JP2003244352A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus with high convenience by which fees can be collected independently in accordance with a plurality of applications in the image forming apparatus having a plurality of applications. <P>SOLUTION: In the image forming apparatus having a coin rack 800 that receives use fees from a user, an operation part 30 that inputs a user ID, and a plurality of the applications such as a copying machine, facsimile machine, a scanner, and a printer, it is provided with a main controller 20 that sets whether or not the fees are required in each of the applications, stores the use fees received by a use fee receiving means, the user ID inputted from an ID input means, and the applications by associating them with one another and subtracts the use fees stored in a charging information storage means based on use degrees of the applications. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus having a charge collecting device such as a coin rack and having functions such as copying, printer, fax and scanner.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional image forming apparatus of this type,
2. Description of the Related Art There is known an image forming apparatus in which a plurality of users charge and print when a coin-inserter is associated with data sent by the user by ID. (Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 9-259351) In this system, a user who inserts a coin transmits the ID recognized on the display unit at the start of printing together with the print data, and when the image forming apparatus receives the data, the ID Judge whether it is a confirmation command,
Unless the ID is authenticated, other data cannot be accepted. Therefore, ID before all commands
The command to authenticate is sent from the host computer, and in the case of an ID confirmation command, the ID to be authenticated
It was checked whether or not there was, and the sent ID was authenticated with the ID stored in the controller section.

[0003]

However, such a conventional image forming apparatus usually has only one charge slot corresponding to a plurality of applications such as copy, printer, fax and scanner. However, since the relationship between the applied charge and the target charging source application is not associated, the charge applied for copying, for example, is charged for printing by the printer, which is not convenient. was there.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus having a plurality of applications, which is highly convenient in that a fee can be collected independently by the plurality of applications.

[0005]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has a usage fee receiving means for receiving a usage fee from a user and an ID input means for inputting a user ID, and a copy In an image forming apparatus including a plurality of applications including a fax, a scanner, and a printer, a usage restriction unit that sets whether or not the usage fee is required for each of the applications, and the usage fee receiving unit receive the usage fee. A billing information storage unit that stores the usage fee, the user ID input from the ID input unit, and the application in association with each other, and subtracts the usage fee stored in the billing information storage unit based on the usage frequency of the application. It is characterized in that it is provided with usage fee subtraction means.

Therefore, since the received fee is associated with the application subject to this fee, the fee can be managed for each application.

Further, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention reduces the usage fee when the user ID stored in the billing information storage means and the user ID re-input from the ID input means match. It is characterized by having a return means for returning the usage fee subtracted by.

Therefore, the repayment of the usage fee can be made for each application.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides the usage fee receiving means when the user ID stored in the billing information storage means and the ID re-input from the ID input means match. It is characterized by the provision of means for adding a fee to receive the fee again.

Therefore, the usage fee can be added for each application.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention accepts an ID input from the ID input means only when the usage restriction means sets a usage fee for two or more applications. It is characterized by including an ID input limiting means.

Therefore, when only one application requires the usage fee, the image forming apparatus can be used without inputting the ID.

Further, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides, among the usage fees stored in the billing information storage means,
It is characterized by including a usage fee display means for displaying a usage fee corresponding to the application being used.

Therefore, even when the usage fees are received for a plurality of applications, it is possible to know the balance of the usage fees stored for the applications being used.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. [First Embodiment] First, the configuration will be described.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an image forming apparatus 500 according to the first embodiment, and includes a copy function, a printer function, a facsimile function, a scanner function (these functions are hereinafter referred to as applications or short applications). An example is shown in which the image forming apparatus is provided with a so-called multi-function peripheral.

In the image forming apparatus 500 shown in FIG.
The document stack placed on the document table 2 of the automatic document feeder (ADF) 1 with the image side of the document facing up is the best when the start key 34 (see FIG. 2) on the operation unit 30 is pressed. The lower original is fed to a predetermined position on the contact glass 6 by the feeding roller 3 and the feeding belt 4. The image forming apparatus 500 is adapted to count the number of originals every time the feeding of the originals is completed.

After the reading unit 50 reads the image data of the original on the contact glass 6, the original that has been read is ejected by the feeding belt 4 and the ejection roller 5. Subsequently, when the document set detection 7 detects that the next document is placed on the document table 2, the document is fed onto the contact glass 6 in the same manner as the previous document. Also,
The feeding roller 3, the feeding belt 4, and the discharging roller 5 are driven by a motor (not shown).

