Patent Publication Number: US-2022221816-A1

Title: Monitoring device, image recordation monitoring method, and printer

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a Continuation of International Application No. PCT/JP2020/036236 filed on Sep. 25, 2020, which claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-179917 filed on Sep. 30, 2019. The entire disclosures of the prior applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a method for monitoring the number of sheets used in image recordation using recording materials supplied from two types of cartridges. Aspects of the present disclosure also relate to an image recordation monitoring device employing the above method, and a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium for the image recordation monitoring device. 
     There has been known an image recording device in which a cartridge storing a consumable material such as ink or toner is mounted and used. Some image recording devices of this type transmit status information such as a remaining amount of a consumable material such as ink or toner stored in the cartridge in response to a request from a terminal device such as a personal computer. 
     Further, as modes in which the image recording device is used, there is a mode in which a user of the image recording device uses the image recording device by making, with a service provider, a contract defining a charge based on the number of recorded sheets per month, and a mode in which a cartridge purchased by the user is used in the image recording device without making the contract. For example, based on information stored in a cartridge memory of the cartridge mounted in the image recording device, when it is determined that a cartridge to be charged is mounted in the image recording device, user information and the number of recorded sheets are transmitted from the image recording device to a server of the service provider. 
     SUMMARY 
     For example, in an image recording device on which a plurality of cartridges respectively storing recording materials of single colors having different hues may be mounted and which may record a color image, there may be a situation where both a cartridge to be charged and a cartridge not to be charged are mounted in the image recording device. The cartridge not to be charged is, for example, a cartridge purchased by the user. When the number of recorded sheets is counted in the situation, recording performed using a recording material stored in the cartridge purchased by the user (the cartridge not to be charged) is also charged. Therefore, the user may need to pay for the cartridge the user purchased by himself/herself and the charge based on the number of recorded sheets. 
     According to aspects of the present disclosure, there is provided a monitoring device configured to monitor image recordation by a recorder configured to perform image recordation on a sheet using a recording material supplied from a first cartridge and a second cartridge mounted to a cartridge mount. the monitoring device includes a memory and a controller. The controller is configured to obtain number-of-sheet information indicating a number of sheets on which the image recordation has been performed, first consumption amount information indicating a consumption amount of a recording material consumed from the first cartridge in the image recordation, and second consumption amount information indicating a consumption amount of a recording material consumed from the second cartridge in the image recordation, determine ratio information indicating a ratio of the recording material consumed from the second cartridge to a total consumption amount of the recording material consumed from the first cartridge and the recording material consumed from the second cartridge based on the obtained first consumption amount information and second consumption amount information, and store the obtained number-of-sheet information and the determined ratio information in the memory. 
     According to aspects of the present disclosure, there is further provided an image recordation monitoring method including obtaining number-of-sheet information indicating a number of sheets on which image recordation has been performed by a recorder using a recording material supplied from at least one of a first cartridge and a second cartridge mounted to a cartridge mount, first consumption amount information indicating a consumption amount of the recording material consumed from the first cartridge in the image recordation, and second consumption amount information indicating a consumption amount of the recording material consumed from the second cartridge in the image recordation, and determining, based on the obtained first consumption amount information and the obtained second consumption amount information, ratio information indicating a ratio of the recording material consumed from the second cartridge to a total consumption amount of the recording material consumed from the first cartridge and the recording material consumed from the second cartridge. 
