JP2005025359A - Server, data input device, printing device, image forming system, consumable inventory control method, computer program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a user to determine the number and the timing of order by user's determination by notifying the number of inventory etc. of consumables in an image forming device system connected to a network. <P>SOLUTION: An inventory control system in an image forming system comprises a computer 11 with a display unit to which image data is input; a combined machine 41 capable of printing data from the computer 11, storing inventory information of the consumables and setting the number of the inventory; and a server 21 connecting the computer 11 and the combined machine 41 via the network. The server 21 comprises a combined machine managing memory 202 storing the inventory information from the combined machine 41; and a central processing unit 203 for sending the inventory information stored in the memory 202 to the computer, and the computer 11 comprises a control unit 102 controlling so that the inventory information from the server 21 is displayed onto the display unit. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to inventory management of consumables in an image forming system. More specifically, the present invention relates to a server, a data input device, a printing device, and an image forming device each having these functions necessary for inventory management. The present invention relates to a consumables inventory management method in the image forming system, a computer program for executing the consumables inventory management method on a computer, and a recording medium on which the computer program is recorded.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In an image forming apparatus such as a multifunction machine equipped with functions such as facsimile, copying, printing, and facsimile transmission / reception, when consumables such as toner, ink, or paper in the apparatus run out, this is detected and displayed on the operation panel. Displaying that fact and urging the user to replenish has been widely practiced. On the other hand, since consumables inventory management is left to the user, it may not be noticed until there are no consumables. Therefore, it has been proposed to manage the consumption state and inventory state of consumables of the image forming apparatus with a host computer.
[0003]
On the other hand, an image forming apparatus currently used in an office is shared by a plurality of users and is used in a network environment. Therefore, the number of consumables to be consumed cannot be managed without a specific administrator, and if a user runs out of toner when trying to print, or if there is no toner in stock, that user Arranges the purchase of consumables, and the situation occurs that the image forming apparatus cannot be used unless the consumables are delivered.
[0004]
In order to prevent such problems, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2 provide an environment of an image forming apparatus that manages inventory status, automatically orders supply through a network, etc., and does not run out of stock. .
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-352846
[Patent Document 2]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-64671
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, a system for automatically placing supply orders without the user's approval is not a user-oriented system in the current trend of reducing costs of companies. For that purpose, detailed transmission of inventory information to the user is indispensable.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in view of the actual situation of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to be able to manage the stock status of consumables of the image forming apparatus on the network, and not only a specific administrator but also anyone can wear it. It is intended to be able to know the inventory information of goods and to determine the number of consumables to be ordered and the ordering time based on the user's judgment.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the object, the first means includes a data input device having a display unit for inputting image data, printing data from the data input device, storing consumables inventory information, and inventory quantity. A server in an image forming system comprising a print device that can be set, and a server that connects the data input device and the print device over a network, wherein the server stores the consumables inventory information from the print device And a control unit for sending the consumables inventory information stored in the storage unit to the data input device.
[0010]
The second means includes a data input device having a display unit for inputting image data, a printing device capable of printing the data from the data input device, storing consumable stock information, and setting the number of stocks. A data input device in an image forming system comprising a server for connecting the data input device and the printing device to a network, wherein the data input device displays the consumables inventory information from the server on a display unit. Control means is provided.
[0011]
A third means includes a data input device having a display unit for inputting image data, a printing device capable of printing the data from the data input device, storing consumable stock information, and setting the number of stocks. A printing apparatus in an image forming system comprising a server that connects the data input apparatus and the printing apparatus to a network, wherein the printing apparatus calculates an expected number of sheets that can be printed with a remaining inventory number and sends the information to the server It is characterized by having a control means to send to.
[0012]
The fourth means is characterized in that, in the third means, the control means sends the inventory information at that time to the server at a preset time interval.
[0013]
According to a fifth means, in the third or fourth means, the printing apparatus is a multifunction device having at least one of a printer function, a copying function, and a facsimile function, and the control means includes the multifunction device. A change in inventory of the consumables consumed by being used alone is sent to the server.
