JP2000019906A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To calculate a copying or printing service charge added with toner consumption by providing a means for calculating an image forming service charge corresponding to the toner consumption by analogizing the toner consumption per one copying job or one printing job from image data. SOLUTION: A calculation part 30 calculates a copying charge based on an input from various input means 31 to 36 and an input from an integration part 25. In the case of calculating the charge, the charge per one sheet of copied matter is calculated. Namely, the total sum of information concerning an exposure amt. per one pixel is calculated and also as the result of calculation in which various factors including a base charge registering means 31 are made as variables, the charge per one sheet of the copied matter is decided. Such calculation is performed according to a calculation program possessed by the calculation part 30. Then, the toner consumption is calculated at the point of time when one copying job, that is, a series of reading work is completed and copying is performed by the set number of copies after operating a copying button and is reflected in the copying charge.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus having a calculating unit for calculating an image forming fee for an image forming service such as individual copying provided at a convenience store or a copy center. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Normally, a copy fee at a convenience store, a copy center, or the like is a fixed fee per sheet.

[0003] Such flat-rate charges are disclosed in
In Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 54040, in a copier rental system, the number of copies and the paper size are used as management information for calculating the cumulative copy fee for each department or individual ID using an ID password instead of a key counter. It has been proposed to integrate information such as the amount of developer used and the operating time. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 64-11286 proposes that the number of times of operation of a developing device in a copying machine having a plurality of developing devices for forming toner images of different colors is formed and used as information for charge calculation. I have.

[0004]

With the above-described fixed copy fee per sheet, the charge for color copying for forming a color image is generally higher than that for copying a monochrome image for forming a black and white image. Copy fee is set.

[0005] The reason why such a high fee is set is that a color copying machine is more expensive than a black and white copying machine, and a demand for color copying is lower than a demand for black and white copying. There are various causes such as a high cost for maintaining the toner, and the difference in the amount of consumed toner per sheet is one of the causes of high cost. That is, a color image, unlike a black-and-white image having many character images, has a large area for covering a photographic image or a graphic image having a color on the entire surface, and a large amount of color toner is consumed to form a color image, so that copying costs are high. It comes.

By the way, even in color copying, a character image occupies a large part, and a photographic image or a graphic image may be slight. If such an image, that is, a character image occupies most of the screen, and a photographic image or a graphic image imposes a high copy fee for copying a few images,
It is undeniable that fees will be overpriced and unfair. It is expected that such problems will not be overlooked as low-cost color copiers spread in the future and the demand for color copying increases.

The above problem is not limited to color copying, but also applies to black and white copying. For example, a copy having a high printing rate, such as a copy of a photographic image, and a copy of a sentence having only numerals and characters as in the present case. If the charges are the same, unfair charges may occur, as in the case of color images.

[0008] Such a problem is caused not only by copying but also by a print fee for reading and printing image data from outside, that is, a floppy disk, a magneto-optical disk,
A similar problem can occur when a service for printing an image from image data stored in a semiconductor memory or the like is considered.

As a countermeasure against such a problem of a uniform charge for the image output service, it is conceivable to determine a copy or print charge corresponding to the toner consumption. For this purpose, a method of calculating a copy or print fee corresponding to the toner consumption is required, but there has been no technology that meets such needs. The technology described in the above-mentioned publications is for calculating the amount of developer consumption and the amount of operation of a developing device as elements for calculating the amount of use of a copying machine, and is based on the technology described in these publications. Cannot calculate the service fee for copying or printing in units of one sheet in a convenience store or the like or for copying or printing in units of one job without inequality.

[0010] By the way, the demand for copying and printing is expected to increase further in terms of both mass and weight.

[0011] With the spread of high-performance personal computers and word processors, devices for recording the output of these devices as images have become more sophisticated and sophisticated.
It is expected that individual users will not have their own image output devices, but rather output images at copy centers and the like. In this case, the content of the image forming service is considered to output an image from a storage medium such as a floppy disk, a magneto-optical disk, or a semiconductor memory using an image output device at a copy center.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of calculating a copy or print service fee in consideration of a toner consumption.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus having a calculating means capable of calculating an appropriate service fee for an image forming service for outputting an image from a storage medium.

