JP5908238B2 - Image forming apparatus, service providing apparatus, collection guide system, collection guide program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, a service providing apparatus, a collection guidance system, a collection guidance program, and a recording medium.

  A technique for prompting a user to return a used consumable is known as a conventional technique. For example, in Patent Document 1, in an apparatus having means for connecting to a network and means for operating using replaceable consumables, identification signal receiving means for receiving an identification signal via the network, Recognizing means for recognizing the replaceable consumables, use period control means for allowing the consumables recognized by the recognizing means to be used only within an arbitrary period, and the network during the usable period. A consumables collecting device is described in which a return request processing means for requesting the return of the exchanged consumables is activated when a use restriction canceling signal cannot be received from the identification signal receiving means. . In addition, as a method for requesting the return, it is described that a warning display showing the name of the return destination corresponding to the type of consumables is displayed.

JP 2006-166291 A (published June 22, 2006)

  However, in the conventional technology as described above, the replaceable consumables can be used only within an arbitrary period. Therefore, the user must return the consumables to be collected within the arbitrary period. For this reason, it becomes the collection | recovery method which does not consider a user's convenience. Also, as a method for returning consumables, in addition to the method using transportation, a method using a collection box installed in a PC shop is also described, but consideration for users who do not know the location of the collection box etc. Nothing has been done. For this reason, there is a problem that it is not possible to smoothly return the consumables.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that an image forming apparatus, a service providing apparatus, a collection guide system, and a collection guide program that can smoothly return a consumable item. Is to provide.

  In order to solve the above problems, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention is an image forming apparatus to which a consumable item is attached, and is capable of communicating with a service providing apparatus via a network. A guidance information requesting means for requesting transmission of guidance information including at least information relating to a location of the collection counter corresponding to the position information, which is a collection counter for the consumables that are transmitted and mounted; and the guidance information requesting means And a guidance notification screen display means for displaying a guidance notification screen for notifying the location of the collection window based on the guidance information transmitted from the service providing apparatus in response to the request.

  According to the above configuration, a guidance notification screen for notifying the location of the collection window corresponding to the transmitted location information is displayed by transmitting the location information to the service providing apparatus and requesting transmission of the guidance information. Therefore, the location of the consumables collection window corresponding to the transmitted position information can be easily known from the guidance notification screen. Therefore, even if the user does not know the collection window for consumables due to moving or replacement of the image forming apparatus, the user can easily know the location of the collection window and can smoothly return the consumables. Thereby, the collection efficiency of consumables increases, illegal dumping can be reduced, and effective use of resources can be achieved. Therefore, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that can smoothly return the consumables.

  Further, the image forming apparatus of the present invention further comprises an ordering time detecting means for detecting an ordering appropriate time for ordering a replacement consumable to be exchanged with the mounted consumable, and the guide information requesting means includes: The transmission of the guidance information is requested on the condition that the ordering time detection means detects that the ordering time is appropriate.

  According to the above configuration, the guidance information is requested to be transmitted at the appropriate ordering time when the replacement consumable to be exchanged with the mounted consumable is to be ordered, so the guidance notification screen is displayed at the appropriate ordering time. be able to. For this reason, it is possible to inform the user of the position of the collection window at an appropriate time when used consumables come out. Thereby, the collection | recovery efficiency of consumables can be raised further.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, the guide information requesting unit may determine whether to request transmission of the guide information when the ordering time detecting unit detects that the ordering time is appropriate. When a setting for requesting transmission of the guidance information is made, the transmission of the guidance information is requested.

  According to the above configuration, the guidance setting screen is displayed at an appropriate ordering time when an expendable consumable to be exchanged for an installed consumable should be ordered, and the user requests transmission of guidance information from the screen. You can set whether or not. Therefore, a user who does not need to display the guidance notification screen can set the unnecessary setting on the guidance setting screen to prevent the guidance notification screen from being displayed unilaterally against the user's needs.

  Further, the image forming apparatus of the present invention includes consumables remaining amount information indicating an indicator of the remaining amount of the consumables mounted when the ordering appropriate time is detected by the ordering time detecting unit. Purchasing screen display means for displaying a consumable purchasing screen for receiving an ordering instruction for transmitting a replacement consumable purchasing request to the service providing apparatus is further provided.

  Further, when the ordering time detection means detects an appropriate ordering time, a purchase request for replacement consumables including consumables remaining amount information indicating an indicator of the remaining amount of the consumables mounted is included. A purchase screen display means for displaying a consumable purchase screen for receiving an ordering instruction to be transmitted to the service providing device, wherein the guide information request means displays the consumable purchase screen on the purchase screen display means. Subsequently, a guidance setting screen for accepting a setting as to whether or not to request transmission of the guidance information is displayed, and when the setting for requesting transmission of the guidance information is made, transmission of the guidance information is performed. Request.

  According to the above configuration, when the appropriate ordering time is detected, the consumable purchase screen is displayed, and the user can purchase the consumable from the screen. The consumables purchase screen contains consumables remaining amount information that indicates an index of the remaining amount of the consumables that are installed, so that the user can easily grasp consumables that are nearing shortage. Therefore, it is possible to order the necessary consumables without error.

  Also, collection of used consumables and purchase of replacement consumables are interrelated, so after the consumables purchase screen is displayed in this way, the guidance setting screen is displayed. As a result, the user can easily purchase replacement consumables and obtain information for collecting used consumables.

  In addition, for consumables manufacturers, image forming apparatus manufacturers, and the like that manage service providing devices, it is possible to continue using the consumables sold by these manufacturers, leading to improved sales.

  Further, since the use of genuine consumables can be promoted, it is possible to effectively avoid the occurrence of a situation in which the image forming apparatus breaks down due to the use of non-genuine consumables that are not sold through a regular sales route.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, the ordering time detection unit may set a threshold value indicating that a consumable item remaining amount data indicating an indicator of the remaining amount of the attached consumable item is near a preset shortage of the remaining amount. When it falls below, it detects that it is the said ordering appropriate time.

  According to the above configuration, when the consumables remaining amount data indicating the indicator of the remaining amount of the consumables that is mounted falls below a preset threshold indicating that the remaining shortage is short, it is detected that it is an appropriate ordering time. Therefore, it is possible to notify the user that it is time to place an order for consumables before the remaining amount runs out.

  Further, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the ordering time detection unit includes a consumable item remaining amount estimating unit that generates the consumable item remaining amount data by estimating a remaining amount of the mounted consumable item, The ordering time detection unit determines that the remaining amount is short enough when the remaining amount indicated by the consumable item remaining amount data generated by the consumable item remaining amount estimation unit is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold.

  According to the above configuration, when the consumables remaining amount data indicating the remaining amount of the attached consumables indicates that the remaining amount is almost insufficient, it is detected as an appropriate ordering time. It is possible to make the user aware of ordering goods.

  The guide information includes a map including the collection window and the position indicated by the transmitted position information, a route from the position indicated by the position information to the collection window, and from the position indicated by the position information to the collection window. At least one of the required times.

  According to the above configuration, it is possible to grasp how to get to the window and the time until the arrival at the window, thereby saving the user from having to check in advance.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention also sets a date for delivering the consumable together with the guidance information from the service providing apparatus when an ordering instruction to purchase a replacement consumable is issued on the consumable purchase screen. Information on the scheduled delivery date is transmitted, and the guidance notification screen display means displays the planned delivery date including the scheduled delivery date on the guidance notification screen based on the transmitted scheduled delivery date information.

  According to said structure, the user who sees a guidance notification screen can know a scheduled delivery date.

  In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the guidance notification screen includes a print instruction reception button for causing the image forming apparatus to print the content displayed on the guidance notification screen.

  According to the above configuration, it is possible to carry the content displayed on the guidance notification screen as paper data, so it is possible to go to the counter while confirming the content of the guidance notification screen.

  In order to solve the above problems, a service providing apparatus according to the present invention is a service providing apparatus capable of communicating with an image forming apparatus on which a consumable is mounted via a network, and the position information is transmitted from the image forming apparatus. When receiving the request for transmitting the guidance information, the position information of the consumables collection window, which includes at least the position information of the collection window corresponding to the transmitted position information, is generated, and the image is generated. Guide information transmitting means for transmitting to the forming apparatus is provided.

  According to said structure, the service provision apparatus which can advance return of consumable goods smoothly can be provided.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a collection guide system according to the present invention is a collection guide system including an image forming apparatus on which consumables are mounted and a service providing apparatus, and the image forming apparatus includes the service providing apparatus. And a guide information requesting means for requesting transmission of guide information including at least information on the location of the recovery counter corresponding to the position information A guidance notification screen display means for displaying a guidance notification screen for notifying the location of the collection window based on the guidance information transmitted from the service providing apparatus in response to a request from the guidance information requesting means, and providing the service When the apparatus receives a request for transmitting guide information together with position information from the image forming apparatus, the apparatus receives a collection window corresponding to the transmitted position information. The position information to generate guidance information including at least comprises a guide information transmitting unit that transmits to the image forming apparatus.

  According to said structure, the collection | recovery guidance system which can advance return of consumable goods smoothly can be provided.

  The image forming apparatus may be realized by a computer. In this case, by causing the computer to operate as the respective units, a program for realizing the image forming apparatus by the computer and a computer readable recording thereof are possible. Such recording media are also included in the scope of the present invention.

  The present invention has an effect that it is possible to smoothly return the consumables.

It is a figure showing an example of the whole outline of recovery guidance system 1 in this embodiment. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating an example of a schematic structure of an MFP. FIG. It is sectional drawing of a developing device. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a toner cartridge. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a packing material for a toner cartridge. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of an MFP. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of an operation panel. It is a functional block diagram which shows an example of the function of the control part with which server PC is provided with a part of hardware constitutions. 3 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of functions of a control unit included in an MFP together with data stored in a storage unit. FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a toner consumption table. It is a figure which shows an example of a purchase object setting screen. It is a figure which shows an example of a collection guidance setting screen. It is a figure which shows an example of a setting confirmation screen. It is a figure which shows an example of a 1st message screen. It is a figure which shows an example of a 2nd message screen. It is a figure which shows an example of a notification screen. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of a consumable goods ordering / collection guidance process. FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of functions of a control unit included in an MFP according to a modification, together with data stored in a storage unit. It is a figure which shows an example of a log | history table. It is a figure which shows an example of an initial screen. It is a figure which shows an example of an image adjustment table. It is a figure which shows an example of the purchase object setting screen in a modification. FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of functions of a control unit included in an MFP according to a second embodiment, together with data stored in a storage unit. It is a figure which shows an example of an image adjustment table. 6 is a screen illustrating an example of a print condition setting screen. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of a reduction adjustment setting process. It is a figure which shows an example of the flow of recycling of consumables for reproduction | regeneration.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of an overall outline of an order collection guidance system according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, an order collection guidance system (collection guidance system) 1 includes a plurality of multifunction peripherals (image forming apparatuses: hereinafter referred to as “MFPs”) 100 and a server PC (services) connected to a network 102. Providing device) 101, portable terminal 110, notebook computer 120, and mobile phone 130. The MFP 100 is an example of an image forming apparatus, and includes a plurality of functions such as a scanner function, a copy function, a facsimile function, and a printer function.

  Note that the mobile terminal 110 may be a tablet mobile terminal device, and the mobile phone 130 may be a mobile terminal device such as a smartphone.

  A plurality of MFPs 100, portable terminals 110, notebook computers 120, and mobile phones 130 are connected via the network 102 and can communicate with each other. The network 102 is a local area network (LAN), and the connection form may be wired or wireless. The network 102 is not limited to a LAN, and may be a wide area network (WAN), a public switched telephone network (PSTN), or the like.

  The network 102 is connected to the Internet 105 via a gateway, and the plurality of MFPs 100, the mobile terminals 110, the notebook personal computers 120, and the mobile phones 130 can communicate with the server PC 101 connected to the Internet 105. . Communication may be performed using the satellite communication infrastructure 103.

  Since the server PC 101 is a general computer and its configuration is well known, detailed description thereof will not be repeated here.

  The server PC 101 in this embodiment is a server installed at a service center that accepts ordering and collection of consumables used in the MFP, and stores various types of information. The information stored in the server PC 101 includes, for example, guidance information including at least information related to the location of a collection window for collecting used consumables. In response to a request from MFP 100, server PC 101 generates guidance information necessary for collecting used consumables and transmits it to MFP 100.

  FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an example of a schematic structure of the MFP. As shown in FIG. 2, the MFP 100 includes an image forming unit 20 and a document reading unit 30. The image forming unit 20 is configured to include four image forming stations P1 to P4. Each of the four image forming stations P1 to P4 includes a developing device 2, a photosensitive drum 3, a charger 5, a cleaner unit 4, and five toner cartridges 98, and basically has the same configuration. However, each image forming station P has identification information individually, and the control unit 201 described later can distinguish the image forming station P individually. By providing four image forming stations P, the MFP 100 can form an image using four colors of toner (developer). The four color toners are black (B1, B2), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y), respectively, and are accommodated in five toner cartridges 98, respectively. Note that, when the toner cartridge 98 containing B1 runs out of toner, it automatically switches to the toner cartridge 98 containing B2.

  The charger 5 is a charging means for uniformly charging the surface of the photosensitive drum 3 to a predetermined potential. A contact type charger such as a roller type or a brush type may be used in addition to a non-contact type. is there.

  The exposure unit 8 forms an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image data by exposing the surface of the charged photosensitive drum 3 according to the input image data. The exposure unit 8 can be configured as a laser scanning unit (LSU) including a laser emitting portion, a reflection mirror, and the like, or an EL or LED writing head in which light emitting elements are arranged in an array.

  The developing device 2 develops the electrostatic latent images formed on the respective photoconductive drums 3 by using toner to make them visible. Each of the five developing devices 2 contains one of four types of toners of black (B1, B2), yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C). An electrostatic latent image on each photosensitive drum 3 is formed for each color component included in the image data, and is developed by each developing device 2. Above each developing device 2, a toner cartridge 98 containing a replenishment toner of a corresponding color is arranged. Each developing device 2 is appropriately supplied with supply toner from a corresponding toner cartridge 98 through a supply path (not shown). The toner cartridge 98 will be described later with reference to FIG.

  The cleaner unit 4 removes and collects toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 3 after development and image transfer.

  The intermediate transfer belt unit 6 disposed above the photosensitive drum 3 includes an intermediate transfer belt 61, an intermediate transfer belt driving roller 62, an intermediate transfer belt driven roller 63, an intermediate transfer roller 64, and an intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit 65. ing. Four intermediate transfer rollers 64 are provided corresponding to the four image forming stations P1 to P4.

  The intermediate transfer belt driving roller 62, the intermediate transfer belt driven roller 63, and the intermediate transfer roller 64 are driven to rotate by stretching the intermediate transfer belt 61. Each intermediate transfer roller 64 provides a transfer bias for transferring the toner image on the photosensitive drum 3 onto the intermediate transfer belt 61.

  The intermediate transfer belt 61 is provided in contact with each photosensitive drum 3. The toner image of each color formed on the photosensitive drum 3 has a function of forming a multi-color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 61 by sequentially superimposing and transferring the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 61. . The intermediate transfer belt 61 is formed in an endless shape using, for example, a film having a thickness of about 100 μm to 150 μm.

  Transfer of the toner image from the photosensitive drum 3 to the intermediate transfer belt 61 is performed by an intermediate transfer roller 64 that is in contact with the back side of the intermediate transfer belt 61. A high-voltage transfer bias (a high voltage having a polarity (+) opposite to the toner charging polarity (−)) is applied to the intermediate transfer roller 64 in order to transfer the toner image. The intermediate transfer roller 64 is a roller whose base is a metal (for example, stainless steel) shaft having a diameter of 8 to 10 mm and whose surface is covered with a conductive elastic material (for example, EPDM, urethane foam, or the like). With this conductive elastic material, a high voltage can be uniformly applied to the intermediate transfer belt 61. In this embodiment, a roller shape is used as the transfer electrode, but a brush or the like can also be used.

  As described above, the electrostatic images visualized according to the hues on the photosensitive drums 3 are stacked on the intermediate transfer belt 61. As described above, the laminated image information is transferred onto the sheet by the transfer roller 10 disposed at a contact position between the sheet and the intermediate transfer belt 61 described later by the rotation of the intermediate transfer belt 61.

  At this time, the intermediate transfer belt 61 and the transfer roller 10 are pressed against each other at a predetermined nip, and a voltage for transferring the toner onto the sheet is applied to the transfer roller 10 (the polarity opposite to the toner charging polarity (−)). (+) High voltage). Furthermore, in order to obtain the above nip constantly, the transfer roller 10 uses either the transfer roller 10 or the intermediate transfer belt drive roller 62 as a hard material (metal or the like) and the other as a soft material such as an elastic roller (an elastic rubber roller). Or a foaming resin roller or the like).

  Further, as described above, the toner adhering to the intermediate transfer belt 61 due to contact with the photosensitive drum 3 or the toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 61 without being transferred onto the sheet by the transfer roller 10 is used in the next step. In order to cause a color mixture of toner, the intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit 65 is configured to remove and collect the toner. The intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit 65 is provided with a cleaning blade that is in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 61, for example, as a cleaning member. The intermediate transfer belt 61 that is in contact with the cleaning blade is supported by the intermediate transfer belt driven roller 63 from the back side. Has been.

  The paper feed cassette 81 is a tray for storing paper used for image formation, and is provided below the exposure unit 8 in the MFP 100. In addition, paper used for image formation can be placed in the manual paper feed cassette 82. A paper discharge tray 91 provided at the top of the MFP 100 is a tray for collecting printed sheets face down.

  Further, the MFP 100 is provided with a substantially vertical sheet conveyance path S for sending the sheets of the sheet feeding cassette 81 and the manual sheet feeding cassette 82 to the sheet discharge tray 91 via the transfer roller 10 and the fixing unit 7. Yes. In the vicinity of the paper transport path S from the paper feed cassette 81 or the manual paper feed cassette 82 to the paper discharge tray 91, pickup rollers 11a and 11b, a plurality of transport rollers 12a to 12d, a registration roller 13, a transfer roller 10, and a fixing unit. 7 etc. are arranged.

  The transport rollers 12 a to 12 d are small rollers for promoting and assisting the transport of paper, and a plurality of transport rollers 12 a to 12 d are provided along the paper transport path S. The pickup roller 11 a is provided near the end of the paper feed cassette 81, picks up paper one by one from the paper feed cassette 81, and supplies it to the paper transport path S. Similarly, the pickup roller 11 b is provided near the end of the manual paper feed cassette 82, picks up paper one by one from the manual paper feed cassette 82, and supplies it to the paper transport path S.

  The registration roller 13 temporarily holds the paper conveyed through the paper conveyance path S. The registration roller 13 has a function of conveying the sheet to the transfer roller 10 at a timing when the leading edge of the toner image on the photosensitive drum 3 and the leading edge of the sheet are aligned.

  Further, a paper detection sensor 14 is disposed in the vicinity of the registration roller 13 on the downstream side of the registration roller 13 in the paper conveyance direction. The sheet detection sensor 14 detects a sheet passing through the registration roller 13 and is a registration sensor configured by, for example, a photo interrupter.

  The fixing unit 7 includes a heat roller 71 and a pressure roller 72, and the heat roller 71 and the pressure roller 72 are configured to rotate with a sheet interposed therebetween. Further, the heat roller 71 is set by the control unit 201 (see FIG. 4) to have a predetermined fixing temperature based on a signal from a temperature detector (not shown). By pressing, the multi-color toner image transferred onto the paper is melted, mixed, and pressed to be thermally fixed to the paper. Further, an external fixing belt 73 for fixing the heat roller 71 from the outside is provided.

  Next, the paper transport path S will be described in detail. As described above, the MFP 100 is provided with the paper feed cassette 81 and the manual paper feed cassette 82 for storing paper in advance. Pickup rollers 11a and 11b are arranged to feed paper from the paper feed cassettes 81 and 82, and guide the paper one by one to the paper transport path S.

  The paper conveyed from each of the paper feed cassettes 81 and 82 is conveyed to the registration roller 13 by the conveyance roller 12a in the paper conveyance path S, and the transfer roller is aligned with the timing of aligning the leading edge of the paper and the leading edge of the image information on the intermediate transfer belt 61. 10 and image information is written on the paper. Thereafter, the sheet passes through the fixing unit 7 so that the unfixed toner on the sheet is melted and fixed by heat, and is discharged onto the sheet discharge tray 91 through the transport roller 12b disposed thereafter.

The sheet transport path S is used when a single-sided printing request is made on the paper. On the other hand, when a double-sided printing request is made, the single-sided printing is finished as described above, and the trailing edge of the paper that has passed through the fixing unit 7 is used. Is gripped by the final transport roller 12b, the transport roller 12b rotates reversely to guide the paper to the transport rollers 12c and 12d. Then, after printing is performed on the back side of the sheet through the registration roller 13, the sheet is discharged to the discharge tray 91.

  The document reading unit 30 mainly includes an automatic document feeder 29 and a scanning unit 90. The plurality of document sheets placed on the placing table of the automatic document feeder 29 are sequentially supplied to the upper part of the scanning unit 90, and the document is read.

  FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the developing device. The developing device 2 has a developing roller 114 disposed in the developing tank 111 so as to face the photosensitive drum 3, and supplies toner to the surface of the photosensitive drum 3 by the developing roller 114, so that the photosensitive drum is provided. 3 is a device that visualizes (develops) the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of 3.

  In addition to the developing roller 114, the developing device 2 includes a developing tank 111, a developing tank cover 115, a doctor blade 116, a first conveying member 112, a second conveying member 113, a partition plate 117, and a toner concentration sensor 119.

  The developing tank 111 is a tank for storing a two-component developer containing toner and a carrier (hereinafter simply referred to as “developer”). The developing tank 111 is provided with a developing roller 114, a first conveying member 112, a second conveying member 113, and the like. Note that the carrier of this embodiment is a magnetic carrier having magnetism.

  A removable developing tank cover 115 is provided on the upper side of the developing tank 111. Further, the developing tank cover 115 is formed with a toner supply port (not shown) for supplying unused toner into the developing tank 111.

  In the developing tank 111, a partition plate 117 is disposed between the first transport member 112 and the second transport member 113. The partition plate 117 extends in parallel with each axial direction of the first transport member 112 and the second transport member 113. The interior of the developing tank 111 is partitioned by a partition plate 117 into a first transport path P in which the first transport member 112 is disposed and a second transport path Q in which the second transport member 113 is disposed.

  The partition plate 117 is disposed away from the inner wall surface of the developing tank 111 at both axial ends of the first transport member 112 and the second transport member 113. Thereby, in the developing tank 111, a communication path that connects the first transport path P and the second transport path Q is formed in the vicinity of both axial ends of the first transport member 112 and the second transport member 113. ing.

  The first transport member 112 and the second transport member 113 are arranged in parallel so that their peripheral surfaces face each other via the partition plate 117 and their axes are parallel to each other, and rotate in opposite directions. Is set to The first transport member 112 and the second transport member 113 are set so that the developer transport directions are opposite to each other.

  The 1st conveyance member 112 is comprised with the screw auger which consists of the helical 1st conveyance blade | wing 112a and the 1st rotating shaft 112b, and the gear. The 2nd conveyance member 113 is comprised by the screw auger which consists of the helical 2nd conveyance blade | wing 113a and the 2nd rotating shaft 113b, and the gear. The first transport member 112 and the second transport member 113 are rotated and driven by a driving unit (not shown) such as a motor to stir and transport the developer.

  The developing roller 114 is a magnet roller that is rotationally driven around a shaft center by a driving unit (not shown). The developer in the developing tank 111 is pumped and carried on the surface, and toner contained in the developer carried on the surface is photosensitive. This is supplied to the body drum 3.

  The developer conveyed by the developing roller 114 comes into contact with the photosensitive drum 3 at the closest portion. This contact area is the development nip N, and a development bias voltage is applied to the development roller 114 from a power source (not shown) connected to the development roller 114, and the developer on the surface of the development roller 114 is exposed to light. Toner is supplied to the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the body drum 3.

  A doctor blade 116 is disposed at a position close to the surface of the developing roller 114.

  The doctor blade 116 is a plate-like member that extends parallel to the axial direction of the developing roller 114. One end in the short direction is supported by the developing tank 111 and the other end is the developing roller below the developing roller 114 in the vertical direction. 114 is provided to be separated from the surface with a gap. As the material of the doctor blade 116, stainless steel can be used, but aluminum or synthetic resin can also be used.

  The toner concentration sensor 119 is mounted on the bottom surface of the developing tank 111 on the lower side in the vertical direction of the first conveying member 112, that is, the bottom surface of the first conveying path P, and is provided so that the sensor surface is exposed to the inside of the developing tank 111. The toner density is detected.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a toner cartridge. FIG. 4A is a perspective view showing an overview of the toner cartridge, and FIG. 4B is a front view of the toner cartridge. 4A and 4B, the toner cartridge 98 includes a toner cartridge main body 141 and a storage unit 150 provided on the front side thereof. The toner cartridge main body 141 stores one of four types of toner, and the stored toner is supplied to the developing device 2 corresponding to the toner from the supply port 143.

