JPS6151166A - Controller of copying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform positive cost-saving control by inhibiting a copying machine from being driven for a department whose copy charge exceeds its set departmental budget cost. CONSTITUTION:The quantity of copies which are taken, charge, etc., are calculated by a CPU110 on the basis of set information of a copying machine 10 or 20 set by a machine kind setter 121, set departmental information from a card reader 122, charge coefficient, etc., corresponding to the form size of each machine kind from a coefficient memory 131, count signal CT from the copying machine 10 or 20, form size information SD, etc. Then, the total departmental charge is stored in a data memory 132 and the CPU110 compares the departmental budget cost set and stored in a budget memory 131 with the copy cost of the department. The copy charge attains to the budget cost, the department is identified through the card reader 122 and then the CPU10 supplies a driving inhibition signal to the copying machines 10 and 20. Consequently, the positive cost- saving control over the copying machines is performed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a copying machine management device that is connected to a copying machine and manages the usage status of the copying machine.

[Conventional technology]

For example, in an organization such as a company or government office that has many departments due to the division of work, when people from each department share one or more copy machines, it is called a general copier. A management device such as the one described above is connected to the copying machine to facilitate management of the usage status.

Zunawaji This type of management device allows you to accurately determine which of the above departments the connected copying machine is used in.
Normally, measures are taken to enable the use of the copier only after the department information used to identify the department to which the copier user belongs is entered, for example, using a magnetic card or keyboard. This makes it easy to manage information such as how many departments use the same copying machine.

[Problems that the invention attempts to solve]

However, although the above-mentioned conventional management device facilitates the management of the JL status of the connected close-up +14, it is difficult to simply count the number of copies taken for each department and store and display it. However, in cases where an attempt was made to proactively reduce costs, or when an attempt was made to manage consumables such as copy paper in more detail, it was still insufficient (Q).

[Means and effects for solving the problem] In the present invention, the present invention not only counts the number of copies collected for each department as described above, but also calculates, for example, the machine size of the copying machine used and the collected copies based on the counted value. Calculate the copying fee according to the paper size (both or either one is acceptable), and when the cumulative total of copying fees for each department exceeds the budget for the corresponding department, input the department information. The operation of the copying machine related to this is automatically prohibited. Note that the calculated copying fee or the cumulative fee may be displayed as appropriate each time.

(Percentage effect (1k)) Therefore, according to the copying machine management device according to the present invention, it becomes possible to manage the usage status of the copying machine, including the copy fees actually spent by each department.
It is possible to prevent the copying machine from being used in excess of its budget, which is extremely effective in actively reducing costs.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a copying machine management device according to the present invention. Note that this type of management device usually has a copy machine and a
Although they are often arranged one-on-one, in this example, for convenience of explanation, it is assumed that the models are different. A case will be described in which Zunawaji is connected to two copying machines with different copying fee rates and manages them at the same time.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 denotes the management device of the same embodiment, and this management device 100 includes two copying machines 10, 100, 100, 100, 100, 100, 100, 100, 100, 100, 100, 100, 100, 100, 100, 100, 100, 100, 100, 100, 100, 100,
and 20 are connected as shown. These first and second copying machines 10 and 20 are connected to the management device 100.
When the enable signal EN is transmitted from the copying machine, the copying machine is enabled to operate, and when the copying machine is driven, information indicating the size of the copying paper (paper size information) SD or , control units 11 and 21 that send a count signal CT to the management device 100 each time the same copy is collected.
The usage status of the military aircraft 10 and 20 is substantially managed through these control units 11 and 21, respectively.

First, the functions of each block forming the J6 management device 100 will be explained.

Interfaces 101 and 102 are connected to the management device 1.
When the enable signal EN, paper size information SD, and count signal CT described above are exchanged between the CPU 11 Q described later in 00 and the control units 11 and 21 of the copying machines 10 and 20, these are processed by each other. This is a circuit that converts or formats the data appropriately.

The CPTJIIO exchanges required data with the interfaces 101 and 102, a model setting device 121, a card reader 122, a keyboard 123, a coefficient memory 131, a data memory 132, a program memory 140, and a display device 150, which will be described later. This is a device that intensively executes arithmetic processing. Note that this execution program is stored in advance in the program memory 140ζ, and a specific example of its operation will be described in detail later.

The model setting device 121 is configured as M1 and includes appropriate switch means such as a button switch or a key switch, in order to allow the CPU 110 to identify the copying machine to be used. As a result, one of the first and second copiers 10 and 20 that is desired to be used is selected and set through the same switch circuit, and the model information MCF corresponding to the dirty JR copier is set to C.
Functions to send to PUI 10.

In the card league 122, different information indicating each division is written. This information is written by inserting each different force (for example, a magnetic card) into a card insertion section (not shown). This is a device that reads information, and the read information is sent to the CPU as department information SCF.
Send to l0.

In addition, have the above cards been distributed to each department in advance?
Alternatively, it is assumed that the information is stored all at once in an appropriate department.

