JP2018147067A - Management system, management apparatus, and management method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a management system, a management apparatus, and a management method that enable usage status management of a printing apparatus and a sheet manufacturing apparatus.SOLUTION: A management system 1 includes: a sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 transmitting identification information of an authenticated user and first usage information including usage information of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 by the authenticated user to a management server 500; a printing apparatus 300 transmitting identification information of the authenticated user and second usage information including usage information of the printing apparatus by the authenticated user to the management server 500; and the management server 500 managing the usage information of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 and the usage information of the printing apparatus 300 in association with each other, for each user identified by the identification information on the basis of the first usage information and the second usage information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a management system, a management apparatus, and a management method.

  Conventionally, a technique for recording and managing the usage status of an apparatus for each user is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Patent Document 1 describes a system for managing the usage status of a shredder. In this system, a plurality of users are identified by card authentication, and a usage history for each user is recorded, thereby limiting the number of times the shredder is used. It is carried out.

JP 2009-98708 A

  Although the system described in Patent Document 1 manages the usage status of a single device called a shredder, it is considered useful to manage the usage status of a plurality of devices. For example, as an apparatus for processing a sheet such as paper, a printing apparatus or a sheet manufacturing apparatus (an apparatus that regenerates a sheet using a used sheet as a raw material) is used in addition to a shredder. Although the usefulness of managing these multiple devices is also expected, a method that enables such management has not been proposed in the past.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a management system, a management apparatus, and a management method that enable management of a usage status of a printing apparatus and a sheet manufacturing apparatus.

In order to solve the above problems, the management system of the present invention is capable of communicating with a sheet manufacturing apparatus that processes a raw material to manufacture a sheet, a printing apparatus that performs printing on a printing medium, the sheet manufacturing apparatus, and the printing apparatus. The sheet manufacturing apparatus performs authentication of a user who uses the sheet manufacturing apparatus, the identification information of the authenticated user, and the sheet manufacturing apparatus by the authenticated user. The first usage information including the usage information is transmitted to the management apparatus, and the printing apparatus authenticates a user who uses the printing apparatus, the identification information of the authenticated user, and the printing apparatus by the authenticated user. The second usage information including the usage information is transmitted to the management device, and the management device acquires the first usage information and the second usage information, and Based on the first usage information and the second usage information, the usage information of the sheet manufacturing apparatus and the usage information of the printing apparatus are managed in association with each other specified by the identification information. And
According to the present invention, the use of the sheet manufacturing apparatus and the printing apparatus can be managed for each user by the management apparatus. For example, when a printing medium printed by a printing apparatus is used as a raw material for a sheet manufacturing apparatus, the usage status of the printing medium as the raw material and the usage status of the printing apparatus can be collected and managed for each user.

In the above configuration, the printing apparatus prints on the print medium, a print control unit that authenticates a user who uses the printing apparatus, and permits the authenticated user to use the printing apparatus, A first communication unit that transmits the first usage information related to the authenticated user to the management device, and the sheet manufacturing apparatus includes: a sheet manufacturing unit that manufactures the sheet using the print medium as a raw material; A user who uses the sheet manufacturing unit authenticates, a sheet manufacturing control unit that permits the authenticated user to use the sheet manufacturing device, and a second device that transmits the second usage information related to the authenticated user to the management device. A communication unit, and the management device includes a usage information acquisition unit that acquires the first usage information and the second usage information, and a usage information acquisition unit. Based on the acquired first usage information and second usage information, the usage information of the printing apparatus and the usage information of the sheet manufacturing apparatus are stored in association with each user specified by the identification information. And a usage information storage unit.
According to this configuration, the management apparatus can appropriately manage the use of the sheet manufacturing apparatus and the printing apparatus for each user using the information stored in the usage information storage unit. Further, in a usage mode in which used printing media printed by the printing apparatus are reproduced by the sheet manufacturing apparatus, the usage status of the printing apparatus and the sheet manufacturing apparatus can be managed for each user.

Further, in the above configuration, when the user cannot authenticate the user, the sheet manufacturing apparatus sets temporary identification information for the unauthenticated user and uses the sheet manufacturing apparatus by the unauthenticated user. 3rd usage information including the temporary identification information and usage information of the sheet manufacturing apparatus by the user set with the temporary identification information is transmitted to the management apparatus,
When the third usage information is acquired, the management device is configured to manage the temporary identification information included in the acquired third usage information and the usage information of the sheet manufacturing apparatus in association with each other. Also good.
According to this configuration, the use of the sheet manufacturing apparatus can be permitted even for a user who has not been authenticated, and the use of the sheet manufacturing apparatus can be promoted. Can be managed based on the provisional identification information.

In the above configuration, the management apparatus performs the setting process of the identification information for a new user of the sheet manufacturing apparatus, and when the temporary identification information is set for the new user, The configuration may be such that the associated usage information of the sheet manufacturing apparatus is associated with the identification information set for the new user.
According to this configuration, when identification information as a new user is set for a user for whom provisional identification information has already been set, the sheet manufacture by the same user is carried over by using the past sheet manufacturing apparatus usage information. Device usage information can be managed collectively.

In the above configuration, the sheet manufacturing apparatus usage information and the printing apparatus usage information associated with the identification information managed by the management apparatus are used to relate to the user specified by the identification information. It may be configured to include a billing device that processes billing information.
According to this configuration, it is possible to charge the user by reflecting the usage information of the sheet manufacturing apparatus and the printing apparatus managed for each user.

In the above configuration, the billing information includes a billing amount, and the billing device increases the billing amount according to use of the printing apparatus and decreases the billing amount according to use of the sheet manufacturing apparatus. It may be a configuration.
According to this configuration, it is possible to prompt the user to use the sheet manufacturing apparatus by reducing the billing amount according to the use of the sheet manufacturing apparatus.

In the above configuration, the billing information includes a billing amount, and the billing device adds a metered amount according to the number of the print media printed by the printing device to a preset fixed amount. The billing amount may be calculated by the above-described method, and the usage amount may be reduced according to the use of the sheet manufacturing apparatus.
According to this configuration, the usage of the sheet manufacturing apparatus can be urged to the user by reducing the amount of the payout with respect to the fixed amount according to the use of the sheet manufacturing apparatus.

In the above configuration, the billing information includes a billing amount, and the billing device uses a preset fixed amount as the billing amount until the number of print media printed by the printing device exceeds a predetermined threshold. After the quantity of the printing medium printed by the printing device exceeds the predetermined threshold, the billing amount is obtained by adding a fixed amount according to the quantity of the printing medium printed by the printing device to the fixed amount. The predetermined threshold value may be increased according to the use of the sheet manufacturing apparatus.
According to this configuration, the use of the sheet manufacturing apparatus can be promoted by increasing the number of printed sheets whose fixed amount is maintained according to the use of the sheet manufacturing apparatus.

In the above configuration, the billing information includes a billing amount, and the billing apparatus has a total quantity of the number of the print media printed by the printing apparatus and the number of the sheets manufactured by the sheet manufacturing apparatus. Until a predetermined threshold value is exceeded, a predetermined fixed amount is set as the charge amount, and after the total quantity exceeds the predetermined threshold value, a metered amount corresponding to the total quantity is added to the fixed amount. The billing amount may be calculated.
According to this configuration, the charge amount does not change until the total quantity of the number of print media printed by the printing apparatus and the number of sheets manufactured by the sheet manufacturing apparatus exceeds the predetermined threshold. Therefore, it is possible to prompt the user to use the sheet manufacturing apparatus within a range where the total quantity does not exceed the predetermined threshold.

Next, in order to solve the above-described problem, the management apparatus of the present invention is a management apparatus configured to be able to communicate with a sheet manufacturing apparatus that processes raw materials and manufactures a sheet, and a printing apparatus that prints on a print medium And transmitted from the sheet manufacturing apparatus, the first usage information including the identification information of the user authenticated by the sheet manufacturing apparatus and the usage information of the sheet manufacturing apparatus by the authenticated user, and transmitted from the printing apparatus. Obtaining the identification information of the user authenticated by the printing device and the second usage information including the usage information of the printing device by the authenticated user, and based on the first usage information and the second usage information, For each user specified by the identification information, usage information of the sheet manufacturing apparatus and usage information of the printing apparatus are managed in association with each other. .
According to the management apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to appropriately manage the use of the sheet manufacturing apparatus and the printing apparatus for each user. For example, when a used print medium printed by a printing apparatus is used as a raw material for a sheet manufacturing apparatus, the usage status of the printing medium as a raw material and the usage status of the printing apparatus can be collectively managed for each user. .

