JP4423876B2 - Compatibility diagnostic device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a compatibility diagnosis apparatus and a recording apparatus. In particular, the present invention relates to a replacement part compatibility diagnostic apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, it is preferable that a genuine replacement part and a replacement part compatible with the genuine replacement part are mounted on an apparatus including a replacement part that requires replacement. Therefore, in order to prevent a replacement part that is neither genuine nor compatible from being attached to the apparatus, the part on which the replacement part is attached in the apparatus may have a shape that matches the genuine and compatible replacement part. . In this case, even if the user of the apparatus prepares a replacement part for replacement, it is difficult to know whether the replacement part is compatible unless it is mounted on the apparatus. In addition, even if an incompatible replacement part can be mounted on the apparatus by having the same shape as a compatible replacement part, the replacement part is not recognized by the apparatus and the apparatus can be operated. There are cases where it cannot be performed (for example, Patent Document 1).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
Patent No. 3091600 (FIGS. 5 and 6)
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, it is difficult for the user of a device to know in advance which of the commercially available replacement parts are compatible replacement parts for the device before mounting the replacement parts on the device. Met.
[0005]
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a recording control system that can solve the above-described problems. This object is achieved by a combination of features described in the independent claims. The dependent claims define further advantageous specific examples of the present invention.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
That is, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the replacement part compatibility diagnosis apparatus includes a replacement part identification unit that identifies the type of replacement part, and a compatibility diagnosis unit that diagnoses the compatibility of the identified replacement part. And a diagnostic result notifying unit for notifying a diagnostic result in the compatibility diagnosing unit. Thereby, the compatibility diagnosis apparatus can diagnose and notify the compatibility of a replacement part before replacement by identifying the type of replacement part.
[0007]
The replacement part identification unit may read and identify the identifier information attached to the replacement part. Accordingly, the replacement part identification unit can easily identify the type of replacement part for causing the compatibility diagnosis unit to diagnose compatibility.
[0008]
The identifier attached to the replacement part may be at least one of a wireless tag or a barcode. Thereby, the identifier attached to the replacement part can make the replacement part identification unit identify the information on the type of the replacement part by simple means.
[0009]
The barcode may be written on the replacement part package. Thereby, the replacement part identification unit can diagnose the compatibility of the replacement part in a state where the replacement part is in the package.
[0010]
The recording device may be equipped with a compatibility diagnostic device. Thereby, the recording apparatus can make the compatibility of the replacement part diagnosed by the compatibility diagnosis apparatus.
[0011]
The replacement part may be a consumable part of the recording apparatus. Thereby, when a consumable item is consumed in the recording apparatus, the compatibility diagnosis device can diagnose the compatibility of the consumable item.
[0012]
The compatibility diagnosis apparatus may further include a replacement restriction unit that restricts replacement of replacement parts when the compatibility diagnosis unit diagnoses that there is no compatibility. Thereby, the compatibility diagnosis apparatus can clearly indicate to the user of the recording apparatus that the replacement parts are not compatible.
[0013]
The above summary of the invention does not enumerate all the necessary features of the present invention, and sub-combinations of these feature groups can also be the invention.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described through embodiments of the invention. However, the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims, and all combinations of features described in the embodiments are included. It is not necessarily essential for the solution of the invention.
[0015]
FIG. 1 shows a recording apparatus 10 and a replacement part 30 according to this embodiment. The recording device 10 is equipped with a replacement part compatibility diagnostic device 20. The compatibility diagnosis apparatus 20 includes a replacement part identification unit 22 described later. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the recording apparatus 10 includes a replacement part identification unit 22 on a side surface. The ink cartridge 30 of the recording apparatus 10 includes an identifier 40. The ink cartridge 30 is attached to the carriage of the recording apparatus 10. In the present embodiment, the ink cartridge 30 is an example of a consumable part of the recording apparatus 10, and the consumable part is an example of a replacement part. In the present embodiment, the identifier 40 is a wireless tag. The package 50 of the ink cartridge 30 is printed with a notice that the ink cartridge 30 should be brought close to the recording apparatus 10 before the ink cartridge 30 is replaced.
[0016]
Conventionally, in the recording apparatus 10, the carriage of the recording apparatus 10 may be shaped to match the genuine ink cartridge 30 so that an ink cartridge that is not compatible with the genuine ink cartridge 30 cannot be attached or detached. In this case, even if the user of the recording apparatus 10 prepares an ink cartridge for replacement, if the ink cartridge is not compatible, it cannot be mounted on the carriage of the recording apparatus 10 and the prepared ink cartridge is wasted. become. Further, even if the user of the recording apparatus 10 can mount an incompatible ink cartridge on the carriage by having the same shape as the compatible ink cartridge, the ink cartridge is attached by the recording apparatus 10. In some cases, the recording apparatus 10 may not be recognized. However, the user of the recording apparatus 10 attaches the ink cartridge 30 to the recording apparatus 10 to determine which of the commercially available ink cartridges is the compatible ink cartridge 30 for the recording apparatus 10. It was difficult to know in advance before looking.