     According to aspects of the present disclosure, there is further provided a printer including a cartridge mount for mounting a first cartridge and a second cartridge, a recorder configured to record an image on a sheet using a first recording material supplied from the first cartridge and a second recording material supplied from the second cartridge, a memory, and a controller. The controller is configured to obtain number-of-sheet information indicating a number of sheets on which an image is recorded in a particular term, obtain first consumption amount information indicating a first consumption amount of the first recording material consumed from the first cartridge in the particular term, obtain second consumption amount information indicating a second consumption amount of the second recording material consumed from the second cartridge in the particular term, determine ratio information indicating a ratio of the second consumption amount to a total consumption amount of the first consumption amount and the second consumption amount, and determine ratio-based number-of-sheet information based on the number-of-sheet information and the ratio information, the ratio-based number-of-sheet information indicating a number of sheets on which an image is recorded using the second recording material in the particular term. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a functional block diagram of a printer. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the printer with a cover opened. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic cross-sectional view of the printer. 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart of a recording process. 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart of an information transmission process. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Hereinafter, an embodiment according to aspects of the present disclosure will be described. It is noted that the embodiment described below is merely an example of aspects of the present disclosure and thus can be modified appropriately without changing the scope of the present disclosure. For example, orders of processes described below can be modified appropriately without changing the scope of the present disclosure. Also, some of the processes described below may be omitted as appropriate without changing the scope of the present disclosure. It is also noted that aspects of the present disclosure may be implemented on circuits (such as application specific integrated circuits) or in computer software as programs storable on computer-readable media including but not limited to RAMs, ROMs, flash memories, EEPROMs, CD-media, DVD-media, temporary storage, hard disk drives, floppy drives, permanent storage, and the like. 
     In the present embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a printer  10  used with a connection to a local network  13  such as a LAN or a WAN will be described. The printer  10  receives a recording instruction from a terminal device  19  connected to the local network  13  and records image data included in the recording instruction on a sheet. The terminal device  19  is a personal computer, a tablet, a portable terminal, or the like. When the terminal device  19  is a tablet or a portable terminal, the terminal device  19  transmits the recording instruction to the printer  10  through an access point provided in the local network  13 . The terminal device  19  is a device used by a user of the printer  10 . 
     The user of the printer  10  makes a contract with the service provider to use the printer  10 , or uses the printer  10  without making a contract with the service provider. The service provider is a person who provides the user with a service for supplying cartridges  15  to be used in the printer  10 . The service provider provides a service to the user of the printer  10  using a server  12  connected to the Internet  14 . The server  12  receives sheet count information, consumption amount information, a CTG serial number and the like transmitted by the printer  10  through the Internet  14 . 
     The local network  13  to which the printer  10  is connected is connected to the Internet  14  via a gateway device such as a router. The printer  10  communicates with the server  12  via the local network  13  and the Internet  14  using a communication protocol such as HTTP or HTTPs. Specifically, the printer  10  transmits an HTTP request to a URL disclosed by the server  12 . The server  12  receives the HTTP request transmitted by the printer  10 , and transmits a response to the received HTTP request to the printer  10  via the Internet  14 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the server  12  includes a controller  61 . The controller  61  includes a CPU  62 , a memory  63 , a communication bus  64 , and a communication interface (I/F)  65 . The CPU  62 , the memory  63 , and the communication I/F  65  are connected to a communication bus  64 . 
     The memory  63  includes a ROM  66  and a RAM  67 . The ROM  66  stores an OS and an application program. Instructions described in the OS and the application program are executed by the CPU  62 . The OS and the application program executed by the CPU  62  transmit and receive information and data through the communication I/F  65 , and store the received information and data in the memory  63 . The RAM  67  is used to execute the OS and the application program, and when the OS and the application program are executed, information and data are temporarily stored in the RAM  67 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the printer  10  includes a housing  20 , and a panel unit  21 , a cover  22 , a sheet feed tray  23  and a sheet discharge tray  24  held by the housing  20 . 
     The panel unit  21  includes a panel body  41 , a touchscreen  42  held by the panel body  41 , and a plurality of operation switches  45 . The panel body  41  has a rectangular plate shape and is attached to one surface of the housing  20 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the touchscreen  42  includes a display panel  43  configured to display an image, and a transparent film-shaped touch sensor  44  that is superimposed on the display panel  43 . The touch sensor  44  outputs position information indicating a position on the display panel  43  touched by the user. 
     The display panel  43  and the touch sensor  44  of the touchscreen  42 , and the operation switches  45  are connected to a controller  51  described later by cables or the like. The controller  51  outputs image data to the display panel  43  to cause the display panel  43  to display an image. The controller  51  receives the position information output from the touch sensor  44 . The controller  51  determines an object such as an icon displayed at a position indicated by the position information input from the touch sensor  44  as the object selected by the user. The controller  51  receives an operation signal output from the operation switch  45 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the sheet feed tray  23  is disposed at a lower portion of the housing  20  and is detachably held by the housing  20 . The sheet discharge tray  24  is disposed at a lower portion of the housing  20  and above the sheet feed tray  23 , and is held by the sheet feed tray  23  or the housing  20 . The cover  22  is disposed on the front surface of the housing  20  and is swingably held by the housing  20 . The cover  22  swings between a closed position (not shown) at which the cover  22  closes an opening  30  provided on the front surface of the housing  20  and an open position ( FIG. 2 ) at which the cover  22  opens the opening  30 . A mounting case  32  is disposed behind the opening  30  and held by the housing  20 . The mounting case  32  is configured to detachably hold the cartridges  15 . Since this configuration is well known, detailed description thereof is herein omitted. 
