JP2003260853A - Imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging apparatus in which a user can confirm charging information corresponding to the degree of use of resource members and the quantity of members used additionally. <P>SOLUTION: The degree of use of resource members such as a photosensitive body, a fixing unit, staples, and the like, and the quantity of used recording agent, staple pins, and the like, are calculated at a circuit 10 for measuring the degree of use of resources prior to imaging, detailed charging data of each page of a document, total charging data of all pages, and total charging data required for copying all pages are operated at a circuit 11 for operating the charging in correspondence with the degree of use and the quantity of used resources and then displayed on an operating/displaying unit 6 so that a user can copy a document while confirming the display and understanding the charging conditions. When the user alters print attribute data based on the display, corresponding charging data is redisplayed on the operating/displaying unit 6 and appropriate imaging can be carried out under desired charging conditions for a document in units of job by regulating/altering the print attribute data previously. <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 having a charge management function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, image forming apparatuses such as copiers, printers, and facsimiles have come to be shared within a LAN (premise information communication network), and image forming conditions executed in order to charge a user. Accordingly, an image forming apparatus having a charge management function of detecting charge information and charging a user is used. In this type of conventional image forming apparatus, the number of sheets used for image formation is counted,
Alternatively, by counting the number of rotations of the photosensitive drum and the transfer drum of the image forming apparatus, the user is charged according to the obtained count value. In this conventional billing process, for example, billing information can be differentiated between when a character image is formed with a small amount of recording material and when a photographic image is formed using a large amount of recording material. No
Further, since the judgment is made only on the number of used sheets without considering the paper size, it is not possible to make a rational charge accurately corresponding to the used amount of the recording material.

On the other hand, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-272350.
In the publication, when the remaining amount of the recording material becomes small and the printed image becomes thin by detecting the remaining amount of the recording material, a charging process different from that in normal printing is performed to improve the image forming quality. A billing information detection device for performing corresponding billing processing is disclosed. Further, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-134154 discloses a billing information detection device that calculates billing information according to a control amount of a recording agent of an image forming apparatus and obtains highly accurate billing information corresponding to the consumption amount of the recording agent. Is disclosed.

[0004]

According to the above-described method of detecting and acquiring the charging information in the image forming apparatus, the charging information corresponding to the usage amount of the recording agent can be acquired, but the amount of the recording agent is detected. A separate sensor is required, which causes problems in manufacturing cost and configuration complexity. Further, in this type of image forming apparatus, the charging information of the job for which the image formation is to be performed is presented to the user in advance, and the image formation can be performed after confirming the charging information in advance. If the user can change the image forming conditions as needed based on the charging information, the appropriate image forming can be efficiently performed under the desired charging condition. The image forming apparatus cannot present such billing data in advance. On the other hand, in this type of image forming apparatus, the degree of use is measured for a wide range of resource members such as a photoconductor, a fixing device, and a post-processing member, and further, a recording agent used in connection with the resource member. It is desirable to measure the amount of consumables used and to obtain highly accurate billing information.

The present invention has been made in view of the present situation of the charge information acquisition operation of the image forming apparatus of this type as described above, and its object is to cope with the degree of use of the resource member necessary for image formation. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of reporting accurate and highly accurate billing information to a user in advance.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is a print attribute data acquisition means for extracting print attribute data designated in advance corresponding to input image data, Bitmap data creation means for creating bitmap data for image formation based on the input image data, data storage means for storing the print attribute data and the bitmap data, and print attributes stored in the data storage means Based on the data and the bitmap data, the resource member usage measuring means for measuring the usage data of the resource member necessary for image formation, and the charging based on the usage data measured by the resource member usage measuring means Display billing data computing means for computing data and billing data computed by the billing data computing means before image formation Charging data display means, and based on the change of the image forming condition performed by the user according to the display of the charging data display means, cause the charging data calculation means to recalculate the charging data, and obtain the obtained charging data. An image format apparatus comprising: a billing calculation display control unit for re-displaying the billing data display unit.

