 includes a non-volatile memory storing information on characteristics of paper 105, and it is attached to a package 106 packing the paper 105. Antennas 109a, 109b (second antennas) communicating with the second RFID 104 in non-contact state are disposed in paper feed trays 107a, 107b where the paper 105 is set, and respectively connected to the RFID information reading part 103. In this configuration, information is obtained while switching antennas to perform automatic setting. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

Field The present invention relates to images forming device, in particular, you get by using a common information reading means information about goods characteristics for use information and the target device about the device components that are stored in the RFID of the non-volatile memory The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

  In recent years, in order to simplify logistics and inventory management, non-contact non-volatile storage means is increasingly attached to products. For example, RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) that incorporates a non-volatile memory and can transmit information in a non-contact manner by electromagnetic induction is attached to a product or the like.

  In addition, in an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic system, a cartridge system is widely used so that a user or a service person can easily replace consumables and life parts. In recent years, in order to manage the cartridge information, recycling, and remaining amount of consumables, those equipped with RFID have been used. This RFID is used to sequentially store cartridge usage time, remaining amount data of consumables such as toner, and the like, and read these data to determine the replacement timing of the cartridge.

  For example, Patent Documents 1 and 2 propose that processing such as optimizing printing conditions is performed by incorporating an RFID chip into printing paper and acquiring paper characteristic information from the RFID chip. In Patent Document 3, the characteristics and printing conditions of the paper used in the RFID memory are written, the RFID memory is set in the paper feed tray, and the characteristic information of the paper is acquired from the RFID memory to optimize the printing conditions. It has been proposed to perform processing such as conversion.

JP 2006-258947 A JP 2005-035144 A JP 2004-325770 A

  However, in such an image forming apparatus using RFID, mounting the RFID chip on the paper significantly increases the cost of the paper, and a protrusion is formed on the portion where the RFID chip is mounted, so that the rollers and belts in the transport path are damaged. As a result, there is a problem in that the service life of these parts is greatly reduced.

  In addition, even if paper information is acquired from the RFID chip, it is necessary for the user to perform rewriting work. Therefore, when changing the paper type, there is a problem that the operation is complicated, and work mistakes are likely to occur. .

  Therefore, in order to improve these problems, a configuration in which an RFID storing paper information is mounted in a paper package and an RFID information reading unit for acquiring paper information is provided in the paper supply unit is also conceivable. However, when the RFID information reading means for acquiring information such as the remaining amount data of the consumables and the usage time of the cartridge and the RFID information reading means for acquiring the paper information are respectively mounted on the image forming apparatus, the information acquisition location is As the number of RFID information reading means increases, the number of RFID information reading means increases, resulting in a problem of increased costs.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and includes a common information reading means for sharing information related to components in the target device for information processing and information related to product characteristics such as paper and recording media used in the target device. by acquiring using, to reduce the number of information reading means, and to provide the images forming apparatus capable of reducing the cost.

In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the invention according to claim 1 is a first antenna provided in the vicinity of a first RFID having a nonvolatile memory storing information about components in the image forming apparatus. A second antenna provided in the vicinity of a second RFID having a non-volatile memory storing information on characteristics of paper used by the image forming apparatus, and the first antenna and the second antenna are connected to each other. RFID information reading means for reading information stored in each nonvolatile memory of the first and second RFIDs, and managing the life of the parts based on information on the parts read by the RFID information reading means as well as, the printing condition changed on the basis of the information about the characteristics of the paper read by RFID information reading means, said image When setting the paper in the forming apparatus, a space for storing the second RFID obtained by reading the information on the characteristics of the paper via the second antenna is provided in the vicinity of the paper setting position, and the RFID information reading unit includes: The image forming apparatus further includes a writing function that allows a predetermined information to be written to a second RFID having a nonvolatile memory that stores information on characteristics of the sheet used by the image forming apparatus, and the sheet is set in the image forming apparatus. In this case, after the RFID information reading unit reads information on the characteristics of the sheet from the second RFID provided on the sheet, the model information of the image forming apparatus on which the sheet is set and the toner information of the model are displayed. The second RFID is written.

The invention according to claim 2, in the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the RFID information reading means, when the sheet is set in the image forming apparatus, from the 2RFID managed together with the paper The information on the characteristics of the paper, the model information of the image forming apparatus that has been written, and the toner information of the model are read, and based on the read information, whether or not the paper can be used in the set image forming apparatus is determined. It is characterized by having a judging means for performing.

In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the invention according to claim 3 is a first antenna provided in the vicinity of the first RFID having a nonvolatile memory storing information on components in the image forming apparatus. A second antenna provided in the vicinity of a second RFID having a non-volatile memory storing information on characteristics of paper used by the image forming apparatus, and the first antenna and the second antenna are connected to each other. RFID information reading means for reading information stored in each nonvolatile memory of the first and second RFIDs, and managing the life of the parts based on information on the parts read by the RFID information reading means as well as, the printing condition changed on the basis of the information about the characteristics of the paper read by RFID information reading means, said R The information relating to the characteristics of the paper stored in the non-volatile memory of the second RFID is read by the ID information reading means, and the setting value relating to the printing condition is changed based on the information relating to the characteristics of the paper. Each of the paper feed trays to be set is provided with detection means for detecting a paper out condition, and the RFID information reading means is already set when the paper is supplied to the paper feed tray before the paper detection tray detects the paper out condition. The paper information of the paper that has been supplied and the paper information of the replenished paper are read, and both pieces of paper information are compared to determine whether it is necessary to change the setting value related to the printing conditions. .

