JP2013076747A - Image forming system, image forming apparatus, and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the convenience of a system configured such that one of a plurality of image forming apparatuses is used by a user who has selected it and paid for it.SOLUTION: The image forming system has the plurality of image forming apparatuses each of which can be used for a price paid in a respective money input device connected to it. Based on an instruction given by an operator, the first image forming apparatus among the image forming apparatuses transmits price information indicating the remainder of the price paid in the first price input device, connected to itself, to the second one other than the first one among the image forming apparatuses. The second image forming apparatus receives an input of a job corresponding to the remainder of the price indicating the price information received from the first image forming apparatus.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that requires payment for use, an image forming system having a plurality of such image forming apparatuses, and a computer program for the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, and an MFP (Multi-functional Peripheral) having the functions of these devices.

  Copiers that can be used by unspecified customers for a fee are installed in various stores such as convenience stores. In recent years, office services have also been provided that open various functions of MFP for a fee. In a store that provides such a paid service, a billing coin vendor is connected to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or an MFP, and a user of the service inserts money into the coin vendor or reads a prepaid card. Or pay a fee. The coin vendor transmits deposit information to the image forming apparatus and outputs change as necessary. In a store where a plurality of image forming apparatuses are installed, generally, a coin vendor is individually connected to each image forming apparatus so that all the image forming apparatuses can be used independently and simultaneously.

  As a prior art related to a system having a plurality of image forming apparatuses, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, when a printer failure occurs during printing, a print job is transferred to another printer on the network. There is a technique for continuing execution of a print job.

  Patent Document 2 describes that right information (electronic information), which is a proof of the right to use a service, is transferred between apparatuses. Patent Document 2 discloses a communication system that uses an encryption key to safely and easily move right information.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-314438 JP 2006-295519 A

  After a user (customer) of a service providing a plurality of image forming apparatuses inserts money into a coin vendor associated with one image forming apparatus A to be used for payment, the image forming apparatus A for some reason. There may be situations where it is desired to use another image forming apparatus B instead. For example, a situation may be considered in which the user has realized that the image forming apparatus A that has already received a payment is a monochrome copying machine instead of a color copying machine, even though he wants to make a color copy. Further, there may be a situation where an error that cannot be dealt with by the user (customer), such as toner or paper running out during copying of a plurality of sheets, has occurred.

  Conventionally, in order to change the image forming apparatus after depositing, (1) a refund (change) button provided in a coin vendor is pressed, (2) the returned money is taken out from the return slot, and (3) The user must confirm the return amount and (4) move to a nearby image forming apparatus to be used again and re-insert money into the coin vendor. This series of operations is troublesome for the user.

  In view of such circumstances, an object of the present invention is to improve the convenience of a system in which a user selects one of a plurality of image forming apparatuses and pays a fee.

  A system that achieves the above object is an image forming system that includes a plurality of image forming apparatuses that accept a job for the amount of money deposited in a monetary input device connected thereto, and is a first of the plurality of image forming apparatuses. In accordance with an instruction from the operator, the first image forming apparatus displays money amount information indicating a remaining amount of money deposited in the first money input device connected to the first image forming apparatus among the plurality of image forming apparatuses. A money amount information transmitting unit that transmits to a second image forming apparatus that is not the first image forming apparatus is provided, and the second image forming apparatus indicates the money amount information received from the first image forming apparatus. A job management unit is provided that accepts input of a job for the remaining amount.

  According to the present invention, when changing the image forming apparatus to be used after paying the fee, it is possible to eliminate the trouble of returning and re-inserting money, and the user selects one of the plurality of image forming apparatuses. It is possible to improve the convenience of the system that pays and uses it.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus. FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of functions related to charging in an image forming apparatus. FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram illustrating an operation of the image forming system. It is a figure which shows an example of the operation screen at the time of error generation. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of an image forming apparatus that delivers money amount information to another image forming apparatus. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of an image forming apparatus that takes over money amount information from another image forming apparatus. It is a flowchart of the authentication process of FIG. It is a flowchart of the change output process A of FIG. It is a flowchart of the change output process B of FIG.