According to such means, the print attribute data previously designated with respect to the input image data is extracted and acquired by the print attribute data acquiring means, and the bitmap data creating means forms an image based on the input image data. Of the print attribute data extracted and acquired and the created bitmap data are stored in the data storage means, and the resource member usage is measured based on the stored print attribute data and the bitmap data. The means measures the usage degree of the resource member necessary for image formation, and the charging data calculation means calculates the charging data based on the measured usage degree of the resource member,
Highly accurate billing data that appropriately corresponds to the degree of use of the resource member is displayed on the billing data display means before image formation. In addition, based on the change processing of the image forming condition performed by the user according to the display, the charging calculation display control means recalculates the charging data by the charging data calculation means,
The recalculated billing data is displayed again by the billing data display means. Therefore, the user can accurately check in advance the charging data required for image formation based on the degree of use of the resource member, and the image formation is performed. Further, if necessary, the image formation condition changed by the user is changed. Thus, the degree of use of the resource member can be appropriately handled, and appropriate image formation can be performed quickly and efficiently under desired charging conditions.

[0008] Similarly, in order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the resource member usage measuring means uses the printing attribute data stored in the data storing means to print the paper. The size data, the paper type data, and the post-processing data are extracted, and the usage degree data of the resource member to be charged is measured corresponding to each data.

According to such means, the resource member usage measuring means extracts the paper size data, the paper type data and the post-processing data from the print attribute data stored in the data storing means and corresponds to each data. Then, the usage of the resource member to be charged is measured, and based on the measured usage, the charging data display means
Based on the paper size data, the paper type data, the post-processing data, and the pit map data, highly accurate billing data corresponding to the usage of the resource member and necessary for image formation is displayed. Therefore, the user confirms the billing data necessary for the image formation in advance to perform the image formation, and further, if necessary, the user can change the image formation condition,
Appropriately responding to the degree of use of resource members, appropriate image formation can be performed quickly and efficiently under desired charging conditions.

Similarly, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 3 is different from the invention according to claim 2, in that the resource member usage measuring means includes print attribute data and print attribute data stored in the data storing means. Based on the bitmap data, in consideration of the variation amount corresponding to the print attribute data, further measuring the usage amount of the recording agent used in the resource member, based on the print attribute data stored in the data storage unit,
It is characterized by further measuring the usage amount of the consumption member used as the resource member for performing the post-treatment.

According to such means, in addition to the operation of the invention described in claim 2, the resource member usage measuring means prints based on the print attribute data and the bitmap data stored in the data storing means. It is used for the source member that performs post-processing based on the print attribute data stored in the data storage unit by measuring the amount of consumption of the recording agent used for the resource member, taking into account the variation amount corresponding to the attribute data. Since the usage amount of the consuming member that is consumed is measured, more accurate billing data that appropriately corresponds to the consumption amount of the recording material used for the resource member and the consuming member is displayed. For this reason, the user confirms in advance the highly accurate billing data required for image formation to perform image formation, and further, if necessary, the user changes the image formation conditions to change the usage degree of the resource member. Accurately respond to the amount of recording material consumed and the amount of consumed material used for the source material for post-processing,
Appropriate image formation is quickly and efficiently performed under desired charging conditions.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. This embodiment is a case where a copying machine is taken up as an image forming apparatus, and FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of one embodiment of the present invention.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the copying machine 12 is provided with a CPU 7 for controlling the entire operation, and an operation signal is input to the CPU 7 via a bus B so that various data is transmitted. A display / operation unit 6 to be displayed, an image forming engine 8 for outputting image forming data, and a printer 9 for forming an image on a sheet by the image forming data from the image forming engine 8 are connected. Similarly, the CPU 7 via the bus B, the print attribute extraction circuit 2 for extracting the print attribute data, the bitmap creation circuit 3 for creating the bitmap data, the ROM 4 for storing the control operation program, the control operation program RAM 5 for temporarily storing various data, resource usage measuring circuit 10 for measuring the usage of resource members (resource members) necessary for image formation and the usage amount of additional used resource members, and the use of resource members A billing amount calculation circuit 11 for calculating a billing amount for image formation based on the degree and the usage amount of the additional use member is connected. The output terminals of the data input unit 1 to which the input image data from the original image is input are connected to the input terminals of the print attribute extraction circuit 2 and the bitmap creation circuit 3.