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the third aspect , the paper information of the paper set in the paper feed tray is compared with the paper information of the replenished paper, and printing is performed. When it is determined that the setting value related to the condition needs to be changed, a guidance is displayed to that effect.

  In addition, according to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the first antenna provided in the vicinity of the first RFID storing information related to the components inside the image forming apparatus, and the information regarding the characteristics of the paper used by the image forming apparatus. Is connected to the RFID information reading means and the information stored in the nonvolatile memories of the first and second RFIDs can be read, so that image formation is possible. It is possible to reduce the number of RFID information reading means in the apparatus, and the cost can be reduced.

With reference to the accompanying drawings, illustrating the best embodiment of the images forming apparatus that written to the present invention in detail.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Here, a full-color digital copying machine 100 is used. 2 is a plan view of the paper feed tray portion of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of an RFID information reading unit that reads information stored in the RFID and RFID nonvolatile memory, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a main part of a digital copying machine. FIG.

  Here, as an example of the components inside the full-color digital copying machine 100 shown in FIG. The first RFID 102 includes a nonvolatile memory that stores information related to the toner bottle 101. An RFID information reading unit 103 as RFID information reading means is provided in the vicinity of the first RFID 102, and an antenna (not shown) (first antenna) that performs non-contact communication with the first RFID 102 Is connected. Information acquisition from the first RFID 102 by the RFID information reading unit 103 can be performed periodically or whenever necessary. The information to be acquired here is data indicating the remaining amount of toner in the toner bottle 101, and the latest toner remaining amount data is always overwritten in the nonvolatile memory of the first RFID 102 from a toner remaining amount detection sensor (not shown). Yes.

  Although the toner bottle 101 is given as an example of the parts inside the apparatus as described above, the present invention is not limited to this, and a process cartridge or the like on which a life part that has a lifetime by using it for a certain period of time such as a photosensitive drum is mounted. Information can be acquired. In this case, it is possible to determine whether or not the life of the parts has been reached by using various methods. For example, when the number of sheet counters is counted and reaches a certain number, the photosensitive drum replacement period is reached. It can be judged. When the photosensitive drum is replaced, the paper counter is reset and the life of a new photosensitive drum is counted.

  In addition, as an example of a product used in the full-color digital copying machine 100 of FIG. 1, the paper 105 is shown here, but the present invention is not limited to this. -There are computer-readable recording media such as ROM, flexible disk (FD), CD-R, DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), etc., and characteristic information (medium product number, date of manufacture, media type, etc.) Recording capacity, corresponding reader / writer, number of rewrites, storage period, remaining capacity, data content, etc.) can be stored in the RFID non-volatile memory. In the case of the second RFID 104, a non-volatile memory that stores information regarding the characteristics of the paper 105 is provided and attached to a package 106 that wraps the paper 105. The second RFID 104 stores information necessary for control for automatically setting paper. For example, information such as paper product number, date of manufacture, paper type, paper thickness, paper color information, number of sheets, number of times of recycling of the second RFID 104, upper limit of the number of times of recycling, storage period, number of times of access to the second RFID 104, and the like are stored. Can do. In addition, when various types of paper information are registered in the memory on the main body side in correspondence with the paper product number, it is possible to obtain the characteristic information of the paper only by obtaining only the paper product number information.

  On the other hand, antennas 109a and 109b (second antennas) that perform non-contact communication with the second RFID 104 are arranged on the paper feed trays 107a and 107b on which the paper 105 is set, respectively. It is possible to acquire information in a non-contact manner. In addition, if the information acquisition from the second RFID 104 by the RFID information reading unit 103 is limited only when the paper 105 is set on the paper feed tray 107a or 107b, the plurality of antennas 109a and 109b can be combined into one. After the information about the paper characteristics is read from the second RFID 104 on the package 106, the second RFID 104 is removed from the package 106 after the paper is set and disposed in the paper feed trays 107a and 107b so that the second RFID 104 can be reused. , 108b.

  As shown in FIG. 2, when the paper feed tray 107 is viewed from above, an antenna 109 (second antenna) connected to the RFID reading unit 103 is disposed near the set paper 105 and has been used. A disposal space 108 for discarding the second RFID 104 is provided near the drawer knob of the paper feed tray 107.

  Next, in FIG. 3, a configuration of an RFID in which information is stored and an RFID information reading unit that reads the information will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the RFID 200 includes a nonvolatile memory 201, an RFID-side non-contact communication circuit 202, a transmission antenna 203, a reception antenna 204, and the like. The RFID-side non-contact communication circuit 202 further includes a reception circuit 300, a demodulation circuit 301, a control circuit 302, a modulation circuit 303, a transmission driver 304, a power supply circuit 305, and the like. The RFID information reading unit on the main body side includes a main body side non-contact communication circuit 400, a main body side CPU 403, and the like. The main body side non-contact communication circuit 400 includes a transmitting antenna 401 and a receiving antenna 402. Yes. Although only one set of the transmitting antenna 401 and the receiving antenna 402 is shown in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, for reading in the vicinity where an RFID storing necessary information is arranged. These antennas are installed, and by connecting each antenna to the RFID information reading unit 103, one RFID information reading unit 103 can be used in common. During communication, a plurality of antennas can be used while switching using a switching means described later. Note that the power supply circuit 305 supplies power by rectifying electromagnetic waves of the receiving antenna 204.