Next, in order to solve the above problems, a management method of the present invention includes a sheet manufacturing apparatus that processes a raw material to manufacture a sheet, a printing apparatus that performs printing on a printing medium, the sheet manufacturing apparatus, and the printing apparatus. A method executed by a management system including a management apparatus configured to be communicable, wherein the sheet manufacturing apparatus authenticates a user who uses the sheet manufacturing apparatus, and the identification information of the authenticated user and the A first usage information transmission step of transmitting first usage information including usage information of the sheet manufacturing apparatus by the authenticated user to the management apparatus; and the printing apparatus authenticates a user who uses the printing apparatus; Second usage information transmission that transmits second usage information including identification information of the authenticated user and usage information of the printing device by the authenticated user to the management device. And the management device receives the first usage information and the second usage information, and for each user specified by the identification information based on the first usage information and the second usage information, And a usage information management step for managing the usage information of the sheet manufacturing apparatus and the usage information of the printing apparatus in association with each other.
By executing the method of the present invention using the management system, the use of the sheet manufacturing apparatus and the printing apparatus can be appropriately managed for each user by the management apparatus. For example, when a used print medium printed by a printing apparatus is used as a raw material for a sheet manufacturing apparatus, the usage status of the printing medium as a raw material and the usage status of the printing apparatus can be collectively managed for each user. .

The schematic diagram which shows the structure of a management system. Explanatory drawing of the data of the user ID managed by a management server, and the usage information of a sheet manufacturing apparatus and a printing apparatus. The schematic diagram which shows the structure of a sheet manufacturing apparatus. The block diagram which shows the structure of the control part and memory | storage part of a sheet manufacturing apparatus. The flowchart which shows operation | movement of a sheet manufacturing apparatus. The flowchart of issue processing of the new user ID in a management server, and the transfer process of the data from temporary user ID to new user ID. Explanatory drawing of the data transfer from temporary user ID to new user ID. The flowchart of 1st Example of charge amount calculation. Explanatory drawing of a 1st accounting table. Explanatory drawing of a 2nd accounting table. The flowchart of 2nd Example of charge amount calculation. Explanatory drawing of a 3rd accounting table.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, embodiment described below does not limit the content of this invention described in the claim. In addition, not all of the configurations described below are essential constituent requirements of the present invention.

[1. Management system configuration]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a management system 1 according to the embodiment. The management system 1 described in this embodiment includes a sheet manufacturing apparatus 100, a printing apparatus 300, and an administrator terminal 400. Further, the management system 1 includes a management server 500 (corresponding to the management apparatus of the present invention) and a charging server 600 (corresponding to the charging apparatus of the present invention). It is connected so that communication is possible. Further, the management method of the present invention is executed by the management system 1.

  In the management system 1, the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 and the printing apparatus 300 perform user authentication. Basically, a user who has registered and issued a user ID (corresponding to the identification information of the present invention) (hereinafter referred to as a regular user) is permitted to use when authenticating with the user ID. Is done. Then, for a user whose user ID has not been issued, temporary user registration is performed and a temporary user ID (corresponding to temporary identification information of the present invention) is issued. Allow use by temporary users).

  As will be described in detail later, the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 manufactures new paper by pressurizing, heating, and cutting after used fiber such as confidential paper as a raw material is defibrated and fiberized by dry process. A sheet manufacturing unit 101 is provided. In addition, the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 includes a sheet manufacturing control unit 110 that controls the operation of the sheet manufacturing unit 101 and the like, and a second communication unit 119 that performs communication via the communication network 900.

  When the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 is used by a primary user, the sheet manufacturing control unit 110 attaches first usage information including a user ID of the primary user and usage information of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 (in FIG. 1, a DA1 code is attached). Are transmitted to the management server 500. When the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 is used by a temporary user, the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 includes third usage information including a temporary user ID and usage information of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 (in FIG. 1, a reference numeral DA3 is attached). Is transmitted to the management server 500.

  The printing apparatus 300 performs communication via a printing unit 301 that performs printing on paper (corresponding to a printing medium of the present invention), a printing control unit 310 that controls operation of the printing unit 301, and the communication network 900. A first communication unit 311 is provided. The printing apparatus 300 may be a single printing machine or a multi-function machine having a plurality of functions such as printing, scanner, copying, and FAX.

  When the printing apparatus 300 is used by a primary user, the print control unit 310 includes second usage information including a user ID of the primary user and usage information of the printing apparatus 300 (in FIG. 1, the code DA2 is attached). Is transmitted to the management server 500. In addition, when the printing apparatus 300 is used by a temporary user, the print control unit 310 includes fourth usage information including the temporary user ID of the temporary user and usage information of the printing apparatus 300. Is transmitted to the management server 500.

  The administrator terminal 400 performs issuance processing of a user ID for a user who uses the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 and the printing apparatus 300, a monitor display of the usage status of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 and the printing apparatus 300, and the like.

  The management server 500 is a computer system that includes a CPU, a memory, various interface circuits, and the like. The management server 500 executes a control program for the management server 500 stored in the memory by the CPU. Accordingly, the management server 500 functions as a control unit for the usage information acquisition unit 501, the user ID setting unit 502, the temporary ID setting unit 503, and the usage information storage unit 510.

  The user ID setting unit 502 sets the user ID for the new user when data requesting issuance of the user ID for the new user of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 and the printing apparatus 300 is received from the administrator terminal 400. Then, the user ID setting unit 502 transmits the set user ID data to the administrator terminal 400, and the administrator terminal 400 performs an ID card issuance process in which the user ID data is recorded.

  The temporary ID setting unit 503 sets a temporary user ID when data requesting to issue a temporary user ID is received from the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 or the printing apparatus 300. Then, the temporary ID setting unit 503 returns the set temporary user ID data to the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 or the printing apparatus 300 that has transmitted the data requesting the issuance of the temporary user ID, and the sheet manufacturing apparatus based on the temporary user ID. 100 or the printing apparatus 300 can be used.

  Here, the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 and the printing apparatus 300 include a card reader, and the user is authenticated by reading the user ID from the ID card with the card reader.

  The usage information acquisition unit 501 receives first usage information (usage information of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 by the primary user) and third usage information (usage information of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 by the temporary user) transmitted from the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100. Obtain via a communication network. Further, the usage information acquisition unit 50 communicates the second usage information (usage information of the printing device 300 by the primary user) and the fourth usage information (usage information of the printing device 300 by the temporary user) transmitted from the printing device 300. Obtained via the network 900.

  The usage information storage unit 510 associates the user ID set by the user ID setting unit 502 with the usage permission settings of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 and the printing apparatus 300 and stores them in a user DB (Data Base) 511. In addition, the usage information storage unit 510 stores each user ID and usage information of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 and the printing apparatus 300 in association with each other in the user management DB 512.

  Here, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the user ID managed by the management server and the data of the usage information of the sheet manufacturing apparatus and the printing apparatus. In the user DB 511, IDs (A, B,...) Of the respective users and usage permission settings of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 and the printing apparatus 300 for the respective users are stored in association with each other. In the example of FIG. 2, use of both the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 and the printing apparatus 300 is permitted for the user ID “A”, whereas only use of the printing apparatus 300 is permitted for the user ID “B”. ing.

  In addition, the user management DB 512 stores each user's ID (A, B,...) And data indicating usage records of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 and the printing apparatus 300 by each user in association with each other. In the example of FIG. 2, for the user ID “A”, the cumulative number of printed sheets of the printing apparatus 300 is associated with the cumulative number of processed sheets (cumulative input number) and the cumulative number of reproduced sheets (cumulative number of reproduced sheets). It is remembered. For the user ID “B”, since the use of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 is not permitted, only the cumulative number of printed sheets of the printing apparatus 300 is stored in association with the user ID “B”.

  In addition, the usage information storage unit 510 stores the temporary user ID set by the temporary ID setting unit 503 in association with the usage permission settings of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 and the printing apparatus 300 in the temporary user DB 513. Further, the usage information storage unit 510 stores each temporary user ID in association with the usage information of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 and the printing apparatus 300 in the temporary user management DB 514. The configuration of the temporary user DB 513 is the same as that of the user DB 511, and the configuration of the temporary user management DB 514 is the same as that of the user management DB 512.

  The billing server 600 calculates the billing amount by processing the billing information for each user based on the usage information of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 and the printing apparatus 300 by each user stored in the user management DB 512 and stores the billing amount in the billing DB 601. . The billing server 600 returns the billing amount data of each user stored in the billing DB 601 in response to the billing amount request data transmitted from the administrator terminal 400.

