Patent Publication Number: US-2010107909-A1

Title: Destination dedicating apparatus, printing apparatus, print kiosk apparatus, destination dedicating method, and program

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The subject matter of application Ser. No. 11/583,549, is incorporated herein by reference. The present is a Divisional of U.S. Ser. No. 11/583,549, filed Oct. 19, 2006, which claims priority to Japanese Patent Application JP 2005-307885 filed in the Japanese Patent Office on Oct. 21, 2005, the entire contents of which being incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a technique for automatically setting a printing apparatus to a dedicated machine for a specific destination, and more particularly to a destination dedicating apparatus, printing apparatus, print kiosk apparatus, destination dedicating method, and program therefor adopting the above technique. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In general, a printing apparatus is designed so that only specific consumable goods specified by a manufacturing or selling company of the printing apparatus can be used. For example, the printing apparatus is designed so that the shape of the specific consumable goods coincides with the shape of a consumable good mounting space defined in the printing apparatus. In recent years, there has been known a system such that an IC tag is mounted on a consumable good and only when destination information read from the IC tag coincides with destination information prepared in a printing apparatus, this consumable good is determined as an authorized consumable good. 
     The above system is effective not only in maintaining a print quality, but also in reducing the possibility of malfunction of the printing apparatus. 
       FIG. 1  shows the concept of the system in related art. An ink cartridge  3  is mounted into a printing apparatus  1  manufactured by Company A. As shown in  FIG. 1 , there are three kinds of ink cartridges  3  respectively dedicated to Companies A, B, and C. These ink cartridges  3  have the same shape corresponding to the shape of a mounting space defined in the printing apparatus  1 , and include IC tags preliminarily storing the respective pieces of destination information. As shown in  FIG. 1 , only the ink cartridge  3  dedicated to Company A can be mounted into the printing apparatus  1  manufactured by Company A. 
     A technique for mounting such an IC tag on a consumable good is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2005-140896, for example. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     For realization of the determination as to whether or not the consumable good (ink cartridge in the case of  FIG. 1 ) to be mounted into the printing apparatus is an authorized product, it is necessary to make a preparation for preliminarily recording information indicating that the printing apparatus is dedicated to Company A. For example, as shown in  FIG. 1 , firmware dedicated to Company A may be preliminarily installed in the printing apparatus. 
     However, such dedication of the printing apparatus needs the development and management of the dedicated firmware. Further, it is necessary to make the supply timing of the dedicated consumable good having the destination information coincide with the supply timing of the dedicated firmware. 
     It is desirable to provide a destination dedicating technique for a printing apparatus, which has following processing functions. 
     The present invention provides following two processing functions as a destination dedicating technique. 
     (a) a processing function of reading destination information reading from a storage area mounted on a consumable good when the consumable good is first mounted into a printing apparatus. 
     (b) a processing function of recording destination information read above into a storage area provided in the printing apparatus thereby setting the printing apparatus to a dedicated machine for the consumable good having the specific destination information. 
     With this configuration, the printing apparatus can be set to a dedicated machine for the consumable good mounted into the printing apparatus by first mounting the consumable good into the printing apparatus. Accordingly, it is not necessary to preliminarily dedicate the printing apparatus to a specific destination. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating the related art; 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  are schematic diagrams illustrating the concept of the destination dedicating technique according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram showing a functional configuration in a printing apparatus having the destination dedicating technique according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an ink jet printer according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a laser printer according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a print kiosk apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIGS. 7A and 7B  are examples of a printing apparatus corresponding to consumable goods, which mounts destination information according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Some preferred embodiments of the printing apparatus including the dedicating technique according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described. 
     In this description, parts not especially shown or described employ known techniques in the related art. 
     The preferred embodiments described below are merely illustrative and the application of the present invention is not limited to these preferred embodiments. 
     (A) Destination Dedicating Technique 
     (A-1) Concept of Dedication 
       FIGS. 2A and 2B  show the concept of the destination dedicating technique according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the case shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the consumable good is an ink cartridge, and the printing apparatus is of an ink jet type as a printing type. 
     This destination dedicating technique can eliminate the dedicating processing and the managing processing in the manufacturing process and the distributing process. The first operation by the user is utilized for the dedication of the equipment. 
     The embodiment of the present invention utilizes the necessary operation for starting the use of an ink jet printer  11 , i.e., the operation of first mounting an ink cartridge  13  into the ink jet printer  11 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2A , a destination information storage area  15  in the ink jet printer  11  remains unrecorded until the ink cartridge  13  is first mounted into the ink jet printer  11 . 
     In the condition shown in  FIG. 2A , the ink cartridge authorizing function has not yet been dedicated in the ink jet printer  11  that is manufactured and sold by Company A. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2B , the destination information is recorded in the destination information storage area  15  by first mounting the ink cartridge  13  into the ink jet printer  11 . In this condition, the authorization of another ink cartridge  13  can be made. 
     The recording of the destination information is realized by copying the destination information read from an IC tag mounted on the ink cartridge  13  into the destination information storage area  15 . 