  The RFID side non-contact communication circuit 202 and the main body side non-contact communication circuit 400 of FIG. 3 have the same circuit configuration. The signal output from the CPU 403 on the main body side is modulated into a predetermined signal for transmission by the non-contact communication circuit 400 on the main body side and sent to the transmitting antenna 401. The RFID-side non-contact communication circuit 202 attached to a part such as a process cartridge or a paper package amplifies the reception signal received by the reception antenna 204 by the reception circuit 300 and sends it to the demodulation circuit 301. The demodulating circuit 301 demodulates the signal into a predetermined signal for transmission and then sends it to the control circuit 302. If the control circuit 302 is a signal stored in the nonvolatile memory 201, the control circuit 302 transmits the signal to the nonvolatile memory 201. If the signal received from the main body side is a command for transmitting information stored in the nonvolatile memory 201, the control circuit 302 transmits the information in the nonvolatile memory 201 to the modulation circuit 303. The modulation circuit 303 modulates the signal into a predetermined signal for transmission and sends it to the transmitting antenna 203.

  In the main body side non-contact communication circuit 400, the reception signal received by the reception antenna 402 is amplified by the reception circuit (corresponding to 300) and sent to the demodulation circuit (corresponding to 301). The demodulator circuit demodulates the signal into a predetermined signal for transmission, then sends it to a control circuit (corresponding to 302) and sends it to the CPU 403 on the main body side.

  Next, the configuration of the full-color digital copying machine according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG. A full-color digital copying machine shown in FIG. 4 includes a system controller board 500 that controls the entire apparatus, an operation unit control board 510 that controls an operation panel, an HHD 520 that stores various program data and image data, and an original image. Each unit includes a scanner 550 that reads image data and a printer 590 that prints image data on paper.

  A scanner 550, a printer 590, and an operation unit control board 510 are connected to the system controller board 500, and an in-house LAN (Local Area Network) to which a PC (personal computer) or the like is connected and a LAN interface board 530 are connected. It is connected. Further, the system controller board 500 is connected to the printer 590 via a PCI bus, and is connected to an FCU (facsimile control unit) 540 connected to a telephone line (facsimile communication line) via the PCI bus. .

  The printer 590 includes an engine control board 560, an LDB (laser diode board) 570 for performing optical writing by projecting image light represented by image data onto a photosensitive drum, and the like. A PSU (power supply unit) 580 is a unit that supplies power for controlling the full-color digital copying machine. When the main SW 582 is turned on (closed), commercial power is supplied, and the commercial power supply supplies the AC control circuit 581. Is supplied with commercial AC.

  The system controller board 500 includes a CPU 501, an SRAM 503 that is a working memory used by the CPU 501, a lithium battery, and the like, and stores a backup of the SRAM 503, an NV-RAM 502 with a built-in clock, and a program for controlling the system controller board 500. The ROM 504, system bus control of the system controller board 500, frame memory control, ASIC 505 for controlling the CPU periphery such as FIFO, work memory 506, frame memory 507, and the like.

  The system controller board 500 has a plurality of application functions such as a scanner application, a facsimile application, a printer application, and a copy application, and controls the entire system. Further, the system controller board 500 decodes the input from the operation unit control board 510 and displays the setting of this system and the contents of the state on the display unit of the operation unit control board 510.

  The operation unit control board 510 includes an ASIC (LCDC) 511 for controlling the LCD and key input, a CPU 512 for controlling the operation unit control board 510, a RAM 513 as a working memory used by the CPU 512, and inputs of the operation unit control board 510. A ROM 514 in which a control program for the operation unit control board 510 for controlling reading and display output is written. Although not shown, the operation unit control board 510 has an input unit that allows the user to input system settings by operating the panel through communication with the system controller board 500, and the system setting contents and status to the user. And a display unit for displaying the input, and controls input.

  The HDD 520 is used as an application database for storing system application programs and device activation information of printers and image forming process devices, or as an image database for storing image data as image data of read images and write images, and document data. It is done. Along with the physical interface and the electrical interface, the system controller board 500 is connected by an interface conforming to ATA / ATAPI-4.

  The scanner 550 includes a color CCD 551 and an SBU (Sensor Board Unit) 552. The color CCD 551 is a three-line color CCD, and generates R, G, and B image signals of EVENch (even pixel channel) / ODDch (odd pixel channel) and inputs them to analog ASICs (Application Specific ICs) 553 to 555 of the SBU 552. Is done. The SBU 401 includes analog ASICs 553 to 555, a timing generation circuit / control circuit 556 that generates driving timing of the analog ASIC, and an output I / F 557. The output of the color CCD 551 is sampled and held by a sample hold circuit inside the analog ASICs 553 to 555, A / D converted to R, G, B image data, shading corrected, and output I / F (interface) ) 557 through an image data bus to an image data processor (IPP: Image Processing Processor; hereinafter simply referred to as IPP) 561 of an engine control board 560 described later.

