JP2003244356A - System, method for forming image, storage medium, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a trail printing function at low costs. <P>SOLUTION: This image formation system is provided with an image input means that inputs an image, a storage means that stores the inputted image, an image formation means that reads the image stored in the storage means and forms the image, a control means for controlling the image formation means by printing modes including a trial printing mode set in the image printing, and a charging means that charges according to the number of prints. Charging quantity in the trial printing modes can especially be set independently from charging quantity in the text printing. <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 a digital copying machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, digital copying machines have been developed. A digital copier reads an image with a CCD, converts it into a digital signal, performs various processes on the image, converts it into a laser signal, and records it on a recorded matter by an electrophotographic technique. In addition, there has been developed a device for forming an image by temporarily storing the image signal in an image memory such as a hard disk and reading the image signal. According to this, the image can be repeatedly formed a plurality of times by only reading the image from the scanner once, which is effective for realizing functions such as electronic sorting. Furthermore, by providing this image memory, a test printing function was devised in which only one copy of the image was formed, and after the user confirmed the finish, the image formation was continued or the setting mode was changed to form the image. There is. In addition, it is common sense that a copy machine is installed in a store often visited by general customers such as a convenience store, and the installed machine is mainly a digital copying machine having a high function.

[0003]

However, many users who use a copying machine at a store such as a convenience store are unfamiliar users unlike users who use the copying machine in their daily business. In particular, a highly functional digital copying machine can make more convenient copying by making full use of it, but it is sufficiently conceivable that the printing result will be different from the desired one due to a setting error. In particular, unlike business use in offices, in most cases, convenience stores and other users are charged directly to users, which increases awareness of users due to printing errors.
To prevent this, the trial copy function described above is effective, but if this function is used, extra charges will be made for that function, and the burden on the user will increase.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and in order to achieve this object, an image input means for inputting an image and an input image is stored. Storage means, image forming means for reading an image stored in the storage means to form an image, and control means capable of controlling the image forming means in a print mode including a trial print mode set at the time of image printing And an image forming system including a charging unit for charging according to the number of printed sheets, wherein the control unit temporarily prints one copy while the trial print setting is effective, and then temporarily suspends the image forming operation to set the mode. It is possible to change the setting, and when printing after the test print mode is released, set the number to a predetermined value according to the mode change in the interrupted state immediately before printing, and set the charge amount during the test print mode. The billing amount at statement printed to provide an image forming system such as that characterized in that can be set individually.

[0005]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [First Embodiment] The overall configuration of an image input / output system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

A reader unit (image input device) 200 optically reads a document image and converts it into image data. The reader unit 200 includes a scanner unit 210 having a function of reading a document and a document feeding unit 250 having a function of conveying a document sheet.

A printer unit (image output device) 300 conveys a recording sheet, prints image data as a visible image on the recording sheet, and discharges the sheet outside the apparatus. The printer unit 300 includes a paper feeding unit 310 having a plurality of types of recording paper cassettes, a marking unit 320 having a function of transferring and fixing image data on the recording paper, and a function of outputting the printed recording paper to the outside of the machine. The sheet discharge unit 330 has a finisher unit 500 that performs stapling and sorting.

The control unit 110 is electrically connected to the reader unit 200 and the printer unit 300, and further connected to the host computers 401 and 402 via the network 400.
The control device 110 controls the reader unit 200 to read image data of a document, and controls the printer unit 300 to output the image data to a recording sheet to provide a copy function. Further, the scanner function of converting the image data read from the reader unit 200 into code data and transmitting the code data to the host computer via the network 400, converting the code data received from the host computer via the network 400 into image data, A printer function for outputting to the printer unit 300 is provided. Further, the image read by the reader unit 200 can be stored in the image storage unit 160, and the printer unit 300 can print the image read therefrom. Therefore, reading and printing can be performed asynchronously, and it is possible to read an image once and read it a plurality of times for printing.

The operation unit 150 is connected to the control device 110, is composed of a liquid crystal touch panel, and provides a user I / F for operating the image input / output system.

A card R / W (read / write) section 170 is further connected to the controller 110. Here, a medium such as a prepaid card, which is necessary for a billing system necessary for making a copy, is inserted so that information written on the card can be read or written in reverse.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the reader unit 200 and the printer unit 300.

The document feeding unit 250 of the reader section feeds documents one by one in order from the beginning onto the platen glass 211, and after the document reading operation is completed, the documents on the platen glass 211 are discharged to a discharge tray 219. is there. When the document is conveyed onto the platen glass 211, the lamp 212 is turned on and the optical unit 213 is started to move to expose and scan the document. The reflected light from the original at this time is reflected by the mirrors 214, 21.
It is guided to a CCD image sensor (hereinafter referred to as CCD) 218 by 5, 216 and a lens 217. In this way, the image of the scanned original is read by the CCD 218. The image data output from the CCD 218 is transferred to the control device 110 after being subjected to predetermined processing.

