JP2009033412A - Image formation system and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To collectively manage consumables and additional functions of image forming apparatuses A and B connected to a network. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatuses A and B are connected to each other through a network 1. A server C receives detection information about consumables and additional function parts of the image forming apparatuses A and B through the network 1, discriminates whether the received detection information satisfies a management condition of management information about the consumables or additional function parts, and transmits control information related to the detection information to the image forming apparatuses A and B when the detection information does not satisfy the management condition. The image forming apparatuses A and B transmit the detection information related to the consumables or additional function parts to the server C through the network 1, and control a printing part 9 and a finisher 17 on the basis of the control information received from the server C. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming system and an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an improvement in an image forming system and an image forming apparatus that can easily manage consumables and additional functions and are suitable for, for example, a copying machine or a multi-function peripheral (MFP). .

  In recent years, copiers and multifunction devices are configured to be able to detect the set state of toner and printing paper, and can be configured to detect additional functions such as a finisher that performs post-processing such as punching and stapling. A set of products and products that can identify additional functions that are not subject to maintenance based on an introduction contract, and provide users with attention are provided.

  In addition, a configuration using, for example, an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) device has been proposed for detecting additional functions such as a toner setting state and a finisher.

  This RFID device records various information in a built-in IC chip so as to be readable and writable, and reads them by radio waves. The RFID device is used by being attached to or embedded in a toner cassette or the like. Used for certification, product management at production sites, etc.

  However, since the RFID device can read and write management information and the like, it is necessary that the stored information is authentic information indicating the RFID device. If information relating to different products is illegally copied and stored, it is not preferable from the viewpoint of ensuring security.

  Therefore, as a proposal for ensuring the security of the RFID device, for example, there is an RFID system disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-16396 (Patent Document 1).

The configuration of Patent Document 1 is a manufacturing variation of ICs built in a tag in an RFID system in which a packet is returned at least twice from a power-on reset signal of a power supply or a polling signal sent from a reader. Measures the packet communication interval specific to a tag that fluctuates based on this, compares this measured value with the value written explicitly or implicitly on the tag, and approves the tag if they match. However, even when the data in the tag is illegally read and the tag is duplicated, it can be reliably identified.
JP 2003-16396 A

  However, since the RFID system of Patent Document 1 described above performs discrimination control for each individual multifunction peripheral that uses the RFID system, an image forming system by connecting a plurality of multifunction peripherals to a network as in recent years. In the situation where there are many examples of building up, there are not only complicated management of discrimination, but also a difficulty in changing the discrimination method for each MFP and setting the variable operation of the MFP.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image forming system and an image forming apparatus capable of collectively managing usage environments such as consumables and additional functions related to a plurality of devices.

  In order to solve such a problem, the image forming system according to the present invention is configured by connecting one or more image forming apparatuses and a server for managing the same through a network.

  Then, the server receives the detection information related to the additional function unit added to the consumables or basic functions in the image forming apparatus via the network, and transmits predetermined control information to the image forming apparatus. A transmission / reception unit, a setting unit in which management information related to the consumables or additional function unit related to the image forming apparatus is set in advance, and whether the received detection information satisfies the management information management condition of the setting unit When the detection information does not satisfy the management condition, a determination unit that outputs control information related to the detection information to the transmission / reception unit is provided.

  In addition, the image forming apparatus transmits a detection unit that detects detection information related to the consumables or the additional function unit of the apparatus, and detection information from the detection unit to the server via the network and from the server. A transmission / reception unit for receiving the control information and a control unit for controlling a predetermined operation function unit based on the received control information.

  In the image forming system of the present invention, the detection information and the management information are identification information relating to toner or paper as a consumable item, and the determination unit of the server displays that the detection information does not correspond to the management information A configuration in which information is output as the control information is also possible.

  In the image forming system of the present invention, the detection information and the management information are information related to the amount of consumables, and the determination unit of the server determines that the consumables have decreased to a predetermined amount or less based on the detection information. In such a case, display information indicating that fact may be output as control information.

  In the image forming system of the present invention, the image forming apparatus may include a display unit as an operation function unit that displays the control information, and the control unit may control the display of the received display information on the display unit. is there.