     The mounting case  32  detachably holds the plurality of cartridges  15 . In the illustrated example, the mounting case  32  detachably holds four cartridges  15 . Each of the four cartridges  15  stores recording material, for example, ink of one of magenta, cyan, yellow, and black colors. That is, the printer  10  is a so-called inkjet printer and is a so-called color printer. The mounting case  32  may detachably hold one or more cartridges  15  each containing toner instead of ink. That is, the printer  10  may be a so-called laser printer. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the mounting case  32  includes a cartridge I/F  49 . The cartridge I/F  49  includes terminals each corresponding to one of the cartridges  15 . The cartridge I/F  49  is disposed at a position where the terminals contact electrodes of IC chips  16  of respective cartridges  15  mounted in the mounting case  32 . The cartridge I/F  49  is connected to the controller  51  described later by a cable. It is noted that the cartridge I/F  49  may be an antenna, or a light emitting diode and a photodiode. That is, the cartridge I/F  49  and the IC-chip  16  may transmit and receive information through radio waves or light. 
     The cartridge  15  has a box shape having an internal space for storing ink. Since the basic configuration of the cartridge  15  is well known, detailed description thereof is herein omitted. The cartridge  15  includes the IC chip  16 . The IC chip  16  has an electrode that contacts the terminals of the cartridge I/F  49 , and an IC memory  17  ( FIG. 1 ) electrically connected to the electrode. Alternatively, the IC chip  16  has an antenna, or a light emitting diode and a photodiode in place of the electrode. The IC memory  17  stores various information. Specifically, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the IC memory  17  stores a model number, type information, an initial storing amount value, and a cartridge (CTG) serial number. 
     The model number is identification information assigned to the cartridge  15  in accordance with the color of ink stored in the cartridge  15  and the type of ink such as dye or pigment. The type information is information indicating whether the cartridge  15  is a cartridge for a contract usage mode or a cartridge for a normal usage mode. The contract usage mode is a mode in which the user uses the printer  10  while making a contract with the service provider, and the normal usage mode is a mode in which the user uses the printer  10  without making a contract with the service provider. The type information may be 1-bit data that is stored at a predetermined address of the IC memory  17  and that indicates “0” or “1.” “1” may indicate that the cartridge is for the contract usage mode. “0” may indicate that the cartridge is for the normal usage mode. However, the type information may be included in the model number. That is, one model number may indicate the color and type of one ink and that the cartridge  15  is for the normal usage mode or the contract usage mode. The cartridge for the contract usage mode is a first cartridge supplied by a service provider. The cartridge for the normal usage mode is a second cartridge included in a new printer  10 . The controller  51  of the printer  10  determines that the cartridge  15  for the normal usage mode or the contract usage mode is mounted to the mounting case  32  in response to reading the type information from the IC memory  17  of the cartridge  15  mounted to the mounting case  32  through the cartridge I/F  49 . 
     The initial storing amount value indicates an initial amount of ink stored in the cartridge  15 . The initial storing amount value is used for calculation of a remaining amount of ink in the cartridge  15  and the like by the controller  51 . The CTG serial number is a number for identifying the cartridge  15 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the housing  20  holds a recording engine  40  therein. The recording engine  40  mainly includes a sheet feed roller  25 , a conveying roller  26 , a discharge roller  27 , a platen  28 , and a recorder  29 . The sheet feed roller  25  is held by a frame provided in the housing  20  so as to contact a sheet placed on the sheet feed tray  23 . The sheet feed roller  25  is rotated by a motor. The rotating sheet feed roller  25  feeds the sheet to a conveyance path  37 . The conveyance path  37  is a space defined by a guide member. In the illustrated example, the conveyance path  37  extends in a curved manner from a rear end of the sheet feed tray  23  to a position above the sheet feed tray  23 , and then extends forward. 