  The engine control board 560 mainly performs image formation control of image formation. The CPU 403, the IPP 561 that performs image processing, the NV-RAM 562, the ROM 566 that incorporates a program necessary for controlling copying and printout, and the SRAM 563 necessary for the control. , I / O ASICs 564, 565 and an interface circuit 567.

  The NV-RAM 562 includes an SRAM and a memory that detects the power-off and stores the contents of the SRAM in the EEPROM. In addition, I / OASICs 564 and 565 having a serial interface that transmits and receives signals to and from the CPU 403 that performs other control are connected to an I / O (solenoid, clutch, motor, etc.) in the vicinity where the engine control board 560 is mounted. ASIC to be controlled.

  The IPP 561 is a programmable arithmetic processing unit that performs image processing, and performs gradation processing and the like. The image data transferred from the SBU 552 to the IPP 561 is corrected by the IPP 561 for signal deterioration due to quantization of the optical system and the digital signal (signal deterioration of the scanner system), and is written in the frame memory 507.

  The interface circuit 567 is an interface circuit for accessing a non-contact type RFID mounted on a process cartridge, a toner bottle, a paper feed tray, or the like. When a contact type memory tag is used, the memory tag such as a process cartridge is accessed via the interface circuit 567.

  The main body side non-contact communication circuit 400 is an interface when a non-contact type RFID is used. As shown in FIG. 1, transmission / reception antennas are installed at predetermined positions in the full-color digital copying machine 100 (parts such as toner bottles are related to antennas provided in the RFID information reading unit 103, and supplies such as paper are related to supplies. The antennas 109 a and 109 b provided on the paper trays 107 a and 107 b are connected to the RFID information reading unit 103. Communication between the CPU 403 of the main body side control unit and the main body side non-contact communication circuit 400 is performed by an asynchronous serial interface, and the RFID information reading unit 103 is configured by the CPU 403 and the main body side non-contact communication circuit 400.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of transmission / reception antennas are connected to the main body side non-contact communication circuit 400, and the vicinity of the first RFID 200a for storing information about components in the full-color digital copying machine or a full-color digital copying machine An antenna is disposed in the vicinity of the second RFID 200b that stores information on the characteristics of the paper to be used.

  As a switching means for switching a plurality of transmission / reception antennas connected to the main body side non-contact communication circuit 400, a plurality of users connected to the main body side non-contact communication circuit 400 as RFID information reading means using an operation panel. When the antenna to be used is specified from among the transmission / reception antennas, the CPU 403 of the engine control board 560 controls the main body side non-contact communication circuit 400 from the operation unit control board 510 via the system controller board 500, thereby Switch to the specified transmit / receive antenna. As described above, in addition to the user directly designating the antenna using the operation panel, it is also possible to control the user to switch to the antenna closest to the designated position only by designating the use position of the full-color digital copying machine. . For example, when a new sheet is to be set in the sheet feeding tray of the full-color digital copying machine, the user can switch to an antenna installed near the sheet feeding tray by selecting the sheet feeding tray position on the operation panel. it can.

  Further, as the characteristic information storage means for storing the information on the characteristics for each product number, the information on the characteristics for each product number is stored in advance using the HDD 520 shown in FIG. The information read from the second RFID 104 attached to the paper 106 is only the product number and model number information of the paper, and the paper characteristic value is determined by using the HDD 520 in the apparatus, thereby determining the suitability of the paper and automatically changing the paper settings. can do.

  If the information read from the second RFID 104 is information related to the paper type, the paper setting can be automatically changed based on the paper type information. Further, when the information read from the second RFID 104 is dimensional information related to the thickness and size of the paper, the paper setting can be automatically changed based on the dimensional information of the paper.

  As described above, when the paper setting is automatically changed based on the information read from the second RFID 104, the paper type and paper size that can be set by the full-color digital copying machine are limited. If the size and size do not correspond, it is necessary to display an error display or a guidance display indicating that the paper standard is not compatible using the operation display unit of the operation panel. In addition, because the types of paper that can be set and the dimensions of the paper may differ depending on the paper feed tray, even if the specified paper feed tray is out of the standard, the paper can be set using another paper feed tray. In such a case, the position information of the paper feed tray that can be set is displayed using the display unit of the operation panel.

  The second FRID 200b according to this embodiment uses a tag attached to the package 106 of the paper 105 as a dedicated tag for paper setting. However, as an example of an RFID in which information relating to paper characteristics is stored, an ID tag for distribution or inventory management may be attached to the package. Therefore, by sharing an existing distribution / inventory management ID tag without attaching a new second FRID 200b, information on the characteristics of the paper is acquired and the paper is set in the same manner as when the second FRID 200b is used. It is also possible. Thereby, the cost concerning FRID can be reduced.

  The full-color digital copying machine according to this embodiment is configured as described above, and the operation thereof will be described below. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining an operation for performing automatic setting based on information read from the RFID in the full-color digital copying machine according to the first embodiment. The information reading control operation shown in FIG. 5 is normally operated in a mode in which information on components inside the apparatus is acquired using a main body side non-contact communication circuit as an RFID information reading unit.

