JP2009093459A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus for returning already collected charge by returning a printed matter when any printed matter fulfilling the satisfaction of a user can not be created. <P>SOLUTION: This image forming apparatus is provided with a charge collection means (4) for collecting charge spent on the printing of an original from a user; a print control means (23) for outputting a printed matter by forming an image on a sheet according to the charge collected by the charge collection means (4); and a refund control means (40) for discriminating the validity/invalidity of a refund to the user on the basis of the content of the printed matter returned to the image forming apparatus. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a charging system.

  This type of image forming apparatus is installed in a store such as a convenience store. When the user inserts a fee into the coin kit, sets a document, and presses the print button, the apparatus forms an image on a sheet and outputs a printed matter. At the same time, the charges put into the coin kit are collected inside, and the balance is displayed on this coin kit.

  Then, in order to match the speed of the printing process on the image forming apparatus side, the technology for speeding up the billing process on the coin kit side, or if the charge required for printing is less than the input charge, the user Have been disclosed (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

JP 2007-53550 A JP-A-6-4766

However, in the above-described conventional technology, the user is charged for whether or not the printed material is output, and is not targeted for whether or not the printed material is correctly printed. There is a problem that occurs.
In other words, if the device cannot create a printed matter that satisfies the user's satisfaction, the device should not charge the user, but whether or not the billing target has output the printed matter. This is because you will always be charged.

In particular, the devices installed in the above-mentioned stores are frequently used, and the deterioration thereof is severe, and even if the user notices the deterioration compared to the case where the device is installed in the office, it improves itself. There is little to do.
As described above, the above-described conventional technology still has a problem with respect to the prevention of collection of charges that should not be imposed.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that solves the above-described problems and returns a fee that has already been collected by returning a printed material when a printed material that satisfies the user cannot be created. .

  A first invention for achieving the above object is a fee collecting means for collecting a fee required for printing a document from a user, and printing for forming an image on a sheet according to the collected fee and outputting a printed matter Control means, and refund control means for determining whether or not a refund to the user is possible based on the contents of the printed matter returned in the image forming apparatus.

  According to the first invention, the print control unit forms an image on the sheet according to the fee required for printing the document and outputs the printed matter. The printed matter is configured to be returned to the image forming apparatus. Yes. And since the refund control means determines whether or not a refund can be given to the user based on the contents of the returned printed matter, the printed matter that satisfies the user can be created for reasons such as deterioration of the printing control means. If not, the collected fee can be returned to the user. Therefore, useless billing for the user can be prevented.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the first aspect of the present invention, the image processing device includes an image generation unit that generates an image of a document, and an image data storage unit that stores the generated image. The image data is compared with the image data stored for the returned printed material, and is provided with an origin determining means for determining whether the returned printed material is a printed material output by the print control means. And
According to the second invention, in addition to the operation of the first invention, the refund control means further includes an origin discrimination means, and the origin discrimination means saves the image data saved for the printed matter and the returned printed matter. Compared with the image data thus obtained, it is discriminated whether the returned printed matter is a printed matter output by the print control means in the device, not another device. Therefore, it is possible to determine whether or not a true refund is possible for the device.

