JPH1124517A - Image forming device control system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device control system capable of easily updating the grouped upper limit values of respective groups without necessitating troublesome work even when a total upper limit value is changed. SOLUTION: When the total upper limit number of sheets or the departmental rate of any department is changed and then the total of the departmental rate (rate[j]) of 1 to 99 departments, that is, (cnt) is obtained(N in step S3171), it is judged that a variable (k) is not 1 (step S3174). When the (rate[k]) is not '0'(Y in step 3175), the departmental upper limit number of sheets is calculated based on a specified expression, and the departmental upper limit number of sheets of the department (k) is stored in a (limit[k])(step S3176). Then, the departmental upper limit number of sheets (limit) of the department (k) obtained this time is added to the total (1) of the departmental upper limit number of sheets obtained till the last time so as to obtain the total (1) of the departmental upper limit number of sheets till now (step S3177), (k) is decremented(step S3178) and operation is returned to step S3174. Thus, the departmental upper limit number of sheets of each department is updated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus management system capable of managing image formation such as copying and printing in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer for each group of users.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, a business copying machine used in a company or the like is often shared by a plurality of departments. It is desired to eliminate the use and manage the number of copies for each department.

Therefore, in a conventional copier management system, for example, a total upper limit number (200,000 sheets) which is the maximum number of copies permitted for the entire copier to be managed during a predetermined period (one year). Is assigned in accordance with the number of persons in each section, and this is set as the maximum number of sheets for each section, and within the range of the maximum number of sheets for each section, users belonging to each section are permitted to copy, thereby managing the number of copies. I have.

In such a copier management system, usually, a department card in which a department number of each department and an upper limit number for each department are recorded is distributed in advance, and the department number and the department number are stored in a memory inside the apparatus. And a department management table for storing the department counter in association with a department counter for cumulatively counting the number of copies for each department. When a user inserts a department card into the card reader during use of the copying machine, the department number and the maximum number of sheets for each department are read from the department card, and this department number is registered in the department management table and a copy of the department is made. Copying is permitted only when the number of sheets is less than the divisional upper limit number of the section, and the subsequent number of copies is accumulated and stored in the divisional counter of the section.

It is to be noted that only the department number is recorded on the card, the department number alone is input from the card, or the user manually inputs the department number when using the copier, and the department number is stored in the memory inside the apparatus. And departmental counters,
In some cases, a department management table is provided which stores the maximum number of sheets by department in association with each other.

According to such a copy management method, copying is permitted by inputting a department number, and the number of copies is stored in a department counter corresponding to the department number. Is made easier,
The number of copies in each department can be kept within the range of the upper limit number of copies for each department, and the total number of copies in each department can be kept within the range of the total upper limit number of copies.

[0007]

However, there are cases where the total upper limit number of the copying machine is changed due to a change in the budget amount or a change in the budget totaling period.
In such a case, it is necessary to change all the divisional upper limit numbers of each section according to the total upper limit number after the change. Must be manually entered for each department card assigned to each department card, or the newly assigned department maximum number must be manually entered for each department card in the department management table in the copier. In any case, very complicated work was required.

The present invention has been made in view of the above technical problem, and even when the total upper limit value is changed, a complicated operation is not required and the group-specific upper limit value of each group is changed. It is an object to provide an image forming apparatus management system that can be easily updated.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus management system according to the present invention provides a system for updating a total upper limit of image formation in an image forming apparatus based on an external instruction. Upper limit value updating means, ratio information storage means for storing ratio information relating to the ratio of the group upper limit value to the total upper limit value assigned to each user group, and when the total upper limit value is updated, Group-based upper limit value calculating means for calculating a group-based upper limit value and updating the calculation result as a group-based upper limit value of each group; and a user belonging to each group within a range of the group-based upper limit value of the group. Image forming permission means for permitting image formation.

Further, the image forming system according to the present invention comprises:
The apparatus further includes a ratio information changing unit that changes the ratio information stored in the ratio information storage unit for each group based on an external instruction. When changed, the configuration may be such that the upper limit value for each group of all groups is calculated based on the ratio information, and the calculation result is updated as the upper limit value for each group of each group.

In this specification, the “user group” is a unit of a set of persons to be managed for image formation.
For example, it is used as a concept that includes not only departments and sections in a company or the like but also a single member, that is, an individual. Also, the "total upper limit"
This is a concept that generically refers to an upper limit value of the total number of formed images, a total upper limit amount obtained by converting the upper limit value, and the like.

Similarly, the “upper limit of each group” is used as a general term for the upper limit of the number of image formations and the amount of money permitted for each group.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an image forming apparatus management system according to the present invention will now be described with reference to a copier management system which is usually used by a company or the like to manage the number of copies and a copy fee of each department. An example will be described.