     However, if the ink cartridge  13  does not have a shape corresponding to the shape of the mounting space defined in the ink jet printer  11 , this ink cartridge  13  is difficult to be mounted into the ink jet printer  11 . 
     The user that first mounts the ink cartridge  13  into the ink jet printer  11  may be a personal user or a business user. Actually, it is expected that first mounting of any ink cartridge other than the ink cartridge  13  packaged with the ink jet printer  11  by the user is very rare. 
     Accordingly, by adopting the dedicating technique shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the ink cartridge authorizing function of every ink jet printer  11  can be dedicated to Company A through the operation by the user from the viewpoint of social common sense. 
     (A-2) Functional Configuration 
       FIG. 3  shows a functional configuration mounted in the ink jet printer  11 . The functional configuration shown in  FIG. 3  includes both the processing function as the destination dedicating apparatus and the processing function necessary for the usual operation after recording of the destination information. 
     The ink jet printer  11  shown in  FIG. 3  includes a destination information reading section  21 , a destination information recording section  23 , destination information storage area  25 , a destination information comparing section  27 , and a print permission controlling section  29 . 
     The processing function as the destination dedicating apparatus is provided by the destination information reading section  21 , the destination information recording section  23 , and the destination information storage area  25 . 
     The processing function necessary for the usual operation after recording of the destination information is provided by the destination information storage area  25 , the destination information comparing section  27 , and the print permission controlling section  29 . 
     The components of each processing function will now be described individually. 
     The destination information reading section  21  corresponds to a processing function for reading the destination information from the IC tag (storage area) mounted on the ink cartridge  13  when the ink cartridge  13  is first mounted into the ink jet printer  11  by the user. 
     The destination information recording section  23  corresponds to a processing function for recording the destination information read above into the destination information storage area  25  to thereby set the ink jet printer  11  to a dedicated machine for the ink cartridge  13  having the specific destination information. 
     The recording of the destination information is realized by copying the destination information stored in the IC tag. Examples of the destination information storage area  25  include a semiconductor memory, hard disk drive, and any nonvolatile storage medium. 
     The use of such a nonvolatile storage medium provides an advantage such that even when the ink jet printer  11  is powered off, the state of the ink jet printer  11  dedicated to the specific destination can be held. 
     The destination information comparing section  27  corresponds to a processing function for comparing the destination information read from the IC tag and the destination information recorded in the destination information storage area  25  every time the new ink cartridge  13  is mounted into the ink jet printer  11 . 
     The print permission controlling section  29  corresponds to a processing function for permitting the print using the new ink cartridge  13  mounted in the ink jet printer  11  when the destination information of the new ink cartridge  13  coincides with the destination information recorded. The print permission controlling section  29  also corresponds to a processing function for inhibiting the print using the new ink cartridge  13  mounted in the ink jet printer  11  when the destination information of the new ink cartridge  13  does not coincide with the destination information recorded. 
     (A-3) Effects of Destination Dedicating Function 
     The destination dedicating function is mounted in the ink jet printer  11 , so that the dedicating processing and the managing processing in the manufacturing process and the distributing process for the ink jet printer  11  can be eliminated. 
     Further, in the case of OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) manufacturing the ink jet printer  11  and providing commonality of main functional configurations except logos or the like on a housing of the ink jet printer  11 , it is possible to eliminate the need for developing dedicated firmware for individual purchasers or customers, the need for installing the dedicated firmware, and the need for managing the change in the dedicated firmware. 
     (B) Other Examples of Printing Apparatus 
     The destination dedicating technique mentioned above can be mounted into not only the ink jet printer  11  shown in  FIG. 4 , but also any other types of printing apparatus. 
     For example, the destination dedicating technique according to an embodiment of the present invention is applicable also to a laser type printing apparatus, or a so-called laser printer.  FIG. 5  shows a laser printer  31  to which the present invention is applicable. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , a toner cartridge  33  having an IC tag  35  is adapted to be mounted into the laser printer  31 . As in the ink jet printer  11 , the laser printer  31  includes a dedicating circuit  37  for realizing the destination dedicating function shown in  FIG. 3 . In modification, the destination dedicating function may be realized by software. The destination dedicating technique mentioned above is oriented both to a personal user and to a business user. 
     For example, the destination dedicating technique according to an embodiment of the present invention is applicable also to a print kiosk apparatus, which is a self-service type printing apparatus capable of printing a photographic image with a high image quality. The print kiosk apparatus is a kind of commercial equipment designed to be placed at a store, on a street, in a specific event place, etc. 
       FIG. 6  shows a print kiosk apparatus  41  in perspective. The print kiosk apparatus  41  has a box-shaped housing  43  in which a control unit and a thermal head type printing unit are mounted. 
     In the print kiosk apparatus  41 , a touch panel screen  45  is provided at a front upper portion of the housing  43 . The touch panel screen  45  has such a structure that a touch panel is provided on the surface of a display screen. 