  In the image forming system of the present invention, the detection information and the management information are identification information related to the finisher as the additional function unit, and when the detection unit of the upper server does not correspond to the management information, the detection information is included in the detection information. A configuration is also possible in which function restriction information for restricting the operation of the additional function unit is output as control information.

  In the image forming system of the present invention, the control unit of the image forming apparatus may be configured to restrict and control the finisher operation based on the reception function restriction information.

  In the image forming system of the present invention, a configuration in which the detection unit of the image forming apparatus detects detection information related to the consumable item or the additional function unit via the RFID device attached to the consumable item or the additional function unit is also possible. It is.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention detects a detection information related to consumables or additional functions of the apparatus, and transmits the detection information from the detection section to a server via the network. Transmission / reception of control information, an additional function unit that realizes an additional function added to the basic function, a display unit that displays at least the control information, and an operation restriction of the additional function unit based on the received control information And a control unit for controlling display of the control information on the display and / or its display unit.

  In such an image forming system and image forming apparatus according to the present invention, in the image forming apparatus, detection information related to consumables or additional function units of the apparatus is detected by the detection unit and transmitted to the server via the network. In the server, the determination unit determines whether or not the reception detection information satisfies the management condition of the management information of the setting unit, and when the reception detection information does not satisfy the management condition, the control information related to the detection information is Since the data is transmitted to the image forming apparatus via the network, it is possible to collectively manage the use environment of consumables and additional function units in a plurality of image forming apparatuses connected to the network.

  In the present invention, in the configuration in which the image forming apparatus receives the control information from the server and the control unit controls the predetermined operation function unit based on the received control information, the consumable for each image forming apparatus. And additional functions can be controlled.

  In the present invention, the detection information and management information are identification information relating to toner or paper as a consumable item, and the determination unit of the server controls display information indicating that the detection information does not correspond to management information. In the configuration in which the information is output, it is possible to display appropriateness or inappropriateness of toner or paper in each image forming apparatus.

  In the present invention, the detection information and the management information are information related to the amount of consumables, and when the determination unit of the server determines that the consumables have decreased to a predetermined amount or less based on the detection information, this is indicated. In the configuration in which display information is output as control information, toner or paper shortage information can be output to individual image forming apparatuses.

  In the present invention, the image forming apparatus includes a display unit as an operation function unit that displays the control information, and the control unit displays the received display information on the display unit. In this case, it is possible to display a shortage of toner or paper.

  In the present invention, when the detection information and the management information are identification information related to the finisher as the additional function unit, and the determination unit of the upper server does not correspond to the management information, the additional function related to the detection information In the configuration in which the function restriction information for restricting the operation of each part is output as control information, when the management condition is not satisfied, the restriction information for restricting the finisher as an additional function part can be output to each image forming apparatus. .

  In the present invention, in the configuration in which the control unit of the image forming apparatus restricts the finisher operation based on the reception function restriction information, the execution of the finisher can be restricted in each image forming apparatus when the management condition is not satisfied. .

  In the present invention, in the configuration in which the detection unit of the image forming apparatus detects the detection information related to the consumable item or the additional function unit via the RFID device, the detection information related to the consumable item or the additional function unit is not detected by a wireless signal. It can be detected by contact.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing an embodiment of an image forming system according to the present invention together with an image forming apparatus.

  In FIG. 1, in an image forming system according to the present invention, a plurality of image forming apparatuses A and B and a server C are connected via a network 1. The network 1 is a known one such as an in-house LAN or the Internet.

  Since the image forming apparatuses A and B have substantially the same configuration, only the image forming apparatus A will be described and details of the image forming apparatus B will be omitted.

  First, the image forming apparatus A will be described.

  The image forming apparatus A includes an image reading unit 5, a storage unit 7, a printing unit 9, a detection unit 11, an operation display unit 13, and a transmission / reception unit 15 with the control unit 3 as the center. (MFP) is configured. Note that the image forming apparatus A has a configuration other than this, but since it is not the gist of the present invention, description and illustration are omitted.

  A finisher 17 having an additional function is connected to the image forming apparatus A, and details thereof will be described later.

  The image reading unit 5, for example, a known scanner that optically reads an image from a printed document having a plurality of pages under the control of the control unit 3 and generates electronic image data as a print job by performing a filtering process or the like. The image data for each page is stored and controlled in the storage unit 7.