The transfer papers stacked on the respective paper feed trays of the first tray 8, the second tray 9 and the third tray 10 are respectively the first paper feed unit 11, the second paper feed unit 12 and the third paper feed unit.
The sheet is fed to the vertical transport unit 14 by the sheet feeding unit 13, and the vertical transport unit 14 transports the sheet to a position where it abuts on the photoconductor 15. The image data read by the reading unit 50 is written on the photoconductor 15 by the laser emitted by the writing unit 57, and then the developing unit 2
A toner image is formed by passing through 7.

The transfer paper is conveyed by the conveyor belt 16 at the same speed as the rotation of the photoreceptor 15, while
The toner image formed above is transferred to the transfer paper. After that, the fixing unit 17 fixes the image, and the paper discharge unit 18 discharges the image to the finisher 100 which is a post-processing device.

The finisher 100 as a post-processing device is provided with a switching plate 101 so that the transfer paper discharged from the image forming apparatus 500 is guided by the switching plate 101 in the direction of the discharge conveying roller 102 or the stapler 106. It has become. That is, when the switching plate 101 is switched to the upper side, the transfer sheet is ejected to the ejection tray 104 side via the ejection conveyance rollers 103, and the switching plate 10
1 is switched downward, the transfer paper passes through the stapler transport rollers 105 and 107, and
08 and is loaded.

The transfer paper stacked on the staple tray 108 has its paper end surfaces aligned by the paper aligning jogger 109 every time it is conveyed, and is bound by the stapler 106 when a part of the copy is completed. Stapler 106
The group of transfer sheets bound by is stored in the staple-completed sheet discharge tray 110 by its own weight.

On the other hand, the normal paper discharge tray 104 is designed to move forward and backward (directions on both sides with respect to the discharge direction), and it moves forward and backward for each original or for each copy electronically sorted by the image memory. By doing so, the copy sheets discharged from the image forming apparatus 500 are sorted.

In the case of so-called double-sided printing in which images are formed on both sides of the transfer paper, a branch claw (not shown) is set so that the transfer paper is conveyed to the double-sided conveyance unit 111, so that only one side is formed. The imaged transfer paper is stored in the double-sided conveyance unit 111.

Thereafter, the transfer paper stocked in the double-sided transport unit 111 is re-fed from the double-sided transport unit 111 to transfer the toner image formed by the photoconductor 15 again, and is not shown for path switching. By switching the branching claws, it is finally guided to the paper discharge tray 104.
In this way, the double-sided paper feeding unit 111 is adapted to reverse the front and back sides of the transfer paper in order to create images on both sides of the transfer paper.

The photoconductor 15, the conveyor belt 16, the fixing unit 17, the paper discharge unit 18, and the developing unit 2
7 is driven by the main motor 25 (see FIG. 4). The sheet feeding units 11 to 13 are driven by transmitting the driving of the main motor 25 by a sheet feeding clutch (not shown). The vertical transport unit 14 is driven by transmitting the drive of the main motor 25 by an intermediate clutch (not shown).

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the operation unit 30 provided in the image forming apparatus 500.

As shown in FIG. 2, the operation unit 30 includes a liquid crystal touch panel 31, a numeric keypad 32, a clear / stop key 33, and a start key 3 for instructing the start of a printing operation.
4, a preheat key 35, a reset key 36, and an interrupt key 37. The liquid crystal touch panel 31 also displays function keys (not shown), messages indicating the number of copies and the state of the image forming apparatus, and the like.

In the image forming apparatus 500 having the operation unit 30 configured as described above, when the interrupt key 37 is pressed, the copy operation is temporarily interrupted during the copy operation and during the operation to perform the copy. The mode shifts to the so-called interrupt pressing mode. If this mode is set, the previous copy mode, or if the copying is in progress, the intermediate information is stored in a nonvolatile RAM (not shown) included in the image forming apparatus 500, and the mode is changed to the interrupt mode.
Initialize the mode. When the interrupt mode is released after execution of the copy operation, the mode and information stored in a non-volatile RAM (not shown) are returned to return to the state before the interrupt mode was set, and the mode before the interrupt is continued by restarting.

Further, in the image forming apparatus 500, the initial state can be arbitrarily customized by pressing the initial setting key 38. For example, the size of paper stored can be set, and the state set when a mode clear key (not shown) of the copy function is pressed can be arbitrarily set. Also,
You can select the application that is prioritized when there is no operation for a certain period of time, set the transition time to the low power state according to the International Energy Star plan, and set the time to transition to the auto off / sleep mode. You can do it.

Further, the image forming apparatus 500 has the preheat key 3
By pressing 5, the standby state is shifted to the power reduction state, the fixing temperature is lowered, and the display of the operation unit 30 is turned off. Here, the preheat state means the low power state referred to in the International Energy Star Program. Further, by pressing the preheat key 35 again, the preheat state, the off state / sleep state is released, and the standby state is entered.