     The conveying roller  26  is located downstream of the sheet feed tray  23  in a conveying direction of the sheet. The conveying roller  26  and a driven roller  35  constitute a roller pair. The conveying roller  26  is rotated by a motor. The rotating conveying roller  26  and driven roller  35  convey the sheet fed to the conveyance path  37  by the sheet feed roller  25  while nipping the sheet. The discharge roller  27  is located downstream of the conveying roller  26  in the conveying direction of the sheet. The discharge roller  27  and a driven roller  36  constitute a roller pair. The discharge roller  27  is rotated by a motor. The rotating discharge roller  27  and driven roller  36  convey the sheet while nipping the sheet, and discharge the sheet on the sheet discharge tray  24 . The platen  28  is located downstream of the conveying roller  26  and upstream of the discharge roller  27  in the conveying direction of the sheet. 
     The recorder  29  is located above the platen  28 . The recorder  29  may be movably held by a guide rail that is a part of the frame, or may be fixed to the frame. That is, the printer may be a so-called serial printer or a so-called line printer. The recorder  29  has a head  34 . The head  34  has channels therein through which ink flows. The channels communicate with the internal space of the cartridge  15  mounted in the mounting case  32  via a tube  31 . That is, the ink stored in the cartridge  15  is supplied to the head  34  through the tube  31 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the head  34  has a drive element  50 . A portion of the drive element  50  constitutes a channel inside the head  34 . The drive element  50  is electrically connected to the controller  51  by a cable or the like. The drive element  50  is a piezoelectric element or a heater. The drive element  50  of a piezoelectric element deforms by being supplied with a direct current voltage, applies pressure to ink in the channel, and causes ink droplets to be ejected from a nozzle that is an opening of the channel. The drive element  50  of a heater generates heat by being supplied with a direct current voltage, causes ink in the channel to bump, and causes ink droplets to be ejected from the nozzle. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the printer  10  includes the controller  51 . The controller  51  includes a CPU  52 , memory  53 , and a communication bus  54 . The CPU  52 , the memory  53 , the touchscreen  42 , the operation switches  45 , a communication I/F  47 , the drive element  50 , and the cartridge I/F  49  are connected to the communication bus  54 . That is, the CPU  52  is connected to the memory  53 , the touchscreen  42 , the operation switches  45 , the communication I/F  47 , the drive element  50 , and the cartridge I/F  49  via the communication bus  54  so as to exchange information and data with each other. 
     The memory  53  includes a ROM  55 , a RAM  56 , and an EEPROM  57 . The ROM  55  stores an OS and a control program in advance. Instructions described in the OS and the control program are executed by the CPU  52 . That is, the OS and the control program are executed by the CPU  52 . The OS and the control program executed by the CPU  52  causes the display panel  43  to display an image and receives an input from the user through the touch sensor  44  and/or the operation switches  45 . The OS and the control program executed by the CPU  52  transmit and receive information and data through the communication I/F  47  and the cartridge I/F  49 , and stores the received information and data in the memory  53 . The OS and the control program executed by the CPU  52  output drive signals to the drive element  50  to record an image on a sheet. 
     The RAM  56  is used for execution of the OS and control program, and temporarily stores information and data in the execution of the OS and control program. The EEPROM  57  stores printer information including a main body serial number and a model name, sheet count information, consumption amount information, and the like. When the printer  10  is used in the contract usage mode, the EEPROM  57  stores the URL disclosed by the server  12 . 
     The “printer information” is a management information base (MIB) stored in the memory  53 , and indicates information including the model name, the main body serial number, and the like. That is, the “printer information” is information stored in advance in the memory  53 . The “printer information” may include information stored in the EEPROM  57  of the memory  53  after the printer  10  is installed, such as a private IP address assigned to the printer  10  by the gateway device in the local network  13 . 
     The “sheet count information” is information indicating the number of sheets recorded by the recording engine  40 , and is information counted by the controller  51  and stored in the EEPROM  57  of the memory  53 . The controller  51  counts the number of sheets on which images have been recorded by the recording engine  40 , and stores the counted number of sheets as sheet count information in the EEPROM  57  of the memory  53 . 