  Therefore, in step S100, it is determined whether or not the paper is set in the paper feed tray. If the paper is not set in the paper feed tray, the process proceeds to step S106, and information regarding the components in the normal apparatus is obtained. Return to the acquisition mode and continue operation.

  In step S100, when the user sets paper in the paper feed tray, the process proceeds to step S101, and the mode is switched to a mode for acquiring information regarding the characteristics of the paper. Here, when the user selects a paper feed tray on which paper is to be set using the operation panel (step S102), the information read by the main body side non-contact communication circuit 400 in FIG. 4 by the switching unit is changed from the information of the first RFID 200a to the second RFID 200b. Switch to information. For example, when the paper 105 is set in the paper tray 107 a shown in FIG. 1, if the paper tray 107 a is selected, the antenna connected to the main body side non-contact communication circuit 400 is switched, and the acquired information is also stored in the first RFID 102. The toner remaining amount information is switched to the information related to the characteristics of the second RFID 104 paper.

  In the next step S103, it is determined whether or not information has been acquired from the second RFID 104 within a predetermined time. If the information can be acquired, the process proceeds to step S104, and based on the acquired data regarding the type and thickness of the sheet, it is determined whether or not the sheet is compatible with the full-color digital copying machine. If the paper is suitable, the paper setting is automatically updated (step S105), and then the normal information acquisition mode for the parts inside the apparatus is returned (step S106).

  Further, in the above-described step S103, if information acquisition from the second RFID 104 is not performed within a predetermined time, an error display is displayed on the display unit of the operation panel and the paper information reading operation is performed again for the user. Prompt (step S107).

  If it is determined in step S104 that the paper is not compatible with the paper feed tray, it is checked in step S108 if there is any other paper feed tray that is compatible. If the paper is incompatible with all the paper feed trays, an error display or a guidance display indicating incompatibility is displayed on the display unit of the operation panel to prohibit use (step S110). Also, if the selected paper feed tray is incompatible (for example, due to special paper such as inkjet paper or paper with a thickness that is not applicable), but it is compatible with the manual paper feed tray or other paper feed trays, In step S109, a guidance display is displayed on the display unit of the operation panel (for example, “This paper cannot be used in the paper feed tray 107a. Use it in the manual feed tray”). As a result, the workability of the user can be improved, and paper jams and damage to the apparatus can be prevented in advance.

  If information is not acquired from the second RFID 104 within a predetermined time in step S103, an error is displayed in step S107 to prompt the user to re-execute the paper information reading operation. In the case of a user who uses paper not attached with the mark, since the automatic paper setting operation shown in FIG. 5 cannot be performed, the automatic acquisition of information from the second RFID 104 and the automatic paper setting operation based on the information acquisition from the second RFID 104 is stopped in advance. Setting stop means is provided. The automatic paper setting operation is stopped by the user giving an instruction to stop the automatic setting operation from the operation panel.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, the antenna disposed in the vicinity of the second RFID 200a that stores information about the components in the image forming apparatus and the second RFID 200b that stores information about the characteristics of the paper to be used is switched. By switching by means and acquiring information using the common main body side non-contact communication circuit 400, the number of information reading means can be reduced, and the apparatus cost can be reduced. Further, the information acquired by the main body side non-contact communication circuit 400 can be easily switched by this switching means. Furthermore, if the update of the paper data is limited to the time when the paper is set, the antennas arranged in the individual paper feed trays can be combined into one, and the antenna switching operation between the paper feed trays becomes unnecessary. .

  Further, according to the first embodiment, settings relating to paper or components can be automatically performed based on information acquired using the main body side non-contact communication circuit 400. For example, by changing the paper settings and printing conditions based on the paper type information and thickness information, the paper transport speed, the temperature of the fixing unit, the output value of the high voltage power supply, etc. can be automatically set to the optimum values. Work can be greatly reduced. Furthermore, by setting a limit on the time for acquiring information from the second RFID 200b, the user is made to read the paper characteristic information again, thereby preventing erroneous settings and switching to the paper characteristic information acquisition mode due to an erroneous operation by the user. However, it is possible to automatically return to the information acquisition mode regarding parts.

(Second Embodiment)
The image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment is characterized in that the main body side non-contact communication circuit 400 as the RFID information reading unit reads information stored in the nonvolatile memories of the first RFID 200a and the second RFID 200b. The second RFID 200b has a function of writing the model information of the image forming apparatus in which the sheet is set in the nonvolatile memory of the second RFID 200b and the toner information of the model. In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the second RFID 104 is removed from the package 106 after the paper is set and discarded in the disposal spaces 108a and 108b provided in the paper feed trays 107a and 107b. However, in the second embodiment, when the paper is reused as the backing paper, it is necessary to manage the second RFID 104 removed from the paper together with the paper, so that the waste spaces 108a and 108b are stored as the storage spaces 108a and 108b. It is used as.