[2. Configuration of the manufacturing section of the sheet manufacturing apparatus]
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of the sheet manufacturing unit (mechanism unit) 101 of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100. The sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 improves the bonding strength and whiteness of paper products and functions such as color, fragrance, and flame retardancy according to the application by mixing various additives with the fiberized raw material. It may be added. In addition, by controlling the density, thickness, and shape of the paper, various thicknesses and sizes of paper such as A4 and A3 office paper and business card paper can be manufactured.

  The sheet manufacturing unit 101 includes a supply unit 10, a crushing unit 12, a defibrating unit 20, a sorting unit 40, a first web forming unit 45, a rotating body 49, a mixing unit 50, a deposition unit 60, a second web forming unit 70, A conveyance unit 79, a sheet forming unit 80, and a cutting unit 90 are provided.

  In addition, the sheet manufacturing unit 101 includes humidifying units 202, 204, 206, 208, 210, and 212 for the purpose of humidifying the raw material and / or humidifying the space in which the raw material moves. Specific configurations of the humidifying units 202, 204, 206, 208, 210, and 212 are arbitrary, and examples thereof include a steam type, a vaporization type, a hot air vaporization type, and an ultrasonic type.

  In the present embodiment, the humidifying units 202, 204, 206, and 208 are configured by a vaporization type or warm air vaporization type humidifier. That is, the humidifying units 202, 204, 206, and 208 have a filter (not shown) that infiltrates water, and supplies humidified air with increased humidity by allowing air to pass through the filter.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, the humidification part 210 and the humidification part 212 are comprised with an ultrasonic humidifier. In other words, the humidifying units 210 and 212 have a vibrating unit (not shown) that atomizes water and supplies mist generated by the vibrating unit.

  The supply unit 10 supplies raw materials to the crushing unit 12. The raw material from which the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 manufactures a sheet may be anything as long as it contains fibers, and examples thereof include paper, pulp, pulp sheet, cloth including nonwoven fabric, and woven fabric. In the present embodiment, a configuration in which the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 uses waste paper as a raw material is illustrated. In the present embodiment, the supply unit 10 includes a stacker that accumulates and accumulates used paper, and the used paper is sent from the stacker to the crushing unit 12.

  The crushing unit 12 cuts (crushes) the raw material supplied by the supply unit 10 with a crushing blade 14 into a crushing piece. The rough crushing blade 14 cuts the raw material in the air (in the air) or the like. The crushing unit 12 includes, for example, a pair of crushing blades 14 that are cut with a raw material interposed therebetween, and a drive unit that rotates the crushing blades 14, and can have a configuration similar to a so-called shredder. The shape and size of the coarsely crushed pieces are arbitrary and may be suitable for the defibrating process in the defibrating unit 20. For example, the crushing unit 12 cuts the raw material into pieces of paper having a size of 1 to several cm square or less.

  The crushing unit 12 includes a chute (hopper) 9 that receives the crushing pieces that are cut by the crushing blade 14 and fall. The chute 9 has, for example, a taper shape in which the width gradually decreases in the direction in which the coarsely crushed pieces flow (the traveling direction). Therefore, the chute 9 can receive many coarse fragments. The chute 9 is connected to a tube 2 communicating with the defibrating unit 20, and the tube 2 forms a conveying path for conveying the raw material (crushed pieces) cut by the crushing blade 14 to the defibrating unit 20. . The coarsely crushed pieces are collected by the chute 9 and transferred (conveyed) through the tube 2 to the defibrating unit 20.

  Humidified air is supplied by the humidifying unit 202 to the chute 9 included in the crushing unit 12 or in the vicinity of the chute 9. Thereby, the phenomenon that the crushed material cut | judged with the crushed blade 14 adsorb | sucks to the chute | shoot 9 or the inner surface of the pipe | tube 2 by static electricity can be suppressed. In addition, since the crushed material cut by the pulverizing blade 14 is transferred to the defibrating unit 20 together with humidified (high humidity) air, the effect of suppressing adhesion of the defibrated material inside the defibrating unit 20 is also achieved. I can expect. Moreover, the humidification part 202 is good also as a structure which supplies humidified air to the rough crushing blade 14, and neutralizes the raw material which the supply part 10 supplies. Moreover, you may neutralize using an ionizer with the humidification part 202. FIG.

  The defibrating unit 20 defibrates the crushed material cut by the crushing unit 12. More specifically, the defibrating unit 20 defibrates the raw material (crushed pieces) cut by the crushing unit 12 to generate a defibrated material. Here, “defibration” means unraveling a raw material (a material to be defibrated) formed by binding a plurality of fibers into individual fibers. The defibrating unit 20 also has a function of separating substances such as resin particles, ink, toner, and a bleeding inhibitor adhering to the raw material from the fibers.

  What has passed through the defibrating unit 20 is referred to as “defibrated material”. In addition to the defibrated fibers that have been unraveled, the “defibrated material” includes resin particles (resins that bind multiple fibers together), ink, toner, etc. In some cases, additives such as colorants, anti-bleeding agents, paper strength enhancers and the like are included. The shape of the defibrated material that has been unraveled is a string shape or a ribbon shape. The unraveled defibrated material may exist in an unentangled state (independent state) with other undisentangled fibers, or entangled with other undisentangled defibrated material to form a lump. It may exist in a state (a state forming a so-called “dama”).

  The defibrating unit 20 performs defibration by a dry method. Here, performing a process such as defibration in the air (in the air), not in the liquid, is called dry. In the present embodiment, the defibrating unit 20 uses an impeller mill. Specifically, the defibrating unit 20 includes a rotor (not shown) that rotates at high speed, and a liner (not shown) that is positioned on the outer periphery of the rotor. The coarsely crushed pieces cut by the coarse pulverization unit 12 are sandwiched between the rotor of the defibrating unit 20 and the liner and defibrated. The defibrating unit 20 generates an air flow by the rotation of the rotor. With this airflow, the defibrating unit 20 can suck the crushed pieces, which are raw materials, from the tube 2 and convey the defibrated material to the discharge port 24. The defibrated material is sent out from the discharge port 24 to the tube 3 and transferred to the sorting unit 40 through the tube 3.

  Thus, the defibrated material generated in the defibrating unit 20 is conveyed from the defibrating unit 20 to the sorting unit 40 by the air flow generated by the defibrating unit 20. Further, in the present embodiment, the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 includes a defibrating unit blower 26 that is an airflow generation device, and the defibrated material is conveyed to the sorting unit 40 by the airflow generated by the defibrating unit blower 26. The defibrating unit blower 26 is attached to the pipe 3, sucks air from the defibrating unit 20 together with the defibrated material, and blows it to the sorting unit 40.

  The sorting unit 40 has an inlet 42 through which the defibrated material defibrated from the tube 3 by the defibrating unit 20 flows together with the airflow. The sorting unit 40 sorts the defibrated material to be introduced into the introduction port 42 according to the length of the fiber. Specifically, the sorting unit 40 uses a defibrated material having a size equal to or smaller than a predetermined size among the defibrated material defibrated by the defibrating unit 20 as a first selected material, and a defibrated material larger than the first selected material. Is selected as the second selection. The first selection includes fibers or particles, and the second selection includes, for example, large fibers, undefibrated pieces (crushed pieces that have not been sufficiently defibrated), and defibrated fibers agglomerated or entangled. Including tama etc.

  In the present embodiment, the sorting unit 40 includes a drum unit (sieving unit) 41 and a housing unit (covering unit) 43 that accommodates the drum unit 41.

  The drum portion 41 is a cylindrical sieve that is rotationally driven by a motor. The drum portion 41 has a net (filter, screen) and functions as a sieve. Based on the mesh, the drum unit 41 sorts a first selection smaller than the mesh opening (opening) and a second selection larger than the mesh opening. As the net of the drum portion 41, for example, a metal net, an expanded metal obtained by extending a cut metal plate, or a punching metal in which a hole is formed in the metal plate by a press machine or the like can be used.

  The defibrated material introduced into the introduction port 42 is sent into the drum portion 41 together with the air current, and the first selected material falls downward from the mesh of the drum portion 41 by the rotation of the drum portion 41. The second selection that cannot pass through the mesh of the drum portion 41 is caused to flow by the airflow flowing into the drum portion 41 from the introduction port 42, led to the discharge port 44, and sent out to the pipe 8.

  The tube 8 connects the inside of the drum portion 41 and the tube 2. The second selection flowed through the pipe 8 flows through the pipe 2 together with the coarsely crushed pieces cut by the coarse crushing section 12 and is guided to the introduction port 22 of the defibrating section 20. As a result, the second selected item is returned to the defibrating unit 20 and defibrated.