  The storage unit 150 includes screws 155a and 155b, a terminal 153, and positioning bosses 151a and 151b. The storage unit 150 is fixed by screws 155a and 155b at the mounting position of the toner cartridge main body 141. The storage unit 150 is fixed by positioning bosses 151 a and 151 b at the mounting position of the toner cartridge 98 in the image forming unit 20. As a result, the terminal 153 of the storage unit 150 and the terminal of the MFP 100 come into contact with each other, so that the storage unit 150 and the MFP 100 are electrically connected. As a result, MFP 100 can communicate with storage unit 150 and extracts information stored in storage unit 150.

  Note that although the storage unit 150 is a contact-type nonvolatile memory here, the present invention is not limited to this. The storage unit 150 may be a non-contact type using radio such as an IC chip, a barcode, and a QR code (registered trademark).

  In addition, the toner cartridge 98 has a carbon footprint mark (registered trademark) indicating a conversion value obtained by converting greenhouse gases emitted in the entire life cycle of products and services (from raw material procurement to disposal / recycling) into the amount of carbon dioxide. ) May be attached. FIG. 5 shows an example in which a carbon footprint mark 158 is attached to the packing material of the toner cartridge 98. As a result, it is possible for a user with high environmental awareness to easily recognize that the manufacturer of the toner cartridge 98 is actively working to reduce greenhouse gases. The carbon footprint mark 158 may be attached to the toner cartridge 98 itself.

Furthermore, in addition to the carbon footprint mark 158, a description of the carbon footprint mark may be added. In the example of FIG. 5, the explanatory text shown in the packing material region 159 of the toner cartridge 98 is attached. As a result, it is possible to easily recognize that the user is a consumables manufacturer who is working on reducing greenhouse gases, and to give a sense of security to users who are particularly environmentally conscious. In addition, for users with low environmental awareness, the importance of reducing greenhouse gases can be noticed and promoted, thereby contributing to the prevention of global warming. Note that the greenhouse gases include six types of CO ₂ , CH ₄ , N ₂ O, HFC _S , PFC _S, and SF ₆ targeted by the Kyoto Protocol.

The CO ₂ emission amount is calculated by the following general formula using an LCA (life cycle assessment) method.
General formula: CO ₂ emissions = Σ (activity amount x CO ₂ emissions intensity)
i represents the amount of activity (process) from the above-mentioned raw material procurement to disposal / recycling. The unit of the CO ₂ emission amount is represented by a unit representing weight such as (kg), (g), and (t). The life cycle stage and the amount of activity can be handled as in the following (1) to (5).
(1) The amount of activity at the raw material procurement stage is the amount of material used.
(2) The amount of activity at the production stage is assembly weight and power consumption during production.
(3) The amount of activity at the distribution stage is the transportation amount (the product of the transportation distance, loading ratio, and truck loading).
(4) The amount of activity in the usage / maintenance stage is the amount of power consumed during use.
(5) The amount of activity at the disposal / recycling stage is landfill weight and recycled weight.

In this embodiment, the total of (1) to (5) is 5.0 ton-CO ₂ . This value is for explaining the present embodiment, and is not a value calculated using the LCA method.

However, the breakdown of 5.0 ton-CO ₂ includes (1) raw material procurement 0.5 ton, (2) production 1.0 ton, (3) distribution 1.0 ton, (4) use / maintenance management 2.0 ton, ( 5) Disposal and recycling 0.5ton.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the MFP. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the MFP 100 includes a control unit 201, a storage unit 202 for storing a program executed by the control unit 201, and a control unit 211 for controlling the peripheral device 220.

  The control unit 201 is connected to the operation panel 50, data communication control unit 206, document reading unit 207, image processing unit 208, image forming unit 209, fixing unit 210, toner concentration sensor 119, cartridge motor 212, and paper detection sensor 14, respectively. Then, the entire MFP 100 is controlled.

  The data communication control unit 206 (communication unit) includes a LAN terminal 206a that is an interface for communication using a communication protocol, and a serial interface terminal 206b for serial communication. The data communication control unit 206 transmits / receives data to / from an external device connected to the LAN terminal 206a or the serial interface terminal 206b in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 201.

  When a cable for connecting to the Internet 105 is connected to the LAN terminal 206a, the data communication control unit 206 communicates with the server PCs 101 and 101A connected via the LAN terminal 206a (see FIG. 1).

  A memory card 206c with a built-in flash memory can be connected to the serial interface terminal 206b. The control unit 201 can update the program by controlling the data communication control unit 206 to read out a program to be executed by the control unit 201 from the memory card 206 c and store it in the storage unit 202.

  The storage medium for storing the program executed by the control unit 201 is not limited to a memory card, and may be a medium such as a flexible memory, an optical disk, an IC card, an optical card, a mask ROM, an EEPROM, or other semiconductor memory. .

  The document reading unit 207 corresponds to the document reading unit 30 in FIG. 2, and includes a light source that emits light to the document that has been conveyed to the document reading position, and a photoelectric conversion element that receives light reflected from the document. A document image corresponding to the size of the document is scanned. The photoelectric conversion element converts the received light into image data that is an electrical signal and outputs the image data to the image processing unit 208.

  The image processing unit 208 performs various data processing such as shading correction on the image data input from the document reading unit 207, and then outputs the data to the image forming unit 209. A paper feed unit (not shown) conveys the paper stored in the paper feed cassette 81 and the manual paper feed cassette 82 to the image forming unit 209.

  The image forming unit 209 corresponds to the image forming unit 20 in FIG. 2, and forms an image on a sheet conveyed by a sheet feeding unit (not shown) based on the image data after data processing. Then, the image forming unit 209 discharges the paper on which the image has been formed onto the paper discharge tray 91.

  The fixing unit 210 (corresponding to the fixing unit 7 in FIG. 2) melts and fixes the toner image formed on the paper by the image forming unit 209 to the paper.

  The sheet detection sensor 14 is turned on when a sheet is present at the arrangement position, and is turned off when no sheet is present at the arrangement position. In the present embodiment, the paper detection sensor 14 is disposed in the vicinity of the registration roller 13, and the number and size of the paper that has passed through the registration roller 13 are determined by turning on and off the signal output from the paper detection sensor 14. Can be detected. An output signal from the paper detection sensor 14 is input to the control unit 201.

  The toner concentration sensor 119 is a magnetic permeability sensor, for example, and reads the magnetic permeability of iron contained in a carrier per unit volume around the bottom surface of the developing device 2. The greater the magnetic permeability, the lower the toner concentration. The toner concentration sensor 119 outputs the read magnetic permeability to the control unit 201.

  The control unit 201 controls the toner density in the developing device 2. Since the toner in the developing device 2 is consumed every time printing is performed, the toner density decreases. The control unit 201 appropriately supplies the toner stored in the toner cartridge 98 to the developing device 2 so that the toner concentration in the developing device 2 falls within a predetermined density range.

  The cartridge motor 212 is controlled by the control unit 201 and rotates a supply roller (not shown) disposed in the vicinity of a toner supply port (not shown) of the toner cartridge 98 so that the toner stored in the toner cartridge 98 is transferred to the developing device 2. Supply. When the toner in the developing device 2 is consumed by printing and decreases, the output of the toner density sensor 119 increases. When the output of the toner density sensor 119 exceeds the first predetermined value and becomes higher (the toner density in the developing device 2 becomes smaller than the predetermined value), the output of the toner density sensor 119 becomes the first predetermined value. Until the second predetermined value is reached, the toner is replenished in the developing device 2. Since the toner supply amount is proportional to the drive time of the cartridge motor 212, the toner amount supplied from the toner cartridge 98 can be estimated based on the drive time of the cartridge motor 212.

  The operation panel 50 includes a display unit 51 and an operation unit 53. The display unit 51 uses a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic ELD (Electro Luminescence Display), a display such as electronic paper using electrophoresis, a plasma display (PDP), a plasma tube array display (PTAD), and an electron-emitting device. A display device such as a display (FED, SED) or the like, which displays an instruction menu such as a setting screen for the user and a screen including information on acquired image data.

  The operation unit 53 includes a plurality of keys, and accepts input of various instructions, data such as characters and numbers by user operations corresponding to the keys. The plurality of keys provided in the operation unit 53 are hard keys provided with switches. Note that the operation unit 53 may include a touch panel as a part of the key, or may be configured by the touch panel itself. When the operation unit 53 includes a touch panel, or when the operation unit 53 includes a touch panel, the touch panel is provided on the display unit 51. The operation unit 53 of this embodiment is assumed to include a touch panel. Note that gesture input using a finger wearable wearable interface may be used.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation panel. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the operation panel 50 includes a display unit 51, an operation unit 53, a fax key 31 for shifting the MFP 100 to a facsimile mode for transmitting and receiving a facsimile, and a print mode for executing print processing. A printer key 32 for causing the MFP 100 to transition, a copy key 33 for causing the MFP 100 to transition to a copy mode for executing a copy process, and a scan for causing the MFP 100 to transition to a scan mode for executing a scan process. A key 34, a print key 35 for shifting the MFP 100 to a print mode for executing print processing, a special function key 41, a duplex copy key 42, a sorter / staple key 43, a setting confirmation key 44, The operation guide key 45 and the car displayed on the display unit 51 An up key 46 for inputting an instruction to move the cursor up, a down key 47 for entering an instruction to move the cursor displayed on the display unit 51 down, a communication status confirmation key 48, and a numeric keypad 54 An interrupt key 55, a clear key 56 for canceling the input content, a full release key 57, and a start key 58.

  FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of functions of the control unit included in the server PC together with a part of the hardware configuration. As shown in FIG. 8, the control unit 160 includes a determination content receiving unit 163, a guidance information generation unit 165, and a notification content transmission unit (guidance information transmission unit, delivery information transmission unit) 167.

  The determination content receiving unit 163 receives the determination content determined by the MFP 100, position information for specifying the position of the used toner cartridge, and user information of the MFP 100 via the communication I / F unit 161.

  The user information includes user name information, contact information, etc., with the user address information as one. The determined content includes at least one of collection content setting information indicating whether or not collection notification is required to guide the collection of consumables and toner cartridge setting content for specifying a toner cartridge set as a purchase target. .

  When the determined content indicates a request for notification of collection guidance, the determined content receiving unit 163 outputs a notification to that effect to the guidance information generating unit 165. In addition, when the determination content includes the setting contents of the toner cartridge, the determination content receiving unit 163 outputs a notification content determination instruction to the MFP 100 that has transmitted the determination content to the notification content transmission unit 167 and also sets the toner cartridge. The contents and user information are associated with each other and stored in the storage unit 170 as order information 171.

  When the notification information generation unit 165 inputs a request for notification of collection guidance from the determination content receiving unit 163, the guidance information generation unit 165 generates guidance information based on the order information 171 and the collection window information 173 stored in the storage unit 170. Generate.

  The collection window information 173 includes map information and window identification information indicating the position of the collection window. The storage unit 170 stores window specifying information for each of one or more collection windows installed. The window identification information is specifically the address of the collection window and the name of the building where the collection window is installed. The collection window is a window for collecting the toner cartridge 98. The collection window information 173 may include the business day of the collection window.

  The guidance information generation unit 165 identifies the collection window closest to the position identified by the user information included in the order information 171 among the plurality of collection windows indicated by the plurality of window identification information by referring to the map information. To do. Then, a guide map image indicating a predetermined range including at least the position specified by the user information and the specified position of the collection window is extracted from the map information. The guidance information generation unit 165 outputs the guidance map image extracted from the map information to the notification content transmission unit 167 as guidance information.

  The guidance information may include a route from the position specified by the user information to the position of the collection window and a required time from the position specified by the user information to the position of the collection window.

  The notification content transmission unit 167 determines the notification content according to the notification content determination instruction input from the determination content reception unit 163. Specifically, when the setting content received by the determination content receiving unit 163 includes the setting content of the toner cartridge, a message indicating the scheduled delivery date of the toner cartridge to be purchased is determined as the notification content. The scheduled delivery date is a date input by the service person to the operation unit 181. Note that in order to prompt the user to input the date, a message that prompts the user to input the date may be displayed on the display unit 183.

