JP2001013832A - Picture forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a picture forming device which is capable of allowing only a specific mark to be printed per one time utilization and also is capable of realizing the printing of an additional picture which is not a hindrance to the printing of an original picture. SOLUTION: This picture forming device has a first judging part 85 judging whether a user has been changed or not and when it is judged that the user has been changed by the first judging part, a control part 61 executes a control permitting the printing of an advertisement picture to which a specific mark is added. Moreover, the device has a second judging part 86 judging the state of a copying machine 11 such as the residual amount of papers, the residual amount of toner, and the control part 61 executes a control selecting the printing condition of the advertisement picture based on the state of the copying machine which is judged by the second judging part.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention includes a copy unit capable of printing a prestored additional image such as an advertisement image in addition to a read original image, and prints the additional image to a user who prints the original image. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus which promotes the use of an image forming apparatus and realizes printing of an additional image which does not hinder printing of a document image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the spread of copying machines, a large number of copying machines equipped with a billing device have been installed in convenience stores and the like. The copier installed in such a place is used by an unspecified number of users. Therefore, if a copy is made and printed including image information such as an advertisement, the advertiser can obtain a predetermined advertisement effect.

[0003] In view of such circumstances, various image forming apparatuses have been proposed which can print an advertisement image by additionally synthesizing it in a blank portion generated when a read original image is printed on paper (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. HEI 9-122572). 9-90832, JP-A-8-256256 and JP-A-9-212051).

In this type of image forming apparatus, when a user desires to print an advertisement image, and there is a margin in the original image, the advertisement image is combined with the original image and printed. There has been known a method in which billing for each of advertisers is distributed based on the total number of sheets printed by the user and the number of sheets printed with the advertisement image (see the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-90832). ).

[0005]

In the image forming apparatus disclosed in the above publication, if the user does not want to combine the advertisement image with the blank portion of the original image, or if the original image has no blank portion, the user is required Even if desired, the advertisement image cannot be printed. Further, only a relatively small advertisement image can be printed in accordance with the size of the margin, and the advertisement effect obtained by the printed advertisement is relatively small. Here, the advertisement effect obtained by the printed advertisement can be said to be greater because the larger the advertisement image, the more attention the user can draw.

Therefore, a large advertisement image is printed on the back side of the sheet on which the original image is printed or on a sheet different from the sheet on which the original image is printed (referred to as "insert paper") instead of the margin. Can be considered.

However, when an advertisement is printed on a slip sheet, the user may bring back only the paper on which the document image is printed, and may not bring back the printed advertisement image.

[0008] For this reason, in order to encourage the user to bring the printed advertisement image home, it is conceivable to add a specific mark such as a coupon or a discount coupon to the advertisement image and print it. However, in this case, it is necessary to print only one specific mark per use from the viewpoint of strongly promoting active use of advertisement printing by the user.

[0009] On the other hand, if the copying machine frequently enters a copy-prohibited state such as running out of paper or toner empty as a result of printing the advertisement image, the user who is using printing or a user who will use it later. Must ask the clerk to take measures (such as replenishing paper and toner) to release the copy prohibition state, and may avoid using advertisement printing because they do not want to reduce the productivity of their original copies. is there.

For this reason, it is necessary to prevent a situation in which the copying machine is put in a copy-prohibited state with the printing of the advertisement image from occurring frequently. In other words, it is necessary to realize the printing of the advertisement image that does not hinder the printing of the original image.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem, and it is added to a print user of a document image by printing only one specific mark per use. Provide an image forming apparatus that can be effective when printing a specific mark such as a discount coupon or a coupon on an additional image while promoting the use of image printing, and furthermore, an addition that does not hinder the printing of a document image. It is an object to provide an image forming apparatus capable of realizing image printing.

[0012]

The above object is achieved by the following means.

(1) Copying means for printing a prestored additional image such as an advertisement image or a read original image, charging means for charging a user of the original image, and use of the original image for printing Control means for determining whether or not the user has changed, and control for permitting printing of the additional image with the specific mark added when the determination means determines that the print user of the original image has changed. And an image forming apparatus.

(2) The determining means determines that the printing user of the original image has changed when the remaining money in the charging means is exhausted.

(3) The determining means determines that the printing user of the original image has changed when a predetermined time has elapsed after the printing by the copying means.

(4) When the copying means is initialized, the determining means determines that the printing user of the original image has changed.

(5) The additional image is printed on a sheet different from the sheet on which the original image is printed.

(6) Copying means for printing a prestored additional image such as an advertisement image or a read original image, charging means for charging a user of the original image printing, and status of the copying means An image forming apparatus comprising: a determination unit configured to determine a print condition of an additional image based on a state of the copying unit determined by the determination unit; .

(7) The copying means includes a plurality of paper storage means for storing paper, and the state of the copying means determined by the determination means is the remaining amount of paper stored in each of the paper storage means. It is.

(8) The control means, when the discriminating means determines that the remaining amount of paper in each of the paper storage means is equal to or more than a predetermined amount, adds the additional image to a sheet different from the sheet on which the original image is printed. The control for selecting a printing condition for printing is performed.