A laser driver 321 of the printer unit 300 drives a laser emission unit 322, and emits a laser beam corresponding to the image data output from the control device 110 to the laser emission unit 32.
Make 2 emit light. This laser light is applied to the photosensitive drum 323, and a latent image corresponding to the laser light is formed on the photosensitive drum 323. Developer is attached to the latent image portion of the photosensitive drum 323 by the developing device 324.

Then, at the timing synchronized with the start of laser light irradiation, the cassette 311, the cassette 312, and the cassette 31
3, the recording paper is fed from any one of the cassette 314 and the manual paper feed stage 315, and the developer attached to the photosensitive drum 323 is transferred onto the recording paper by the conveyance path 331 to the transfer unit 325. The recording paper on which the developer is carried is carried to the fixing unit 327 by the carrying belt 326, and the developer is fixed on the recording paper by the heat and pressure of the fixing unit 327. After that, the recording paper that has passed through the fixing unit 327 is discharged through the transport paths 335 and 334. Alternatively,
When the print surface is reversed and discharged, the paper is guided to the conveyance path 336 and the conveyance path 338, and the recording paper is conveyed in the opposite direction from there,
It passes through the transport path 337 and the transport path 334. If double-sided recording is set, after passing through the fixing unit 327, the conveyance path 336
The recording paper is guided to the conveyance path 333 by the flapper 329, and then the recording paper is conveyed in the opposite direction, and is guided to the conveyance path 338 and the re-feeding conveyance path 332 by the flapper 329. The recording paper guided to the re-feeding conveyance path 332 passes through the conveyance path 331 and is fed to the transfer unit 325 at the timing described above.

The recording paper discharged from the conveying path 334 is conveyed to the finisher section 500. The conveyed recording paper is first sent to the buffer unit 501. Here, the recording paper conveyed according to the case is wound around the buffer roller and buffered. For example, when the processing such as stapling performed in the downstream takes a long time, it is possible to keep the conveyance speed of the recording paper conveyed from the main body constant by using this buffer unit, which helps to improve the throughput. Is possible.

After that, the recording paper is discharged to the stack tray 507a by the upstream discharge roller pair 502 and the downstream discharge roller pair 503. In the staple mode, immediately after the conveyance of the upstream discharge roller pair 502 and the trailing edge of the recording paper passing through it, the recording paper is pulled back by the knurled belt 504 and discharged to the staple tray 505.

After a predetermined number of sheets of recording paper are stacked, a stapling unit 506 performs stapling processing, and then a pair of downstream discharge rollers 503 discharges the discharge tray 5.
It is discharged to 07a. The discharge tray has two bins, 507a and 507b, which can be moved up and down in conjunction with each other by a drive unit (not shown). In FIG. 2, the recording paper is discharged to the discharge tray 507a, but it is also possible to move the recording paper upward and discharge it to the discharge tray 507b.

Next, the operation unit 150 will be described with reference to FIG.

Reference numeral 600 denotes an LCD touch panel, on which main mode setting and status display are performed. Reference numeral 601 is a ten-key pad for inputting numerical values from 0 to 9. An ID key 602 is used when the department number and the secret code mode are input when the apparatus is managed by the department.

Reference numeral 603 is a reset key for resetting the set mode, 604 is a guide key for displaying an explanation screen for each mode, 605 is a user mode key for entering the user mode screen, and 606 is an interrupt copy. It is an interrupt key to do.

Reference numeral 607 is a start key for starting the copy operation, and 608 is a stop key for stopping the copy job being executed.

Reference numeral 609 denotes a soft power supply SW, and when the soft power supply SW is pressed, the backlight of the LCD 600 is turned off and the device falls to a low power state. A power saving key 610 is pressed to enter the power saving state, and is pressed again to return from the power saving state.

Reference numerals 611, 612 and 613 are function keys for shifting to copy, box and extended functions. In FIG. 3, the standard screen for copying is displayed, and by pressing the other function keys 612 and 613, the standard screen for each function is displayed.

Reference numeral 614 is an adjustment key for adjusting the contrast of the LCD touch panel.

Reference numeral 615 is a counter confirmation key. When this key is pressed, a count screen for displaying the total number of copies specified up to that point is displayed on the LCD.

Reference numeral 616 is an LED indicating that the image is being stored in the image memory while the job is being executed, 617 is an error LED indicating that the apparatus is in an error state such as a jam or door open, and 618 is a main switch of the apparatus turned on. The power LED indicates that

Next, the configuration of the control device 110 is shown in FIG.
Use to explain.

The CPU 120 is a controller that controls the entire system. The RAM 121 is a memory used for system control, as shown in FIG. 5, a program area for reading and storing the system software stored in the HD, a work area for use as the work memory of the CPU 120, and a PDL received from the outside. It is divided into a PDL data storage area for storing data, a raw image storage area for expanding a raw bitmap image, and a compressed image storage area for storing a compressed image.