  In addition, the first selection material selected by the drum unit 41 is dispersed in the air through the mesh of the drum unit 41 and is applied to the mesh belt 46 of the first web forming unit 45 located below the drum unit 41. Descent towards.

  The first web forming unit 45 (separation unit) includes a mesh belt 46 (separation belt), a roller 47, and a suction unit (suction mechanism) 48. The mesh belt 46 is an endless belt, is suspended by three rollers 47, and is conveyed in the direction indicated by the arrow in the drawing by the movement of the rollers 47. The surface of the mesh belt 46 is constituted by a net in which openings of a predetermined size are arranged. Among the first selections descending from the selection unit 40, fine particles having a size that passes through the meshes fall below the mesh belt 46, and fibers of a size that cannot pass through the meshes accumulate on the mesh belt 46, and mesh. It is conveyed along with the belt 46 in the direction of the arrow. The fine particles falling from the mesh belt 46 include defibrated materials that are relatively small or low in density (resin particles, colorants, additives, etc.), and the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 does not use them for manufacturing the sheet S. It is a removed product.

  During the normal operation of manufacturing the sheet S, the mesh belt 46 moves at a constant speed V1. Here, the normal operation is an operation excluding the start control and stop control of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 to be described later. More specifically, the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 manufactures a sheet S having a desired quality. It points to while doing.

  Accordingly, the defibrated material that has been defibrated by the defibrating unit 20 is sorted into the first sorted product and the second sorted product by the sorting unit 40, and the second sorted product is returned to the defibrating unit 20. Further, the removed material is removed from the first selected material by the first web forming unit 45. The remainder obtained by removing the removed material from the first selection is a material suitable for manufacturing the sheet S, and this material is deposited on the mesh belt 46 to form the first web W1.

  The suction unit 48 sucks air from below the mesh belt 46. The suction part 48 is connected to the dust collecting part 27 via the pipe 23. The dust collecting unit 27 is a filter type or cyclone type dust collecting device, and separates fine particles from the air current. A collection blower 28 (separation suction unit) is installed downstream of the dust collection unit 27, and the collection blower 28 sucks air from the dust collection unit 27. Further, the air discharged from the collection blower 28 is discharged out of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 through the pipe 29.

  In this configuration, air is sucked from the suction portion 48 through the dust collection portion 27 by the collection blower 28. In the suction part 48, the fine particles passing through the mesh of the mesh belt 46 are sucked together with air and sent to the dust collecting part 27 through the pipe 23. The dust collection unit 27 separates and accumulates the fine particles that have passed through the mesh belt 46 from the airflow.

  Accordingly, the first web W1 is formed on the mesh belt 46 by depositing fibers obtained by removing the removed material from the first selected material. By the suction of the collection blower 28, the formation of the first web W1 on the mesh belt 46 is promoted, and the removed material is quickly removed.

  Humidified air is supplied to the space including the drum unit 41 by the humidifying unit 204. The humidified air is humidified in the sorting unit 40 by the humidified air. Thereby, the adhesion of the first selection to the mesh belt 46 due to the electrostatic force can be weakened, and the first selection can be easily separated from the mesh belt 46. Furthermore, it can suppress that the 1st selection object adheres to the inner wall of the rotary body 49 or the housing part 43 with an electrostatic force. In addition, the removal object can be efficiently sucked by the suction portion 48.

  In the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100, the configuration for sorting and separating the first defibrated material and the second defibrated material is not limited to the sorting unit 40 including the drum unit 41. For example, you may employ | adopt the structure which classifies the defibrated material processed by the defibrating unit 20 with a classifier. As the classifier, for example, a cyclone classifier, an elbow jet classifier, or an eddy classifier can be used. If these classifiers are used, it is possible to sort and separate the first sort and the second sort. Furthermore, the above classifier can realize a configuration in which removed products including relatively small ones having a low density (resin particles, colorants, additives, etc.) among the defibrated materials are separated and removed. For example, it is good also as a structure which removes the microparticles | fine-particles contained in a 1st selection material from a 1st selection material by a classifier. In this case, for example, the second sorted product may be returned to the defibrating unit 20, the removed product is collected by the dust collecting unit 27, and the first sorted product excluding the removed product may be sent to the pipe 54. .

  In the transport path of the mesh belt 46, air containing mist is supplied by the humidifying unit 210 to the downstream side of the sorting unit 40. The mist that is fine particles of water generated by the humidifying unit 210 descends toward the first web W1 and supplies moisture to the first web W1. Thereby, the amount of moisture contained in the first web W1 is adjusted, and adsorption of fibers to the mesh belt 46 due to static electricity can be suppressed.

  The sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 includes a rotating body 49 that divides the first web W <b> 1 accumulated on the mesh belt 46. The first web W <b> 1 is peeled off from the mesh belt 46 at a position where the mesh belt 46 is turned back by the roller 47 and is divided by the rotating body 49.

  The first web W1 is a soft material in which fibers are accumulated to form a web shape, and the rotating body 49 loosens the fibers of the first web W1 and processes it into a state in which the resin can be easily mixed by the mixing unit 50 described later. .

  Although the structure of the rotating body 49 is arbitrary, in this embodiment, it can be made into the rotating feather shape which has a plate-shaped blade | wing and rotates. The rotating body 49 is disposed at a position where the first web W1 peeled off from the mesh belt 46 and the blades are in contact with each other. Due to the rotation of the rotating body 49 (for example, the rotation in the direction indicated by the arrow R in the figure), the blade collides with the first web W <b> 1 that is peeled from the mesh belt 46 and is transported, and the subdivided body P is generated.

  The rotating body 49 is preferably installed at a position where the blades of the rotating body 49 do not collide with the mesh belt 46. For example, the distance between the tip of the blade of the rotating body 49 and the mesh belt 46 can be set to 0.05 mm or more and 0.5 mm or less. In this case, the rotating body 49 causes the mesh belt 46 to be damaged without being damaged. One web W1 can be divided efficiently.

  The subdivided body P divided by the rotating body 49 descends inside the tube 7 and is transferred (conveyed) to the mixing unit 50 by the airflow flowing inside the tube 7.

  Further, humidified air is supplied to the space including the rotating body 49 by the humidifying unit 206. Thereby, the phenomenon that fibers are adsorbed by static electricity to the inside of the tube 7 and the blades of the rotating body 49 can be suppressed. In addition, since high-humidity air is supplied to the mixing unit 50 through the pipe 7, the influence of static electricity can also be suppressed in the mixing unit 50.

  The mixing unit 50 includes an additive supply unit 52 that supplies an additive containing resin, a tube 54 that communicates with the tube 7 and through which an airflow including the subdivided body P flows, and a mixing blower 56 (transfer blower).

  The subdivided body P is a fiber obtained by removing the removed material from the first sorted product that has passed through the sorting unit 40 as described above. The mixing unit 50 mixes an additive containing a resin with the fibers constituting the subdivided body P.

  In the mixing unit 50, an air flow is generated by the mixing blower 56, and is conveyed while mixing the subdivided body P and the additive in the pipe 54. Moreover, the subdivided body P is loosened in the process of flowing through the inside of the tube 7 and the tube 54, and becomes a finer fiber.

  The additive supply unit 52 (resin storage unit) is connected to an additive cartridge (not shown) that accumulates the additive, and supplies the additive inside the additive cartridge to the tube 54. The additive cartridge may be configured to be detachable from the additive supply unit 52. Moreover, you may provide the structure which replenishes an additive to an additive cartridge. The additive supply unit 52 temporarily stores an additive composed of fine powder or fine particles inside the additive cartridge. The additive supply unit 52 includes a discharge unit 52a (resin supply unit) that sends the additive once stored to the pipe 54. The discharge unit 52 a includes a feeder (not shown) that sends the additive stored in the additive supply unit 52 to the pipe 54, and a shutter (not shown) that opens and closes a pipeline that connects the feeder and the pipe 54. . When this shutter is closed, the pipe line or opening connecting the discharge part 52a and the pipe 54 is closed, and supply of the additive from the additive supply part 52 to the pipe 54 is cut off.

  In the state where the feeder of the discharge unit 52a is not operating, the additive is not supplied from the discharge unit 52a to the tube 54. However, when a negative pressure is generated in the tube 54, the feeder of the discharge unit 52a is stopped. Even so, the additive may flow to the tube 54. By closing the discharge part 52a, the flow of such an additive can be reliably interrupted.