(9) When the determining means determines that the remaining amount of paper in each of the paper storage means is smaller than a predetermined amount, the control means prints by adding an additional image to a blank portion of the original image. It is characterized in that control for selecting conditions is performed.

(10) When the control means selects printing conditions for printing the additional image on a sheet different from the sheet on which the original image is printed, the control means has the largest remaining amount of paper among the plurality of paper storage means. A printing condition for printing using the paper stored in the paper storage means is further selected.

(11) The copying means includes a plurality of developing means in which developers of different colors are stored, and the state of the copying means determined by the determining means is determined by the developing condition stored in each of the developing means. It is the remaining amount of the agent.

(12) When the determining means determines that the remaining amount of the developer in each of the developing means is equal to or more than a predetermined amount, the control means uses the plurality of developers of different colors to form the additional image. When printing conditions for printing are selected, and when the determination unit determines that the remaining amount of the developer of at least one of the developing units is smaller than a predetermined amount, another developer whose remaining amount of the developer is equal to or more than the predetermined amount is removed. The control for selecting a printing condition for printing the additional image using the control is performed.

[0025]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall structure of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, and FIGS. 2A to 2C are views for explaining a printing form by the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 7A shows a form in which only an original image is printed, FIG. 7B shows a form in which an advertisement image is synthesized and printed in a margin portion of the original image, and FIG. 1 shows a form in which the advertisement image is printed in a large size on the back side of the sheet or on another sheet.

As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 10
The apparatus includes a copying machine 11 (corresponding to a copying unit) and a charging device 12 for a user (corresponding to a charging unit).
The billing device 12 in the illustrated example is a coin vender, and a user can copy a document by inserting coins into the billing device 12 and operating the copying machine 11. Here, the billing device 12 displays the inserted amount to the user, permits the copying operation of the copying machine 11 according to the inserted amount, collects a predetermined amount when the copying operation is performed, and subtracts the predetermined amount. After that, the remaining amount is newly displayed.
The amount to be subtracted depends on the paper size used for copying, the set color mode, and the like. When the amount after the subtraction by performing the copy operation is equal to or less than the predetermined amount, the accounting device 12 denies the copy operation of the copying machine 11. And if the fee is added again,
The copying operation of the copying machine 11 is permitted again. in this way,
The billing device 12 has a function of instructing the copying machine 11 to permit or prohibit the copying operation while managing the usage fee and the remaining amount.

More specifically, the charging device 12 has a vertically long box shape, and has a coin insertion slot 13 on its upper surface,
A coin return button 14 for returning coins and a display unit 15 such as a liquid crystal display for displaying the amount of money inserted and the balance are provided, and a coin return slot 16 is provided on the front surface. The charging device 12 is connected to the copying machine 11 via a relay connector 17 pulled out from the back.

The copying machine 11 communicates with the billing device 12 via the relay connector 17. From the copying machine 11, information such as during a copying operation, a paper feed signal, a paper discharge signal, a size, and a copy mode are transmitted to the charging device 12. On the other hand, information such as copy permission, copy non-permission, and input amount is transmitted from the charging device 12 to the copying machine 11. The copying machine 11 is controlled to a copy enabled state or a copy disabled state according to each piece of transmitted information. Also, on the upper surface of the copier 11, an operation panel 1 operated when the user sets a copy mode such as the number of copies is set.
8 are provided.

The billing device 12 calculates the required amount from the entered amount and the copy mode set by the user.
It is determined whether or not copying is possible, and if copying is possible, a copy permission signal is transmitted to the copying machine 11. The copying machine 11 to which the copy permission signal has been sent is set in a state where the user can execute copying.

When the user starts copying, the copying machine 11
Starts a predetermined copy operation. The copying machine 11 transmits discharge information to the charging device 12 when the paper is discharged, and the charging device 12 subtracts a predetermined amount according to a copy mode such as size and color. When the usage fee is sequentially reduced and the balance becomes less than the amount required for copying,
Billing device 12 transmits a copy prohibition signal to copier 11. The copying machine 11 to which the copy prohibition signal has been sent is set to a copy prohibition state for the user.

It should be noted that the billing device 1 comprising a coin vendor
Although FIG. 2 is illustrated, a charging device may be used in which a medium such as a prepaid card in which amount information is stored is inserted and charge management is performed based on the balance information stored in the card.

The image forming apparatus 10 shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, in addition to printing only the original image, if the user desires, the advertisement image can be printed as shown in FIGS. FIG. 7B shows a form in which a blank portion in a document image is detected, and an advertisement image is combined with the blank portion (the lower portion of the sheet in the illustrated example) and printed. FIG. 3C shows a form in which the advertisement image is largely printed on the entire back surface of the sheet on which the document image is printed or on another sheet.

In this specification, an advertisement printed in a margin portion of a document image is referred to as a “margin advertisement”, and an advertisement printed on another sheet, ie, a slip sheet, is referred to as a “slip sheet advertisement”.
The advertisement printed on the back side of the paper on which the document image is printed is referred to as a “back side advertisement”.