The ROM 123 is a boot ROM that stores a system boot program.

The HDD 124 is a hard disk drive,
Stores system software and compressed image data.

The operation unit I / F 122 is an interface unit with the operation unit 120, and outputs image data to be displayed on the operation unit 150 to the operation unit 150. In addition, information input by the system user from the operation unit 150 is stored in the CPU.
Take the role of telling 120.

The network 125 is connected to the LAN 126 to input / output information. The modem 127 is a public line 12
8 is connected to input and output information.

The DMAC 132 is a direct memory access controller, which transfers data in the RAM 121.
And data exchange between the HDD and the HDD.

The serial communication section 124 is a card R / W section 17
0 is a part that controls this control in order to transmit and receive data by serial communication between the CPU 0 and the CPU 120. The above devices are arranged on the system bus 128.

The image bus I / F 130 is the system bus 1
28 and an image bus 131 for transferring images at high speed are connected,
It is a bus bridge that converts data structures.

The image bus 130 is a PCI bus or IE
It is composed of EE1394. The following devices are arranged on the image bus 131. A RIP (raster image processor) 133 develops the PDL code into a bitmap image. The device I / F unit 134 connects the reader device 200, the printer device 300, which are image input / output devices, and the control device 110, and transmits and receives image data and control data. The scanner image processing unit 135 corrects, processes, and edits input image data. The printer image processing unit 136 performs image correction, rotation, resolution conversion, and the like on print output data. The image compression unit 137 is JBI.
G, MMR, MH, etc. compression / decompression processing is performed.

The test copy operation most relevant to this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS.

First, a prepaid card is assumed as a card that is inserted into the card R / W section to perform the charging process.

FIG. 5 shows a screen on the liquid crystal display unit 238 when no card is inserted. When the card is managed, the screen of FIG. 5 is displayed and no key operation is accepted when the card is not inserted.
By inserting the card here, this screen is canceled and the key operation becomes effective.

When the user mode key 605 of the operation unit 123 is pressed here, the screen changes to the screen shown in FIG.

This is a screen for making general device settings that do not depend on the job. When the system management setting key 500 is pressed, the screen transitions to the screen shown in FIG. The system management settings are items that can only be set by the system administrator, so enter the administrator ID and password here. Here system management ID
After selecting the key 501 and the password key 502 and inputting the corresponding codes with the ten keys 601,
When the ID key 602 is pressed, the authentication work is executed, and after being authenticated, the screen changes to the screen of FIG. Here, it becomes possible to set various modes set by the system administrator.

Here, when the trial copy setting key 503 relating to the present invention is pressed, the screen changes to the screen of FIG.

This is a screen for setting the trial copy, and is composed of a charge setting key 504, a number of sheets setting key 505, and a close key 506. Close key 506
It is possible to return to the screen of FIG. 8 by pressing.

When the charge setting key 504 is pressed, FIG.
Transition to the screen. Here, the charging for trial copy is set. With the number range key 507, the range of the target number of sheets,
A billing rate key 508 is used to set a billing rate, and the selected portion is shaded.
The value set by is set as the set value.

In FIG. 10, the uppermost stage is set to 0 or more than 50 sheets. This prints 50 copies of the text.
When the number of sheets is more than one, the billing rate is 0, that is, the trial copy is set free. The number of prints in the text here means, for example, a normal single-sided copy with 30 originals and 3 copies.
Is the total number of printed sheets of the job, such as 30 × 3 = 90 sheets, and does not include trial copies.

In the second stage, 20 sheets or more and 1/4 are set. This is a setting that when the number of printed sheets of the text is 20 or more and 49 or less, the billing rate is set to 1/4. For example, if one copy of A4 size is offered for 10 yen, a normal copy will be charged 40 yen for printing 4 sheets, but for the trial copy, only 1/4 of that, 10 yen, will be charged. .

In the third stage, the number of sheets is set to 10 or more and 1/2. This means that when the number of printed pages of the text is 10 or more and 19 or less, the test copy is 1/2 of the normal copy.
You only pay for what you pay.

Similarly, in the fourth stage, 1 or more and 3/4 are set, which means that when the number of printed sheets of the text is 1 or more and 9 or less, the trial copy is 3/4 of the normal copy.
You only pay for the minutes.

Although all four patterns are set here, it is not necessary to set all four patterns and, for example, only the first stage may be set. On the contrary, if it is desired to make more detailed settings, a function of scrolling the screen may be provided so that four patterns are set for each of a plurality of pages. When the setting cancel key 511 is pressed, all the settings are erased, and in this state, the charging setting for the trial copy is the same as that for the text printing.

If the return key 510 is pressed, the process returns to FIG. 9, and if the OK key 511 is pressed, the setting is validated and the process returns to FIG. Since the functions of the OK key and the return key are the same on other screens, the description thereof will be omitted below.