  The additive supplied by the additive supply unit 52 includes a resin for binding a plurality of fibers. The resin contained in the additive is a thermoplastic resin or a thermosetting resin. For example, AS resin, ABS resin, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, acrylic resin, and polyester resin. Further, for example, polyethylene terephthalate, polyphenylene ether, polybutylene terephthalate, nylon, polyamide, polycarbonate, polyacetal, polyphenylene sulfide, polyether ether ketone, and the like. These resins may be used alone or in combination. That is, the additive may contain a single substance, may be a mixture, or may contain a plurality of types of particles each composed of a single substance or a plurality of substances. The additive may be in the form of a fiber or powder.

  The resin contained in the additive is melted by heating and binds a plurality of fibers. Accordingly, in a state where the resin is mixed with the fibers and not heated to a temperature at which the resin melts, the fibers are not bound to each other.

  In addition to the resin that binds the fiber, the additive supplied by the additive supply unit 52 includes a colorant for coloring the fiber, fiber aggregation, and resin aggregation depending on the type of sheet to be manufactured. It may also contain a coagulation inhibitor for suppressing odor, and a flame retardant for making the fibers difficult to burn. Moreover, the additive which does not contain a colorant may be colorless or light enough to be considered colorless, or may be white.

  Due to the air flow generated by the mixing blower 56, the subdivided body P descending the tube 7 and the additive supplied by the additive supply unit 52 are sucked into the tube 54 and pass through the mixing blower 56. The fibers constituting the subdivided body P and the additive are mixed by the air flow generated by the mixing blower 56 and / or the action of the rotating part such as the blades of the mixing blower 56, and this mixture (the first sort and the additive) ) Is transferred to the deposition section 60 through the tube 54.

  In addition, the mechanism which mixes a 1st selection material and an additive is not specifically limited, It may stir with the blade | wing which rotates at high speed, and uses rotation of a container like a V-type mixer. These mechanisms may be installed before or after the mixing blower 56.

  The depositing unit 60 introduces the mixture that has passed through the mixing unit 50 from the introduction port 62, loosens the entangled defibrated material (fibers), and lowers it while dispersing it in the air. Furthermore, when the additive resin supplied from the additive supply unit 52 is fibrous, the deposition unit 60 loosens the entangled resin. Thereby, the deposition unit 60 can deposit the mixture on the second web forming unit 70 with good uniformity.

  The accumulation unit 60 includes a drum unit 61 (drum) and a housing unit (covering unit) 63 that accommodates the drum unit 61. The drum unit 61 is a cylindrical sieve that is rotationally driven by a motor. The drum portion 61 has a net (filter, screen) and functions as a sieve. Due to the mesh, the drum portion 61 allows fibers and particles having a smaller mesh opening (opening) to pass through and lowers the drum portion 61 from the drum portion 61. The configuration of the drum unit 61 is the same as the configuration of the drum unit 41, for example.

  In addition, the “sieving” of the drum unit 61 may not have a function of selecting a specific object. That is, the “sieving” used as the drum part 61 means a thing provided with a net, and the drum part 61 may drop all of the mixture introduced into the drum part 61.

  A second web forming unit 70 is disposed below the drum unit 61. The 2nd web formation part 70 (web formation part) accumulates the passing material which passed the accumulation part 60, and forms the 2nd web W2 (deposit). The 2nd web formation part 70 has the mesh belt 72 (belt), the roller 74, and the suction mechanism 76, for example.

  The mesh belt 72 is an endless belt, is suspended on a plurality of rollers 74, and is conveyed in the direction indicated by the arrow in the drawing by the movement of the rollers 74. The mesh belt 72 is made of, for example, metal, resin, cloth, or non-woven fabric. The surface of the mesh belt 72 is configured by a net having openings of a predetermined size. Among the fibers and particles descending from the drum unit 61, fine particles having a size that passes through the mesh drops to the lower side of the mesh belt 72, and fibers having a size that cannot pass through the mesh are deposited on the mesh belt 72. 72 is conveyed in the direction of the arrow. Further, the moving speed of the mesh belt 72 can be controlled by the sheet manufacturing control unit 110 (FIG. 1). During the normal operation of manufacturing the sheet S, the mesh belt 72 moves at a constant speed V2. The normal operation is as described above.

  The mesh of the mesh belt 72 is fine and can be sized so that most of the fibers and particles descending from the drum portion 61 are not allowed to pass through.

  The suction mechanism 76 is provided below the mesh belt 72 (on the side opposite to the accumulation unit 60 side). The suction mechanism 76 includes a suction blower 77, and can generate an air flow (an air flow directed from the accumulation portion 60 toward the mesh belt 72) downward to the suction mechanism 76 by the suction force of the suction blower 77.

  The mixture dispersed in the air by the deposition unit 60 is sucked onto the mesh belt 72 by the suction mechanism 76. Thereby, formation of the 2nd web W2 on the mesh belt 72 can be accelerated | stimulated, and the discharge speed from the deposition part 60 can be enlarged. Furthermore, the suction mechanism 76 can form a downflow in the dropping path of the mixture, and can prevent the defibrated material and additives from being entangled during the dropping.

  The suction blower 77 (deposition suction unit) may discharge the air sucked from the suction mechanism 76 out of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 through a collection filter (not shown). Alternatively, the air sucked by the suction blower 77 may be sent to the dust collecting unit 27 and the removed matter contained in the air sucked by the suction mechanism 76 may be collected.

  Humidified air is supplied to the space including the drum unit 61 by the humidifying unit 208. The humidified air can humidify the inside of the accumulation portion 60, suppress the adhesion of fibers and particles to the housing portion 63 due to electrostatic force, and quickly drop the fibers and particles onto the mesh belt 72, so Two webs W2 can be formed.

  As described above, the second web W <b> 2 in a state of containing a large amount of air and softly bulging is formed by passing through the depositing unit 60 and the second web forming unit 70 (web forming step). The second web W2 deposited on the mesh belt 72 is conveyed to the sheet forming unit 80.

  In the conveyance path of the mesh belt 72, air containing mist is supplied by the humidifying unit 212 to the downstream side of the deposition unit 60. Thereby, the mist which the humidification part 212 produces | generates is supplied to the 2nd web W2, and the moisture content which the 2nd web W2 contains is adjusted. Thereby, adsorption | suction etc. of the fiber to the mesh belt 72 by static electricity can be suppressed.

  The sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 is provided with a conveyance unit 79 that conveys the second web W2 on the mesh belt 72 to the sheet forming unit 80. The conveyance unit 79 includes, for example, a mesh belt 79a, a roller 79b, and a suction mechanism 79c.

  The suction mechanism 79c includes a blower (not shown), and generates an upward airflow on the mesh belt 79a by the suction force of the blower. This air flow sucks the second web W2, and the second web W2 is separated from the mesh belt 72 and is adsorbed by the mesh belt 79a. The mesh belt 79a moves by the rotation of the stretching roller 79b, and conveys the second web W2 to the sheet forming unit 80. The moving speed of the mesh belt 72 and the moving speed of the mesh belt 79a are the same, for example.

  Thus, the conveyance unit 79 peels and conveys the second web W2 formed on the mesh belt 72 from the mesh belt 72.

  The sheet forming unit 80 forms the sheet S by pressurizing and heating the second web W <b> 2 deposited on the mesh belt 72 and conveyed by the conveying unit 79. In the sheet forming unit 80, heat is applied to the fibers of the defibrated material included in the second web W2 and the additive, thereby binding the plurality of fibers in the mixture to each other via the additive (resin). .

  The sheet forming unit 80 includes a pressurizing unit 82 that pressurizes the second web W2 and a heating unit 84 that heats the second web W2 pressurized by the pressurizing unit 82.

  The pressurizing unit 82 includes a pair of calendar rollers 85 and presses the second web W2 with a predetermined nip pressure. The second web W2 is reduced in thickness by being pressurized, and the density of the second web W2 is increased. The pressurizing unit 82 includes a pressurizing unit driving motor 332 (FIG. 4). One of the pair of calendar rollers 85 is a driving roller driven by the pressurizing unit driving motor 332, and the other is a driven roller. The calendar roller 85 is rotated by the driving force of the pressurizing unit driving motor 332 and conveys the second web W <b> 2 that has become dense due to pressurization toward the heating unit 84.

  The heating unit 84 can be configured using, for example, a heating roller (heater roller), a hot press molding machine, a hot plate, a hot air blower, an infrared heater, and a flash fixing device. In the present embodiment, the heating unit 84 includes a pair of heating rollers 86. The heating roller 86 is heated to a preset temperature by a heater installed inside or outside. The heating roller 86 heats the second web W <b> 2 pressed by the calendar roller 85 to form the sheet S.

  As described above, the second web W <b> 2 formed by the stacking unit 60 is pressed and heated by the sheet forming unit 80 to become a sheet S.