[0014]

The object of the present invention is as follows.
(1) An image forming apparatus comprising: calculating means for estimating the toner consumption per one copy job or one print job from image data and calculating an image forming service fee corresponding to the toner consumption. (2) reading means for reading image data stored in a storage medium; image forming means for forming an image based on the image data read by the reading means; and image data read by the reading means. A calculation unit for calculating the image forming service fee by estimating the toner consumption per print job.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (1) Image Forming Apparatus FIG. 1 shows a color copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In this copying machine, an image of a document placed on a document table 1 is formed on an image sensor 3 by an illumination optical system 2 including a document illumination lamp, a mirror and a lens.
The image is read by the image sensor 3. The laser light emitting element 4 emits light based on the image data obtained by the image reading, and the light from the laser light emitting element 4 passes through the imaging optical system 5 to expose the photoreceptor 10. The photoconductor 10 includes the charger 1
1. An image forming process is performed by the laser beam 12 and the developing device 13 to form a toner image on the surface thereof. 1 of photoconductor 10
The rotation of the photosensitive drum 1 by the yellow developing device indicated by Y
0, a yellow toner image is formed on the surface of the photoconductor 10, a magenta toner image is formed on a second rotation, a cyan toner image is formed on a third rotation, and a black toner image is formed on the surface of the photoconductor 10 on a fourth rotation. These toner images are superimposed on the photoconductor 10 to form a color toner image. The formed color toner image is transferred by the transfer unit 14 onto a copy sheet conveyed from the sheet feeding unit 18. The copy paper to which the color toner image has been transferred is subjected to a fixing process by the fixing device 16 and the discharge tray 1
It is discharged to 7. The photoconductor after the transfer of the color toner is cleaned by the cleaning device 15.

In addition to the above-described color image formation, the copying machine of the present embodiment can also copy a monochrome image.

(2) Calculation of Copying Charge The copying machine according to the present embodiment includes a calculation system for calculating a copying service charge, as described below. And the copy service fee taking into account other factors. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a calculation system for calculating such a copy service fee. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of the operation of the copying machine shown in FIGS.

The image signal from the reading means 20 including the image sensor 3 in FIG. 1 is subjected to various kinds of image processing by the image processing means 21. The image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment stores the image data read after reading the original in the image memory 23, and based on the image data stored in the memory 23, carries out the copy fee in advance and displays it to the user. It is possible to select a mode and a mode in which the charge display is performed while reading while taking into consideration the copying speed under the condition that the image is output after the image is output. When the advance display mode is selected, the selector 22 outputs the image data from the image processing unit 21 to the image memory 23, and the image data is stored in the image memory 23. Is stored. The integration unit 25 integrates the image data from the image memory 23, the charge calculation unit 30 calculates a copy charge from the integration result by the integration unit 25, and the copy display is displayed on the charge display unit 37.

If the displayed fee meets the demand,
The image output is started by pressing the copy button again or inputting a fee. In this case, the image data is read from the image memory 23, a laser modulation signal is created from the image data by the writing control unit 26, and the writing unit 27 emits a laser to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoconductor 10. Form. If the fee does not meet your wishes, you can press the cancel key on the operation unit, change the number of copies, or reduce the density, select an economy mode that thins out the image information and output it, etc. It is possible.

An image signal input directly from the image memory 23 to the writing control means 26 or via the image memory 23 is:
Each pixel constituting an image carries the density of a read image or the density data of an image signal generated by a computer, for example, carries 8-bit density data representing the density of an image of 256 gradations. are doing. The density data is data for determining the light emission amount of the laser light emitting element 4 included in the writing unit 27, and is data for determining the density of the toner image formed on the photoconductor 10 by the developing device 13. Therefore, if the density data, that is, the information on the amount of light emission in the exposure of the photoconductor 10 by the writing unit 27 is integrated for the entire image to be formed, the amount of toner consumed by image formation can be estimated.

Here, the writing means 27 based on the density data carried by the image signal performed by the writing control means 26
The emission control of the laser light emitting element 4 in the middle is performed by controlling the length of the emission time in accordance with the known density data called pulse width modulation, and by controlling the emission in accordance with the known density data called intensity modulation. Some control the intensity, but any control may be used.

The integration section 25 receives an image signal from the image memory 23 and receives information on the exposure intensity for each pixel, specifically, density data included in the image signal.
Is multiplied. As a method of integration by the integration unit 25, the information on the exposure amount may be integrated for all pixels, or may be sampled at fixed intervals and integrated. The accumulating unit 25 accumulates information regarding the exposure amount in the image signal using the image memory 23. Therefore, as described above, the accumulating unit 25 not only accumulates the image as the image formation proceeds, but also calculates the copy fee. The integration can be performed before image formation is performed.