  An image forming system 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 is a system for a paid service in which a customer temporarily uses an image forming apparatus in a self-service format. The image forming system 1 is installed in a store operated by a service provider, and includes a plurality of image forming apparatuses 2 and 3 arranged at predetermined intervals. In the drawing, two image forming apparatuses 2 and 3 are depicted, but the number may be three or more. The image forming apparatuses 2 and 3 are both MFPs and can be used for various purposes including copying, facsimile communication, and e-mail transmission / reception. However, in the present embodiment, one image forming apparatus 2 can perform color printing and monochrome printing, whereas the other image forming apparatus 3 can perform monochrome printing but can perform color printing. It shall not be possible. These image forming apparatuses 2 and 3 are connected to a LAN (Local Area Network) 8 and are capable of mutual communication and access to the Internet 9.

  In the vicinity of the image forming apparatus 2, a vendor 4, which is a money input device for a user who wants to use the image forming apparatus 2 to pay a fee, is installed as an apparatus attached to the image forming apparatus 2. The vendor 4 has a coin slot 42, a return slot 44, and a display for displaying the amount of money to be inserted. The image forming apparatus 2 and the vendor 4 are connected by a cable 6. The vendor 4 notifies the image forming apparatus 2 of the input amount, and the image forming apparatus 2 instructs the vendor 4 to output change as necessary. . Similarly, a vendor 5 is installed in the vicinity of the image forming apparatus 3. The vendor 5 also has a coin slot 52, a return slot 54, and a display. The image forming apparatus 3 and the vendor 5 are connected by a cable 7, and communication for cooperative operation is performed between them.

  Note that the vendors 4 and 5 may be coin vendors that handle only coins, devices that can accept coins and banknotes, and devices that support payment by prepaid card or credit card. May be.

  FIG. 2 shows a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 2. The configuration of the image forming apparatus 2 and the configuration of the image forming apparatus 3 are basically the same. However, there are differences in colors that can be printed as described above. Since the configuration represented by blocks is substantially equal, FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the image forming apparatus 2 as a representative.

  The image forming apparatus 2 includes an operation panel 20, a main controller 21, an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) 22, an image scanner 23, an engine controller 24, a printer engine 25, a paper stacker 26, a facsimile unit 27, a communication interface 28, a storage 29, and An interface 30 for connection with the vendor 6 is provided.

  The operation panel 20 includes a touch panel 201. The touch panel 201 includes a display that displays an operation screen and a translucent touch input device that is in close contact with the display surface. The main controller 21 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 212 as a computer for executing control programs and various applications, a read only memory (ROM) 213 for storing control programs, and an S-RAM (Static) serving as a work area for executing programs. Random Access Memory) 215 and a battery-backed NV-RAM (non-volatile memory) 216 for storing operation setting values. The ADF 22 has a document table, and conveys a document sheet set on the document table to a reading position of the image scanner 23 in copying, image input, or facsimile transmission. The ADF 22 includes a sensor 221 that detects the presence or absence of a document sheet at each of the document table, the document discharge tray, and the reading position of the image scanner 23. The image scanner 23 optically reads image information recorded on the document sheet. The engine controller 24 controls the operation of the printer engine 25. The printer engine 25 prints a monochrome or color image by electrophotography on one or both sides of the paper supplied from the multistage paper stacker 26. The facsimile unit 27 is responsible for data processing for facsimile transmission / reception using a telephone line (not shown) or the LAN 8. The communication interface 28 connects the image forming apparatus 2 to the LAN 8. The storage 29 is a mass storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD). The storage 29 is provided with a memory area as a medium for storing control data including screen data for displaying a control program and an operation screen. A program related to charging is also stored in the storage 19 and loaded into the work area as necessary.