[0014]
A sixth means includes a data input device having a display unit for inputting image data, a printing device capable of printing the data from the data input device, storing consumable stock information, and setting the number of stocks. In the image forming system comprising a server that connects the data input device and the printing device over a network, the server stores the consumables inventory information from the printing device, and the consumption of the storage device. Control means for sending product stock information to the data input device, and the data input device further comprises control means for displaying the consumable stock information from the server on a display unit.
[0015]
A seventh means is characterized in that, in the sixth means, the printing apparatus comprises a control means for calculating an expected number of sheets that can be printed with a remaining inventory number and sending the information to the server.
[0016]
According to an eighth means, in the seventh means, the server includes a control means for sending information to the data input means including information on an expected number of sheets that can be printed with the remaining inventory received from the printing device in the consumables inventory information. It is characterized by having.
[0017]
A ninth means is characterized in that, in the sixth to eighth means, a plurality of the printing apparatuses are provided, and the storage means of the server stores inventory information of the plurality of printing apparatuses.
[0018]
A tenth means is the sixth to eighth means, wherein the printing device is a multifunction machine having at least one of a printer function, a copying function, and a facsimile function, and the storage means of the server is the multifunction device. Each piece of inventory information of the machine is stored.
[0019]
The eleventh means includes a data input device having a display unit for inputting image data, a printing device capable of printing data from the data input device, storing consumables inventory information, and setting the number of stocks. In the inventory management method for an image forming system comprising a server that connects the data input device and the printing device over a network, the server stores the consumables stock information from the printing device, and stores the consumables stored therein. The inventory information is sent to the data input device, the data input device displays the consumables inventory information from the server on the display unit, and the printing device calculates the expected number of sheets that can be printed with the remaining inventory number. Information is sent to the server.
[0020]
According to a twelfth means, in the eleventh means, the server includes information on an expected number of sheets that can be printed with the remaining number of stock received from the printing apparatus in the consumables inventory information and sends the information to the data input means. And
[0021]
The thirteenth means is characterized in that a computer program is configured including a procedure for executing the inventory management method according to the eleventh or twelfth means by a computer.
[0022]
A fourteenth means is characterized in that the computer program according to the thirteenth means is recorded on a recording medium so as to be read and executed by a computer.
[0023]
In the following embodiments, the data input means is the computers 11 to 14, the printing means is the printer 31 or the multifunction machine 41, the storage means is the management memory 202, the server control means is the central processing unit 203, the data The control means of the input device corresponds to the control unit 102, respectively.
[0024]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the management system according to the present embodiment, the computers 11, 12, 13, and 14 used by four users as input devices, the network server 21 that controls the network environment, and the network environment can be used. , 14, a printer 31 that prints out data from the printer 14, and a multifunction machine 41 that can be used in a network environment and has copy, print, and facsimile functions are electrically connected to each other. In the case of this network configuration, the user can output to each of the printer 31 and the multifunction device 41 via the network server 21, and each is connected by a generally called network I / F (LAN cable such as NIC). Has been. The network I / F is well known in the art and will not be described in detail.
[0025]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the functions in each unit necessary for the present system and the data I / F between the units for the multifunction machine. In FIG. 2, functional blocks of the computer 11 among the four computers 11, 12, 13, and 14 are shown, but the remaining computers 12, 13, and 14 have similar functions. The computer 11 is equipped with a video / command I / F unit 101 for a multifunction peripheral control system connected to the network server 21 and a control unit 102 for controlling the computer 11. The network server 21 includes an I / F unit 201 with the computer 11, a management memory 202 for the multifunction device 41, a central processing unit 203, and a network I / F unit 204 connected to the multifunction device 41. Between these units, image data, additional data such as printing conditions, etc. are transmitted from the computer 11 side to the network server 21, and these protocols are executed by driver software installed in the computer 11. Each piece of the data is transmitted to the multifunction device 41 via the network I / F unit 204 of the network server 21. The management memory 202 can store the remaining supply inventory of a plurality of multifunction peripherals 41 connected in the network.
[0026]
The multi-function device 41 generates a secondary power source required in the multi-function device 41 from a video connected to the network server 21, a command I / F unit 401, an image data control unit 402, and an AC commercial power source taken from the AC input unit 51. A power supply control unit 403, a drive unit 404 such as a motor that receives power supply from the power supply control unit 403, and an input unit 405 such as a sensor that detects the end of paper, toner, ink, etc. An input control unit 406 to be performed, a nonvolatile memory 407 for storing supply end information from the input control unit 406, a CPU for controlling the entire multifunction device 41, a ROM in which a control program is written, a RAM for storing control data, and the like A print output control unit 408, and a large-capacity memory 409 such as an HDD for storing image data. That.