Further, the operation unit 30 has an application switching key 3
9 and the application switching key 39 is a copy,
It consists of multiple keys that select the functions of copy server, fax, printer, and scanner. Then, by pressing any one of the application switching keys 39, the application corresponding to the pressed key is switched,
The display of the liquid crystal touch panel 31 is also switched to the display of the corresponding application.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a display example of the liquid crystal touch panel 31 provided on the operation unit 30.

On the liquid crystal touch panel 31, when the operator touches a key displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 31, the key indicating the selected function is inverted in black. In addition, in order to make detailed settings for the selected function, for example, when setting the scaling value when performing variable copy, the setting screen for setting the details when the function is selected is displayed. It has become so. The scaling is
This is performed by changing the image reading density and performing data interpolation using the read image data. In addition, in the present embodiment, the liquid crystal touch panel 31 is displayed by dot display so that the optimum display can be performed graphically.

FIG. 4 shows the main controller 20 included in the image forming apparatus 500. The main controller 20 controls the entire image forming apparatus 500. The main controller 20 includes an operation unit 30 that controls display for the operator and input for setting functions from the operator, control of the scanner, control of writing a document image in an image memory (not shown), and image memory (not shown). An image processing unit (IPU) 49 for performing various controls such as image forming control and a device such as an automatic document feeder (ADF) 1 are connected, and these devices and the main controller 20 are connected as necessary. Exchanges information about the device status and operation commands. Further, the main controller 20 is also connected to a main motor 25 as a power source for paper conveyance and the like, and various clutches 21 to 24 for controlling them.

Further, the main controller 20 is connected to a coin rack 800 as a charge receiving device, and the coin rack 800 transmits charge insertion information and refund information to the main controller 20, and the main controller 2
From 0, instructions for collecting fees are given.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of the coin rack 800. In FIG. 5, the coin rack 800 includes a charge display section 83, a charge slot 80, and a return lever 8 for returning a charge.
1. It has a charge return port 82.

Next, returning to FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 500.
From reading a document to writing an image will be described. The reading unit 50 has a contact glass 6 on which a document is placed and an optical operation system. The optical operation system has an exposure lamp 51, a first mirror 52, a lens 53, a CCD image sensor 54 and the like. The exposure lamp 51 and the first mirror 52 are fixed on a first carriage (not shown), and the second mirror 55 and the third mirror 56 are fixed on a second carriage (not shown). When the original image is read, the first carriage (not shown) and the second carriage (not shown) are mechanically scanned at a relative speed of 2: 1 so that the optical path length does not change. . This optical operation system is driven by a scanner drive motor (not shown). The writing unit 57 has a laser output unit 58, an imaging lens 59, and a mirror 60. The laser output unit 58 has a laser diode as a laser light source and a polygon mirror (polygon mirror) that rotates at a constant speed at a high speed by a motor. )have. The laser beam output from the writing unit 57 is applied to the photoconductor 15, and a main scanning synchronization signal is generated at a position near the one end of the photoconductor 15 where the laser beam is applied. No beam sensor is placed.

Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus thus configured will be described with reference to FIGS.

In the image forming apparatus having such a configuration, first, in FIG. 6, when the fee is not charged and the ID is not input, the ID input request dialog 310 as shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel. It is displayed on 31 (S101). Further, in this state, no key input operation can be performed on the application screen displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 31 with half brightness (represented by hatching in FIG. 7).
Here, when the user inputs an arbitrary ID (S102,
Yes), the charge input request dialog 311 as shown in FIG. 8 is displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 31 instead of the ID input request dialog 310 (S103). If no ID is input in step S102, step S1
The process returns to 01 to continue displaying the ID input request dialog 310 and waits for the input of the ID.

When a charge is put into the coin rack 800 (S104, Yes), the charge input request dialog 311 is closed (S105), and the key input operation on the application screen displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 31 is valid. This enables the user to execute each function of the application.

If no coin is inserted in step S104, the process returns to step S103 to continue displaying the charge insertion request dialog 311, and waits for coin insertion.

Then, as shown in FIG. 9, the main controller 20 (see FIG. 4) creates a correspondence table of the balance of the application, the ID and the input amount (S106), and stores it in an internal memory (not shown) of the main controller 20. Remember.

Here, the correspondence table shown in FIG. 9 shows an example in which "1234" is input as the ID and 100 yen is input when the copy application is selected. Needless to say, the remaining amount of 100 is reduced when copying is executed. An application with no ID input is treated as having no ID (NULL).