(1) Overall Configuration of Copier Management System FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of the copier management system. The copier management system 1 includes an automatic document feeder ADF that automatically feeds a document, forms a toner image on a photosensitive drum based on a document image read by a scanner, transfers the toner image to copy paper, and fixes it. A known electrophotographic copying machine 10, a management device 30 which is installed above the automatic document feeder ADF and is communicably connected to the copying machine 10 via a cable 20, and a card reader 308 of the management device 30 (See FIG. 3)
In this system, for example, 99
It is possible to manage the number of copies and the copy fee for each department. The copier 10 is communicably connected to other copiers and a host computer (not shown) via a cable 50. The copier 10 transmits and receives image data between the copiers, and each section managed by the management device 30. The management data such as the number of copies can be periodically tabulated in the host computer.

The department cards 41 for copying are distributed to the users of the departments 1 to 99 and the administrator of the system 1, respectively.
A section-by-section ratio input card 42 for setting a section-by-section ratio of ~ 99 sections; a total upper-limit sheet number input card 43 for setting an upper limit on the total number of copies in the copying machine 10 during a predetermined period; And an initial setting card 44 for initializing the number of copies and the amount of money for each department. The department card 41 distributed to users of the departments 1 to 99 magnetically records the department number of the department, and the department card 41 distributed to the administrator magnetically records the department number of 100. The types of the cards 41 to 44 are magnetically recorded, respectively.

When the users of departments 1 to 99 insert the department card 41 into the management device 30 at the start of copying, the department number recorded on the department card 41 is searched from the department management table (see FIG. 4), and Only when the number of copies does not exceed the department upper limit set for the department, the copy operation is permitted, and the number of copies and the copy fee at that time are accumulated and stored as count data in the department counter of the department. It has become. On the contrary,
The administrator can use the department card 41 to copy without restriction on the number of copies or the amount of money. Further, the administrator can change the divisional ratio of 1 to 99 divisions and the total upper limit number by using the divisional percentage input card 42, the total upper limit number input card 43, and the initial setting card 44, and change the divisional counter. The stored number of copies and copy fee can be initialized. Details will be described later.

An operation panel OP as shown in FIG. 2 is installed on the near side of the upper surface of the copying machine main body. As shown in the figure, the operation panel OP includes a liquid crystal touch panel 40.
1, a numeric keypad 402 for inputting the number of copies, a magnification, a total upper limit number, a division ratio, and the like, and a clear key 403 for returning the number of copies to a standard value “1”.
A reset key 404 for returning set values and the like in the copying machine main body 20 to standard values, a stop key 405 for stopping a copy operation, a print key 406 for starting a copy operation, and a department Down key 40
7 and a section Up key 408 are provided.

Department Down key 407, Department Up key 4
08 is used when the section number for inputting the section ratio is decremented or incremented in the section ratio input mode for setting the section ratio of each section.
In the total upper limit number input mode for setting the total upper limit number of sheets in the copying machine 10, the count mode is used to switch between a count mode for counting the section count value of each section by the number of sheets or by a fee.

The liquid crystal touch panel 401 is constituted by stacking a touch panel on the surface of a liquid crystal display (LCD) for displaying necessary messages and various keys, and a user touches predetermined keys displayed on the screen. This allows the necessary input to be made.

(2) Configuration of Control Unit of Copying Machine 10 and Control Unit of Management Device 30 FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of control units 100 and 300 provided inside copying machine 10 and management device 30, respectively. It is. Control unit 100 and management device 30 of copying machine 10
Is communicably connected to each other via a cable 20. In this system, the control unit 100 mainly performs a copying operation such as an original reading operation and a printing operation on a copy sheet in the copying machine 10. The control unit 300 performs control in a unified manner, and mainly manages and controls the number of copies and the amount of copy in each department.

The control section 100 is mainly composed of a CPU 101, and has an internal ROM in which a basic program necessary for controlling the CPU 101 is stored, a battery backup, and a user's instruction from an operation panel OP at the time of program execution. S-RAM1 for providing a work area for storing the states of various sensor groups and various operation unit groups
02, a trouble reset switch 103 for re-executing a copy operation when a paper jam is cleared, and serial I / Fs 104 and 105 for communicating with the control unit 300.
And

The CPU 101 reads a basic program from the internal ROM, and outputs a copy permission signal, a copy prohibition signal, and the like according to the basic program.
When a copy permission signal is received from the control unit 300 via the control panel 05, information on the copy conditions set from the operation panel OP at the time of the copy basic screen (see FIG. 2) is used for various sensor groups and various operations. The document is sent to a group, and based on this information, the reading operation and the printing operation of the original are controlled overall. Each time one print is completed, a copy signal is sent to the control unit 300 via the serial I / F 104.
Send to On the other hand, a copy prohibition signal is sent to the control unit 3.
When received from 00, the copying operation is not executed.