[0027]
The multi-function peripheral 41 transmits the operation status of the multi-function peripheral 41, the status of paper end, toner end, etc. to the network server 21 by the input control unit 406 during printing and standby, and the network server 21 sends the information at any time. The information is stored in the multifunction device management memory 202 in the server 21. The network server 21 transmits the information to the computer 11 when necessary. Further, the multifunction device 41 has a key input unit 410 such as a touch panel and hard keys for the user to directly input information, and a display unit 411 such as an LCD and LED that can directly report the information of the multifunction device 41 to the user. Although an operation control unit 412 is provided, since these are not directly related to the present invention, detailed description and illustration are omitted. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, when the printer 31 is also connected to the network, the operating status of the printer 31 and the status of paper end, toner and ink end, etc. are transmitted, and the network server 21 receives these from the printer 31. Information is also stored in the multifunction device management memory 202 in the server 21 at arbitrary time intervals.
[0028]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the inventory management control procedure in the case of toner in the multifunction machine 41. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a control procedure when there is an inventory remaining number in FIG. Here, the target supply is assumed to be toner, and the case of toner inventory management will be described. Whether or not the toner end is detected by the non-volatile memory 407 in the multi-function peripheral 41 (step S101). If it is not the toner end, the flow ends. In the case of toner end, the multi-function device 41 displays that fact on the display unit 411 of the operation control unit 412. When the toner end display is performed, the user recognizes this and performs toner replacement (step S102). As a result of this toner replacement, the multi-function peripheral 41 obtains toner inventory data for the corresponding model from the network server 21 (step S103). The multi-function device 41 subtracts the number of stocks and displays the number on the display unit 411. At that time, the number of sheets that can be printed in the future is calculated from the number of stocks (step S104), and is also displayed as an expected number (step S105).
[0029]
Next, it is checked whether or not the stock quantity is 0 (step S106). If the stock quantity is 0, since there is no stock on the display unit 411, it is displayed to place an order, and a warning is urged to the user (step S107). At the same time, the multifunction device 41 transmits information indicating that there is no stock to the network network server 21 (step S108), the network network server 21 transmits the information to the computer 11 (step S109), and the computer 11 monitors the information. (Step S110).
[0030]
In step S106, if there is a stock of toner, the control procedure is as shown in FIG. That is, it is displayed on the display unit 411 of the multi-function peripheral 41 whether or not it is confirmed whether or not to change the inventory quantity (step S111), and when changing, the user inputs the inventory quantity from the touch panel of the key input unit 409. (Step S112). As a result, the display unit 411 displays data such as the new inventory number and the expected number of printable sheets (step S113), and at the same time, the multi-function peripheral 41 transmits data such as the number of new inventory stores that can be printed to the network network server 21. In step S114, the network server 21 stores the new inventory quantity in the multifunction machine management memory 202 equipped. In this way, a supply management system is achieved.
[0031]
In the above-described embodiment, the toner inventory management of the multi-function device 41 alone has been described. However, in the same way, when the multi-function device has a staple and binding function as a post-processing device, the stock of the staple is stored. Management is also possible. As shown in FIG. 1, when the printer 31 is installed in the multifunction device 41, the management memory 202 of the server 21 stores stock information of the printer 31 and the multifunction device 41, and the computers 11 to 14 store the inventory information. The inventory information of the printer 31 and the multifunction device 41 is displayed. The user only has to look at the display units of the computers 11 to 14 and select and select a usable printer 31 or multifunction device 41. Further, when a plurality of printers 31 and multifunction devices 41 are arranged, inventory information of each printer 31 and multifunction device 41 is stored and displayed in an identifiable manner, and the desired printer 31 or multifunction device is displayed by the computers 11 to 14. 41 may be selected.
[0032]
In the above-described embodiment, the central processing unit 203 of the server 21, the control unit 102 of the data input device 11, and the print output control unit 408 of the multifunction device 41 are each a program stored in a ROM (not shown) or a separately provided HDD. The control is executed using a RAM (not shown) as a work area in accordance with a program downloaded to a storage medium such as. The downloading is performed by the program from the server 203 via a network or a recording medium such as a CD-ROM.