[0017]
Therefore, the compatibility diagnostic device 20 according to the present embodiment is compatible with the recording device 10 of the ink cartridge 30 to be replaced when the user of the recording device 10 replaces a replacement part such as the ink cartridge 30. It is an object to easily determine whether or not.
[0018]
The wireless tag 40 holds, for example, a model number of the ink cartridge 30 as identification information for identifying the ink cartridge 30. In order to replace the consumed ink cartridge, the user of the recording apparatus 10 brings the ink cartridge 30 close to the predetermined range of the recording apparatus 10 before replacement according to the notice printed on the package 50 of the ink cartridge 30. In this case, the wireless tag 40 wirelessly transmits the identification information held. The wireless tag 40 is affixed to the main body of the ink cartridge 30 with, for example, a size of several millimeters square. The compatibility diagnostic device 20 mounted on the recording device 10 receives the identification information of the ink cartridge 30 that is wirelessly transmitted from the wireless tag 40. Here, the predetermined range is a distance at which the compatibility diagnosis apparatus 20 can recognize a signal transmitted from the wireless tag 40 and is approximately several tens of centimeters.
[0019]
When the identifier is the wireless tag 40, the wireless tag 40 can be attached to the main body of the ink cartridge 30 by bringing the ink cartridge 30 close to the recording apparatus 10 regardless of the presence or absence of the package 50 that wraps the ink cartridge 30. The stored identification information can be transmitted wirelessly to the recording apparatus 10. The identifier may be a barcode. The bar code is written on the package 50 of the ink cartridge 30. On the other hand, when the identifier is a barcode, the barcode also holds identification information for identifying the ink cartridge 30 as in the wireless tag 40. When the user of the recording apparatus 10 brings the package 50 of the ink cartridge 30 close to the recording apparatus 10, the compatibility diagnosis apparatus 20 receives the identification information of the ink cartridge 30 from the bar code written on the package 50. Therefore, in both cases where the identifier is the wireless tag 40 and the barcode, the compatibility diagnosis apparatus 20 receives the identification information for identifying the ink cartridge 30 from the identifier without taking out the ink cartridge 30 from the package 50. be able to. Further, when the identifier is a barcode, the barcode is easily printed on the package 50 of the ink cartridge 30 together with the product specifications and the like, so that the procedure for attaching the ink cartridge 30 is easy.
[0020]
FIG. 2 shows a functional configuration of the compatibility diagnosis apparatus 20. The compatibility diagnosis apparatus 20 includes a replacement part identification unit 22, a compatibility diagnosis unit 24, a diagnosis result notification unit 26, and a replacement restriction unit 28.
[0021]
The replacement part identification unit 22 identifies the type of the ink cartridge 30. The replacement part identification unit 22 according to the present embodiment reads identification information of the ink cartridge 30 wirelessly transmitted from the wireless tag 40 attached to the ink cartridge 30 when the replacement ink cartridge 30 is brought close to the recording apparatus 10. Thus, the type of the ink cartridge 30 is identified. The replacement part identification unit 22 outputs the read identification information of the ink cartridge 30 to the compatibility diagnosis unit 24.
[0022]
The compatibility diagnosis unit 24 diagnoses the compatibility of the identified ink cartridge 30. The compatibility diagnosis unit 24 of this embodiment stores identification information for identifying genuine ink cartridges and identification information for identifying ink cartridges compatible with genuine ink cartridges. Here, an ink cartridge compatible with a genuine ink cartridge is an ink cartridge that can be mounted on the carriage of the recording apparatus 10 and recognized by the recording apparatus 10. The compatibility diagnosing unit 24 diagnoses the compatibility of the ink cartridge 30 identified by the replacement part identifying unit 22 by determining whether or not the read identification information matches the stored identification information. . The compatibility diagnosis unit 24 outputs a diagnosis result indicating whether or not the ink cartridge 30 that is brought close to the recording apparatus 10 is compatible to the diagnosis result notification unit 26 and the replacement restriction unit 28. When the compatibility diagnosis unit 24 determines that the ink cartridge 30 is not compatible, the compatibility diagnosis unit 24 outputs the stored identification information of the compatible ink cartridge to the diagnosis result notification unit 26.