Next, the processing when the number setting key 505 is pressed in FIG. 9 will be described. Pressing this key causes a transition to the trial copy print number setting screen of FIG. Normally, the test copy is for confirming the finished condition such as the orientation of the image and the density, and it is not always necessary to print all the same pages as the text. In such a case, the manual setting key 512 is pressed and the number of prints of the trial copy is input with the ten keys. On the contrary, when the setting of all pages is permitted, the all-page setting key 513 is pressed to permit the trial copying of all pages.

With the above, the setting of the trial copy related to the present invention is completed.

Control of trial copy relating to the present invention will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIG. 12 and thereafter.

FIG. 12 shows the operation section 123 and the liquid crystal display section 238.
3 is a flowchart regarding the control task of FIG. This control part is started from the time the power is turned on and is always in a running state.

In step S4-1, it is determined whether or not a card is inserted. If NO is determined, the process proceeds to step S4-2, the card-less screen of FIG. 5 is displayed, and then the process returns to step S4-1. If YES is determined in the step S4-1, the process proceeds to a step S4-3.

In step S4-3, it is determined whether or not it is in the idle state. The idle state is a state in which there are no copy jobs or other jobs being executed. If YES is determined here, the process proceeds to step S4-4 to perform control in the idle state. If NO is determined, step S4-5
It goes to and determines whether it is in operation. Here, if the copy operation is being executed, YES is determined and step S4-
Go to No. 6 and perform processing during operation. If NO is determined, the process proceeds to step S4-7, and it is determined whether or not the trial copy is in the intermediate state. The intermediate state of the trial copy is a state in which the job is temporarily suspended after a part of the trial output is finished and the user's operation is permitted during that period. This will be described later in detail.

If YES is determined in S4-7, the process proceeds to step S4-8 to control the trial copy intermediate state. N
If it is determined to be O, the process returns to step S4-1. In addition to this, individual processing is also performed in exceptional processing states such as paperless interruption, jam processing, and the like, but this is omitted because it is not particularly related to the present invention.

Then, using the flowchart of FIG.
Of the control in the idle state of the operation unit executed in step S4-4 described above, the part particularly relating to the test copy relating to the present invention will be described. In the idle state, the screen as shown in FIG. 14 is displayed. In this state, the user can set the copy mode such as the number of sheets, paper selection, and sorting. In FIG. 6, reference numeral 514 is a trial copy key for setting a trial copy. Normally, this key is not displayed but is displayed according to the setting status of the mode. This will be explained in the description of FIG. 13 below.

In step S5-1 of FIG. 13, the key group 20
The numeric keypad 5 is used to determine whether or not a numeral has been set. If YES is determined, the numeral is set in step S5-2. This number is retained unless it is cleared or reset by the user. After this, the process proceeds to step S5-3.

If NO in step S5-2, the process directly proceeds to step S5-3. Here, it is determined whether or not a mode other than the numerical input such as paper selection, sorting, and double-sided mode has been input. If NO, step S5-5.
Go to. If YES, the process proceeds to step S5-4, and various input copy modes are performed. For example, when the application mode key 515 in FIG. 6 is pressed, a screen for setting functions generally used in a digital copying machine, such as cover / interleaf, bookbinding, mixed document loading, movement, and frame erasing, is displayed.
Since the details of these modes are known, the description thereof will be omitted and will be described only when necessary later.

After setting the mode, the process proceeds to step S5-5. Is the number registered at 1 or more in steps S5-5 and S5-6? Is sort mode set? To determine.
If both conditions are YES, the process proceeds to step S5-7 to display the trial copy key 514 of FIG. 14 described above. This is a measure not to display the non-sort type or the copy of the number 1 because the execution of the trial copy is meaningless. Then, in step S5-8, it is determined whether or not the trial copy key is turned on. If it is ON, step S5-
At 10, the trial copy setting is turned on.

At step S5-8, the trial copy key is turned on.
If it is determined that it is not, and the above step S
When NO is determined in any of 5-5 and S5-6, the process proceeds to step S5-9, and the test copy mode is set to O.
Set to FF.

Subsequently, in step S5-11, it is determined whether or not the start key 203 is pressed. If NO is determined, the process returns to step S5-1 and the process during idling is repeated. If YES is determined, the process advances to step S5-12 to activate the copy sequence control task. At this time, the data such as the number of copies, the trial copy mode setting, and other mode settings that have been set previously are passed from the operation unit control task to the copy sequence task.

After this, the flow advances to step S5-13 to wait for the copy sequence to become active before ending the idle state.

Next, the part particularly related to the present invention in the control in the copy sequence task will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the copy sequence task is activated as described above, first in step S8-1, the card inserted in the card R / W section is physically fixed and held until the job is completed. . This is a protection against the fact that the card cannot be illegally removed during the job and the billing process cannot be performed.