  When the guidance information is input from the guidance information generation unit 165, the notification content transmission unit 167 determines the input guidance information as the notification content. When the setting content received by the determination content receiving unit 163 includes the setting content of the toner cartridge, the message indicating the scheduled delivery date is determined as the notification content. When the setting content received by the determination content receiving unit 163 includes the setting content of the toner cartridge and the guide information is input from the guide information generating unit 165, a message indicating the scheduled delivery date and the guide information are used as the notification content. decide. Notification content transmission unit 167 transmits the determined notification content to MFP 100 specified by the user information input from determination content reception unit 163 via communication I / F unit 161.

  FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of functions of the control unit included in the MFP, together with data stored in the storage unit. As shown in FIG. 9, the control unit 201 includes a consumable item ordering time detection unit (ordering time detection unit) 221, an operation reception unit 223 that receives a user operation, and a determination content transmission unit (guidance information requesting unit) 225. And an image formation control unit 227 and a notification content receiving unit 229.

  Consumables ordering time detection unit 221 detects a time suitable for ordering consumables attached to MFP 100. The time suitable for ordering is when the remaining amount of toner in the five toner cartridges 98 is almost insufficient. The expendables ordering time detection unit 221 compares the threshold value T indicated by the threshold value data 251 stored in the storage unit 202 with the remaining amount of toner in each of the five toner cartridges 98, and there is a toner cartridge 98 that is nearly short of the remaining amount. Judge whether to do. The consumable item ordering timing detection unit 221 determines that the remaining amount of toner is nearing short on the condition that the remaining amount of toner is smaller than the threshold value T. When the consumable item ordering time detection unit 221 determines that at least one of the five toner cartridges 98 is short of the remaining amount, it detects it as an appropriate ordering time. When the expendables ordering time detection unit 221 detects an appropriate ordering time, the detection result including the toner cartridge identification information of the toner cartridge 98 determined to be short of the remaining amount, and the remaining toner amount of each of the five toner cartridges 98 are detected. The remaining toner information including the remaining amount data is output to the operation receiving unit 223. The toner cartridge identification information is information for identifying each of the five toner cartridges 98.

  The threshold data 251 stored in the storage unit 202 is a value indicating that the remaining amount of toner in the toner cartridge 98 is almost insufficient, and here corresponds to 20% of the maximum amount of toner that can be accommodated in the toner cartridge 98. The value to be.

  The consumable item ordering time detection unit 221 includes a toner remaining amount estimating unit (consumable item remaining amount estimating means) 231. The toner remaining amount estimation unit 231 estimates the remaining amount of toner in the toner cartridge 98. Specifically, the remaining amount of toner in each of the five toner cartridges 98 is monitored, and the remaining toner amount data including the estimated remaining toner amount and toner cartridge identification information is generated for each of the five toner cartridges 98. The remaining amount of toner is calculated by subtracting the cumulative toner consumption amount from the maximum toner amount that can be accommodated in the toner cartridge 98. The accumulated toner consumption amount may be calculated by storing the toner consumption amount for each print job as a history and accumulating the toner consumption amount of the history up to now. Specifically, the calculation is performed based on the toner consumption amount table 253 stored in the storage unit 202.

  Examples of the toner consumption calculation method include a first calculation method, a second calculation method, and a third calculation method described below. The first calculation method is a method for calculating the toner consumption based on the gradation for each pixel of the image data. The toner consumption increases as the pixel size increases and the gradation for each pixel increases. For this reason, it is possible to estimate the toner consumption based on the gradation of the image data.

  In the first calculation method, the toner remaining amount estimation unit 231 counts the gradation of image data of an input multi-valued image (for example, a multi-gradation image such as 16 gradations or 256 gradations) for each pixel. The weighting corresponding to the gradation value is performed for each pixel with respect to the counted gradation value. The weighting increases as the gradation value increases. This is because the toner consumption increases as the gradation value increases. The toner remaining amount estimation unit 231 specifies the weighted gradation value as the pixel count value, and integrates the pixel count value calculated for all the pixels included in the image data. Then, the integrated pixel count value is converted into a toner consumption amount.

  The second calculation method is a method for calculating the toner consumption based on the driving time of the cartridge motor 212. Specifically, in the second calculation method, the toner remaining amount estimation unit 231 accumulates the driving time of the cartridge motor 212 and calculates the toner supply amount corresponding to the accumulated driving time as the toner consumption amount.

  The third calculation method is a method for calculating the toner consumption based on the toner density in the developing device 2. The toner density in the developing device 2 is controlled to be an ideal value by the control unit 201. However, when the remaining amount of toner in the toner cartridge 98 decreases, sufficient toner is not supplied to the developing device 2. . As a result, the toner density in the developing device 2 is not kept constant but gradually decreases. For this reason, it is possible to estimate the toner consumption based on the toner concentration in the developing device 2 in a state where the replenishing toner in the toner cartridge 98 becomes empty and the toner cannot be replenished in the developing device 2. It is.

  In the third calculation method, the remaining toner amount estimation unit 231 calculates the toner consumption amount by converting the change amount of the toner density in the developing device 2 into the consumed toner amount. The amount of change in toner density may be specified by comparing a plurality of predetermined threshold values with the toner density in the developing device 2, for example.

  Here, it is preferable that the toner remaining amount estimation unit 231 calculates the toner consumption amount by appropriately combining the first to third calculation methods. For example, the toner remaining amount estimation unit 231 calculates the toner consumption amount by the second calculation method until the toner remaining amount reaches 30% of the maximum toner amount that can be accommodated in the toner cartridge 98, and accommodates it in the toner cartridge 98. When the remaining amount of toner reaches a range of 10 to 30% of the maximum possible toner amount, the toner consumption amount is calculated by the first calculation method, and the maximum toner amount that can be accommodated in the toner cartridge 98 is 5 to 5%. When the remaining amount of toner has reached the 10% range, the toner consumption is calculated by the third calculation method.

  The remaining toner amount estimation unit 231 also has a function as a toner consumption amount calculation unit. When the toner consumption amount is calculated by the first calculation method, the toner consumption amount estimation unit 231 consumes the print job every time the print job is executed. The calculated toner amount is calculated, and the calculated value is stored in the toner consumption table 253 together with the date. When the toner consumption amount is calculated by the second calculation method, the toner consumption amount (corresponding to the toner replenishment amount) is calculated according to the driving time each time the cartridge motor 212 is driven, and the calculated value is set to the date. At the same time, it is stored in the toner consumption table 253. When calculating the toner consumption amount by the third calculation method, the toner consumption amount is calculated based on the output of the toner density sensor 119 every time a predetermined number of sheets are printed, and the calculated value is stored in the toner consumption amount table 253 together with the date.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a toner consumption table. As shown in FIG. 10, the toner consumption table 253 includes a toner consumption record. The toner consumption record includes a date item and a toner consumption item. In the date item, the date when the toner consumption amount is calculated by the toner remaining amount estimation unit 231 is set. In the toner consumption item, the toner consumption calculated for each of the five toner cartridges 98 is set on the date when the toner consumption estimation unit 231 calculates the toner consumption. Specifically, the toner consumption amount included in each of the five toner consumption amount data is set.

  Returning to FIG. 9, the operation accepting unit 223 accepts an operation input according to various screens displayed on the operation panel 50. The screen displayed on the operation panel 50 includes a purchase target setting screen (consumables purchase screen), a collection guidance setting screen (guidance setting screen), a setting confirmation screen, a message screen, and a notification screen.

  The purchase target setting screen (see FIG. 11) is a screen for indicating the remaining amount of toner in the five toner cartridges 98 and enabling the purchase of the toner cartridges. The collection guide setting screen (see FIG. 12) is a screen for setting whether or not toner cartridge collection guidance is necessary. The setting confirmation screen (see FIG. 13) is a screen for confirming the setting contents of toner cartridges set as purchase targets and the setting contents of necessity / unnecessity of collection guidance.

  The message screen includes a first message screen (see FIG. 14) and a second message screen (see FIG. 15). The first message screen is a screen indicating that the service center has been notified of the setting contents of the toner cartridge and the setting contents of the collection guide. The second message screen is a screen indicating that a response to the notification to the service center has been received from the service center.

  When the user inputs a purchase instruction to the operation panel 50 according to the purchase target setting screen, the operation reception unit 223 receives the setting contents of the toner cartridge to be purchased. Specifically, purchase information including the type identification information and the number of toner cartridges set as purchase targets is received as setting contents. The type identification information is information for identifying the type of the toner cartridge. The types of toner cartridges are five toner cartridges (C, M, Y, B1, B2) compatible with the MFP 100. When the operation accepting unit 223 accepts a purchase instruction or a purchase stop instruction input to the operation panel 50, the operation accepting unit 223 instructs the screen display unit 241 described later to switch to the collection guide setting screen.

  When the user inputs the necessity of collection guidance on the operation panel 50 according to the collection guidance setting screen, the operation reception unit 223 receives the input necessity of collection guidance as the setting content. When the operation reception unit 223 receives the collection guidance setting content, the operation reception unit 223 instructs the screen display unit 241 to switch to the setting confirmation screen.

  When the user inputs a setting confirmation instruction to the operation panel 50 according to the setting confirmation screen, the operation reception unit 223 determines the setting content received on at least one of the purchase target setting screen and the collection guidance setting screen, and the first message The screen display unit 241 is instructed to switch to the screen. Further, the operation accepting unit 223 outputs a transmission instruction including the determined setting content to the determined content transmitting unit 225.

  When the transmission instruction is input from the operation reception unit 223, the determination content transmission unit 225 receives the setting content included in the transmission instruction input from the operation reception unit 223 and the user who is the destination of the toner cartridge set as the purchase target. Information is transmitted to the server PC 101 via the data communication control unit 206.

  Here, the setting contents include the setting contents of the collection guidance when the necessity of collection guidance is set on the collection guidance setting screen. When the purchase target toner cartridge is set on the purchase target setting screen, the setting contents of the toner cartridge are included. If the collection guidance setting screen sets whether or not collection guidance is necessary and the purchase target toner cartridge is set on the purchase target setting screen, both the collection guidance setting contents and the toner cartridge setting contents are included.

  The user information includes, for example, the address of the address to which the purchased toner cartridge is to be sent, the purchaser's user name, contact information, and device identification information for identifying each of the plurality of MFPs 100. Server PC 101 transmits a message indicating the scheduled delivery date to MFP 100 based on the user information. Further, server PC 101 generates guide information based on the user information, and transmits it to MFP 100 according to the collection guidance setting content received on the collection guidance setting screen. Further, based on this user information, the service center that manages server PC 101 sends the toner cartridge for which a purchase instruction has been given to the user of MFP 100 in accordance with the setting contents of the toner cartridge received on the purchase target setting screen. .

  As such user information, information input in advance using a user information input screen or the like is stored, and is transmitted together with setting contents.

  In the present embodiment, the address information to which the purchased toner cartridge is to be sent included in the user information is used to identify the collection window at the nearest location that is the collection window for used toner cartridges. It is used as necessary position information. This is because the delivery destination of the replacement toner cartridge and the location where the used toner cartridge is generated are usually the same.

  Note that the user information transmitted to the server PC 101 may be transmitted by including information such as the administrator of the MFP 100, the management company, the e-mail address, the product number and the manufacturing number of each of the five toner cartridges 98. Further, information such as the remaining amount of toner may be transmitted together with the setting contents.

  The notification content receiving unit 229 receives the notification content transmitted by the server PC 101 via the data communication control unit 206, outputs the notification content to the operation reception unit 223, and switches the operation to the second message screen (notification screen). To 223.

  The operation reception unit 223 includes a screen display unit (guidance notification screen display means, purchase screen display means) 241. The screen display unit 241 displays a screen for guiding from purchase to collection of the toner cartridge. Specifically, a purchase target setting screen, a collection guide setting screen, a setting confirmation screen, a message screen, and a notification screen are displayed. When the toner remaining amount information is input from the consumable ordering time detection unit 221, the screen display unit 241 generates and displays a purchase target setting screen including the input toner remaining amount information. The purchase target setting screen displays a message indicating that the toner cartridge 98 specified by the toner cartridge identification information included in the detection result input from the expendables ordering time detection unit 221 is nearing a shortage. The Further, when the notification content is input from the notification content receiving unit 229, the screen display unit 241 generates and displays a notification screen including the input notification content.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a purchase target setting screen. As shown in FIG. 11, the purchase target setting screen 300 includes a message display area 301, a toner remaining amount display area 303, a purchase consumables designation area 305, a purchase button 321, and a purchase cancel button 323.

  The toner remaining amount display area 303 is an area for displaying the remaining amount of toner of each of the five toner cartridges 98. In the remaining toner amount display area 303, five remaining toner amount data generated by the remaining toner amount estimation unit 231 are displayed. The remaining amount of toner is indicated by a scale of 5 levels.

