JP2016014760A - Image forming apparatus, control method of image forming apparatus, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus that includes a billing device, and allows a user who uses the billing device to use the device, even when a user who has logged in to the apparatus with an ID has left the apparatus while being logged in to the apparatus.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus sets in advance a first log-out timing according to the state of a job, determines whether or not a user who has logged in to the apparatus is a user not requiring billing, when determined that the user is a user not requiring billing, and receives a second log-out timing from the user before receiving the settings of a job and sets the received log-out timing. The image forming apparatus controls, after the start of the job is instructed, the user to log out at the received second log-out timing, and the user requiring billing to log out at the set first log-out timing.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of collecting a charged fee, a control method for the image forming apparatus, and a program.

In an image forming apparatus installed in a public facility such as a convenience store or a library, a charging apparatus is connected to the image forming apparatus, and a mechanism that allows a copy job to be executed by paying a fee to the charging apparatus is general.
However, when an installer, owner, or employee uses such an image forming apparatus connected to a charging device, first, after the work of invalidating the charging and fee collection functions of the charging device, the image forming The device was used, and after the use, the work of resuming the billing and fee collection functions of the billing device was performed again.

In order to improve this time-consuming usability, an operation form called semi-public has begun to be examined. For example, in a learning school, students use the image forming apparatus while paying a fee by logging in to the image forming apparatus through a charging apparatus. This is a public usage pattern.
On the other hand, the cram school teacher logs in by authentication from the operation unit without going through the charging device, and uses the image forming apparatus as an ID user without paying a fee. This is a non-public usage pattern. In this way, the semi-public operation mode effectively utilizes one image forming apparatus in two usage modes, public and non-public.

Conventionally, in the semi-public operation mode, when a plurality of coin users are individually authenticated, and there is a balance in the billing device, work related to fishing is performed by storing and storing the balance as an available balance of the identified coin user And technologies to avoid confusion.
(See Patent Document 1).

JP 2012-159663 A

In the prior art, if the ID user leaves the image forming apparatus while logged in, the coin user cannot log in and cannot use the image forming apparatus because the apparatus cannot respond to the authentication code requested after the temporary sleep state. It is a problem that cannot be done.
Alternatively, there is a problem that the coin user simply gets on the login state of the ID user and uses the image forming apparatus, and cannot charge or collect charges.
The present invention has been made to solve the above problems. An object of the present invention is to enable effective use of an image forming apparatus by appropriately setting logout timing in accordance with each user in an image forming apparatus having a charging device that can be used by an ID user and a coin user. It is to provide a mechanism.

  The present invention is an image forming apparatus provided with a billing device, and includes a first logout setting unit that accepts and sets a first logout timing according to a job status, and a first user or billing by billing. Login means for accepting login from a second user who is not, judgment means for judging whether or not the user who accepted the login is the second user, Second logout setting means for accepting and setting a second logout timing for logging out from the user, and after the second user is instructed to start the job, at the second logout timing received, Control means for controlling the first user to log out at a set first logout timing. The features.

  According to the present invention, by appropriately setting the logout timing, the user does not leave the image forming apparatus without logging out after the job is completed, so that the image forming apparatus can be used effectively. Further, it is possible to prevent a coin user from impersonating an ID user.

1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming system. 1 is an external view showing an input / output device of an image forming apparatus. 3 is a detailed diagram of an operation unit device of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 3 is a login display screen of an operation unit of the image forming apparatus. 4 is a display screen for auto logout setting of an operation unit of the image forming apparatus. 6 is a flowchart illustrating login processing of the image forming apparatus. 6 is a display screen for logout timing setting of an operation unit of the image forming apparatus. 2 is a diagram illustrating a software configuration of an image forming apparatus. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating logout processing of the image forming apparatus. 6 is a display screen for logout timing setting of an operation unit of the image forming apparatus. 6 is a flowchart illustrating logout processing of the image forming apparatus.

The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a multi-function peripheral (MFP) as an example of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.
In FIG. 1, a controller 101 controls a multifunction peripheral device, and has a hardware configuration shown in FIG. The scanner 102 is a scanner engine and is controlled by the controller 101.