The operation of this embodiment having such a configuration will be described. At the time of image formation by the copying machine 12 in the present embodiment, a document in a job unit to be copied is set in the data input unit 1, and then the user operates the operation / display unit 6 so that the job is executed. When the user operates the start button with the print attribute data corresponding to, the reading scan of the original is started by the instruction of the CPU 7, the pixels forming the original image are read in a predetermined order and converted into an electric signal, and the data is input. A read image signal from the unit 1 is supplied to the print attribute extraction circuit 2 and the pit map creation circuit 3. Where CP
In response to the command from U7, the print attribute extraction circuit 2 operates
The print attribute data input from the display unit 6 is extracted for each page of the document in a job unit in association with the image signal read from the data input unit 1. Bitmap data is created for each page of the document on a job basis based on the read image signal, and the obtained print attribute data and bitmap data are stored in the RAM 5 in association with each page of the document.

Next, in accordance with a command from the CPU 7, the resource usage measuring circuit 10 is activated, and based on the print attribute data and the bitmap data read from the RAM 5, the usage of the resource member and the usage of the additional used member of the resource member. The quantity is measured. In this case, RAM5
From the print attribute data stored in, the paper size data indicating the paper size, the paper type data indicating the paper type such as plain paper and thick paper, the post-processing data for specifying the selection of the post-processing member such as staple and punch, OHP ( Attribute data such as an image method for an overhead projector) and image forming method data indicating a printing method such as color / monochrome is extracted and read, and at the same time, bitmap data stored in the RAM 5 is read and read. Based on the data and the bit map data, the resource usage measuring circuit 10 measures the usage of the resource member and the usage of the additional used member of the resource member.

In this embodiment, the photoconductor and the fixing device, which are highly important for maintenance at the image forming stage, are selected as the resource members to be measured at the image forming stage, and the CPU 7 is selected for the photoconductor. In response to the instruction, the resource usage measuring circuit 10 measures the usage degree data of the photoconductor in correspondence with the area of the sheet calculated based on the sheet size data for each page of the document for each job. For example, in the case where the paper size of A3 is used and the case where the paper size of A4 is used, the surface area ratio of the photoconductor on which the photoconductors are contacted with each other and the developing process is performed is 2. When the image is formed on a sheet of paper, twice as much usage data as when the image is formed on an A4 size sheet is measured,
When the preliminary operation is performed, the resource usage measuring circuit 10 measures the usage data of the photoconductor in consideration of the usage by the preliminary operation. Then, in accordance with a command from the CPU 7, the charge amount calculation circuit 11 is based on the measured usage data of the photoconductor.
Thus, the charging data corresponding to the usage degree data of the photoconductor is calculated, and the calculated charging data is stored in the RAM 5.

Similarly, for the fixing device, the preliminary operation is performed by the resource usage measuring circuit 10 in accordance with the area of the paper calculated based on the paper size data for each page of the document for each job. When the fixing operation is performed, the usage data of the fixing device is measured in consideration of the usage in the preliminary operation. For the fixing device, the paper type data such as plain paper and thick paper and the OHP (overhead) are measured. The usage degree data of the fixing device is measured in consideration of the usage degree variation amount due to the difference in the fixing temperature corresponding to the image forming method data such as the image method for the projector. Then, in accordance with a command from the CPU 7, the charging amount calculation circuit 11 calculates charging data corresponding to the fixing device usage data based on the measured fixing device usage data, and the calculated charging data is stored in the RAM 5. Is stored.

Further, the usage amount of the recording agent used for developing the latent image on the photoconductor is measured by the resource usage measuring circuit 10 on the basis of the bit map data read from the RAM 5. In this case, , If the printing attribute data read from the RAM 5 includes printing agent save designation data or density adjustment designation data that affects the amount of printing agent used, the resource usage is performed in consideration of the variation due to these designation data. The amount of recording agent used is measured by the degree measuring circuit 10. Then, in accordance with a command from the CPU 7, the charge amount calculation circuit 11 calculates charge data corresponding to the use amount data of the recording agent based on the measured use amount data, and the calculated charge data is R.
It is stored in AM5.

In this embodiment, staples, punches,
A sorter or the like is selected as a resource member to be measured in the post-processing stage, and post-processing data for selectively executing the post-processing by using these resource members is read from the RAM 5 and read. Based on the post-processing data, the resource usage measuring circuit 10 generates data on the number of times the post-processing members such as the staple unit, the punch unit, and the sorter are used, and the usage amount data of the additional consuming members such as the staples. To be measured. And CPU7
, The charge amount calculation circuit 11 uses the post-processing member usage count data and the consumption data of the post-processing member based on the usage count data of the post-processing member and the consumption data of the additional consumption member of the post-processing member. The charging data corresponding to the consumption data is calculated, and the calculated charging data is stored in the RAM 5
Stored in.

