JP2017065118A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus collecting a fee in response to a print setting, capable of ensuring an advertisement effect when a usage fee is discounted on the basis of an advertisement.SOLUTION: An operation unit 11 displays an advertisement screen on which an advertisement based on advertisement data 142 and a quiz about the advertisement are displayed. A quiz processing unit 171 receives an input answer to the quiz and determines whether the answer is correct. A fee processing unit 172 reduces a fee in response to a print setting from a normal fee when the quiz processing unit 171 determines that the answer is correct.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that collects charges according to print settings.

  Some image forming apparatuses placed in stores or the like perform lottery for each copy, and reduce the usage fee when winning (for example, see Patent Document 1). If the usage fee of the image forming apparatus is reduced, the usage rate of the user can be increased, but it becomes a problem who bears the reduced amount of the fee. In view of this, a technique has been proposed in which an advertisement is displayed on a print setting screen or a printed matter so that the advertiser can bear the reduced amount so that the image forming apparatus can be used at a low cost (for example, see Patent Document 2). ).

JP 2005-74779 A JP 2002-133305 A

  However, the technique of Patent Document 2 has a problem that it cannot be confirmed whether or not the user has seen the advertisement, and the advertisement effect is not certain.

  This invention is made | formed in view of the said subject, and it aims at providing the technique which can solve the said subject.

An image forming apparatus according to the present invention is an image forming apparatus that forms an image when a charge corresponding to a print setting is input to a connected coin vendor, and a display unit that displays an advertisement and a quiz related to the advertisement; A quiz processing unit that receives an input of an answer to the quiz and determines whether or not the answer is correct, and when the quiz processing unit determines that the answer is correct, the charge according to the print setting is less than a normal charge. A discount fee processing unit is provided.
The display unit displays the advertisement and a quiz related to the advertisement a plurality of times, and the fee processing unit determines the fee according to the print setting when the quiz processing unit determines that the answer is correct a plurality of times. May be discounted from the normal charge multiple times.
The display unit displays the advertisement and a quiz related to the advertisement before the user is notified of the fee to be input to the coin vendor, and the fee processing unit determines that the answer is correct by the quiz processing unit. In such a case, the user may be notified of a discount fee obtained by discounting the fee according to the print setting from the normal fee.
The display unit displays the advertisement and a quiz related to the advertisement when the image formation is started, and the charge processing unit is configured to display the print setting when the quiz processing unit determines that the answer is correct. It is also possible to calculate a discount fee obtained by discounting the fee in accordance with the normal fee and refund the change through the coin vendor.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the technique which can ensure the advertising effect at the time of discounting a usage fee based on advertisement can be provided in the image forming apparatus which collects a charge according to a print setting.

1 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a flowchart showing a flow of image forming processing of the image forming system shown in FIG. 1. It is a display example of the advertisement screen displayed on the operation unit shown in FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a flow of image forming processing of the image forming system shown in FIG. 1.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that, in the following embodiments, the same reference numerals are given to configurations showing similar functions.

  Referring to FIG. 1, an image forming system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an image forming apparatus 1 that forms an image when a fee is paid according to print settings, and a coin vendor 2 that is charged a fee. ing.

  The image forming apparatus 1 is a multifunction machine having a copying function, a scanner function, and the like. The image forming apparatus 1 includes an operation unit 11, a communication unit 12, a document reading unit 13, a storage unit 14, an image processing unit 15, a printing unit 16, and a control unit 17.

  The operation unit 11 is provided with a display unit and operation buttons. The user operates the operation unit 11 and inputs an instruction to perform various settings of the image forming apparatus 1 and execute various functions such as image formation. The display unit displays the state of the image forming apparatus 1, displays the image forming status and the number of copies, and accepts various settings such as functions such as double-sided printing and black-and-white reversal, magnification setting, and density setting as a touch panel. The operation buttons include a start button used when starting image formation, a stop / clear button used when stopping image formation, and a reset button used when setting various settings of the image forming apparatus 1 to default states. A numeric keypad is provided.

  The document reading unit 13 emits light to a document fed by a document feeder (not shown) or a document placed on a platen glass by a user, and receives reflected light or the like to form a document image. It is a scanner that reads.