In step S8-2, it is determined whether the trial copy mode is set. If YES is determined here, the process proceeds to step S8-3 to set the number of storages to 1. This is a temporary number used for internal processing other than the number set by the user, and is a measure to enter the intermediate state once after printing a part in the trial copy mode. Next, in step S8-4, the operation unit control task is notified that the trial copy operation has started. Upon receiving this notification, the operation unit control task enters the operation of step S4-6 described above, and the display is switched to the screen as shown in FIG. 17 by the control in this operation.

Next, in step S8-5, the trial copy operation is started. Here, the original is read and the image memory 120 is read.
One copy is printed while being accumulated in. The processing here will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, in steps S18-1 to S18-1, processing is performed based on the number of test prints set in FIG. In step S18-1, it is determined whether or not the manual setting is selected. If YES is determined, the process proceeds to step S18-2, and the setting is performed so that printing is performed for the number of pages set manually. Step S18-
If NO is determined in 1, the process proceeds to step S18-3, and it is set to print all pages even in the trial copy.

In step S18-4, a document reading operation is started. Specifically, here, the reading task is instructed, and the reading task performs the reading operation of the document on the DF or the pressure plate, but this is not different from the conventional technique, and the description thereof will be omitted. Then, in step S18-5, the order of the read originals is
First, the printing operation for one sheet is performed. And step S18-6
The process proceeds to step and the count operation is performed for printing one sheet.

In step S18-7, step S18-
It is determined whether or not the trial printing has been performed for the predetermined number of sheets set in 1 to 3, and if YES, the process returns to step S18-5, and if NO, the process proceeds to step S18-8. Here, in step S18-4, it is determined whether or not the reading operation of all the originals instructed to the reading task is completed. If NO, the process waits until it is completed, and if YES, the process of the flowchart of FIG. To finish.

After the operation is completed, the process advances to step S8-6 to notify the operation unit control task that the intermediate state of the trial copy is entered, and then the intermediate state of the trial copy of step S8-7 is entered. This information is sent to the operation unit control task, and as a result, the process in the trial copy intermediate state of step S4-8 is executed.

The process in this intermediate state is shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart of 0 and FIGS.

In the intermediate state, the screen display of FIG. 21 is performed. In FIG. 21, 601 is a setting change key, 602 is a stop key, and 603 is a print start key.

In step S20-1 of FIG. 20, it is determined whether or not the stop key 602 has been pressed. If YES is determined here, the process proceeds to step S20-16 to issue a stop request to the copy sequence task. And step S20
After it is judged in -17 that the copy sequence is in the idle state, the trial copy intermediate state control is ended.

If NO is determined in the step S20-1, it proceeds to a step S20-2 and it is determined whether or not the setting change key 601 is pressed and a setting change request is made. If YES is determined here, the process proceeds to step S20-11, but at this time, the operation unit display is switched to the reset screen as shown in FIG. In step S10-11, the key group 205
It is determined whether or not any of the ten-keys has been pressed to change the number. If YES, the set number is newly set in step S11-12. After the processing of S20-12, and if NO is determined in step S20-11, the process proceeds to step S20-13.

On the reset screen, the paper selection key 70
1, a sort setting key 702, a binding margin setting key 703, a density setting key 704, and a double-sided copy setting 705 key are displayed, and these mode changes are permitted in addition to the number. In step S20-13, it is determined whether or not any of these modes has been changed, and if so, the process proceeds to step S20-14 to reset the mode.

After the processing of S20-14 and step S
If NO is determined in 20-13, step S20-
22. It is determined whether or not the close key 706 in FIG. 22 has been pressed and the user has finished changing the setting, and if NO, the process will return to step S20-11.

If YES is determined in the step S20-15 and NO is determined in the step S20-2, the process proceeds to a step S20-3. If it is determined in step S20-11 to 15 that some setting has been changed, the process proceeds to step S20-4. At this time, a trial copy key 801 is displayed as shown in FIG.
By pressing this, the user can perform the trial copy again based on the mode whose setting has been changed.

In step S20-4, it is determined whether or not the trial copy key 801 has been pressed. If YES is determined, the process advances to step S20-9 to request restart of the copy sequence. Here, the changed mode and the other mode data set first are passed from the operation unit control task to the copy sequence task.

When NO is determined in the step S20-4, the process proceeds to a step S20-5. Here, it is determined whether or not the print start key 603 has been pressed. By pressing this print start key 603, the user can finish the copy job after performing the copy print for a predetermined number of copies described below based on the mode set up to now or the mode reset.

If NO is determined in the step S20-5, the process returns to the step S20-1 and the process in the intermediate state is repeated.