The control unit 300 is mainly composed of a CPU 301, and has an EP-ROM 302 in which a basic program necessary for control of the CPU 301 is stored, and a battery-backed-up memory for temporarily storing data for transmission and reception with the copying machine 10. S-RAM 303 for storing a buffer and various flags, a section management table T1 (see FIG. 4) for managing the number of copies and the amount of copy for sections 1 to 99, and conversion of the count value of a section-specific counter. In addition to table T2 (see FIG. 5), copier I
D, an NV-RAM 304 in which data such as a copier ID of another copier and a telephone number of a host computer are stored;
A clock IC 305 for time management of each process, and a display control unit 306 for controlling the display on the liquid crystal touch panel 401 of the operation panel OP regarding the insertion of each of the cards 41 to 44.
And a key input control unit 307 for controlling various key inputs of the operation panel OP in the division ratio input mode and the total upper limit number input mode, a division number recorded on the card 41, and recorded on the cards 41 to 44. The card reader unit 308 for detecting the inserted edge of the cards 41 to 44 and whether or not the cards 41 to 44 are inserted, and the serial I / Fs 309 and 310 for communicating with the control unit 100. And

The CPU 301 operates according to a program stored in the EP-ROM 302 to a card reader 308.
, And the display control unit 306 and the key input control unit 307 execute the display control and the key input control, respectively, based on the result of the notification. At the same time, the division ratio and the total upper limit number of the division in the division management table T1 stored in the NV-RAM 304 are updated according to the type of the card, and the division counter is initialized.
Whether or not a matching department number is registered in the department management table T1 of the RAM 304, and if the corresponding department number is registered, whether or not the number of copies stored in the department counter is less than the department upper limit number. To determine whether the copy operation is permitted or not, and transmits the result to the control unit 100 as a copy permission signal and a copy inhibition signal, or based on the copy signal transmitted from the control unit 100, The number of copies of the number is counted.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the structure of the section management table T1. FIG.
FIG. 4B shows the case where the total upper limit number is changed to "100,000". As shown in FIG. 4, the department management table T
1, a section for storing a section ratio, a section for storing an upper limit number of sections, and a section for a section counter for storing the number of copies or the amount of copy are provided for each section number of 1 to 99. And a column to store the total of the percentages by department,
A section for storing the total upper limit number of sheets in the copying machine is provided, and copies of each section are managed by the section management table T1.

In a company having 99 departments and a total of 200 employees, 200,000 copies per year are permitted. If the department 1 has 10 members, the department 2 has 14 members,... Are inserted into the card reader unit 308, and the divisional ratio of each section is set to 10, respectively. The total upper limit number input card 43 is inserted into the card reader unit 308, and the total upper limit number is set to 200000. ,
When the total upper limit number input card 43 is extracted from the card reader unit 308, the upper limit number of sheets for each section is automatically calculated, and the section management table T1 shown in FIG. 4A is completed.

For example, in the case of the department 1, if the sum of the percentages by the department is 200, the upper limit number of the departments assigned to the department 1 is calculated by the following calculation. Total upper limit 2
00000 × (division 1 division ratio 10 / division percentage 200 in total) = upper division upper limit number 10000 of division 1

Once the above setting is made, when the total upper limit number is changed from "200000" to "100000" due to a change in the budget amount or a change in the budget management period, the total upper limit number input card 43 must be set. Insert the new total upper limit number into the card reader unit 308 =
When the total upper limit number input card 43 is extracted from the card reader unit 308 after the update setting is set to 100,000, the department upper limit number of each department is automatically recalculated.
As shown in FIG. 4B, a new department upper limit value is set to 00 for each department in accordance with the department percentage of each department and the total of the department proportions.

For example, in the case of the department 1, the new total upper limit number 100000 × (the division ratio of the division 1 by 10 / the total of the division ratio 200) = the new division upper limit number 5000 of the division 1.

It should be noted that in the flowchart described later,
The variables of the division ratio of the division number, the upper limit of the division number, and the count value indicating the number of copies or the amount of the copy of the division number are “rate”, “limit”, and “limit”, respectively.
"Count", and the sum of the divisional ratios is "c".
nt ", and the total upper limit number is represented by" total ".