  The first row shows that an amount of toner corresponding to 0 to 20% of the maximum amount that can be accommodated remains in the toner cartridge 98. The second row indicates that an amount of toner corresponding to 20 to 40% remains in the toner cartridge 98. Similarly, in the third, fourth, and fifth stages, toner cartridge 98 has an amount corresponding to 40 to 60%, an amount corresponding to 60 to 80%, and an amount corresponding to 80 to 100%, respectively. Indicates that it remains. For example, the remaining amount of Y toner cartridge 98 is the first level, indicating that an amount of toner corresponding to 0 to 20% remains. That is, the remaining amount of toner in the Y toner cartridge 98 is low. As described above, since the purchase target setting screen 300 is displayed when there is a toner cartridge 98 that is short of the remaining amount, the user can easily know the purchase timing of the toner cartridge. Further, the user who views the toner remaining amount display area 303 can visually recognize the toner remaining amount.

  The purchase consumables designation area 305 is an area for designating the number of consumables to be purchased. Purchase consumables designation area 305 includes a plurality of number designation areas 311 to 315 for toner cartridge identification information of each of the five types of toner cartridges. The number designation area 311 is an area for designating the number of purchased B1 toner cartridges. The number designation area 312 is an area for designating the number of purchased B2 toner cartridges. Similarly, the number designation area 313, the number designation area 314, and the number designation area 315 are areas for designating the number of purchased C, M, and Y toner car cartridges, respectively. Here, since the number of purchases “1” is designated in each of the number designation areas 311, 313, and 315, the message display area 301 includes “one black toner cartridge, one cyan toner cartridge, and yellow toner. The message “You have selected to purchase one cartridge. Please select purchase if it is OK.” Is displayed.

  The purchase button 321 is a button for inputting a purchase instruction for a toner cartridge to be purchased. When the user depresses the purchase button 321, the setting content is to purchase the toner cartridge with the number of purchases designated in the number designation areas 311 to 315. Here, by pressing the purchase button 321, purchasing one B1 toner cartridge, one C toner cartridge, and one Y toner cartridge is set as the setting content.

  The purchase cancellation button 323 is a button for inputting a purchase cancellation instruction. When the user presses the purchase cancel button 323, the collection guidance screen is displayed without generating the setting contents.

  Returning to FIG. 9, the screen display unit 241 switches the screen to be displayed in accordance with the instruction from the operation reception unit 223 and the instruction from the notification content reception unit 229. The screen display unit 241 displays the collection guide setting screen when switching from the operation reception unit 223 to the collection guide setting screen is instructed while the purchase target setting screen is displayed.

  The screen display unit 241 displays the setting confirmation screen when the operation receiving unit 223 is instructed to switch to the setting confirmation screen while the collection guide setting screen is displayed.

  When the operation reception unit 223 is instructed to switch to the first message screen while the setting confirmation screen is displayed, the screen display unit 241 displays the first message screen.

  When the notification content receiving unit 229 instructs to switch the second message screen, the screen display unit 241 displays the notification screen after displaying the second message screen.

  Further, when the user inputs an operation of pressing a save button displayed on the notification screen on the operation panel 50, the operation reception unit 223 stores the image data of the notification screen in the storage unit 202. Further, when the user inputs an operation of pressing the print button displayed on the notification screen on the operation panel 50, the operation reception unit 223 outputs the image data on the notification screen to the image formation control unit 227.

  The image formation control unit 227 forms an image of the image data input from the operation reception unit 223 in response to an instruction from the operation reception unit 223. Here, since the image data of the notification screen is input from the operation reception unit 223, the image of the notification screen is formed on a sheet.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of the collection guide setting screen. As shown in FIG. 12, the collection guide setting screen 350 includes a first message display area 351, a second message display area 353, a collection notification button 355, a collection non-notification button 357, and a previous screen button 359. Including.

  The first message display area 351 is an area for displaying the setting contents of the toner cartridge. Here, a message “Purchase of one black toner cartridge, one cyan toner cartridge, and one yellow toner cartridge has been set” is displayed. For this reason, the user can confirm again the toner cartridge set as the purchase target on the purchase target setting screen 300 and the number of purchases.

  The second message display area 353 is an area for confirming with the user whether or not collection guidance is necessary. Here, in the second message display area 353, a message “Do you have a used toner cartridge? If you have it, please select the collection window notification.” Is displayed.

  The collection notification button 355 is a button for inputting an instruction to receive a collection guidance notification. When the user presses the collection notification button 355, the collection guidance “necessary” is set as the setting content.

  The collection non-notification button 357 is a button for inputting an instruction not to receive a collection guidance notification. When the user presses the collection non-notification button 357, the collection guidance “unnecessary” is set as the setting content.

  The previous screen button 359 is a button for instructing to return to the previous screen. When the user presses the previous screen button 359, a purchase target setting screen 300 is displayed.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a setting confirmation screen. As shown in FIG. 13, the setting confirmation screen 400 includes a message display area 401, a determination button 403, a determination cancellation button 405, a previous screen button 407, and an initial screen button 409.

  The message display area 401 displays at least one of the setting contents of the toner cartridge set on the purchase target setting screen 300 shown in FIG. 11 and the setting contents of the collection guide set on the collection guide setting screen 350 shown in FIG. It is an area for. As a result, the user can confirm the toner cartridge set as the purchase target and the setting regarding the necessity of the collection guidance.

  The decision button 403 is a button for inputting a setting content confirmation instruction. When the user presses the enter button 403, the setting contents set in at least one of the purchase target setting screen 300 shown in FIG. 11 and the collection guide setting screen 350 shown in FIG. 12 are confirmed and transmitted to the server PC 101. Then, the first message screen 450 shown in FIG. 14 is displayed. The first message screen 450 is a screen indicating that the determined setting content has been transmitted, and includes, for example, a message that “the request for the purchase of the toner cartridge and the notification of the collection window has been completed successfully”.

  The decision cancel button 405 is a button for inputting an instruction to cancel the setting contents. When the user presses the decision cancel button 405, the setting contents set in at least one of the purchase target setting screen 300 shown in FIG. 11 and the collection guide setting screen 350 shown in FIG. 12 are canceled, and the initial screen 600 shown in FIG. Return to.

  The previous screen button 407 is a button for instructing to return to the previous screen. When the user presses the previous screen button 407, a collection guide setting screen 350 is displayed. An initial screen button 409 is a button for instructing to display the initial screen 600 shown in FIG. 20 that accepts basic setting inputs such as copy number designation and enlargement / reduction designation in the MFP 100.

  FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of the second message screen. As shown in FIG. 15, the second message screen 500 is a screen indicating that there is a response to the transmission of the setting contents to the server PC 101. For example, “A message from the service center has been received. Message is included. After the second message screen 500 is displayed, the notification content received from the server PC 101 is displayed as a notification screen.

  FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of a notification screen. As shown in FIG. 16, the notification screen 550 includes a message display area 551, a guidance map image 553, a print button 555, a save button 557, and an end button 559.

  The message display area 551 is an area for displaying a message indicating a scheduled delivery date of the toner cartridge specified by the setting contents of the toner cartridge.

  The guide map image 553 is an image for guiding collection of used toner cartridges. Here, the guidance map image 553 is a predetermined range that includes at least the position of the collection window (in the figure; our collection window ...) identified by the server PC 101 and the position (in the figure; customer location) identified by the user information. It is an image of the map. Since the user who views the guidance map image 553 can know the position of the collection window, the route from the user's location to the position of the collection window can be confirmed.

  The print button 555 is a button for instructing printing. When the user presses the print button 555, an image of the notification screen 550 is formed. The save button 557 is a button for inputting an instruction to store the screen. When the user presses the save button 557, the image data of the notification screen 550 is stored.

  The end button 559 is a button for instructing the end. When the user presses the end button 559, the display of the notification screen 550 is ended.

  As described above, when the appropriate ordering time is detected, the purchase target setting screen 300 is displayed, so that the user can know the purchase time without being particularly conscious and can purchase the toner cartridge. In addition, the determination content transmitted to the server PC 101 includes the setting content set in the collection notification “necessary” on the collection guide setting screen 350, so that the notification including the guide map image 553 as a response to the determination content from the server PC 101. Receive content. The guide map image 553 shows a map in a predetermined range including at least the position specified by the user information and the position of the collection window, so that the user can easily confirm the route to the collection window. . Further, it is possible to save the trouble of checking the position of the collection window. Further, since the guide map image 553 can be printed, the user can deliver the used toner cartridge to the collection window while confirming with the guide map image of the paper data.

  For example, a consumable discount ticket or office supplies may be distributed in exchange for contribution to the collection by bringing the used toner cartridge to the collection window. The consumable discount coupon may be transmitted to the MFP 100 identified by the e-mail address using the communication line. As a result, the user's willingness to collect is increased and the recovery rate of consumables is improved. As a result, the collection process in the cycle shown in FIG. 26 proceeds smoothly, so that a manufacturer that provides consumables can stabilize the production of recycled consumables, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions and global warming. It can contribute to prevention.

  FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of consumables ordering / collection guidance processing. The consumable item ordering / collection guidance process is a process executed by the control unit 201 when the control unit 201 executes a consumable item ordering / collection guidance program stored in the ROM or HDD. As shown in FIG. 17, the remaining amount of toner in each of the five toner cartridges 98 is monitored to estimate the remaining amount of toner (step S01). Then, remaining toner data including toner cartridge identification information and the remaining amount of toner estimated in step S01 is generated for each of the five toner cartridges 98 (step S02).

  In the next step S03, the threshold data stored in the storage unit 202 is read, and the process proceeds to step S04.

  In step S04, one remaining toner data generated in step S03 is selected. Then, it is determined whether or not the toner remaining amount indicated by the selected toner remaining amount data is less than the threshold value T1 indicated by the threshold data read in step S03 (step S05). If the remaining amount of toner is less than threshold value T1, the process proceeds to step S06. If not, the process proceeds to step S07.

  In step S06, it is determined that the order is appropriate, and a detection result is generated. The detection result includes toner cartridge identification information of the toner cartridge 98 determined to be less than the threshold value T1 in step S05.

  In the next step S07, it is determined whether there is unselected toner remaining amount data. If there is unselected toner remaining amount data, the process returns to step S04; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S08.

  Note that the processing in steps S04 to S07 is repeated until there is no remaining toner data in step S07. Therefore, the detection result is updated every time it is determined that the toner remaining amount included in the toner remaining amount data selected in step S04 is smaller than the threshold value T1. In other words, the detection result includes toner cartridge identification information extracted from the five remaining toner data including the remaining toner determined to be smaller than the threshold T1. The threshold value T1 may be determined according to the use frequency for each color of toner, in the case of black, B1 or B2.

  In step S08, it is determined whether there is a toner cartridge 98 less than the threshold value T1. If there is a toner cartridge 98 less than threshold value T1, the process proceeds to step S09; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S34.

  In step S09, the purchase target setting screen 300 is displayed, and the process proceeds to step S10.

  In step S10, it is determined whether or not the purchase button 321 is pressed according to the purchase target setting screen 300 displayed in step S09. If purchase button 321 is pressed, the process proceeds to step S12; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S11.

  In step S11, it is determined whether or not the purchase cancel button 323 is pressed according to the purchase target setting screen 300 displayed in step S09. If purchase stop button 323 is pressed, the process proceeds to step S14; otherwise, the process returns to step S10.

  In step S12, it is determined whether or not a purchase target toner cartridge is designated on the purchase target setting screen 300 displayed in step S09. If the purchase target toner cartridge is designated on purchase target setting screen 300, the process proceeds to step S13. If not, the process returns to step S10.

  In step S13, purchase information including the type identification information of the toner cartridge designated in step S12 and the number of purchases is set as setting contents, and the process proceeds to step S14.

  In step S14, a collection guide setting screen 350 is displayed. Then, it is determined whether or not the collection notification button 355 is pressed according to the collection guide setting screen 350 (step S15). If collection notification button 355 is pressed, the process proceeds to step S16; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S17.

  In step S16, the collection notification is set. Specifically, the collection guide setting is set to “collection notification” “required”, and the process proceeds to step S20.

  In step S17, it is determined whether or not the collection non-notification button 357 is pressed according to the collection guide setting screen 350 displayed in step S14. If collection non-notification button 357 is pressed, the process proceeds to step S18. If not, the process proceeds to step S19.

  In step S18, collection is not notified. Specifically, the collection guide is set to the collection notification “unnecessary”, and the process proceeds to step S20.

  In step S19, it is determined whether or not the previous screen button 359 has been pressed in accordance with the collection guide setting screen 350 displayed in step S14. If previous screen button 359 has been pressed, the process returns to step S09; otherwise, the process returns to step S15.