  As described with reference to FIG. 3, the main body side non-contact communication circuit 400 includes the transmitting antenna 401 and the receiving antenna 402. The RFID side non-contact communication circuit 202 and the main body side non-contact communication circuit 400 are different from each other. It is constituted similarly. Therefore, the main body-side non-contact communication circuit 400 has both an information reading function for reading information in the nonvolatile memory 201 of the RFID 200 and an information writing function for writing predetermined information in the nonvolatile memory 201 of the RFID 200.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of determining the suitability of a sheet based on information written by performing information reading / writing control on the RFID of the sheet of the full-color digital copying machine according to the second embodiment. It is.

  First, in step S200, it is determined whether or not the paper is set in the paper feed tray. If the paper is not set in the paper feed tray, the process proceeds to step S207, and information on the components inside the normal apparatus is obtained. Return to the acquisition mode and continue operation.

  In step S200, when the user sets paper in the paper feed tray, the process proceeds to step S201, and the mode is switched to a mode for acquiring information on the characteristics of the paper. When the user selects a paper feed tray for setting paper on the operation panel of the full-color digital copying machine (step S202), information read by the main body side non-contact communication circuit 400 in FIG. 2 Switch to information of RFID 200b. For example, when the paper 105 is set in the paper tray 107 a shown in FIG. 1, if the paper tray 107 a is selected, the antenna connected to the main body side non-contact communication circuit 400 is switched, and the acquired information is also stored in the first RFID 102. The toner remaining amount information is switched to the information related to the characteristics of the second RFID 104 paper.

  In step S203, it is determined whether information has been acquired from the second RFID 104 within a predetermined time. If the information can be acquired, the process proceeds to step S204, and it is determined whether or not the sheet is compatible with the full-color digital copying machine based on the acquired data regarding the type and thickness of the sheet. If the paper is suitable, the paper setting is automatically updated (step S205).

  In subsequent step S206, processing characteristic of the second embodiment is performed. That is, after the main body side non-contact communication circuit 400 acquires information on the characteristics of the sheet from the second RFID 104 in step S203, the model information and toner information of the full-color digital copier on which the sheet is set are written to the second RFID 104. . After that, the process returns to the information acquisition mode related to the normal parts inside the apparatus (step S207).

  If no information is acquired from the second RFID 104 within a predetermined time in step S203, an error is displayed on the display unit of the operation panel, etc., and the user is prompted to re-execute the paper information reading operation (step S203). S208).

  If it is determined in step S204 that the paper is not suitable, it is determined in step S209 whether or not there is another suitable paper feed tray. If all the papers in the paper feed tray are incompatible, an error display or guidance indicating that the paper is incompatible is displayed on the operation panel display unit, and use of the paper is prohibited (step S211). If the selected paper feed tray is incompatible, but there is paper that fits in the manual paper feed tray or other paper feed tray, a guidance to that effect is displayed on the operation panel display in step S210. (For example, “This paper cannot be used in the paper feed tray 107a. Use it in the manual feed tray”). As a result, the workability of the user can be improved, and paper jams and damage to the apparatus can be prevented in advance.

  As described above, after the model information and toner information of the full-color digital copying machine to be used are written in the second RFID 104, the information is stored in the storage space 108 provided in the paper feed tray 107. Then, the sheet printed on one side by the full-color digital copying machine and the second RFID 104 storing toner information and the like at the time of single-side printing are managed together. When the paper is reused as the backing paper, the processing shown in FIG. 6 is performed in the reused image forming apparatus.

  That is, the single-side printed paper is set in the paper feed tray 107 (step S200), and the second RFID 104 managed together is stored in the storage space 108, and the information stored in the second RFID 104 is read in step S203. In the second RFID 104, model information and toner information of the full-color digital copying machine at the time of single-sided printing are written, and whether the toner melting point of the toner information is lower than the melting point of the image forming apparatus at the time of backside printing. This is checked by the CPU 501 of the system controller board 500. If the melting point of the toner during single-sided printing is lower than the melting point during backside printing, the low-melting point toner during single-sided printing may be re-melted and fixed on the backside printing and wrapped around the fixing roller, causing paper jams. . Therefore, the CPU 501 displays a message indicating that the paper is not suitable for back side printing on the operation panel in step S211 and notifies the user. This non-conformity indication includes not only an error indication that “paper is non-conforming” but also a specific reason for non-conformity such as “the melting point of toner during single-sided printing is lower than the melting point during reverse-side printing”. good.

  Contrary to the above, if the melting point of the toner during single-sided printing is higher than the melting point during backside printing, the toner during single-sided printing will not be remelted when fixing the backside printing. It is determined that the back side printing is performed.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, after the paper is set in the paper feed tray, the information on the characteristics of the paper is read from the second RFID 104 of the paper using the main body-side non-contact communication circuit 400, and then the image forming apparatus Model information and toner information are written. For this reason, even when backside printing is performed by another image forming apparatus after single-sided printing, the single-sided printing paper and the second RFID 104 are managed together using the storage space 108, and the characteristics of the paper are determined from the second RFID 104 of the paper. By reading the information regarding the toner melting point during single-sided printing, it is possible to accurately determine whether or not the toner can be used for backside printing simply by comparing the melting point of the image forming apparatus during backside printing. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the low melting point toner at the time of single-sided printing from being re-melted at the time of fixing the backside printing and wound around the fixing roller to cause a paper jam.