According to a third invention, in the configuration of the second invention, the refund control means compares the image data stored for the printed matter with the image data saved for the returned printed matter, and the print control means is degraded. It is characterized by comprising a deterioration determining means for determining whether or not.
According to the third invention, in addition to the operation of the second invention, the refund control means further includes a deterioration determining means, and the deterioration determining means stores the image data stored for the printed matter and the returned printed matter. The deterioration of the printing control means is discriminated in comparison with the image data thus obtained. Therefore, it is possible to reliably determine the deterioration of the print control means in the apparatus.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the configurations of the first to third aspects of the present invention, when a refund is made to the user, a returned material discarding unit for discarding the returned printed material is provided.
According to the fourth aspect of the invention, in addition to the effects of the first to third aspects, when returning to the user, the returned printed matter is disposed so as to be discarded. Printed materials are discarded and do not return to the user. As a result, it is reliably avoided to obtain printed matter while refunding the user.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, the device includes a counting unit that measures the number of refunds to the user and a notification unit that notifies the administrator of the device of the number of refunds. Features.
According to the fifth invention, in addition to the effects of the first to fourth inventions, the number of refunds is measured, and this number is notified to an external administrator. Can be communicated from the user's point of view. Therefore, the apparatus can be maintained at an appropriate time, and the maintenance efficiency is improved.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that repays a fee already collected on the condition that the printed matter is returned when the printed matter satisfying the user cannot be created.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration diagram of a copying machine (image forming apparatus) 1. The copying machine 1 includes a document processor 2, a coin kit (fee collecting means) 4, and a post-processing device 6. Yes.

  Specifically, first, the coin kit 4 is provided with a substantially rectangular parallelepiped kit body 8, and a coin insertion slot 9 and a screen for displaying the remaining amount of the insertion fee are formed at appropriate positions on the upper surface of the body 8. . Further, a coin return slot 10 is formed at an appropriate position on the side surface of the main body 8, and the coin kit 4 collects a fee required for printing the document from the user (user).

The document processor 2 has an in-body discharge-type apparatus main body 12, and a discharge tray 16 is formed inside the main body 12.
On the other hand, a document feeder is mounted on the upper side of the apparatus main body 2, and this apparatus has a document setting port 18 and a document discharge port 19 formed on the back side thereof, and conveys a document from the setting port 18. The image surface is optically read by a scanner, and the document is discharged to the discharge port 19.

In addition, a switching unit 20 is provided on the left side of the tray 16 as viewed in FIG. As will be described later, the switching unit 20 switches whether the printed material (returned material) returned to the inside of the document processor 2 is conveyed toward the tray 16 or conveyed toward the post-processing device 6. .
On the near side of the tray 16, a plurality of operation keys and switches for various user operations are arranged, and a display screen for displaying various information, a print button 14, and a return button 32 are provided.

  Further, a paper feed cassette 24 is disposed at the lower part of the apparatus main body 2. Specifically, the cassette 24 of the present embodiment is configured in a total of four stages along the height direction of the main body 2, and each cassette 24 is configured to be detachable from the main body 2, and the document processor 2. The inside of each cassette 24 is opened to the outside by being pulled out toward the front side.

The post-processing device 6 of this embodiment is composed of a shredder (returned material discarding means) 34 and a waste paper unit 36. The shredder 34 is driven when predetermined conditions are satisfied, discards the above-mentioned return items, and stores the discarded return items in the waste paper unit 36.
Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the document processor 2 includes an image generation unit (image generation unit) 21. The image generation unit 21 generates an optically read original image, The image is stored in the image data storage unit (image data storage means) 22.

  In the print control unit (print control means) 23, when the user presses the print button 14, an image is formed on the sheet from the cassette 24 according to the fee collected in the coin kit 4, and the printed matter is placed on the tray 16. Output. Specifically, a print engine 26 and a transfer unit 27 are arranged in order inside the document processor 2 when viewed in the paper conveyance direction. An exposure unit 25 is provided in the vicinity of the engine 26, and laser light is emitted from the unit 25 toward the engine 26.

In addition, a fixing unit 28 is disposed on the downstream side of the transfer unit 27 when viewed in the sheet conveyance direction, and the sheet discharged from the fixing unit 28 is discharged as a printed matter to the tray 16 through the copy discharge port 30.
By the way, the image generation unit 21, the data storage unit 22, the print control unit 23, and the like are electrically connected to the controller 38, and the controller 38 includes a refund control unit (refund control) in addition to the coin kit control unit 11. (Means) 40 and mail server (notification means) 46 are also electrically connected.