  The storage unit 7 stores read image data from the image reading unit 5 and received image data to be described later from the transmission / reception unit 15, stores a management table (management information) to be described later, and stores an operation program for the control unit 3. A stored readable / writable hard disk, for example.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the printing unit 9 includes a plurality of paper feeding units 23 in which different printing papers 21 arranged at the lower part of the main body case 19 are set, a toner cassette 25 in which toner is stored, and the above-described image. A transfer fixing unit 27 that develops the data into print image data, develops the toner with toner from the toner cassette 25, and transfers the image onto the printing paper 21, and discharges the printing paper 21 on which the image has been transferred and fixed. A color or monochrome print engine having a paper portion 29 or the like.

  The printing unit 9 includes a reversing conveyance unit 31 that reversely conveys the printing paper 21 and a conveyance unit for the printing paper 21 for duplex printing, but a description thereof is omitted because it has a known configuration.

  The detection unit 11 has a function of detecting detection information related to the consumables or the additional function unit in the printing unit 9 and outputting the detection information to the control unit 3 and forms the printing unit 9. It is shown separately from the part 9.

  The detection unit 11 detects the presence / absence of the printing paper 21 and the remaining amount of paper with, for example, “%” by a sensor disposed in each paper feeding unit 23 on which the printing paper 21 as a consumable is set, and sets the printing paper 21 on the printing paper 21. The detection information corresponding to the toner cassette 25 is output to the control unit 3 as detection information corresponding to the toner cassette 25 by detecting the identification code of the toner cassette 25 as a consumable item and the remaining amount of toner with “%”, for example. It has a function to do.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 3, detection of the identification code and the toner remaining amount from the toner cassette 25 is performed by including an antenna unit 33a, a communication unit 33b, a control unit 33c, a storage unit 33d, a detection unit 33e, and the like. It is detected by the detection unit 11 via the RFID device 33.

  The RFID device 33 is disposed in the toner cassette 25 and is controlled in operation by a power source obtained by demodulating and rectifying a predetermined high-frequency signal received by the antenna unit 33a from the image forming apparatus A side by the communication unit 33b. For example, the toner cassette 25 is loaded. When this is done, an identification code indicating the unique information of the toner cassette 25 read from the storage unit 33d and the remaining amount of toner detected by the detection unit 33e are formed into a detection signal in a predetermined format by the control unit 33c, and this detection is performed. The communication unit 33b modulates a high frequency signal and emits the signal from the antenna unit 33a.

  The detection unit 11 has a function of acquiring detection information by demodulating and decoding a high-frequency signal from the RFID device 33.

  The detection unit 11 also has a function of detecting the presence / absence of connection of the finisher 17 and the identification code of FIG.

 The finisher 17 is an additional function unit that is connected to and connected to the image forming apparatus A and has a processing function that is added to the basic functions of the image forming apparatus A. For example, the finisher 17 applies to the print paper 21 that is discharged from the paper discharge unit 29. The post-processing such as punch processing, stapling processing, folding processing and the like are performed, and the operation is controlled by the control unit 3. In FIG. 2, the illustration of the finisher 17 is simplified.

  The operation display unit 13 includes a known liquid crystal display panel disposed on the upper portion of the main body case 19 in FIG. 2 and a display unit and a setting unit that accept operations by touching a position where an image related to the operation of the apparatus is displayed ( It has a function as an operation unit).

  For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the operation display unit 13 is used for various operations such as printing (copying) processing, printing processing, scanner processing, facsimile transmission / reception processing and the like, as well as a selection key 13a for performing selection. In addition to the known numeric keypad 13b and start key 13c for inputting the user ID (for example, employee number) for specifying the setting item and the user, a touch keyboard having a display panel unit 13d for displaying the operation status of the apparatus, etc. have.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the transmission / reception unit 15 transmits / receives image data to / from another image forming apparatus B via the network 1 according to a predetermined protocol, and transmits the detection information described above to the server C. At the same time, it is an interface unit that receives control information to be described later from the server C.

  Note that when the transmission / reception unit 15 is connected to the network 1, a connection is automatically established between the other image forming apparatus B and the server C. However, since it is not a main part of the present invention, a description thereof will be omitted.

