JP2011113038A - Image processing system, image processor, image processing method, program and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing system for easily confirming an excessive charged amount when a charged amount exceeds a planned amount owing to jamming or the like. <P>SOLUTION: The excessive charged amount which occurs in a job is displayed when the job is terminated. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing system, an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, a program, and a storage medium that allow an excess amount to be easily confirmed when charged over a scheduled amount.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a system for connecting a charging device such as a coin vendor or a card vendor to an image forming apparatus and performing a charging process for a printing process such as copying or printing. Such a system is used, for example, when a printing service is provided to an unspecified number of users at a store such as a convenience store or a copy shop.

  Specifically, for example, a user who wants to use the copy service inputs a fee required for the printing process from a coin vendor in advance or deposits using a prepaid card. When the user sets various copy parameters (number of originals, number of copies, paper size, monochrome / color, etc.) and instructs execution of printing, a balance corresponding to the printing fee corresponding to the set parameters remains. After confirming that the printing operation is complete, the printing operation starts. At this time, if the balance of the input amount is insufficient, the printing process is not executed.

  The above-mentioned printing service in the store often employs a system that collects a fee for each printing surface in order to prevent unauthorized copying such that a printing result is obtained without paying a fee. In the case of such a system, if a jam occurs during printing, depending on the jam position, there may be a case where the charging device has already collected the fee for the jammed paper in the image forming apparatus. For example, if a jam occurs when printing the second side of a duplex copy, the charge for the first side has already been collected. The jam paper is an invalid output, and the charge for this one page is not included in the print fee confirmed at the start of copying, but is additionally charged, and the user pays an extra fee. Normally, in a store operation, a clerk performs jam processing, so the clerk determines an excess fee from the jam paper and performs a work of refunding the user later.

JP 2008-124558 A

  However, there is a problem in that it is difficult for the store clerk to perform jam processing and determine the excess charge from the jammed paper because the paper conveyance path differs depending on the image forming apparatus and the charging timing is also different.

  According to Patent Document 1, when a job is terminated due to an incomplete state due to a jam or the like during printing, in order to make it easier for a clerk to grasp the settlement amount, the amount settled by the charging device and the execution of the job It is considered to print a report at the time when a job is completed due to an incomplete state of settlement information indicating the difference from the value for the amount that has been correctly completed.

  However, with the above-described prior art, if the amount of money required for the entire job is charged before printing is started and the job is terminated due to an incomplete state, Therefore, it is not possible to cope with the case where an amount exceeding the required amount calculated before the start of printing is charged by the charging device.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an image processing system, an image processing apparatus, and an image that can easily confirm an excess amount when charged beyond the amount scheduled due to a jam or the like An object is to provide a processing method, a program, and a storage medium.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image processing system capable of easily confirming an excess amount when a fee is charged exceeding a scheduled amount due to a jam or the like.

1 is an overall system diagram of an image processing system in an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a copying machine 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the accounting table in embodiment of this invention. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the copying machine 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the excessive charge display function at the time of printing in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the excessive collection amount display screen of the operation part in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the output content of the excess collection amount report print in embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the excessive charge display function at the time of jam recovery in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the excessive collection amount display screen of the operation part at the time of jam recovery in embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is an overall view of an image processing system according to the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, a copying machine 100 as an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention and a charging server 150 as an example of a charging apparatus according to the present invention are connected via an interface 160. The interface 160 may be in any form as long as it can transmit information such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) or an IP network, regardless of whether it is a parallel port or a serial port.

  The scanner 130 includes a document conveyance unit 131 and an image reading unit 132, and the image reading unit 132 optically reads an image on the document conveyed by the document conveyance unit 131 and converts the image into image data.

  The printer 140 includes an image forming unit 141, a paper feeding unit 142, and a paper discharging unit 143, and applies an image forming unit to printing paper conveyed from the paper feeding unit 142 that can stack a plurality of types of printing paper. 141 transfers and fixes the image data and prints it as a visible image. Then, the printing paper on which the image data is printed is discharged from the housing of the copying machine 100 by the paper discharge unit 143, or is conveyed again to the paper supply unit 142 for double-sided second printing.

  The control unit 110 is electrically connected to the scanner 130 and the printer 140. The control unit 110 includes a CPU 111, an HDD (hard disk drive) 112, an accounting server I / F (interface) 113, an operation unit I / F 114, a RAM 115, and a ROM 116.

  The CPU 111 activates the system of the copying machine 100 based on a boot program stored in the ROM 116. The CPU 111 reads various control programs stored in the HDD 112 and the like on this system, and executes various processes using the RAM 115 as a work area. The HDD 112 also stores image data and the like along with the various control programs.

  The operation unit I / F 114 is an interface that connects the control unit 110 and the operation unit 120, transfers image data to be displayed on the operation unit 120 to the operation unit 120, or is input from the user in the operation unit 120. An instruction is notified to the CPU 111. Further, the operation unit 120 includes a liquid crystal panel unit having a touch panel function for recognizing an instruction content based on position information on a screen at a location touched by the user.

  The accounting server I / F 113 controls information transmission / reception between the accounting server 150 and the copying machine 100 via the interface 160.