Then, according to a command from the CPU 7, billing data corresponding to the degree of use of the resource member to be measured in the image forming stage and the post-processing stage, and the amount of recording agent used in the resource member in the image forming stage And the charging data corresponding to the usage amount of the additional consuming member of the resource member at the post-processing stage are read out from the RAM 5, displayed on the operation / display unit 6 in association with each page of the document. It Simultaneously with these displays, the operation / display unit 6 displays on the operation / display unit 6 total charge data based on the usage of resource members corresponding to all pages of the document, total charge data based on the amount of recording agent used, and additional used members of resource members. The total charge data based on the usage amount is displayed, and based on the total charge data, the total charge data necessary for forming images on all pages of the document in job units is displayed on the operation / display unit 6.

In this way, the user is required to form the breakdown charge data for each page of the document displayed on the operation / display unit 6, the total charge data for all pages of the document, and the image formation of all pages of the document. By checking the total billing data, you can either perform copying according to the print attribute data that was initially set for the copy target document, stop copying the copy target document, or change the first print attribute data. Then, one of the new copy conditions is selected and designated. In this case, when the execution of copying is selected and designated, an image based on the print attribute data initially set by the user from the operation / display unit 6 and the bitmap data created by the bitmap creating circuit 3 is instructed by the CPU 7. The forming data is output from the image forming engine 8, the printer 9 is operated by the image forming data, the copy image of the original is formed on the paper, and the copy of the original is stopped when the stop of the copy is selected and designated.

Further, the user confirms each breakdown charge data, each total charge data and the total charge data displayed on the operation / display unit 6, and inputs to change the print attribute data previously input from the operation / display unit 6. And then C
Based on the print attribute data changed by the instruction of the PU 7 and the bitmap data read by the bitmap creating circuit 3, the resource usage measuring circuit 10 causes the usage of the photoconductor, the fixing device and the post-processing member, which are resource members, to be changed. , The amount of the recording material used as the additional use member and the amount of the additional consumption member used as the post-processing member are measured again, and based on the obtained measurement values, the charge amount calculation circuit 11 causes the breakdown charge data and the total charge data to be calculated. And the total charge data are calculated again, and the obtained breakdown charge data, total charge data and total charge data are newly displayed on the operation / display unit 6.

Thus, according to the present embodiment, before the image formation, the breakdown charge data for each page of the manuscript based on the usage degree of the resource member and the usage amount of the additional use member, and the total over all pages of the manuscript. The billing data and the total billing data necessary for copying all pages of the manuscript are accurately displayed on the operation / display unit 6 in a highly accurate manner in accordance with the usage of resource members and the amount of additional used members. Therefore, the user can confirm the display of the operation / display unit 6 and can understand the billing conditions necessary for copying the document in advance and execute the copying of the document. In addition, the user can set new print attribute data based on the display of the operation / display unit, and the operation / display unit 6 can display the billing data corresponding to the new print attribute data. It is possible to adjust and change the print attribute data in advance so as to copy an original document under the charging condition of No. 1 and perform proper image formation on the original document for each job under the desired charging condition.

In the above-described embodiments, a copying machine is taken up as an image forming apparatus, but when the image forming apparatus is a laser printer, the description language data is usually sent from the host computer, for example, an intranet. , Centronics, USB
(Universal Serial Bus), etc., the print attribute data is set on the host computer side in the printer driver provided in the host computer, and each breakdown charge data and total charge data are displayed on the host computer side. However, similar to the case of the copying machine already described with reference to FIG. 1, the laser printer is provided with an operation / display unit, and the operation / display unit is used to set the print attribute and the breakdown charge data. It is also possible to display the total charge data. The configuration, operation, and effect of the other parts when the image forming apparatus is a laser printer are the same as those when the image forming apparatus is a copying machine as described above, and therefore a duplicate description will not be given.