  The control unit 3 includes a CPU and a ROM that stores an operation program for the CPU. The control unit 3 includes the above-described image reading unit 5, storage unit 7, printing unit 9, detection unit 11, operation display unit 13, and transmission / reception. The unit 15 and the like are controlled, and a function unit (not shown) of the multifunction machine is controlled.

  The control unit 3 detects the detection information related to the presence / absence of the printing paper 21 and the remaining amount of paper, the detection information related to the identification code of the toner cassette 25 and the remaining amount of toner, the detection information related to the presence / absence of the connection of the finisher 17 and the identification code. And the transmission / reception unit 15 is controlled to transmit to the server C via the network 1.

  The detection information related to the printing paper 21 is controlled to be transmitted at a predetermined short timing, the detection information related to the toner cassette 25 is transmitted at the time of loading and at a predetermined timing, and the detection information related to the finisher 17 is controlled to be transmitted when installed.

  For example, if the received control information is display information, the control unit 3 controls display of the operation display unit 13 based on the control information received by the transmission / reception unit 15, and the finisher 17 if the received control information is function restriction information. Has a function of restricting (prohibiting) the operation of the camera.

  Note that the display information and the control information as the function restriction information are transmitted from the server C, and will be described in the process of explaining the server C.

  FIG. 5A shows that, for example, when the A4 printing paper 21 is selected in advance, the remaining amount of the printing paper 21 is small and the paper needs to be replenished, and FIG. The display C indicates that the appropriate toner cassette 25 is not loaded, and FIG. 5C indicates that the post-processing function such as the finisher 17 cannot be used.

  The image forming apparatus B in FIG. 1 has substantially the same configuration as the image forming apparatus A, but the description and illustration are omitted as described above.

  Subsequently, the server C will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the server C includes a transmission / reception unit 37, a setting unit 39, a storage unit 41, and a determination unit 43 with the main control unit 35 as a center, and has a general configuration as a server. However, the description of the configuration not directly related to the present invention is omitted.

  The transmission / reception unit 37 receives detection information from the image forming apparatuses A and B via the network 1 under the control of the main control unit 35, outputs the detection information to the determination unit 43, and forms control information via the network 1. It is an interface unit that outputs to the devices A and B.

  When the transmission / reception unit 37 is connected to the network 1, a connection is automatically established with the other image forming apparatuses A and B. For example, the transmission / reception unit 37 designates a destination by using a known network address or the like. The transmission / reception function is the same as the transmission / reception unit 15 described above.

  Under the control of the main control unit 35, the setting unit 39 preliminarily uses consumables that can be used, such as an identification code of an appropriate toner cassette 25 and a toner remaining amount that is preferable for toner replacement, for each image forming apparatus (MFP) A and B. The setting unit includes a readable / writable memory that stores reference values and remaining amount reference values that are preferably supplemented with printing paper as table data.

  When the management information is displayed on a display unit (not shown), for example, as shown in FIG. 6, for each image forming apparatus (MFP) A, B, an appropriate identification code of the usable toner cassette 25, a remaining toner reference value, Table data is used as management conditions for the remaining amount reference value of the type of printing paper and whether or not the finisher operation is permitted.

  The storage unit 41 stores the operation programs of the main control unit 35 and the determination unit 43, and temporarily stores management information as shown in FIG. 6 and intermediate data during operation of the main control unit 35 and the determination unit 43. A readable / writable memory, such as a hard disk, may be shared by the setting unit 39 described above.

  The determination unit 43 determines whether the received detection information satisfies the management condition of the management information of the setting unit 39. When the detection information does not satisfy the management condition, the determination unit 43 sends control information related to the detection information to the transmission / reception unit 37. It has a function to output.

  That is, the determination unit 43 determines when the remaining amount of the printing paper 21 or the remaining amount of toner in the toner cassette 25 in the detection information has decreased below a preferable remaining amount reference value set in the management information. Then, display information prompting replenishment of the printing paper 21 and replacement of the toner cassette 25 is output to the transmission / reception unit 37 as control information, and when it is determined that the toner cassette 25 does not correspond to an appropriate toner cassette, this is indicated. It has a function of outputting display information to the transmission / reception unit 37 as control information.