  In step S20, a setting confirmation screen 400 is displayed. Then, it is determined whether or not the enter button 403 has been pressed according to the setting confirmation screen 400 (step S21). If determination button 403 is pressed, the process proceeds to step S22; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S25.

  In step S22, it is determined whether there is a setting content of the toner cartridge set in step S13 or a setting content set in the collection notification “required” in step S16. If there is a setting for the toner cartridge or a setting for the collection notification “required”, the process proceeds to step S23. If not, an error message or the like is displayed, and then the process returns to step S09.

  In step S23, at least one of the setting contents of the toner cartridge set in step S13 and the setting contents of the collection guide set in step S16 or step S18 is determined, and is transmitted to the server PC 101 together with the user information. Then, the process proceeds to step S26.

  In step S24, it is determined whether or not cancel button 405 has been pressed in accordance with setting confirmation screen 400 displayed in step S20. If cancel button 405 is pressed, the process proceeds to step S34; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S25.

  In step S25, it is determined whether or not the previous screen button 407 has been pressed in accordance with the setting confirmation screen 400 displayed in step S20. If the previous screen button 407 has been pressed, the process returns to step S14; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S26.

  In step S26, it is determined whether or not the initial screen button 409 has been pressed in accordance with the setting confirmation screen 400 displayed in step S20. If initial screen button 409 has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S34; otherwise, the process returns to step S21.

  In step S27, it is determined whether notification content has been received from server PC 101 or not. If the notification content is received from server PC 101, the process proceeds to step S28. Server PC 101 transmits the notification content as a response to the determination content transmitted from MFP 100 in step S23. Specifically, the notification content includes a message indicating the scheduled delivery date of the toner cartridge designated as the purchase target in step S12 when the received determination content includes the setting content set in step S13. When the determined content includes the setting content of the collection notification “required” in step S16, the guidance map image 553 is included, the setting content set in step S13 in the received determined content and the setting of the collection notification “required” in step S16. If the contents are included, a message indicating the scheduled delivery date of the toner cartridge designated as the purchase target in step S12 and a guidance map image 553 are included.

  In step S28, a notification screen 550 including the notification content received in step S27 is displayed, and the process proceeds to step S29.

  In step S29, it is determined whether or not print button 555 has been pressed in accordance with notification screen 550 displayed in step S28. If print button 555 is pressed, the process proceeds to step S30; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S31.

  In step S31, it is determined whether save button 557 has been pressed in accordance with notification screen 550 displayed in step S28. If save button 577 is pressed, the process proceeds to step S32. If not, the process proceeds to step S33.

  In step S32, the image data of notification screen 550 displayed in step S28 is stored in storage unit 202, and the process proceeds to step S34.

  In step S33, it is determined whether or not end button 559 has been pressed in accordance with notification screen 550 displayed in step S28. If end button 555 is pressed, the process proceeds to step S34; otherwise, the process returns to step S29.

  In step S34, the initial screen 600 is displayed and the consumables ordering / collection guidance process is terminated.

  In the present embodiment, the purchase target setting screen 300 can also be displayed from the cartridge button 361 shown in FIG. 11 or FIG. 12, and the purchase target setting screen 300 can be shifted to the collection guide setting screen 350. it can. That is, it is possible to purchase consumables from the purchase target setting screen 300 or to request the collection guidance transmission from the collection guidance setting screen 350 regardless of the remaining amount information of the consumables.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the information on the address to which the purchased toner cartridge is to be sent included in the user information is used to identify the collection window for the used toner cartridge and the collection window at a nearby location. It was used as location information necessary for

  Here, more preferably, information other than the address to which the toner cartridge is sent included in the user information can be input as position information necessary for specifying a collection window in a nearby location. Thereby, it is possible to easily know the collection window corresponding to the arbitrary position information input by the user.

  Note that the purchase target setting screen, the collection guide setting screen, the setting confirmation screen, the message screen, and the notification screen may be displayed in a pop-up manner.

<Modification>
The MFP 100 according to the first embodiment determines whether or not the toner cartridge 98 is nearly short of the remaining amount based on the remaining amount of toner. In addition, in the purchase target setting screen 300, the remaining amount of toner in each of the five toner cartridges 98 is indicated by a ratio based on the maximum toner amount that can be accommodated in the toner cartridge 98. In the modified example, the print history is taken to calculate the number of printable sheets of each toner cartridge 98 from the remaining toner amount and the print history, and based on the printable number of sheets, is the toner cartridge 98 close to shortage? It is to judge whether or not. In addition, the MFP 100 displays the remaining amount of toner in each of the five toner cartridges 98 on the purchase target setting screen 300 in terms of the number of printable sheets.

  FIG. 18 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of functions of the control unit included in the MFP according to the modification together with data stored in the storage unit. The control unit 201A shown in FIG. 18 is different from the control unit 201 shown in FIG. 9 in that the ordering time detection unit 221 is changed to the ordering time detection unit 221A, and the history table management unit 245 and the print number counting unit 247 are added. This is the point. Other configurations and functions are the same as those of control unit 201, and thus description thereof will not be repeated here.

  The printed sheet count unit 247 counts the number of sheets that have passed through the registration roller 13, that is, the number of printed sheets, by turning on and off the signal output from the sheet detection sensor 14. Specifically, “1” is added to the number of prints every time the sheet passes through the registration roller 13. The number of printed sheets is from the start to the end of one print job. The printed sheet count unit 247 counts the number of printed sheets for each print job to be executed, and outputs the counted number of printed sheets to the history table management unit 245. Here, the number-of-printing-counting unit 247 counts by converting to a predetermined paper size / single-sided printing. For example, in the case of double-sided printing of one sheet of A3 size, the number of printed sheets converted to A4 size is 4. For single-sided printing of 5 sheets of A5 size, the number of printed sheets converted to A4 size is 2.5. In the following, an example of converting to A4 paper size / single-sided printing will be described.

  The history table management unit 245 displays job identification information for identifying a print job, a date when the print job is executed, and the number of sheets printed by executing the print job in response to execution of the print job. A history record including (A4 / single-sided print conversion) is generated for each print job, and is added to the history table 255 stored in the storage unit 202 and stored.

  FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an example of a history table. As illustrated in FIG. 19, the history table 255 includes a history record for each job. The history record includes a print job item, a date item, and a print number item. In the print job item, job identification information of the print job is set. In the date item, a date when the print job is executed is set. In the item of the number of printed sheets, the number of printed sheets counted by the printed sheet number counting unit 247 is set.

  Consumables ordering time detection unit 221A detects a time suitable for ordering consumables attached to MFP 100. A suitable time for ordering is when the number of printed sheets corresponding to the remaining amount of toner (hereinafter referred to as “printable number of sheets”) is nearly insufficient for any of the five toner cartridges 98. The expendables order timing detection unit 221A compares the threshold T2 indicated by the threshold data 251A stored in the storage unit 202 with the printable number of sheets of each of the five toner cartridges 98, and there is a toner cartridge 98 that is short of the remaining amount. Judge whether to do. The consumable ordering time detection unit 221A determines that the remaining amount is almost insufficient on condition that the printable number of sheets is smaller than the threshold value T2. When the consumable item ordering time detection unit 221A determines that at least one of the five toner cartridges 98 is short of the remaining amount, it detects it as an appropriate ordering time. When the expendables ordering time detection unit 221A detects an appropriate ordering time, printing of the detection result including the toner cartridge identification information of the toner cartridge 98 determined to be short of the remaining amount and the printable number of prints of each of the five toner cartridges 98 are performed. Printable sheet number information including the possible sheet number data is output to the operation receiving unit 223.

  The threshold data 251A stored in the storage unit 202 is a value indicating that the printable number of sheets corresponding to the remaining amount of toner in the toner cartridge 98 is almost insufficient, and is 10,000 sheets here.

  The consumable ordering time detection unit 221A includes a remaining toner amount estimation unit 231 and a printable sheet number calculation unit 243. The printable sheet number calculation unit 243 has five toner cartridges 98 each having a print number corresponding to the remaining amount of toner in the toner cartridge 98 according to the history table 255 and the toner consumption table 253 stored in the storage unit 202. Is calculated. Specifically, the number of printable sheets is calculated by dividing the toner consumption per sheet in a predetermined period from the toner remaining amount of the toner cartridge 98 estimated by the toner remaining amount estimating unit 231. The toner consumption per sheet is calculated by dividing the cumulative toner consumption for a predetermined period calculated according to the toner consumption table 253 from the cumulative number of printed sheets for the predetermined period calculated according to the history table 255. To do. Here, the predetermined period is, for example, one month, and the beginning and end of the period for which the cumulative number of printed sheets is calculated correspond to the beginning and end of the period for which the cumulative number of printed sheets is calculated, respectively. The printable sheet number calculation unit 243 generates printable sheet number data including the calculated printable sheet number and toner cartridge identification information for each of the five toner cartridges 98.

  FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating an example of a purchase target setting screen in the modified example. The purchase target setting screen 300A shown in FIG. 21 is different from the purchase target setting screen 300 shown in FIG. 11 in that the remaining toner amount display area 303 is changed to a printable sheet number display area 303A. Here, differences from the purchase target setting screen 300 will be described.

  The printable sheet number display area 303 </ b> A is an area for displaying the printable sheet number of each of the five toner cartridges 98. In the printable sheet number display area 303A, the five printable sheet number data generated by the printable sheet number calculation unit 243 are displayed. The number of printable sheets is indicated by a 5-level scale.

  The first row shows that an amount of toner corresponding to 10,000 or less printable sheets remains in the toner cartridge 98. The second row indicates that the toner cartridge 98 has an amount of toner corresponding to the range of 10,000 to 20,000 printable sheets. The third row indicates that the toner cartridge 98 has an amount of toner corresponding to a range of 20,000 to 30,000 printable sheets. The fourth row indicates that the toner cartridge 98 has an amount of toner corresponding to the range of 30,000 to 40,000 printable sheets. The fifth row indicates that the toner cartridge 98 has an amount of toner corresponding to the range of 40,000 to 50,000 printable sheets. For example, the remaining amount of the Y toner cartridge 98 is the first level, which indicates that the amount of toner corresponding to 10,000 or less printable sheets remains. That is, the user indicates that at most the remaining 10,000 sheets can be printed using the toner contained in the Y toner cartridge 98.

<Second Embodiment>
In the second embodiment, the MFP 100 adjusts the image and paper size until the toner cartridge to be purchased arrives at the user after receiving the notification content from the server PC 101. In this case, the notification content received by MFP 100 from server PC 101 includes the scheduled delivery date.

  FIG. 22 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of functions of the control unit included in the MFP according to the second embodiment, together with data stored in the storage unit. The control unit 201B illustrated in FIG. 22 is different from the control unit 201 illustrated in FIG. 9 in that an adjustment degree determination unit 248, a print condition setting unit 249, and a preview image are added. Here, configurations and functions different from those of the control unit 201 will be mainly described.

The degree-of-adjustment determination unit 248 determines whether or not it is necessary to set the print condition as a resource-saving default setting based on the determined scheduled delivery date. Further, when it is necessary to set the resource saving default setting, the adjustment degree determination unit 248 waits for a delivery waiting period (arrival waiting period) that is a waiting period until a scheduled delivery date, which is estimated from past consumption trends. ), The degree of adjustment for adjusting the image to suppress toner consumption is determined based on the ratio of the shortage of toner cartridges for which a delivery request (delivery request) has been made. The print condition setting unit 249 determines the parameter of the setting item in the resource saving default setting based on the adjustment degree determined by the adjustment degree determination unit 248.

  The degree of adjustment is five stages of first to fifth adjustment degrees, and the larger the stage, the greater the degree of reduction in toner consumption. The degree of adjustment is based on the ratio of shortage estimated from past consumption trends in the period from the appropriate ordering time to the scheduled delivery date input from the notification content receiving unit 229 (hereinafter referred to as “delivery waiting period”). decide. The ratio of deficiency is divided into 5 levels of 10-25%, 26-41%, 42-57%, 58-73%, 74-100%, and the larger the value, the deficient . The first to fifth adjustment degrees are associated with the shortage ratios of 10 to 25%, 26 to 41%, 42 to 57%, 58 to 73%, and 74 to 100%, respectively. The adjustment degree determination unit 248 determines the one associated with the calculated shortage ratio among the first to fifth adjustment degrees. When the shortage ratio is less than 10% and when there is no shortage, it is determined that there is no need to adjust the image quality in order to suppress toner consumption, and the adjustment degree is not determined. When the adjustment degree determination unit 248 does not determine the adjustment degree, the adjustment degree determination unit 248 outputs the fact to the print condition setting unit 249.