[0025]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the print attribute data designated in advance with respect to the input image data is extracted and obtained by the print attribute data obtaining means, and is converted into the input image data by the bitmap data producing means. Bitmap data for image formation is created based on the print attribute data, and the extracted print attribute data and the created bitmap data are stored in the data storage unit, and resources are stored based on the stored print attribute data and bitmap data. The usage degree of the resource member necessary for image formation is measured by the member usage degree measuring means, and the charging data calculation means calculates the charging data based on the measured usage degree of the resource member, thereby determining the usage degree of the resource member. Accurately corresponding highly accurate billing data is displayed on the billing data display means before image formation. In addition, based on the changing process of the image forming condition performed by the user according to the display, the billing calculation display control means recalculates the billing data by the billing data calculating means, and the billing data display means of the recalculated billing data. Is displayed again. For this reason, it becomes possible for the user to accurately check in advance the charging data required for image formation based on the usage degree of the resource member, and to perform image formation. By changing the forming condition, it becomes possible to appropriately respond to the usage degree of the resource member and perform appropriate image formation quickly and efficiently under desired charging conditions.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the resource member usage measuring means extracts the paper size data, the paper type data and the post-processing data from the print attribute data stored in the data storing means, and the respective data is extracted. By measuring the usage degree of the resource member to be charged corresponding to, the user can calculate the usage based on the paper size data, paper type data, post-processing data and pit map data.
It becomes possible to accurately check in advance the billing data required for image formation that corresponds to the degree of use of resource members, and to perform image formation. Furthermore, if necessary, the user can change the image formation conditions to enable resource formation. The degree of usage of the member can be appropriately dealt with, and appropriate image formation under desired charging conditions can be performed quickly and efficiently.

According to the invention of claim 3, in addition to the effect obtained by the invention of claim 2, the resource member usage measuring means is based on the print attribute data and the bitmap data stored in the data storing means. A source for performing post-processing based on the print attribute data stored in the data storage means by measuring the consumption amount of the recording agent used for the resource member in consideration of the variation amount corresponding to the print attribute data. Since the usage amount of the consumption material used for the material is measured and more accurate charging data corresponding to the consumption amount of the recording material used for the resource material and the consumption material is displayed accurately,
It becomes possible for the user to confirm in advance the more accurate billing data required for image formation and to perform image formation. Furthermore, if the user changes the image formation conditions as necessary, the usage of resource members can be changed. Accurately respond to the amount of recording material consumed and the amount of consumed material used for the source material for post-processing, and it is possible to quickly and efficiently perform appropriate image formation under desired charging conditions. become.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Data input section 2 Print attribute extraction circuit 3 Bitmap creation circuit 5 RAM 6 Operation / display unit 7 CPU 10 Resource usage measurement circuit 11 Charge amount calculation circuit

Front page continuation (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) G03G 21/02 G06F 3/12 K G06F 3/12 H04N 1/00 C H04N 1/00 106B 106 106C G03G 21/00 392 F-term (reference) 2C061 AP01 AP03 AP04 AQ06 AR01 AS13 CQ34 HK07 HK15 HK18 HL01 HQ20 HQ21 HX10 2H027 DA32 DA45 DB01 DC02 DC19 DE04 DE07 DE09 EB04 EC02 EC06 EC09 ED06 ED16 EE01 EE07 EE08 EF09 EJ06 EJ08 FA05 FA35 GA49 GA54 GB11 ZA07 5B021 AA01 AA05 AA19 NN00 PP04 5C062 AA02 AA05 AB23 AB41 AB42 AC58 AC67 AF08 AF10 AF14 BA00

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A print attribute data acquisition unit for extracting print attribute data designated in advance corresponding to input image data, and bitmap data creation for creating bitmap data for image formation based on the input image data. Means, data storage means for storing the print attribute data and the bitmap data, and usage data of resource members necessary for image formation based on the print attribute data and the bitmap data stored in the data storage means Resource member usage measuring means, a charging data calculating means for calculating charging data based on the usage data measured by the resource member usage measuring means, and charging data calculated by the charging data calculating means Is displayed before the image is formed, and, according to the display of the charging data display means, And a billing calculation display control unit for causing the billing data computing unit to re-compute the billing data based on a change of the image forming condition performed by the user and re-displaying the obtained billing data on the billing data display unit. An image forming apparatus characterized by. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
The resource member usage measuring means extracts paper size data, paper type data, and post-processing data from the print attribute data stored in the data storing means, and uses the resource member to be charged corresponding to each data. An image forming apparatus that measures degree data. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2,
The resource member usage measuring means adds a variation amount corresponding to the print attribute data based on the print attribute data and the bitmap data stored in the data storage means,
Further measuring the amount of the recording material used for the resource member, and further measuring the amount of the consumption member used for the resource member for performing the post-processing based on the print attribute data stored in the data storage means. An image forming apparatus characterized by.