  FIG. 3 shows a configuration of functions related to charging in the image forming apparatus 2 and the image forming apparatus 3 having such a hardware configuration. As shown in FIG. 3, the image forming apparatus 2 and the image forming apparatus 3 have the same function configuration related to charging. That is, each of the image forming apparatus 2 and the image forming apparatus 3 functions as a device (referred to as a “transfer source”) that delivers the right to use the remaining amount of the deposit amount to another image forming device, And a function as a device (hereinafter referred to as “transfer destination”) that takes over the right of use from the image forming apparatus. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 2 and the image forming apparatus 3 can exchange usage rights with each other.

  The components related to the function as the transfer source are a monetary information transmission unit 101, a withdrawal prohibition unit 103, a deposit prohibition unit 104, and a request request unit 105. The components related to both the function as the transfer source and the function as the transfer destination are the screen display unit 102 and the change output instruction unit 106. Components related to the function as the transfer destination are the job management unit 107 and the status notification unit 108. All of these components related to the function as one or both of the transfer source and the transfer destination are realized by the CPU 212 as a computer in the main controller 21 executing a program. The broken line arrows in FIG. 3 indicate the cooperation of the components when the right to use is transferred from the image forming apparatus 3 to the image forming apparatus 2. Hereinafter, the functions of the components shown in FIG. 3 will be described with reference to sequence diagrams and flowcharts.

  The operation shown in the sequence diagram of FIG. 4 is an operation when the right to use is transferred. In the example, the image forming apparatus 3 capable of monochrome printing is the transfer source, and the image forming apparatus 2 capable of color printing is the transfer destination. In the illustration of FIG. 4, the behavior of the paid service user (that is, the user who temporarily uses the image forming system 1) and the operation of the image forming system 1 associated therewith are as follows.

  A user puts predetermined money into a vendor 5 associated with the image forming apparatus 3 in order to use the image forming apparatus 3. The vendor 5 receives the deposit (S1) and notifies the image forming apparatus 3 of the deposit amount (S2). The job management unit 101 of the image forming apparatus 3 accepts a job designation operation on the operation panel 20 (S3). If it is normal, a job is designated and the job is executed in response to the subsequent start operation (S4). However, this is not always the case. For example, the following situation can be considered.

  While a job is specified as usual and the job is being executed, an error state may occur where toner or paper is insufficient. As another situation, there is a case where a user who desires color copying notices that the image forming apparatus 3 cannot specify a color copy job at the time of specifying a job and intends to use another image forming apparatus. is there. In these cases, the user can transfer the usage right for the remaining amount obtained by subtracting the charged amount from the input amount to another image forming apparatus. For this purpose, operation buttons (not shown) are arranged on the operation panel 20. If an error occurs, the screen display unit 102 displays the operation screen W1 shown in FIG. 5 on the display of the touch panel 201 (S5). The operation screen W1 of FIG. 5 includes a message 91 for asking the user whether to use another image forming apparatus with the balance and selection buttons 95 and 96 for “Yes” and “No”. When the “Yes” selection button 95 is pressed, the image forming apparatus 3 shifts to a mode in which the right to use the remaining amount is transferred to another image forming apparatus without returning the remaining amount.

  Returning to FIG. 4, in the mode for transferring the usage right, the image forming apparatus 3 detects a transfer destination candidate that can be linked to the network in the image forming system 1, and the screen display unit 102 displays the transfer destination candidate list. It is displayed on the display (S6). When the user selects a transfer destination (here, the image forming apparatus 2), the screen display unit 102 displays a predetermined screen and prompts the user to input a password (PW) (S7). When the password is input and the start of transfer is instructed, the amount information transmission unit 101 transfers the remaining amount of the amount received to the image forming apparatus 3 and the amount information 75 indicating the input password. The image is transmitted to the previous image forming apparatus 2 (S8). As a result, the right to use the balance is transferred from the image forming apparatus 3 to the image forming apparatus 2, so that the user receives the balance from the vendor 5 (of course, if the charge amount is 0, it is equal to the input amount). The withdrawal prohibition unit 103 instructs the vendor 5 to prohibit withdrawal (refund) (S9), and the vendor 5 enters a withdrawal prohibited state (S10).

