Patent Description:
The printing system may be for example a printing system or a copying system. Hereinafter the printing system may also be called "printer".

The term "relative humidity" may hereinafter be abbreviated to the term "humidity".

For instance, in a network system, a personal workstation of a user and the printing system are interconnected for printing digital print files that have been made in a workstation or for scanning documents at the printing system and transferring the digital scan data files from the printing system to a workstation. Digital image reproduction apparatuses can advantageously be used as printing systems and scanners. Such a digital image apparatus includes a scanner unit, a print unit, a memory, and a user interface integrated in the apparatus or remotely usable by an operator. The user interface is provided with an input capability and a display that permit a user to give operator control commands to the apparatus. Further, the printing system includes a network connection unit for coupling to a network for the purpose of communication with a digital external environment having at least a number of workstations of users, and a control unit connected to the scanner unit, printing system unit, memory and network connection unit, and, via the network connection unit, to the workstations and other printing systems in the network.

The printing system is placed in an environment which may be a building or a part of a building. The building may have a certain climate with respect to environmental values like temperature and humidity. Printing systems are known which have a temperature and humidity sensor attached on the outside of the printing system to register the temperature and humidity in the direct and near environment outside of the printing system.

<CIT> describes a registration of temperature and humidity outside the printer and a warning if allowable ranges are exceeded. The ranges are related and derived from the media which is going to be used by the printing system.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a user interface appropriate for the printing system as mentioned here-above with respect to a temperature and humidity registration of the direct environment of the printing system, as defined in the appended claims.

To this end, said user interface comprises a first display item for displaying a value of a humidity of an environment of the printing system, a second display item for displaying a value of a temperature of the environment of the printing system and a third display item comprising an indicator for indicating that the displayed humidity value or the displayed temperature value is outside value ranges which are predetermined for a proper functioning of the printing system. Due to the first display item, the second display item and the third display item the operator of the printing system is immediately aware of the environmental values of the printing system and can take action if needed. The operator is aware that the printing system operates inside or outside the specified environmental humidity and temperature conditions. Outside the specified conditions, it is possible that the printing system does not operate well, e.g. the printing system does not reach a ready state. The present invention leads to service costs savings. The operator is now aware that the printing system is not operating according expectations due to environmental conditions that are out of the predetermined ranges. Instead of calling a service technician, the operator will improve the print engine environmental conditions for example by using heating, cooling and/or (de)humidification equipment.

According to an embodiment the user interface is a local user interface attached to or integrated in the outside of the printing system or a remote user interface wired or wirelessly connected to the printing system via a network.

According to a further embodiment the user interface is a mobile device.

According to an embodiment the environment of the printing system is at most a part of a building.

According to an embodiment the indicator is a colored ambient icon. The colors may be chosen to be signal colors like red, orange, yellow, blue or green.

According to an embodiment the user interface comprises a fourth display item for displaying an advice for the operator of the printing system when the third display item displays a humidity value or a temperature value which is outside the predetermined value ranges.

According to an embodiment the advice is an advice selected out of an advice for cooling down the environment of the printing system, an advice for warming up the environment of the printing system, an advice for humidification of the environment of the printing system, and an advice for dehumidification of the environment of the printing system.

The present invention further relates to a printing system comprising a user interface according to the invention, the printing system comprising an ambient sensor attached to the outside of the printing system in order to register values of a temperature and a humidity of the environment of the printing system and a print controller comprising a memory comprising predetermined value ranges for a temperature and a humidity needed for a proper functioning of the printing system, the print controller being configured to receive the registered values from the ambient sensor and to apply electronic signals to the user interface based on the predetermined value ranges in order to enable the first, second, and third display items to display respectively the registered humidity value, the registered temperature value and the indicator.

According to an embodiment the printing system comprises a plurality of components with functional specifications from which the predetermined values ranges are derived.

According to an embodiment the ambient sensor is capable of registering temperature and humidity. For example an RVT sensor may be used to measure a temperature and a humidity.