The keyboard 123 is an input device that has a budget setting key, a numeric keypad, etc. that allows setting and inputting a budget regarding copying fees for each department at least. It functions to transmit the setting data to crtytto at any time. C! PU110rG″h″f
``ゞ5411ゞ2-''''41 is stored in the pre-boundary memory 133.The keyboard 123 also has a tally key and a clear key, and the relevant connection is stored on a weekly, monthly, or yearly basis. When you want aggregated data regarding the usage status of A4, or when you want to confirm the contents of the data memory 132 and budget memory 133, which will be described later, after the aggregation, the CPU 11Q sends this information to the CPU 11Q by an appropriate operation by the staff member. command.

In addition, it is assumed that it is possible to input a necessary song and command to perform 1j-1 for the same management, and to input the above-mentioned department information SCF, etc., based on the operation of the j-key key.

The coefficient memory 131 contains basic charge data A when copies are made by the first copying machine 10 .

and the basic charge data B for making copies by the second copying machine 20 are stored in a table as shown in Table 1 below, and the paper size of the copies taken, for example, JIs standard column A 3. number (hereinafter A
3 size), No. 4 in row 40 (hereinafter referred to as B4 size), No. 4 in row A (hereinafter referred to as A4 size), and No. 5 in row B (hereinafter referred to as B5 size). Correction data a, b, c for correcting the basic charges.

This is a memory that stores the basic charge data A and d in tables as shown in Table 2 below, and in the waveforming operation of the copy charge described later, the basic charge data A and d are stored according to the contents of the model information MCF. The correction data a and b are output according to the contents of the paper size information SD.

It operates to output either one of C2 and d. Incidentally, these basic charge data (A, B) and correction data (a, b, c.

d), the CPU IIQ reads out the count value X (Aor 11) X (aorborcord) based on the count value (number of copies collected) of the count signal CT.
Execute the seven wave nails to calculate the copying fee.

The B2 table data memory 132 stores j5Q ('3
Information MCF, input department information SCF, paper size information SD imported from the nuclear reversal aircraft, the count value of the count signal CT indicating the number of copies taken, and data indicating the copying fee calculated based on these. This is a memory that records [1] etc. for each division ICF as needed.

The budget memory 133 is connected to the keyboard 123 as described above.
This is a memory that stores budget data regarding copying fees for each department whenever it is input through appropriate operations. This stored departmental budget data is stored in the CPU1
10 When performing the copy charge accumulation operation described later for a certain department, the budget data of each corresponding department is
The data will be imported into UIIQ and compared with this cumulative data. As a result of this comparison, if the cumulative data exceeds the budget, CPUll0 sends a drive@prohibition signal TB to the control unit of each copying machine to prohibit copying for the corresponding department.

As mentioned above, the program memory 140 is
This is a memory in which an execution program related to the on-demand arithmetic processing of l0 is stored in advance.

The display 1piso is a device that visually displays various information and data stored in the data memory 132, as well as aggregated data on the number of copies and copying fees, etc., in association with each department.

Hereinafter, an example of the operation of the management system 100 of the embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

However, it is assumed that the budget data is set in advance for each department.

Now, prior to taking a copy, one of the first and second copying handles 10 and 20 that the person desiring to take a copy of (hereinafter referred to as a user for convenience) desires to use is the dura mater. If the selected setting is made through the CPU 121, the crtyl 10 determines this (step S1), takes in various information MCF regarding the Mt stage setting, and temporarily stores it in the internal memory of the CPU 110 or the data memory 132. Although not shown in FIG. 2, the selected model may be visually displayed on the display device fn: 150 at this point for the convenience of the user's confirmation.

Next, when the card owned by the same user and dedicated to the department to which he/she belongs is inserted into the card reader 122ζ and the department information SCF of the department is read, the CPU 110 determines this (step S2) and the read department information. Once the SCF is imported, it is checked whether the imported department information SCF is correct, that is, whether the card reader 122 has read it correctly (step S3).

This is achieved, for example, by collation with the entire amount of department information SCF that is registered in advance inside the CPU IIQ (or data memo IJ 132 ). Note that whether or not this is appropriate is also communicated to the user through the display device R150, and if the department i1 S CF is not read correctly, the user is requested to run the same card through the card reader 122 again. Depending on the situation, the same department information SCF may be input through the keyboard 123.

When the department information SCF is correctly input, the CPU 110 next transmits an enable signal EN to the copier corresponding to the set machine type information MCF to enable it to operate (step S4). For example, when the first copying machine IO is selected, the enable signal EN is transmitted to the control unit 11 through the interface 101, and when the second copying machine 20 is selected, the enable signal EN is transmitted through the interface 102. The enable signal EN is transmitted to the control unit 21. Thereafter, a well-known copying operation is executed in the selected copying machine.

The management device 100 executes the following process in conjunction with the copying operation.

First, the information SD regarding the paper size specified by the user for the copying machine or automatically selected by the original size detection means, etc. is accepted (step S5), and this information is also stored in the internal memory of the CPU IIQ or directly as data. The count signal C is stored in the memory 132, and the count signal C
Following TiC:Ji5, the number of copies to be collected regarding the paper size is counted (step S6). After this counting, the CPU 110 reads the basic charge data A and B and the correction data a and b from the coefficient memory 131.