The printer engine 103 is, for example, a printer engine such as a laser beam printer, and a plurality of output recording media can be processed together by a finisher 104 controlled by the controller 101 and stapled.
The network interface 105 is, for example, an Ethernet (registered trademark) interface, and provides bidirectional communication through the interface to the controller 101, and can be connected to the personal computer 107 via the network. It is possible.

The operation unit 106 is a user interface, and includes, for example, an LCD display and a keyboard. The operation unit 106 displays information from the controller 101 and transmits instructions from the user to the controller 101.
The above-described image forming apparatus can use all functions from any interface of various networks (Ethernet, TCP / IP, etc.).
The charging device 108 is a device for collecting a fee charged to the user to use.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of the controller 101 of the present embodiment shown in FIG. In the controller 101, a CPU 201 is connected to a memory 202, a liquid crystal display 203 and a keyboard 204, a ROM (read-only storage medium) 210, a DISK (storage medium) 211, and the like that constitute the operation unit 106 via a bus 209. Yes.
Various programs and data are stored in a DISK 211 such as a hard disk, and are sequentially read into the memory 202 and executed by the CPU 201 as necessary. The DISK 211 may be detachable from the MFP or may be built in the MFP.

Further, the program may be downloaded from another MFP via a network and stored in the DISK 211.
Further, the memory 202 may be composed of both DRAM (volatile memory) and SRAM (nonvolatile memory) or may have both functions. Alternatively, the memory 202 may be exclusively responsible for the function of the volatile memory, and the DISK 211 may be responsible for the function of the nonvolatile memory, or a removable memory medium.

  The liquid crystal display 203 and the keyboard 204 constitute the operation unit 106 shown in FIG. The CPU 201 displays data through the liquid crystal display 203, reads a user operation instruction from the keyboard 204 or the touch panel of the liquid crystal display 203, and grasps the user instruction.

The input information is transferred and stored in any of the memory 202, the DISK 211, and the CPU 201, and used for various processes.
A network interface 205 is connected to the bus 209 and corresponds to the network interface 105 shown in FIG.
The CPU 201 performs communication using the interface, and reads and writes data through the interface.
In addition, a charging interface 212 is connected to the bus 209, and the charging device shown in FIG. 1 can be connected. The CPU 201 acquires data such as the balance from a billing interface connected to the billing device, writes an instruction to the billing device through the billing interface, and performs communication for collecting a fee.

  Further, a printer 206, a finisher 207, and a scanner 208 are connected to the bus 209. These correspond to the printer 103, the finisher 104, and the scanner 102 shown in FIG. 1, and the CPU 201 reads / writes data from / to each engine to perform engine operations such as printing and scanning. Moreover, CPU201 acquires the information which concerns on various statuses from them, and grasps those situations.

Image data is acquired from the scanner 208 or the network interface 205 and stored in the DISK 211 and the memory 202 of the controller 101.
It is also possible to store image data in the removable memory 202 in advance and attach the memory to the controller 101 to capture the image data.
Note that the printer 206, the finisher 207, and the scanner 208 may exist as individual peripheral devices on the network instead of inside the MFP, and the MFP controller 101 may control them.

  FIG. 3 shows an appearance of the MFP and an arrangement example of the input / output devices. The image input scanner unit 301 scans a CCD line sensor while illuminating an image on paper as a document, thereby acquiring electrical image data from the document placed on the scanner. From the electrically converted image data, color determination and size determination of the document are performed. An operation unit 303 described later is provided in front of the scanner unit 301.

  The printer unit 302 for image output is a part that converts image data into an image on paper, and prints and outputs it on paper, and performs subsequent staple binding, bookbinding folding processing, and the like. The start and stop of the printing operation is in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 201 of the controller. Under the printer unit 302, a tray for storing standard paper such as A4 size and A3 size is provided. The manual paper feed tray 304 is used for supplying thick paper or nonstandard paper.