  The heating unit 84 includes a heating unit drive motor 331 (FIG. 4). One of the pair of heating rollers 86 is a driving roller driven by a heating unit driving motor 331, and the other is a driven roller. The heating roller 86 is rotated by the driving force of the heating unit driving motor 331 and conveys the heated sheet S toward the cutting unit 90.

  The number of calendar rollers 85 provided in the pressurizing unit 82 and the number of heating rollers 86 provided in the heating unit 84 are not particularly limited.

  The cutting unit 90 (cutter unit) cuts the sheet S formed by the sheet forming unit 80. In the present embodiment, the cutting unit 90 cuts the sheet S in a direction parallel to the conveyance direction F, and a first cutting unit 92 that cuts the sheet S in a direction that intersects with the conveyance direction of the sheet S indicated by a symbol F in the drawing. And a second cutting portion 94. The second cutting unit 94 cuts the sheet S that has passed through the first cutting unit 92, for example.

  Thus, a single-sheet sheet S having a predetermined size is formed. The cut sheet S is discharged to the discharge unit 96. The discharge unit 96 includes a tray or a stacker on which a sheet S of a predetermined size is placed.

  In the above configuration, the humidifying units 202, 204, 206, and 208 may be configured by a single vaporizing humidifier. In this case, the humidified air generated by one humidifier may be branched and supplied to the crushing unit 12, the housing unit 43, the pipe 7, and the housing unit 63. This configuration can be easily realized by branching and installing a duct (not shown) for supplying humidified air. Of course, the humidifying sections 202, 204, 206, and 208 can be configured by two or three vaporizing humidifiers.

  Moreover, in the said structure, the humidification parts 210 and 212 may be comprised with one ultrasonic humidifier, and may be comprised with two ultrasonic humidifiers. For example, the air containing the mist which one humidifier produces | generates can be set as the structure branched and supplied to the humidification part 210 and the humidification part 212. FIG.

  Further, the blower provided in the sheet manufacturing unit 101 described above is not limited to the defibrating unit blower 26, the collection blower 28, the mixing blower 56, the suction blower 77, and the intermediate blower. For example, it is of course possible to provide a blower for assisting each blower described above in the duct.

  In the above configuration, the crushing unit 12 first crushes the raw material and manufactures the sheet S from the raw material that has been crushed. For example, a configuration in which the sheet S is manufactured using fibers as the raw material, It is also possible to do.

  For example, the structure which can be thrown into the drum part 41 by using the fiber equivalent to the defibrated material which the defibrating part 20 defibrated may be sufficient. Moreover, what is necessary is just to set it as the structure which can be thrown into the pipe | tube 54 by using the fiber equivalent to the 1st selection thing isolate | separated from the defibrated material as a raw material. In this case, the sheet S can be manufactured by supplying fibers processed from waste paper or pulp to the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100.

[3. Configuration of control system of sheet manufacturing apparatus]
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control system of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100. As described above with reference to FIG. 1, the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 includes the sheet manufacturing control unit 110 that controls each unit of the sheet manufacturing unit 101.

  The sheet manufacturing control unit 110 includes a main processor 111, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 112, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 113. The main processor 111 is an arithmetic processing unit such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and controls each unit of the sheet manufacturing unit 101 by executing a basic control program stored in the ROM 112. The main processor 111 may be configured as a system chip including peripheral circuits such as the ROM 112 and the RAM 113 and other IP cores.

  The ROM 112 stores a program executed by the main processor 111 in a nonvolatile manner. The RAM 113 forms a work area used by the main processor 111 and temporarily stores programs executed by the main processor 111 and data to be processed.

  The nonvolatile storage unit 120 stores a program executed by the main processor 111 and data processed by the main processor 111. The nonvolatile storage unit 120 stores, for example, setting data 121 and display data 122. The setting data 121 includes data for setting the operation of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100. For example, the setting data 121 includes data such as characteristics of various sensors included in the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 and threshold values used in processing in which the main processor 111 detects an abnormality based on detection values of the various sensors. The display data 122 is screen data that the main processor 111 displays on the display panel 116. The display data 122 may be fixed image data, or data for setting a screen display for displaying data generated or acquired by the main processor 111.

  The display panel 116 is a display panel such as a liquid crystal display, and is installed in front of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100, for example. The display panel 116 displays the operation state of the sheet manufacturing unit 101, various set values, a warning display, and the like under the control of the main processor 111.

  The touch sensor 117 detects a touch (contact) operation or a press operation by the user. The touch sensor 117 is composed of, for example, a pressure sensing type or capacitance type sensor having a transparent electrode, and is arranged on the display surface of the display panel 116. When the touch sensor 117 detects an operation, the touch sensor 117 outputs operation data including the operation position and the number of operation positions to the main processor 111. The main processor 111 detects an operation on the display panel 116 based on the output of the touch sensor 117 and acquires an operation position. The main processor 111 implements a GUI (Graphical User Interface) operation based on the operation position detected by the touch sensor 117 and the display data 122 being displayed on the display panel 116.

  The sheet manufacturing control unit 110 is connected to a sensor 140 installed in each part of the sheet manufacturing unit 101 via a sensor I / F (Interface) 114. The sensor I / F 114 is an interface that acquires a detection value output from the sensor 140 and inputs the detection value to the main processor 111. The sensor I / F 114 may include an analog / digital (A / D) converter that converts an analog signal output from the sensor into digital data. The sensor I / F 114 may supply a driving current to each sensor 140. Further, the sensor I / F 114 may include a circuit that acquires the output value of each sensor 140 according to the sampling frequency specified by the main processor 111 and outputs the acquired value to the main processor 111.

  The sheet manufacturing control unit 110 is connected to each driving unit 141 included in the sheet manufacturing unit 101 via a driving unit I / F (Interface) 115. The drive unit 141 included in the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 is a motor, a pump, a heater, or the like.

  The sheet manufacturing control unit 110 is connected to the second communication unit 119 via a communication unit I / F (Interface) 135. The sheet manufacturing control unit 110 communicates with the management server 500 and the like via the communication unit I / F 135 and the second communication unit 119.

  The sheet manufacturing control unit 110 includes a card reader 130 that reads a user ID from an ID card. Further, an input paper counter 131 that counts the number of raw paper sheets input to the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 and a recycled paper counter 132 that counts the number of recycled paper manufactured by the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 are provided. The sheet manufacturing control unit 110 authenticates the user using the card reader 130, recognizes the number of input sheets using the input paper counter 131, and recognizes the number of reproductions using the recycled paper counter 132.

  Next, the printing control unit 310 of the printing apparatus 300 is also configured to include a main processor, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, similar to the sheet manufacturing control unit 110. The print control unit 310 controls the operation of the printing apparatus 300 by executing a control program for the printing apparatus 300 stored in the ROM by the main processor. In addition, the print control unit 310 includes a card reader and a print number counter that counts the number of prints. The card reader is used to authenticate the user, and the print number counter is used to recognize the print number.

[4. Operation of sheet manufacturing apparatus and printing apparatus]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100. Hereinafter, the control process by the sheet manufacturing control unit 110 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  When the sheet manufacturing control unit 110 accepts an operation of user authentication by reading the ID card by the card reader 130 in step S1 of FIG. 5, the process proceeds to step S2.

  In step S2, the sheet manufacturing control unit 110 performs user authentication processing. Specifically, the user ID data read from the ID card is transmitted to the management server 500 to inquire whether the user ID has been registered, and authentication result data indicating the result is received from the management server 500.

  In subsequent step S <b> 3, the sheet manufacturing control unit 110 determines whether or not the authentication is successful from the authentication result data. The sheet manufacturing control unit 110 proceeds to step S4 when the authentication is successful, and proceeds to step S10 when the authentication fails. When the authentication is successful, the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 is in a state in which the sheet can be manufactured according to the start operation by the user.

  In step S <b> 10, the sheet manufacturing control unit 110 transmits data for requesting issuance of a temporary user ID to the management server 500. In the management server 500 that has received this data, a temporary user ID is set by the temporary ID setting unit 503, and data indicating the temporary user ID is returned. In step S11, the sheet manufacturing control unit 110 displays a message for prompting user registration and the temporary user ID received from the management server 500 on the display panel 116, and proceeds to step S4.

  In step S4, when the user's start operation is received by the touch sensor 117, the sheet manufacturing control unit 110 advances the processing to step S5 and starts the process of disassembling and reproducing the paper by the sheet manufacturing unit 101. In subsequent step S <b> 6, the sheet manufacturing control unit 110 determines whether or not the user is a use by a regular user (a user who has succeeded in authentication).