As described above, the slip sheet advertisement and the back side advertisement can be selectively performed according to the user's preference. Therefore, when it is not desired to combine the advertisement image with the blank portion of the original image, or when the blank portion is originally included in the original image. Even when there is no advertisement, advertisement printing can be performed if desired by the user. Furthermore, in the case of a slip-sheet advertisement or a back advertisement, a high advertisement effect can be obtained because printing can be performed using the entire surface of the sheet.

In the image forming apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, when the user who uses the image forming apparatus changes, and when a new user selects to perform the advertisement printing, the specific mark which triggers the user to desire the advertisement printing is provided. Is printed in addition to the advertisement image only once per use. Further, when the slip-sheet advertisement is selected, the specific mark also has a function of bringing back the paper on which the slip-sheet advertisement is printed to the user. Examples of the specific mark added to the advertisement image include a coupon, a discount ticket, a hit mark added at a predetermined probability, a lottery number, and the like. Thereby, FIG. 2 (B)
It is possible to actively promote the use of the advertisement printing by the user shown in (C), and it is possible to reliably bring back the paper on which the slip advertisement has been printed to the user.

Whether the user who uses the image forming apparatus 10 has changed is determined when the balance in the charging apparatus runs out, when a predetermined time has elapsed after the copying by the copying machine 11 is completed, or when the copying machine 11 is initialized. It is determined that the user has changed when, for example, the user has changed. Here, the initialization of the copying machine 11 means that the power of the copying machine 11 is turned on, or that a reset key for clearing various copy modes set by the user and returning to the initial state is pressed. Point to.

Further, in the image forming apparatus 10 of this embodiment, the printing condition for printing the advertisement image is selected based on the state of the copying machine, and the advertisement printing is executed. Here, the state of the copying machine refers to the remaining amount of paper stored in each of the plurality of paper feed cassettes and the remaining amount of toner of each color in the case of a color copying machine. In addition, the printing condition of the advertisement image to be selected is to print a slip-sheet advertisement, print a margin advertisement, or, in the case of a slip-sheet advertisement, to print using the paper stored in any paper cassette. Whether printing in full color, printing in mono color (including monochrome), and the like are included.

When the condition of the copying machine is based on the remaining amount of paper, the printing condition of the advertisement image is selected as follows. That is, when the remaining amount of paper in each of the plurality of paper cassettes is equal to or more than a predetermined amount, a printing condition for printing a slip sheet advertisement is selected. When the remaining amount of each paper is smaller than the predetermined amount, a margin advertisement is printed. Print condition is selected. When the printing condition for printing the slip-sheet advertisement is selected, the printing condition for printing using the paper stored in the paper cassette having the largest remaining amount of paper is further selected.

When the remaining amount of toner of each color is equal to or more than a predetermined amount, based on the remaining amount of toner which is the state of the copying machine, the printing condition that the advertisement image is printed in full color using the toners of the plural colors is used. Is selected, and when at least one toner remaining amount is smaller than a predetermined amount, a printing condition for monocolor printing of the advertisement image using one toner whose toner remaining amount is equal to or larger than the predetermined amount is selected.

Since the printing conditions for printing the advertisement image are changed while monitoring the remaining amount of paper and the remaining amount of toner before the paper becomes empty or the toner becomes empty, the printing of the advertisement image is caused. No paper shortage or toner empty occurs, and it is possible to prevent the user from being inconvenienced that a document image cannot be printed or causing trouble. That is, it is possible to realize the printing of the advertisement image without hindering the printing of the document image by the user.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing the inside of the copying machine 11 shown in FIG.

The illustrated copying machine 11 is a full-color copying machine of a four-cycle system, and includes an image scanner section 21 for reading an original image, a signal processing section 22 for processing a signal read by the image scanner section 21, and an original image. The printer unit 23 includes a printer unit 23 that prints an image corresponding to an image on paper, a paper storage unit 24 that stores paper, and a casing 25 that arranges or stores these units.

In the image scanner section 21, the original placed on the platen glass is irradiated by a lamp, and the light reflected by the original is reflected by a plurality of mirrors 26a, 26b, 26a.
c and a line sensor (CCD) through the condenser lens 27
An image is formed on 28. By driving the scanner motor 29, the first scanner 31 is driven at a speed V and the second scanner 32 is driven at V / 2 in a direction perpendicular to the electrical scanning direction (main scanning direction) of the line sensor 28 (sub scanning direction). Direction), and scans the original surface.

The signal processing unit 22 receives a signal read by the line sensor 28, and electrically processes the signal to generate an image signal, which is sent to the printer unit 23.

The printer unit 23 includes a laser generator 35,
The photosensitive drum 36 that is driven to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG.
And a transfer drum 37 on which the sheet 30 is attracted to the outer peripheral surface. Around the photoreceptor drum 36, a charging charger 38 for uniformly charging the photoreceptor drum 36 and a developing device 39 for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor drum 36 are sequentially arranged along the rotation direction. (Developers 39C, 39M,
39Y and 39K (general names of developing means), a transfer charger 40 for transferring the developed toner image to the paper 30, and a cleaning device 41 for removing the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 36 are arranged. Have been. In the toner hopper of the developing device 39C, cyan (C) toner is stored. Similarly, in the toner hoppers of the developing devices 39M, 39Y, and 39K, magenta (M) toner, yellow (Y) toner, Black (K) toner is stored. The laser generator 35 drives and modulates the semiconductor laser according to the level of the image signal sent from the signal processing unit 22. The laser light is a polygon mirror (not shown)
The photosensitive drum 36 is irradiated at a position between the charger 38 and the developing device 39 via the f-θ lens and the folding mirror. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 36 is developed by the developing device 39 with toner.