     Further, a plurality of slots  47  for insertion of various external storage media are provided at a front central portion of the housing  43 . That is, the slots  47  are prepared so as to correspond to the shapes or standards of various portable storage media. Such portable storage media include disk-shaped optical reading type storage media, card-shaped or stick-shaped semiconductor storage media, and magnetic storage media. 
     Further, a print eject opening  49  is provided at a front lower portion of the housing  43 . A printed photo is ejected from the print eject opening  49 . 
     The print kiosk apparatus  41  uses an ink ribbon  51  instead of an ink cartridge and a toner cartridge. The ink ribbon  51  has such a structure that a sublimable material is coated on the surface of a base sheet at a portion corresponding to a print area. 
     The ink ribbon  51  is provided with an IC tag  53 . The ink ribbon  51  is simply mounted into a mounting space defined in the housing  43 , thereby obtaining a dedicated machine. 
     Further, a dedicating circuit  55  for realizing the destination dedicating function is provided as one function of the control unit for controlling the operation of the print kiosk apparatus  41 . 
     (C) Other Embodiments 
     (a) Application to Other Consumable Goods 
     In the above preferred embodiments, an IC tag is mounted on a cartridge for supplying ink or toner as a consumable good in printing. 
     However, the consumable good having the IC tag in the present invention is not limited to such a cartridge. For example, a rolled sheet of paper having an IC tag may be applied. The rolled sheet of paper is a long printing sheet rolled on a reel, and it is suitably used for panoramic printing or life-size printing, for example, in the case where an image is difficult to be printed on a cut sheet of paper. 
       FIGS. 7A and 7B  show a thermal head printer as an example of a printing apparatus using a rolled sheet. 
     A thermal head printer  61  has a front panel  63  adapted to be pivotably opened. In the open condition of the front panel  63 , an ink ribbon  65  and the rolled sheet of paper  67  can be mounted and removed. 
     In this embodiment, IC tags  69  and  71  are also mounted on the ink ribbon  65  and the rolled sheet of paper  67  respectively. These IC tags  69  and  71  preliminarily store destination information. 
     A reading section configured to read the destination information from these IC tags  69  and  71  is located at such a position that the communication between the reading section and each IC tag can be made. 
     In such a case that a plurality of consumable goods each having destination information are mounted into a printing apparatus, some destination dedicating methods can be considered. 
     One of the destination dedicating methods is such that the destination information stored in the first mounted one of the plural consumable goods is adopted. For example, in the case that the ink ribbon  65  is mounted earlier than the rolled sheet of paper  67 , the destination information stored in the ink ribbon  65  is adopted. 
     Another one of the destination dedicating methods is such that the plural pieces of destination information are read from the plural consumable goods, and if these pieces of destination information coincide with each other, the destination information is adopted. 
     Still another one of the destination dedicating methods is such that the plural consumable goods are dedicated individually or according to kinds. For example, the ink ribbon  65  is dedicated to Company A, and the rolled sheet of paper  67  is dedicated to Company B. 
     The adoption of any one of the destination dedicating methods depends on user&#39;s choice, business patterns, individual contracts, business practices, etc., and therefore it is difficult to be generally decided. 
     The configuration of mounting the IC tag  71  on the rolled sheet of paper  67  is applicable also to an ink jet printer. 
     Further, while the IC tag  71  is mounted on the rolled sheet of paper  67  in the case shown in  FIGS. 7A and 7B , an IC tag may be mounted on a rolled laminate film for covering the surface of a printing sheet of paper as a kind of consumable good. 
     (b) Mounting Area for Destination Information 
     As mentioned above, the destination information is preliminarily stored in an IC tag (IC chip with an antenna in the form of a tag or label) mounted on a consumable good. A noncontact communication technique is utilized to make the communication between the consumable good and the printing apparatus. As another method for reading the destination information from a consumable good, the consumable good may be brought into electrical contact with a printing apparatus to electrically read the destination information from the consumable good. 
     (c) Examples of Destination Information 
     The destination information mentioned above includes information for specifying the manufacturing company of the printing apparatus or information for specifying the purchaser of an OEM product. 
     As another example, the destination information may include information for specifying a country or region of use of the printing apparatus. In this case, the information on the country or region of use of the printing apparatus is stored in the storage area of a consumable good, and by first mounting this consumable good into the printing apparatus, this printing apparatus can be dedicated solely to the recorded country or region so that the use of this printing apparatus is allowed in only the recorded country or region. As a result, it is possible to prevent any trouble in other countries or regions unintended by the manufacturing company or selling company of the printing apparatus. 
     (d) Software 
     In the case that the function of dedicating the consumable good mountable into the printing apparatus to a specific destination is realized as a program, this program may be stored in a storage medium to be distributed or may be distributed via a network. Examples of the storage medium include a magnetic storage medium, optical storage medium, and semiconductor storage medium. 
     (e) Others 
     Various modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention. Further, various modifications and applications may be made on the basis of the above description of the present invention. 
     While the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, the description is illustrative and is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. Various modifications and changes may occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.