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of a count value conversion table T2 used when counting the number of sheets and the like by the department counter. In the count value conversion table T2, count conversion values accumulated in the department counters are stored. When the copy mode is monochrome and the paper size is A3 in the content of the copy signal, "2" is set when the count mode is the number of sheets, and "20" is set when the count mode is a money amount. For paper sizes other than A3, half of A3 is accumulated in the section counter. If the copy mode is color and the paper size is A3, “10” is used if the count mode is the number of sheets, “100” is used if the count mode is a monetary amount. In the case of the paper size, half of A3 is accumulated in the section counter.

(3) Control Operations of Control Units 100 and 300 Control operations of the control unit 100 of the copying machine 10 and the control unit 300 of the management device 30 will be described below.

(3-1) Control Operation of Control Unit 100 FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a main routine of a control operation for copying by the control unit 100. When the power is turned on, the CPU 101 of the control unit 100 reads the initialization program stored in the internal ROM, and
Initialization such as initialization of the work area of the AM 102 is performed (step S11), time measurement by an internal timer is started, and monitoring is performed so that the time of the main routine becomes a predetermined time (steps S12 and S16).

After the internal timer starts counting, a data transmission process for transmitting to the management device 30 a copy signal including information such as a color / monochrome copy mode, copy paper size, and the like, and key operation of the operation panel OP. (Step S13), a copy operation according to the copy magnification and the copy density set by the operator (Step S14), and other processes other than the above (Step S15) are sequentially executed. Also,
When the serial I / F 105 receives a copy permission signal, a copy prohibition signal, a message displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 401 from the CPU 301 of the management device 30, and the like, the signal received from the management device is interrupted by the serial I / F 105. The receiving process (step S19) to be analyzed is started, and the state is switched between a copy permission state and a copy permission state according to the copy permission signal / copy prohibition signal. In addition, regarding the copy operation when copying is permitted,
Since the process is the same as that of a general copying machine, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

(3-2) Control Unit 300 of Management Device 30
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a main routine of a control operation of the control unit 300 for managing the number of copies. When the power is turned on, the CPU 301 of the control unit 300
The initialization program stored in the P-ROM 302 is read out, initialization such as initialization of the work area of the S-RAM 303 is performed (step S31), time counting by an internal timer is started, and the processing time of the main routine is started. Is monitored for a predetermined time (steps S32 and S38). Here, in the initial setting of step S31, the copy permission flag, the copy permission transmission flag, the division ratio input flag, and the total upper limit number input flag used for managing the number of copies are reset to "0", and the copy is prohibited. "1" for the flag and copy prohibition transmission flag
Is set, and the total upper limit number total, for example, “100,000” stored in the management table T1 is set.
Is set in the work area.

After the internal timer starts counting, card processing (step S33) for performing processing such as the presence / absence of card insertion and determination of card type, and display processing for displaying various messages related to department management (step S34) Then, a key input process for receiving a key input related to department management (step S35), a transmission process for transmitting a copy permission signal or the like to the copying machine 10 (step S36), and other processes other than the above (step S37) are sequentially executed. .
When the serial I / F 310 receives a copy signal or the like from the CPU 101 of the copying machine, the serial I / F 310 interrupts and starts a reception process (step S39) for analyzing the signal received from the copying machine. Note that each process is not individually executed. For example, in a key input process, a reception process is executed together, and in a display process, a transmission process is executed together.

The following steps S33 to S36, S3
9 will be described in detail. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the contents of the card processing subroutine of step S33. The CPU 301 is a card reader unit 3
When it is detected that a new card is inserted based on the report from 08, that is, when the ON edge of the card is detected (Y in step S301), the type of the card read at the time of card insertion is determined (step S302).

If the inserted card is the department card 41, the department number recorded on this card is set to the variable "bu".
mon ”(step S303),
Is determined to be 100 (step S304). bum
If on is not 100 (N in step S304), that is, if the department number is a normal user of 1 to 99 departments to be managed, the count value of the department-specific counter of this department will be different from that of the department. It is determined whether or not the upper limit has been reached (step S305). If the department-specific upper limit limit has not been reached (step S305)
Y), the copy permission transmission flag is set to "1" (step S306), the copy prohibition flag is reset to "0" (step S307), and the process returns to the main routine. On the other hand, if the division-specific upper limit limit has been reached (N in step S305), the above-described step S30
The process directly returns to the main routine without performing the copy permission processing of 6,307. Thereby, in the departments 1 to 99, the copying of the user whose count value of the department counter does not reach the department upper limit is permitted, and the copying of the user who has reached the department upper limit is prohibited. Processing will be performed.

On the other hand, if the value of "bumon" is 100 (Y in step S304), that is, if it is determined that a manager-specific card has been inserted, the determination of the department upper limit number (step S305) is skipped, and the copy permission processing (step S305) is performed. Steps S306 and S307) are executed, and the process returns to the main routine. As a result, the administrator is permitted to copy without restriction.