FIG. 4 shows a detailed configuration of the operation unit 303. The liquid crystal display unit 401 has a touch panel sheet superimposed on the liquid crystal display screen to display a system operation screen and soft keys. When the displayed keys are pressed, the position information is transmitted to the controller CPU 201. To grasp the contents of user operation instructions.
A start key 402 is pressed when starting a document image reading operation. A green and red two-color LED 403 is embedded in the center of the start key 402, and the color of the start key 402 can indicate whether or not the start key 402 can be used effectively. A stop key 404 functions to stop an operation in progress.
The numeric keypad 405 is composed of a group of buttons of numbers and letters, and instructs setting of the number of copies and switching of the screen of the liquid crystal display unit 401. A user mode key 406 is pressed when device setting is performed.

FIG. 5 is an example of a login screen displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 401 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 201 of the controller. The login screen 501 displays an ID input box 502 and a password input box 503 that allow an ID user who is an ID owner to input an ID and password, and a login button 504 that is pressed after the input.
Further, a coping method screen 505 that prompts a user who does not have an ID, that is, a coin user, to insert a coin is displayed on a part of the same screen.

  On the other hand, data in a correspondence table of various IDs and passwords as shown in Table 1 is stored in either the memory 202 or the DISK 211 of the controller 101. If the ID and password input in the ID input box 502 and password input box 503 match the correspondence table data stored together, the login is approved and the image forming apparatus can be logged in. A user who has logged in with this approval is defined as an “ID user”.

When a fee such as coins is input to the billing device, login is possible without entering an ID or password. In this example, as shown in Table 1, a coin-inserted user is recognized as a user having a special ID “Coin”, and login is approved without a password. A user who logs in with this approval is defined as a “coin user”. Table 1 is an example of an ID / password correspondence table.

FIG. 6 is an example of a login time-out setting screen displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 401 in response to an instruction from the controller CPU 201. On the time-out time setting screen 601, there is a time-out time setting portion 602, and the time is entered by operating the cursor key 603 or the numeric keypad 405 of the operation portion 303 and pressing the OK key 604. To do. When canceling the setting, a cancel key 605 is pressed. Table 2 below shows a data structure used for setting the timeout time of the present invention. When the setting of the timeout time is completed on the timeout time setting screen 601, the time-out time data in Table 2 is updated. This data can be stored in either the memory 202 of the controller 101 or the DISK 211.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling the image forming apparatus. This example is a series of operation examples from logging in to logging out after elapse of the time set on the timeout time setting screen 601.
Each step with respect to the login process is realized by the CPU 201 reading information stored in the DISK 211 such as a hard disk sequentially into the memory 202 as necessary.

In step (hereinafter abbreviated as “S”) 701, the CPU 201 accepts login. Specifically, the login is accepted when the login button 504 on the login screen 501 shown in FIG. 5 is pressed or when a predetermined amount of coins is inserted into the charging apparatus 108.
In step S <b> 702, the CPU 201 determines whether login is performed using a user ID and password or login based on coin insertion. When it is determined that the login is made by pressing the login button 504, it is determined that the login is based on the ID. Otherwise, the login is determined based on the coin insertion.

If it is determined that the login is based on the ID, in step S703, the CPU 201 acquires the ID input in the ID input box 502 and the password input in the password input box, and displays the table registered in the DISK 211. A combination list of the user ID and password of 1 is acquired.
In step S <b> 704, the CPU 201 determines whether there is a matching combination of the input user ID and password in the registered combination list. If the CPU 201 determines that there is no match, the process returns to S701. If the CPU 201 determines that there is a match, the ID user login is approved in step S705.

If it is determined in S702 that the login is due to coin insertion, in S708, the CPU 201 sets the login ID to “Coin” and approves the login.
In step S706, the CPU 201 determines whether the time set on the operation screen in FIG. 6 has elapsed since the last action. If the CPU 201 determines that the time has not elapsed, the determination in S706 is repeated. If the CPU 201 determines that the time has elapsed, in S707, the CPU 201 logs out the logged-in user in S701, thereby processing the time-out logout. To do.

FIG. 8 is a display screen of the liquid crystal display unit 401 instructed to be displayed by the controller CPU 201 in response to pressing of the user mode key 406, and is a UI screen for setting the logout timing for each login user. On the logout setting screen 801 for each login user, there are provided a logout timing setting unit 802 for ID users and a logout timing setting unit 803 for coin users.
The logout timing of the ID user holding the ID card can be selected from “when scanning is completed”, “when the start button is pressed”, “when printing is completed”, and the like.
The logout timing of a coin user who logs in using the charging device 108 can be set to “when the amount is fixed”, “when printing is completed”, “when the balance becomes 0”, and the like.
On the UI screen, the logout timing setting is determined by pressing the OK key 805. If it is desired to cancel the setting, the cancel key 804 is pressed.

