JP2006256181A - Image processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing apparatus which can appropriately perform accounting in accordance with the amount of consumption/the amount of use of ink and sheets. <P>SOLUTION: The image processing apparatus is equipped with a means for storing the amount of delivering of the ink which detects/stores the total amount of delivering of the ink of each color when a printing function is performed, a unit price storing and renewing means which stores the unit price of each ink and the unit price of each paper used in own apparatus and automatically renews them, a temporarily determining means which temporarily determines the amount of accounting based on the total amount of delivering of the ink of each color stored and the number of sheets of the paper used, a formal determining means which determines a formal amount of accounting based on the set upper limiting amount of accounting and the amount of accounting temporarily determined, a storing means classified by each user which stores the total amount of delivering of each ink used, the number of sheets of each paper used, and the amount of accounting on each user, and an outputting means which outputs information on the total amount of delivering of each ink used by each user or by each user group, the number of sheets used of each paper, and the amount of accounting. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus suitable for a printer device, a copying machine, a facsimile machine, a multifunction machine, and the like, and more particularly, to proper charging in the image processing apparatus.

  Until now, when printing was performed by an image processing apparatus, the charge per sheet was uniform. However, if there is no price difference depending on the amount of ink consumed and the size of the paper used, it is difficult to say that charging is appropriate.

Patent document 1 can be mentioned as a well-known technique relevant to this invention.
JP2003-281264

  Patent Document 1 is a technique for storing points in a memory according to a predetermined point addition rule and determining a charge amount based on the cumulative number of points. It's not a possible technology.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an image processing apparatus capable of making an appropriate charge according to consumption and usage of ink and paper.

  The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 executes a print function for performing print processing on image data related to a print request sent from each information terminal owned by the user by discharging ink of each color according to the content onto the paper. The first ink discharge amount storage means for detecting and storing the total discharge amount of ink of each color and the image data read from the scanner or the portable recording medium are printed by discharging the ink of each color according to the content onto the paper. Second ink discharge amount storage means for detecting and storing the total discharge amount of each color ink when executing the print function to be processed, and storing and automatically updating the unit price of each ink and the unit price of each sheet used in the apparatus. A unit price storage updating means, a provisional determination means for provisionally determining a charge amount based on the stored total discharge amount of each color ink and the number of used sheets, and a set Formal determination means for determining an official charge amount based on the upper limit of money amount and the provisionally determined charge amount, and used for each user when a plurality of users use the print function of their own devices from their respective information terminals First user storage means for storing the total ejection amount of each ink, the number of sheets used for each sheet, and the charge amount, and the print function of the own apparatus for image data read by a plurality of users from a scanner or a portable recording medium, respectively Second user storage means for storing the total ejection amount of each ink used for each user, the number of sheets used for each sheet, and the charge amount, and the total of each ink used by each user or each user group. Output means for outputting the ejection amount, the number of sheets used for each sheet, and billing amount information.

  The image processing apparatus according to claim 2 is the image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first ink discharge amount storage means detects and stores an ink discharge amount based on a print signal sent to a head of each color. It is a thing to do.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the second ink discharge amount storage means discharges ink based on a print signal sent to a head of each color. The quantity is detected and stored.

  The image processing apparatus according to claim 4 is the image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the unit price storage update unit includes a unit price of each ink, an ink cartridge serial number, a unit price of each sheet, and The unit number information is acquired and stored by reading the information from the IC tag attached to each ink cartridge and the sheet bundle serial number is stored. Based on the above, the unit price of ink and the unit price of paper are acquired via the network and updated and stored.

  The image processing apparatus according to claim 5 is the image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the temporary determination unit is detected and stored by the first and second ink discharge amount storage units. The charge amount is provisionally determined by adding the sheet price to the sum of the total ink discharge amount and the unit price of each ink stored by the unit price storage updating means.

  The image processing apparatus according to claim 6 is the image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the formal determination unit includes a charge upper limit per print set by the print price claimant and the charge amount It is characterized in that the lower of the provisional charge amounts calculated by the provisional determination means is selected and determined as the official charge amount.