  The storage unit 14 is a storage unit such as a semiconductor memory or an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and is a storage unit that stores image data read by the document reading unit 13. In addition, the storage unit 14 stores a fee table 141 according to print settings, and advertisement data 142 for displaying a quiz format advertisement screen on the operation unit 11. The advertisement data 142 may be stored in an external server connected to the image forming apparatus 1 or may be distributed from the external server to the image forming apparatus 1 and displayed as an advertisement screen on the operation unit 11.

  The communication unit 12 has a function of transmitting / receiving various data to / from the coin vendor 2 via the network. The communication unit 12 may have a function of transmitting and receiving image data designated by the user via the Internet network.

  The image processing unit 15 is means for performing predetermined image processing on the image data. In the image processing unit 15, for example, image improvement processing such as enlargement / reduction processing, density adjustment, and gradation adjustment is performed.

  The printing unit 16 is a printing unit that prints based on the image data stored in the storage unit 14. For example, the printing unit 16 forms a latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum based on the image data read from the storage unit 14, performs image formation using the latent image as a toner image with toner, and records from the photosensitive drum. The toner image is transferred onto the paper, and the toner image is fixed onto the recording paper and discharged.

  The control unit 17 is connected to each of the operation unit 11, the communication unit 12, the document reading unit 13, the storage unit 14, the image processing unit 15, and the printing unit 16, and displays an image according to predetermined instruction information input from the operation unit 11. Operation control of the entire forming apparatus 1 is executed. The control unit 17 is an information processing unit such as a microcomputer including a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like. The ROM stores a control program for controlling the operation of the image forming apparatus 1. The control unit 17 reads out a control program stored in the ROM and develops the control program in the RAM, thereby controlling the entire apparatus according to predetermined instruction information input from the operation unit 11.

  The control unit 17 functions as a quiz processing unit 171, a fee processing unit 172, and a print processing unit 173.

  The quiz processing unit 171 has a function of determining whether or not the answer inputted by the user is correct via the quiz advertisement screen displayed on the operation unit 11. Although it is not displayed on the advertisement screen, the advertisement data 142 includes a correct answer, and the quiz processing unit 171 refers to the advertisement data 142 to determine whether the answer input by the user is correct. Can do.

  When the print setting is set by the user, the charge processing unit 172 calculates a charge according to the print setting with reference to the charge table 141, notifies the user and the coin vendor 2 and pays the user a charge. Have. The fee processing unit 172 has a function of discounting the fee from the normal fee when the user correctly answers the quiz on the advertisement screen displayed on the operation unit 11.

  For example, in the charge table 141, it is assumed that the normal charge for print settings for monochrome copying on A4 paper is 10 yen per sheet. If the quiz processing unit 171 determines that the answer is correct, the fee processing unit 172 notifies, for example, a discount of 1 yen from the normal fee, for 9 yen per sheet. The discount contents of the fee processing unit 172 can be set by the administrator user via the operation unit 11. For example, a discount rate can be specified, or a copy can be made free of charge.

  The print processing unit 173 has a function of executing printing according to print settings via the printing unit 16 when the fee notified by the fee processing unit 172 is input to the coin vendor 2.

  The coin vendor 2 includes a depositing unit 21, a refunding unit 22, a communication unit 23, and a control unit 24.

  The depositing unit 21 has a function of receiving and managing deposits using coins, bills, prepaid cards, and the like.

  The refund unit 22 has a function of refunding change or the like.

  The communication unit 23 has a function of transmitting / receiving various information to / from the image forming apparatus 1 via a network.

  The control unit 24 is connected to the depositing unit 21, the refunding unit 22, and the communication unit 23, and executes operation control of the entire coin vendor 2. The control unit 24 is an information processing unit such as a microcomputer provided with a ROM, a RAM, and the like. The ROM stores a control program for controlling the operation of the coin vendor 2. The control unit 24 controls the entire coin vendor 2 by reading a control program stored in the ROM and developing the control program in the RAM.

  Specifically, the control unit 24 receives charge information from the image forming apparatus 1 via the communication unit 23, and when the charge is input to the depositing unit 21, the control unit 24 notifies the image forming apparatus 1 via the communication unit 23. To send. In addition, when the change amount is received from the image forming apparatus 1 via the communication unit 23 or when the user performs a refund operation, the control unit 17 returns the change via the refund unit 22.

  Next, the flow of the image forming process of the image forming system 100 will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, the quiz processing unit 171 reads the advertisement data 142 stored in the storage unit 14 and displays the quiz format advertisement screen G60 shown in FIG. 3 on the operation unit 11 (step s11).