Table 3 below shows a data structure used for logout timing setting according to the present invention.
When the setting process is completed on the logout setting screen 801 for each login user, the logout timing in Table 3 is updated.
Table 3 shows an example of logout timing for each user. In this example, the logout timing of the ID user is set to “at the end of scanning”, and the logout timing of the coin user is set to “at the end of printing”, which are stored in the DISK 211. This data can be stored in either the memory 202 of the controller 101 or the DISK 211.

FIG. 9 shows the overall software configuration of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.
The UI control unit 900 controls display, and receives operation instructions from the user, and transmits work instructions to various application units.
In response to an instruction from the UI control unit, the copy application unit 901 executes a copy operation, a transmission operation, scanning from the box screen, and printing.
A PDL (Page Description Language) application unit 905 receives PDL print data from the network application 904 and executes a PDL print job.
In addition, the application unit includes a transmission application unit 902 and a box application unit 903.

The common interface 906 is used to eliminate device dependency that can be controlled or cannot be controlled depending on the device in controlling connected devices.
The job manager 907 organizes the job information received from the common interface 906 and transmits the job information to the lower-level document processing unit.
In the document processing unit, for example, for copying, the scan manager 908 and the print manager 909 operate to perform processing.
If the job is a transmission job, the scan manager 908 and the file store manager 910 operate to perform processing. If it is a reception job, the file read manager 911 and the print manager 909 operate to perform processing.

For PDL print jobs such as LIPS and PostScript, which are examples of page description languages, the PDL manager 912 and the print manager 909 operate to perform processing.
The image manager 913 performs image processing at the time of scanning and printing and storage of image files. The sync manager 914 synchronizes the document managers and mediates image processing to the image manager 913 that performs image processing.
The analysis application 915 analyzes the job file output from the PDL application 905, edits it, and submits the job to the common interface.
Each manager of these lower-level document processing units can detect and notify the end of scanning or the end of printing.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. Each step of this example is realized by the CPU 201 sequentially reading information stored in the DISK 211 such as a hard disk into the memory 202 as necessary. In this embodiment, a case where a copy job is set will be described.
Further, the logout flow process is executed in such a manner that the logout flow process is inserted into the A part after login in the flowchart (see FIG. 7) relating to the login process of the image forming apparatus.
In step S1001, the CPU 201 acquires the logout timing in Table 3 set on the logout setting screen 801 for each login user. In the flow shown in FIG. 7, the timing of the coin user is acquired if the authenticated user ID is Coin, and the timing of the ID user is acquired otherwise.

In step S <b> 1002, the CPU 201 waits for the start key 402 to be pressed. When the start key 402 is pressed, the CPU 201 starts a job set by the operation unit 106. In step S1003, the CPU 201 confirms the logout timing acquired in step S1001, and determines whether the timing is when the start key 402 is pressed. If the CPU 201 determines that the logout timing is when the start button is pressed, since the start key 402 has already been pressed, in S1011, the logout process for the user who has logged in in S701 is executed and the process ends.
On the other hand, if the CPU 201 determines that the logout timing is not when the start button is pressed, a scan process is performed on a document (not shown), and the CPU 201 determines the end of scanning in step S1004. When the scan is completed, in step S1005, the CPU 201 determines the logout timing acquired in step S1001, and determines whether the logout timing is a scan end time. If the CPU 201 determines that the logout timing is at the end of scanning, the CPU 201 logs out in step S1011 and ends the process.

If the CPU 201 determines that the logout timing is not at the end of scanning, in step S1006, the CPU 201 confirms the logout timing acquired in step S1001 and determines whether the logout condition is when the amount is fixed.
If the CPU 201 determines that the logout timing is when the amount is confirmed, the amount is confirmed at the end of scanning, so the CPU 201 logs out in S1011 and ends the process. If the CPU 201 determines that the logout timing is not when the amount is fixed, the printing process is started in step S1007.

