JP2007140306A - Copying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To execute copying required by a user at a reasonable setting within an input amount of money in a copying machine loaded with a subtracting type charging device. <P>SOLUTION: The copying machine is provided with the subtracting type charging device 1, a storing device 2 storing the amount of money deposited to the charging device 1, a calculating device 3 calculating the charge necessary for the copying, an operation display device 4 displaying deficiency in the deposited money and a searching device 5 searching for a setting for copying at a lower cost than a present copying setting. In addition, a control device 6 overall controlling each device is provided and the control device 6 carries out control so that the copying is not executed when the deposited amount to the charging device 1 is not enough for the charge necessary for the copying and at least one part of the setting searched by the searching device 5 is displayed on the operation display device 4. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a copying machine equipped with a subtractive charging apparatus.

In general, a copying machine equipped with a subtracting charging device such as a coin rack is often installed in a store and used by many users who are not familiar with the setting of the copying machine. Such users often do not know that charges can be reduced depending on the copy settings, and there are cases where copying is performed at a high charge.
For example, the technique described in Patent Document 1 calculates a copy fee before copying, and does not copy if the amount charged into the charging device is insufficient for the fee required for copying.
JP 2005-062647 A

However, the above-mentioned prior art is different from the setting intended by the user, but does not notify the user that the copy may be made at a reasonable price. The problem of making copies at a high charge setting cannot be solved.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to execute a copy required by a user with reasonable settings within a charged fee in a copying machine equipped with a subtracting charging device.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 1 includes a subtraction type charging means, a storage means for storing a charge input to the charging means, a calculation means for calculating a charge required for copying, Operation display means for displaying a shortage of input charges, search means for searching for settings that can be copied at a lower charge than the current copy settings, and copying if the amount charged to the charging means is not sufficient for copying And a control unit that performs control to display at least a part of the setting searched by the search unit on the operation display unit without executing the copying machine.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the copying machine according to the first aspect, the control means displays the shortage amount on the operation display means when the copy cannot be executed due to a shortage of charges, and the initial amount is added by adding the shortage amount. It is characterized by performing control to start copying by setting.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the copying machine according to the first aspect, when the copying cannot be executed due to a shortage of charge, if the copy is started with the same setting, it is stopped halfway due to a shortage of the charge. Control to display on the operation display means is performed.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the copying machine according to the first aspect, the operation display means has a function of accepting an input for canceling the copy when the copy cannot be executed due to insufficient charge.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the copying machine according to the first aspect, the control means performs a control to display a necessary copy fee on the operation display means for each display of setting capable of copying. It is characterized by.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the copying machine according to the first aspect, the control means performs control to add a setting that can be copied according to a charge that is additionally input when a setting that can be copied is displayed. It is characterized by performing.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided the copying machine according to the first aspect, wherein the control unit is capable of copying at a lower charge even when the charge amount to the charging unit is sufficient for a copy. If there is, there is a control for displaying on the operation display means that there is a setting that allows copying at low cost without executing copying.

  According to the present invention, when the amount input to the billing unit is not enough for the copy by the control unit, the control unit displays at least a part of the setting retrieved by the search unit without executing the copy. By performing the above, the copy desired by the user can be reasonably executed, and improvement of the user's satisfaction can be expected.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The copying machine according to the present embodiment includes a subtracting type charging device (charging unit) 1, a storage device (storage unit) 2 that stores a fee charged in the charging device 1, and a calculating device (calculation) that calculates a fee required for copying. Means) 3, an operation display device (operation display means) 4 for displaying a shortage of charging fee, and a search device (search means) 5 for searching for a setting that can be copied more reasonably than the current copy setting, and further controlling each device in an integrated manner. A control device (control means) 6 is provided. Then, the control device 6 displays on the display device 4 at least a part of the settings searched by the search device 5 without executing the copy if the amount charged to the charging device 1 is not enough for the fee required for the copy. Take control. For example, the display device 4 is controlled to display settings that can be copied within the input fee from the searched.

Hereinafter, a specific control example will be described by taking a copying machine in which the copy of A3 is 20 yen and the copy of A4 is 10 yen.
Assume that there is a user who wants to copy two copies of an A3 document. Then, the user inserts 100 yen into the coin rack. The charging fee is notified to the main body side of the copying machine, and the storage device 2 stores it.
Here, when the user starts copying with the settings of 100% magnification (as default), automatic tray (as default), and 2 copies, the control device 6 determines the number of documents. The following method for determining the number of originals is performed by the copying method.
When the user sets a document on the ADF, the scan is executed first. The number of documents is counted for each scan, and the number of documents is determined when all scans are completed.
When the user performs a document accumulation copy from the platen, the number of documents is counted for each scan, and the number of documents is determined when “no next document” is selected.
When the user inputs the number of documents from the operation display device 4, the entered numerical value is determined as the number of documents. At this time, the input screen for the number of documents is displayed only when the billing apparatus 2 is installed, and a level that does not force input such as “Please input if the number of documents is known” is displayed.
In the case of single copy from the pressure plate, the number of documents is determined as one.
Next, the control device 6 determines the fee required for copying from the number of documents and the copy setting information by the following calculation formula.
For example, if there are five originals, the original (5 sheets) × the number of copies (2 copies) × A3 fee (20 yen) = the fee required for copying (200 yen) is determined.
As a result, the control device 6 recognizes that the input fee (100 yen) is insufficient for the fee (200 yen) required for copying, and causes the operation display device 4 to display a charge shortage corresponding screen.