  Specifically, the coin kit control unit 11 is configured such that the above-described coin kit 4 can be controlled. The control unit 11 returns the change to the user when the fee required for printing is less than the fee input by the user, and from the user when a predetermined condition described later is satisfied. Refund the user for the already collected fee.

Next, the refund control unit 40 determines whether or not a refund can be given to the user based on the contents of the return item described above. If the contents of the return item are appropriate, the return item is sent to the user. Return again. On the other hand, if the contents of the returned item are not valid, the returned item is discarded without being returned to the user, and the collected fee is refunded.
More specifically, the refund control unit 40 first includes a pattern matching processing unit (source determination unit, deterioration determination unit) 42.

The pattern matching processing unit 42 compares the image data M stored for the printed material in the image data storage unit 22 described above with the image data R stored for the returned material. 2 is provided with a function for determining whether or not the printed matter is output by the print control unit 23.
The pattern matching processing unit 42 also has a function of determining whether or not the print control unit 23 has deteriorated by comparing the image data M and the image data R.

  Next, the refund control unit 40 has a switching control unit 43. If the contents of the returned item are appropriate, the switching control unit 43 determines the return item that has been waiting inside the document processor 2. A passage for transporting toward the tray 16 is opened. On the other hand, when the contents of the returned item are not appropriate, a passage for conveying the returned item that has been waiting to the post-processing device 6 is opened, and the switching unit 20 sets the return item conveyance path. Switching.

  Further, the refund control unit 40 also includes a shredder control unit 44 and a refund number counting unit (counting means) 45. The shredder control unit 44 controls the driving of the shredder 34, and the refund number counting unit 45 indicates the number of refunds to the user. Measuring. The number of refunds is notified to the administrator of the copier 1 via the mail server 46.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, there is shown a flowchart of the charging process by the controller 38. The operation of the copying machine 1 configured as described above will be described below.
In step S301 in FIG. 3, the user inputs a predetermined fee into the input port 9, and in step S302, the original is set in the original setting port 18. Next, when the user depresses the print button 14 in step S303, the process proceeds to step S304, where the scanner unit reads an image of the document, and the document is discharged to the document discharge port 19.

In step S305, the data storage unit 22 stores the image data M of the document generated by the image generation unit 21. Subsequently, in step S <b> 306, the print control unit 23 prints the data M, and the printed matter is output to the tray 16.
Here, in step S307, it is determined whether or not the printed material needs to be returned.

Specifically, when the user is satisfied with the printed matter output to the tray 16, the series of routines is exited. However, when the user does not satisfy the result of looking at the printed matter, the process proceeds to step S308 and refund control is performed. Migrate to
This refund control is shown in FIG. 4. First, in step S 401 in FIG. 4, the user sets a printed material in the document setting port 18.

Next, when the user depresses the return button 32 in step S402, the process proceeds to step S403, and the scanner unit reads an image of the returned material that is the printed material. However, the returned item waits at the switching unit 20 and is not discharged to the document discharge port 19.
Subsequently, in step S404, the data storage unit 22 stores the image data R of the returned product generated by the image generation unit 21, and in step S405, the pattern matching processing unit 42 determines the source.

  Specifically, the pattern matching processing unit 42 compares the image data M stored in step S305 with the image data R stored in step S404. Determines whether the image data M matches the image data M or not. If the source is the same, that is, if the returned material is a printed material output by the print control unit 23 of the document processor 2, that is, if it is determined YES, the process proceeds to step S406, and the processing unit 42 performs the print control unit 23. Determine deterioration of

  More specifically, the processing unit 42 compares the image data M stored in step S305 with the image data R stored in step S404, and determines whether the image quality of the returned product is inferior to the image quality of the document. Judging. If the image quality of the return item is poor, that is, the deterioration of the print control unit 23 is recognized and it is determined NO, the process proceeds to step S407, and the return item waiting in the switching unit 20 is directed to the post-processing device 6. Be transported.