When the print process is started, in step S1008, the CPU 201 confirms the logout timing acquired in step S1001 and determines whether the logout timing is “no balance”. Here, the CPU 201 confirms the balance remaining in the charging apparatus 108, and if the CPU 201 determines that there is no balance, in step S1011, the CPU 201 executes logout processing for the user who has logged in in step S701 and ends.
On the other hand, if the CPU 201 determines that the logout timing is not “no balance” in step S1008, the CPU 201 determines in step S1009 whether the print processing is completed. If the CPU 201 determines that the print process has not ended, the CPU 201 repeats the process from S1008. If the CPU 201 determines that the print process is complete, the CPU 201 confirms the logout timing acquired in step S1010, and determines whether the logout timing is “when printing is completed”. If the CPU 201 determines that “printing is finished”, the logout process is executed in step S1011 and the process ends. On the other hand, if the CPU 201 determines that it is not at the end of printing, the processing is continued.

  As described above, the logout timing can be set for the job status, so that the user can logout without having to press the logout button after the job is finished. Therefore, it is possible to avoid a state where the image forming apparatus is occupied while logged in, and even in a semi-public operation mode in which a specific user and a general user are identified and used, The accounting process can be executed in accordance with the usage mode of the image forming apparatus.

Furthermore, since it is possible to set different logout timings for the ID user and the coin user, the ID user can log out immediately after the end of scanning and set the image forming apparatus to be released.
For a coin user who uses the billing device 108, it is possible to make detailed settings such as making it possible to visually confirm that the payment for the fee payment is surely performed without logging out until the print output is completed. Can be further improved.

[Second Embodiment]
Hereinafter, a second embodiment for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 11 is an example of a screen for resetting the logout timing displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 401 according to an instruction from the CPU 201 when the ID user logs in.
On the screen 1101 for resetting the logout timing, there are a resetting unit 1102 for logout timing of the ID user and a setting unit 1103 for the number of job executions executed during login.
On the screen 1101 for resetting the logout timing, options that can be set by the ID user logout timing setting unit 802 are displayed in a list. The options that coincide with the logout timing acquired from the data structure of Table 3 are displayed at the same time with a triangle mark so that they can be identified as the current information that has already been set.

The ID user uses this screen to recognize the currently set logout timing when logging in. If it is determined that it is difficult to execute the job under the same conditions, the logout timing can be changed.
Furthermore, when executing a plurality of jobs, the number of jobs to be executed during login can be input and set in order to save the trouble of logging out and logging in again at the end of the first job scan. The job execution number setting unit 1103 inputs the number of job executions as a numerical value. A numerical value may be input directly by using the numeric keypad 405 of the operation unit 303, or may be input by incrementing or decrementing a value such as “2”, which is initially set, with an increase / decrease key.

Table 4 below shows a data structure used in resetting the logout timing according to the present invention.
When the setting process is completed on the logout timing resetting screen 1101, the presence / absence of resetting, the logout timing, and the number of job executions in Table 3 are updated.
If the OK button is pressed without any change, the CPU 201 determines that there is no resetting. When the change is made and the OK button is pressed, the CPU 201 determines that there is a reset, and updates the logout timing and the number of jobs of the ID user. This data can be stored in either the memory 202 or the DISK 211 of the controller 101.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. This example is an example of logout processing. Each step is realized by the CPU 201 reading information stored in the DISK 211 such as a hard disk sequentially into the memory 202 as necessary.
Also, the logout flow process of this example is executed by inserting it into the A part after the login of the flowchart relating to the login process of the image forming apparatus (see FIG. 7), and at the beginning of the logout process flowchart (see FIG. 10). Takes over to part B.
When S705 (ID user login) or S708 (coin user login) in the flowchart of FIG. 7 ends, in S1200, the CPU 201 determines whether or not the ID user is logged in. If it is determined that the login is not by an ID user, the process is exited. If the CPU 201 determines that the login is an ID user, in step S1201, the CPU 201 displays the logout timing resetting screen 1101 illustrated in FIG. After this screen is closed by pressing the OK button 1104, in step S1202, the CPU 201 determines whether or not the logout timing has been changed with reference to the data structure resetting column shown in Table 4. If the CPU 201 determines that no change has been made, the process ends.