If YES is determined in the step S20-5, the process proceeds to a step S20-6. Here, it is determined whether or not the setting has been changed in this intermediate state. If NO is determined, the process proceeds to step S20-16, and is the copy of a part printed by trial for all pages? Alternatively, it is determined whether the page is part of the page. If YES, that is, if all pages are determined, the trial part is also regarded as a part of the valid copy, and 1 is subtracted from the register number set so far to set as a new register number. If NO, that is, if only some pages are copied, the process is the same as the process when YES is determined in step S20-6, and 1 is subtracted from the set number to set a new number. The setting process is not performed, and the unit number reset in this intermediate state or the unit number previously set is retained as it is.

After the processing of step S20-7, and if YES is determined in step S20-6, the process proceeds to step S20-8 and the trial copy mode is canceled. As a result, the copy print to be executed next is finished after printing the number of characters determined by the above-mentioned method.

After this processing, the flow advances to step S20-9 to issue a restart request to the copy sequence task.
Then, in step S20-10, after confirming that the copy sequence is in operation, the trial copy intermediate state control is ended.

Now, returning to FIG. 16, the operation of the copy sequence task from the intermediate state will be described. In the intermediate state, it is determined in step S8-8 whether or not a restart request is received from the operation unit control task. If NO is determined here, the process proceeds to step S8-10, and it is determined whether or not a stop request is received. If NO, step S8-8 again
Return and repeat the process in the intermediate state. Step S8-
If YES is determined in step 10, the process proceeds to step S8-11 to stop the copy sequence in the suspended state. After that, it advances to step S8-15. Steps S8-15 and thereafter will be described later.

If YES is determined in the step S8-8, the process proceeds to a step S8-9. Here, it is determined whether or not the trial copy mode is still set. If YES is determined, the process returns to step S8-3 to perform the trial copy operation again. It should be noted that the original image data stored in the image memory 120 is first read out during the test copy printing from the intermediate state and the copy printing after canceling the test copy, and the original image data stored in the image memory 120 is first read and the mode set at that time Printing is performed by performing the process of.

If NO in step S8-9, the flow advances to step S8-12 to notify the operation unit control task that the text copy print operation has started. Then, in step S8-13, the copy print operation is started based on the mode and the numeral data reset at the time of restart. At this time, the number of printed sheets is counted in order to calculate the charge for the normal copying operation. After the operation is completed, the process proceeds to step S8-14, and the billing operation of the text is performed for the number of sheets counted during the copy operation. For example, the text is 1
When 5 sheets are printed and the size is A4 and the fee for 1 sheet of A4 size is 10 yen, the charge of the main body is = 15 x 10 = 150 yen.

In the next step S8-15, the trial copy charge calculation is performed, which will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In the flowchart of FIG. 19, first, in step S19-1, it is determined whether or not some trial copying charge setting is set in FIG. If NO, the process proceeds to step S19-3 and normal charging processing is performed. For example, the number of printed test copies is 10, the printing paper is A4 size, and the normal charge is 1 for A4 size paper.
If it is 0 yen, trial copy fee = normal fee = 10x10
= 100 yen is calculated.

If YES is determined in the step S19-2, the charging area for the trial copy printing is calculated. For example, if the same setting as in FIG. 10 is made and the number of printed sheets of the text is 15, the setting area of 10 or more and 19 or less is entered.

In the following step S19-3, step S1
A trial copy charge calculation is performed based on the processing of 9-2. For example, if the number of prints of the test copy is 10 and the charge for the A4 size print sheet and one A4 size sheet is 10 yen, if the text is 10 or more and 19 or less, the charge rate is 1 /
Since it is 2, the charge for trial copy = 10x10x1 / 2 = 50
Calculated as a circle. Note that the trial copy operation is not limited to one as described later, but may be performed a plurality of times, and the trial billing process may be performed a plurality of times. For the sake of simplicity, the calculation formula above shows an example of the charge calculation for the first trial copy. However, of course, for the second and subsequent times, in addition to the trial copy charges at that time, the trial copy charges calculated in the past are added up. Will be. This completes the billing calculation process for the trial copy.

In the following step S8-15, the total number of charges is calculated by adding the number of charges of the text and the number of charges of trial copy. For example, if the test copy is performed only once, the number of prints of the test copy is 10, and the printing paper is A4 size, the charge for one A4 size is 10 yen, and if the text is 10 or more and 19 or less, it is charged. Since the rate is halved, the charge for trial copy = 10x10x1 / 2 = 50
It is a yen, and if you add the text charge to it, the total charge = text charge + trial copy charge =
It becomes 100 + 50 = 150 yen.

In the following step S8-17, the subtraction process is performed on the prepaid card inserted in the card R / W section by the total billing amount calculated in step S8-16.

After this processing, the procedure advances to step S8-18,
Performs card release processing.

Further, in step S8-18, the copy sequence task is terminated after notifying the operation unit control task that the copy operation is completed and returned to the idle state. According to the above control, the charge for the trial copy and the charge for the copy of the text can be divided first, and the charge for the test copy can be set to be cheaper than the charge for the normal copy according to the number of texts. Is.