On the other hand, the paper storage section 24 is provided with a plurality (three in the illustrated example) of paper feed cassettes 45a, 45b, 45c (corresponding to paper storage means). Each of the paper feed cassettes 45a, 45b, and 45c stores a plurality of paper sheets having different paper sizes and vertical and horizontal directions in a stacked state. The copying machine 11 also includes a manual feed tray 46 for manually setting paper. The paper in the paper feed cassettes 45a, 45b, 45c
a, 47b, and 47c separate the sheets one by one and feed them.
It is electrostatically attracted to the outer peripheral surface of the transfer drum 37. When manually fed paper is used, the paper on the manual feed tray 46 is fed.

On the sheet 30 adsorbed on the transfer drum 37,
The developed image is transferred onto the photosensitive drum 36. When the copy mode is monochrome, a monochrome (B) toner image forming, developing, and transferring recording process is performed only once to form a monochrome image. On the other hand, when the copy mode is full color, in the copying machine 11 in the illustrated example, the recording process of image formation, development, and transfer is repeated for each color toner to rotate the transfer drum 37 four times, and is attracted to the transfer drum 37. The basic color images of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (B) are sequentially superimposed on the paper 30 to form a full-color image. It should be noted that it is possible to set a monochrome image for printing an image in a single color of only cyan (C), only magenta (M), and only yellow (Y). In the case of a monochrome image, the image is printed in a single color of black (B) only. As in the case of monochrome printing, the recording process is performed only once.

The sheet after image formation is separated from the separation charger 48.
And separated from the transfer drum 37 by a separation claw 49,
The sheet is conveyed toward the fixing device 50. The fixing device 50 includes a fixing roller 51 having a built-in heat source such as a halogen heater.
And a pressure roller 52 that presses against the fixing roller 51 via a sheet, and heats and melts the unfixed toner transferred onto the sheet to form a permanent image. The sheet on which the toner has been fixed is discharged onto a discharge tray 53.

This copying machine 11 has a double-sided copying function.
Paper reversing mechanism 5 for reversing the paper on which the image is printed
5 are provided. The sheet reversing mechanism 55 includes a reversing path 56 on which the sheet conveyed from the fixing device 50 is conveyed at the time of double-sided copying, and a switching claw for selectively switching the sheet conveyance destination to the discharge tray 53 or the reversing path 56 57,
It has a paper transport path 57 connected to the manual feed tray 46 and a plurality of transport rollers 58. The paper conveyed to the reversing path 56 has the first surface on which the image is printed becomes the back surface, and the second surface on which the image is not printed becomes the front surface, and is attracted to the transfer drum 37 again.

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram showing a control system of the image forming apparatus 10.

The image forming apparatus 10 includes a copying machine 11 and a billing device 12 which can communicate with each other via the relay connector 17 and the input / output interfaces 60a and 60b. ), The image scanner unit 21 and the signal processing unit 22 described above.
And the printer unit 23, and the operation panel 18 including the advertisement function selecting unit 62. The control unit 61 further includes an advertisement image memory 63 for storing a plurality of advertisement images in advance, a charge memory 64 for accumulating and storing the number of printed advertisements and charges for the advertiser, temporary storage of image data and image synthesis. Working memory 6 sometimes used
5. A timer 66 for measuring the current time and a counter 67 for integrating the number of printed advertisements are connected.

Further, the control unit 61 includes the image forming apparatus 1
A first determining unit 85 (corresponding to a determining unit) for determining whether the user who uses 0 has changed, a second determining unit 86 (corresponding to the determining unit) for determining the state of the copying machine 11, The remaining amount of paper detecting unit 87 for detecting the remaining amount of paper stored in each of the paper cassettes 45a, 45b, 45c, and the remaining toner of YMCK toner stored in each of the toner hoppers of the developing units 39Y, 39M, 39C, 39K. A toner remaining amount detecting unit 88 for detecting the amount is connected. The paper remaining amount detection unit 87 is configured by a mechanical sensor such as a limit switch, a photo sensor, and the like. Further, the toner remaining amount detecting unit 88 includes a level sensor such as a transmission type photo sensor having a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit, and detects the remaining amount of toner in the hopper based on the length of the light receiving time of the light receiving unit. The remaining amount of toner may be detected by a level sensor or by integrating the toner supply amount. The control unit 61 controls the respective units of the copying machine 11 and controls the communication with the billing device 12.

By accumulating and storing the billing for the advertiser in the billing memory 64, the billing information can be collectively obtained every predetermined period. The amount accumulated and stored as one of the billing information is the amount charged to the advertiser, and this amount is collectively charged to the advertiser at predetermined intervals.