     The “consumption amount information” is information indicating a consumption amount of recording material, e.g., an amount of ink, consumed by the recording engine  40 , and is information counted by the controller  51  and stored in the EEPROM  57  of the memory  53 . The controller  51  counts the number of times the drive element  50  is driven as a dot count value. The controller  51  calculates a cumulative value of the dot count value, for each cartridge  15 , and stores, as consumption amount information, the cumulative value for each cartridge  15  in the EEPROM  57  of the memory  53  in association with the CTG serial number read from the memory  17  of each cartridge  15  through the cartridge I/F  49 . The controller  51  calculates a remaining amount of ink stored in each cartridge  15  mounted in the mounting case  32  by subtracting the cumulative value from the initial storing amount value read from the IC memory  17  through the cartridge I/F  49 . 
     Recording Process 
     A recording process by the printer  10  will be described. The printer  10  receives a recording instruction from the terminal device  19  connected to the local network  13 , and starts the recording process illustrated in  FIG. 4  for recording image data included in the recording instruction on a sheet. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that both the cartridge for the contract usage mode and the cartridge for the normal usage mode are mounted in the mounting case  32  of the printer  10 . Specifically, it is assumed that three cartridges  15  respectively storing first recording material, e.g., cyan, magenta, and yellow inks and for the contract usage mode, and one cartridge  15  storing second recording material, e.g., black ink and for the normal usage mode are mounted in the mounting case  32 . The controller  51  stores, in the EEPROM  57  of the memory  53 , information indicating that at least one cartridge  15  for the contract usage mode is mounted in response to at least one cartridge  15  for the contract usage mode is mounted in the mounting case  32 . 
     The controller  51  of the printer  10  that has started the recording process obtains the cumulative value of the dot count value for each cartridge  15  mounted in the mounting case  32  (S 11 ). The cumulative value of the dot count value for each cartridge  15  is stored in the EEPROM  57  of the memory  53  in association with the CTG serial number as consumption amount information. The controller  51  stores each cumulative value of the dot count value stored in the EEPROM  57  in the RAM  56  of the memory  53  (S 12 ). 
     The controller  51  stores the cumulative values of the dot count values for the four cartridges  15  in the RAM  56  (S 13 : Yes), and then executes recording based on the image data included in the recording instruction (S 14 ). When a color image is recorded, each ink stored in each cartridge  15  is ejected from the head  34  of the recorder  29 . The controller  51  counts the number of times of driving the drive element  50  of the head  34  as a dot count value, calculates an accumulated value of each dot count value in association with the CTG serial number of each cartridge  15 , and stores the accumulated value in the EEPROM  57  of the memory  53 . 
     When the recording is completed, the controller  51  obtains the cumulative value of the dot count value for each cartridge  15  from the EEPROM  57  (S 15 ). Then, the controller  15  subtracts the cumulative value of the dot count value for each cartridge  15  before recording stored in the RAM  56  from the obtained cumulative value of the dot count value for each cartridge  15  to determine a used dot count value corresponding to the amount of ink used in the recording, and stores the used dot count value in the RAM  56  (S 16 ). When the recording is completed, the controller  51  adds the number of sheets to the sheet count information stored in the EEPROM  57  of the memory  53 . 
     After storing the used dot count values for all the cartridges  15  in the RAM  56  (S 17 : Yes), the controller  51  determines the type of each cartridge  15  mounted in the mounting case  32  (S 18 ). The controller  51  reads the type information from the IC memory  17  of each cartridge  15  mounted in the mounting case  32 , and determines whether each cartridge  15  is for the contract usage mode or the normal usage mode (S 19 ). 
     In response to determining that the cartridge  15  is for the contract usage mode (S 19 : Yes), the controller  51  adds the used dot count value of the cartridge  15  for the contract usage mode to a cumulative dot count value for the contract usage mode, and stores the result in the EEPROM  57  of the memory  53  (S 20 ). In the present embodiment, the used dot count values of the three cartridges  15  respectively storing cyan, magenta, and yellow are added to the cumulative dot count value for the contract usage mode. 