(Third embodiment)
A feature of the image forming apparatus according to the third embodiment is that it includes a detection unit that detects a paper out of the paper feed tray, and the detection unit detects a paper out of the paper feed tray before detecting a paper out of the paper feed tray. When the paper is replenished, the paper information of the paper on which the main body side non-contact communication circuit 400 as the RFID information reading means is set and the paper information of the paper to be replenished are read and compared, and the setting value related to the printing condition is changed. The point is to determine whether or not it is necessary to do so.

  The detection means detects the presence or absence of the paper set in the paper feed tray, and is a non-contact type optical sensor installed in the paper feed tray of an existing image forming apparatus, or a contact type using a movable lever. Paper sensors can be used.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining an operation for determining whether or not to change a setting value related to printing conditions when paper is supplied to the paper feed tray of the full-color digital copying machine according to the third embodiment.

  The information reading control operation shown in FIG. 7 normally operates in a mode in which information about components inside the apparatus is acquired using a main body side non-contact communication circuit as an RFID information reading means. Then, it is determined whether or not the paper information acquisition function is turned on. More specifically, it is determined whether or not the function of acquiring information about the characteristics of the sheet from the second RFID attached to the sheet package and automatically setting the printing conditions is turned on.

  When the paper information acquisition function is off, the process proceeds from step S300 to step S308, and the main body side non-contact communication circuit 400 operates to acquire information on the in-device components (here, toner bottles) from the first RFID. To do.

  If the paper information acquisition function is turned on in step S300, the process proceeds to step S301, and it is determined whether or not the paper is set in the paper feed tray. If no paper is set in the paper feed tray, the process proceeds to step S308 as described above.

  If the paper is set in the paper feed tray in step S301, the process proceeds to step S302, and the information read by the main body side non-contact communication circuit 400 using the switching means of the operation panel is used as the first RFID information (in-device component). Information) and the second RFID information (information on paper characteristics).

  After the user selects the paper feed tray on which the paper is set using the operation panel (step S303), the user accesses the non-volatile memory of the second RFID to access various information relating to the characteristics of the paper (paper type, paper thickness, etc. ) To get. If the information can be acquired within a certain time after the paper feed tray is selected (step S304), it is determined whether or not the paper is suitable for the image forming apparatus (step S305).

  In step S305, when it is determined that the paper is suitable, the processing characteristic to the third embodiment is performed in subsequent steps S306 and thereafter. That is, in step S306, it is confirmed whether or not the paper feed tray is in a paper end state using the detection means. In the paper end state, the paper settings (paper type, paper thickness, etc.) and the settings related to printing conditions (fixing temperature target value, paper linear speed, etc.) are automatically updated (step S307), the process proceeds to step S308.

  In step S306, when a new paper is set with the designated paper feed tray not in the paper end state and the paper is still left, the paper that has already been set is newly supplied. The main body-side non-contact communication circuit 400 reads information on the characteristics of the paper from the second RFID non-volatile memory affixed to each package of the paper, compares both information, and sets the paper (paper type and paper It is determined whether or not it is necessary to change the setting values of the printing conditions (fixing temperature target value, paper linear velocity, etc.) and the like (step S313).

  If the setting value needs to be changed in step S313, a display for confirming whether the setting value can be changed is displayed on the operation panel (step S314). For example, a message such as “The paper remaining in the paper feed tray and the replenishment paper are different. Is it OK to change the setting value corresponding to the replenishment paper?” Is displayed. If the user can change the setting value (YES in step S315), the process proceeds to step S307, where the setting value is updated.

  If it is determined in step S315 that there is a problem in changing the setting value (NO in step S315), the process proceeds to step S316, and a guidance display is performed. For example, a message such as “Removing the remaining paper or replenishing paper after the end of the paper because the paper settings and print condition settings differ between the paper remaining in the paper tray and the supply paper” is displayed. The process proceeds to step S308.

  In step S304, if information cannot be acquired from the non-volatile memory even after a predetermined time has elapsed after the paper feed tray is selected, the process proceeds to step S309, an error display is displayed on the operation panel, and the user is informed about the paper characteristics. The user is prompted to acquire the information again, and the process proceeds to step S308.

  If it is determined in step S305 that the paper in the selected paper feed tray is not compatible with the image forming apparatus (for example, special paper such as inkjet paper, or paper having a thickness that is not applicable), step S310. It is checked whether there is a sheet suitable for another paper feed tray. If there are other suitable paper feed trays, the operation panel is instructed to designate a suitable paper feed tray, or a guidance display is made to use the manual feed tray, and the process proceeds to step S308. As a result, workability for the user can be improved, and paper jams, damage to the apparatus, and the like can be prevented.

  If it is determined in step S310 that the paper is not suitable for all of the paper feed trays, the process proceeds to step S312 and an error display or guidance is displayed on the operation panel indicating that all the paper is incompatible. Is prohibited, and the process proceeds to step S308.

  As described above, according to the third embodiment, the detection unit can determine whether the paper is supplied to the paper feed tray before the paper out of the paper feed tray is detected, or whether the paper is supplied after the paper out is detected. Since the paper can be replenished at the time, the user's workability is improved, and even if the characteristics of the replenishment paper are different from the previous paper, the setting value can be updated and the guidance display can be appropriately performed. .