The operation panel 18 has a number key for setting the number of copies, a key for setting a color mode (monochrome copy / color copy) for printing an original image, and other copy modes (for example, double-sided copy, enlargement / reduction). copy,
Etc.), a start key, a reset key 70, a display section 69 for displaying a setting state, a list of printable advertisements and other information, and a part of the operation panel 18. Is provided with an advertisement function selection unit 62.

The advertisement function selection section 62 sets whether or not to print an advertisement, selects an advertisement image to be printed from a plurality of advertisement images, and prints only an advertisement image without printing a document image. Or choose to print
It is operated by the user. Specifically, a key for setting whether or not to perform advertisement printing, a key for selecting whether to print in the form of a margin advertisement, a slip sheet advertisement, or a backside advertisement when performing advertisement printing, A key or the like for selecting a desired advertisement from the image is arranged. Note that the keys of the advertisement function selection unit 62 are touch panel keys.

On the other hand, the above-described display unit 15 is connected to the control unit 71 (corresponding to control means) of the billing device 12.
Further, a billing table memory 72, a billing memory 73 for accumulating and storing the number of copies and the billing amount for the user.
Etc. are connected. The control unit 71 charges each of the user and the advertiser according to the specific copy operation to be executed, with reference to the table stored in the charging table memory 72. Then, the control unit 71
The image forming apparatus 10 controls the billing device 12
Controls communication with the

The image forming apparatus 10 is connected to a terminal 74 in a store where the image forming apparatus 10 is installed. When the clerk operates the terminal 74, the copy machine 11 such as the current number of remaining sheets and the remaining amount of toner is displayed.
, The use of advertising printing, the amount charged to the advertiser, and the like. In addition, it is also possible for a clerk to remotely switch an advertisement image that can be selected by the user according to the age, sex, and the like of the user.

Further, the image forming apparatus 10 may be connected via a network (not shown) to a terminal in a management facility for centrally managing the image forming apparatuses 10 installed in a plurality of stores. . In this management facility, the operation status of each image forming apparatus 10 is grasped, the billing information to the advertiser sent from each image forming apparatus 10 is integrated, the advertiser is collectively billed, The advertisement image stored in the device 11 can be periodically replaced by remote control.

In the image forming apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, when the user selects printing of an advertisement by operating the key of the advertisement function selection unit 62, the control unit 61 determines whether the user determined by the first determination unit 85 Control is performed to permit or prohibit the printing of the advertisement image to which the specific mark has been added based on whether or not the advertisement image has changed, and based on the state of the copying machine 11 determined by the second determination unit 86, the printing of the advertisement image is performed. Control to select conditions is being performed. Hereinafter, examples of print control will be described in order.

<< 1. Control for Permitting or Prohibiting Printing of Advertising Image with Specific Mark Added >> Next, a control procedure for permitting or prohibiting printing of the advertising image with the specific mark added will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Note that a case where only one advertisement image with a specific mark added thereto is printed for one user per use will be described as an example. In addition, the printing form of the advertisement is a slip sheet advertisement.

First, when the power of the copying machine 11 is turned on, it corresponds to the time when the copying machine 11 is initialized.
The determination unit 85 determines that the user has changed, and the control unit 61 permits the printing of the advertisement image (S11). Further, the user can select whether or not to perform advertisement printing by operating a key provided in the advertisement function selection unit 62, and information on whether or not to perform advertisement printing is transmitted from the copying machine 11 to the charging apparatus 12 or not.
Sent to

When the user selects the advertisement printing, a fee is charged to the billing device 12 (S12), and a copy mode such as the number of copies is set and the copy is started (S13, S14).
Then, one advertisement image is selected from the plurality of advertisement images stored in the advertisement image memory 63. The advertisement image is automatically selected by rotation or the like, or can be arbitrarily selected by the user himself.

Next, the control unit 61 determines whether or not the advertisement printing is permitted (S15). If the advertisement printing is permitted (S15 "Y"), the control unit 61 determines whether the advertisement with the specific mark is added. The image is printed in the form of a slip-sheet advertisement (S16). After performing the advertisement printing, the control unit 61 prohibits the advertisement printing (S17).

Thereafter, the original image is printed in accordance with the print mode set by the user (S18). If the copy has not been completed and there is a balance in the billing device 12 (S19).
"N", S20 "Y"), and return to step S15. Since one advertisement image to which the specific mark has been added has already been printed and advertisement printing is prohibited, "N" is determined in step S15.
Is determined, and only the document image is printed in the print mode set by the user without printing the interleaf advertisement (S18).

Steps S15 to S until copying is completed
The process of step S20 is repeated to print the original image. If the balance of the charging device 12 runs out during the printing of the original image (S20).
"N"), it is determined whether or not to continue copying (S2).
1). Here, whether to continue copying is determined by the first
The determination is performed by the determination unit 85 by counting the elapsed time after the end of printing.

