JP2004054243A - Apparatus and method for determining reuse of recording material cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to easily determine whether a toner cartridge is reused and to effectively use the cartridge.
Kind Code: A1 A toner color of a toner cartridge, a manufacturing date, the number of prints, the number of reuses, and the like are read from a storage element of the toner cartridge used by being attached to a color laser printer (S100), and the read toner color is corresponded. Whether re-use is possible is determined using the condition value (S110 to S140). When it is determined that the toner cannot be reused, the toner color is changed to black (K) (S160), the corresponding condition value is read (S110), and whether or not the toner can be reused is determined again (S110 to S140). As a result, the reuse of the toner cartridge can be easily determined, and the cartridge can be effectively used.
[Selection] Fig. 6

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a toner cartridge reuse determination device and determination method and a program used therefor, and more particularly, is used by being attached to an image forming apparatus that forms characters and images on a medium such as paper using toner, The present invention relates to a reuse determination device that determines reuse of a toner cartridge having a storage element that stores information regarding the use, a reuse determination method thereof, and a program used therefor.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, toner cartridges used in color laser printers and copiers are collected after use and reused. When determining reuse of the toner cartridge, the toner remaining in the cartridge is discarded and cleaned, and each part of the cartridge is inspected. After replacing parts as needed, toner of an arbitrary color is filled and reused.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, since the determination of the reuse of the toner cartridge is made by the naked eye, the determination of the reuse of the toner cartridge requires time and effort, and the determination criterion may differ depending on the determination person. In addition, the criteria for reusing the toner cartridge are not considered in consideration of the color of the filled toner and the color of the toner to be filled when reusing the toner cartridge. For this reason, depending on the color of the charged toner or the color of the toner charged at the time of re-use, it may be determined that re-use is impossible even though re-use is possible.
[0004]
An object of the apparatus and method for determining reuse of a recording material cartridge according to the present invention is to effectively use the cartridge. Still another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and a method for determining reuse of a recording material cartridge, which facilitates determination of reuse of a recording material cartridge.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems and Their Functions and Effects]
The apparatus and method for determining reuse of a recording material cartridge according to the present invention and the program used therein employ the following means in order to achieve at least a part of the above object.
[0006]
The recording material cartridge reuse determination device of the present invention includes:
Used recording agent information attached to an image forming apparatus that forms characters and images on a medium such as paper using a recording agent and used, and includes usage information on the use and recording agent color information on the color of the filled recording agent. A reuse determination device that determines reuse of a recording agent cartridge having a storage element that stores
When the recording material cartridge is attached, information acquisition means for acquiring the used recording material information from a storage element of the recording material cartridge,
Reuse determination means for determining the reuse of the recording material cartridge and the color of the recording material to be filled based on the use information and the recording material color information included in the obtained used recording material information,
Output means for outputting the determination result;
The gist is to provide
[0007]
In the recording material cartridge reuse determination device of the present invention, the used recording material information including the usage information on use and the recording material color information on the color of the filled recording material is obtained from the storage element of the recording material cartridge, The reuse of the recording material cartridge and the color of the recording material to be filled are determined based on the use information and the recording material color information included in the obtained used recording material information, and the determination result is output. Therefore, it is possible to more appropriately determine the reuse of the recording material cartridge and the color of the recording material to be filled simply by attaching the collected recording material cartridge. Here, when the image forming apparatus is a color laser printer, a color copying machine, or the like, the recording material corresponds to the toner, and the recording material cartridge corresponds to the toner cartridge. When the image forming apparatus is a color inkjet printer, the recording agent corresponds to ink, and the recording agent cartridge corresponds to an ink cartridge.
[0008]
In such a device for determining reuse of a recording material cartridge according to the present invention, the reuse determining means determines whether or not reusing is possible by filling a recording material having the same color as the color of the recording material that has been filled up to then. When it is determined that reusing the recording material of a color is not possible, it may be a means for determining whether reusing the recording material of a different color is reusable. In this way, it is possible to first determine reuse for filling the recording material of the same color, and then determine reuse for filling the recording material of a different color. In this case, the reusability determination means is means for determining whether reusability to fill the recording material of a specific color is possible when it is determined that reusing the recording material of the same color is impossible. You can also. Here, the specific color may be black.