The following describes how to deal with a shortage of charges.
As the first pattern, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, a message for prompting addition of a charge, a setting change selection screen, and copy cancellation are displayed.
If additional charges are added, the initial settings will remain as they are, although not shown, the screen will say “Can copy” and the start button will be pressed to start copying or automatically. Copying starts automatically.
On the other hand, when copy cancellation is selected, the control device 6 notifies the charging device 2 of the copy cancellation and automatically returns the fee.
If setting change is selected, candidates for setting change that can be copied within the input fee are displayed as shown in FIG. When the user selects a candidate and presses the start button of the operation display device 4, the copy changed to the selected setting starts.
As a second pattern, as shown in FIG. 4, a message prompting the operation display device 4 to add a charge, a setting change selection screen, and a forced start are displayed.
Here, if additional charges for the shortage are added, “Copy can be made” is displayed with the initial settings, and the copy starts when the start button is pressed. Or copying starts automatically.
On the other hand, when the setting change is selected, candidates for setting changes that can be copied within the entered fee are displayed as shown in FIG. When a candidate is selected and the start button is pressed, the copy changed to the selected setting is started.
When the forced start is selected, a message indicating that the fee is insufficient during copying and the copying is stopped is displayed, and the user is inquired whether to start or cancel the copying. When “Copy start” is selected, copying starts. In this case, a charge shortage occurs during copying, but there is no problem because the user recognizes this. When “Return” is selected, the display returns to the display of FIG. When the charging fee becomes 0 yen due to the pressing of the return button of the charging apparatus 2, it is recognized that the copy is canceled.

The case where 100 yen was initially inserted has been described above. However, if an example of the case where 50 yen was initially inserted is added, “Nin1 → 4in1” (necessary to copy at 50 yen on the screen of FIG. 3). Only a quarter of the amount) is displayed. Therefore, when additional charges are input, when the total amount of input reaches 100 yen, “paper size A3 → A4 (reduced copy)” and “Nin1 → 4in1” are displayed on the screen of FIG.
In addition, even if the fee of 200 yen required to complete the copy has been input from the beginning, a message such as “There are other settings that can be copied within the input fee” is displayed, and the contents of the setting change are displayed on the screen of FIG. May be displayed.

1 is a functional block diagram of a copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the 1st display example of an operation display apparatus. It is a figure which shows the 2nd example of a display of an operation display apparatus. It is a figure which shows the 3rd example of a display of an operation display apparatus. It is a figure which shows the 4th example of a display of an operation display apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

  1 charging device, 2 storage device, 3 calculation device, 4 operation display device, 5 search device, 6 control device

Claims (7)

  Subtraction type charging means, storage means for storing the charge input to the charging means, calculation means for calculating the charge required for copying, operation display means for displaying insufficient input charge, and setting of the current copy Search means for searching for a setting that can be copied at a lower charge, and if the amount input to the billing means is less than the charge required for copying, at least a part of the setting searched by the search means without executing copying A copying machine comprising: control means for performing control to display on the operation display means.   2. The copying machine according to claim 1, wherein the control means displays a shortage amount on the operation display means when copying cannot be executed due to a shortage of charges, and performs a control to start copying with the initial setting by adding the shortage amount. A copier characterized by performing.   2. The copying machine according to claim 1, wherein the control means displays on the operation display means that if copying cannot be executed due to a shortage of charge, if copying is started with the same setting, the copy is stopped due to a shortage of charge. A copying machine characterized by   2. The copying machine according to claim 1, wherein the operation display means has a function of accepting an input for canceling copying when copying cannot be executed due to a lack of charges.   2. The copying machine according to claim 1, wherein the control unit performs control to display a necessary copy fee on the operation display unit for each display of setting capable of copying.   2. The copying machine according to claim 1, wherein the control unit performs control to add a setting capable of copying according to a fee additionally charged when a setting capable of copying is displayed. .   2. The copying machine according to claim 1, wherein said control means executes copying if there is a setting that allows copying at a low charge even if the amount of money input to said charging means is sufficient for copying. A copying machine characterized in that control is performed to display on the operation display means that there is a setting that allows copying at low cost.

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