The calculating section 30 calculates a copying fee based on the output of the integrating section 25.

The factors that determine the copying fee include factors such as the number of copies, the paper size, and whether the copying is single-sided or double-sided, in addition to the basic fee set to a fixed amount per copy sheet.

When the image to be formed is a color image, there is a difference in cost depending on each color toner for forming the color image. The count can be made different for each color toner.

As shown in FIG. 2, these factors in determining the copying fee are as follows: a basic fee registering device 31, a color-specific fee coefficient registering device 32, a copy number setting device 33, a paper size selecting device 34, a one-sided printing device. The data are input to the control unit CPU from the / double-side switching means 35 and the color / monochrome switching means 36. The basic charge registration means 31 is a setting means which is stored in a non-volatile memory by being set in advance by a service person or a service shop, and can change the setting at any time. The charge coefficient registration means 32 for each color is a means for setting a charge coefficient for the toner consumption amount for each toner color, and can input a different coefficient for each color.

The number-of-copies setting means 33 is inputted by the user, and the number of copies is calculated from the inputted number of copies and the number of originals.

The calculation unit 30 is provided with these various input means 31
The copy fee calculation is performed on the basis of the inputs from. In the charge calculation, a charge per copy is calculated. That is, the sum of the information on the exposure amount per pixel is calculated, and as a result of calculation using various factors including the basic fee registration unit 31, the fee per copy is determined.
This calculation is performed according to a calculation program of the calculation unit 30.

As described above, the calculating means for calculating the copying fee is constituted by the integrating section 25, the calculating section 30, and the like.

One copy job, that is, a copy button is operated, and for an image formed in a copy operation to be executed, the copy charges per sheet are totaled and displayed on the charge display section 37.

As a calculation mode different from the above-described calculation, instead of calculating the charge per copy one by one, images are continuously read using an automatic document feeder (ADF). The calculation may be performed for each copy job. In such a calculation mode, the toner consumption amount is one copy job, that is, after the copy button is operated.
When a series of reading operations is completed and the set number of copies are made, the total is added and reflected in the copy fee.

The integration of the image data amount by the integration unit 25 may be performed during or after the image formation, and the copy fee may be displayed on the fee display unit 37 after the image formation. As described above, after reading all the image data in one job and storing it in the image memory 23, the integrating unit 25 performs integration of the image data before image formation, displays the fee in advance on the display unit, and informs the user in advance. It is also possible to inform a copying fee. This is because the fee is displayed before the output because the user cannot know in advance how much the fee will be because it is not a fixed fee, and if the price does not fall below the desired fee , It is possible to cancel or reset it to suit your needs.

Further, as a method of setting the copying fee, it is possible to make it easy for the user to pay the toner consumption amount, not in detail, but in a stepwise manner. In order to provide a flat rate for copying text images that are expected to have a high service frequency, a flat rate will be charged for toner consumption below a certain value, and a fee for photographic images will also be charged. It is also possible to set a gradual charge depending on the amount of toner consumed, such as a charge of several steps.

Next, the calculation of the copying fee in the image forming apparatus described above will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

Normally, the copying machine for the copying service is always turned on and keeps the idling state (3-1). When the user comes and the document has, for example, an automatic document feeder (ADF), the document is mounted on the ADF, and the conditions for copying are set on a touch panel type operation display unit. The conditions relating to copying include color copying, black-and-white copying, document size, number of copies, presence or absence of both sides, and setting of other special conditions (such as binding margin).

Here, before pressing the copy button, a message is displayed on the display unit as to whether or not a copy fee is to be notified before outputting the image. This is a function for notifying the user how much a charge is required in advance, such as when copying a large number of color copies, because the copy service is not a fixed charge per sheet. If necessary, select "YES"; if not, select "NO" and turn on the copy button (3-2). Thus, the automatic reading of the document is started (3-3). Here, it is checked whether the mode is the charge advance display mode (3-4). If "NO", reading and image output are performed in parallel (3-13), and the integrated value of density data based on the output image data is stored. (3-14)
After all images are output, the fee is displayed, a slip is output, brought to the cash register, and settled. If "YES", all the images are read, stored in the image memory 23 (3-5), the integrated value is obtained from the stored data, and the copy fee is calculated (3-5).
6) The charge is displayed on the display unit (3-7). If the display fee meets the request, the user presses the copy button, which is an output execution button, again (3-8) to start image output (3-8).
-9) After the image is output, the slip is output and the payment is made. The output may be started on the condition that a fee is input instead of the copy button. In addition, in advance display of charges,
If the display fee is exceeded, for example, it is determined that the copy conditions need to be changed (3-10), and the copy conditions are changed (3-10).
11) In the mode that is set again by selecting the economy mode in which the consumption of toner is suppressed by the number of output copies or the density, etc., the charge is newly calculated (the image need not be read again) and the output execution button is pressed. It is possible to output with the amount of money that matches. It is also possible to cancel by pressing the cancel button on the operation display section (3-12). At this time, a fee for use of the copying machine required for reading may be charged.