  FIG. 3 is a display example of the advertisement screen G60 in the quiz format. The advertisement screen G60 is provided with a quiz display area 61 in which quizzes relating to advertisements are displayed, an advertisement display area 64 in which advertisements are displayed, an answer matching button B61, and a skip button B62.

  In the quiz display area 61, a hole filling question 62 for answering a blank part such as “XX printer” and answer options 63 are displayed. The user infers the blank part of the quiz from the advertisement displayed in the advertisement display area 64, and selects an answer that applies to the blank part from the options 63. An option number is assigned to each of the options 63. When the user specifies an option number using the numeric keypad, an answer (character) of the option number specified by the user is input and displayed in the blank portion. Note that a software keyboard may be displayed on the advertisement screen G60 so that the user can directly input an answer.

  The skip button B62 is a button prepared for a user who is troublesome to see an advertisement and solve a quiz. When the skip button B62 is pressed (Yes in step s12), the print processing unit 173 displays a print setting screen on the operation unit 11 and accepts print settings (step s22).

  When the print setting is made, the fee processing unit 172 refers to the fee table 141, displays a normal fee according to the print setting on the operation unit 11, prompts the user to pay the fee, and sets the communication unit 12. The normal fee is notified to the coin vendor 2 (step s23). Subsequently, the fee processing unit 172 waits until the notified fee is input to the coin vendor 2 (No in Step s20 and Step s20). When the fee is input (Yes in Step s20), the print processing unit 173 Performs printing in accordance with the print settings via the printing unit 16 (step s21), and ends this processing.

  On the other hand, if the skip button B62 is not pressed (No in step s12) and the answer matching button B61 is pressed (Yes in step s13), the quiz processing unit 171 determines whether the answer input by the user is correct or not. Is executed (step s14). In the case of an incorrect answer (No in step s15), the quiz processing unit 171 displays an incorrect answer on the operation unit 11 (step s16), and the process returns to step s11, so that the user answers the answer until the answer is correct. Can be entered.

  Note that the quiz processing unit 171 displays the quiz format advertisement screen G60 based on the advertisement data 142 different from the previously displayed advertisement data 142 when the quiz format advertisement screen G60 is displayed again due to an incorrect answer. In addition, a quiz different from the quiz for which the user has made an incorrect answer may be displayed. When the advertisement screen G60 is displayed, the quiz processing unit 171 stands by until either the skip button B62 or the answer matching button B61 is pressed (No in step s12, No in step s13).

  If the answer is correct (Yes in step s15), the quiz processing unit 171 displays on the operation unit 11 that the answer is correct (step s17). Subsequently, the print processing unit 173 displays a print setting screen on the operation unit 11 and receives print settings (step s18).

  After accepting the print settings, the fee calculation unit refers to the fee table 141, displays a discount fee according to the print settings on the operation unit 11, prompts the user to pay, and passes the coin vendor via the communication unit 12. 2 is notified of the discounted charge (step s19). Subsequently, the fee processing unit 172 waits until the notified fee is input to the coin vendor 2 (No in Step s20 and Step s20). When the fee is input (Yes in Step s20), the print processing unit 173 Executes printing via the printing unit 16 (step s21), and ends this processing.

  As described above, the image forming apparatus 1 according to this embodiment includes a display unit that displays an advertisement and a quiz related to the advertisement, and a quiz processing unit 171 that receives an input of an answer to the quiz and determines whether the answer is correct. A charge processing unit 172 that discounts the charge according to the print setting from the normal charge when the quiz processing unit 171 determines that the answer is correct. Therefore, the user can perform printing with a desired image quality at low cost by correctly answering the quiz. Further, since the discount fee is applied when the user correctly answers the quiz related to the advertisement, the advertiser can obtain the grounds that the user viewed the advertisement and can obtain a certain advertising effect.

  In the above-described embodiment, the advertisement screen G60 is displayed first. However, the display timing of the advertisement screen G60 may be before the charge notification, or may be displayed after the user print setting in step s18. In this way, instead of displaying the advertisement screen G60 before notifying the fee, the advertisement screen G60 may be displayed during execution of printing after charging. FIG. 4 is a flowchart when the advertisement screen G60 is displayed during execution of printing.

  First, the print processing unit 173 displays a print setting screen on the operation unit 11 and accepts print settings (step s41). When the acceptance of the print settings is completed, the fee processing unit 172 refers to the fee table 141 and displays the normal fee according to the print settings on the operation unit 11 to prompt the user to pay, and via the communication unit 12 The normal fee is notified to the coin vendor 2 (step s42).