[Second Embodiment] In the above-mentioned embodiment, the charge setting for the trial copy is such that the charge rate of the trial copy is changed according to the number of printed sheets of the text as shown in FIG. Is not limited to this.

For example, a method described with reference to FIG. 24 can be considered.

In FIG. 24, reference numeral 902 designates a number range setting key similar to 507 in FIG. A print size setting key 903 is used to set the print size. Specifically, when this part is touched, a size list key 904 appears, and a desired size is selected and set from the keys. A charge value setting key 905 sets a charge value for the size set by the print size setting key 903. In FIG. 24, it is shown that a fee of 5 yen is charged for each trial copy printed using A4 size paper. Unlike the case of FIG. 10, in the case of the example of FIG. 24, the amount of information to be set on the first screen is large, so when making settings for various numbers of pages, use the scroll key 906 to change pages and set. I do.

As described above, a method of setting a specific charge amount for the trial copy is also possible instead of the method of multiplying the charge in the text by a predetermined charge rate as in the above-described embodiment. Further, for simplification, a method of setting the billing amount for the trial copy regardless of the number of printed sheets of the text without setting the number range in this embodiment and the first embodiment described above is also conceivable.

The present invention aims to change the billing amount for the text and the billing amount for the trial copy, and therefore does not depend on a specific changing method.

[Third Embodiment] In the embodiment described above,
Although a prepaid card is used as the charging means, the present invention is not limited to this.

For example, using a credit card as a card to use this, instead of the process of S8-17 in FIG. 16, the billing information is further transmitted from LAN 400 to the host of the credit company via the Internet, and the same as the normal credit settlement. It is also possible to charge by this method. The present invention can also be applied to a system in which a coin vendor system connected to the main body is used and copying is allowed only for coins inserted.

Further, instead of the PC 401 of FIG. 1, a POS used at a convenience store or the like is connected, and S8-17 of FIG.
Instead of the above process, the billing information may be transmitted to the POS and used at the time of settlement at the cash register. Further, in such a case, the main body processes only the count number information associated with the copy operation performed in S8-13 of FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, various settings of the trial copy performed in the main body user mode, and the charging calculation performed in steps S18-14 to S16 of FIG. 16 can be performed on the POS side.

[Other Embodiments] Although the present invention is applied to copying in the above-described embodiments, the present invention is not limited to this.

For example, a digital copying machine having a box function has recently been devised. This is provided in such a manner that image data transferred from a scanner or an external device is permanently stored in an image memory and can be printed at any time when printing the image data. The test print can be applied by printing from this box, and the application of the present invention is also effective.

Further, the trial print can be applied when the FAX data is received, temporarily stored in the memory, read out and printed by the operation of the user, and the application of the present invention becomes effective.

As described above, the present invention can be applied to all devices in which an image stored in the memory is read and printed, and a predetermined mode can be changed each time the image is read.

Further, although the present invention is applied to the black-and-white copying machine in the above-mentioned embodiments, it is needless to say that the present invention is also applicable to a color copying machine.

Further, the present invention is applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices (eg, host computer, interface device, reader, printer, etc.), but is also applied to a device composed of one device (eg, copying machine, facsimile machine). You may.

Further, the functions of the above-described embodiments are implemented by a computer in an apparatus or system connected to the various devices so that the various devices are operated to implement the functions of the above-described embodiments. What is implemented by supplying the program code of software for operating the above-mentioned various devices according to the program stored in the computer (CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus is also included in the scope of the present invention. Further, in this case, the program code itself of the software realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the program code itself constitutes the present invention.
A transmission medium for the program code is a computer network (WA such as LAN or Internet) for propagating and supplying the program information as a carrier wave.
N, wireless communication network, etc.), a communication medium in a system (a wired line such as an optical fiber or a wireless line) can be used. Further, means for supplying the program code to a computer, for example, a recording medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. A flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a magnetic tape, a non-volatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used as a recording medium for storing the program code.

Further, by executing the supplied program code by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (operating system) or the other where the program code is operating in the computer. It goes without saying that the program code is also included in the embodiment of the present invention when the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized in cooperation with the application software of the above. Further, after the supplied program code is stored in the memory provided in the function expansion board of the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the CPU provided in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit based on the instruction of the program code. It is needless to say that the present invention also includes cases where the above perform a part or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

Further, it goes without saying that the computer may be a general personal computer as shown in FIG. FIG. 25 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of a general personal user terminal device.

In FIG. 25, reference numeral 1200 is a computer PC. The PC 1200 includes a CPU 1201,
ROM 1202 or hard disk (HD) 1211
The device control software stored in the HDD or supplied from the flexible disk drive (FD) 1212 is executed to collectively control each device connected to the system bus 1204. CPU of the PC 1200
1201, ROM 1202 or hard disk (H
D) The program stored in 1211 realizes the function of each unit of the present embodiment.