[0009]
Further, in the recording material cartridge reuse determination device of the present invention, the used recording material information includes the date of manufacture of the recording material cartridge and / or the number of times the recording material cartridge has been reused as one of the information, The reusability determination means is means for determining reuse of the recording material cartridge and the color of the recording material to be filled based on the date of manufacture of the recording material cartridge and / or the number of times the recording material cartridge has been reused. It can be. This makes it possible to more appropriately determine the reuse of the recording material cartridge and the color of the recording material to be filled based on the date of manufacture of the recording material cartridge and the number of reuses so far.
[0010]
A program for a recording material cartridge reuse determination device of the present invention includes a computer having an interface as a part of the information acquisition unit, and a recording material cartridge reuse determination device of the present invention according to any one of the above-described embodiments. That is, basically, use information attached to an image forming apparatus that forms characters and images on a medium such as paper using a recording material is used, and usage information on the use and recording material color information on the color of the filled recording material are used. A reuse determination device that determines reuse of a recording material cartridge having a storage element for storing used recording material information, the storage device having the recording material cartridge when the recording material cartridge is attached. Information acquisition means for acquiring the used recording material information; and the use information and recording material color information contained in the acquired used recording material information. The gist is to function as a reuse determination device for a recording material cartridge including: a reuse determination device that determines reuse of a recording material cartridge and a color of a recording material to be filled; and an output device that outputs the determination result. I do.
[0011]
According to the program for a recording material cartridge reuse determination device of the present invention, the computer functions as the recording material cartridge reuse determination device of any of the above aspects of the present invention. The effect of the use determining device, for example, the effect of being able to more appropriately determine the reuse of the recording material cartridge and the color of the recording material to be filled can be provided only by attaching the collected recording material cartridge.
[0012]
The first method for determining reuse of a recording material cartridge according to the present invention includes:
Used recording agent information attached to an image forming apparatus that forms characters and images on a medium such as paper using a recording agent and used, and includes usage information on the use and recording agent color information on the color of the filled recording agent. A reuse determination method for determining reuse of a recording material cartridge having a storage element for storing
(A) obtaining the used recording agent information from a storage element of the recording agent cartridge;
(B) The gist is to determine the reuse of the recording material cartridge and the color of the recording material to be filled based on the use information and the recording material color information included in the obtained used recording material information.
[0013]
According to the first method of judging reuse of a recording material cartridge according to the present invention, a used recording material including use information on use from a storage element of the recording material cartridge and recording material color information on a color of a filled recording material. Since the information is acquired and the reuse of the recording agent cartridge and the color of the recording agent to be filled are determined based on the use information and the recording agent color information included in the acquired used recording agent information, the collected recording agent cartridge And the color of the recording agent to be filled can be determined. Here, when the image forming apparatus is a color laser printer, a color copying machine, or the like, the recording material corresponds to the toner, and the recording material cartridge corresponds to the toner cartridge. When the image forming apparatus is a color inkjet printer, the recording agent corresponds to ink, and the recording agent cartridge corresponds to an ink cartridge.
[0014]
In the first method of judging reuse of a recording material cartridge according to the present invention, the step (b) judges whether or not reusing is possible by filling a recording material having the same color as the color of the recording material which has been filled up to then. A step (b1) and a step (b2) of judging the reusability of filling a recording material of a different color when it is determined that reusing the recording material of the same color is not possible. It can also be. In this way, it is possible to first determine reuse for filling the recording material of the same color, and then determine reuse for filling the recording material of a different color. In this case, the step (b2) may be a step of judging whether or not reusing the specific color recording material is possible when it is determined that reusing the recording material of the same color is impossible. Here, the specific color may be black.