  Then, when the sheet manufacturing control unit 110 is used by a regular user, the process proceeds to step S <b> 7, and the first usage information in which the user ID is associated with the usage information of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 is transmitted to the management server 500. To finish the process.

  The process in which the sheet manufacturing control unit 110 authenticates the user and transmits the first usage information to the management server 500 corresponds to the first usage information transmission step in the management method of the present invention.

  On the other hand, when not used by a regular user (when used by a temporary user), the sheet manufacturing control unit 110 advances the process to step S15. In step S15, the sheet manufacturing control unit 110 transmits the third usage information in which the temporary user ID and the usage information of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 are associated with each other to the management server 500, and ends the process.

  In the management server 500, the usage information acquisition unit 501 receives the first usage information from the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100. Then, the usage information storage unit 510 updates the usage information data of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 in the user management DB 512 associated with the user ID included in the first usage information. When the usage information acquisition unit 501 receives the third usage information from the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100, the usage information storage unit 510 associates the temporary user management DB 514 with the temporary user ID included in the third usage information. The usage information data of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 is updated.

  Similarly, in the printing apparatus 300, the print control unit 310 performs user authentication using an ID card. When the authentication is successful, the user ID of the primary user is associated with the usage information of the printing apparatus 300. The second usage information is transmitted to the management server 500. When the authentication fails, the print control unit 310 transmits the fourth usage information in which the temporary user ID of the temporary user is associated with the usage information of the printing apparatus 300 to the management server 500. When the authentication is successful, the printing apparatus 300 is in a state where printing according to the start operation by the user is possible.

  The process in which the printing apparatus 300 authenticates the user and transmits the second usage information to the management server 500 corresponds to the second usage information transmission step in the management method of the present invention.

  In the management server 500, the usage information acquisition unit 501 receives the second usage information from the printing apparatus 300. Then, the usage information storage unit 510 updates the usage information data of the printing apparatus 300 in the user management DB 512 associated with the user ID included in the second usage information. When the usage information acquisition unit 501 receives the fourth usage information from the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100, the usage information storage unit 510 associates the temporary user management DB 514 with the temporary user ID included in the fourth usage information. The data of the usage information of the printing apparatus 300 is updated.

Here, the usage information acquisition unit 501 acquires the first usage information and the second usage information. Then, the process in which the usage information storage unit 510 updates the data in the user management DB 312 associated with the user ID included in the first usage information and the second usage information is performed in the usage information management step in the management method of the present invention. Equivalent to.
As described above, the use of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 and the printing apparatus 300 can be managed for each user by the management server 500. Since the number of sheets manufactured by the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 and the number of printed sheets by the printing apparatus 300 are associated with each user, when the system administrator tries to manage the usage status of printing and sheet manufacturing, the administrator By accessing the management server 500 from the administrator terminal 400 and confirming the usage information from the usage confirmation screen displayed on the administrator terminal 400, it is possible to easily grasp the number of sheets manufactured and printed for each user. it can. For example, for a user who has a small number of sheets manufactured despite the large number of printed sheets, the administrator prompts the user to use the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100, thereby effectively promoting the use of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100. it can.

[5. Temporary user usage information migration process]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a process for issuing a new user ID and transferring data from the temporary user ID to the new user ID in the management server. Hereinafter, the migration process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  Steps S20 to S21 in FIG. 6 are processes by the user ID setting unit 502. When the management server 500 receives data requesting registration of a new user from the administrator terminal 400, the user ID setting unit 502 advances the process to step S21. Then, a new user ID is set (issued) (corresponding to the setting process of the present invention), and data indicating the set user ID is transmitted to the administrator terminal 400. The administrator terminal 400 that has received this data performs processing for issuing an ID card in which the user ID is recorded.

  The subsequent steps S22 to S23 are processing by the usage information storage unit 510. In step S22, the usage information storage unit 510 determines whether or not a temporary user ID has already been set for a user who has newly issued a user ID.

  When the temporary user ID is set, the usage information storage unit 510 proceeds to step S23 to perform usage information transfer processing. When the temporary user ID is not set, the usage information storage unit 510 proceeds to step S24. Usage information migration processing is not performed.

  Here, FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of data migration from the temporary user ID to the new user ID. In FIG. 7, the cumulative number of processed sheets and the cumulative number of reproduced sheets of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 stored in the temporary user management DB 514 in association with the temporary user ID “TC” and the tracking number of the printing apparatus 300 are newly set. The user ID “C” has been transferred. Thereby, it is possible to collectively manage the usage information of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 and the printing apparatus 300 by the same user.

[6. First Example of Billing Amount Calculation]
FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the first embodiment for calculating the billing amount. Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the billing amount calculation executed by the billing server 600 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  When the billing server 600 receives from the management server 500 usage information on the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 and the printing apparatus 300 by each user (use information for each user stored in the user management DB 512) from the management server 500 in step S50, the accounting server 600 proceeds to step S31. move on. Then, the accounting server 600 recognizes the number of printed sheets in the printing apparatus 300, the number of input sheets and the number of reproduced sheets in the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100. In subsequent step S32, billing server 600 determines whether the number of printed sheets in printing apparatus 300 is equal to or greater than threshold value Pth (corresponding to a predetermined threshold value of the present invention). Then, when the number of printed sheets of the printing apparatus 300 is equal to or greater than the threshold value Pth, the process proceeds to step S33. In step S <b> 33, the billing server 600 calculates the pay-per-use fee according to the paper recycling rate by the sheet manufacturing apparatus (the ratio of the paper printed by the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 out of the paper printed by the printing apparatus 300). Select the billing pattern to use.

  Here, FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of the first billing table, in which the horizontal axis is set to the number of sheets printed (cumulative value) by the printing apparatus 300, and the vertical axis is set to the billing amount. In the first billing table, the fixed amount Fc becomes the billing amount until the number of printed sheets reaches the threshold value Pth, and when the number of printed sheets exceeds Pth, one of the billing patterns A1, B1, and C1 is used. The billing amount is determined according to usage. For example, the charging pattern A1 is selected when the paper recycling rate is 0% (no recycling), the charging pattern B1 is selected when the paper recycling rate is 50%, and the charging pattern C1 has the paper recycling rate. Selected when 100%.

  In subsequent step S34, charging server 600 calculates a charging amount using the charging pattern selected in step S33. On the other hand, when the number of printed sheets of the printing apparatus 300 is equal to or smaller than the threshold value Pth in step S32, the billing server 600 proceeds to step S40 and calculates a fixed billing amount (Fc) as the billing amount. The billing server 600 stores the calculated billing amount data in the billing DB 601 and transmits the billing amount data of each user to the administrator terminal 400 in response to a request from the administrator terminal 400.

  Here, FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of the second billing table, and the second billing table may be used instead of the first billing table shown in FIG. In the second billing table, as in the first billing table, the horizontal axis is set to the number of printed sheets of the printing apparatus 300, and the vertical axis is set to the billing amount. In the second billing table, the threshold value for switching from fixed billing to fixed plus pay-as-you-go billing increases as the paper regeneration rate increases. That is, when the paper recycling rate is 0% (no recycling), the charging pattern A2 having the threshold value Pth1 is selected. Further, when the paper recycling rate is 50%, the charging pattern B2 with the threshold value Pth2 (> Pth1) is selected, and when the paper recycling rate is 100%, the charging pattern C2 with the threshold value Pth3 (Pth2) is selected. The

  When the first billing table in FIG. 9 or the second billing table in FIG. 10 is used, the billing amount decreases as the paper recycling rate increases. Can be played.

[7. Second Example of Calculation of Billing Amount]
FIG. 11 is a flowchart of the second embodiment for calculating the billing amount. Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the billing amount calculation executed by the billing server 600 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  The billing server 600 proceeds to step S51 when receiving usage information (usage information stored in the user management DB 512) of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 and the printing apparatus 300 by each user from the management server 500 in step S50. Then, the accounting server 500 calculates the total number of printed sheets in the printing apparatus 300 and the total number of reproduced sheets in the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 (corresponding to the total quantity of the present invention).

  In subsequent step S52, billing server 600 determines whether or not the total number is equal to or less than threshold value Tth (corresponding to the predetermined threshold value of the present invention). If the total number is equal to or less than the threshold value Tth, the billing server 600 proceeds to step S60 and calculates the fixed amount Fc as the billing amount.

  On the other hand, when the total number exceeds the threshold value Tth in step S52, billing server 600 advances the process to step S53. Here, FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of the third billing table, where the horizontal axis is set to the total number of printed sheets of the printing apparatus 300 and the number of reproduced sheets of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100, and the vertical axis is set to the charged amount. ing.