     In response to determining that the cartridge  15  is for the normal usage mode (S 19 : No), the controller  51  adds the used dot count value of the cartridge  15  for the normal usage mode to a cumulative dot count value for the normal usage mode, and stores the result in the EEPROM  57  of the memory  53  (S 21 ). In the present embodiment, the used dot count value for the cartridge  15  storing black ink is added to the cumulative dot count value for the normal usage mode. When the addition of the used dot count values for all the cartridges  15  is completed (S 22 : Yes), the controller  51  ends the recording process. 
     Transmission of Information to Server  12   
     Hereinafter, information transmission process for transmitting information from the printer  10  to the server  12  will be described. As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the controller  51  of the printer  10  determines whether the current timing is a preset timing (S 31 ). The controller  51  obtains the current date and time from an internal clock or external information, and compares the obtained current date and time with the preset timing stored in the EEPROM  57  of the memory  53 . Then, in response to the current timing being the preset timing (S 31 : Yes), for example, in response to the current timing being the first day of each month, the controller  51  determines whether the information indicating that at least one cartridge  15  for the contract usage mode is mounted is stored in the EEPROM  57  of the memory  53  (S 32 ). When the information indicating that at least one cartridge  15  for the contract usage mode is mounted is not stored in the EEPROM  57  of the memory  53  (S 32 : No), that is, when only the cartridges  15  for the normal usage mode are mounted, the controller  51  ends the process without transmitting information to the server  12 . 
     When the information indicating that at least one cartridge  15  for the contract usage mode is mounted is stored in the EEPROM  57  of the memory  53  (S 32 : Yes), the controller  51  obtains a first consumption amount, e.g., the cumulative dot count value for the contract usage mode, and a second consumption amount, e.g., the cumulative dot count value for the normal usage mode, stored in the EEPROM  57  of the memory  53  (S 33 ). Then, the controller  51  calculates a total dot count value by adding the obtained cumulative dot count value for the contract usage mode and the cumulative dot count value for the normal usage mode (S 34 ). 
     Then, the controller  51  calculates a ratio (e.g., percentage) of the cumulative dot count value for the normal usage mode to the calculated total dot count value as ratio information, and stores the ratio information in the RAM  56  of the memory  53  (S 35 ). The total dot count value corresponds to the total amount of ink used in a particular term, e.g., one month. The cumulative dot count value for the normal usage mode corresponds to the total amount of ink used in the particular term, e.g., one month from one or more cartridges  15  for the normal usage mode. The controller  51  further obtains the sheet count information stored in the EEPROM  57  of the memory  53  (S 36 ). The sheet count information stored in the EEPROM  57  is the number of sheets recorded in the particular term, e.g., one month. Then, the controller  51  multiplies the number of sheets indicated by the sheet count information by the ratio indicated by the ratio information to calculate the number of sheets corresponding to the ratio of the ink consumption amount from one or more cartridges  15  for the normal usage mode to the total ink consumption amount in the particular term, e.g., one month, and stores the calculated number of sheets in the RAM  57  as ratio-based number-of-sheet information (S 37 ). 
     Then, the controller  51  transmits the printer information, the sheet count information, and the ratio-based number-of-sheet information to the server  12  through the local network  13  and the Internet  14  (S 38 ). It is note that the controller  51  may transmit, to the server  12 , the consumption amount information and other information related to the state of the printer  10  together with the printer information, the sheet count information, and the ratio-based number-of-sheet information. Then, the controller  51  resets the sheet count information, the ratio-based number-of-sheet information, and each cumulative dot count value stored in the EEPROM  57  of the memory  53  (S 39 ), and ends the information transmission process. 
     The server  12  which received the printer information, the sheet count information, and the ratio-based number-of-sheet information from the printer  10  calculates, for each printer specified by the printer information, a charge based on the number of sheets recorded from the previous reset up to the current timing (e.g., the number of sheets recorded in the particular term, e.g., one month) based on the sheet count information, and stores the charge in the memory  63 . It is assumed that, in the contract between the user and the service provider, a charge system for determining a charge is defined to indicate that a particular number of sheets recorded in one month belongs to one of preset ranges of the number of sheets. Examples of the preset ranges of the number of sheets are less than 100 sheets, 100 to 500 sheets, 501 to 1000 sheets, and every 1000 sheets from 1001 sheets. The server  12  adds, for each printer, the number of sheets calculated based on the ratio-based number-of-sheet information to each preset range of the number of sheets and stores the result in the memory  63  when calculating the charge for the next month. When the number of sheets calculated based on the ratio-based number-of-sheet information is 200 sheets, the charge for the next month is calculated based on ranges of less than 300 sheets, 300 to 700 sheets, 701 to 1200 sheets, and every 1000 sheets from 1201 sheets. 