[0015]
Further, in the first method for judging reuse of a recording material cartridge according to the present invention, the use information includes the number of image formed sheets as one of the information, and the step (b1) is such that the number of image formed sheets is equal to or less than a first predetermined number. And the step (b2) is a step of determining that the image can be reused when the number of image formation is equal to or less than a second predetermined number larger than the first predetermined number. The used recording material information may include the date of manufacture of the recording material cartridge as one of the information, and the step (b1) may include the step of passing a first predetermined number of days from the date of manufacture of the recording material cartridge. Determining that the recording material cartridge can be reused when the recording material cartridge has not been used. It may be a step of determining that it is reusable when the number has not elapsed, and the used recording material information includes the number of times of re-use of the recording material cartridge so far as one of the information, The step (b1) is a step of determining that the recording material cartridge can be reused when the number of reuses of the recording material cartridge is equal to or less than a first predetermined number, and the step (b2) is a step of determining whether the recording material cartridge has been reused. When the number of re-uses is less than or equal to a second predetermined number that is greater than the first predetermined number, it may be a step of determining that re-use is possible. With this configuration, the number of images formed, the number of days elapsed from the date of manufacture, and the number of reuses can be determined based on different standards for each color of the recording material to be filled. Can be determined.
[0016]
In the first method for judging reuse of a recording material cartridge according to the present invention, the computer is caused to execute the steps (a) and (b) and the computer is caused to output the judgment result of the step (b). You can also. This makes it possible to more quickly determine whether the recording material cartridge is to be reused.
[0017]
A second method for determining reuse of a recording material cartridge according to the present invention includes:
A reuse determination method for determining whether to reuse a recording agent cartridge that is attached to an image forming apparatus that forms characters and images on a medium such as paper using a recording agent and has a storage element that stores information related to the use And
(A) when the recording material cartridge is attached, obtains information including the information on the use from a storage element of the recording material cartridge;
(B) determining whether the recording material cartridge can be reused based on the acquired information;
(C) When it is determined that the recording material can be reused, the gist of the recording material that can be filled in the recording material cartridge determined to be reusable is determined based on the acquired information.
[0018]
In the second method for determining reuse of a recording material cartridge according to the present invention, information on use is acquired from a storage element of the recording material cartridge, and whether or not the recording material cartridge can be reused is determined based on the acquired information. , And outputs the determination result. Therefore, the reuse of the recording material cartridge can be more appropriately determined only by attaching the collected recording material cartridge. Further, when it is determined that the recording material cartridge can be reused, the color of the refillable recording material is further determined, so that it is possible to more appropriately determine whether the recording material cartridge can be reused. In this case, the step (c) may be a step of determining whether or not a recording material of the same color as the recording material cartridge and a black recording material can be filled. Here, when the image forming apparatus is a color laser printer, a color copying machine, or the like, the recording material corresponds to the toner, and the recording material cartridge corresponds to the toner cartridge. When the image forming apparatus is a color inkjet printer, the recording agent corresponds to ink, and the recording agent cartridge corresponds to an ink cartridge.
[0019]
In the second method for judging reuse of a recording material cartridge according to the present invention, the computer is made to execute the steps (a) to (c), and the computer makes the judgment result of the step (b) and the result of the step (c). The judgment result may be output. This makes it possible to more quickly determine whether the recording material cartridge is to be reused.
[0020]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described using examples. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram schematically showing a configuration of a reuse determination device 20 of a toner cartridge 40 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing an electrical connection of the reuse determination device 20 of the embodiment. FIG. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the reuse determination device 20 of the embodiment includes a general-purpose computer main body 22 having a CPU 23, a ROM 24, a RAM 25, an input / output interface (not shown), and a monitor 26 connected to the computer main body 22. A printer 27 connected to the computer main body 22, and a cartridge connection part 28 connected via an input / output interface (not shown) of the computer main body 22 to which the toner cartridge 40 can be mounted. Information on the use of the toner cartridge 40 is read from the storage element 50 of the storage device 40 to determine whether the toner cartridge 40 can be reused.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 2, the storage element 50 includes a memory cell 52 for storing data, a read / write control unit 54 for controlling reading and writing of data in the memory cell 52, and a read / write control unit based on a clock signal CLK. An address counter 56 that counts up when exchanging data with the reuse determination device 20 of the embodiment and a controller of the color laser printer main body described later via the unit 54 is provided. As such a storage element 50, for example, an EEPROM can be used. FIG. 3 is an external view illustrating an example of the external appearance of the toner cartridge 40. In the toner cartridge 40 of the embodiment, as shown, a storage element 50 is mounted inside a storage section 42 provided at an end thereof.