  The image processing device according to claim 7 is the image processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first user storage unit is sent together with image data sent from a user information terminal at the time of printing. Corresponding to the incoming user number, the usage amount of ink, the number of sheets used, and the billing amount for each user are stored.

  An image processing apparatus according to an eighth aspect of the present invention is the image processing apparatus according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, wherein the second user storage means uses a copy function using a print function of the own apparatus. In some cases, the total ejection amount of each ink used, the number of sheets used for each sheet, and the charge amount are managed and stored separately for the case of being used by a specific user and the case of being used by an unspecified number of users. It is characterized by being.

  The image processing apparatus according to claim 9 is the image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the output means includes a total ejection amount of each ink used by each user and each user group, and each sheet. Information is output in a form in which automatic mail is transmitted at the date and time or interval set in advance for each user by the user, or in a form in which each user downloads from the information terminal of each user. It is characterized by.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the charge fee can be determined based on the amount of consumables used, so that it is possible to collect a fee more accurately than a single fee.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the ink discharge amount is detected using the image signal sent to the head when the print function is used, it is detected in a simple manner how much ink the user has consumed.・ Effects that can be memorized can be obtained.

  According to the invention of claim 3, when printing an image read from a copy function or a portable recording medium, the user detects which ink discharge amount is detected using an image signal sent to the head. As a result, it is possible to detect and store whether or not only the ink is consumed by a simple method.

  According to the invention of claim 4, since the consumable information read from the IC tag (RFID) is stored, the unit price of the consumable is automatically stored, and the consumable information can be easily stored from the user information terminal. There is an effect that the unit price information can be updated.

  According to the invention which concerns on Claim 5, the effect which becomes possible to calculate the provisional charge amount according to the amount of consumables used is acquired.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the billing upper limit amount can be set and stored, so that an effect can be obtained in which the lower billing amount can be set as the formal billing amount compared to the provisional billing amount.

  According to the seventh aspect of the invention, when image data is transmitted from the user information terminal, user information can be transmitted at the same time, so that the usage status of consumables for each user and accounting information management can be easily performed. The effect which becomes possible is acquired.

  According to the eighth aspect of the invention, since the charge management is divided for each of the specific user and the unspecified number of users, there is an effect that fine management according to each user using the own device is possible. can get.

  According to the ninth aspect of the invention, it is possible to individually notify each user or user group of the total ejection amount of each ink, the number of used sheets of each sheet, and charge amount information. It is done.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows an overall block configuration of an image processing apparatus 1 according to the best mode for carrying out the present invention.

  The image processing apparatus 1 makes it possible to determine the print price based on the amount of consumables used, not a flat fee per sheet, so that the consumable usage status of each user can be stored. To do.

  In the figure, a controller 2 is a microcomputer that performs overall control of the entire apparatus, and exchanges information with the user information terminal 200 about each user via the network 100. The controller 2 exchanges information with the portable storage medium 4, reads image data from the scanner 3, reads user information such as a user number from the user information reader 5, and is set in the billing information writing unit 6. The accounting information is written to and read from the recording medium, the image data is transferred to the image processing unit 7, the accounting information is notified to the accounting information processing 12, and the like.

  The print information processing unit 9 determines the ink discharge amounts from the ink heads 1 to N corresponding to the image data (print information) transferred directly from the image processing unit 7 or via the image data storage unit 8. The printing function is realized by controlling the signals output to the heads.

  An output signal from the print information processing unit 9 to each head is input to the ink discharge amount calculation unit 10, and the ink discharge amount calculation unit 10 consumes ink of each color in a print operation related to a print request from each user. Calculate Since the output signal from the print information processing unit 9 to each head is a signal for controlling the ink discharge amount from the nozzle of each head, the ink consumption amount can be detected by detecting the signal.

  The calculation result of the ink discharge amount calculation unit 10 is stored in the ink discharge amount storage unit 14. The billing information processing unit 12 stores billing information in the billing information storage unit 13. The billing information is calculated by the billing information processing unit 12 based on the information of the ink discharge amount storage unit 14, the RFID reader 15, and the used paper sheet number information 16.