  The accounting server 150 includes a control unit 151, an accounting information management unit 152, a copier I / F 153, a coin vendor unit 154, a prepaid card reading unit 155, a credit card reading unit 156, and a communication unit 157. The control unit 151 reads various control programs stored in a memory (not shown), executes various processes, and controls the operation of the accounting server 150 as a whole.

  The billing information management unit 152 manages balance information indicating the balance of the amount previously deposited by the user. The billing information management unit 152 also print fee information set in association with various parameters (number of documents, number of copies, paper size, monochrome / color, post-processing settings, etc.) relating to printing processing executed in the copier 100. Is managing.

  The coin vendor unit 154 accepts cash payment from the user. Further, the prepaid card reading unit 155 reads information indicating the remaining amount recorded on the prepaid card from the prepaid card inserted by the user. The balance information managed by the billing information management unit 152 indicates the amount inserted by the user in the coin vendor unit 154 or the remaining amount based on the information read by the prepaid card reading unit 155.

  The credit card reading unit 156 reads information recorded on the credit card inserted by the user. When paying a printing fee using a credit card, the credit card company is charged for the printing fee by connecting to the Internet via the communication unit 157. Note that the copying machine I / F 153 may also function as the communication unit 157.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the multifunction peripheral 100 (the scanner 130 and the printer 140). The document conveying section 131 of the scanner 130 conveys the documents one by one from the top to the platen glass 211 and discharges the documents on the platen glass 211 after the document reading operation is completed. When the document is conveyed onto the platen glass 211, the lamp 212 is turned on, and the optical unit 213 moves to scan the document for exposure. Reflected light from the original is guided to the CCD image sensor 218 by mirrors 214, 215 and 216 and a lens 217.

  Image data output from the CCD image sensor 218 is transferred to the control unit 110. An image processing unit 222 processes image data output from the CCD image sensor 218 and outputs it as a print signal.

  The laser driver 224 of the printer 140 drives the laser light emitting units 220, 221, 222, and 223 to emit laser light based on the image data output from the control unit 110. This laser beam is applied to the photosensitive drums 245, 246, 247, and 248 via mirrors 225 to 236. As a result, latent images corresponding to the laser beams are formed on the photosensitive drums 245, 246, 267, and 248, respectively.

  The printing paper fed from any of the paper cassettes 256 and 257 and the manual feed tray 259 is conveyed by the transfer belt 251 through the registration roller 250. Paper feeding from the paper cassettes 256 and 257 and the manual feed tray 259 is performed by the paper feeding roller 258 picking up printing paper one by one. Here, it is also possible to feed a recording medium such as an OHP sheet other than paper.

  The developer attached to the photosensitive drums 245, 246, 247, and 248 is transferred onto the printing paper conveyed by the transfer belt 251 at a timing synchronized with the start of laser beam irradiation. The printing paper onto which the developer has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing unit 252 where fixing processing using heat and pressure is performed.

  The printing paper that has passed through the fixing unit 252 is ejected by the ejection roller 253, and the paper ejection unit 260 bundles and sorts the ejected printing paper, or performs a stapling process on the sorted printing paper. In the present embodiment, a sensor is mounted at the location of the discharge roller 253 so that it can be detected that the paper has passed through the discharge roller 253.

  When duplex printing is designated, the printing paper is conveyed to the discharge roller 253, and then the rotation direction of the discharge roller 253 is reversed, and the printing paper is guided to the refeed conveyance path 255 by the flapper 254. The printing paper guided to the refeed conveyance path 255 is conveyed again by the transfer belt 251.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining charge calculation at the time of image input in the first embodiment.

  In S301, an image is input. In this embodiment, the image is input from the scanner 130 for copying. Of course, an image is input for printing from the host computer when the copying machine 100 is connected to the network, and an image is printed for printing from the memory medium when the copying machine 100 is equipped with a removable media I / F such as a USB memory. Input is also possible.

  In S302, the type of job such as copy or memory media print, color mode such as paper size, color black and white, etc. is determined for the input page, and the unit price of the page is determined by comparing with the accounting table shown in FIG. decide.

  In S303, the page unit price calculated in S302 is added to the required amount of the entire job.

  In S304, it is determined whether or not the input image is the last page. If it is not the last page, the process proceeds to S301, and the next image is input. When it is the last page, the image input is completed.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a billing table in the first embodiment.

  In this embodiment, the unit price varies depending on the type of job such as copying or printing, the color monochrome mode, and the large small paper size. By setting these unit prices, it is possible to collect a fine fee for each page.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an overcharge display function during printing in the first embodiment.

  In step S501, an image of one page is printed out.

  In S <b> 502, the billing server 150 deducts the amount corresponding to the unit price of the printed page. The page unit price is derived from the billing table shown in FIG. 4, but the unit price calculation result at the time of input described with reference to FIG. 3 may be held for each page.

  In S503, the amount collected in S502 is added to the collected amount of the entire job.

  In step S504, it is determined whether the printed page is the last page. If the printed page is not the last page, the process advances to step S501 to print the next page. If it is the last page, the process proceeds to S505.