If the card is the section ratio input card 42, the section ratio input flag is set to "1" (step S308), the variable "bumon" is set to "1" (step S309), and the routine returns to the main routine. I do. As a result, the administrator can input the division ratio.

The card is the total upper limit number input card 43
(Step S302), "1" is set to the total upper limit number input flag (step S310), and the process returns to the main routine. This allows the administrator
The user can input the total upper limit number.

When the card is the initial setting card 44 (step S302), first, the loop variable 1 of the department number is initialized to "1" (step S311), and the loop variable l
Is not 100 (Y in step S312), the count value count of the section counter is set to “0”, and the section upper limit limit of the section is set to “100” (step S313), and the loop variable l is set. To "1"
Increment (step S314), loop variable l
Is repeated until the value becomes "100", and the process returns to the main routine. As a result, the count values count of the section counters of the 1 to 99 sections are all cleared to "0", and the section upper limit value "limit" is set to "100". Person is 1
That means that 00 copies can be made.

In step S301, the card is turned on.
If no edge has been detected, the CPU 301 determines whether a card has been inserted (step S31).
5). If a card has been inserted, the process returns to the main routine, and if no card has been inserted, the process proceeds to step S316. In other words, if the card is still inserted, the copy or copy by department,
Returning to the main routine assuming that the total upper limit is being input, but if the card is inserted and then removed or if no card is inserted, copying is completed or the division ratio and total upper limit are input. When it is determined that the process has been completed, the process proceeds to the next step 316 for the first time.

If the card has been removed and "1" is set in the total upper limit number input flag (step S).
At 316, it is determined that the key input of the total upper limit number has been completed, and a user limit number counting process for counting the department upper limit number of each section is executed (step S317). The ratio input flag is reset to "0" (step S318), and the process returns to the main routine. Also, when the total upper limit number input flag is reset to "0", but the division ratio input flag is set to "1" (step S5).
At 317, Y), it is determined that the key input of the division ratio has been completed, and the above-described user limit number counting process is executed (step S317), and the total upper limit number input flag and the division ratio input flag are set to “0”. Reset (step S31
8) Return to the main routine. Thus, when the total upper limit number or the division ratio of any one of the divisions is updated, the user restriction number counting process is automatically executed.

If both the total upper limit number input flag and the division ratio input flag have been reset to "0" (N in step S316, N in S319), it is determined whether the copy prohibition flag is "1". Judgment (Step S3
20), if "1" is not set in the copy prohibition flag (N in step S320), it is determined that the copy is completed, and "1" is set in the copy prohibition transmission flag (step S321), and the copy prohibition flag is set. Is set to "1" (step S322), and the process returns to the main routine. If the copy prohibition flag is "1" in step S320, no card is inserted, and the process returns to the main routine.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the contents of the subroutine of the section-by-section limit number calculation process (step S317) of FIG. The CPU 301 sets “1” for the loop variable j, “99” for k, “0” for cot,
Initialization for setting "0" to 1 is performed (step S31).
70). Next, it is determined that the variable j of the loop processing is not 100 (step S3171), the division rate rate [j] of the division number j is added to the variable cnt (step S3172), and the variable j is incremented (step S3172). S3173), returning to step S3171 and S317
1 to S3173 are repeated. As a result, the variable cnt is set to 1
The total of the division ratio rate [j] of ~ 99 divisions is set.

The rate of each department of 1 to 99 departments rate [j]
Is set, that is, cnt is set (step S3).
In step S3174, it is determined that the variable k is not 1 (step S3174). If rate [k] is not "0" (Y in step S3175), the upper limit number per section is calculated based on the following equation (1), and the upper limit number per section of section k is stored in limit [k]. (Step S317)
6). In this case, when a fraction after the decimal point appears in the calculation result, rounding processing such as rounding is performed so that the fraction does not appear.

[0048]

(Equation 1)

Then, the total number l of the divisional upper limit obtained by the previous time is added to the division upper limit number limi of the division k obtained this time.
t is added to obtain the total 1 of the divisional upper limit number up to this time (step S3177), k is decremented (step S3178), and the process returns to step S3174.

On the other hand, if rate [k] is "0" in step S3175 (step S31).
N at 75), the process of steps S3176 and S3177 is skipped and k is decremented. That is, in the section where the division rate “0” is set, the steps S3176 and S3177 are skipped so that the upper limit number of divisions is not rewritten. The 100 sheets set at that time are fixedly distributed as they are as the division-specific upper limit.

The above processing is repeated from section numbers 99 to 2. As a result, the upper limit number of sheets by section from section numbers 99 to 2 and the total of the upper limit number of sheets by section are obtained.