When the user re-enters the charge into the charging device 12 while the first determination section 85 is counting the elapsed time after the end of printing (S21, S22 "Y"), the user continues copying. Because there is intention, step S15
Return to Since the state where the advertisement printing is prohibited continues even if the fee is re-input, only the original image is continuously printed without printing the slip sheet advertisement (S18).

The fee is not recharged to the charging device 12 (S2
2 (N)), when a predetermined time has elapsed after the printing is completed (S21 "N"), the first determination unit 85 determines that the series of copying work by the user has ended and the user has changed. The control unit 61 permits the advertisement printing again based on the determination by the first determination unit 85 that the user has changed (S).
23). Thereafter, the flow returns to step S12.

When the printing of the original image by the user is completed (Y in S19) and there is no balance in the billing device 12 (N in S24), the first discriminating section 85 continues the series of operations by the user. It is determined that the copying operation has been completed and the user has changed. Based on the determination by the first determination unit 85, the control unit 61 permits the advertisement printing again (S23), and then returns to step S12.

When there is a balance in the charging device 12 (S24)
“Y”), the user returns the coin return button 1 of the charging device 12
4 and the balance is returned ("Y" in S25). As a result, the billing device 12 runs out of balance and the first
The determining unit 85 determines that the series of copying work by the user has ended and the user has changed. And this first
Based on the determination by the determination unit 85, the control unit 61 permits the advertisement printing again (S23), and then returns to step S12.

As described above, the copy fee for the user is collected by the charging device 12 by subtracting a predetermined amount from the input amount. The advertisement fee for the advertiser is accumulated and stored in the charging memory 64 of the copying machine 11 for the number of advertisement printed sheets and the charging amount, and is collectively charged later.

As described above, when the power is turned on and the copying machine 11 is initialized, when a predetermined time has elapsed after printing is completed (S
21 "N"), when the balance in the billing means 12 has run out (S24 "N" or S25 "Y"), the first determination unit 85 determines that the user has changed, and the control unit 61 determines The printing of the advertisement image with the mark added is permitted only once. Therefore, the specific mark such as the printed coupon or discount ticket causes the user to desire the advertisement printing, and the user can strongly promote the active use of the advertisement printing. In addition, it is possible to give the user only one specific mark per use. Further, since the advertisement is a slip-sheet advertisement, the advertisement image can be printed in a large size, and the user can be alerted to obtain an effective advertisement effect. Also, in anticipation that the coupons, etc., which are specific marks, can be used at a later date, we will actively use printing with slip-sheet advertisements and take out slip-sheet advertisements printed on paper different from the paper on which the original image is printed. You can prevent forgetting.

From these points, according to the image forming apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, which can print an interleaf advertisement, it is possible to promote the use of the advertisement printing by the user, and to bring back the printed advertisement image. And an image forming apparatus suitable for printing a discount coupon or a coupon on an advertisement image.

<< 2. Control for Selecting Printing Conditions for Advertising Image Based on Remaining Paper Size >> Next, referring to the flowchart of FIG. 6, control for selecting printing conditions for the advertising image based on the remaining paper size that is the state of the copying machine 11. The procedure will be described.

The user operates the keys provided in the advertisement function selection section 62 to select whether or not to print an advertisement (S31). For information on whether to print ads,
It is sent from the copying machine 11 to the accounting device 12.

When the user selects the advertisement printing (S
31 “Y”), a fee is charged to the billing device 12 (S3).
2) When the copy mode such as the number is set and the copy is started (S33), an advertisement image is selected from a plurality of advertisement images stored in the advertisement image memory 63. Ad images are automatically selected by rotation, etc.
The user can arbitrarily select one.

The paper remaining amount detecting section 87 is provided for each of the paper feed cassettes 4.
5a, 45b, and 45c are detected, and the second determination unit 86 determines whether the remaining amount of each sheet, which is one of the states of the copying machine 11, is equal to or more than a predetermined amount. Is determined. Then, the control unit 61 selects a paper size to be used for printing, which is one of the printing conditions of the advertisement image, based on the determination result of the second determination unit 86 (S3).
4). That is, the control unit 61 controls each of the paper feed cassettes 45a,
When the second determination unit 86 determines that the remaining amount of each of the sheets 45b and 45c is equal to or greater than the predetermined amount, the printing condition for printing the slip sheet advertisement is selected, and the paper cassette having the largest remaining amount of paper is selected. A printing condition for printing using the stored paper is further selected. Then, the control unit 61 sets the printable cassette to “yes”,
Select the paper cassette that has the most remaining paper.

On the other hand, each of the sheet cassettes 45a, 45b, 4
When the second determination unit 86 determines that the remaining amount of each of the sheets 5c is smaller than the predetermined amount, the control unit 61 selects a printing condition for printing a margin advertisement. Then, the control unit 61 sets the printable cassette to “none”.

The predetermined amount relating to the remaining amount of paper can be set as appropriate.
The number is set to about 10% of the maximum number that can be stored in a, 45b, and 45c.