  The billing server 600 uses the third billing table to calculate a pay-as-you-go amount that exceeds the threshold value Tth, and calculates the sum of the pay-out amount and the fixed amount Fc as the charge amount. The billing server 600 stores the calculated billing amount data in the billing DB 601 and transmits the billing amount data of each user to the administrator terminal 400 in response to a request from the administrator terminal 400.

  When the third billing table of FIG. 12 is used, the billing amount does not change until the total number of printed sheets and reproduced sheets exceeds the threshold value Tth. Therefore, for example, the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 and the printing apparatus 300 can be used with an easy-to-understand fee structure as compared with the case where charging according to the number of printed sheets and charging according to the number of reproduced sheets are performed separately. Thus, the use of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 and the printing apparatus 300 can be promoted.

[8. Other Embodiments]
In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the management system 1 that includes the accounting server 600 and calculates the accounting amount for the user is shown. However, the accounting server may be omitted.

  Moreover, although the sheet manufacturing apparatus which performs a defibration by a dry type was shown as a sheet manufacturing apparatus of this invention, the apparatus using various reproduction | regenerating methods is employable as a sheet manufacturing apparatus of this invention. For example, a so-called wet sheet manufacturing apparatus may be employed in which a raw material containing fibers is dissolved or suspended in a solvent such as water and the raw material is processed into a sheet. Alternatively, an antistatic sheet manufacturing apparatus may be employed in which a material containing fibers defibrated in the air is adsorbed on the surface of the drum by static electricity or the like, and the raw material adsorbed on the drum is processed into a sheet.

  Further, the user ID recorded on the ID card is used as the user identification information of the present invention, but the user's biometric information (fingerprint, iris, etc.) may be used.

  Further, at least some of the control units of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100, the printing apparatus 300, the administrator terminal 400, the management server 500, and the accounting server 600 illustrated in FIG. 1 may be realized by hardware. Or it is good also as a structure implement | achieved by cooperation of hardware and software, and is not limited to the structure which arrange | positions an independent hardware resource. The program executed by the control unit may be stored in a nonvolatile storage unit or another storage device (not shown). Moreover, it is good also as a structure which acquires and runs the program memorize | stored in the external apparatus via a communication part.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Management system, 100 ... Sheet manufacturing apparatus, 101 ... Sheet manufacturing part, 110 ... Sheet manufacturing control part, 119 ... 2nd communication part, 300 ... Printing apparatus, 301 ... Printing part, 310 ... Print control part, 311 ... Printing Control unit, 400 ... administrator terminal, 500 ... management server (management device), 501 ... usage information acquisition unit, 502 ... user ID setting unit, 503 ... temporary ID setting unit, 510 ... usage information storage unit, 511 ... user DB DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 512 ... User management DB, 513 ... Temporary user DB, 514 ... Temporary user management DB, 600 ... Billing server (billing apparatus), 601 ... Billing DB, 900 ... Communication network.

Claims (11)

A management system comprising a sheet manufacturing apparatus that processes a raw material to manufacture a sheet, a printing apparatus that performs printing on a printing medium, and a management apparatus configured to be able to communicate with the sheet manufacturing apparatus and the printing apparatus,
The sheet manufacturing apparatus authenticates a user who uses the sheet manufacturing apparatus, and sends first usage information including identification information of the authenticated user and usage information of the sheet manufacturing apparatus by the authenticated user to the management apparatus. Send
The printing apparatus performs authentication of a user who uses the printing apparatus, and transmits second usage information including identification information of the authenticated user and usage information of the printing apparatus by the authenticated user to the management apparatus,
The management apparatus acquires the first usage information and the second usage information, and the sheet manufacturing apparatus for each user specified by the identification information based on the first usage information and the second usage information. And managing the usage information of the printing device and the usage information of the printing apparatus,
Management system. The printing apparatus includes:
A printing unit for printing on the print medium;
A print control unit that authenticates a user who uses the printing apparatus and permits the authenticated user to use the printing apparatus;
A first communication unit that transmits the first usage information related to the authenticated user to the management device;
The sheet manufacturing apparatus includes:
A sheet manufacturing section for manufacturing the sheet using the printing medium as a raw material;
A sheet manufacturing control unit that authenticates a user who uses the sheet manufacturing unit and permits the authenticated user to use the sheet manufacturing apparatus;
A second communication unit that transmits the second usage information regarding the authenticated user to the management device;
The management device
A usage information acquisition unit that acquires the first usage information and the second usage information;
Based on the first usage information and the second usage information acquired by the usage information acquisition unit, for each user specified by the identification information, usage information of the printing apparatus and usage information of the sheet manufacturing apparatus, The management system of Claim 1 which has a utilization information storage part which matches and memorize | stores. If the user cannot be authenticated, the sheet manufacturing apparatus sets temporary identification information for the unauthenticated user, permits the use of the sheet manufacturing apparatus by the unauthenticated user, and Transmitting third usage information including identification information and usage information of the sheet manufacturing apparatus by the user set with the temporary identification information to the management apparatus;
The management apparatus, when acquiring the third usage information, manages the temporary identification information included in the acquired third usage information in association with the usage information of the sheet manufacturing apparatus. Management system.   The management apparatus performs a setting process of the identification information for a new user of the sheet manufacturing apparatus, and when the temporary identification information is set for the new user, the sheet associated with the temporary identification information The management system according to claim 3, wherein the usage information of the manufacturing apparatus is associated with the identification information set for the new user.   Billing for processing billing information related to the user specified by the identification information using the sheet production apparatus usage information and the printing apparatus usage information associated with the identification information managed by the management apparatus The management system of any one of Claims 1-4 provided with an apparatus. The billing information includes a billing amount;
The management system according to claim 5, wherein the billing apparatus increases the billing amount according to use of the printing apparatus and reduces the billing amount according to use of the sheet manufacturing apparatus. The billing information includes a billing amount;
The billing device calculates the billing amount by adding a metered amount according to the quantity of the printing medium printed by the printing device to a preset fixed amount, and is used for the sheet manufacturing apparatus. 6. The management system according to claim 5, wherein the pay-as-you-go amount is reduced accordingly. The billing information includes a billing amount;
The billing apparatus uses a predetermined fixed amount as the billing amount until the quantity of the print medium printed by the printing apparatus exceeds a predetermined threshold, and the quantity of the print medium printed by the printing apparatus is the predetermined amount. After the threshold value is exceeded, the billing amount is calculated by adding a fixed amount according to the quantity of the print medium printed by the printing apparatus to the fixed amount, and the predetermined amount is determined according to use of the sheet manufacturing apparatus. The management system according to claim 5, wherein the threshold value is increased. The billing information includes a billing amount;
The billing device may use a preset fixed amount until the total quantity of the print medium printed by the printing apparatus and the sheet manufactured by the sheet manufacturing apparatus exceeds a predetermined threshold. 6. The management system according to claim 5, wherein the billing amount is calculated, and after the total quantity exceeds the predetermined threshold, the billing amount is calculated by adding a metered amount corresponding to the total quantity to the fixed amount. A sheet manufacturing apparatus for processing a raw material to manufacture a sheet, a printing apparatus for printing on a print medium, and a management apparatus configured to be communicable,
Transmitted from the sheet manufacturing apparatus, first usage information including identification information of a user authenticated by the sheet manufacturing apparatus and usage information of the sheet manufacturing apparatus by the authenticated user, and transmitted from the printing apparatus, Obtaining identification information of the user authenticated by the printing apparatus and second usage information including usage information of the printing apparatus by the authenticated user;
Based on the first usage information and the second usage information, for each of the users specified by the identification information, the usage information of the sheet manufacturing apparatus and the usage information of the printing apparatus are managed in association with each other.
Management device. Executed by a management system including a sheet manufacturing apparatus that processes a raw material to manufacture a sheet, a printing apparatus that performs printing on a print medium, and a management apparatus configured to be able to communicate with the sheet manufacturing apparatus and the printing apparatus. A method,
The sheet manufacturing apparatus authenticates a user who uses the sheet manufacturing apparatus, and receives first usage information including identification information of the authenticated user and usage information of the sheet manufacturing apparatus by the authenticated user to the management apparatus. A first usage information transmission step of transmitting;
The printing apparatus authenticates a user who uses the printing apparatus, and transmits second usage information including identification information of the authenticated user and usage information of the printing apparatus by the authenticated user to the management apparatus. 2 usage information transmission step;
The management apparatus receives the first usage information and the second usage information, and the sheet manufacturing apparatus for each user specified by the identification information based on the first usage information and the second usage information Usage information management step for managing the usage information and the usage information of the printing apparatus in association with each other;
Management method including.

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