  The determination unit 43 refers to the management information based on the identification code of the finisher 17 included in the detection information. If the identification code of the corresponding finisher 17 is not set, the determination unit 43 assumes that the management condition is not met, and performs the functional operation of the finisher 17. It has a function of outputting function restriction information to be restricted (prohibited) to the transmission / reception unit 37 as control information.

  The main control unit 35 is formed with a CPU and a ROM that stores an operation program of the CPU, and controls the transmission / reception unit 37, the setting unit 39, the storage unit 41, the determination unit 43, etc. It bears some of the functions of the unit 43 and the like.

  Next, the operation of the above-described image forming system according to the present invention will be briefly described.

  It should be noted that the setting unit 33 of the server C previously has the identification code of the toner cassette 25 for each of the image forming apparatuses A and B, the remaining amount reference value of the printing paper 21, and the presence or absence of permission to use the finisher 17 permitted by the contract. It will be described as being set.

  First, a display control operation based on the remaining amount of the printing paper 21 will be described.

  In the image forming apparatus A, the detection unit 11 detects the remaining amount of the printing paper 21 in the paper feeding unit 23, and the control unit 3 transmits the remaining amount to the server C from the transmission / reception unit 15 via the network 1 as detection information. Then, the server C receives it by the transmission / reception unit 37, and the determination unit 43 refers to the management information to determine whether the management condition is satisfied.

  When the determination unit 43 determines that the detection information of the printing paper 21 has decreased beyond the remaining amount reference value, the determination unit 43 forms display information indicating that the replenishment of the printing paper 21 is necessary as control information. Then, transmission control is performed from the transmission / reception unit 37 to the image forming apparatus A via the network 1.

  In the image forming apparatus A, the control unit 3 controls the display of the operation display unit 13 based on the display information (control information) received by the transmission / reception unit 15, and “please replenish A4 paper” as shown in FIG. 5A. Is displayed.

  If the printing paper 21 is replenished, the display information from the server C disappears based on the detection information from the image forming apparatus A, and the display on the operation display unit 13 disappears.

  Next, a display control operation regarding the remaining amount of toner in the toner cassette 25 and the suitability of the toner cassette 25 will be described.

  In the image forming apparatus A, when the toner cassette 25 is loaded in the printing unit 9 of the main body case 19, the detection unit 11 detects the identification code and the remaining amount of toner from the RFID device 33 of the toner cassette 25, and the control unit 3 When the detection information is transmitted from the transmission / reception unit 15 to the server C via the network 1, the server C receives the detection information by the transmission / reception unit 37, and the determination unit 43 determines whether or not the management information management condition is satisfied.

  When the determination unit 43 determines that the identification code of the toner cassette 25 does not match the identification code of a genuine product managed, the determination unit 43 forms display information indicating that the toner cassette 25 loaded is inappropriate. When the determination unit 43 determines that the remaining amount of toner has decreased beyond the replacement remaining amount reference value, the determination unit 43 forms display information indicating that the replacement of the toner cassette 25 is urged. 1 to send control to the image forming apparatus A.

  In the image forming apparatus A, the control unit 3 controls the display of the operation display unit 13 based on the display information received by the transmission / reception unit 15, and “Toner cassette is not appropriate” as shown in FIG. 5B is displayed. An image display prompting replacement of the toner cassette 25 is omitted.

  If the identification code of the toner cassette 25 matches the identification code of the genuine product, the determination unit 43 does not control the display information to be transmitted to the image forming apparatus A, so the display as shown in FIG. 5B is not made.

  Further, the permission control operation of the finisher 17 will be described.

  In the image forming apparatus A, when the finisher 17 is connected, the detection unit 11 detects the finisher 17, and the control unit 3 transmits detection information from the transmission / reception unit 15 to the server C via the network 1, the server C transmits / receives it. The determination unit 43 determines whether or not the management information management condition is satisfied.

  When the determination unit 43 determines that the operation is not permitted (no) from the identification code of the finisher 17, the determination unit 43 forms function restriction information and display information for instructing that the finisher 17 is not operated as control information. Is transmitted from the transmitting / receiving unit 37 to the image forming apparatus A via the network 1.