Next, the control section 61 determines whether or not there is a printable cassette (S35). If the printable cassette is set to “yes” (S35 “Y”),
An interleaf advertisement is printed using the paper stored in the selected paper cassette, that is, the paper cassette having the largest remaining amount of paper (S36). After the printing of the slip-sheet advertisement is completed, the document image is printed using the paper stored in the paper cassette selected by the user (S37). The reason why the interleaf advertisement is printed first is that if the interleaf advertisement is printed after the original image is printed, the printed advertisement image may not be brought back by the user.

On the other hand, each paper feed cassette 45a, 45b, 4
In the case where the remaining amount of each sheet of paper 5c is smaller than the predetermined amount and the printable cassette is set to "none" (S35)
"N"), it is determined whether or not there is a blank portion in the document image (S38). If there is a blank portion (S38)
"Y"), the advertisement image is combined with the margin of the document image and printed (S39). If there is no margin (S38
“N”), the margin advertisement is not printed, and only the original image is printed (S40).

When the user does not select the advertisement printing (S31 "N"), a fee is charged to the billing device 12 (S41), and a copy mode such as a number is set and a copy is started (S42). ), The control section 61 prints only the document image according to the print mode set by the user (S43).

Also in this print control, the copy fee for the user is collected by the billing device 12, and the advertisement fee for the advertiser is accumulated and stored in the billing memory 64 and later collectively charged.

As described above, the control section 61 controls the second discriminating section 8
6, any of the sheet cassettes 45a, 45b, 45
print a slip-sheet advertisement using the paper stored in c.
A print condition for printing a margin advertisement or not printing an advertisement image is selected. Therefore, at the beginning when the amount of remaining paper is large, the advertisement effect can be enhanced by printing an interleaf advertisement, while when the amount of remaining paper becomes low, the advertisement is switched or changed to the margin advertisement and printed. A sharp decrease in the remaining amount of paper can be suppressed. For this reason, it is avoided that the paper runs out due to the printing of the advertisement image, and the user is less inconvenienced. Therefore, it is possible to realize the printing of the advertisement image within a range that does not hinder the printing of the document image by the user.

<< 2. Control for Selecting Printing Conditions for Advertising Image Based on Remaining Toner >> Next, referring to the flowchart of FIG. 7, control for selecting printing conditions for the advertising image based on the remaining amount of toner, which is the state of the copying machine 11. The procedure will be described. The description will be made by taking as an example the case where the print form of the advertisement is a slip-sheet advertisement.

The user operates the keys provided in the advertisement function selection section 62 to select whether or not to print an advertisement (S51). For information on whether to print ads,
It is sent from the copying machine 11 to the accounting device 12.

When the user selects the advertisement printing (S
51 "Y"), the fee is charged to the billing device 12 (S5).
2) When the copy mode such as the number of copies is set and the copy is started (S53), first, the document image is printed (S54). Further, an advertisement image is selected from a plurality of advertisement images stored in the advertisement image memory 63. The advertisement image is automatically selected by rotation or the like, or can be arbitrarily selected by the user himself.

The toner remaining amount detecting section 88 is provided for each of the developing devices 39.
C, 39M, 39Y, and 39K, the amount of toner stored in each of the toner hoppers is detected.
It is determined whether or not the remaining amount of toner of each color of K is equal to or more than a predetermined amount (S55).

The predetermined amount relating to the remaining amount of toner can be set as appropriate. For example, the predetermined amount is set to the amount immediately before the occurrence of the toner empty warning. That is, when a toner empty warning is likely to occur, the amount of toner consumed in the advertisement printing is reduced as much as possible, so that the toner empty warning is hardly issued.

Next, the control unit 61 selects a toner to be used, which is one of the printing conditions of the advertisement image, based on the determination result of the second determination unit 86, and executes printing. That is,
The control unit 61 controls each of the developing devices 39C, 39M, 39Y, 39Y.
When the second determination unit 86 determines that the remaining amount of each toner of K is equal to or more than the predetermined amount (“Y” in S55), CMY
The printing conditions for printing the advertisement image in full color using the toner of each color K are selected, and the advertisement image is printed in full color (S56).

On the other hand, at least one developing device 39C, 3
When the second determination unit 86 determines that the remaining toner amounts of 9M, 39Y, and 39K are smaller than a predetermined amount (S55).
(N)), it is determined whether the remaining amount of black (K) toner is equal to or more than a predetermined amount (S57). When the remaining amount of black (K) toner is equal to or more than a predetermined amount (S57 “Y”),
The printing conditions for printing the advertisement image in monochrome using the K toner are selected, and the advertisement image is printed in monochrome (S5).
8). When the remaining amount of K toner is smaller than the predetermined amount (S5
7 “N”), the advertisement is not printed, and only the original image is printed. In step S57, the remaining amount of the K toner is determined. However, the remaining amount is not limited to the K toner.
The advertisement image may be printed in a single color in a single color by determining the remaining amount of the toner in any one of the toner colors.

If the user does not select the advertisement printing ("N" in S51), a fee is charged to the charging device 12 (S59), and a copy mode such as the number of copies is set and the copy is started (S60). Then, the control unit 61 prints only the original image according to the print mode set by the user (S61).

Also in this print control, the copy fee for the user is collected by the billing device 12, and the advertisement fee for the advertiser is accumulated and stored in the billing memory 64, and is collectively billed later.