Next, an embodiment in which image data is read from a storage medium to form an image will be described with reference to FIG.

The copying machine C according to the present embodiment has a reading means 40 and an interface 50 for loading image data from a storage medium storing image data created by an external device into the image memory 23, In addition to copying an image formed on paper, image data stored on a floppy disk or the like is read by reading means 40, and the read image data is stored in image memory 23 through interface 50 to form an image. You can also. An image can be formed from image data stored not only in a floppy disk but also in various storage media such as a magneto-optical disk and a semiconductor memory.

The embodiment described above has a number of excellent effects as described below.

In the present embodiment, first, when an image forming apparatus for an image forming service charges a fee,
In addition to paper size, a fee is charged based on the amount of toner consumption as a parameter, and the amount of toner consumption per output image can be finely calculated based on image data. This has the effect of eliminating inequality based on the same fee as the output of the subject image and the same fee as the photograph or the photograph subject image.

Further, when the amount of toner consumption for each color is obtained and the charge is calculated, it is possible to change and set the charge coefficient for each color, thereby providing an accurate and unequal charge display. is there.

Furthermore, it is difficult to determine a detailed fee before outputting an image because the fee is not uniform for each image. However, displaying the fee in advance has the effect of improving the convenience for the user.

Further, by outputting the charge stepwise based on the toner consumption amount when charging the charge, there is an effect that the management of the service shop and the estimation of the user's payment fee can be easily performed.

As another effect, a reading means for reading image data from a storage medium containing image information created externally is provided so that even if a trouble occurs in an output device such as a print at home, it is possible to cope with the problem. This has the effect of improving the user's convenience, and in this case also, when calculating the charge, the exact amount of toner consumed is calculated, and the charge based on this is calculated. is there.

[0046]

According to the present invention, a charge for an image forming service that consumes a large amount of toner per sheet of a photographic image or the like can be calculated accurately and rationally.
You can calculate fair prices for prints.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a copy service fee calculation system.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of the copying machine shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment in which image data is read from a storage medium to form an image.

[Explanation of symbols]

 25 integration section 30 calculation section 31 basic charge registration means 32 charge coefficient registration means for each color 33 copy number setting means 34 paper size selection means 35 single-sided / double-side switching means 36 color / monochrome switching means 37 charge display section 40 reading means

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a calculating unit configured to estimate a toner consumption amount per one copy job or one print job from image data and calculate an image forming service fee corresponding to the toner consumption amount. apparatus. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the calculating unit estimates the amount of toner consumption per sheet on which an image is formed, and calculates an image forming service fee per sheet corresponding to the amount of toner consumption. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. Reading means for reading image data stored in a storage medium; image forming means for forming an image based on the image data read by the reading means; and image data read by the reading means. An image forming apparatus comprising: a calculating unit configured to estimate a toner consumption amount per print job and calculate an image forming service fee. 4. A sheet 1 on which an image is formed from the image data read by the reading means by the calculating means.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein an image forming service fee is calculated by estimating a toner consumption amount per sheet. 5. A photosensitive member, a charger for charging the photosensitive member, writing means for exposing the photosensitive member to form an electrostatic latent image, and developing the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member to form the photosensitive member. A developing unit for forming a toner image on the body, wherein the image data has information on exposure for controlling an exposure amount in the exposure by the writing unit for each pixel, and the calculating unit includes information on the exposure. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein information is integrated. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the calculation unit outputs information on an image forming service fee as information classified step by step. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit for displaying a charge calculated by said calculation unit. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the calculation unit calculates a charge before image formation, and displays the calculated charge on the display unit. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said calculating means calculates a charge based on a calculation coefficient uniquely set for each toner color. apparatus. 10. A mode for calculating a fee before image formation and displaying the calculated fee, and a mode for calculating the fee after image formation and displaying the calculated fee. Item 10. The image forming apparatus according to Item 8.