[0033]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the inventory status of consumables in the image forming apparatus can be managed on the network, and not only a specific administrator but also anyone can know the inventory information of consumables. The number of items ordered and the ordering timing can be determined by the user.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram in each unit required for the system and a data I / F between the units for a multifunction peripheral.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a control procedure of inventory management in the case of toner of a multifunction peripheral.
4 is a flowchart showing a control procedure when there is an inventory remaining number in FIG. 3. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
11 to 14 Computer 21 Server 31 Printer 41 Multifunction machine 102 Control unit 202 Management memory 203 Central processing unit 402 Image data control unit 406 Input control unit 407 Non-volatile memory 408 Print output control unit 410 Key input unit 411 Display unit

Claims (14)

A data input device having a display unit for inputting image data, a printing device capable of printing data from the data input device, storing inventory information of consumables, and setting a stock quantity, and the data input device A server in an image forming system comprising a server for connecting the printing apparatus to a network;
The server comprises storage means for storing the consumables inventory information from the printing device, and control means for sending the consumables inventory information of the storage means to the data input device. . A data input device having a display unit for inputting image data, a printing device capable of printing data from the data input device, storing inventory information of consumables, and setting a stock quantity, and the data input device A data input device in an image forming system comprising a server for connecting the printing device to a network,
The data input device comprises control means for displaying the consumables inventory information from the server on a display unit. A data input device having a display unit for inputting image data, a printing device capable of printing data from the data input device, storing inventory information of consumables, and setting a stock quantity, and the data input device A printing apparatus in an image forming system comprising a server that connects the printing apparatus to a network,
The printing apparatus includes a control unit that calculates an expected number of sheets that can be printed based on a remaining inventory number and sends the information to the server. 4. The printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the control unit sends the inventory information at that time to the server at a preset time interval. The printing apparatus is a multifunction device having at least one of a printer function, a copying function, and a facsimile function, and the control means changes a stock of the consumables consumed by using the multifunction device alone. The printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the printer is sent to the server. A data input device having a display unit for inputting image data, a printing device capable of printing data from the data input device, storing inventory information of consumables, and setting a stock quantity, and the data input device In an image forming system comprising a server for connecting the printing apparatus to a network,
The server comprises storage means for storing the consumables inventory information from the printing device, and control means for sending the consumables inventory information of the storage means to the data input device;
The image input system, wherein the data input device includes a control unit that displays the consumables inventory information from the server on a display unit. The image forming system according to claim 6, wherein the printing apparatus includes a control unit that calculates an expected number of sheets that can be printed with a remaining number of stocks and sends the information to the server. 8. The server according to claim 7, further comprising a control unit that includes information on an expected number of sheets that can be printed with the remaining inventory received from the printing apparatus in the consumables inventory information and sends the information to the data input unit. Image forming system. 9. The image forming system according to claim 6, wherein the image forming system includes a plurality of the printing apparatuses, and the storage unit of the server stores stock information of the plurality of printing apparatuses. The printing apparatus is a multifunction machine having at least one of a printer function, a copying function, and a facsimile function, and the storage unit of the server stores stock information of the multifunction machine. The image forming system according to 6 to 8. A data input device having a display unit for inputting image data, a printing device capable of printing data from the data input device, storing inventory information of consumables, and setting a stock quantity, and the data input device In a consumables inventory management method for an image forming system comprising a server that connects the printing apparatus to a network,
The server stores the consumables inventory information from the printing device, and sends the stored consumables inventory information to the data input device;
The data input device displays the consumables inventory information from the server on a display unit,
The consumables inventory management method, wherein the printing apparatus calculates an expected number of sheets that can be printed by the remaining number of inventory and sends the information to the server. 12. The consumables inventory management method according to claim 11, wherein the server includes information on an expected number of sheets that can be printed with the remaining inventory received from the printing apparatus, and sends the consumables inventory information to the data input unit. . 13. A computer program comprising a procedure for executing the consumables inventory management method according to claim 11 or 12 on a computer. 14. A recording medium in which the computer program according to claim 13 is recorded so as to be readable and executable by a computer.

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