  The shortage rate is specified by calculating the amount of toner shortage relative to the estimated toner consumption during the delivery waiting period for the toner cartridge 98 that is short of the remaining amount. The insufficient toner amount is a difference between the estimated toner consumption amount during the delivery waiting period and the remaining toner amount estimated by the remaining toner amount estimation unit 231. Therefore, when the estimated remaining toner amount is larger than the estimated toner consumption amount during the delivery waiting period, it is determined that there is no shortage.

  The estimated toner consumption during the delivery waiting period is calculated with reference to the toner consumption table 253 stored in the storage unit 202 for the toner cartridge 98 that is short of the remaining amount. Specifically, it is calculated from the toner consumption per day in the period from the date when the toner cartridge is replaced to the appropriate ordering time (hereinafter referred to as “continuous use period”) and the waiting period for delivery.

The print condition setting unit 249 sets the print condition to either a preset normal default setting or a resource-saving default setting in which the amount of toner consumption is suppressed compared to the normal default setting. Specifically, except when the adjustment degree is determined by the adjustment degree determination unit 248, the print condition is set to the normal default setting, and when the adjustment degree is determined by the adjustment degree determination unit 248, the determination is made. Set to default settings for resource saving according to the adjusted degree. The print condition setting means determines parameters of setting items in the resource-saving default settings so that the toner can be used without running out until the scheduled delivery date.

  Setting items in the default settings for resource saving include image density, print dot density, image contrast, paper size, image scaling, Nin1 (assignment printing), and the like. In this embodiment, the setting items are image density, print dot density, image contrast, paper size, image scaling, and Nin1.

  In normal default settings, parameters specified by the user are used for all the setting items. In other words, if the image density is set automatically, the parameters set in advance by the user as standard are used. The same applies to the print dot density and image contrast. If manual settings are made, the manually set parameters take precedence. If the paper size is also set automatically, a paper of the same size as the original size is selected if the magnification is 100%. If the magnification is manually set, the paper of the size corresponding to the manually set magnification is selected. Is selected. Nin1 (assignment printing) is effective only when manually set.

  In the resource-saving default setting, the image density, print dot density, and image contrast parameters are referred to the image adjustment table 257 stored in the storage unit 202 and are based on the adjustment degree determined by the adjustment degree determination unit 248. To set. The paper size, image scaling, and Nin1 are also set as necessary.

  The print condition setting unit 249 is configured to save resources according to the received operation when the operation receiving unit 223 performs an operation for instructing a change among the parameters of the setting items set based on the adjustment degree. The default setting may be changed.

  FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating an example of the image adjustment table. As shown in FIG. 23, the image adjustment table 257 associates image adjustment parameters for each degree of adjustment. The image adjustment parameters include a density parameter for adjusting the density of the image, a dot density parameter for adjusting the dot density of the image, and a contrast parameter for adjusting the contrast of the image. The degree of adjustment is determined by a combination of a density parameter, a dot density parameter, and a contrast parameter. For example, a combination of a density parameter “a1”, a dot density parameter “b1”, and a contrast parameter “c1” associates the first adjustment degree with the smallest reduction degree among the first to fifth adjustment degrees. Similarly, the second adjustment having a reduction degree larger by one step than the first adjustment degree is a combination of the second density parameter “a2”, the second dot density parameter “b2”, and the second contrast parameter “c2”. A degree is associated. Similarly, the third density parameter “a3”, the third dot density parameter “b3”, and the third contrast parameter “c3” are associated with the third adjustment degree, and the fourth density parameter “a4”. The fourth adjustment degree is associated with the combination of the fourth dot density parameter “b4” and the fourth contrast parameter “c4”. Finally, the combination of the fifth density parameter “a5”, the fifth dot density parameter “b5”, and the fifth contrast parameter “c5” has the most reduction degree among the first to fifth adjustment degrees. A large fifth adjustment degree is associated.

  The print condition setting unit 249 returns the setting of the resource-saving default setting to the normal default setting when the toner cartridge is exchanged and the remaining amount K is confirmed by process control or the like.

  The screen display unit 241 further displays a print condition setting screen including a preview image generated by a preview image generation unit 250 described later. The print condition setting screen is a screen for setting print conditions such as image adjustment, paper size, N-up printing for printing N pages on one side, and print range. The image adjustment includes at least image density adjustment, image dot density adjustment, and image contrast adjustment.

  The operation accepting unit 223 accepts an operation for changing the print condition input to the operation panel 50 by the user according to the print condition setting screen, and outputs the accepted operation to the print condition setting unit 249. Here, the operation for changing the print condition is an operation for changing the image and an operation for adjusting the paper size. However, an operation for adjusting the print area and an operation for adjusting N-up printing may be included.

  The operation for adjusting the image is, for example, an operation for adjusting the print dot density of the image, an operation for adjusting the density of the image, an operation for adjusting the contrast of the image, or a combination thereof. The operation for adjusting the print dot density of the image will be described as an example. The operation for adjusting the image is an operation for increasing and decreasing the level of the print dot density.

  The preview image generation unit 250 generates a preview image according to the setting by the print condition setting unit 249. The preview image reflects the image density, image dot density, image contrast, and paper size determined by the image adjustment parameters (density parameter, dot density parameter, contrast parameter) set by the print condition setting unit 249 and the size adjustment parameter, respectively. Generate. The preview image generation unit 250 outputs the generated preview image to the screen display unit 241. The preview image generation unit 250 generates a new preview image and outputs it to the screen display unit 241 each time at least one of the image adjustment parameter or the size adjustment parameter is updated by the print condition setting unit 249.

  Here, the preview image generation unit 250 generates a preview image reflecting the dot density, contrast, image density, and paper size determined by the image adjustment parameter and the size adjustment parameter set by the print condition setting unit 249, respectively. Although described as an example, the print condition setting unit 249 may set N-up printing, duplex printing, brightness, saturation, color tone, and the like. In this case, the preview image generation unit 250 may generate the preview image by reflecting settings such as N-up printing, double-sided printing, brightness, saturation, and color tone.

  FIG. 24 is a screen illustrating an example of a print condition setting screen. Here, an example is given in which at least one of the five toner cartridges 98 is short of the remaining amount, and the image adjustment parameter and the size adjustment parameter associated with the second adjustment degree are set to the resource-saving default settings. Explained. As shown in FIG. 24, the print condition setting screen 650 includes a density adjustment area 651, a magnification adjustment area 653, a paper size adjustment area 655, a print dot density adjustment area 657, an image contrast adjustment area 659, N An up print adjustment area 661 and a preview image 663 are included.

  The density adjustment area 651 is an area for adjusting the image density, and displays five levels of indices. Each index is associated with the first to fifth density parameters, and the larger the step, the higher the density parameter with which the density is set. Here, since the image adjustment parameter associated with the second adjustment degree is set to the resource-saving default setting, the index corresponding to the second density parameter is indicated by a rectangular symbol.

  The magnification display area 653 is an area for displaying the print range in the sheet at a magnification, and when the user inputs an operation to increase or decrease the print range from 100% to the operation panel 50, The magnification is displayed in the magnification display area 653.

  The paper size adjustment area 655 is an area for adjusting the paper size, and any one of various sizes of A paper and various sizes of B paper can be designated. Here, since the size adjustment parameter for determining the B5 paper size is set to the resource-saving default setting, the index “B5” corresponding to the set size adjustment parameter is displayed. Note that the magnification displayed in the magnification display area 653 may be automatically calculated based on the document size and the paper size specified in the paper size adjustment area 655. For example, when the document size is A4 and the paper size specified in the paper size adjustment area 655 is B5, 86% is displayed from the ratio of the area of the paper size of B5 to the area of the document size of A4. It is displayed in area 653.

  The print dot density adjustment area 657 is an area for adjusting the print dot density, and it is possible to specify any one of the five levels of indexes associated with the first to fifth dot density parameters. The larger the step, the more the dot density parameter that determines the print dot density is related. Here, since the image adjustment parameter associated with the second adjustment degree is set to the resource-saving default setting, the index “print dot density 2” corresponding to the second dot density parameter is displayed.

  The image contrast adjustment area 659 is an area for adjusting the image contrast, and it is possible to specify any one of the five levels of indices associated with the first to fifth contrast parameters. The larger the level, the higher the contrast parameter associated with the contrast parameter. Here, since the image adjustment parameter associated with the second adjustment degree is set to the resource-saving default setting, the index “image contrast 2” corresponding to the second contrast parameter is displayed.

  The N-up printing adjustment area 661 is an area for adjusting N-up printing, and can be designated as 2-up printing, 4-up printing, and the like. Here, “2 in 1” is displayed as being set to 2-up printing.

  The preview image 663 is an image reflecting the image density, the print dot density, the contrast, and the paper size determined by each parameter of the resource saving default setting.

  Further, the user can adjust at least one of image density, print dot density, image contrast, N-up printing, and print range by operating the operation panel 50, and the preview image 663 can be adjusted according to the adjustment. Updated. In addition, it is good also as another adjustment of double-sided printing and single-sided printing.

  As described above, when there is a toner cartridge that is short of the remaining amount, when the toner cartridge is ordered, the shortage ratio in the waiting period for delivery is obtained, and if the shortage ratio is 10% or more, the delivery is performed. The degree of adjustment is determined according to the shortage rate so that toner consumption during the waiting period can be suppressed. As a result, the amount of toner consumed can be suppressed, so that it is possible to prevent the toner cartridge that is about to run out of remaining amount during the delivery waiting period from running out of remaining amount.

  FIG. 25 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of the reduction adjustment setting process. The reduction adjustment setting process is a process executed between step S27 and step S28 shown in FIG. Here, a case where each parameter associated with the third adjustment degree is set to the normal default setting will be described as an example. As shown in FIG. 25, it is determined whether or not the notification content received in step S27 includes a response to the toner cartridge setting content in step S13 (step S41). Specifically, it is determined whether or not the scheduled delivery date is included in the notification content. If the scheduled delivery date is included, the process proceeds to step S42.

  In step S42, the scheduled delivery date is extracted from the notification content received in step S27, and the process proceeds to step S43.

  In step S43, the toner consumption amount table 253 and the history table 255 stored in the storage unit 202 are read. Then, with reference to the read toner consumption table 253 and history table 255, the toner consumption amount in the delivery waiting period is determined in step S44 for the toner cartridge 98 detected as the appropriate ordering time in step S06 (step S44). The toner cartridge 98 specified in step S45 is calculated as a target (step S45). The toner consumption during the delivery waiting period is calculated from the toner consumption per day during the continuous use period and the delivery waiting period.

  In the next step S46, the insufficient toner amount in the delivery waiting period is calculated for the toner cartridge 98 specified in step S44. Specifically, the insufficient toner amount in the delivery waiting period is the difference between the toner consumption amount in the delivery waiting period calculated in step S45 and the remaining amount of toner in the toner cartridge 98 specified in step S44.

  In the next step S47, it is determined whether or not the insufficient toner amount calculated in step S46 is greater than zero. If the insufficient toner amount is greater than 0, the process proceeds to step S48; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S54.

  In step S48, the ratio of the insufficient toner amount calculated in step S46 to the toner consumption amount in the delivery waiting period calculated in step S45 is calculated as the insufficient ratio, and the process proceeds to step S49.

  In step S49, the adjustment degree according to the shortage ratio calculated in step S47 out of the first to fifth adjustment degrees is determined. Note that the adjustment degree may not be determined if the shortage ratio is less than 10%.

  In the next step S50, the image adjustment table 257 stored in the storage unit 202 is read. Then, referring to the read image adjustment table 257, the density parameter, the dot density parameter, and the contrast parameter associated with the adjustment degree determined in step S49 are extracted as image adjustment parameters (step S51), and the process is performed. Proceed to step S52.

  In step S52, a parameter having a size one size smaller than the paper size set as the normal default setting is acquired, and the process proceeds to step S53.

  In step S53, the image adjustment parameter extracted in step S51 and the size adjustment parameter acquired in step S52 are set as resource-saving default settings, and the process proceeds to step S53.

  In step S54, a preview image is generated. Specifically, when the process proceeds from step S53 (YES in step S47), the image density, print dot density, contrast, and paper size determined by each parameter of the resource saving default setting set in step S53 are reflected. When a preview image is generated and the process proceeds from step S47 (NO in step S47), a preview image reflecting the image density, the print dot density, the contrast, and the paper size determined by the normal default setting parameters is generated.

  In the next step S55, the print condition setting screen 650 including the preview image generated in step S54 is displayed as shown in FIG. 24, and the process proceeds to step S56.