On the other hand, if the CPU 201 determines that the change has been made in S1201, the CPU 201 determines whether a value greater than 1 is set in the job number column of Table 4 in S1203. Here, since the CPU 201 executes a plurality of jobs when it is determined that the value is larger than 1, the CPU 201 performs the processing from S1205 so as not to log out at the end of the job other than the last job.
In step S1205, the CPU 201 determines whether or not the job has been started. If the CPU 201 determines that the job has not started, in step S1207, the CPU 201 passes the time shown in Table 1 from the last operation. Or whether the time shown in Table 1 has elapsed since the end of the job. If it is determined that the CPU 201 has elapsed, in step S1208, the CPU 201 logs out and ends the process. On the other hand, if the CPU 201 determines that it has not elapsed, the CPU 201 returns to S1205 and repeats the processing.

If the CPU 201 determines in step S1205 that the job has started, the CPU 201 determines in step S1206 whether the job is the last job. If the CPU 201 determines that the job is not the last job, the process returns to step S1205. On the other hand, if the CPU 201 determines that it is the last job, the CPU 201 temporarily replaces the logout timing of the ID user in Table 3 with the logout timing of the ID user in Table 4 in S1204.
Since this replacement is a temporary measure, when this flow process ends, the CPU 201 immediately returns the replaced value to the end.
When the process of S1204 ends, the flow process is taken over by the B part at the beginning of the logout process flowchart (see FIG. 10).

As described above, when the logout timing set by default is inconvenient for a job performed by an ID user who has actually logged in, the logout timing can be temporarily changed. Convenience has improved.
In addition, since it is possible to set the number of jobs to be logged in and executed in response to executing multiple jobs, there is no need to log out in the state of the first job, and there is no need to log in for each job. In addition, convenience is improved.

  Further, when a plurality of jobs are input, even if the user leaves the office without executing the job, the logout due to the time-out operates so that a specific user does not occupy the image forming apparatus while logged in.

(Other examples)
The present invention can also be realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or apparatus reads the program. It is a process to be executed.
Further, the present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device.
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications (including organic combinations of the embodiments) are possible based on the spirit of the present invention, and these are excluded from the scope of the present invention. is not. That is, the present invention includes all the combinations of the above-described embodiments and modifications thereof.

106 Operation unit 108 Billing device

Claims (9)

A first logout setting means for accepting and setting a first logout timing according to the job status;
Login means for accepting login from a first user who is charged or a second user who is not charged;
Determining means for determining whether the user who accepted the login is the second user;
If it is determined that the user is the second user, a second logout setting unit configured to accept and set a second logout timing for logging out from the second user;
After the second user is instructed to start the job, the second user is logged out at the second logout timing received, and the first user is logged out at the set first logout timing. Control means for controlling;
An image forming apparatus comprising:   The image according to claim 1, wherein the login from the second user is a login that is approved when an ID and a password input by the user match a registered ID and password. Forming equipment.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the login from the first user is a login approved by inputting a fee to the charging apparatus.   The second logout setting means simultaneously displays the first logout timing and second logout timing options already set for the second user, and accepts the second logout timing. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is set.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second logout setting unit further includes a setting unit for the number of jobs executed during the login.   6. The second logout timing for logging out from the second user includes any one of when a start button is pressed, when scanning is completed, or when printing is completed. 2. The image forming apparatus according to item 1.   4. The first logout timing set for the first user includes any of when the amount is fixed, when printing is completed, or when there is no balance. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. A method for controlling an image forming apparatus including a charging device,
A first logout setting step for accepting and setting a first logout timing according to the job status;
A login step for accepting login from a first user who is charged or a second user who is not charged;
A determination step of determining whether the user who has accepted the login is the second user;
If it is determined that the user is the second user, a second logout setting step for accepting and setting a second logout timing for logging out from the second user;
After the second user is instructed to start the job, the second user is logged out at the second logout timing received, and the first user is logged out at the set first logout timing. A control process to control;
An image forming apparatus control method comprising:   A program for causing a computer to execute the control method for an image forming apparatus according to claim 8.

Images