Corresponding coefficient data are selectively extracted from C and d, and the above-mentioned copying fee calculation is executed (step S7). For example, if the first copying machine 10 is currently selected, one A4 size copy is being made from the first copying machine 10.
If 5 pieces are collected, the copying fee will be calculated as follows: Copying fee = 15XAXC. After completing the centering of the copy fee,
cpUllo further displays, through the display device 150, the copying machine (model) used, the department name (or number),
The paper size, size, number of collected sheets, copying fee, etc. are visually displayed (step S8), and the total copying fee for the department ζ is calculated (step 89). And each time this aggregation operation is executed, C
The PU 110 reads the corresponding budget data from the budget memory 133 based on the input department information SCF, and compares the budget value indicated by the read budget data with the calculated cumulative value (step 510).

As a result of this comparison, if the cumulative value exceeds the budget value, the CPU IIQ notifies the user of this fact through the display device 150 (step 5ll), and also displays the duplicate information for the department as described above. A drive prohibition signal TB is sent to the control section of each copier to prohibit copying (step 512). As a result, use of the copying machine through the department information is prohibited unless the budget data or cumulative charge data is cleared.

In addition, the prefectural figures are the budget values for the department concerned.
jlY (Unless this is possible, the above operations by the user and the processing by the management device 100 are repeated on the iH7 (users in the same department are
In the case of continuously collecting copies with the machine, the operations related to steps 81 to S3 by the same user are omitted),
In the data memory 132, the above-mentioned information and data are primarily stored in the manner shown in Table 3 below, for example (step 521).

Table 3 However, copying fees shown in this Table 3 The value of gold is Basic charge data A=15 Same B=10 Correction data a=1.6 Same φb = 1.4 Same C=1.2 Same d=1.0 This is the value calculated based on the provisional assumption.

As mentioned above, if the aggregation key of the keyboard 123 is operated by a staff member in the management department on a weekly, monthly, or yearly basis, for example, the CPU 1
10 determines this (step 522) and performs aggregation of the number of copies taken, copying fees, etc. for each department from the information and data stored in the data memory 132, and displays the aggregation results on the display device 150. (step 523). At this time, the remaining amount of the budget for each department may also be calculated and displayed at the same time. When displaying these data, if the display area of the display device 150 is too small to display the aggregated data of all departments at once, the aggregated data of any department can be displayed using the keyboard 123 of the staff member or the like. Suppose that it is displayed at any time. Of course, the operations related to this tally ζζ are executed each time the tally key is operated, regardless of the units such as weekly, monthly, yearly, etc. Aggregation is done based on the data. This results in
Information on copy fees spent in each department can be accurately obtained, and as a result, more detailed and rational copying style management can be performed.

Incidentally, after the above-mentioned aggregation and this confirmation, if these data are no longer needed, the clear key of the keyboard 123 is operated. When CPUll0 determines this (step 524), it clears the information stored in the data memory 132 and budget memory 133 simultaneously or separately (step 525), and initializes the management device 100.

By the way, in this embodiment, it is assumed that one of two copying machines is connected to the management apparatus 100, and the J.7! Although the mode and operation mode have been explained, the press setting device 121 is originally designed to be able to identify and set in advance any model of copying machine that is assumed to be the person in contact with the management device 100. Yes, the number of close-up 1 tables connected to this (
Type) is not specified in any way, even if there is one or three or more. Of course, when dealing with many types of copying machines with different fee structures, the basic fee data stored in advance in the coefficient memory 131 is also increased in accordance with this number.

Furthermore, even if multiple copiers of the same class, that is, of the same charge system, are connected, the loss type debt is
If CF is used, the copying machines used can be effectively divided into two types. In other words, in this case, by adding a switch means for the rear setting device 121, the same 42 type information MCF
An identification bit for identifying the actual copying machine may be added to the machine identification bit. This makes it possible to apply the management device 100 to a wider range of applications.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the construction of an embodiment of the present invention's comparison and management apparatus. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the same embodiment. 10.20 ・Copy machine, ], 1 , 21 ・Control unit, 100 ・Ne'J! +! Device, 101.102...
Interface, 110... CPU, 121... Model setting device, 122... Card league, 123... Keyboard, 131... Coefficient memory, 132... Data memory, 133... Prediction memory, 140... ...Program memory, 15°...Display device.

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a copying machine management device that is electrically connected to a copying control unit of a copying machine and manages the usage status of the copying machine, means for setting model information for identifying the model of the connected copying machine; means for inputting department information for identifying the department to which a copying machine user belongs; means for presetting a budget for each department; a counting means for counting the number of copies collected by the copying machine; means for receiving paper size information indicating a paper size for copying; and a first calculation means for calculating a copying fee according to at least one of the set model information and the accepted paper size information based on the counted value of the counting means. a second calculating means for calculating the cumulative amount of the calculated fees for each of the input department information; and driving the copying machine when the cumulative fee exceeds the preset budget for the corresponding department. 1. A copying machine management device, comprising means for prohibiting.