When the upper limit number of sheets by section from section numbers 99 to 2 and the total of the upper limit number of sheets by section are obtained (N in step S3174), that is, when section k = 1,
The value obtained by subtracting the total 1 of the divisional upper limit number of sheets distributed to the divisions 99 to 2 from the total copy upper limit number total is stored as the divisional upper limit number of the division 1. As a result, the fractions generated in the divisions 99 to 2 and the number 100 fixedly allocated to the division whose division ratio is “0” are incorporated into the division-specific upper limit number of the division 1, and the fractions do not appear in the divisions 1 to 99. The upper limit number of sheets for each department is updated and set.

FIG. 10 shows the display process (step S3) of FIG.
It is a flowchart which shows the content of the subroutine of 4). If the total upper limit number input flag is "0" (Y in step S401), the division ratio input flag is "0" (Y in step S402), the copy prohibition flag is "1" (Y in step S403), and the card is If there is no card (N in step S404), that is, if no card is inserted, a message prompting to insert a card, "Please insert a card" is displayed on the LCD (step S405). As a result, the users of the departments 1 to 99 can insert the department card 41 and the administrator can insert the department card 41 to the initial setting card 44 into the card reader 308 of the management device 30.

If "1" is set in the copy inhibition flag and there is a card (Y in step S404), LC
D, a message indicating that copying is not possible, and a message "copying is impossible due to a count value exceeding" is performed (step S4).
06). As a result, users in departments 1 to 99 can stop copying.

If "1" is not set in the copy prohibition flag (N in step S403), a message indicating that copying is possible, "Can be copied" is displayed on the LCD (step S407). Then, the liquid crystal touch panel 40
The display 1 is changed to a copy basic screen on which copy conditions can be input, as shown in FIG. In this screen, 1
The user or administrator of the department of ~ 99 enters copy conditions such as the number of copies, magnification, paper size and copy density with various keys, and presses the print key 406,
The copy operation can be started.

If the division ratio input flag is not "0" (N in step S402), the division ratio rate [bu] corresponding to the division number "bumon" is displayed on the LCD display.
mon] is displayed (step S408). As a result, the administrator can input the division ratio of the predetermined division while watching the LCD.

If the total upper limit number input flag is not "0" (N in step S401), the fact that the total upper limit number is the variable total is displayed on the LCD display (step S409). Thus, the administrator can input the total upper limit number while looking at the LCD.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the contents of the subroutine of the key input process (step S35) of FIG. The CPU 301 determines whether any key of the operation panel OP has been pressed (step S501), and returns to the main routine if no key has been pressed. If the key is pressed (Y in step S501),
It is determined whether or not "1" is set in the division ratio input flag (step S502). If this flag is set, that is, if the division ratio input mode is set, the pressed key is depressed. The following process is executed according to the type.

If the key is the numeric key of the numeric keypad 402, the division ratio of the division selected by operating the division Down key 407 and the division Up key 408 is rewritten according to the numerical value of the input key (step S503). And return to the main routine. The department number to be changed is the variable bum
It is an on number. When the key is the clear key 403,
“0” is set to the division ratio of the division number “bumon” (step S504), and the process returns to the main routine. If the key is the department Up key 408, the variable bum
It is determined that on is not the upper limit 99 (step S50).
In step S506, the variable "bumon" is incremented (step S506), and the process returns to the main routine. If the key is the department Down key 407, it is determined that the variable “bumon” is not the lower limit 1 (Y in step S507), and the variable “bumon” is decremented (step S5).
08), returning to the main routine. This allows
The administrator can designate an arbitrary section from 1 to 99 and set the division ratio of the section.

On the other hand, the key is a reset key 404
In the case of, the CPU 301 first initializes the loop variable i to “1” (step S509), and confirms that the variable i of the department number does not exceed 99 (Y in step S510). The count value count [i] of the section-by-section counter of the section i is calculated by the section rate
It is set to [i] (step S511), and the variable i is incremented (step S512). This process (steps S510 to S512) is repeated from departments 1 to 99, and the process returns to the main routine. As a result, the count value “count” of the section-specific counter for each section
t [i] is the rate of each department as it is rate [i]
The number of copies and the copy fee of each user for a certain period can be used as it is for the distribution ratio of the upper limit number of sheets for each department, and a ratio that is reasonable according to the actual use can be set.

If "1" is not set in the division ratio input flag (N in step S502), it is determined whether "1" is set in the total upper limit number input flag (step S513). If this flag is not set, the number of copies in the copy mode is set, and so the routine returns to the main routine. If this flag is set (Y in step S513),
In other words, if you are in the total upper limit number input mode,
The following processing is executed according to the type of the pressed key.