  Subsequently, the fee processing unit 172 waits until the notified fee is input to the coin vendor 2 (No in Step s43 and Step s43). When the notified fee is input (Yes in Step s43), the print processing is performed. The unit 173 executes printing according to the print settings via the printing unit 16 (step s44). When printing is started, the quiz processing unit 171 displays the quiz format advertisement screen G60 on the operation unit 11 based on the advertisement data 142 (step s45).

  When the skip button B62 is pressed on the advertisement screen G60 (Yes in step s46), this process ends. On the other hand, if the skip button B62 is not pressed (No in step s46) and the answer matching button B61 is pressed (Yes in step s47), the quiz processing unit 171 executes answer matching processing (step s48). , The answers entered by the user are matched.

  If the answer is incorrect (No in step s49), the quiz processing unit 171 notifies that the answer is incorrect (step s50), and returns the process to step s45. If the answer is correct (Yes in step s49), the quiz processing unit 171 notifies that the answer is correct (step s51). When the answer is correct, the fee processing unit 172 executes a refund process (step s52). In the refund process, the fee processing unit 172 refers to the fee table 141, calculates a discount fee according to the print setting set by the user in step s41, and calculates the difference obtained by subtracting the discount fee from the normal fee to the coin vendor 2 And the changer 22 refunds the change. Thereafter, this process ends.

  According to this, there is a high possibility that the user who is idle in the waiting time during printing will see the advertisement screen G60 and solve the quiz, and the user can use the image forming apparatus 1 at low cost, and the advertisement can be displayed. You can see it.

  In addition, the advertisement screen G60 may be displayed first (before the charge notification), and the advertisement screen G60 may be displayed during printing. For example, the processing from steps s11 to s21 shown in FIG. 2 may be combined with the processing from steps s45 to s52 shown in FIG. In this case, the content of the advertisement displayed first and the content of the advertisement displayed during execution of printing may be changed. In addition, when the user correctly answers both the quiz of the advertisement screen G60 displayed before the charge notification and the quiz of the advertisement screen G60 displayed during printing, the fee processing unit 172 discounts twice from the normal fee. May be performed. Further, the advertisement processing unit may continue the quiz related to the advertisement and give a plurality of questions (for example, five consecutive questions). In this case, the fee processing unit 172 may perform a plurality of discounts by discounting the fee from the normal fee by the number of correct answers to the quiz by the user. For example, if the user correctly answers the quiz twice in a series of copying operations, the fee processing unit 172 may set the regular fee of 10 yen × 1 discount × 1 discount to 8 yen.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that various changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2 Coin vendor 11 Operation part 12 Communication part 13 Original reading part 14 Storage part 15 Image processing part 16 Printing part 17 Control part 21 Depositing part 22 Refund part 23 Communication part 24 Control part 61 Quiz display area 62 Filling problem 63 Options 64 Advertisement display area 100 Image forming system 141 Price list 142 Advertisement data 171 Quiz processing unit 172 Fee processing unit 173 Print processing unit G60 Advertisement screen B61 Answer matching button B62 Skip button

Claims (4)

An image forming apparatus that forms an image when a charge corresponding to a print setting is input to a connected coin vendor,
A display for displaying an advertisement and a quiz about the advertisement;
A quiz processing unit that receives input of an answer to the quiz and determines whether the answer is correct;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a fee processing unit that discounts the fee according to the print setting from a normal fee when the quiz processing unit determines that the answer is correct. The display unit
Displaying the advertisement and a quiz about the advertisement multiple times,
The fee processing unit
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the quiz processing unit determines that the answer is correct a plurality of times, the fee corresponding to the print setting is discounted a plurality of times from the normal fee. The display unit
Displaying the advertisement and a quiz about the advertisement before the user is notified of the fee to be entered into the coin vendor;
The fee processing unit
The image according to claim 1, wherein when the quiz processing unit determines that the answer is correct, the user is notified of a discount fee obtained by discounting the fee according to the print setting from the normal fee. Forming equipment. The display unit
When the image formation is started, the advertisement and a quiz related to the advertisement are displayed.
The fee processing unit
When it is determined that the answer is correct by the quiz processing unit, a discount fee obtained by discounting the fee according to the print setting from the normal fee is calculated, and change is refunded via the coin vendor. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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