  On the other hand, in the image forming apparatus 2 (transfer destination) that has received the money amount information 75, the screen display unit 102 displays a password input screen on the display (S11). The transfer destination job management unit 107 collates the input password and the password indicated by the amount information 75 (S12). If the two match, the operator is regarded as a regular user and the amount information 75 indicates Accepts operations to submit jobs for the remaining amount. When an appropriate job whose billing amount is within the remaining amount is specified, the job management unit 107 transmits the job to a controller that controls job execution. Thereafter, the job is executed in response to the start operation (S13). In this embodiment, since change may be output from the vendor 5 attached to the transfer source image forming apparatus 3, the transfer destination status notification unit 108 notifies the transfer source of the execution of the job (S14). Upon receipt of this notification, the transfer prohibition unit 104 of the transfer source instructs the vendor 5 to prohibit the deposit (S15), and the vendor 5 enters the deposit prohibition state (S16). Accordingly, it is possible to prevent other users from putting money into the vendor 5 in an attempt to use the image forming apparatus 3 as the transfer source while the job is being executed at the transfer destination.

  When a job is being executed at the transfer destination, the transfer source image forming apparatus 3 detects the presence or absence of a document sheet based on the output of the sensor 221 (S17). When the original sheet remains, the user leaves the original sheet at the transfer source and uses the transfer destination image forming apparatus 2. In this case, in order for the user who has returned the document sheet to receive change at the transfer source, the request output unit 105 of the transfer source outputs the change output when the change needs to be output. The transfer destination is requested to make a request to (self) (S18).

  When the execution of the job is completed at the transfer destination, a billing process for checking whether or not change output is necessary is performed (S19). When it is necessary to output change, in principle, change is output from the destination vendor 4. This is because it is considered normal for the user to be near the transfer destination image forming apparatus 2. Accordingly, the change output instruction unit 106 of the transfer destination normally instructs the vendor 4 to output change (S20). Upon receiving the instruction, the vendor 4 outputs the change of the designated amount (S25), and notifies the image forming apparatus 2 of the completion of the refund after the output (S26).

  However, there may be a shortage of change in the transfer destination vendor 4. In this case, in response to the change output instruction from the image forming apparatus 2, the vendor 4 notifies the change shortage and invalidates the change output instruction (S21). When the vendor 4 is unable to output change, and when the change output request (S18) has been received in advance from the transfer destination as described above, the transfer output change instruction unit 106 of the transfer destination Is requested for change output (S22). Upon receiving the request, the transfer source change output instruction unit 106 instructs the transfer source vendor 5 to output change (S23). The vendor 5 outputs the specified amount of change (S24), cancels the input prohibition state, and accepts subsequent money insertion (S29). If change is output from the transfer destination vendor 4 or change is not required, a completion notification is transmitted from the transfer destination image forming apparatus 2 to the transfer source image forming apparatus 3 (S27). ). Receiving the completion notification, the image forming apparatus 3 gives a release instruction to the vendor 5 (S28). Thereby, the vendor 5 cancels the deposit prohibition.

  As described above, when the user of the image forming system 1 deposits money for one image forming apparatus, the money is initially charged without returning or re-inserting money. The corresponding use right can be exercised by another image forming apparatus. The example of FIG. 4 is an example in which the right to use is transferred from the image forming apparatus 3 to the image forming apparatus 2. However, as described above, the charging functions of the plurality of image forming apparatuses 2 and 3 of the image forming system 1 are the same. The right to use may be transferred from the image forming apparatus 2 to the image forming apparatus 3.