[0022]
FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram schematically showing the configuration of the color laser printer 60 to which the toner cartridge 40 is attached. The color laser printer 60 to which the toner cartridge 40 is attached is configured as a full-color electrophotographic image forming apparatus employing a single photoreceptor system and an intermediate transfer system. As shown in FIG. ), Magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K) images of four colors, which are supplied from the toner cartridges 40C, 40M, 40Y, and 40K of the respective colors mounted on the developing device 61. Using a toner, a toner image is formed on the photoreceptor 63 on which an electrostatic latent image is formed for each color by the exposure unit 62 for each color, and the formed toner image is transferred onto a transfer belt 64 as an intermediate transfer member. The four-color toner images superimposed and transferred on the transfer belt 64 are supplied from the paper cassette 65 to the paper conveyed by the conveyance unit 66 to be transferred to the secondary transfer unit 6. In transferring, by a fixing unit 68 the toner image transferred onto the sheet by fusing fixed to the sheet to form a color image on the sheet. The developing device 61 is configured to be rotatable so that toner images of each color can be formed on the photoconductor 63 in this manner. In addition, the color laser printer 60 is configured such that when the storage elements 50C, 50M, 50Y, 50K of the toner cartridges 40C, 40M, 40Y, 40K mounted on the developing device 61 are located on the lower right side in FIG. A movable connection unit 69 for connection is provided, and information relating to the use of toner in the corresponding cartridge is written from a controller of the color laser printer 60 (not shown) to the connected storage element. The electrical connection between the controller of the color laser printer 60 and the storage element is the same as the connection between the reuse determination device 20 and the storage element 50 illustrated in FIG. 2, and the illustration and detailed description thereof are omitted.
[0023]
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of information stored in the storage element 50 of the toner cartridge 40. In the embodiment, as illustrated, the ID of the toner cartridge 40 (cartridge ID), the date of manufacture of the toner cartridge 40, the color of the toner packed in the toner cartridge 40, and the reuse (reuse) ), The ID of the attached color laser printer 60 (printer ID), the date when it was installed and used in the color laser printer 60, the date when it was removed from the color laser printer 60, the color laser printer Information relating to cumulative use, such as the number of printed images using the toner cartridge 40, the remaining amount of toner remaining in the toner cartridge 40, and the total number of printed images after the color laser printer 60 was purchased. Is stored. Of these information, the cartridge ID, the manufacturing date, the toner color, and the number of reuses are written in the storage element 50 at a factory or the like when the toner cartridge 40 is manufactured or reused, and the printer ID, The use start date, end use date, number of prints, toner remaining amount, and cumulative use information of the printer are shown when the toner cartridge 40 is mounted by the color laser printer 60 in which the toner cartridge 40 is mounted. Written to storage element 50 when 40 is removed.
[0024]
Next, the operation of the reuse determination device 20 of the embodiment will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the toner cartridge 40 reuse determination process performed by the reuse determination device 20 of the embodiment when the toner cartridge 40 is attached to the cartridge connection unit 28. In the reuse determination process, first, information related to the toner cartridge 40 such as the cartridge ID, the manufacturing date, the toner color, and the number of reuses from the storage element 50 of the toner cartridge 40, and the toner cartridge A process of reading the information regarding the use of 40 is executed (step S100). The reading process of such information is performed by outputting a read signal from the computer main body 22 to the read / write control unit 54 of the storage element 50 of the toner cartridge 40 attached to the cartridge connection unit 28.
[0025]
Next, a condition value corresponding to the read toner color is read (step S110). Here, the condition value is a value used in a determination as to whether or not reuse is possible, which will be described later. (For example, 1500 sheets) and a predetermined number of times (for example, two times) with respect to the number of reuses are obtained by experiments for each toner color and used. The reading of the condition values is performed by storing each value obtained for each toner color as a map in the ROM 24 and deriving each value corresponding to the read toner color from the map.
[0026]
Subsequently, based on the condition value corresponding to the toner color and the manufacturing date read in step S100, the number of printed sheets, and the number of reuses, it is determined whether the toner cartridge 40 has been manufactured within a predetermined number of months. It is determined whether or not the number of prints using the number 40 is equal to or less than a predetermined number, whether or not the number of reuses of the toner cartridge 40 is within a predetermined number (steps S120 to S140), and whether reuse is possible. As a result of these determinations, when the number of printed sheets is less than or equal to a predetermined number of sheets within a predetermined number of months after the toner cartridge 40 is manufactured, and the number of reuses of the toner cartridge 40 is within a predetermined number of times, the read toner color is used. That is, it is determined that the toner cartridge 40 can be reused by filling the same color toner (step S170).