  S501 to S504 are the flow of printing. If a jam occurs in the middle of this, a valid output image and an invalid output image are determined, and jam recovery is performed so that all images are printed as valid output images. In the case of double-sided printing, even if the printing result on one side is correct, if a jam occurs on the second side, one side that has already been printed is also judged to be invalid output although charges are collected in S502. Then, the first page is printed again at the time of jam recovery, and the fee is collected again for the unit price.

  In S505, the amount of excessive collection by double-sided jam recovery is calculated. From the collected amount of the entire job actually collected in S501 to S504, the difference between the necessary amounts of the entire job calculated at the time of image input shown in FIG. 3 is the overcollected amount. Of course, the excessive collection amount may be obtained by adding the unit prices of invalid output images that have already been collected at the time of jam recovery.

  In S506, it is determined whether or not the setting for displaying the excessive collection amount is made. If the setting has been made, the process proceeds to S507. If the setting has not been made, the process proceeds to S508.

  In S507, the excessive collection amount is displayed on the operation unit 120. In the present embodiment, the screen shown in FIG. 6 is displayed.

  In S508, it is determined whether or not it is set to perform report print output of an excessive collection amount. If it is set to do so, the process proceeds to S509, and if it is not set to perform, the job ends.

  In S509, a report print is made of the excessive collection amount. In the present embodiment, the contents shown in FIG. 7 are printed.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an excessive collection amount display screen of the operation unit according to the first embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, the specification is such that when the job is completed, the necessary amount of the entire job and the excessive collection amount are displayed together with the job completion display.

  Reference numeral 601 displays a necessary amount for the entire job. This coincides with the required amount of the entire job calculated at the time of image input described in FIG.

  In 602, an excessive collection amount is displayed. The amount to be collected for the print output result is the amount displayed in 601, but since the amount obtained by adding 601 and 602 is actually collected by the billing server 150, it is necessary to return the excessive collection amount 602. There will be. The clerk refers to this display and returns the overcollected amount to the customer.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the output contents of the overcollected amount report print in the first embodiment.

  In this embodiment, report printing is automatically performed at the end of the job. The contents of the report print are the required amount of the entire job and the overcollected amount, but unlike the operation unit display, the amount of the amount is displayed according to the unit price. As a result, it is possible to understand the portion of the page where the fee is collected despite the invalid output.

(Second Embodiment)
In the first embodiment, it is assumed that the clerk repays the excessive collection amount to the customer at the end of the job and displays the overcollection amount at the end of the job. However, the clerk performs the jam processing. There are many. Therefore, in the second embodiment, after the jam processing is completed, before performing jam recovery, it is determined whether there is a page for which a fee is collected due to invalid output due to the current jam, and the amount is displayed. This makes it possible to know the amount to be returned to the store clerk.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an overcharge display function at the time of jam recovery in the second embodiment.

  In step S801, a paper jam occurs.

  In S <b> 802, the store clerk manually removes the jammed paper to perform jam processing.

  In step S803, it is detected that jam processing has been performed, and it is determined whether there is a page for which the charging server 150 has collected a charge despite invalid output for the current jam. By using the accounting table shown in FIG. 4 based on the size and color mode, the excessive collection amount for this jam is obtained.

  In step S804, it is determined whether or not the setting for displaying the excessive collection amount is made. If the setting has been made, the process proceeds to step S805. If the setting has not been made, printing is continued as it is.

  In step S <b> 805, the amount excessively collected at the current jam is displayed on the operation unit 120. In the present embodiment, the screen shown in FIG. 9 is displayed.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an excessive collection amount display screen of the operation unit at the time of jam recovery in the second embodiment.

  901 displays the total amount of charges collected by the billing server 150 in spite of invalid output in one jam. When a clerk performs jam processing, after the jam processing, it is possible to check the amount of money to be returned by this jam on this screen and return it on the spot.

100 Copier 110 Control Unit 111 CPU (Central Processing Unit)
112 HDD (Hard Disk Drive)
115 RAM
116 ROM
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 130 Scanner 140 Printer 150 Charge server 151 Control part 152 Charge information management part 154 Coin vendor part 155 Prepaid card reading part 156 Credit card reading part 157 Communication part

Claims (4)

  A printing unit that prints an image, a charging unit that charges the printing process executed by the printing unit, a display unit that displays a printing process status, and the like, and a jam occurred during the printing process In such a case, the overcharge management unit includes a surplus charge management unit that determines whether or not a sheet charged as jammed paper is charged by the charging unit, and calculates an excessive charge amount from a unit price of the surface. An image processing system characterized in that the excessive charge amount calculated by the step is displayed on the display means.   The overcharge management unit adds the overcharge amount to the jam that occurred during a series of print processes, and displays the overcharge amount for the entire series of print processes on the display unit when the series of print processes is completed. The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein:   The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the overcharge management unit displays an excessive charge amount overcharged for the jam at the end of the jam processing on the display unit.   The overcharge management unit adds the overcharge amount to a jam that occurs during a series of print processes, and prints the overcharge amount for the entire series of print processes when the series of print processes is completed. The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein: