JP2023091499A - Replenishment management system, replenishment control method, image formation device and server device - Google Patents

Abstract

To control replenishment of a consumable material from a replenishment pack according to a contract state of a user.SOLUTION: An opening/closing mechanism has an unlock state where a replenishment route of a consumable material is opened or opening of the replenishment route is allowed, and a lock state where opening of the replenishment route of the consumable material is restricted. A server device or a control part switches an unlock condition for controlling the opening/closing mechanism from the lock state to the unlock state, according to a contract state of a user to providing service of the consumable material.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 15

Description

The present disclosure relates to a replenishment management system, a replenishment control method, an image forming apparatus, and a server device.

Image forming devices such as copiers, printers and facsimile receivers consume consumables such as toner or ink to form images on recording media. When the consumable is exhausted, the user replaces the used cartridge with a new cartridge, or replenishes the consumable from the pack containing the consumable to the tank of the image forming apparatus. Compared to the widely used detachable cartridge system, the replenishment system, in which a device such as a replenishment pack is connected to the image forming apparatus only at the time of replenishment to replenish (for example, inject) consumables into the apparatus, is low cost. and has the advantage of low environmental load.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-200001 proposes that when a user signs up for an ink cartridge delivery service, the ink cartridge is automatically shipped when the remaining amount of ink falls below a threshold. Further, according to Patent Document 1, fixed-price printing is mentioned. Fixed-price printing refers to a contract form in which a user can print up to 200 sheets per month, and ink cartridges are automatically shipped.

JP 2017-049767 A

A supply pack containing consumables is automatically delivered to the user by making a contract for a flat-rate service (called a subscription) by the user. This would be convenient for the user. An authentication process is performed on the supply packs provided to the user under the subscription to control proper use by the user. Specifically, when the authentication of the supply pack succeeds, the supply of consumables from the supply pack to the image forming apparatus is permitted (unlocked), and when the authentication fails, the supply of consumables is prohibited (locked). .

Here, if the consumables cannot be replenished without authentication processing even after canceling the subscription contract, it would be troublesome for the user who canceled the contract. Therefore, if the user is always requested to authenticate the replenishment pack, the usability will be degraded.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to control the replenishment of consumables from replenishment packs according to the user's contract status.

According to one aspect of the invention, for example,
an acquisition unit that is present in the user's environment and acquires a code unique to a storage device that stores consumables to be consumed for image formation;
an opening/closing mechanism disposed in at least one of the storage device and the image forming apparatus capable of opening and closing a supply path of the consumable material from the storage device to the image forming apparatus;
a server device that exists in a remote environment and authenticates the contained device based on the code acquired by the acquisition unit;
a control unit that exists in the user environment and opens the supply path of the consumable material by the opening/closing mechanism or permits opening of the supply path by the opening/closing mechanism;
The opening/closing mechanism has an unlocked state in which the supply path for the consumable material is opened or permitted to be opened, and a locked state in which the opening of the supply path for the consumable material is restricted. ,
The server device or the control unit sets an unlock condition for controlling the opening/closing mechanism from the locked state to the unlocked state according to the contract status of the user of the image forming apparatus for the consumable supply service. A switching, supply management system is provided.

According to the present invention, it is possible to control the replenishment of consumables from replenishment packs according to the user's contract status.

1 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of the appearance of an image forming apparatus according to one embodiment; FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of the internal physical configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment; FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view for explaining an example of the configuration of a consumable supply route according to one embodiment; FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining an example of the configuration of a storage unit and its surroundings according to one embodiment; 1 is a schematic perspective view for explaining an example of a schematic configuration of a replenishment pack according to one embodiment; FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining opening and closing of the discharge tray according to one embodiment; FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a supply pack is connected to a toner receiving portion; Explanatory drawing for demonstrating an example of the lock mechanism for locking the operation|movement of an opening-and-closing mechanism. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a replenishment management system according to the first embodiment; FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a management server according to the first embodiment; FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a table held in a management database; FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a user terminal according to the first embodiment; FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment; FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the flow of authentication processing executed by the management server; 4 is a sequence diagram showing an example of replenishment processing according to the first embodiment; FIG. The figure explaining a contract type switching screen. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an example of holding codes in memory tags; FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an example of an image forming apparatus capable of communicating with a memory tag; A sequence diagram showing an example of replenishment processing according to the second embodiment. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of authentication processing executed by a management server; 4 is a flowchart showing an example of contract type switching processing executed by a management server;

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the scope of claims. Although multiple features are described in the embodiments, not all of these multiple features are essential to the invention, and multiple features may be combined arbitrarily. Furthermore, in the accompanying drawings, the same or similar configurations are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

<1. Description of Image Forming Apparatus>
In this section, the basic configuration of a replenishment type image forming apparatus in which developer is replenished from a replenishment pack will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8. FIG. In the following description, the configuration of the image forming apparatus 1, which is a monochrome laser printer, is exemplified, but the technology according to the present disclosure can also be applied to other types of printers, such as color laser printers and inkjet printers. Generally speaking, the technology according to the present disclosure is widely applicable to general image forming apparatuses such as copiers, printers, facsimile receivers, and multi-function peripherals.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of the appearance of an image forming apparatus 1 according to one embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of the internal physical configuration of the image forming apparatus 1. As shown in FIG. The image forming apparatus 1 is a monochrome laser printer that forms an image on a recording medium based on input image data. The recording medium here can include various media of different materials such as paper, plastic film, envelope, sheet, and cloth.

In the following description, the Z direction is the height direction of the image forming apparatus 1 when the image forming apparatus 1 is installed on a horizontal surface. A direction orthogonal to the Z direction and parallel to the rotation axis direction (main scanning direction) of the photosensitive drum 44, which will be described later, is defined as the X direction. A direction perpendicular to the X direction and the Z direction is defined as the Y direction.

<1-1. Appearance of device>
According to FIG. 1 , the housing of image forming apparatus 1 includes front cover 20 , exterior cover 21 , rear cover 22 , and ejection tray 82 . A handle 23 is provided on the rear cover 22 . The front cover 20 is openable and closable on one side surface of the image forming apparatus 1 and protects a processing circuit 90, which will be described later. The back cover 22 is arranged on the other side surface of the image forming apparatus 1 so as to be openable and closable. A user can open the back cover 22 by gripping the handle 23 of the back cover 22 to expose part of the transport path along which the recording medium is transported and the process unit 41, for example, to clear a jam or replace the process unit 41. maintenance work such as FIG. 1A shows a state in which the rear cover 22 is closed, and FIG. 1B shows a state in which the rear cover 22 is opened.

<1-2. Configuration inside the device>
Referring to FIG. 2 , the image forming apparatus 1 includes a feeding section 30 , an image forming section 40 , a fixing section 70 , a discharge roller pair 80 and a processing circuit 90 . The feeding section 30 feeds the recording medium P toward the image forming section 40 . The image forming unit 40 consumes toner, which is a consumable material, to form an image (toner image) on a recording medium. The fixing section 70 fixes the image formed by the image forming section 40 onto the recording medium P. FIG. The discharge roller pair 80 discharges the recording medium P processed by the fixing section 70 to the discharge tray 82 .

The image forming section 40 has a process unit 41 , a scanner unit 42 and a transfer roller 43 . The process unit 41 has a photosensitive drum 44 , a developing roller 45 , a cleaning unit 46 , a charging roller 47 and a reservoir 48 . The process unit 41 may be fixed to the main body of the image forming apparatus 1, or may be removable.

The photosensitive drum 44 is an image carrier, and has a photosensitive layer formed of an organic photosensitive member on a drum-shaped base. The photosensitive drum 44 is rotationally driven in the R direction in the figure by a motor. The charging roller 47 is applied with a charging voltage by a high-voltage power supply, is pressed against the photosensitive drum 44 , and uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 44 . The scanner unit 42 irradiates the photosensitive drum 44 with laser light according to the input image data to expose the surface of the photosensitive drum 44 . This exposure forms an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the input image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 44 . Note that the scanner unit 42 may irradiate the photosensitive drum 44 with light from an LED array instead of laser light.

Developing roller 45 is rotatably supported by reservoir 48 . The storage unit 48 stores toner. Although not shown in FIG. 2 , the reservoir 48 may further include a supply roller that applies the toner stored in the reservoir 48 to the surface of the developing roller 45 . A developing voltage is applied to the developing roller 45 by a high-voltage power supply. When the toner carried on the developing roller 45 contacts the photosensitive drum 44 , the toner is transferred from the developing roller 45 to the drum surface according to the potential distribution on the surface of the photosensitive drum 44 . Thereby, a toner image is developed from the electrostatic latent image.

The feeding section 30 has a cassette 31 , a pickup roller 32 , a separation roller pair 33 and a conveying roller pair 34 . A bundle of recording media P is stacked on the cassette 31 . The cassette 31 can be pulled out from the housing of the image forming apparatus 1 . The pickup roller 32 picks up the recording medium P in the cassette 31 and feeds the recording medium P toward the separation roller pair 33 . The separation roller pair 33 separates one recording medium P and conveys it toward the conveyance roller pair 34 . The transport roller pair 34 transports the recording medium P toward the transfer nip between the transfer roller 43 and the photosensitive drum 44 . The transfer roller 43 is applied with a transfer voltage from a high-voltage power supply, and transfers the toner image developed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 44 onto the recording medium P conveyed to the transfer nip.

The recording medium P onto which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed along the conveying path and reaches the fixing section 70 . The fixing section 70 has a heating roller 71 , a pressure roller 72 and a fixing heater 73 . The heating roller 71 and pressure roller 72 heat and press the recording medium P when the recording medium P passes through the nip between these rollers. As a result, the toner particles are melted and then fixed, thereby fixing the toner image on the recording medium P. As shown in FIG. After passing through the fixing section 70 , the recording medium P is discharged from the discharge port 81 to the discharge tray 82 by the discharge roller pair 80 . The cleaning unit 46 is arranged near the photosensitive drum 44 . The cleaning unit 46 cleans the photosensitive drum 44 by scraping off toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 44 .

The processing circuit 90 has electronic components 91, 92, 93 arranged on a substrate. For example, the electronic component 91 may be a processor, the electronic component 92 may be a non-volatile memory, and the electronic component 93 may be an input/output device. The input/output device may include a communication interface. When a job instructing image formation is input to the image forming apparatus 1, an image forming process based on input image data received from an external computer, for example, is started. In the image forming process, as described above, the scanner unit 42 forms an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 44 according to input image data, the developing roller 45 develops a toner image from this electrostatic latent image, and the transfer roller 43 The toner image is transferred to the recording medium P by . Processing circuitry 90 operates as a controller for controlling such image forming processes.

<1-3. Detailed configuration of the storage unit>
Next, an example of a more specific configuration related to the storage section 48 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view for explaining an example of the configuration of a consumable supply route of the image forming apparatus 1. As shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining an example of the configuration of the storage section 48 and its surroundings. Referring to FIG. 3, storage section 48 forms part of toner supply section 100 . The toner supply section 100 has a storage section 48 and a toner receiving section 110 . The toner receiving portion 110 includes a cylindrical member 112 , a main body shutter 116 and a connecting member 120 . Toner receiving portion 110 further includes ring member 111, which will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8, but ring member 111 is omitted in FIG. 3 for the purpose of showing other components. The internal space of the cylindrical member 112 communicates with the reservoir 48 via the side opening 115 and the hollow connecting member 120 . The main body shutter 116 has a role as an opening/closing mechanism capable of opening and closing a replenishment path of a consumable material (here, toner) from a replenishment pack 200 to the storage section 48, which will be described later. A protrusion 117 is formed on the inner surface of the body shutter 116 .

FIG. 4 shows how the supply pack 200 is connected to the toner receiving portion 110 together with a cross section of the storage portion 48 and its surroundings. The supply pack 200 is an example of a storage device that stores consumables that are consumed for image formation. When the main body shutter 116 is opened, the supply path extending from the supply pack 200 to the storage section 48 through the connection member 120 is opened. With the supply path open, the toner discharged from the supply pack 200 is supplied to the storage section 48 through the supply path.

Inside the reservoir 48, as shown in FIG. 4, a stirring member 60 having a shaft 60a arranged along the X direction and blades 60b rotating around the shaft 60a is provided. The blade 60b is driven by a motor 65 to rotate. The toner in the storage section 48 is agitated by the rotation of the vanes 60 b and reaches the developing roller 45 . Note that the stirring member 60 may have a spiral member instead of the blades 60b. The stirring member 60 may have a role of uniforming the toner in the storage section 48 by scraping the toner from the developing roller 45 and circulating the toner in the storage section 48 .

A remaining amount detection unit 61 is further provided in the storage unit 48 . The remaining amount detection unit 61 is a sensor for detecting the remaining amount of toner in the storage unit 48 . The remaining amount detection unit 61 has a light emitter 61a and a light receiver 61b. Light emitter 61a emits light that travels inside reservoir 48 along optical axis Q1. The light receiver 61b is arranged at a position facing the light emitter 61a and receives light emitted from the light emitter 61a. Note that when light is guided by, for example, a light guide tube, the light receiver 61b does not necessarily have to be arranged at a position facing the light emitter 61a. The light emitter 61a may be, for example, a light emitting element such as an LED, or may be a halogen lamp, a fluorescent lamp, or the like. The light receiver 61b may be, for example, a phototransistor, photodiode or avalanche photodiode.

The photodetector 61b outputs a photodetection signal having a signal level dependent on the amount of received light. The light detection signal is input to the processing circuit 90 after being analog-to-digital converted, for example. Processing circuitry 90 estimates the amount of toner remaining, for example, based on the percentage of time light from emitter 61a is blocked (by toner) for a given time window while the toner is being agitated. may Note that the remaining amount of toner is not limited to the configuration example of the remaining amount detection unit 61 described above, and the remaining amount of toner may be detected or estimated by any method. Processing circuitry 90 may, for example, sense the capacitance of reservoir 48 to estimate the amount of toner remaining. The processing circuit 90 may reversely estimate the remaining amount of toner from the amount of toner used so far. The processing circuit 90 may calculate the amount of toner used based on the number of printed sheets, the count value of the pixel count, or the like.

<1-4. Configuration of supply pack>
FIG. 5 shows an example of a schematic configuration of the replenishment pack 200. As shown in FIG. In this configuration example, the replenishment pack 200 includes a storage portion 211 , a nozzle 212 and a pack shutter 214 . The container 211 can be configured, for example, as a hollow tube or pouch to contain the consumable toner. The container 211 is filled with toner in advance. The housing part 211 may be, for example, an easily deformable plastic bag. However, the container 211 is not limited to such an example, and may be made of any material such as resin, paper, or vinyl, and may have any shape such as a bottle, cylinder, or box.

The nozzle 212 is an interface portion with the toner receiving portion 110 of the image forming apparatus 1 . The inside of the nozzle 212 communicates with the inside of the housing portion 211 . A side surface of the nozzle 212 is formed with an opening 213 for discharging toner to the outside. The opening 213 is normally closed by the pack shutter 214 .

The pack shutter 214 is a cylindrical member concentric with the nozzle 212 and arranged radially outside the nozzle 212 . The pack shutter 214 has an opening 214c. A portion of the edge forming the opening 214c constitutes a drive transmission surface 214b. When replenishing toner, the pack shutter 214 rotates relative to the nozzle 212 so that the opening 213 of the nozzle 212 overlaps the opening 214c of the pack shutter 214, thereby opening the toner discharge path blocked by the pack shutter 214. can be released. As will be described later, the drive transmission surface 214b serves as a surface that receives force for rotating the pack shutter 214. As shown in FIG. FIG. 5A shows a state in which the toner discharge path is closed, and FIG. 5B shows a state in which the toner discharge path is open. A sealing member 231 that normally blocks the opening 213 of the nozzle 212 may be further disposed on the inner peripheral surface of the pack shutter 214 . The seal member 231 prevents toner from leaking out of the replenishment pack 200 when the toner is not being replenished.

<1-5. Replenishment of consumables>
Next, the connection of the supply pack 200 to the toner receiving portion 110 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, the discharge tray 82 is configured to be openable and closable about an opening/closing axis provided in the housing along the X direction. In the example of FIG. 6A, the ejection tray 82 is in a closed state, and the recording medium P ejected from the ejection port 81 is ejected onto the ejection tray 82 in this state. In the example of FIG. 6B, the discharge tray 82 is in an open state, and the replenishment port 114 of the toner receiving section 110 is exposed in this state. That is, in this configuration example, the discharge tray 82 also serves as a shielding member that shields the supply port 114 . The user lifts and opens the discharge tray 82 as shown in FIG. 6B and inserts the nozzle 212 of the supply pack 200 into the exposed supply port 114 as shown on the left in FIG. 110 can be connected.

The right side of FIG. 7 shows an enlarged view of the replenishment pack 200 connected to the toner receiving portion 110 . A ring member 111 surrounding the supply port 114 is rotatably supported on the top surface of the cylindrical member 112 . The ring member 111 has a lever 111b to be gripped by the user and a projecting portion 111d indicated by dotted lines in the figure. The projecting portion 111 d engages with the drive transmission surface 214 b of the pack shutter 214 of the replenishment pack 200 inserted into the toner receiving portion 110 . The drive transmission surface 214b also engages with the protrusion 117 (see FIG. 3) of the body shutter 116. As shown in FIG. When the user operates the lever 111b to rotate the ring member 111 around the central axis, the force generated in the rotational direction is transmitted from the protrusion 111d to the drive transmission surface 214b of the pack shutter 214, and further from the drive transmission surface 214b. It is transmitted to the projecting portion 117 of the main body shutter 116 . As a result, the main body shutter 116 and the pack shutter 214 of the replenishment pack 200 are rotated in conjunction with the ring member 111, and the toner replenishment path can be opened after, for example, 90 degrees of rotation. When the replenishment path is opened, the toner stored in the storage portion 211 of the supply pack 200 is injected from the opening 213 of the nozzle 212 into the toner receiving portion 110, passes through the connecting member 120, and is supplied to the storage portion 48. be. Note that the rotation of the ring member 111 can be regulated by a regulating member (not shown) so that rotation exceeding a predetermined upper limit angle is not performed.

In the above example, the toner replenishment path is opened by the rotational force generated by the user operating the lever 111b. may be broken. As an example, the image forming apparatus 1 may include a pack sensor that detects that the supply pack 200 is connected to the toner receiving portion 110, and a drive motor that generates driving force for rotating the ring member 111. good. In this example, the processing circuit 90 actuates the drive motor and rotates the ring member 111 with the rotational force of the drive motor on the condition that the connection of the supply pack 200 to the toner receiving portion 110 is detected by the pack sensor. The supply route may be opened by letting the

The opening and closing mechanism for opening and closing the replenishment path is not limited to the above-described shutter rotation mechanism. Instead of a rotating shutter, a linearly movable shutter may be employed, or a mechanism different from the shutter, such as a valve, may be employed. Moreover, the opening/closing mechanism may be provided in at least one of the storage device such as the supply pack 200 and the image forming apparatus. That is, the replenishment path from the storage device to the image forming apparatus may be always open on one side of the storage device and the image forming apparatus, and may be opened and closed only on the other side. Alternatively, the supply path may be opened and closed at both the storage device and the image forming apparatus, as in the example above. Further, a sensor for detecting the operation of the opening/closing mechanism by the user or detecting the state (open state or closed state) of the opening/closing mechanism may be additionally arranged.

Here, the opening/closing mechanism refers to a mechanism whose movement is locked by a locking mechanism, which will be described later. In other words, the lock mechanism restricts the user from freely opening and closing the opening/closing mechanism. Note that the opening/closing mechanism is provided in at least one of the storage device and the image forming apparatus. Here, in order to prevent the toner from leaking from the replenishment port 114 of the image forming apparatus 1 or the opening 213 of the replenishment pack 200, a member such as a lid or a cap may be provided to cover the replenishment port 114 or the opening 213. FIG. In this case, the sealing member, such as a lid or cap, may be configured to be freely opened by the user at any time.

<1-6. Locking and Unlocking of Opening and Closing Mechanism>
The ring member 111 of the image forming apparatus 1 may normally be locked so as not to rotate even if a user applies force. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of a lock mechanism for locking the rotation of the ring member 111. As shown in FIG. 8A and 8B show how the toner receiving portion 110 is viewed from the inside of the image forming apparatus 1 (from the minus side to the plus side in the Z direction). The toner receiving section 110 includes a lock unit 150, for example. The lock unit 150 has a rod-shaped lock member 152 whose one end is supported by a shaft 151 and which can rotate about the shaft 151 . Moreover, the ring member 111 has a protrusion 111k. Normally, the lock member 152 is biased in a direction away from the lock unit 150 by the elastic force of a spring (not shown) inside the lock unit 150 at the tip 153 on the side opposite to the shaft 151 , whereby the tip 153 is It is located on the rotation orbit of the projection 111k of the ring member 111. As shown in FIG. Therefore, even if the user tries to rotate the ring member 111 clockwise in the figure, the tip 153 of the locking member 152 interferes with the protrusion 111k, and the rotation of the ring member 111 is restrained. It is locked in the closed state (see FIG. 8(A)).

The lock unit 150 further has a solenoid (not shown) for rotating the lock member 152 in a direction opposite to the elastic force of the spring, for example. The solenoid is temporarily energized during a period in which toner replenishment from the replenishment pack 200 to the image forming apparatus 1 is permitted, and its attractive force rotates the lock member 152 . When the solenoid is energized and the lock member 152 rotates, the tip 153 of the lock member 152 retreats from the rotation track of the projection 111k of the ring member 111 (see FIG. 8B). As a result, the user can rotate the ring member 111 clockwise in the figure, that is, the opening/closing mechanism of the replenishment path is unlocked. The locking and unlocking of such opening and closing mechanisms may be controlled by processing circuitry 90 . Various examples of conditions under which the opening and closing mechanism is unlocked are described in the following sections.

The configuration of the lock mechanism that locks and unlocks the opening/closing mechanism is not limited to the example described above, and may be any mechanical, electromagnetic, electrical, or software mechanism. For example, locking member 152 may be driven by a motor or other type of actuator rather than a solenoid. If an opening/closing mechanism is employed that operates under computer control without relying on user operation, locking and unlocking of the opening/closing mechanism may simply be implemented by program code.

As shown on the right side of FIG. 7, an indicator 125 is arranged near the ring member 111 . The indicator 125 indicates to the user whether the above-described opening/closing mechanism is in the locked state or the unlocked state. The indicator 125 may be composed of, for example, an LED (light emitting diode) disposed within the housing and a window through which light from the LED is transmitted. The user can rotate the ring member 111 to open the supply path when the indicator 125 indicates that the opening/closing mechanism is in the unlocked state.

<2. Supply Management System (First Embodiment)>
A mechanism for determining whether or not consumables can be replenished from the replenishment pack 200 by involving a server device operating in a remote environment when consumables are replenished in the image forming apparatus 1 will be described.

<2-1. System Overview>
FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of the print management system 300 according to the first embodiment. The print management system 300 may also be called a supply management system. Referring to FIG. 9, print management system 300 includes image forming apparatus 1 , management server 301 and user terminal 401 .

The image forming apparatus 1 is installed in a user environment E1 where a user exists. A user terminal 401 also exists in the user environment E1 and is possessed by the user. The image forming apparatus 1 and user terminal 401 are connected to a local network N1, which may be, for example, a LAN (Local Area Network). The management server 301 is installed in the remote environment E2. The remote environment E2 is connected to the local network N1 via the external network N2. The external network N2 may be, for example, the Internet or a VPN (Virtual Private Network). The local network N1 and the external network N2 may each include any number of network devices of any type, such as routers, switches, gateways, wireless access points, and base stations.

A user uses the image forming apparatus 1 in the user environment E1. As described above, the image forming apparatus 1 consumes toner as a consumable material to form an image on a recording medium. When the toner stored in image forming apparatus 1 runs out, the user connects replenishment pack 200 , which is a storage device that stores toner, to image forming apparatus 1 , and supplies toner from replenishment pack 200 to image forming apparatus 1 . replenish.

The management server 301 is a server device for managing replenishment of toner from the replenishment pack 200 to the image forming apparatus 1 and printing using the image forming apparatus 1 . The management server 301 centrally manages the usage status of each image forming apparatus 1 by a plurality of users. The management server 301 may be implemented as an application server, database server, or cloud server using, for example, a high-performance general-purpose computer. The user terminal 401 is a terminal device that provides a user with a user interface for supporting the supply management function of the management server 301 . The user terminal 401 may be, for example, a general-purpose terminal device such as a smart phone, mobile phone, PC (Personal Computer), or PDA (Personal Digital Assistant). The image forming apparatus 1 may also provide the user with a user interface.

Note that the functions of the management server 301, which will be described later in detail, may be provided by a single device, or may be provided by a plurality of physically separate devices that cooperate with each other. Also, part of the database described as held by the management server 301 may be held by a device separate from the management server 301 (for example, another database server).

A contract system (subscription system) refers to a service in which a user contracts with a consumables sales company to use consumables at a fixed price for a certain period of time, for example. The remaining amount of toner estimated by the remaining amount detection unit 61 of the image forming apparatus 1 is sequentially transmitted to the management server 301 . The management server 301 predicts when the toner stored in the storage unit 48 will run out based on the change in the remaining amount of toner. The management server 301 ships the replenishment pack 200 to the user so that the replenishment pack 200 dedicated to the subscription (hereinafter referred to as the dedicated replenishment pack) reaches the user before the exhaustion time arrives. The management server 301 authenticates the dedicated supply pack 200 connected or about to be connected to the image forming apparatus 1 to permit (unlock) supply of consumables from the dedicated supply pack 200 . When the authentication of the supply pack 200 fails, the management server 301 prohibits the supply of consumables from the supply pack 200 (lock).

Unlike the supply pack 200 for subscriptions, there is also a supply pack 200 for non-subscribers that can be used by users who have not concluded a subscription contract. The replenishment pack 200 for non-contractors is also officially distributed in the market. If authentication processing is applied to the supply pack 200 for non-contractors, the lock will not be released, and the user will not be able to use the supply pack 200 for non-contractors. Therefore, in this embodiment, the management server 301 skips or disables the authentication process for the supply pack 200 for the non-contractor. This allows the user to use the regular replenishment pack 200 for non-contractors.

In order for the subscriber of the subscription to use the regular supply pack 200 for the non-subscriber, the user should switch the contract type held in the management server 301 . Thereby, the subscriber of the subscription may cancel the contract and become a non-contractor to use the regular supply pack 200 for the non-contractor. That is, in the present embodiment, by switching the contract type (contract information), it is possible to switch the operation mode (lock condition) of the opening/closing mechanism related to the supply pack 200 in the image forming apparatus 1 .

<2-2. Management server configuration example>
FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the management server 301 according to this embodiment. Referring to FIG. 10 , the management server 301 comprises a communication interface (I/F) 311 , memory 312 , management database (DB) 313 and processing circuit 314 .

A communication I/F 311 is an interface for the management server 301 to communicate with other devices. For example, the communication I/F 311 communicates with the image forming apparatus 1 and the user terminal 401 existing in the user environment E1. Communication I/F 311 may be a wired communication interface or a wireless communication interface.

The memory 312 may include any type of storage medium, such as semiconductor memory such as ROM (Read Only Memory) or RAM (Random Access Memory), an optical disk, or a magnetic disk. Memory 312 may include non-transitory computer-readable storage media. Memory 312 stores one or more computer programs that are executed by processing circuitry 314, as well as various data.

The management DB 313 consists of a group of tables for managing printing to one or more image forming apparatuses under the management of the print management system 300 . More specifically, the management DB 313 includes an account table 320, a device registration table 330, and a print data table 340, as shown in FIG.

The account table 320 is a table that holds information about accounts of users who use the supply packs 200 provided by the print management system 300 . As illustrated in FIG. 11, account table 320 may include, for example, the following items of information:
・User ID 321
・Password 322
・Name 323
・Address 324
Here, the user ID 321 is identification information for uniquely identifying each user account. The password 322 is used for user authentication when the user logs into the system. Name 323 represents the user name of each account. The user name is, for example, displayed on the screen after login, or used as an address when the supply pack 200 is delivered. Address 324 may be used as the destination for delivery of supply pack 200 .

The device registration table 330 is a table that holds information about image forming devices registered in the print management system 300 as devices of each user. As illustrated in FIG. 11, the device registration table 330 may include, for example, the following information items:
・Owner 331
・Device ID 332
・Toner remaining amount 333
・Contract information 334
・Printable number of sheets 335
Here, the owner 331 indicates the account of the user who owns or manages each image forming apparatus with the “user ID” registered in the account table 320 . The device ID 332 is identification information for uniquely identifying each image forming device. A pair of owner 331 and device ID 332 indicates the association between each user account and at least one image forming device registered as the device of the user having that account. Two or more image forming apparatuses may be associated with one user account. The toner remaining amount 333 indicates the latest toner remaining amount detected and reported by each image forming apparatus. For example, the toner remaining amount 333 may be expressed as a percentage. The contract information 334 represents, for example, the type of contract that each user has made with the company that operates the print management system 300 . The contract information 334 may include, for example, information indicating the maximum number of sheets that can be printed for a fixed monthly fee. For example, contract type I indicates a contract that allows printing up to 50 sheets per month. Contract information 334 may include information (unlock conditions) indicating whether authentication is required to unlock the opening/closing mechanism. The contract information 334 may further include information indicating an update interval (eg, one month) for the maximum number of printable sheets. The number of printable sheets 335 indicates the number of remaining printable images (recording media) in a given update interval (period). If pre-supply authentication for the supply pack 200 is successful, pre-printing authentication, which will be described later, may be performed. Pre-printing authentication refers to determining whether or not the actual number of printed sheets exceeds the number of printable sheets per renewal interval determined by the contract. For example, when the upper limit of the number of printed sheets per month of an image forming apparatus 1 is 5000 sheets, the user is successfully authenticated before printing if the actual number of printed sheets per month is less than 5000 sheets. In this way, subscription contracts may be distinguished for each image forming apparatus, and may be distinguished for each user. A case will be described below in which the subscription contract is differentiated for each image forming apparatus. Therefore, the number of printable sheets 335 is included in the device registration table 330 . If subscriptions are differentiated by user, page yield 335 may be included in account table 320 as it is associated with user ID 321 .

The print data table 340 is a table holding a list of files to be printed by each user. Print data table 340 may include, for example, one or more of the following items of information:
·"owner"
·"file name"
Here, the “owner” indicates the account of the user who owns the file with the user ID 321 registered in the account table 320 . “File name” indicates a file to be printed temporarily stored in the memory 312 . Multiple "file names" may be associated with one "owner".

The processing circuit 314 may be, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and provides various functions of the management server 301 by executing computer programs stored in the memory 312 . More specifically, as shown in FIG. 10, the processing circuit 314 can function as a data manager 350, a provision manager 360, and an authenticator 370. FIG.

The data management unit 350 manages registration and updating of data in the management DB 313 . The data management unit 350 causes the user terminal 401 to display a screen for accepting input of account information to be registered in the account table 320, receives the input account information via the communication I/F 311, and stores it in the account table. 320 may be registered. Similarly, the data management unit 350 causes the user terminal 401 to display a screen for accepting input of device information about the image forming device owned by each user, and receives the input device information via the communication I/F 311 . may be registered in the device registration table 330. These input screens may be provided in any form, such as web pages, input forms, or application screens. Typically, input of device information may be accepted while the user is logged into the system after successful user authentication using the user ID and password stored in the account table 320.

The data management unit 350 updates the management DB 313 in cooperation with other functions of the processing circuit 314 . For example, in the present embodiment, the data management unit 350 cooperates with the authentication unit 370 to manage updating of the values of the printable number 335 and the toner remaining amount 333 in the device registration table 330 . Henceforth, the data management part 350 is used when the processing circuit 314 updates the management DB 313 unless otherwise specified.

The data management unit 350 may add the value of the number of printable sheets 335 for each predetermined period based on the contract details indicated by the contract information 334 of the device registration table 330 . For example, assume that the contract type indicated by the contract information 334 is a contract type that allows printing up to 50 sheets each month, and that the unused portion of the current month is carried over to the next month. In this case, a predetermined number of sheets (eg, 50 sheets) is added to the value of the number of printable sheets 335 (the number of sheets carried over) on the monthly contract renewal date.

Data management unit 350 receives remaining amount information about the remaining amount of consumables in storage unit 48 of registered image forming apparatus 1 via communication I/F 311 . Then, the data management unit 350 updates the status information regarding the remaining amount of consumable material, that is, the value of the remaining amount of toner 333 of the device registration table 330, based on the received remaining amount information.

The data management unit 350 manages files to be printed. Upon receiving data to be printed from each user, the data management unit 350 saves the file in the memory 312 and registers the “file name” of the saved data in the print data table 340 . When printing is completed, the data management unit 350 deletes the data to be printed from the memory 312 and deletes the “file name” from the print data table 340 .

The provision management unit 360 manages provision of the replenishment pack 200 for the contractor to the user of the print management system 300 . For example, when the value of the remaining toner amount 333 in the device registration table 330 becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value, the supply management unit 360 sends the replenishment pack 200 for the contractor to the address registered in the account table 320 . The provision timing is not limited to this. For example, the provision management unit 360 may determine the shipping timing based on the transition of the toner remaining amount 333 in the device registration table 330 .

The authentication unit 370 performs user authentication (for example, password authentication) and authentication for permitting replenishment of the replenishment pack 200 to be used for toner replenishment (hereinafter referred to as pre-replenishment authentication). User authentication is authentication processing required for a user who attempts to log in to the system. Furthermore, the authentication unit 370 may perform authentication (hereinafter referred to as pre-printing authentication) for permitting the user to print the image on the recording medium before printing the image. Pre-printing authentication is processing for confirming that the cumulative number of printed sheets per contract period by the user is less than the maximum number of sheets per contract period.

<2-3. Configuration example of user terminal>
FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the user terminal 401 according to this embodiment. Referring to FIG. 12, the user terminal 401 includes a communication I/F 411, a memory 412, a camera 413, an input device 414, a display device 415, and a processing circuit 416.

A communication I/F 411 is an interface for the user terminal 401 to communicate with other devices. For example, the communication I/F 411 communicates with the image forming apparatus 1 existing in the user environment E1 and the management server 301 existing in the remote environment E2. The communication I/F 411 may be a wired communication interface or a wireless communication interface. If the communication I/F 411 is a wireless communication interface, the communication I/F 411 may be, for example, a WLAN interface communicating with a WLAN access point or a cellular communication interface communicating with a cellular base station. Although only a single communication I/F 411 is shown in FIG. 11, the user terminal 401 may have a plurality of different communication modules for communicating with the image forming apparatus 1 and the management server 301 respectively. . Communication between the user terminal 401 and the image forming apparatus 1 may be performed using a communication protocol for peripheral device connection such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) or USB (Universal Serial Bus).

Memory 412 may include any type of storage medium, such as semiconductor memory such as ROM or RAM, optical or magnetic disks, for example. Memory 412 may include non-transitory computer-readable storage media. Memory 412 stores one or more computer programs that are executed by processing circuitry 416, as well as various data.

A camera 413 is a module capable of capturing an image or video of a subject. In this embodiment, camera 413 is used as means for optically reading code 201 unique to supply pack 200 . In other words, the code 201 is printed on the surface of the housing portion 211 of each supply pack 200 or on the package of each supply pack 200 in a form that can be read by the user manually or optically by the user terminal 401 . Optically readable formats may include formats such as, for example, one-dimensional barcodes or two-dimensional QR codes. In this embodiment, the code 201 directly includes type information indicating whether the replenishment pack 200 is for a contractor or a non-contractor, and capacity information of the replenishment pack 200 . However, the code 201 does not directly include the above-described type information and capacity information, and may instead include indirect data such as a serial number for associating with the type information and capacity information centrally managed by the management server 301. Furthermore, the code 201 may be data encrypted on the premise that it will be decrypted by the management server 301 .

The input device 414 is used as a user interface for accepting user operations and information inputs. Input devices 414 may include one or more of touch sensors, keypads, keyboards, pointing devices, and microphones, for example. Code 201 unique to supply pack 200 may be entered by a user via input device 414 .

Display device 415 is used to display images and information. The display device 415 may be composed of, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or an OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode).

Processing circuitry 416 , which may be, for example, a CPU, provides various functions of user terminal 401 by executing computer programs stored in memory 412 . More specifically, as shown in FIG. 11, processing circuitry 416 may function as device control section 420, code acquisition section 430, and application section 440. FIG. In this specification, only functions related to supplying consumables to the image forming apparatus 1 and printing will be mainly described. may be provided to the user.

The device control unit 420 controls image formation and other operations performed in the image forming device 1 . Device control unit 420 may include driver software for image forming device 1 . For example, the device control unit 420 detects one or more devices that can be used by the user terminal 401 in the user environment E1, and presents a list of detected devices to the user on the screen of the display device 415. FIG. The device control unit 420 may acquire the status of each device (for example, power on/off, toner remaining amount, etc.) and present the acquired status to the user.

The code acquisition unit 430 acquires the code 201 unique to the supply pack 200 that the user intends to use for supplying consumables. As an example, as described above, the camera 413 and the input device 414 can be used.

The application unit 440 can be an application for replenishment and print management that operates in cooperation with the management server 301 . Application unit 440 may be a web browser. For example, the application unit 440 causes the display device 415 to display an account information input screen when a new user account is registered or when a change occurs. When account information is input on the account information input screen, application unit 440 transmits the received account information to management server 301 via communication I/F 411 . Further, the application unit 440 causes the display device 415 to display an apparatus information input screen when the image forming apparatus 1 is installed in the user environment E1. When the device information is input on the device information input screen, the application unit 440 transmits the received device information to the management server 301 via the communication I/F 411 . When the user instructs printing, the application unit 440 transmits a file to be printed or a print job generated by converting the file to the management server 301 . Management server 301 transmits it to image forming apparatus 1 . Thereby, the image forming apparatus 1 prints an image on the recording medium.

Further, the application unit 440 may provide a user who wishes to replenish the image forming apparatus 1 with consumables from the replenishment pack 200 with a user interface for requesting the management server 301 to perform pre-replenishment authentication. . For example, when the authentication request button is operated by the user, the application unit 440 activates the code acquisition unit 430 to acquire the code 201 unique to the supply pack 200, and transmits the acquired code 201 to the communication interface. It is transmitted to the management server 301 via F411. Application unit 440 may send code 201 to management server 301 as part of a request for permission to replenish consumables. The application unit 440 may also transmit the code 201 to the management server 301 as part of the request to open the replenishment route (or unlock the opening/closing mechanism).

In one embodiment, the application unit 440 may transmit a transmission request to the image forming apparatus 1 so that the management server 301 transmits to the management server 301 the device ID required for pre-supply authentication by the management server 301 . In another embodiment, the application unit 440 may cause the display device 415 to display a message prompting the user to perform an operation for transmitting the device ID in the image forming device 1 .

When pre-replenishment authentication is performed by the management server 301 based on the code 201 unique to the replenishment pack 200 , the application unit 440 receives the result of the pre-replenishment authentication from the management server 301 . When the authentication result indicates that the pre-replenishment authentication has succeeded, the application unit 440 transmits an unlock command for unlocking the opening/closing mechanism or an open command for opening the replenishment route from the device control unit 420 to the image forming apparatus 1. You can send it. Note that when these commands are directly transmitted from the management server 301 to the image forming apparatus 1 , the user terminal 401 need not transmit these commands to the image forming apparatus 1 .

The application unit 440 causes the display device 415 to display the result of the pre-replenishment authentication received from the management server 301 . For example, if the result of pre-replenishment authentication indicates successful authentication, the user connects the replenishment pack 200 to the image forming apparatus 1 and opens the replenishment path by operating the opening/closing mechanism that has blocked the consumable replenishment path. Thus, consumables can be replenished from the replenishment pack 200 to the image forming apparatus 1 . At this time, since the opening/closing mechanism is unlocked by the image forming apparatus 1, the user's operation to open the supply path is not hindered. Note that the connection of the replenishment pack 200 to the image forming apparatus 1 may be performed before the request for pre-replenishment authentication, or may be performed after the authentication is successful. As described above, instead of the user operating the opening/closing mechanism, the image forming apparatus 1 may automatically operate the opening/closing mechanism. If the result of the pre-replenishment authentication indicates an authentication failure, the user may retry the pre-replenishment authentication after appropriate action, or replenish the immediate consumables, depending on the cause of the failure that may be displayed on the screen. give up. At this time, the opening/closing mechanism remains locked by the image forming apparatus 1, or the replenishment path remains closed without automatically operating the opening/closing mechanism.

<2-4. Configuration Example of Image Forming Apparatus>
FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 according to this embodiment. Referring to FIG. 13 , image forming apparatus 1 includes communication I/F 11 , memory 12 , user I/F 13 , image forming section 40 , opening/closing mechanism 51 , locking mechanism 52 , and processing circuit 90 .

Communication I/F 11 is an interface for image forming apparatus 1 to communicate with other apparatuses. For example, the communication I/F 11 communicates with the user terminal 401 existing in the user environment E1 and the management server 301 existing in the remote environment E2. The communication I/F 11 may be a wired communication interface or a wireless communication interface. If the communication I/F 11 is a wireless communication interface, the communication I/F 11 may be, for example, a WLAN interface or a cellular communication interface. Although only a single communication I/F 11 is shown in FIG. 12, the image forming apparatus 1 may have a plurality of different communication modules for communicating with the user terminal 401 and the management server 301 respectively. .

Memory 12 may comprise any type of storage medium, for example semiconductor memory such as ROM or RAM, optical or magnetic disks. Memory 12 may include non-transitory computer-readable storage media. Memory 12 stores one or more computer programs executed by processing circuitry 90, as well as various data. The memory 12 pre-stores, for example, a device ID (also referred to as device identification information) that uniquely identifies the image forming device 1 .

The user I/F 13 may include an input device for receiving user operations and information input, and a display device for displaying images and information. For example, user I/F 13 may include one or more of a touch panel, keypad, buttons, switches, microphone and speaker. The user I/F 13 may be treated as an operating terminal integrated with the image forming apparatus 1 . In one embodiment, user I/F 13 may be used to accept input of code 201 unique to replenishment pack 200 .

The image forming section 40 consumes the toner stored in the storage section 48 to form an image on a recording medium, as described with reference to FIG. The opening/closing mechanism 51 is a mechanism capable of opening and closing the supply path 50 from the supply pack 200 connected to the toner receiving portion 110 to the storage portion 48 . The ring member 111 including the lever 111b and the projecting portion 111d, the pack shutter 214 of the replenishment pack 200, and the body shutter 116 are an example of the opening/closing mechanism 51 described above. The lock mechanism 52 is a mechanism for inhibiting (that is, locking) and releasing (unlocking) the operation of the opening/closing mechanism 51 by the user or the automatic actuation of the opening/closing mechanism 51 . The lock unit 150 described above is an example of the lock mechanism 52 .

The above-described electronic components 91 , 92 , 93 of the processing circuit 90 can function primarily as a print controller 95 and a lock controller 96 from a functional point of view. The print control unit 95 controls operations for image formation by the image forming unit 40 . For example, the print control unit 95 receives print jobs from the management server 301 via the communication I/F 11 . The print control unit 95 controls the image forming unit 40 to form an image on a recording medium based on the input image data included in the print job.

The lock control unit 96 controls locking and unlocking of the opening/closing mechanism 51 by the lock mechanism 52 . For example, the lock control unit 96 transmits the device ID stored in the memory 12 to the management server 301 when a predetermined input signal is detected. The device ID transmitted to the management server 301 is used to verify whether the image forming device 1 identified by the device ID specified by the user for device registration is actually installed in the user's user environment E1. may Also, the device ID sent to the management server 301 may be used by the management server 301 to perform pre-replenishment authentication and pre-printing authentication. The lock control unit 96 may transmit remaining amount information indicating the latest remaining amount of toner to the management server 301 together with the apparatus ID.

In one embodiment, the input signal that triggers transmission of the device ID is a received signal (eg, a transmission request for transmission of the device ID) received from user terminal 401 via communication I/F 11 . In this case, lock control unit 96 reads the device ID from memory 12 and transmits the read device ID to management server 301 in response to receiving the transmission request. In another embodiment, the input signal that triggers transmission of the device ID is a user input signal detected via the user I/F 13 (for example, an operation signal indicating that a predetermined button has been operated). In this case, lock control unit 96 reads the device ID from memory 12 and transmits the read device ID to management server 301 in response to detection of a user input signal.

After transmitting the device ID to the management server 301 for pre-replenishment authentication, the lock control unit 96 waits for reception of an unlock command, which is a control signal based on the result of the pre-replenishment authentication, for a predetermined standby period. Then, when the unlock command is received before the standby period expires, the lock control unit 96 causes the lock mechanism 52 to unlock the opening/closing mechanism 51 according to the unlock command. For example, the lock control section 96 may energize the solenoid of the lock unit 150 to rotate the lock member 152 as shown in FIG. 8B. Thereby, the user can rotate the body shutter 116 and the pack shutter 214 of the replenishment pack 200 together with the ring member 111 to open the replenishment path 50 . When the image forming apparatus 1 adopts a configuration in which the opening/closing mechanism 51 is automatically operated, the lock control unit 96 waits for reception of an opening command instead of an unlocking command, and opens/closes according to the received opening command. Replenishment path 50 may be opened by activating mechanism 51 .

If the standby period expires without receiving an unlock command or an unlock command (that is, in the case of timeout), the lock control unit 96 terminates command waiting. For example, waiting for an unlock command or an open command may be performed by temporarily opening a specific reception port of the communication I/F 11 . In this way, by waiting for a control signal from the outside only for a limited period triggered by detection of a predetermined input signal, the risk of unauthorized operation of the image forming apparatus 1 by a malicious third party is reduced. can be minimized. Also, power consumption of the image forming apparatus 1 can be reduced by placing the image forming apparatus 1 in a sleep state during a period other than the standby period.

When an unlock command or an open command is received before the standby period expires, the lock control unit 96 maintains the opening/closing mechanism 51 in an unlocked state for a predetermined unlock period from the reception of the command. After the expiration of the period, the opening/closing mechanism 51 may be locked again. In the example of FIG. 8, the ring member 111 can be rotated counterclockwise even if the energization of the solenoid ends while the opening/closing mechanism 51 is in the open state. For example, after the opening/closing mechanism 51 is unlocked, the user rotates the ring member 111 clockwise in the drawing to open the replenishment path, thereby starting replenishment of consumables. After completing the replenishment of the consumables, the user rotates the ring member 111 counterclockwise to close the replenishment path. When the energization of the solenoid is terminated and the rotational position of the ring member 111 is returned to its original position, the tip 153 of the lock member 152 returns to the position shown in FIG. 8A by the elastic force of the spring. As a result, even if the user tries to open the supply path by rotating the ring member 111 clockwise again, the rotation of the ring member 111 is restrained by the locking member 152 . In this way, relocking of the opening and closing mechanism 51 can be achieved. 8A and 8B are merely examples of the opening/closing mechanism 51 and the locking mechanism 52, and any other configuration may be employed.

The print control unit 95 controls the remaining amount detection unit 61 so as to detect the remaining amount of toner in the storage unit 48, for example, when an image forming operation is performed and when a consumable material is replenished. For example, while the toner stored in the storage unit 48 is being stirred by the stirring member 60, the remaining amount detection unit 61 emits light from the light emitter 61a and acquires a light detection signal from the light receiver 61b. . Then, the remaining amount detection unit 61 estimates the remaining amount of toner based on the acquired light detection signal, and reports the estimated remaining amount of toner to the print control unit 95 . The print control unit 95 reports remaining amount information indicating the remaining amount of toner thus detected to the management server 301 via the communication I/F 11 . The remaining toner amount report may be sent to the management server 301 via the user terminal 401 instead of being sent directly to the management server 301 .

When the toner is replenished, the remaining amount of toner increases. As described above, the management server 301 detects an increase in the remaining amount of toner based on the remaining amount information, thereby knowing that the replenishment pack 200 for which the pre-replenishment authentication has succeeded has been used by the user.

<2-5. Example of authentication before replenishment>
FIG. 14 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a schematic processing flow related to replenishment of consumables. The sequence shown in FIG. 14 mainly involves the image forming apparatus 1, the management server 301, and the user terminal 401. FIG. Prior to the start of the sequence, the user possesses a new, unused replenishment pack 200, either for contractors or for non-contractors. In the following description, S attached to the head of reference numerals is an abbreviation of a step.

At S60, the user enters a user ID and password on the login screen. In S<b>61 , the application unit 440 of the user terminal 401 transmits the input user ID and password to the management server 301 .

At S<b>62 , the authentication unit 370 of the management server 301 performs user authentication for the user ID and password received from the user terminal 401 . User authentication involves determining whether the user ID and password received from user terminal 401 match those held in account table 320 . Here, it is assumed that user authentication has succeeded and login to the print management system 300 has been established. Subsequent processing in FIG. 14 is performed while the login session continues.

In S65, the application unit 440 activates the code acquisition unit 430 according to the user's operation. The code acquisition unit 430 acquires the unique code 201 given to the supply pack 200 by optically reading it using the camera 413, for example, or by accepting user input.

In S<b>66 , the application unit 440 transmits an unlock request including the code 201 acquired by the code acquisition unit 430 to the management server 301 . The authentication unit 370 of the management server 301 starts pre-replenishment authentication in response to receiving the unlock request.

S67 is the first stage of authentication before replenishment. At S67, the authentication unit 370 checks the validity of the code 201 included in the unlock request. Validity checking may include, for example, determining whether the encrypted unique code 201 can be decrypted. Alternatively, such checking may include determining whether predetermined type data is present in code 201 . The type code is, for example, identification information that can distinguish between the supply pack 200 for contractors and the supply pack 200 for non-contractors. If the first stage authentication succeeds, the process proceeds to S68. It is assumed here that the first stage authentication was successful.

In S68, the authentication unit 370 instructs the application unit 440 to display a message prompting the user to perform a predetermined operation in the replenishment destination device. Application unit 440 displays the message on display device 415 in response to the instruction.

In S72, the user performs a predetermined operation on the user I/F 13 of the image forming apparatus 1, which is the replenishment destination apparatus, according to the message. A predetermined operation is, for example, a user input instructing device authentication.

In S<b>73 , the lock control unit 96 reads the device ID from the memory 12 and transmits device information including the read device ID to the management server 301 . Upon receiving the device information, the management server 301 starts device authentication, which is the second stage of pre-replenishment authentication.

In S74, the authentication unit 370 determines whether or not the image forming apparatus 1 as the replenishment destination is properly associated with the user account of the logged-in user, based on the apparatus ID included in the received apparatus information. For example, the authentication unit 370 determines the validity of the device ID based on whether the received device ID is registered in the device registration table 330 . As shown in FIG. 11, in the device registration table 330, the device ID is associated with the owner's user ID. Therefore, by referring to the device registration table 330, it is possible to check the validity of the device ID. Here, since the image forming apparatus 1 is legally associated with the user account, the second stage authentication is also successful.

In S75, the authentication unit 370 notifies the user terminal 401 of the authentication result that the pre-replenishment authentication was successful. In S<b>76 , authentication unit 370 transmits an unlock command to image forming apparatus 1 . The unlock command is a command for causing the lock mechanism 52 of the image forming apparatus 1 to unlock the opening/closing mechanism 51 .

In S<b>77 , the lock control unit 96 of the image forming apparatus 1 causes the lock mechanism 52 to unlock the opening/closing mechanism 51 in response to receiving the unlock command from the management server 301 . Note that the unlocking timing may be after the supply pack 200 is connected to the image forming apparatus 1 .

In S78, the unlocked opening/closing mechanism 51 is operated (or automatically operated) by the user to open the replenishment path 50 and replenishment of consumables from the replenishment pack 200 to the image forming apparatus 1 is performed.

In S<b>79 , the print control unit 95 detects the remaining amount of toner in the storage unit 48 and reports remaining amount information indicating the remaining amount of toner to the management server 301 . The data management unit 350 of the management server 301 receives the remaining amount information.

In S80, the data management unit 350 updates the status of the image forming device 1 associated with the device ID based on the remaining amount information. For example, the data management unit 350 identifies the record of the device registration table 330 corresponding to the image forming device 1 based on the device ID included in the remaining amount information. The data management unit 350 updates the value of "remaining amount of toner", which is one of the status information in the specified record, based on the remaining amount information.

On the other hand, a predetermined unlock period may elapse from the reception of the unlock command or the unlocking of the opening/closing mechanism 51 . In this case, the process proceeds to S81. In S81, the lock control unit 96 of the image forming apparatus 1 may lock the opening/closing mechanism 51 again.

<2-6. Process Flow>
In this section, an example of the flow of processing that can be executed in the print management system 300 according to this embodiment will be described using the sequence diagram of FIG.

<2-6-1. Switching operation modes>
In this embodiment, processing for switching the operation mode of the image forming apparatus according to contract information (contract type) will be described. The first operation mode in this embodiment is an operation mode in which the opening/closing mechanism is unlocked on the condition that the management server 301 has successfully authenticated. The second operation mode is an operation mode in which the opening/closing mechanism is unlocked when a predetermined operation is performed in the replenishment destination device. In other words, the second operation mode does not require successful authentication by the management server 301 as a condition.

A plurality of contract types may exist as the contract type. A first contract type is a contract type that requires an authentication process to unlock the opening/closing mechanism. A second contract type is a contract type that does not require an authentication process to unlock the opening/closing mechanism. Note that the second contract type may be applied to non-contractors. A first contract type is associated with a first mode of operation. A second contract type is associated with a second mode of operation.

As shown in FIG. 11, the relationship between contract types and operation modes may be held in an operation mode table 380. FIG. The operation mode table 380 may be held as part of the management DB 313 . As shown in FIG. 11, in the operation mode table 380, the contract information 381 may include identification information indicating the contract type. Operating mode 382 may include an identification of the operating mode. As FIG. 11 shows, there may be more than two contract types.

FIG. 15 shows a process of switching the operation mode of the opening/closing mechanism 51 (locking mechanism 52). The sequence shown in FIG. 15 mainly involves the image forming apparatus 1, the management server 301, and the user terminal 401. FIG. Here, it is assumed that the user's contract type is the first contract type and the operating mode of the opening/closing mechanism 51 (locking mechanism 52) is set to the first operating mode at the start of the sequence. Since S60 to S62 have already been described, further description is omitted here.

In S90, the user instructs the management server 301 to request switching of the contract type from the user terminal. As shown in FIG. 16 , the application unit 440 of the user terminal 401 may display a contract type selection screen 1600 on the display device 415 . The user reads the notes displayed on the selection screen 1600 and operates the software buttons 1601 according to the notes. In this example, a first contract type (eg, flat-rate service) and a second contract type (eg, non-flat-rate service) are displayed to be selectable. As the notes suggest, the supply pack 200 for the flat-rate service is different from the supply pack 200 for the non-flat-rate service (for non-subscribers). You must select a contract type that corresponds to In this example, the user has obtained a supply pack 200 for non-flat-rate services (for non-subscribers), but the flat-rate service is selected at that time. Therefore, the user must switch the contract type from the flat-rate service to the non-flat-rate service, and switch the operation mode of the opening/closing mechanism 51 (lock mechanism 52) from the first operation mode to the second operation mode.

In S<b>91 , the data management unit 350 of the management server 301 switches the contract type according to the switching request received from the user terminal 401 . The data management unit 350 extracts from the device registration table 330 a record corresponding to the user ID or device ID accompanying the switching request. The data management unit 350 changes the contract information 334 in the extracted record to the contract type according to the switching request. As shown in FIG. 11, the contract type I of the contract information 334 in the record holding "U01" as the owner 331 is switched to uncontracted (non-flat-rate service).

In S<b>92 , the management server 301 transmits to the user terminal 401 a switching completion notification indicating that switching of the contract type has been completed. After that, S72 and S73 are executed.

In S93, the management server 301 confirms the operation mode from the received device ID. As shown in FIG. 11 , the data management unit 350 acquires the contract information 334 associated with the device ID 332 by referring to the device registration table 330 . Furthermore, the data management unit 350 acquires an operation mode 382 associated with the contract information 381 (contract information 334) by referring to the operation mode table 380. FIG. As shown in FIG. 11, the contract information 334 associated with the device ID 332 "P01" has switched from the first operation mode to the second operation mode. Therefore, the operation mode 382 associated with "P01" which is the device ID 332 is switched to the second operation mode (eg, M00).

In S<b>76 , the management server 301 skips authentication of the supply pack 200 and transmits an unlock command to the image forming apparatus 1 . This permits the user to replenish the image forming apparatus 1 with consumables from the replenishment pack 200 for non-subscribers.

Although the specific code 201 is read or input using the user terminal 401 in this embodiment, this is only an example. FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram for explaining the connection between the supply pack 200c and the image forming apparatus 1c according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 17, the replenishment pack 200c includes a container 211, a nozzle 212, a pack shutter 214 and a memory tag 230. As shown in FIG. A memory tag 230 is disposed, for example, at the tip of the nozzle 212 . On the other hand, a tag terminal 130 is arranged on the bottom surface of the cylindrical member 112 of the toner receiving portion 110 of the image forming apparatus 1c. The tag terminal 130 electrically contacts the output terminal of the memory tag 230 when the toner receiving portion 110 is connected to the supply pack 200c. Through electrical contact between these terminals, the image forming apparatus 1c can read information stored in the memory tag 230 of the supply pack 200c.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the image forming apparatus 1c according to this embodiment. Referring to FIG. 18, the image forming apparatus 1c includes a communication I/F 11, a memory 12, a user I/F 13, an image forming section 40, an opening/closing mechanism 51, a lock mechanism 52, a processing circuit 90, and a tag terminal . From a functional point of view, the processing circuitry 90 can function primarily as a print controller 95 and a lock controller 196 .

The lock control unit 196 controls locking and unlocking of the opening/closing mechanism 51 by the lock mechanism 52, like the lock control unit 96 of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment. Here, only differences between the lock control section 96 and the lock control section 196 will be described.

When the lock control unit 196 detects the connection of the supply pack 200c (for example, using a sensor not shown), it reads out a code specific to the supply pack 200c from the memory tag 230 of the supply pack 200c via the tag terminal 130. . Further, lock control unit 196 reads from memory 12 the device ID that uniquely identifies image forming device 1c. Then, the lock control unit 196 transmits to the management server 301 via the communication I/F 11 an unlock request including a code unique to the supply pack 200c and the device ID of the image forming device 1c. Prior to or after transmitting the unlock request, the user inputs the user ID and password via the user I/F 13, and is logged into the system when the user authentication is successful. The management server 301 uses the user ID of the logged-in user and the code and device ID received from the image forming device 1c to perform the pre-replenishment authentication described above.

After transmitting the device ID to the management server 301 for pre-replenishment authentication, the lock control unit 196 waits for reception of an unlock command, which is a control signal based on the result of the pre-replenishment authentication, for a predetermined standby period. Then, when the unlock command is received before the standby period expires, the lock control unit 196 causes the lock mechanism 52 to unlock the opening/closing mechanism 51 according to the unlock command. The lock control unit 196 terminates waiting for a command when the standby period expires without receiving a command from the management server 301 .

In the present embodiment, the unlocking process based on the contract type switching completion notification is triggered by the user's operation in S72, but this is only an example. Unlocking may be performed whenever a switch completion notification is received. In this case, the lock control units 96 and 196 may be configured to receive the switching completion notification from the management server 301 or may be configured to receive the switching completion notification via the user terminal 401 .

The configurations of the management server 301, the user terminal 401, and the image forming apparatuses 1 and 1c in this embodiment are merely examples. It is not particularly limited which of the management server 301, the user terminal 401, and the image forming apparatus has each function described above. For example, the function of checking the validity of the code 201 may be provided in the image forming apparatuses 1 and 1c. Part or all of the data in the management DB 313 may be stored in the memory 12 of the image forming apparatus.

According to the first embodiment described in this section, the user instructs the management server 301 to switch the contract type. Thereby, the management server 301 can switch the operation mode. That is, the conditions for unlocking the opening/closing mechanism 51 by the image forming apparatus 1 are changed. In this way, the change of the operation mode and the change of the unlock condition are executed in conjunction with the change of the contract type. Therefore, it is possible to control the supply of consumables from the supply pack 200 according to the user's contract status.

In the example described above, it is assumed that the supply pack 200 for the flat-rate service is different from the supply pack 200 for the non-flat-rate service (for non-contractors). This is to realize a business model in which a subscriber to a fixed-rate service uses the supply pack 200 for the fixed-rate service, and a non-subscriber to the fixed-rate service uses the supply pack 200 for non-flat-rate service (for non-subscribers). would be helpful. A flat-rate service subscriber can use both the supply pack 200 for the flat-rate service and the supply pack 200 for the non-flat-rate service, and a non-subscriber for the flat-rate service uses only the supply pack 200 for the non-flat-rate service. A business model may be implemented. In this case, the same code as the supply pack 200 for the fixed-rate service may be given to the supply pack 200 for the non-flat-rate service to be distributed in the general market. As a result, the subscriber of the flat-rate service can use both the supply pack 200 for the flat-rate service and the supply pack 200 for the non-flat-rate service (for non-contractors) through the authentication process.

<3. Second Embodiment>
In the first embodiment, the example in which the management server 301 instructs the image forming apparatus 1 to switch the operation mode has been described. However, in a network environment where connection between the image forming apparatus 1 and the management server 301 is restricted by a firewall or the like, the management server 301 may not be able to instruct the image forming apparatus 1 to switch the operation mode. Therefore, in the second embodiment, an example in which the user terminal 401 instructs the image forming apparatus 1 to switch the operation mode will be described. In the second embodiment, the description of the first embodiment is used for the description of items common to the first embodiment. Therefore, the difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment will be mainly described here.

<3-1. Configuration Example of Image Forming Apparatus>
The configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 has already been described. However, it is assumed that the memory 12 stores the types of operation modes.

<3-2. Process Flow>
In this section, the flow of processing executed in the print management system 300 according to this embodiment will be described using FIG.

<3-2-1. Switching operation modes>
The difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment is that the management server 301 cannot directly communicate with the image forming apparatus 1 due to a firewall or the like. However, the management server 301 and the user terminal 401 can communicate with each other.

FIG. 19 shows the operation mode switching sequence. As already explained using FIG. 15, S60 to S92 are executed. Here, the management server 301 cannot transmit not only the contract type switching completion notification but also the unlock command of S76 to the image forming apparatus 1 . Therefore, in S100, the user inputs to the user terminal 401 an instruction to switch the operation mode associated with the change of the contract type. The operation mode switching instruction input screen may be displayed on the display device 415 triggered by, for example, the user terminal 401 receiving a switching completion notification from the management server 301 . This allows the user to recognize that the contract type has been changed and that it is necessary to switch the operation mode of the image forming apparatus 1 in accordance with the contract type change.

In S<b>101 , the application unit 440 of the user terminal 401 transmits a contract type switching completion notification to the image forming apparatus 1 . The lock control unit 96 of the image forming apparatus 1 stores the operation mode determined according to the contract type in the memory 12 in response to receiving the switching completion notification. For example, for the first contract type, identification information indicating the first operation mode is stored in the memory 12 . For the second contract type, identification information indicating the second mode of operation is stored in memory 12 . In S<b>72 , the user performs a predetermined operation on the image forming apparatus 1 .

In S102, the image forming apparatus 1 confirms the operation mode saved in the memory 12 according to the user's operation. Here it is assumed that the operating mode stored in memory 12 is the second operating mode. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 1 unlocks the opening/closing mechanism 51 in S77. At S78, the replenishment pack 200 for non-subscribers (non-flat-rate service) is connected to the image forming apparatus 1, and consumables are replenished.

In S<b>103 , the image forming apparatus 1 transmits a remaining amount report of consumables to the user terminal 401 . The method of generating the fuel report is as described in connection with S79.

In S<b>104 , the user inputs to the user terminal 401 an instruction to update the status including the remaining amount of toner.

In S<b>105 , the application unit 440 of the user terminal 401 transmits a status update instruction to the management server 301 . This update instruction includes the remaining amount report acquired from the image forming apparatus 1 . In S<b>80 , the management server 301 updates the toner remaining amount 333 in the device registration table 330 according to the update instruction received from the user terminal 401 .

Although the user terminal 401 transmits the contract type switching completion notification to the image forming apparatus 1 in the present embodiment, this is merely an example. For example, the user may understand specific data notified from the management server 301 and input the data from the user interface of the image forming apparatus 1 . This will allow the image forming apparatus 1 to recognize that the contract type has been switched or that the operation mode should be switched.

According to the second embodiment, even in a network environment in which the management server 301 and the image forming apparatus 1 cannot communicate, the user terminal 401 can notify the image forming apparatus 1 of switching the contract type. Thereby, the image forming apparatus 1 can switch the operation mode according to the contract type. In this manner, the image forming apparatus 1 may change the unlocking condition of the opening/closing mechanism 51 .

<4. Flowchart>
FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of authentication processing executed by the management server 301. As shown in FIG. The authentication process in FIG. 20 corresponds to the process executed by the authentication unit 370 of the management server 301 with respect to S62 to S80 in FIG. This authentication process can be realized by the processing circuit 314 executing a computer program pre-stored in the memory 312 of the management server 301, for example.

In S111, the authentication unit 370 receives the user ID and password entered on the login screen. In S113, the authentication unit 370 performs user authentication based on the received user ID and password. Here, it is assumed that user authentication succeeds, and the flow of processing when user authentication fails is omitted.

At S115, the authentication unit 370 receives the code 201 unique to the supply pack 200 acquired in the user environment E1. At S<b>117 , the authentication unit 370 determines whether the replenishment pack 200 is a valid replenishment bag 200 based on the received code 201 . For example, legitimacy may be checked based on whether the encrypted code 201 can be decrypted. If the code 201 is a code given to a valid supply bag 200, the process proceeds to S121. On the other hand, if the received code 201 is not for a valid supply pack 200, the process proceeds to S119.

In S119, the authentication unit 370 determines that replenishment of consumables from the replenishment pack 200 is not permitted. In this case, the authentication unit 370 transmits to the user terminal 401 an authentication result notification indicating that use of the supply pack 200 is not permitted and pre-supply authentication has failed. The authentication result notification may notify the user that the supply pack 200 is an improper pack.

At S121, the authentication unit 370 transmits an operation instruction to the user. The user terminal 401 or the image forming apparatus 1 receives and displays the operation instruction. This will allow the user to visually understand what kind of operation should be performed.

In S123, the authentication unit 370 receives device information including the device ID from the image forming device 1, which is the replenishment destination device. In S125, the authentication unit 370 determines whether the replenishment destination device identified by the received device ID has been registered as the login user's device. For example, if the association between the received device ID and the logged-in user's user ID is registered in the device registration table 330, the supply destination device has already been registered as the logged-in user's device, so the process proceeds to S127. On the other hand, if the association between the received device ID and the logged-in user's user ID is not registered in the device registration table 330, the supply destination device is not registered as the logged-in user's device, so the process proceeds to S131.

In S131, the authentication unit 370 determines that replenishment of consumables to the replenishment destination device is not permitted because the replenishment destination device has not been registered as a login user's device. In this case, the authentication unit 370 transmits to the user terminal 401 an authentication result notification indicating that the pre-replenishment authentication has failed due to the non-registration of the device. Also, the authentication unit 370 may send an explicit lock command to the image forming device 1 identified by the device ID. Thereby, the image forming apparatus 1 maintains the locked state of the opening/closing mechanism 51 .

In S127, the authentication unit 370 determines that replenishment of consumables from the replenishment pack 200 to the image forming apparatus 1, which is the replenishment destination device, is permitted because the replenishment destination device has already been registered as the log-in user's device. In this case, the authentication unit 370 transmits an unlock command for unlocking the opening/closing mechanism 51 to the lock mechanism 52 of the image forming apparatus 1 . Further, the authentication unit 370 transmits an authentication result notification indicating successful authentication to the user terminal 401 . Note that the authentication unit 370 may permit replenishment of consumables to the replenishment destination device only when remaining amount information indicates that the remaining amount of toner in the replenishment destination device is below a predetermined remaining amount threshold. This will prevent the toner from overflowing.