Reference numeral 1203 is a RAM, which functions as a main memory and a work area of the CPU 1201. A keyboard controller (KBC) 1205 is a keyboard (K
B) Control instruction input from 1209 or a device (not shown).

Reference numeral 1206 denotes a CRT controller (CRT
C) controls the display on the CRT display (CRT) 1210. 1207 is a disk controller (DK
In C), a boot program (startup program: a program for starting execution (operation) of hardware or software of a personal computer), a plurality of applications, edit files, user files, a hard disk (HD) 1211 for storing a network management program, and the like, and It controls access to the flexible disk (FD) 1212.

Reference numeral 1208 denotes a network interface card (NIC), which is a network printer, another network device, or another P device via the LAN 1220.
It exchanges bidirectional data with C.

The shapes and structures of the respective portions shown in the above-mentioned embodiments are merely examples of the embodiment for carrying out the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention is thereby provided. It should not be construed as limiting. That is, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the spirit or the main features thereof.

[0119]

According to the present invention, when the trial copy is set, the charge amount can be set separately from the copy of the text. For example, the user who is unfamiliar with the copy operation, or the setting error due to the large copy can be made. An effective test print function can be provided at low cost for a user who wants to prevent a large amount of print, and the effect is extremely large.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a reader unit and a printer unit.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an operation unit.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a control unit.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a screen.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a screen.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a screen.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a screen.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a screen.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a screen.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a screen.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an operating state.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an operation state.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a screen.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a screen.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing an operating state.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a screen.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing an operating state.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing an operating state.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing an operating state.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a screen.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a screen.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a screen.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a screen.

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing a general personal computer.

[Explanation of symbols]

110 control device 300 Printer unit (image output device) 400 network 401 host computer 402 host computer

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F-term (reference) 2C061 AP03 AP04 AQ06 AR03 AS02                       HK15 HX10                 2H027 DA32 DE07 EF09 EJ06 EJ09                       FA09 FA10 FA30 FA35 FA37                       FC03 FC07 GA12 GA56 GB05                       GB16 HA07                 5C062 AA05 AA13 AB42 AC04 AC60                       AC67 AF07 AF08 AF10 BA01

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. An image input unit for inputting an image, a storage unit for storing the input image, and an image forming unit for reading the image stored in the storage unit to form an image.
An image forming system comprising: a control unit capable of controlling the image forming unit in a print mode including a trial print mode set at the time of image printing; and a charging unit for charging according to the number of printed sheets. While the test print mode setting is valid, the control unit temporarily prints one copy, temporarily suspends the image forming operation to enable the mode setting change, and prints after the test print mode is released. An image forming system characterized in that the number of characters can be set to a predetermined value in accordance with the mode change in the immediately preceding suspended state, and the charge amount in the trial print mode can be set separately from the charge amount in text printing. 2. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein a charging rate changing area for trial printing is set, and a charging amount for trial printing within this range can be changed. 3. The image forming system according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of charge rate changing areas for trial printing can be set according to the number of sheets of the text. 4. The image forming system according to claim 2, wherein the charge amount for trial printing is set to a predetermined ratio, and the product is multiplied by the charge amount in the main body to be used. . 5. The image forming system according to claim 2, wherein a predetermined amount of money is set as a charge amount for trial printing, and this amount is used. 6. The image forming system according to claim 2, wherein a predetermined paper size is set as a charge amount for trial printing, and a predetermined amount of money is set for it, which is used. Image forming system. 7. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein a charge amount for trial printing can be changed. 8. The image forming system according to claim 7, wherein the charge amount for trial printing is set to a predetermined ratio, and the product is multiplied by the charge amount in the main body to be used. . 9. The image forming system according to claim 7, wherein a predetermined amount of money is set as a charge amount for trial printing, and this amount is used. 10. The image forming system according to claim 7, wherein a predetermined paper size is set as a charge amount for trial printing, and a predetermined amount of money is set for it, which is used. Image forming system. 11. An image input unit for inputting an image, a storage unit for storing the input image, an image forming unit for reading the image stored in the storage unit to form an image, and set when printing an image. An image forming method in an image forming system, comprising: a control unit capable of controlling the image forming unit in a print mode including a trial print mode; and a billing unit for charging according to the number of printed sheets. While the mode setting is valid, one step is printed, then the image forming operation is temporarily interrupted to change the mode setting, and in the printing after the trial print mode is released,
The step of setting the numerical value to a predetermined value according to the mode change in the interrupted state immediately before printing, and the step of setting the billing amount in the trial print mode separately from the billing amount in text printing An image forming method comprising: 12. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute each means in the image forming system according to claim 1 and each step of the image forming method according to claim 11. 13. A program for causing a computer to execute each unit in the image forming system according to any one of claims 1 to 10 and each step of the image forming method according to claim 11.