After that, when another user tries to use another application (for example, when the fax application or another application is used instead of the copy application described above), the other user selects the application switching key 39. (Fig. 2
When the fax key is pressed to switch to the fax screen, the ID input request dialog 310 shown in FIG. 7 is also displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 31, and the same processing as described above is performed.

FIG. 10 shows an example in which the other user inputs "5678" as the ID and the input amount is 50 yen.

As described above, in this embodiment, the coin rack 800 that receives the usage fee from the user and the user ID
And an operation unit 30 for inputting
In an image forming apparatus including a plurality of applications of a scanner and a printer, a mine controller 20 for setting whether or not the usage fee is required for each of the applications, a usage fee received by the coin rack 800, and the The main controller 20 stores the user ID input from the operation unit 30 in association with the application, and the main controller 20 subtracts the usage fee stored in the main controller 20 based on the usage frequency of the application. ing.

Therefore, since the received fee is associated with the application subject to this fee, the fee can be managed for each application.

[Second Embodiment] A second embodiment will be described. Since the overall configuration and other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, the same components are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted, and the operation will be described. The operation described in the first embodiment is also performed in this embodiment, and other operations will be described in this embodiment.

In the flowchart shown in FIG. 11, first, when there is a charge return request by the return lever 81 of the coin rack 800 (S201), the ID input dialog 320 is displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 31 as shown in FIG. 12 ( S202), waiting for ID input (S202)
203), it is determined whether the ID is input (S2).
04). When the user inputs the ID, the correspondence table (see FIGS. 9 and 10) already created is referred to, and it is checked whether or not there is an ID that matches the input ID (S205). If there is a matching ID, the balance corresponding to this ID is calculated (S206) and the presence or absence of the balance is determined (S207). If there is balance, coin rack 8
The balance is returned to 00 (S208). Note that S2
If there is no match with the input ID in 05, or if there is no balance in S207, the process ends without returning the charge.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the main controller 20 stores the user ID, and when the user ID and the user ID re-input from the operation unit 30 match, the usage fee subtracted by the main controller 20. I'm trying to return.

Therefore, the repayment of the usage fee can be made for each application.

[Third Embodiment] A third embodiment will be described. Since the overall configuration and other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, the same components are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted, and the operation will be described. The operation described in the first embodiment is also performed in this embodiment, and other operations will be described in this embodiment.

In the flowchart shown in FIG. 13, if a charge shortage occurs while the image forming apparatus 500 is being used (for example, during copy printing), an additional charge may be added. In this case, the coin rack 800 notifies the request for additional charge by voice or display (S30
1), the ID input dialog 320 as shown in FIG. 12 is displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 31 (S302). Then, the process waits for an ID to be input (S303), and when the ID is input (S304, Yes), whether there is a matching ID by referring to the already created correspondence table (see FIGS. 9 and 10). It is determined whether or not (S305). If there is a matching ID, based on the correspondence table, the additional amount of money is added to the remaining amount of the application corresponding to the input ID (S3
06), the display of the ID input dialog 320 is turned off (S307). In addition, in S305, the input I
If there is no match with D, the state of waiting for input of the ID is entered again.

As described above, in this embodiment, when the user ID stored in the main controller 20 and the ID re-input from the ID input means match, the main controller 20 receives the usage fee by the coin rack 800. Is supposed to do it again.

Therefore, the usage fee can be added for each application.

[Fourth Embodiment] A fourth embodiment will be described. Since the overall configuration and other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, the same components are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted, and the operation will be described.

In the above-described first to third embodiments, the case where the fee is received by the coin rack 800 for two or more applications has been described. However, the fee is valid only for the copy application. If it is set, it is not necessary to refer to the correspondence table as described in the first embodiment, and the user does not need to input the ID.

Therefore, in this embodiment, whether or not a usage fee is required is set for each application, and the main controller 20 stores this as fee collection setting information so that the user does not need to input an ID. Is what you are trying to do.

In FIG. 14, the image forming apparatus 500 is
The collection fee setting information is checked (S401), and if the number of applications requiring a usage fee is greater than 1 (S403, Yes)
s), the same operation as the operation described in the first embodiment (see FIG. 6) is executed (S404 to S409). On the other hand, S
When only one application requires a usage fee in 403 (S403, No), the charge input request dialog 311 as shown in FIG. 8 is displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 31.
Is displayed (S410), it is determined whether or not a fee has been inserted into the coin rack 800 (S411), and if the fee has been inserted, the fee insertion request dialog 311 is closed (S410).
412) and the process ends. If there is no charge, the process returns to S410 to continue the charge request dialog 311 and waits for the charge.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the main controller 20 accepts the ID input from the operation unit 30 only when the main controller 20 is set to require the usage fee for two or more applications. I am trying.