     Effects of Embodiment 
     According to the above-described embodiment, the ratio of the amount of ink consumed from one or more cartridges  15  for the normal usage mode to the total amount of ink consumed from all the cartridges  15  with respect to the number of sheets in a state in which one or more cartridges  15  for the contract usage mode and one or more cartridges  15  for the normal usage mode are mounted in the mounting case  32  is obtained. By this configuration, the server  12  monitors the number of sheets equivalent to the ink consumed from one or more cartridges  15  for the normal usage mode. Therefore, a charge based on the amount of ink consumed from one or more cartridges  15  for the normal usage mode can be deducted. 
     Modifications 
     In the above-described embodiment, the controller  51  of the printer  10  calculates the ratio-based number-of-sheet information to be transmitted to the server  12 . In other words, the printer  10  functions as a monitoring device configured to monitor image recordation by the recorder  29  using ink supplied from the cartridge  15  for the contract usage mode and the cartridge  15  for the normal usage mode. However, instead of the controller  51 , the controller  61  of the server  12  may calculate the ratio-based number-of-sheet information. In this case, every time recording is executed, the controller  51  of the printer  10  transmits the cumulative dot count value for each cartridge  15  to the server  12  together with the printer information. The controller  61  of the server  12  that has received the cumulative dot count value for each cartridge  15  calculates the used dot count value for each cartridge, calculates the cumulative dot count value for the contract usage mode and the cumulative dot count value for the normal usage mode, and calculates the ratio-based number-of-sheet information at the preset timing. That is, the controller  61  of the server  12  executes processes similar to steps S 15  to S 22  illustrated in  FIG. 4  and processes similar to steps S 31  to S 39  illustrated in  FIG. 5 . In other words, the server  12  may function as the monitoring device. 
     Alternatively, a system including the printer  10  and the server  12  of the above-described embodiment may function as the monitoring device. For example, every time recording is executed, the controller  51  of the printer  10  calculates the cumulative dot count value for one or more cartridges  15  for the contract usage mode and the cumulative dot count value for one or more cartridge  15  for the normal usage mode, and stores the results in the memory  53 . When the current timing is the preset timing (e.g., the first day of each month), the controller  51  transmits the cumulative dot count value for one or more cartridges  15  for the contract usage mode and the cumulative dot count value for one or more cartridges  15  for the normal usage mode stored in the memory  53  to the server  12 . Then, the controller  61  of the server  12  may execute steps S 34  to S 37  illustrated in  FIG. 5 . In this case, the process of step S 38  is not needed. 
     Further, the controller  61  of the server  12  may calculate the cumulative dot count value. In this case, the controller  51  of the printer  10  executes the processes of steps S 11  to S 17  in each recording, and the controller  61  of the server  12  obtains the used dot count value for each cartridge  15  stored in the memory  53  of the printer  10  at every preset timing (e.g., every one hour) and stores the obtained used dot count value in the memory  63 . The controller  61  of the server  12  obtains the type information of each cartridge  15  together with the used dot count value for each cartridge  15 , and executes the processes on and after step S 18 . Then, when the controller  61  of the server  12  determines that the current timing is a preset timing (e.g., the first day of each month) as in step S 31  of  FIG. 5 , the controller  61  executes the processes on and after step S 32 . In this case, the obtained and calculated values are stored in the memory  63  of the server  12  instead of the memory  53  of the printer  10 . Also, in the process of step S 36 , the sheet count information is obtained from the memory  53  of the printer  10 . Further, the process of step S 38  is not needed. 
     In the above-described embodiment, the first of each month is set as the preset timing in step S 31 , but the preset timing is not limited to the first day of each month. For example, timings such as every seven days or every three months may be set as the preset timing. The controller  51  or the controller  61  compares the current date and time with the preset timing to determine whether the preset timing has come. 