According to an embodiment the printing system comprises a user interface according to the invention, wherein the memory of the print controller comprises a data set of advices for the operator, each advice coupled to at least a value of temperature and/or humidity, and the print controller is configured to retrieve an advice from the data set in accordance with the registered humidity and temperature and to apply a corresponding electronic signal to the user interface in order to enable the fourth display item to display the retrieved advice.

According to an embodiment the print controller is configured to receive the registered humidity and temperature values in the memory of the print controller at regular time intervals.

According to an embodiment the print controller is configured to log the registered humidity and temperature values in the memory of the print controller at regular time intervals.

According to an embodiment the print controller is configured to receive the registered values from the ambient sensor during a running process of the printing system which is a starting up process, a printing process, a calibration process, a maintenance process or a shutdown process.

According to an embodiment the print controller is configured to continue the running process of the printing system despite a receipt of a registered value which lies outside the corresponding predetermined range.

The present inventio also relates to a method for a printing system according to the present invention having a user interface according to the present invention, the method comprising the steps of.

Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein-below and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:.

A number of embodiments will now be described in conjunction with the drawings, in which same reference numerals refer to like elements.

<FIG> shows three printers 1A, 1B, 1C which are connected to a network N.

<FIG> shows schematically a printing system 1A which comprises at least one input holder 2A, 3A for holding media which is intended to be used for printing of print jobs from the print job queue of the printing system 1A by means of a printing unit (not shown). The printing unit may comprise at least one print head for adhering marking material like ink or toner to the media. The media in the least one input holder 2A, 3A is transported to a print unit of the printing system 1A. The printing system 1A also comprises a local user interface 5A. While a specific printing system is shown and described, the disclosed embodiments may be used with other types of a printing system such as an inkjet printing system, an electrographic printing system, a cut sheet printing system, a roll fed printing system, etc..

The printing system 1B also comprises a local user interface 5B, and at least one input holder 2B, 3B.

Another printing system 1C is also connected to the network N. The printing system 1C comprises an input roll holder for holding an input roll 3C, a user interface 5C and a print controller 4C for controlling the printing process on the input roll 3C and maintaining a print job queue residing in the print controller 4C.

The printing systems 1A, 1B, 1C are digitally connected to a network N for bi-directional data signal transfer. The printing systems 1A, 1B, 1C comprise a print controller 4A, 4B, 4C respectively for controlling the printing process. The print controller 4A, 4B, 4C is a computer or server or a workstation, connected to the print engine of the printing system 1A, 1B, 1C respectively and connected to the digital environment of the printing system, for example the network N for transmitting a submitted print job to the printing system. In <FIG> the print controllers 4A, 4B, 4C are positioned inside the printing systems 1A, 1B, 1C respectively, but the print controllers may also be positioned outside the printing systems 1A, 1B, 1C in connection with the network N, for example in at least one of the workstations 11A, 11B, 11C. A print engine of the printing system 1A, 1B, 1C comprises a print head or print assembly for ejecting and/or fixing marking material to media and a paper path for transporting the media from the input holders 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 3C to the print head or print assembly. The print head or print assembly may be an inkjet print head, a direct imaging toner assembly or an indirect imaging toner assembly. While a media type is transported along the paper path, the media type receives the marking material from the print head or print assembly before the printed media is output in an output holder.

An operator <NUM> present in the neighbourhood of the printing systems 1A, 1B, 1C or even in another building than the printing systems 1A, 1B, 1C may use a remote wireless user interface <NUM> displaying printer processing information <NUM> of the printers 1A, 1B, 1C. The local user interfaces 5A, 5B, 5C and the remote user interface <NUM> are suitable for displaying user interface windows for controlling the print job queue residing in the print controller 4A, 4B, 4C respectively. The local user interfaces 5A, 5B, 5C and the wireless remote user interfaces <NUM> are suitable for displaying the environmental data according to the invention, e.g. the first display item of humidity, the second display item of temperature and the third display item of an indicator according to the present invention. In a further embodiment the user interface window displays the fourth display item of an advice for the operator of the printers 1A, 1B, 1C. In another embodiment a computer in the network N has a wired (or even wireless) remote user interface for displaying and controlling the print job queue and the environmental data of the printing systems 1A, 1B, 1C like the work stations 11A, 11B, 11C in <FIG>.