[0023]
The diagnosis result notification unit 26 notifies the diagnosis result from the compatibility diagnosis unit 24. The diagnosis result notification unit 26 of the present embodiment displays the diagnosis result regarding the compatibility of the ink cartridge 30 input from the compatibility diagnosis unit 24 on, for example, the screen of the recording apparatus 10. In addition, when the diagnostic result notifying unit 26 inputs a diagnostic result indicating that the ink cartridge 30 is not compatible from the compatibility diagnostic unit 24, the diagnostic result notifying unit 26 displays that fact on the screen of the recording apparatus 10. A warning sound is emitted toward the user of the recording device 10 and the identification information input from the compatibility diagnosis unit 24 is displayed on the screen of the recording device 10 together with the diagnosis result.
[0024]
The replacement restriction unit 28 restricts replacement of the ink cartridge 30 when the compatibility diagnosis unit 24 determines that there is no compatibility. In the present embodiment, when the ink cartridge is removed from the carriage in order to replace the consumed ink cartridge by the user of the recording apparatus 10 or to check the attachment of the ink cartridge, the carriage restricts the replacement. To the unit 28. When an input indicating that the ink cartridge 30 has been removed from the carriage is input, the replacement restriction unit 28 moves and fixes the carriage to a home position different from the attachment / detachment position where the ink cartridge can be attached / detached. Thereafter, when a diagnosis result indicating that the ink cartridge 30 is compatible is input from the compatibility diagnosis unit 24, the replacement restriction unit 28 moves the carriage to the attachment / detachment position of the ink cartridge 30, whereby the ink cartridge 30. Allow replacement. On the other hand, when a diagnosis result indicating that the ink cartridge 30 is not compatible is input from the compatibility diagnosis unit 24, the replacement restriction unit 28 maintains the carriage in the home position, thereby maintaining the ink cartridge 30. Limit exchanges. When the carriage is in a position other than the home position and a diagnosis result indicating that the ink cartridge 30 is not compatible is input from the compatibility diagnosis unit 24, the replacement restriction unit 28 moves the carriage to the home position. Move to position and fix.
[0025]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the recording apparatus 10. When the ink cartridge is removed from the carriage (S100: YES), the carriage outputs a message to that effect to the replacement restriction unit 28. When it is input from the carriage that the ink cartridge 30 has been removed, the replacement restriction unit 28 fixes the carriage to the home position (S102). If the ink cartridge is not removed from the carriage (S100: NO), the operation proceeds to step S104.
[0026]
Thereafter, when the replacement ink cartridge 30 is brought closer to the recording apparatus 10, the replacement part identification unit 22 reads the identification information of the ink cartridge 30 that is wirelessly transmitted from the wireless tag 40 attached to the ink cartridge 30 (S104). ). The replacement part identification unit 22 outputs the read identification information of the ink cartridge 30 to the compatibility diagnosis unit 24. The compatibility diagnosis unit 24 determines whether the identification information read by the replacement part identification unit 22 matches the stored identification information (S106). If the read identification information matches any of the stored identification information (S106: YES), the compatibility diagnosis unit 24 sends a diagnosis result indicating that the ink cartridge 30 is compatible to the diagnosis result notification unit 26 and The data is output to the exchange restriction unit 28. On the other hand, if the read identification information does not match any of the stored identification information (S106: NO), the compatibility diagnosis unit 24 notifies the diagnosis result that the ink cartridge 30 is not compatible with the diagnosis result notification unit. 26 and the replacement restriction unit 28, and the stored identification information is output to the diagnosis result notification unit 26.
[0027]
When the diagnostic result indicating that the ink cartridge 30 is compatible is input from the compatibility diagnostic unit 24, the diagnostic result notifying unit 26 displays that fact on the screen of the recording apparatus 10 (S108). When the diagnosis result indicating that the ink cartridge 30 is compatible is input from the compatibility diagnosis unit 24, the replacement restriction unit 28 moves the carriage to which the ink cartridge 30 is attached to the attachment / detachment position of the ink cartridge 30. Thus, the replacement of the ink cartridge 30 is allowed (S110).
[0028]
On the other hand, when a diagnosis result indicating that the ink cartridge 30 is not compatible is input from the compatibility diagnosis unit 24, the diagnosis result notification unit 26 records the fact and identification information input from the compatibility diagnosis unit 24. 10 is displayed, and a warning sound is emitted toward the user of the recording apparatus 10 (S112). Thereafter, when a diagnosis result indicating that the ink cartridge 30 is not compatible is input from the compatibility diagnosis unit 24, the replacement restriction unit 28 moves the ink cartridge to the home position and fixes the ink cartridge 30. Exchange is restricted (S114). This flowchart is complete | finished above.