[0027]
On the other hand, when the number of months exceeds the predetermined number of months after the toner cartridge 40 is manufactured, when the number of prints using the toner cartridge 40 exceeds the predetermined number of times, or when the number of reuses of the toner cartridge 40 exceeds the predetermined number of times, the same applies. It is determined that the toner cartridge 40 cannot be reused by filling the color toner, and then it is determined whether the toner color is black (K) (step S150). When it is determined that the toner color is black (K), it is determined that the toner cartridge 40 cannot be reused (step S180).
[0028]
When it is determined that the toner color is not black (K), that is, when the toner color is any of cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y), the toner color is changed to black (K). (Step S160), the condition value when the toner color is black (K) is read (Step S110), and the determination as to whether or not the toner can be reused is made again (Steps S120 to S140). Here, when the toner cartridge 40 is reused by filling the black (K) toner, there is a tendency that the deterioration of the toner cartridge 40 can be tolerated as compared with the case where the toner of another color is filled. Therefore, when the toner color obtained by an experiment or the like is black (K), the condition value is larger than the condition values corresponding to other colors, for example, the predetermined number of months is more than 6 months, 10 months, and the predetermined number is 1500. 2,000 sheets larger than the number of sheets, and the predetermined number of times is five times larger than two times.
[0029]
When it is determined that the toner cartridge 40 cannot be reused by filling the black (K) toner as a result of the determination when the toner color is black (K), the toner cartridge 40 cannot be reused. Is determined (step S180). On the other hand, as a result of the determination in the case where the toner color is black (K), the number of prints is equal to or less than a predetermined number within a predetermined number of months after the toner cartridge 40 is manufactured, and the number of reuses of the toner cartridge 40 is predetermined. If not, it is determined that the toner cartridge 40 can be reused with the changed toner color, that is, filled with black (K) toner (step S170).
[0030]
When the reusability is determined in this manner, the cartridge ID, the reusability, and if the reusability is determined, the color of the toner to be filled is displayed on the monitor 26 as a determination result and the printer 27 is output. Is output (step S190), and the reuse determination process ends.
[0031]
According to the reuse determination device 20 of the embodiment described above, it is possible to determine whether the toner cartridge 40 can be reused only by attaching the collected toner cartridge 40 used and collected by the color laser printer 60 to the cartridge connection unit 28. it can. In addition, if it is determined that reusing the toner of the same color is not possible, it is determined whether or not the reusing can be performed when the black (K) toner is further charged. It can be carried out. As a result, the toner cartridge 40 can be used effectively.
[0032]
In the reuse determination device 20 of the embodiment, when it is determined that the toner cartridge 40 cannot be reused by filling the toner of the same color, the determination of reuse when the toner color is black (K) is performed again. Although it is assumed that the determination is not made when the toner color is black (K), the determination as to whether the toner color is reused in the case of a toner color having a different condition value may be made again. Further, when there are a plurality of toner colors having different condition values, the determination of reuse for the toner colors may be repeatedly performed.
[0033]
The reuse determination device 20 according to the embodiment determines whether or not the toner can be reused when the toner color is the same color. When it is determined that the toner of the same color cannot be filled and reused, the toner color is The reusability determination in the case of black (K) is performed again. However, it is determined whether the toner cartridge 40 can be reused for any of the toner colors. The color may be determined. For example, when it is determined that reusability is possible with black (K) and reusability is determined, if the number of reuses is 5 or more, only black (K) is used; If less than three times cyan (C) and magenta (M) in addition to black (K), all colors including yellow (Y) may be determined to be toner colors that can be filled. Good.