  FIG. 2 schematically shows the process of detecting and storing the ink discharge amount during printing.

  Image data output from the user information terminal 200 is input to the print information processing unit 9 via the controller 2 and the image information processing unit 7. A signal output from the print information processing unit 9 and sent to each head is for driving the head for one pass. Therefore, it does not include ink discharge amount information.

  Therefore, the print information signal is simultaneously input to the ink discharge amount calculation unit 10, the ink amount discharged from each head is calculated from the print signal, and the total discharge amount information of each color is stored in the ink discharge amount storage unit 14. .

  FIG. 3 schematically shows a process of detecting and storing the ink discharge amount during copying.

  Image information read from the scanner 3 is stored in the image data storage unit 8 via the controller 2 and the image processing unit 7. When printing an image read by the scanner 3, data is read from the image data storage unit 8 and sent to the head via the print information processing unit 9.

  A signal output from the print information processing unit 9 and sent to each head is for driving the head for one pass. Therefore, it does not include ink discharge amount information. Therefore, the print information signal is simultaneously input to the ink discharge amount calculation unit 10, the ink amount discharged from each head is calculated from the print signal, and the total discharge amount information of each color is stored in the ink discharge amount storage unit 14. .

  FIG. 4 schematically shows the process of storing and updating the unit price of consumables.

  An IC tag including an RFID or the like is attached to the ink cartridge or a bundle of sheets. The unit price and serial number of each consumable are stored in the RFID and stored in the billing information processing unit 12 using the RFID reader 15 attached to the image processing apparatus 1.

  When it is desired to change the unit price information via the user information terminal 200, the billing information processing unit 12 confirms that the serial number read from the RFID matches the serial number input from the user information terminal 200. The unit price of consumables can be changed.

  FIG. 5 schematically shows the process up to the provisional determination of the charge amount.

  In the figure, the information from the ink discharge amount storage unit 14 and the used paper number information 16 are sent to the billing information processing unit 13 and multiplied by the unit price of consumables stored in the billing information processing unit 13, and the sheet price is also added. As a result, the provisional charge amount is determined and stored in the charge information processing unit 13.

  FIG. 6 schematically shows the process up to the determination of the formal charge amount.

  The user information terminal 200 and the image processing apparatus 1 are connected via the network 100 (Internet line or LAN), and the upper limit per sheet for the printer function and the upper limit per sheet for the copy function are charged from the user terminal. It can be stored in the unit 12. The provisionally determined billing amount information stored in the billing information processing unit 13 in the process shown in FIG. 5 is compared with the upper limit set by the user, and the smaller one is determined as the formal billing amount and stored in the billing information storage unit 13. Let

  A process in which a plurality of users use the printer function from each information terminal to store the charge amount of each user will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the figure, when an image signal is sent from the user information terminal 200, user information is also sent at the same time, and the user information is sent to the billing information processing unit 12 via the controller 2. Then, the consumable usage amount and billing amount of each user can be stored in the billing information storage unit 13 together with the formal billing amount determined in the previous operation.

  FIG. 7 schematically shows a case where the copy function is used within a specific user.

  Before using the copy function, the user number is sent to the billing information processing unit 12 from the user information recording medium owned by each user via the user information reader 5. Together with the official billing amount determined in the above-described process, the consumption information usage amount and billing amount of each user can be stored in the billing information storage unit 13.

  Next, FIG. 8 shows a case where an unspecified number of users use the copy function.

  The copy function is used after confirming that the recording medium is inserted in the billing information writing unit 6. Then, the charge amount determined by the charge information processing unit 12 through the above-described process is written to the recording medium in the charge information writing unit 6.

  FIG. 9 schematically shows how to obtain billing information for each user and each user group.

  A group setting is made as to which user enters each group from the user information terminal 200 connected via the network (Internet line or LAN) 100, and the setting is stored in the billing information processing unit 12. The charging information for each group is also stored in the charging information storage unit 13.