As described above, the control section 61 controls the second discriminating section 8
Based on the remaining amount of toner, which is the state of the copying machine 11 determined in step 6, the printing condition for printing the advertisement image in full color, printing in monochrome, or not printing is selected. Therefore, when the remaining toner amount is large, the advertisement image can be printed in full color to attract the user's attention to the advertisement and the advertisement effect can be enhanced. On the other hand, when the remaining toner amount becomes small, the printing is not switched to the monochrome printing. By changing and printing, a sharp decrease in the remaining amount of toner can be suppressed. For this reason, it is possible to avoid occurrence of a situation of toner empty due to printing of the advertisement image, and it is less likely to bother the user. Therefore, it is possible to realize the printing of the advertisement image within a range that does not hinder the printing of the document image by the user.

[0095]

According to the present invention described above, the following effects can be obtained for each claim.

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to prevent a user who prints an original image from printing only one specific mark at a time of using the original image. It is possible to promote the use of image printing, and to encourage the print user to bring back the printed additional image, and to print a specific mark such as a discount coupon or a coupon on the additional image. It becomes suitable.

According to the image forming apparatus of the sixth to twelfth aspects, it is possible to print the additional image within a range that does not hinder the printing of the original image by the print user.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIGS. 2A to 2C are views for explaining a printing mode by the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 2A is a mode in which only a document image is printed; (B) shows a form in which an advertisement image is synthesized and printed in a margin portion of a document image, and FIG. (C) shows a form in which the advertisement image is largely printed on the back surface of the sheet on which the document image is printed or on another sheet. I have.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram schematically showing the inside of the copying machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a control system of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure for permitting or prohibiting printing of an advertisement image to which a specific mark has been added.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure for selecting a printing condition of an advertisement image based on a remaining amount of paper in a state of a copying machine.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure for selecting a printing condition of an advertisement image based on a remaining amount of toner which is a state of the copying machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Image forming apparatus 11 ... Copy machine (copy means) 12 ... Billing apparatus (1st billing means) 18 ... Operation panel 39C, 39M, 39Y, 39K ... Developing device (developing means) 45a, 45b, 45c ... Paper feed Cassette (paper storing means) 61 ... Control unit (control means) of copying machine 62 ... Advertising function selecting unit 63 ... Advertising image memory 64 ... Charging memory 71 ... Control unit (control means) of charging device 85 ... First discrimination Unit (discriminating means) 86: Second discriminating unit (discriminating means) 87: Remaining paper amount detecting unit 88: Remaining toner detecting unit

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2H027 DA29 DA32 DA40 DC18 DD02 DD05 DE07 EF09 EJ06 FA30 FD01 FD10

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A copy unit for printing a prestored additional image such as an advertisement image or a read original image, a charging unit for charging a user of the original image, and a print user of the original image Determining means for determining whether or not has changed, and control means for performing control for permitting printing of an additional image to which a specific mark has been added when determining that the printing user of the document image has changed by the determining means. An image forming apparatus comprising: 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determining unit determines that the printing user of the document image has changed when the remaining amount in the charging unit is exhausted. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines that a printing user of the document image has changed when a predetermined time has elapsed after the printing by the copying unit is completed. . 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the copying unit is initialized, the determining unit determines that a printing user of the original image has changed. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the additional image is printed on a sheet different from a sheet on which the document image is printed. 6. A copying unit for printing a prestored additional image such as an advertisement image or a read original image, a charging unit for charging a user of the original image printing, and a status of the copying unit. An image forming apparatus comprising: a determination unit configured to perform determination; and a control unit configured to perform control for selecting a print condition of an additional image based on a state of the copying unit determined by the determination unit. 7. The copying means includes a plurality of paper storage means for storing paper, and the state of the copying means determined by the determination means is based on a remaining amount of paper stored in each of the paper storage means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6. 8. The control means, when the determination means determines that the remaining amount of paper in each of the paper storage means is equal to or more than a predetermined amount, stores the additional image on a sheet different from the sheet on which the document image is printed. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein control is performed to select printing conditions for printing. 9. A printing condition for adding an additional image to a blank portion of a document image and printing when the determination unit determines that the remaining amount of paper in each of the paper storage units is smaller than a predetermined amount. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein control for selecting is performed. 10. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit selects a printing condition for printing the additional image on a sheet different from the sheet on which the document image is printed, and selects the sheet having the largest remaining sheet amount among the plurality of sheet storage units. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising selecting a printing condition for printing using the paper stored in the storage unit. 11. The copying means includes a plurality of developing means in which developers of different colors are stored, and the state of the copying means determined by the determining means is the developer stored in each of the developing means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the remaining amount is the remaining amount. 12. The control unit prints an additional image using the plurality of developers of the different colors when the determination unit determines that the remaining amount of the developer in each of the development units is equal to or more than a predetermined amount. When the determination unit determines that the remaining amount of the developer of at least one of the developing units is smaller than a predetermined amount, the other developer having the remaining amount of the developer of the predetermined amount or more is used. 12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein control is performed to select printing conditions for printing the additional image.