[0034]
The reuse determination device 20 according to the embodiment determines reuse of the toner cartridge 40 based on the number of months since the toner cartridge 40 was manufactured, the number of prints using the toner cartridge 40, and the number of reuses of the toner cartridge 40. However, in addition to this, the reuse of the toner cartridge 40 may be determined based on the presence or absence of filming on the roller by visual inspection. In addition, irrespective of the number of months since the toner cartridge 40 was manufactured, a toner cartridge 40 that determines whether to reuse the toner cartridge 40 based only on the number of prints using the toner cartridge 40 or the number of reuses of the toner cartridge 40, The determination of reuse of the toner cartridge 40 may be performed based only on the number of prints using the cartridge 40, or the determination of reuse of the toner cartridge 40 may be determined based only on the number of reuses of the toner cartridge 40.
[0035]
In the reusability determination device 20 of the embodiment, the toner cartridge 40 is attached to the cartridge connection unit 28 and the reusability determination device 20 is directly connected to the storage element 50 to read information. A transmission / reception unit for transmitting / receiving data using a radio wave of a predetermined frequency band as a carrier wave. When the storage element 50 receives a radio wave of a predetermined frequency band, energy is obtained from the radio wave and the data of the frequency band is used as a carrier wave. Is transmitted and received, information can be read from the storage element 50 in a non-contact manner. This makes it possible to determine whether the toner cartridge 40 is to be reused more quickly.
[0036]
In the reuse determination device 20 of the embodiment, the reuse of the toner cartridge 40 used in the color laser printer 60 configured as a full-color electrophotographic image forming apparatus employing the single photoconductor method and the intermediate transfer method is performed. The determination is made as long as the toner cartridge 40 has a storage element 50 and can store information relating to the use of the toner cartridge 40. Therefore, a full-color electrophotographic image of a multiple photoconductor system or a direct transfer system is used. The re-use of a toner cartridge used in a color laser printer or a copying machine configured as a forming apparatus may be determined. Further, the present invention may be applied to a method for determining reuse of an ink cartridge in an ink jet printer.
[0037]
In the embodiment and the modified example, the description has been given as the mode of the reuse determination device 20 that determines the reuse of the toner cartridge 40 having the storage element 50 in which the information on use is written by the color laser printer 60. A method of determining reuse, a form of a program that causes the computer main body 22 connected to the cartridge connection unit 28 to function as the reuse determination device 20 of the embodiment, and a similar determination of reuse of the toner cartridge 40 The determination method to be performed may be in the form of a program for performing the determination using a computer. In the case of a program form, each step of the reuse determination process illustrated in FIG. 6 may be programmed using an appropriate programming language.
[0038]
As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described using the examples. However, the present invention is not limited to these examples, and may be implemented in various forms without departing from the gist of the present invention. Obviously you can get it.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a reuse determination device 20 of a toner cartridge 40 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing electrical connections of the reuse determination device 20 of the embodiment by functional blocks.
FIG. 3 is an external view showing an example of the external appearance of the toner cartridge 40.
FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a color laser printer 60 to which a toner cartridge 40 is attached.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of information stored in a storage element 50 of the toner cartridge 40.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a reuse determination process performed by the reuse determination device 20.
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List 20 reuse determination device, 22 computer main body, 23 CPU, 24 ROM, 25 RAM, 26 monitor, 27 printer, 28 cartridge connection section, 40, 40C, 40M, 40Y, 40K toner cartridge, 42 storage section, 50, 50C, 50M, 50Y, 50K storage elements, 52 memory cells, 54 read / write control units, 56 address counters, 60 color laser printers, 61 developing units, 62 exposing units, 63 photoconductors, 64 transfer belts, 65 paper cassettes, 66 transport Unit, 67 secondary transfer unit, 68 fixing unit, 69 movable connection unit.