  The flowchart of FIG. 6 shows the operation when each of the image forming apparatuses 2 and 3 is a transfer source, and FIG. 7 shows the operation when each of the image forming apparatuses 2 and 3 is a transfer destination.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the image forming apparatuses 2 and 3 as transfer sources acquire payment information from vendors (vendor 4 or vendor 5) connected to the image forming apparatuses 2 and 3 (S31). The job management unit 107 accepts the input of the amount of the received money, and causes the execution unit corresponding to the job designated by the user to be executed (S32, S33). If an error occurs during job execution (YES in S34), the screen display unit 102 displays the above-described operation screen W1 on the display of the touch panel 201 (S35). If the user instructs to change the image forming apparatus that the user wants to use before or during the execution of the job (YES in S36), the image forming apparatuses 2 and 3 recognize transfer destination candidates through network communication (S37). When the user designates a transfer destination and sets a password (S38), the amount information transmission unit 101 transmits the remaining amount corresponding to the right to use and the amount information (billing information) 75 indicating the password to the transfer destination (S39). The withdrawal prohibition unit 103 instructs the transfer source vendor to prohibit withdrawal (S40).

  When a status notification indicating that “a job is being executed at the transfer destination” transmitted from the transfer destination is received (YES in S41), the deposit prohibition unit 104 instructs the transfer source vendor to prohibit the deposit (S42). When the sensor 221 detects the remaining of the original sheet (YES in S43), the change output instructing unit 106 transmits a notification (change request for change output request) to output change at the transfer source to the transfer destination (S44). . Then, the image forming apparatuses 2 and 3 as transfer sources wait for a change output request from the transfer destination (S45). When a change output request is received (YES in S45), the change output instructing unit 106 instructs the transfer source vendor to output the specified amount of change (S46).

  Next, as shown in FIG. 7, when the image forming apparatuses 2 and 3 as the transfer destination receive the money amount information 75 from the other image forming apparatus as the transfer source (YES in S51), the authentication process is executed (S52). ). When a job whose charged amount is within the range of the remaining amount indicated by the amount information 75 is submitted and executed (YES in S53), the status notification unit 108 notifies the transfer source that the job is being executed at the transfer destination. (S54). When the execution of the job is completed (YES in S55), the change output instructing unit 106 checks whether there is a change output request from the transfer source (S56). If there is no change output request (NO in S56), the change output instruction unit 106 executes change output processing A (S57), and if there is a change output request (YES in S56), a change output instruction unit. 106 executes a change output process B (S58).

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the authentication process of FIG. When the password is included in the amount information 75 from the transfer source (YES in S201), the screen display unit 102 displays a password input screen (not shown) on the touch panel 201 (S202). When the password input at the transfer destination matches the password included in the amount information 75 from the transfer source (YES in S203), the job management unit 107 uses the remaining amount indicated by the amount information 75 (job input) ) Is permitted (S204). If the password verification results do not match (NO in S203), the job management unit 107 rejects job submission (S206).

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the change output process A of FIG. The change output instructing unit 106, when the charge amount of the job executed at the transfer destination is smaller than the remaining amount indicated by the amount information 75, that is, when it is necessary to output change (YES in S701), the change destination vendor (vendor) 4 or the vendor 5) is instructed to output change (S702). When there is a response indicating that the withdrawal is not possible from the vendor that gave the instruction (YES in S703), the change output instructing unit 106 requests the change source to output change (S704). If no change output is required (NO in S701), the flow immediately returns to the flow of FIG.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the change output process B of FIG. When the change output instruction unit 106 needs to output change (YES in S801), the change output instructing unit 106 requests change output from the transfer source that has requested the change output request (S802). If no change output is required (NO in S801), the flow immediately returns to the flow of FIG.