  In step S56, it is determined whether or not each parameter has been adjusted in accordance with the print condition setting screen 650 displayed in step S55. If there is an adjustment operation, the process proceeds to step S57. If not, the print condition setting process ends. Here, the adjustment operation is an operation for changing at least one of the image adjustment parameter (density parameter, dot density parameter, contrast parameter) or the size adjustment parameter. You may make it include operation to perform.

  In step S57, according to the adjustment operation in step S56, the resource saving default setting set in step S53 is changed, and the process returns to step S54.

  Note that the resource-saving default setting set in step S53 is maintained until the scheduled delivery date, and is changed to the normal default setting when the date becomes the scheduled delivery date.

  As described above, the MFP 100 according to the first and second embodiments and the modification is an image forming apparatus in which a plurality of toner cartridges are mounted, and can communicate with the server PC 101 via the network. A determination content transmitting unit 225 that transmits user information and requests transmission of guidance information including at least information on the location of the collection window corresponding to the user information, which is a collection window for a plurality of mounted toner cartridges; And a screen display unit 241 for displaying a notification screen 550 for notifying the location of the collection window based on the guidance information transmitted from the server PC 101 in response to a request from the content transmission unit 225.

  Therefore, the user can be made aware of the purchase of the toner cartridge and the collection of the used toner cartridge 98. Further, the user can know the position of the collection window in advance by looking at the notification screen 550. Thereby, it is possible to save the user's trouble of checking the position of the collection window, and to smoothly return the toner cartridge.

  In the first and second embodiments and modifications, the case where the consumable is a toner cartridge has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the consumable may be a photosensitive drum. . In this case, the photosensitive drum may be made available for purchase on the purchase target setting screen 300 when it is determined that the used photoconductor has a lifetime. The life of the photosensitive member may be further provided with a rotation number measurement unit that measures the rotation number of the photosensitive member, and may be determined when the rotation number measurement unit reaches a predetermined threshold value or more.

  The notification contents transmitted from the server PC 101 may further include information for guiding the collection of the photosensitive drums, for example, information (map, route) for specifying the position of the collection contact point for the photosensitive drums. In this case, information for specifying that the notification setting for requesting collection guidance is the photosensitive drum may be further included in the setting contents and transmitted to the server PC 101. The information for specifying that the collection setting of the collection guide is the photosensitive drum is, for example, the product number and manufacturing number of the photosensitive drum.

  In the first and second embodiments and modifications, the server PC 101 may be requested to transmit guidance information when an appropriate ordering time is detected.

  In the first and second embodiments and modifications, the collection guide setting screen 350 is displayed after the purchase target setting screen 300 is displayed. However, after the collection guide setting screen 350 is displayed, the purchase target setting is displayed. The screen 300 may be displayed, or the purchase target setting screen 300 or the collection guide setting screen 350 may be displayed.

  In addition, the image forming apparatus of the present invention includes an inkjet recording apparatus having a display unit and a consumer device (an electronic device or device related to video, sound, communication, etc., used by a general consumer, used in a general household) Developed on the premise of applications other than ordinary households, such as products intended for the purpose of, or products and standards developed and designed based on that, and business equipment (corporations (corporations, schools, government agencies)) Product) is also applicable.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the configuration of the MFP 100 can also be applied to a mobile terminal 110, a notebook computer 120, and a mobile phone 130. Thus, even when the user is not located near the MFP 100, it is possible to easily place an order and set print conditions.

  Further, the consumables in the first and second embodiments and the modified examples may be consumables to which an offset credit is given. In this case, the credit fee is, for example, renewable energy promotion business (solar power generation, solar thermal power generation, geothermal power generation, wind power generation (offshore wind power generation, etc.), hydroelectric power generation (use of agricultural water, sabo dam, etc.), biomass power generation, Power generation business other than using fossil fuels such as tidal power generation, ocean temperature difference power generation, wave power generation, etc., or greenhouse gas absorption business (planting, dissolving carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to marine life and The project will be used to support the promotion of such projects as carbon dioxide absorption in the ocean) and projects that store carbon dioxide through sequestration and ocean sequestration.

Furthermore, in the first and second embodiments and modifications, the user may be a general device administrator who manages MFP 100, or a professional qualification “carbon manager” for reducing CO ₂ emissions. Even better. This facilitates the popularization of recycled consumables that suppress greenhouse gas emissions.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope shown in the claims, and embodiments obtained by appropriately combining technical means disclosed in different embodiments. Is also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  Finally, each block of MFP 100, in particular, control units 201, 201A, and 201B may be configured by hardware logic, or may be realized by software using a CPU as follows.

  That is, the MFP 100 includes a central processing unit (CPU) that executes instructions of a control program that implements each function, a read only memory (ROM) that stores the program, a random access memory (RAM) that expands the program, and the program And a storage device (recording medium) such as a memory for storing various data. An object of the present invention is to provide a recording medium in which a program code (execution format program, intermediate code program, source program) of a control program of the MFP 100 that is software for realizing the functions described above is recorded so as to be readable by a computer. This can also be achieved by reading the program code recorded on the recording medium and executing it by the computer (or CPU or MPU).

  Examples of the recording medium include a tape system such as a magnetic tape and a cassette tape, a magnetic disk such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk / hard disk, and an optical disk such as a CD-ROM / MO / MD / DVD / CD-R. Card system such as IC card, IC card (including memory card) / optical card, or semiconductor memory system such as mask ROM / EPROM / EEPROM / flash ROM.

  Further, MFP 100 may be configured to be connectable to a communication network, and the program code may be supplied via the communication network. The communication network is not particularly limited. For example, the Internet, intranet, extranet, LAN, ISDN, VAN, CATV communication network, virtual private network, telephone line network, mobile communication network, satellite communication. A net or the like is available. Further, the transmission medium constituting the communication network is not particularly limited. For example, even in the case of wired such as IEEE 1394, USB, power line carrier, cable TV line, telephone line, ADSL line, etc., infrared rays such as IrDA and remote control, Bluetooth ( (Registered trademark), 802.11 wireless, HDR, mobile phone network, satellite line, terrestrial digital network, and the like can also be used. The present invention can also be realized in the form of a computer data signal embedded in a carrier wave in which the program code is embodied by electronic transmission.

1 Order Collection Guide System 14 Paper Detection Sensor 100 MFP
119 Toner concentration sensor 163 Determination content receiving unit 165 Guide information generating unit 167 Notification content transmitting unit (guidance information transmitting unit, delivery information transmitting unit)
201, 201A, 201B Control unit 212 Cartridge motor 221 Consumables ordering time detection unit (ordering time detection means)
223 Operation accepting unit 225 Determination content transmitting unit (guidance information requesting means)
227 Image formation control unit 229 Notification content reception unit 231 Toner remaining amount estimation unit (consumable item remaining amount estimation unit)
241 Screen display section (guidance notification screen display means, purchase screen display means)
251 Threshold data 253 Toner consumption table 300 Purchase target setting screen 350 Collection guide setting screen 400 Setting confirmation screen 450 First message screen 500 Second message screen 550 Notification screen 600 Initial screen

Claims (13)

An image forming apparatus to which consumables are attached,
Can communicate with the service providing apparatus via the network,
Guidance information requesting means for transmitting location information to a service providing device and requesting transmission of guidance information including at least information on the location of the collection window corresponding to the location information. When,
A guidance notification screen display means for displaying a guidance notification screen for notifying the location of the collection window based on the guidance information transmitted from the service providing apparatus in response to a request by the guidance information requesting means,
When an ordering instruction to purchase a replacement consumable is made on the consumable purchase screen, the service providing apparatus transmits information on the scheduled delivery date that defines the date for delivering the consumable together with the guidance information. ,
Determining means for determining whether or not the print condition of the image forming apparatus needs to be set to a resource-saving default setting in which the consumption amount of consumables is less than the normal default setting based on the received scheduled delivery date; ,
When the determination unit determines that the resource-saving default setting needs to be set, the resource-saving default in which the print condition in the image forming apparatus is less consumable consumption than the normal default setting Print condition setting means for setting, and
The print condition setting means determines the parameters of the setting items in the resource-saving default settings so that the consumables can be used without running out until the received scheduled delivery date,
The print condition setting means is configured to save the resource based on a shortage rate of consumables to be replaced in a period from receiving the scheduled delivery date to the scheduled delivery date, which is estimated from a past consumption trend. An image forming apparatus for determining parameters of setting items in the default setting for conversion. An ordering time detecting means for detecting an appropriate ordering time for ordering replacement consumables to be exchanged with the consumables mounted; and
2. The image according to claim 1, wherein the guide information requesting unit requests transmission of the guide information on condition that the ordering time detecting unit detects that the ordering time is appropriate. Forming equipment.   The guidance information requesting means displays a guidance setting screen for accepting a setting as to whether or not to request transmission of the guidance information when the ordering time detection means detects that the ordering time is appropriate, The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the transmission of the guidance information is requested when the setting for requesting transmission of the guidance information is made.   When the appropriate ordering time is detected by the ordering time detection means, a purchase request for replacement consumables including consumables remaining amount information indicating an indicator of the remaining amount of the consumables mounted is sent. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising purchase screen display means for displaying a consumable purchase screen for receiving an ordering instruction to be transmitted to the service providing apparatus. When the appropriate ordering time is detected by the ordering time detection means, a purchase request for replacement consumables including consumables remaining amount information indicating an indicator of the remaining amount of the consumables mounted is sent. A purchase screen display means for displaying a consumable purchase screen for receiving an ordering instruction to be transmitted to the service providing device;
The guide information requesting unit displays a guide setting screen for accepting a setting as to whether or not to request transmission of the guide information after the consumable item purchase screen is displayed by the purchase screen display unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the transmission of the guidance information is requested when the setting for requesting the transmission of the guidance information is made.   The ordering time detecting means detects the ordering appropriate time when the remaining amount data of consumables indicating an indicator of the remaining amount of the consumables being mounted falls below a preset threshold value indicating a shortage of the remaining amount. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image forming apparatus is detected as being present. The ordering time detecting means includes consumable item remaining amount estimating means for generating the consumable item remaining amount data by estimating the remaining amount of the attached consumable item,
The ordering time detection unit determines that the remaining amount is short enough when the remaining amount indicated by the consumable item remaining amount data generated by the consumable item remaining amount estimation unit is less than a predetermined threshold. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6.   The guide information includes a map including the collection window and the position indicated by the transmitted position information, a route from the position indicated by the position information to the collection window, and from the position indicated by the position information to the collection window. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, comprising at least one of the required time.   The said guidance notification screen display means displays the said scheduled delivery date including the said scheduled delivery date on the said guidance notification screen based on the information of the said scheduled delivery date that has been transmitted. 2. The image forming apparatus according to item 1.   10. The guidance notification screen includes a print instruction reception button for causing the image forming apparatus to print the content displayed on the guidance notification screen. The image forming apparatus described in the item. A collection guidance system including an image forming apparatus on which consumables are mounted and a service providing apparatus,
The image forming apparatus includes:
Guidance information request for transmitting location information to the service providing apparatus and requesting transmission of guidance information including at least information on the location of the collection window corresponding to the location information, which is a collection window for the consumables mounted. Means,
A guidance notification screen display means for displaying a guidance notification screen for notifying the location of the collection window based on the guidance information transmitted from the service providing apparatus in response to a request by the guidance information requesting means,
When an ordering instruction to purchase a replacement consumable is made on the consumable purchase screen, the service providing apparatus transmits information on the scheduled delivery date that defines the date for delivering the consumable together with the guidance information. ,
Determining means for determining whether or not the print condition of the image forming apparatus needs to be set to a resource-saving default setting in which the consumption amount of consumables is less than the normal default setting based on the received scheduled delivery date; ,
When the determination unit determines that the resource-saving default setting needs to be set, the resource-saving default in which the print condition in the image forming apparatus is less consumable consumption than the normal default setting Print condition setting means for setting, and
The print condition setting means determines the parameters of the setting items in the resource-saving default settings so that the consumables can be used without running out until the received scheduled delivery date,
The print condition setting means is configured to save the resource based on a shortage rate of consumables to be replaced in a period from receiving the scheduled delivery date to the scheduled delivery date, which is estimated from a past consumption trend. Determine the parameters of the setting items in the default settings for
The service providing apparatus includes:
When receiving a request for transmitting guide information together with the position information from the image forming apparatus, guide information including at least the position information of the collection window corresponding to the transmitted position information is generated and transmitted to the image forming apparatus. A collection guidance system comprising guidance information transmission means.   A program for operating the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the program causes a computer to function as each of the units. A computer-readable recording medium on which the program according to claim 12 is recorded.

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