  In the image forming apparatus A, the control unit 3 prohibits the operation of the finisher 17 based on the function restriction information received by the transmission / reception unit 15, and controls the display of the operation display unit 13 based on the display information, as shown in FIG. 5C. "The post-processing function cannot be used" is displayed.

  If the finisher 17 matches the identification code managed by the contract or the like and is permitted, the function restriction information and the display information are not formed from the determination unit 43, and transmission control is not performed on the image forming apparatus A. Is not limited, and the display as shown in FIG. 5C is not made.

  As described above, in the image forming system of the present invention, the server C and the plurality of image forming apparatuses A and B are connected via the network 1, and the server C is consumed in the image forming apparatuses A and B. The transmission / reception unit 37 receives detection information related to the products (printing paper, toner cassette) 21 and 25 or the additional function unit (finisher) 17 via the network 1 and transmits predetermined control information to the image forming apparatus. And a setting unit 39 in which management information related to the consumables (printing paper, toner cassette) 21 and 25 or the additional function unit (finisher) 17 related to the image forming apparatuses A and B is set in advance, and the received detection information is It is determined whether or not the management information management condition of the setting unit 39 is satisfied, and when the detection information does not satisfy the management condition, control information related to the detection information And a discrimination unit 39 to be output to the transceiver 37.

  The image forming apparatuses A and B include a detection unit 11 that detects detection information related to consumables (printing paper and toner cassette) 21 and 25 or an additional function unit (finisher) 17 of the apparatus, and the detection unit 11. Information transmitted from the server C to the server C via the network 1 and receiving the control information from the server C, and a predetermined printing unit 9 and an additional function unit (finisher) based on the received control information. 17 and a control unit 3 for controlling 17.

  Therefore, the usage environment of consumables (printing paper, toner cassette) 21 and 25 and additional function unit (finisher) 17 in each of the image forming apparatuses A and B connected to the network 1 can be collectively managed. If the management information is set for each of the image forming apparatuses A and B, management is possible for each of the image forming apparatuses A and B, and consumables (printing paper, toner cassette) 21 in each of the image forming apparatuses A and B are provided. , 25 or the additional function unit (finisher) 17 and the like, the printing unit 9 and the finisher 17 can be controlled.

  In addition, if the detection information and the management information are identification information relating to the printing paper 21 and the toner cassette 25, the determination unit 43 of the server C displays display information indicating that the detection information does not correspond to the management information. Therefore, it is possible to display an appropriate / inappropriate warning for the printing paper 21 and the toner cassette 25 in each image forming apparatus.

  Further, if the detection information and the management information are information related to the amount of the printing paper 21 and the toner cassette 25, the determination unit 43 of the server C determines that the consumables have decreased to a predetermined amount or less based on the detection information. Since the display information indicating that is output as control information, the toner or paper shortage information can be output to the individual image forming apparatuses A and B, and the toner or paper shortage in each of the image forming apparatuses A and B Display is possible.

  Furthermore, if the detection information and the management information are identification information related to the finisher 17 as the additional function unit, when the determination unit 43 of the server C does not correspond to the management information, the detection information and management information Since the function restriction information for restricting the operation of the additional function unit can be output as control information, the function restriction information of the finisher 17 can be output to the individual image forming apparatuses A and B when the management conditions are not satisfied. is there.

  Since the control unit 3 of the image forming apparatuses A and B restricts the operation of the finisher 17 based on the reception function restriction information, the finisher 17 in each of the image forming apparatuses A and B when the management condition is not satisfied. Execution restrictions are possible.

  Accordingly, when the use of the printing paper 21, the toner cassette 25, the finisher 17 and the like of the image forming apparatuses A and B is limited or specified from the viewpoint of a guarantee or a maintenance contract, the specified consumables and additional function units are not included. If it is not used, it is possible to issue a warning to that effect, restrict or prohibit the operation, change the settings for each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses A and B, and the settings differ individually. It is easy to manage them collectively.

  Further, since the detection unit 11 of the image forming apparatuses A and B detects the detection information related to the consumable item or the additional function unit via the RFID device 33, the detection information related to the consumable item or the additional function unit is not detected by the wireless signal. It can be detected by contact.

