Consumables & Drum Management
Relevant source files
The following files were used as context for generating this wiki page:
The Consumables & Drum Management system is a core module of the Duplicator application designed to track the lifecycle and costs associated with printing materials. It monitors the usage and replacement of ink, masters, toners, drums, and developers across various machine types, including duplicators and photocopiers.
This system serves two primary purposes: operational tracking and financial calculation. It allows users to record "changes" (replacements) of consumables while capturing current machine counters, which in turn facilitates the calculation of Statistics and cost-per-print. The management interface provides tools for administrators to configure machine-specific drums, set unit and pack pricing, and provide instructional help for physical maintenance tasks.
Sources: app/translations/en.json:54-57, app/view/changement.html.php:12-20
Consumable Change Lifecycle
The system manages the replacement of various consumables through a reporting interface. When a consumable is replaced, the user records the event, which is then stored in the cons table within the SQLite database.
Workflow for Reporting Changes
- Machine Selection: The user selects the specific machine (e.g., Ricoh duplicator or photocopier).
- Type Identification: The system dynamically filters the types of consumables available based on the machine's technology (Duplicator vs. Ink Photocopier vs. Toner Photocopier).
- Counter Recording: Users enter the current "Passages" (total copies) and, for duplicators, the "Masters" count.
- Specifics: If the change is a drum or specific ink, the user selects the corresponding drum name (e.g.,
tambour_noir).
The diagram shows the logic for filtering consumable options based on the machine hardware type.
Sources: app/view/changement.html.php:114-165, app/models/admin.php:1143-1175
Data Structure & Management
Consumables are categorized by their technical role in the printing process. The system distinguishes between "Masters" (the stencil used in duplicators) and "Passages" (the actual paper impressions).
Consumable Categories
| Category | Associated Machine Type | Typical Items |
|---|---|---|
| Ink | Duplicator / Ink Photocopier | Black, Blue, Red, Yellow |
| Master | Duplicator | A3/A4 Master Rolls |
| Toner | Toner Photocopier | CMYK Cartridges |
| Hardware | All | Drums (Tambours), Developers (Dev) |
Sources: app/view/setup.html.php:200-260, app/models/admin.php:1071-1090
Machine-Specific Logic
The management logic varies significantly depending on the machine type detected by the get_machine_type AJAX endpoint:
- Duplicators: Require tracking of both Master and Passage counters. They utilize "Drums" (Tambours) which are often swappable for color changes.
- Photocopiers (Ink): Generally track CMYK liquid inks.
- Photocopiers (Toner): Track dry toners, developer units, and imaging drums.
Sources: app/models/admin.php:73-100, app/view/changement.html.php:150-185
Configuration & Pricing
Administrators define the financial parameters for consumables during initial Setup or through the Administration panel.
Pricing Models
The system supports two pricing levels for most consumables to allow for flexible cost accounting:
- Unit Price: The cost of a single item (e.g., one ink tube).
- Pack Price: The cost of a bulk package (e.g., a box of 10 tubes).
Drum Configuration for Duplicators
Duplicators can be configured with multiple named drums. This is critical for color-printing environments where different drums hold different ink colors.
This diagram illustrates the relationship between machines and their specific consumable/drum configurations.
Sources: app/view/setup.html.php:168-195, app/models/admin.php:1181-1215
Maintenance & Instructional Help
Because changing consumables like Riso drums or developers can be complex, the system includes a "Machine Q&A Management" module.
Dynamic Help Integration
Administrators can create machine-specific instructions that appear directly on the reporting page.
- General Help: Publicly accessible documentation.
- Change Help: Targeted instructions triggered when a user selects a specific machine for a consumable change.
- PDF Support: Administrators can upload maintenance manuals in PDF format and embed them into the help content using a Summernote-based WYSIWYG editor.
Sources: app/view/admin_aide_machines.html.php:60-110, app/view/changement.html.php:248-285
Database Schema (Table: cons)
All consumable changes are recorded in the cons table.
| Field | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
id | INTEGER | Unique identifier for the change event. |
date | DATETIME | The timestamp of the replacement. |
machine | TEXT | Name of the machine (e.g., "Ricoh dx4545"). |
type | TEXT | Consumable type (e.g., "master", "encre", "toner"). |
nb_p | INTEGER | Passage counter at time of change. |
nb_m | INTEGER | Master counter at time of change (Duplicators only). |
tambour | TEXT | Specific drum name involved in the change. |
Sources: app/models/admin.php:1043-1055, app/view/admin.changes.html.php:100-120
Conclusion
The Consumables & Drum Management module provides a robust framework for tracking the technical and financial aspects of collective reproduction. By strictly linking counter data to consumable replacement events, it ensures that the organization has an accurate real-time view of operating costs and maintenance requirements for every duplicator and photocopier in the fleet.