If the key is a numeric key, the total upper limit number total is rewritten according to the input numeric key (step S514), and the process returns to the main routine. Thereby, the administrator can input the total upper limit number according to the budget.

If the key is the clear key 403, "0" is set to the total upper limit number total (step S).
515), and return to the main routine. Thereby, the administrator can easily set the total upper limit number to “0” without pressing the numerical keys and prohibit the copying of the users in the 1 to 99 departments.

When the section Up key 408 is pressed, the count mode is set to the number of sheets (step S51).
6) Return to the main routine, and when the section Down key 407 is pressed, set the count mode to charge (step S517) and return to the main routine. As a result, the administrator can grasp the copy status of each section with an easy-to-manage standard. When the count mode is set to the fee, the fee is converted into the number based on the count value conversion table T2 in FIG. 5, and then step S305 is executed.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of the transmission process (S
It is a flowchart which shows the content of the subroutine of 36). The CPU 301 first determines whether "1" is set in the copy permission transmission flag (step S6).
01), if "1" is set, the copy permission transmission flag is reset to "0" (step S602), and a copy permission signal is transmitted to the CPU 41 of the copying machine (step S602).
603), perform other processing (step S604),
Return to the main routine.

If "1" is not set in the copy permission transmission flag (N in step S601), it is determined whether or not "1" is set in the copy inhibition transmission flag (step S605). "1"
Is set (Y in step S605), the copy prohibition transmission flag is reset to "0" (step S6).
06), a copy prohibition signal is transmitted to the CPU 41 (step S607), and other processing is performed (step S60).
4) Return to the main routine.

If the copy prohibition transmission flag is not set to "1" in step S605, the other processing (step S604) is performed without transmitting the copy permission signal or the copy prohibition signal, and the process returns to the main routine. I do.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the contents of the subroutine of the receiving process (S39) from the copying machine in FIG. When there is an interrupt from the serial IF 310, the CPU 301 activates this subroutine, and first determines whether or not the received signal is a copy signal (step S901).
If the signal is a copy signal (Y in step S901), 1 to 9
The count values of the department counters of nine departments are incremented (step S902). At this time, the value to be incremented is determined by the count conversion value in the count mode (number of sheets / money) and the copy mode (color, monochrome) based on the count value shown in FIG. 5 and the conversion table T2.

Next, it is determined whether or not the incremented count value has reached the department-specific upper limit number limit (step S903). When the count value has reached the department-specific upper limit number, the copy prohibition transmission flag is set to "1". (Step S904), “1” is set to the copy prohibition flag (Step S906), and other processing corresponding to this is performed (Step S907), and the process returns to the main routine. As a result, if the number of copies reaches the section-by-section upper limit number of the section during copying, copying is prohibited.

If the count value is less than the upper limit number per section (N in step S903), steps S905 and S90 are performed.
Step 6 is skipped, and other processing (such as reception of a key signal in the copy mode) corresponding thereto is performed (step S907), and the process returns to the main routine. As a result, users in departments 1 to 99 can continue copying.

If it is not a copy signal (step S901)
N), and performs other processing (eg, reception of a key signal in the department upper limit number setting mode) (step S907), and returns to the main routine. In the case of an administrator, steps S902 to S906 are performed as follows.
Skipped.

(4) Modifications Although the image forming apparatus management system according to the present invention has been described based on the embodiments, it goes without saying that the contents of the present invention are not limited to the above embodiments. The following modifications are conceivable.

In the above-described embodiment, the division ratio of each division is set based on the number of persons in each division, the number of copies of each division in a certain period, and the copy amount.
It may be set based on the budget distribution amount of each department,
In addition, these percentages may be set.

In the above-described embodiment, only the section counter can be changed to the number of sheets or the amount of money. In accordance with this, the total upper limit number is set to the total upper limit amount, and the section upper limit number is changed to the section upper limit amount. It may be changed.

In the above-described embodiment, the total upper limit and the department upper limit are determined based on the number of copies and the amount of copy. However, the number of sheets to be fed for each paper cassette, the number of times the duplex unit is used, the toner Considering maintenance costs such as consumption of consumables, it is possible to set a total upper limit and a departmental upper limit. Good.

In the above-described embodiment, the section number is input using a magnetic card. However, the section number may be input using another card such as an IC card, or input through a wired or wireless connection from a portable information terminal or the like. Alternatively, the section number may be manually input.