  In the image forming system of the present invention, the detection unit 11 of the image forming apparatuses A and B detects abnormality of the consumables and transmits it to the server C, and stores data on the consumables in which the abnormality has occurred on the server C side. The image forming apparatus stores and accumulates in the unit 41 and forms a warning regarding the consumable as paper picture fish information on the server C side based on detection information when the consumable is loaded on the image forming apparatuses A and B. The image forming apparatuses A and B and the server C may be formed in accordance with the configuration so as to be emitted to the A and B sides.

  In the present invention, the consumables in the image forming apparatuses A and B are not limited to the printing paper 21 and the toner cassette 25, and the operation function unit is not limited to the operation display unit 13 or the control unit 3 of the finisher 17, but may be various operation function units. It can be implemented.

  Note that the server C described above does not have to be an independent device on the network 1, and can be configured by, for example, the same type of functional part built in a multifunction device, a printer, or the like connected to the network 1.

  Incidentally, since the image forming apparatus according to the present invention has the above-described configuration, it is possible to achieve the same effect as that in the image forming system.

1 is a schematic block diagram showing an embodiment of an image forming system including an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. It is a schematic block diagram explaining the structure of the RFID apparatus in this invention. It is a figure explaining the display state of the operation display part of the image forming apparatus in this invention. It is a figure explaining the display state of the operation display part of the image forming apparatus in this invention. It is a figure explaining the condition management data in this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Network 3, 33c Control part 5 Image reading part 7, 33d, 41 Memory | storage part 9 Printing part 11 Detection part 13 Operation display part (operation part, display part)
13a Selection key (operation unit)
13b Numeric keypad (operation unit)
13c Start key (operation unit)
13d Display panel section (display section)
15, 37 Transmission / reception unit 17 Finisher (additional function unit)
19 Main body case 21 Printing paper 23 Paper feed unit 25 Toner cassette 27 Transfer fixing unit 31 Reverse conveyance unit 33 RFID device 33a Antenna unit 33b Communication unit 33e Detection unit 35 Main control unit 39 Setting unit 43 Discrimination unit A, B Image forming apparatus C server

Claims (9)

An image forming system in which one or more image forming apparatuses and a server managing the image forming apparatus are connected via a network;
The server
A transmission / reception unit that receives detection information related to a consumable or an additional function unit added to a basic function in the image forming apparatus via the network, and transmits predetermined control information to the image forming apparatus;
A setting unit in which management information related to consumables or additional function units related to the image forming apparatus is set in advance;
It is determined whether the received detection information satisfies the management condition of the management information of the setting unit, and when the detection information does not satisfy the management condition, the control information related to the detection information is output to the transmission / reception unit A discriminator to perform,
An image forming system comprising: The image forming apparatus includes:
A detection unit for detecting the detection information related to the consumable or additional function unit of the device;
A transmission / reception unit that transmits the detection information from the detection unit to the server via the network, and receives the control information from the server;
A control unit that controls a predetermined operation function unit based on the received control information;
The image forming system according to claim 1. The detection information and management information are identification information relating to toner or paper as the consumable item, and the determination unit of the server uses display information indicating that the detection information does not correspond to the management information as the control information. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the image forming system outputs the image. The detection information and the management information are information related to the amount of the consumable item, and the server determining unit displays a display indicating that the consumable item has decreased to a predetermined amount or less based on the detection information. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein information is output as the control information. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the image forming apparatus includes a display unit as the operation function unit that displays the control information, and the control unit controls display of the received display information on the display unit. system. The detection information and the management information are identification information related to a finisher as the additional function unit, and the determination unit of the server determines the additional function unit related to the detection information when the detection information does not correspond to the management information. 3. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein function restriction information for restricting the operation is output as the control information. The image forming system according to claim 6, wherein the control unit of the image forming apparatus restricts and controls the finisher operation based on the received function restriction information. 8. The detection unit according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit of the image forming apparatus detects the detection information related to the consumable item or the additional function unit via an RFID device attached to the consumable item or the additional function unit. Image forming system. A detection unit for detecting detection information related to the consumables or additional functions of the device;
Sending and receiving the detection information from the detection unit to the server via the network and receiving control information from the server;
An additional function unit for realizing the additional function added to the basic function;
A display unit for displaying at least the control information;
Based on the received control information, a control unit that performs operation restriction control of the additional function unit and / or display control of the control information on the display unit,
An image forming apparatus comprising:

Images