The printing systems 1A, 1B, 1C comprise ambient sensors 6A, 6B, 6C respectively attached to the outside of the printing systems 1A, 1B, 1C respectively. The ambient sensor 6A, 6B, 6C are capable of registering and measuring values of a temperature and a humidity of the environment of the printing system 1A, 1B, 1C. The print controller 4A, 4B, 4C comprises a memory comprising predetermined value ranges for a temperature and a humidity needed for a proper functioning of the printing system 1A, 1B, 1C. The print controller 4A, 4B, 4C is configured to receive the registered values from the ambient sensor 6A, 6B, 6C and to apply electronic signals to the user interface 5A, 5B, 5C, <NUM> based on the predetermined value ranges to show the registered values in a user interface window as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>.

<FIG> shows an example of a user interface window <NUM> of a user interface for the printing system 1A according to the present invention. In an alternative embodiment part of the functionality - like buttons - of this user interface window is designed as hardware buttons near the user interface window <NUM>. The user interface window <NUM> may be opened at the local user interface 5A in <FIG> and shows a representation of the print job queue residing in the print controller 4A in <FIG>.

The user interface <NUM> comprise a top bar which is always visible on the user interface window <NUM>. The top bar comprises a coloured icon <NUM> for indicating the overall state of the printer. In this example the printer is warming up as indicated by the message <NUM> and the coloured icon <NUM> is blue. The top bar comprises a message area <NUM> for showing messages to the operator. The top bar comprises a signalling icon <NUM> for indicating a special state of the printer. In this example the signalling icon <NUM> is coloured - it may blink - and contains a small text. The colour of the icon and the text together determine a special state of the printer. In this example the colour of the icon is red and the text is "ENV". The red colour and the text "ENV" indicate that at least one of the ambient parameter values is out of range. The connection between the signalling icon and the ambient parameter which is out of range is in <FIG> indicated by a line <NUM> between the signalling icon and the ambient parameter which value is out of range. The line is for educational purposes and not shown on the user interface window <NUM> when in use. According to an embodiment the user interface is configured to navigate to a panel <NUM> of the user interface window <NUM> when the signalling icon <NUM> is pressed. The panel <NUM> shows more information regarding the environmental parameters.

The user interface window <NUM> comprises a left bar with a plurality of buttons for operator options. The left bar is always visible in the user interface window <NUM>. In this example the button <NUM> labelled with "Printer" is selected.

The user interface window <NUM> comprises a lower bar <NUM> with a button <NUM> for access to a job schedule, a button <NUM> for access to a print job queue, a button <NUM> for access to the tray for holding media and a button <NUM> for access to system settings and parameters. The button <NUM> for access to the system settings and parameters is selected to show a panel for a state of the supplies like ink and liquids, a panel for a state of tissue ribbons, a panel for a state of waste of the supplies, and a panel for a state of the paper modules and a panel <NUM> for a state of the ambient parameters <NUM>, <NUM>.

A first ambient parameter <NUM> is a humidity percentage. A second ambient parameter <NUM> is a temperature. The values of the ambient parameters <NUM>, <NUM> are shown in the panel <NUM>. In this example, the humidity has a percentage of <NUM> % and the temperature value is <NUM>. Icons <NUM> are shown in the panel <NUM> for each ambient parameter. The icons <NUM> may have different colours. In this example the icon for the humidity has a blue colour meaning that the <NUM> % humidity is not out of range and the icon <NUM> for the temperature has a red colour meaning that the temperature value of <NUM> is out of range.

The ranges for the ambient parameter values are predetermined and stored in the memory of the printer controller. An example of a predetermined relative humidity range is a range from <NUM> % to <NUM> %. An example of a predetermined temperature range is a range from <NUM> to <NUM>.

The ranges are predetermined by taking into account the specifications of the printer components which proper functioning is dependent on the ambient parameter values. Examples of such printer components are a print box comprising printheads, an ink unit and a maintenance unit inside which can probably functioning by controlled print box conditions which are depending on the ambient situation. Proper functioning means i.e. prevent drying in of ink in printheads, right cleaning/wiping during maintenance etc..

When a red ambient icon <NUM>, <NUM> is shown, according to an embodiment of the invention the printer is not stopped. The print process like warming up, printing, scanning, calibrating, shutting down etc. which is currently occurring is not stopped, but continued. This is advantageous, since the operator is in control. The operator can deliberately decide to continue because it may be difficult to change the environment conditions and the printer behavior is acceptable.

The user interface window <NUM> of <FIG> is displayed on the user interface 5A of printer 1A, but a user interface window comprising environmental information and indicators may also be shown on a mobile device <NUM> like a tablet computer or a mobile phone in a reduced format. Users of a mobile may also receive notifications on their mobile device when the environmental parameter values are out of the acceptable range. Also the user interface window <NUM> may be shown on the computer 11A, 11B, 11C connected to the printer 1A, 1B, 1C via the network N. The user interface window <NUM> may also be part of a web based application which users can access remotely in a browser application.

<FIG> shows a user interface window <NUM> according to the present invention. The user interface window is similar to the user interface window <NUM>, but now contains an advice area <NUM> for displaying an advice for the operator when at least one of the environmental parameter values are out of range. In this example the relative humidity is <NUM> % which is inside the acceptable range of <NUM> % - <NUM> %. The temperature of the environment of the printer is <NUM>. This temperature is outside of the acceptable range of <NUM> - <NUM>. Therefore the advice for the operator which is shown in the advice area <NUM> is to heat up the environment of the printer up to the lower bound temperature of <NUM>. The environment of the printer may be a chamber or production room in which the printer is positioned or any other part of a building which may be temperature and/or humidity controlled by corresponding equipment.

<FIG> shows a flow diagram of an embodiment of a method according to the invention. The method is suitable for a printing system according to the invention which has a user interface according to the invention.

The method starts in a starting point A which leads to a first step S1.

In the first step S1 a process is running on the printing system. The process is for example a starting up process, a printing process, a scanning process, a calibration process, a proofing process, a shutdown process, a media transfer process, etc..

In a second step S2 values for a temperature and a humidity of an environment of the printer are registered by means of an ambient sensor attached to an outside of the printing system.

In a third step S3 the registered values are stored in memory of the print controller and compared with predetermined value ranges stored in the memory.

In a fourth step S4 the first, second and third display item according to the invention are displayed on a user interface window of the user interface of the printing system. In a further embodiment the fourth display item being an advice for the operator is displayed on a user interface window of the user interface of the printing system.

In a fifth step S5 the process is kept running on the printing system, whether or not a registered value is out of the corresponding predetermined range.

In principle, the method is a continuous process of registering, comparing and displaying as long as the printing system is operational.

Claim 1:
A printing system comprising a user interface (5A, 5B, 5C, <NUM>) for displaying printing process information (<NUM>) of a printing system (1A, 1B, 1C), wherein the user interface (5A, 5B, 5C, <NUM>) comprising a first display item (<NUM>) for displaying a value of a relative humidity of an environment of the printing system, a second display item (<NUM>) for displaying a value of a temperature of the environment of the printing system and a third display item (<NUM>) comprising an indicator for indicating whether or not the displayed relative humidity value or the displayed temperature value is outside value ranges which are predetermined for a proper functioning of the printing system,
wherein the printing system (1A, 1B, 1C) comprises an ambient sensor (6A, 6B, 6C) attached to the outside of the printing system in order to register values of a temperature and a relative humidity of the environment of the printing system and a print controller (4A, 4B, 4C) comprising a memory comprising predetermined value ranges for a temperature and a relative humidity needed for a proper functioning of the printing system,
wherein the print controller is configured to receive the registered values from the ambient sensor and to apply electronic signals to the user interface based on the predetermined value ranges in order to enable the first, second, and third display items to display respectively the registered relative humidity value, the registered temperature value and the indicator, and
wherein the printing system comprises a plurality of components with functional specifications from which the predetermined values ranges are derived.