     In the above-described embodiment, the controller  51  stores, in the EEPROM  57  of the memory  53 , information indicating that at least one cartridge  15  for the contract usage mode is mounted in response to at least one cartridge  15  for the contract usage mode is mounted in the mounting case  32  and, in step S 32 , the controller  51  determines whether there is the information indicating that at least one cartridge  15  for the contract usage mode is mounted in the mounting case  32 . However, the controller  51  may store, in the EEPROM  57  of the memory  53 , information indicating that both the cartridge  15  for the contract usage mode and the cartridge  15  for the normal usage mode are mounted, or information indicating that only the cartridges  15  for the normal usage mode are mounted, in accordance with the types of the cartridges  15  mounted in the mounting case  32 . In this case, the controller  51  may determine whether there is the information indicating that both the cartridge  15  for the contract usage mode and the cartridge  15  for the normal usage mode are mounted, or there is the information indicating that only the cartridges  15  for the normal usage mode are mounted. 
     In the above-described embodiment, the server  12  adds the number of sheets calculated based on the ratio-based number-of-sheet information to each range of the number of sheets that is set in advance when calculating the charge at the next preset timing to make the deduction based on the number of sheets calculated based on the ratio-based number-of-sheet information. However, the deduction based on the number of sheets calculated based on the ratio-based number-of-sheet information may be made in different way. For example, a discount amount corresponding to the number of sheets calculated based on the ratio-based number-of-sheet information may be calculated, and the calculated discount amount may be deducted from the charge for this or next month. 
     In the above-described embodiment, the dot count value counted by the controller  51 , that is, the number of times the drive element  50  has been driven is used as the consumption amount information. However, an ink consumption amount calculated based on the recording data may be used as the consumption amount information. 
     In the above-described embodiment, as the ratio information and the ratio-based number-of-sheet information, information based on the ink consumption amount of one or more cartridges  15  for the normal usage mode with respect to the ink consumption amount of all the cartridges  15  is used, but information based on the ink consumption amount of one or more cartridges  15  for the contract usage mode with respect to the ink consumption amount of all the cartridges  15  may be calculated. In this case, since the ratio-based number-of-sheet information indicates the number of sheets corresponding to the ink consumed from one or more cartridges  15  for the contract usage mode, charging based on the ink consumption amount from one or more cartridges  15  for the contract usage mode is realized by calculating the charge based on the ratio-based number-of-sheet information. In other words, there is no need to calculate an amount to be deducted. 
     In the above-described embodiment, the controller  51  calculates and accumulates the used dot count value for each cartridge  15  every time recording is completed. However, the controller  51  may calculate and accumulate the used dot count value for each cartridge  15  at another preset timing such as every hour. The controller  51  or the controller  61  compares the current date and time with the other preset timing to determine whether the other preset timing has come. 
     Regardless of whether there is a charge based on the number of sheets with the image recording device, when an accessory cartridge included in the image recording device and a cartridge separately purchased by the user are mounted to the image recording device at the same time, grasping a usage ratio of the accessory cartridge by each user of the image recording device is useful for analyzing the usage frequency of the accessory cartridge, the amount of recording material that needs to be filled in the accessory cartridge, and the like. 
     The printer  10  in the above-described embodiment is an example of a monitoring device and an image recording device according to aspects of the present disclosure. The mounting case  32  in the above-described embodiment is an example of a cartridge mount according to aspects of the present disclosure. The ink in the above-described embodiment is an example of a recoding material according to aspects of the present disclosure. The sheet count information in the above-described embodiment is an example of number-of-sheet information according to aspects of the present disclosure. The end of the recording and the other preset timing such as every hour in the above-described embodiment and modifications are examples of a first timing according to aspects of the present disclosure. The used dot count value for the cartridge  15  for the contract usage mode in the above-described embodiment is an example of first consumption amount information according to aspects of the present disclosure. The used dot count value for the cartridge  15  for the normal usage mode in the above-described embodiment is an example second consumption amount information according to aspects of the present disclosure. The preset timings such as the first day of each month, every seven days, and every three months in the above-described embodiment and modifications are examples of a second timing according to aspects of the present disclosure.