  According to the above embodiment, when the change needs to be output, the change is output from the vendor attached to the last used image forming apparatus, not the vendor in which the user has invested money. The user can receive change without returning to the installation position of the image forming apparatus (transfer source) to be used or used first. If the vendor attached to the last used image forming apparatus is not in a state where change output is not possible, the user can receive change from the vendor attached to the image forming apparatus as the transfer source. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of a situation inconvenient for the user that the change cannot be delivered to the user due to a lack of change. Further, when the original sheet is left in the transfer source image forming apparatus, change can be received from a vendor attached to the transfer source image forming apparatus which has returned the original sheet.

  Since the withdrawal at the transfer source is prohibited while the job is being executed at the transfer destination of the usage right, there is no disadvantageous situation for the service provider that the refund is made even during charging. In addition, since the payment at the transfer source is prohibited while the job is being executed at the transfer destination, there is no inconvenience that another user mistakenly inputs money to the transfer source vendor.

  In the above-described embodiment, the transfer source (first image forming apparatus) and the transfer destination (second image forming apparatus) do not need to be adjacent to each other, and other image forming apparatuses are located between each other. The image forming apparatuses may include each other. When the transfer destination candidate list is displayed, only empty image forming apparatuses that are not used at that time may be listed. Change from the vendor of the transfer source when the user is expected to return to the transfer source installation location, including not only when the original sheet remains but also when the printed paper remains on the output tray. May be output.

  The right to use can be transferred one after another from the transfer destination image forming apparatus to another image forming apparatus until the remaining amount obtained by subtracting the charge amount for use from the initial deposit amount becomes zero. Alternatively, the number of transfers may be limited such that the transfer is performed only once.

  The image forming apparatuses 2 and 3 may be any of MFPs, copiers, printers, facsimile apparatuses, and other image forming apparatuses, and the image forming system 1 is of the same type as illustrated with only the MFP as an image forming apparatus. It may be configured by only the device, or may be configured by two or more types of devices such as a combination of an MFP and a copying machine. Since the system can be configured such that refund and change output are performed by a dedicated withdrawal machine connected to the image forming apparatuses 2 and 3, the vendors 4 and 5 may be any apparatus capable of at least depositing money. In addition, the hardware configuration, operation, and function of the image forming apparatuses 2 and 3 including the design of the operation screen W1 can be variously modified within the scope of the gist of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming system 2, 3 Image forming apparatus (1st image forming apparatus, 2nd image forming apparatus)
75 Amount information W1 Operation screen 101 Amount information transmission unit 102 Screen display unit 103 Withdrawal prohibition unit 104 Deposit prohibition unit 105 Request request unit 106 Change output instruction unit 107 Job management unit 108 Status notification unit 23 Image scanner 201 Touch panel (display)
221 sensor 29 storage

Claims (16)