Therefore, if it is set that only one application requires the usage fee, I
The image forming apparatus can be used without inputting D.

[Fifth Embodiment] A fifth embodiment will be described. Since the overall configuration and other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, the same components are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted, and the operation will be described. The operation described in the first embodiment is also performed in this embodiment, and other operations will be described in this embodiment.

As described in the description of the first embodiment,
When the charges are applied to a plurality of apps, the user may not be able to know how much the charges are applied to which app.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the remaining amount of the application in use is displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 31 as shown in FIG. 15 based on the correspondence table (see FIGS. 9 and 10) already created.
I am trying to display it. In addition, the remaining amount of the application being used is displayed in the coin rack 80 instead of the liquid crystal touch panel 31.
It goes without saying that it may be displayed at 0.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the liquid crystal touch panel 31 displays the usage fee stored in the main controller 20 and corresponding to the application in use.

Therefore, even when the usage fee is received for a plurality of applications, it is possible to know the balance of the usage fee stored for the application being used.

[0068]

According to the present invention, by associating the usage fee received from the user with the input user ID and the application, the fee can be collected independently by a plurality of applications.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall view of an image forming apparatus according to first to fifth embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an operation unit of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display example of a liquid crystal touch panel of an operation unit.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a main controller included in the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a coin rack provided in the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an ID input dialog displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a charge payment request dialog displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel.

[Fig. 9] Correspondence table of applications, IDs and remaining amount

FIG. 10: Correspondence table of apps, IDs and remaining amount

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the operation of the second embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an ID input dialog displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the operation of the third embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the operation of the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the remaining amount of money for each application displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Automatic Document Feeder (ADF) 2 Platen 3 feeding rollers 4 feeding belt 5 discharge roller 6 Contact glass 7 Original set detection 8 First tray 9 Second tray 10 Third tray 11 First paper feeding unit 12 Second paper feeding unit 13 Third Paper Feed Unit 14 Vertical transport unit 15 photoconductor 16 conveyor belt 17 Fixing unit 18 Paper output unit 25 Main motor 27 Development unit 30 Operation part 31 LCD touch panel 32 numeric keypad 33 Clear / Stop key 34 Start key 35 Preheat key 36 Reset key 37 Interrupt key 38 Initial setting key 39 App switching key 49 IPU 50 reading unit 51 exposure lamp 52 First Mirror 53 lenses 54 CCD image sensor 55 Second mirror 56 Third Mirror 57 Writing unit 58 Laser output unit 59 Imaging lens 60 mirror 80 charge slot 81 Return lever 82 Charge return port 83 Charge display 100 finisher 101 switching board 102 Paper ejection roller 103 paper ejection roller 104 output tray 105 stapler transport roller 106 stapler 107 stapler transport roller 108 Staple tray 109 Jogger 110 finisher 110 Staple Completion Output Tray 111 Double-sided transport unit 113 double-sided paper feed path 114 Reversed paper ejection transport path 800 coin rack

Continued front page    F-term (reference) 2C061 AP01 AP03 AP04 AQ06 HK23                       HN04 HX10                 2H027 DA28 DA32 EJ03 EJ06 EJ08                       FA21 FA35 GA24 GA34 GA47                       GA49 GA54 ZA07                 5B021 AA30 PP04                 5C062 AA02 AA05 AB20 AB25 AB41                       AB42 AC23 AF08 AF12 BA00

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a usage fee receiving means for receiving a usage fee from a user; and an ID input means for inputting a user ID, and a plurality of applications including copy, fax, scanner and printer. In the apparatus, a usage restriction unit that sets whether or not the usage fee is required for each of the applications, a usage fee received by the usage fee receiving unit, a user ID input from the ID input unit, and the application An image forming apparatus comprising: charging information storing means for storing the usage fee associated with each other; and usage fee subtracting means for subtracting the usage fee stored in the charging information storage means based on the usage frequency of the application. . 2. A return means for returning the usage fee subtracted by the usage fee subtracting means when the user ID stored in the billing information storage means and the user ID re-input from the ID input means match. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: 3. A usage fee adding means for re-receiving the usage fee by the usage fee receiving means when the user ID stored in the charging information storage means and the ID re-input from the ID input means match. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: 4. An ID which accepts an ID input from the ID input means only when the usage restriction means sets a usage fee for two or more applications.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising input limiting means. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a usage fee display means for displaying a usage fee corresponding to an application being used among the usage fees stored in the charging information storage means. apparatus.