The display processing (step S 3
The subroutine of 4) is performed in cooperation with the transmission process to the copying machine 10 (see the other process of FIG. 12 (step S604) which is a subroutine of step S36) and the reception process (step S19) performed in the copying machine 10. By executing, the above message may be displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 401 of the copying machine 10.
May be provided with a display unit similar to that of the liquid crystal touch panel 401, and the message may be displayed by executing the display processing of step S34 directly from the display control unit 306 without mutual communication.

The key input processing (step S
The subroutine of 35) is performed by the copying machine 10 in a data transmission / reception process (step S13), and the receiving process from the copying machine 10 (step S39 in FIG. 1).
3 (step S907), the operation panel O for department management is executed.
A key input of P may be accepted, and a key input unit similar to the operation panel OP is provided in the management device 30 so that the key input processing of step S35 can be directly performed from the key input control unit 307 without mutual communication. May be realized.

Although the management device 30 is provided separately from the copying machine 10, the function of the management device may be built in the copying machine body, and the function of the management device 30 is connected via a network. The host computer may be substituted.

Further, in the above embodiment, the copying machine has been described, but the present invention can be applied to other image forming apparatuses such as a laser printer.

[0081]

As described above, according to the image forming apparatus management system of the present invention, based on an external instruction,
The total upper limit updating unit updates the total upper limit related to image formation in the image forming apparatus, and the ratio information storage unit stores ratio information regarding a ratio of the group-specific upper limit assigned to each user group to the total upper limit, When the total upper limit is updated, the upper limit updating unit for each group calculates the upper limit for each group based on each ratio information and updates the calculation result as the upper limit for each group of each group. Even if there is a change, the department card is once collected as in the conventional copier management system, and the newly assigned departmental upper limit number is manually written for each department card, or Manually writing the newly assigned upper limit for each department into the department management table in the copier It is not necessary, without requiring complicated operations, by group upper limit of each group can be easily updated.

According to the image forming system of the present invention, the ratio information changing means changes the ratio information stored in the ratio information storage means for each group based on an external instruction, and When the ratio information of any one of the groups is changed, the upper limit value updating unit calculates the upper limit value for each group of all groups based on the ratio information, and updates the calculation result as the upper limit value for each group of each group. Therefore, even when the ratio information of any one of the groups is changed, the group-specific upper limit of each group can be easily updated without complicated work.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a copier management system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing details of an operation panel OP shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of control units 100 and 300 provided inside the copier 10 and the management device 30 of FIG. 1, respectively.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a department management table T1.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of a count value conversion table T2.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a main routine of the control unit 100.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a main routine of the control unit 300.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the contents of a subroutine of the card processing (step S33) of FIG. 7;

9 is a process for calculating the limit number of sheets for each section in FIG. 8 (step S3);
It is a flowchart which shows the content of the subroutine of 17).

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the contents of a subroutine of the display process (step S34) in FIG. 7;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the contents of a subroutine of a key input process (step S35) of FIG. 7;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the contents of a subroutine of a transmission process (S36) to the copying machine in FIG. 7;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the contents of a subroutine of a receiving process (S39) from the copying machine of FIG. 7;

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Copier management system 10 Copier 30 Management device 41 Department card 42 Departmental ratio input card 43 Total upper limit number input card 44 Initial setting card 100,300 Control unit 101,301 CPU 102,303 S-RAM 104,105,309 , 310 Serial I / F 302 EP-ROM 304 NV-RAM 305 Clock IC 306 Display control unit 307 Key input control unit 308 Card reader unit 401 Liquid crystal touch panel 402 Numeric keys 403 Clear key 404 Reset key 405 Stop key 407 Division Down key 408 Division Up key OP Operation panel T1 Department management table T2 Count value conversion table

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Jiro Goto 2-3-13 Azuchicho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Inside Osaka International Building Minolta Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kazuyuki Kawabata Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka 2-13-13 Azuchicho Osaka International Building Minolta Co., Ltd.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A total upper limit updating means for updating a total upper limit relating to image formation in an image forming apparatus based on an external instruction, and a group-specific upper limit assigned to each user group with respect to the total upper limit. A ratio information storage unit for storing ratio information relating to the ratio; when the total upper limit value is updated, an upper limit value for each group is calculated based on the respective ratio information, and the calculation result is updated as an upper limit value for each group of each group. An image forming apparatus management system comprising: a group-based upper limit updating unit that performs image forming; and an image forming permitting unit that permits a user belonging to each group to perform image formation within a range of the group-specific upper limit of the group. . 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a ratio information changing unit configured to change ratio information stored in the ratio information storage unit for each group based on an external instruction. When a group's percentage information changes, based on that percentage information,
2. The image forming apparatus management system according to claim 1, wherein an upper limit value for each group of all groups is calculated, and a calculation result is updated as an upper limit value for each group of each group.