  In step S407, the fee collected from the user for the printed matter is returned from the return port 10, and in step S408, the data M and data R in the data storage unit 22 are deleted. Subsequently, in step S409, the shredder 34 discards the returned item, and in step S410, the refund number counting unit 45 counts up. In step S411, when the number of refunds exceeds a predetermined number, the mail server 46 notifies the administrator and exits the routine.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S405 that the return product and the printed material are not the same source, or if it is determined in step S406 that the print control unit 23 has not deteriorated, the above fee is Not refunded to user. That is, in step S412, the data M and data R in the data storage unit 22 are deleted, and in step S413, the returned items waiting in the switching unit 20 are discharged to the tray 16.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the print control unit 23 forms an image on a sheet according to a fee required for printing an original, and outputs the printed matter to the tray 16. It is configured to be returnable within. The refund control unit 40 determines whether or not a refund can be given to the user based on the contents of the returned item. For example, if the color image is a color image, such as fade or color shift, the print control unit 23 may be deteriorated. If a printed matter that satisfies the user cannot be created, the already collected fee can be refunded to the user. Therefore, collection of charges that should not be imposed on the user can be prevented.

  Further, the refund control unit 40 includes a pattern matching processing unit 42, which compares the image data M stored for the printed material with the image data R stored for the returned material. It is determined whether the printed matter is output by the print control unit 23 in the document processor 2 instead of another document processor. Therefore, it is possible to determine whether or not a true refund can be given to the processor 2, and it is also possible to prevent the return of printed matter due to user error.

Further, the pattern matching processing unit 42 compares the image data M and the image data R to determine the deterioration of the print control unit 23. Therefore, it is possible to reliably determine the deterioration of the print control unit 23 in the processor 2.
Furthermore, when a refund is made to the user, the shredder 34 for discarding the returned material is provided, so that the returned material is discarded and does not return to the user. As a result, it is reliably avoided to obtain the printed matter while refunding the user.

In addition, since the number of refunds is measured and this number is notified to the administrator of the copying machine 2, the state of the copying machine 2 can be communicated to the administrator and the service person from the viewpoint of the user. Therefore, maintenance of the copying machine 2 can be performed at an appropriate time, and maintenance efficiency is improved.
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the claims.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which the image forming apparatus is embodied in a copying machine is shown. However, the image forming apparatus of the present invention can naturally be applied to a multifunction machine, a printer, a facsimile, and the like having a charging system. is there.

1 is a configuration diagram of a copier according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the copier of FIG. 2 is a flowchart of charging processing by the copying machine of FIG. It is a flowchart of the refund process of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 Copying machine (image forming device)
4 Coin kit (fee collection method)
21 Image generation unit (image generation means)
22 Image data storage unit (image data storage means)
23 Print Control Unit (Print Control Unit)
34 Shredder (returned goods disposal means)
40 Refund control part (Refund control means)
42 Pattern matching processing unit (source discrimination means, deterioration discrimination means)
45 Refund count section (counting means)
46 Mail server (notification means)

Claims (5)

Fee collection means to collect the fee required for printing the manuscript from the user,
Print control means for forming an image on paper according to the collected fee and outputting a printed matter;
An image forming apparatus comprising: refund control means for determining whether or not refunding to the user is possible based on the contents of the printed matter returned to the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
Image generating means for generating an image of the original;
Image data storage means for storing the generated image,
The refund control unit compares the image data stored for the printed material with the image data stored for the returned printed material, and determines whether the returned printed material is a printed material output by the print control unit. An image forming apparatus comprising an origin determining means for determining whether or not. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2,
The refund control unit includes a deterioration determination unit that compares the image data stored for the printed material with the image data stored for the returned printed material to determine whether the print control unit has deteriorated. An image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
An image forming apparatus comprising: a returned material discarding unit for discarding the returned printed material when refunding to the user. An image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
Counting means for measuring the number of times refunded to the user;
An image forming apparatus comprising: notification means for notifying the administrator of the apparatus of the number of refunds.

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