Claims (17)

Used recording agent information attached to an image forming apparatus that forms characters and images on a medium such as paper using a recording agent and used, and includes usage information on the use and recording agent color information on the color of the filled recording agent. A reuse determination device that determines reuse of a recording agent cartridge having a storage element that stores
When the recording material cartridge is attached, information acquisition means for acquiring the used recording material information from a storage element of the recording material cartridge,
Reuse determination means for determining the reuse of the recording material cartridge and the color of the recording material to be filled based on the use information and the recording material color information included in the obtained used recording material information,
Output means for outputting the determination result;
A device for determining reuse of a recording material cartridge comprising: The reuse judging means judges whether reusing is possible by filling a recording agent of the same color as the color of the recording agent which has been filled up to then, and it is judged that reusing by filling the recording agent of the same color is impossible. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for judging whether or not the recording material can be reused by filling a recording material of a different color when the recording medium is used. The recording material according to claim 2, wherein the reusability determination unit is a unit that determines whether reusability to fill the recording material of a specific color is possible when it is determined that reusing the recording material of the same color is impossible. Reuse determination device for cartridges. 4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the specific color is black. The recording material cartridge reuse determination device according to claim 1,
The used recording material information includes the date of manufacture of the recording material cartridge and / or the number of times the recording material cartridge has been reused as one of the information,
The reuse determining means determines the reuse of the recording material cartridge and the color of the recording material to be filled based on the date of manufacture of the recording material cartridge and / or the number of times the recording material cartridge has been reused so far. And a reuse determination device for the recording material cartridge. 6. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer including an interface as a part of the information acquisition unit to function as the recording material cartridge reuse determination device according to claim 1. Used recording agent information attached to an image forming apparatus that forms characters and images on a medium such as paper using a recording agent and used, and includes usage information on the use and recording agent color information on the color of the filled recording agent. A reuse determination method for determining reuse of a recording material cartridge having a storage element for storing
(A) obtaining the used recording agent information from a storage element of the recording agent cartridge;
(B) A method for determining reuse of a recording material cartridge that determines reuse of the recording material cartridge and the color of the recording material to be filled based on the use information and the recording material color information included in the obtained used recording material information. . The step (b) comprises a step (b1) of judging whether or not the recording material of the same color as the color of the recording material which has been filled so far can be reused and a reusing of the same color of the recording material. 8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of: (b2) determining whether re-use is possible by filling a recording material of a different color when it is determined that the re-use is impossible. 9. The recording material according to claim 8, wherein, in the step (b2), when it is determined that reusing the recording material of the same color is not possible, reusing the specific color recording material is determined. Method for determining cartridge reuse. 10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the step (b2) is a step of judging whether or not the specific color can be reused by filling the recording material with black. The method for determining reuse of a recording material cartridge according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein
The usage information includes the number of image formation as one of the information,
The step (b1) is a step of determining that the image can be reused when the number of image formation is equal to or less than a first predetermined number,
The step (b2) is a method of determining reuse of a recording material cartridge, which is a step of determining that reusability is possible when the number of image formation is equal to or less than a second predetermined number larger than the first predetermined number. The method for determining reuse of a recording material cartridge according to claim 8, wherein:
The used recording material information includes the date of manufacture of the recording material cartridge as one of the information,
The step (b1) is a step of determining that the recording material cartridge can be reused when the first predetermined number of days has not elapsed since the date of manufacture of the recording material cartridge;
The step (b2) is a step of determining that the recording material cartridge can be reused when a second predetermined number of days greater than the first predetermined number of days has not elapsed since the date of manufacture of the recording material cartridge. Judgment method. A method for determining reuse of a recording material cartridge according to any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein
The used recording material information includes the number of times the recording material cartridge has been reused so far as one of the information,
The step (b1) is a step of determining that the recording material cartridge can be reused when the number of reuses of the recording material cartridge is equal to or less than a first predetermined number,
The step (b2) is a step of determining that the recording material cartridge can be reused when the number of times the recording material cartridge has been reused is less than or equal to a second predetermined number that is greater than the first predetermined number. Usage decision method. 14. The method according to claim 7, further comprising causing a computer to execute the steps (a) and (b) and outputting the determination result of the step (b) to the computer. A reuse determination method for determining whether to reuse a recording agent cartridge that is attached to an image forming apparatus that forms characters and images on a medium such as paper using a recording agent and has a storage element that stores information related to the use And
(A) when the recording material cartridge is attached, obtains information including the information on the use from a storage element of the recording material cartridge;
(B) determining whether the recording material cartridge can be reused based on the acquired information;
(C) When the reusability is determined by the determination, the reusability of the recording material cartridge which determines the color of the refillable recording material based on the acquired information. Judgment method. 16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the step (c) is a step of determining whether or not a recording material of the same color as the recording material cartridge and a black recording material can be filled. 17. The recording material cartridge according to claim 15, wherein a computer executes the steps (a) to (c) and causes the computer to output the judgment result of the step (b) and the judgment result of the step (c). Reuse determination method.

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