An image forming system having a plurality of image forming apparatuses that accept a job for an amount of money deposited in a money input device connected to each of them,
The first image forming apparatus among the plurality of image forming apparatuses includes money amount information indicating a remaining amount of money deposited in the first money input device connected to the first image forming apparatus in accordance with an instruction from the operator. A money amount information transmitting unit that transmits to a second image forming apparatus that is not the first image forming apparatus among the plurality of image forming apparatuses;
The second image forming apparatus includes a job management unit that accepts input of a job for the remaining amount indicated by the amount information received from the first image forming device. The second image forming apparatus includes a change output instructing unit that instructs the second money input device connected thereto to output change when the charged amount of the input job is smaller than the remaining amount. The image forming system according to claim 1. The first image forming apparatus includes:
An image scanner that reads an image on a document sheet;
A sensor for detecting the presence or absence of the original sheet in the first image forming apparatus;
A request requesting unit for requesting a change output request to the second image forming apparatus when the sensor detects the sheet at a time after transmitting the amount information;
A change output instruction unit that receives the change output request from the second image forming apparatus and instructs the first money input device to output the change;
The second image forming apparatus includes:
If there is a change output request from the first image forming apparatus and the charged amount of the input job is less than the remaining amount, the change request is made to the first image forming apparatus. And a change output instruction unit for instructing the second money input device to output the change when the change output request is not requested and the charged amount of the input job is smaller than the remaining amount. The image forming system according to claim 1. 4. The first image forming apparatus includes a withdrawal prohibition unit that instructs the first money input device to prohibit withdrawal when the amount information is transmitted. 5. The image forming system described. The second image forming apparatus includes a status notification unit that notifies the first image forming apparatus of the execution of a submitted job whose billing amount is within the remaining amount.
5. The first image forming apparatus includes a deposit prohibiting unit that receives a notification from the second image forming apparatus and instructs the first money input apparatus to prohibit deposit. The image forming system according to any one of the above. In the first image forming apparatus, the amount information transmitting unit transmits a password designated by the operator together with the amount information to the second image forming apparatus,
In the second image forming apparatus, the job management unit requests the user to input the password, and the amount information indicated by the money amount information indicates only when the input password matches the password. The image forming system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a job input for a remaining amount is received. The first image forming apparatus displays on the display an operation screen for the operator to select whether or not to continue the job in another image forming apparatus when an error that interrupts the input job occurs. It has a screen display part to display,
In the first image forming apparatus, the money amount information transmission unit sends the money amount information to the second image forming apparatus when the continuation of the interrupted job is selected in a state where the operation screen is displayed. The image forming system according to any one of claims 1 to 6. The change output instruction unit in the second image forming apparatus requests the first image forming apparatus to output the change when the second money input device cannot respond to the change output instruction. ,
The image according to claim 2, wherein the change output instructing unit in the first image forming apparatus instructs the first money input apparatus to output the change in response to a request from the second image forming apparatus. Forming system. An image forming apparatus that accepts a job for an amount of money deposited in a money input device,
In accordance with an instruction from the operator, the money amount information indicating the remaining amount of the money deposited in the money input device is transmitted to another image forming apparatus that accepts the input of the job for the remaining amount indicated by the money amount information. Amount information sending part,
An image forming apparatus comprising: a withdrawal prohibition unit that instructs the money input device to prohibit withdrawal when the amount information transmission unit transmits the amount information. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a deposit prohibiting unit that receives a job execution notification from the other image forming apparatus and instructs the money input apparatus to prohibit the deposit. A screen display unit for displaying on the display an operation screen for the operator to select whether or not to continue the job in the other image forming apparatus when an error interrupting the submitted job occurs;
The money amount information transmitting unit transmits the money amount information to the other image forming apparatus when the continuation of the interrupted job is selected in a state where the operation screen is displayed. Image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus that accepts a job for an amount of money deposited in a money input device,
When the amount information indicating the remaining amount of the amount received from the other image forming apparatus and received from the other image forming apparatus is received, the job for the remaining amount indicated by the amount information is input. An image forming apparatus comprising: a job management unit that receives The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising: a change output instructing unit that instructs the money input device connected thereto to output change when the charged amount of the input job is smaller than the remaining amount. The job management unit requests the user to input a password, and the remaining amount indicated by the amount information is only when the input password matches the password transmitted from the other image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the input of a minute job is received. A computer program executed in an image forming apparatus that accepts a job for an amount of money deposited in a money input device,
In the computer that the image forming apparatus has,
In accordance with an instruction from the operator, the money amount information indicating the remaining amount of the money deposited in the money input device is transmitted to another image forming apparatus that accepts the input of the job for the remaining amount indicated by the money amount information. Processing,
When the amount information is transmitted, a process for instructing the money input device to prohibit withdrawal is executed. A computer program executed in an image forming apparatus that accepts a job for an amount of money deposited in a money input device,
In the computer that the image forming apparatus has,
A process of receiving money amount information indicating the remaining amount of money paid to the other image forming apparatus transmitted from the other image forming apparatus;
And a process of receiving input of a job for the remaining amount indicated by the amount information.

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