[0029]
As described above, the compatibility diagnosis apparatus 20 can diagnose whether the ink cartridge 30 is compatible with the recording apparatus 10 when the user of the recording apparatus 10 brings the ink cartridge 30 close to the recording apparatus 10. Therefore, the user of the recording apparatus 10 can confirm whether or not the ink cartridge 30 is compatible without opening the package 50 of the ink cartridge 30. Thereby, when the ink cartridge 30 is not compatible, the user of the recording apparatus 10 can return the ink cartridge 30 because the ink cartridge 30 is not opened. Further, since the compatibility diagnosis apparatus 20 moves the carriage to which the ink cartridge 30 is attached according to whether the ink cartridge 30 is compatible, it is clear to the user of the recording apparatus 10 whether the ink cartridge 30 is compatible. Can be shown.
[0030]
In the above embodiment, the compatibility diagnosis unit 24 is mounted on the recording device 10. However, the compatibility diagnosis unit 24 is not limited to this, and the wireless tag 40 attached to the ink cartridge 30 may diagnose the compatibility of the ink cartridge 30. In this case, the wireless tag 40 holds recording device identification information for identifying the recording device 10 with which the ink cartridge 30 is compatible.
[0031]
In the above example, when the user of the recording apparatus 10 brings the ink cartridge 30 close to the recording apparatus 10, the wireless tag 40 receives the recording apparatus identification information of the recording apparatus 10 from the compatibility diagnosis apparatus 20. The wireless tag 40 determines whether or not the received recording device identification information matches the held recording device identification information. The wireless tag 40 diagnoses that the ink cartridge 30 is compatible with the recording device 10 when the received recording device identification information matches any of the recording device identification information held, while the received recording device identification information. If the ink cartridge 30 does not match any of the recording device identification information held by the printer, it is diagnosed that the ink cartridge 30 is not compatible with the recording device 10.
[0032]
The wireless tag 40 transmits the diagnosis result to the diagnosis result notifying unit 26 and the exchange control unit 28. When the ink cartridges 30 are compatible, the diagnosis result notifying unit 26 displays the fact on the screen of the recording apparatus 10, and the replacement control unit 28 moves the carriage to a detachable position. On the other hand, if the ink cartridges 30 are not compatible, the diagnosis result notifying unit 26 displays the fact on the screen of the recording apparatus 10 and emits a warning sound, and the replacement control unit 28 further fixes the carriage to the home position. . Thus, when a new compatible ink cartridge 30 is added to the recording apparatus 10, the recording apparatus 10 is notified that the ink cartridge 30 is compatible without changing the recording apparatus 10 side. The ink cartridge 30 can be attached to the recording apparatus 10.
[0033]
As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated using embodiment, the technical scope of this invention is not limited to the range as described in the said embodiment. Various modifications or improvements can be added to the above embodiment. It is apparent from the scope of the claims that the embodiments added with such changes or improvements can be included in the technical scope of the present invention.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a recording apparatus 10 and an ink cartridge 30. FIG.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the compatibility diagnosis apparatus 20;
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the compatibility diagnosis apparatus 20;
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Recording device, 20 Compatibility diagnostic device, 22 Replacement part identification part, 24 Compatibility diagnostic part, 26 Diagnosis result notification part, 28 Replacement restriction part, 30 Ink cartridge, 40 Wireless tag, 50 Package

Claims (5)

A replacement part compatibility diagnostic device,
A replacement part identifying unit that wirelessly identifies the type of the replacement part regardless of the presence of a package that wraps the replacement part;
A compatibility diagnostic unit for diagnosing the compatibility of the identified replacement parts;
A carriage to which the replacement part is attached;
When the replacement part is removed from the carriage, the carriage is moved to a home position different from the attachment / detachment position where the replacement part can be attached and detached, and then the compatibility diagnosis unit diagnoses that there is compatibility. When the result is input, the carriage is moved again to the attachment / detachment position, and when the diagnosis result indicating that the compatibility diagnosis unit is not compatible is input, the carriage is fixed at the home position. An exchange limiter that maintains
When a diagnostic result indicating compatibility is input from the compatibility diagnostic unit, that fact is displayed, and when a diagnostic result indicating incompatibility is input from the compatibility diagnostic unit, And a diagnostic result notification unit for displaying the identification information of the compatible replacement parts stored in advance inputted from the compatibility diagnostic unit.   The compatibility diagnosis apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the replacement part identification unit reads and identifies information of an identifier attached to the replacement part. Compatibility diagnostic apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the identifier is a radio tag. Recording apparatus equipped with a compatible diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The recording apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the replacement part is a consumable part of the recording apparatus.

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