  In addition, according to the third embodiment, when the paper is replenished to the paper feed tray before the paper out of the paper feed tray is detected by the detection unit, the paper information of the second RFID of the paper remaining in the paper feed tray. Since the main body side non-contact communication circuit 400 can read the paper information of the replenished paper and the second RFID, it is possible to accurately determine whether or not the setting value relating to the paper setting or the printing condition needs to be changed. Therefore, it is possible to present an appropriate guidance display to the user based on the determination, so that by supporting the user, the occurrence of abnormal images due to data setting mistakes or work mistakes, equipment failures, etc. It can be prevented in advance.

  As described above, the information processing apparatus and the image forming apparatus according to the present invention are effective for an apparatus that needs to be set in real time on the basis of information about articles such as parts, paper, or a recording medium. It is suitable for devices that can acquire information on parts and paper characteristics, such as a facsimile, a printer, and a multifunction machine that has these functions, and that can automatically make settings based on such information.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view of a paper feed tray portion in FIG. 1. It is a block diagram of the RFID information reading part which reads the information memorize | stored in RFID and the non-volatile memory of RFID. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a main part of a full-color digital copying machine. 4 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of performing automatic setting based on information read from an RFID in the full-color digital copying machine according to the first embodiment. 10 is a flowchart for explaining an operation for determining whether or not a paper is suitable based on information written by performing information reading and writing control on the RFID of the paper of the full-color digital copying machine according to the second embodiment. 10 is a flowchart for explaining an operation for determining whether or not to change a setting value related to printing conditions when paper is supplied to a paper feed tray of a full-color digital copying machine according to a third embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

100 Full-color digital copier 101 Toner bottle 102 First RFID
103 RFID information reading unit 104 Second RFID
105 Paper 106 Package 107, 107a, 107b Paper feed tray 108, 108a, 108b Waste space (storage space)
109, 109a, 109b Antenna 200 RFID
200a 1st RFID
200b 2nd RFID
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 201 Nonvolatile memory 202 RFID side non-contact communication circuit 203 Transmission antenna 204 Reception antenna 300 Reception circuit 301 Demodulation circuit 302 Control circuit 303 Modulation circuit 304 Transmission driver 305 Power supply circuit 400 Main body side non-contact communication circuit 401 Transmission antenna 402 Reception Antenna 403 CPU
500 System controller board 510 Operation unit control board 520 HDD
550 Scanner 560 Engine control board 590 Printer

Claims (4)

A first antenna provided in the vicinity of the first RFID having a non-volatile memory storing information relating to components inside the image forming apparatus;
A second antenna provided in the vicinity of the second RFID having a non-volatile memory storing information relating to characteristics of the paper used by the image forming apparatus;
RFID information reading means connected to the first antenna and the second antenna, respectively, for reading information stored in the nonvolatile memories of the first and second RFID,
And managing the life of the component based on the information related to the component read by the RFID information reading means, and changing the printing conditions based on the information related to the characteristics of the paper read by the RFID information reading means ,
When setting the paper in the image forming apparatus, a space for storing the second RFID obtained by reading information on the characteristics of the paper via the second antenna is provided in the vicinity of the paper setting position.
The RFID information reading unit further has a writing function that enables writing of predetermined information to a second RFID having a nonvolatile memory that stores information on characteristics of a sheet used by the image forming apparatus,
When the sheet is set on the image forming apparatus, the RFID information reading unit reads information on the characteristics of the sheet from the second RFID provided on the sheet, and then the model information of the image forming apparatus on which the sheet is set And the toner information of the model are written in the second RFID. When the paper is set in the image forming apparatus, the RFID information reading unit includes information on the characteristics of the paper from the second RFID managed together with the paper, the model information of the image forming apparatus that is written, and the model Read toner information and
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a determination unit that determines whether or not the sheet can be used in the set image forming apparatus based on the read information. A first antenna provided in the vicinity of the first RFID having a non-volatile memory storing information relating to components inside the image forming apparatus;
A second antenna provided in the vicinity of the second RFID having a non-volatile memory storing information relating to characteristics of the paper used by the image forming apparatus;
RFID information reading means connected to the first antenna and the second antenna, respectively, for reading information stored in the nonvolatile memories of the first and second RFID,
And managing the life of the component based on the information related to the component read by the RFID information reading means, and changing the printing conditions based on the information related to the characteristics of the paper read by the RFID information reading means ,
Reading information relating to the characteristics of the paper stored in the non-volatile memory of the second RFID by the RFID information reading means, and changing a setting value relating to printing conditions based on the information relating to the characteristics of the paper,
The sheet feeding tray for setting the sheet includes a detecting unit for detecting the out of sheet,
The RFID information reading means, when paper is supplied to the paper feed tray before the detection means detects that the paper is out, the paper information of the already set paper and the paper information of the supplied paper. reading,
An image forming apparatus comprising: comparing both pieces of paper information to determine whether or not a setting value relating to a printing condition needs to be changed.   When the paper information of the paper set in the paper feed tray is compared with the paper information of the replenished paper, and it is determined that the setting value related to the printing conditions needs to be changed, a guidance is displayed to that effect. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3.

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