  Then, the transmission date and time and the transmission interval when transmitting the charging information to the user's information terminal using the automatic mail transmission function are set in the charging information processing unit 12, and the necessary charging information is transmitted to the user. The information stored in the billing information processing unit 12 via the network 100 may be configured so that each user can download the information at any time using his / her information terminal. In that case, the information managed and stored corresponding to the notified user number is read out and transmitted to the information terminal of the notification source user.

  Although the best mode for carrying out the present invention has been described above, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the above and can be variously modified without departing from the gist thereof. .

1 shows an overall block configuration of an image processing apparatus according to the best mode for carrying out the present invention. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a process of detecting and storing an ink discharge amount during printing. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a process of storing and storing ink discharge amounts during copying. It is a schematic diagram about the storage and update process of the unit price of consumables. This is shown schematically. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram schematically showing a process up to provisional determination of charge amount. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the process up to the determination of the official charge amount. It is a schematic diagram shown about the case where a copy function is used within a specific user. It is a schematic diagram shown about the case where many unspecified users use a copy function. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a method for obtaining charging information for each user and each user group.

Explanation of symbols

1 Image processing device

Claims (9)

Detects the total discharge amount of ink of each color when executing a print function for performing print processing by discharging ink of each color on paper according to the content of image data sent from each information terminal owned by the user. First ink discharge amount storage means for storing;
Secondly, the image data read from the scanner or portable recording medium is detected and stored when executing the print function for performing print processing by discharging the ink of each color onto the paper according to the content of the image data. Ink discharge amount storage means;
Unit price storage update means for automatically storing and updating the unit price of each ink and the unit price of each paper used in the apparatus;
Temporary determination means for temporarily determining a charge amount based on the total discharge amount of each color ink stored and the number of sheets used;
Formal determination means for determining a formal charge amount based on the set charge upper limit and the provisionally determined charge amount;
A first user-specific storage means for storing the total ejection amount of each ink used for each user, the number of sheets used for each sheet, and the charge amount when a plurality of users use the print function of the own apparatus from each information terminal; ,
When multiple users use the print function of their own device for image data read from a scanner or portable recording medium, the total ejection amount of each ink used for each user, the number of sheets used, and the charge amount Second user-specific storage means for storing;
An output means for outputting the total ejection amount of each ink used by each user or each user group, the number of sheets used for each sheet, and billing amount information;
An image processing apparatus comprising:   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first ink discharge amount storage unit detects and stores an ink discharge amount based on a print signal sent to a head of each color.   3. The image processing according to claim 1, wherein the second ink discharge amount storage means detects and stores an ink discharge amount based on a print signal sent to a head of each color. apparatus.   The unit price storage update means reads each unit price information by reading information from an IC tag that stores the unit price of each ink, the ink cartridge serial number, the unit price of each sheet, and the sheet bundle serial number and is attached to each ink cartridge. When each unit price is updated, the unit price of ink and the unit price of paper are acquired and stored via the network based on the read and stored serial number information. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1.   The provisional determination unit is configured to multiply the total ink discharge amount detected and stored by the first and second ink discharge amount storage units by the unit price of each ink stored by the unit price storage update unit, 5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the charge amount is provisionally determined by adding a price.   The formal determination means selects / determines, as the formal charge amount, the lower of the charge upper limit per print set by the print price claimant and the temporary charge calculated by the temporary determination means The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus is an image processing apparatus.   The first user-specific storage means stores the amount of ink used, the number of sheets used, and the charge amount for each user corresponding to the user number sent together with the image data sent from the user information terminal at the time of printing. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus is one.   The second user-specific storage means is divided into a case where it is used within a specific user and a case where it is used by an unspecified number of users when the copy function using the print function of its own device is used. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus manages and stores a total ejection amount of each used ink, a number of sheets used for each sheet, and a charge amount.   The output means transmits an automatic mail at a date and time or interval set in advance by each user for the total ejection amount of each ink used by each user and each user group, the number of sheets used, and the billing amount. 9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein information is output in a form of being downloaded from the own apparatus by an information terminal of each user.

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