In addition, if the contractor is under contract for a flat-rate service, when the following two conditions are satisfied: (1) the remaining amount of consumables is below the threshold, and (2) the authentication process is successful. The opening/closing mechanism 51 may be unlocked. Further, when the contractor cancels the flat-rate service, the opening/closing mechanism 51 may be automatically unlocked when the condition (1) is satisfied. In this way, when the contractor cancels the flat-rate service, the condition (2) becomes unnecessary.

In S<b>129 , the authentication unit 370 updates the status associated with the image forming apparatus 1 (remaining toner amount 333 ) based on the remaining amount report received from the image forming apparatus 1 .

FIG. 21 is a flow chart showing an example of the flow of authentication processing executed by the management server 301. As shown in FIG. The authentication process in FIG. 21 corresponds to S62 to S80 in FIGS. 15 and 19. FIG. S111 and S113 are as described with reference to FIG.

In S<b>201 , the authentication unit 370 receives a contract type switching request from the user terminal 401 . The contract type switching request may be received from the image forming apparatus 1 .

In S203, the authentication unit 370 switches the contract type (contract information 334) associated with the login user and the device ID according to the switching request. For example, a record associated with the user ID of the logged-in user is specified in the device registration table 330, and the contract information 334 in that record is changed according to the switching request. In S<b>205 , the authentication unit 370 transmits a switching completion notification to the user terminal 401 . In the case of FIG. 19, S207-S211 are omitted, but in the case of FIG. 15, S207-S211 are executed.

In S<b>207 , the authentication unit 370 receives device information from the image forming device 1 . The device information includes a device ID.

In S209, the authentication unit 370 determines the operation mode based on the contract type held by the contract information 334 associated with the device ID. For example, for the first contract type, the operating mode is determined to be the first operating mode. If it is the second contract type, the operating mode is determined to be the second operating mode.

In S<b>211 , the authentication unit 370 designates an operation mode for the image forming apparatus 1 . For example, the authentication unit 370 transmits a lock command or an unlock command according to the operation mode. For example, when a flat-rate service is switched to a non-flat-rate service (eg, pay-as-you-go service), an unlock command is sent. This enables replenishment from the replenishment pack 200 for the non-flat-rate service.

<5. Technical idea derived from the embodiment>
[Viewpoint 1]
The camera 413, the input device 414, and the user I/F 13 exist in the user environment and are part of an acquisition unit that acquires a unique code assigned to a storage device that stores consumables consumed for image formation. An example. The opening/closing mechanism 51 is an example of an opening/closing mechanism provided in at least one of the storage device and the image forming apparatus capable of opening and closing the supply path of consumables from the storage device to the image forming apparatus. The management server 301 is an example of a server apparatus that exists in a remote environment and executes authentication of the contained device based on the code of the contained device acquired by the acquisition unit. The processing circuit 90 is an example of a control unit that exists in the user environment and causes the opening/closing mechanism to open the consumable material replenishment path or enables the opening/closing mechanism to open the replenishment path when the stored device is successfully authenticated by the server apparatus. be. The opening/closing mechanism 51 may have an unlocked state and a locked state. The unlocked state is a state in which the open/close mechanism 51 opens the consumable material replenishment path or permits the open/close mechanism to open the replenishment path. The locked state is a state in which opening of the consumable replenishment path by the opening/closing mechanism is restricted or prohibited. The management server 301 or the processing circuit 90 switches the unlock condition according to the contract status of the user of the image forming apparatus for the consumable supply service. The unlock condition is a condition for controlling the opening/closing mechanism from the locked state to the unlocked state. This makes it possible to control the replenishment of consumables from replenishment packs according to the user's contract status.

[Viewpoint 2]
The management server 301 or the processing circuit 90 controls the opening/closing mechanism to the unlocked state in response to the success of the authentication performed by the server device if the user has a contract for the consumable supply service. good too. The management server 301 or the processing circuit 90 skips or disables the authentication performed by the server device and controls the opening/closing mechanism to an unlocked state if the user does not have a contract for the consumable supply service. may In this way, if the user has not signed a contract for the consumable supply service or has canceled the contract, the authentication performed by the server device becomes unnecessary. For example, the user can use the supply pack 200, which is not subject to the consumable supply service, without being required to authenticate.

[Viewpoint 3]
If the user's contract type for the consumable supply service is the first type, the management server 301 or the processing circuit 90 controls the opening/closing mechanism to the unlocked state in response to the success of the authentication performed by the server device. may If the user's contract type for the consumable supply service is the second type, the management server 301 or the processing circuit 90 controls the opening/closing mechanism to the unlocked state without relying on the authentication performed by the server device. good too. This makes it possible to control the replenishment of consumables from replenishment packs according to the user's contract type.

[Viewpoint 4]
The opening/closing mechanism 51 may have a first operating mode and a second operating mode. The first operation mode may be a mode in which, upon successful authentication performed by the server device, the open/close mechanism opens the consumable material replenishment path or permits the open/close mechanism to open the replenishment path. The second operation mode may be a mode in which the open/close mechanism opens the consumable material replenishment path or permits the open/close mechanism to open the replenishment path without requiring authentication by the server device. The management server 301 or the processing circuit 90 sets the operation mode of the image forming apparatus to the first operation mode if the user has a contract for the consumable supply service. The management server 301 or the processing circuit 90 sets the operation mode of the image forming apparatus to the second operation mode if the user does not have a contract for the consumable supply service. This makes it possible to switch the operation mode of the opening/closing mechanism 51 according to the presence or absence of a contract.

[Viewpoint 5]
The management DB 313 is an example of a storage unit that stores contract statuses of users of the image forming apparatus 1 . The management server 301 may set unlocking conditions via the processing circuit 90 based on the contract status stored in the storage means.

[Viewpoint 6]
The device registration table 330 is an example of a first storage unit that stores the contract status of the user of the image forming device 1 . The operation mode table 380 is an example of a second storage unit that associates and stores an operation mode for each of a plurality of contract situations (eg, contract type). The management server 301 may acquire the operation mode corresponding to the contract status stored in the first storage means from the second storage means and apply it to the opening/closing mechanism 51 via the control section.

[Viewpoints 7 and 8]
The management server 301 issues a command (eg, unlock command) or notification (eg, switching completion notification) for unlocking the opening/closing mechanism 51 via the user's terminal device (eg, user terminal 401). You may transmit or input to a control part. That is, the user terminal 401 may transmit or input the switching completion notification to the image forming apparatus 1 . Inputting a notification or command to the image forming apparatus 1 via the user terminal 401 means that the user sees the notification or command via the user terminal 401 and operates the user I/F 13 of the image forming apparatus 1 . can contain The management server 301 may also transmit a notification (eg, switching completion notification) indicating that the user's contract type has been switched from the first type to the second type to the user's terminal device. The terminal device inputs to the control unit a notification indicating that the contract type of the user has been switched from the first type to the second type. The control unit switches unlock conditions for the opening/closing mechanism based on the notification.

[Viewpoint 9]
The image forming apparatus 1 may store identification information (eg, apparatus ID) for identifying the image forming apparatus 1 in advance, and transmit the identification information to the server apparatus when a predetermined input signal is detected. . As part of the authentication, management server 301 may determine whether image forming device 1 is associated with the user's account based on identification information received from image forming device 1 . Thus, the authentication required to replenish consumables from supply pack 200 may include device authentication. Authentication required to replenish consumables from the supply pack 200 may include at least one of user authentication and supply pack 200 authentication.

[Viewpoints 10 and 11]
The predetermined input signal may be a signal input via a user interface (eg, user I/F 13) of the image forming apparatus 1. FIG. The predetermined input signal may be a signal transmitted from the user's terminal device to image forming apparatus 1 via a communication interface (eg, communication I/F 411).

[Viewpoint 12]
The management server 301 may update the contract status associated with the user in response to a contract status switching request received from the terminal device of the user of the image forming apparatus 1 . This allows the user to update the contract status at any time. In other words, it becomes possible to provide a more flexible flat-rate service for consumables. Also, the user will be able to easily cancel the flat-rate service or switch to a non-flat-rate service.

[Viewpoint 13]
There is a case where it is authenticated that the user of the image forming apparatus has made a contract for the flat-rate consumable service and the contained device is for the flat-rate service. In this case, the management server 301 or the processing circuitry 90 may control the opening/closing mechanism to the unlocked state. On the other hand, there are cases where the user of the image forming apparatus has not signed a contract for the flat-rate service. In this case, the management server 301 or the processing circuitry 90 may skip or disable the verification of whether the accommodated device is for the flat-rate service, and control the opening/closing mechanism to the unlocked state. This makes it possible to control the replenishment of consumables from replenishment packs according to the user's contract status.

[Viewpoint 14]
The opening/closing mechanism 51 may have a first operating mode and a second operating mode. The first operation mode is a mode in which, when the authentication performed by the server device is successful, the open/close mechanism opens the consumable material replenishment path or permits the open/close mechanism to open the replenishment path. The second operation mode is a mode in which the open/close mechanism opens the consumable material replenishment path or permits the open/close mechanism to open the replenishment path without requiring authentication by the server device. This would allow for switching the need for authorization to authorize replenishment of consumables from supply packs.

[Viewpoint 15]
This embodiment also provides a replenishment control method for controlling replenishment of consumables consumed for image formation from a storage device storing the consumables to the image forming apparatus. The replenishment control method includes a control unit of a server device or an image forming apparatus located in a remote environment switching unlocking conditions according to a contract status of a user of the image forming apparatus for a consumable supply service. This makes it possible to control the replenishment of consumables from replenishment packs according to the user's contract status.

[Viewpoint 16]
According to this embodiment, image forming apparatuses 1 and 1c are provided. The reservoir 48 is an example of a reservoir that stores consumables replenished from a storage device containing consumables. The image forming unit 40 consumes consumables stored in the storage unit to form an image on a recording medium. Communication I/F 11 is an example of a communication interface that communicates with a server device that exists in a remote environment. The processing circuit 90 switches the unlock condition according to the contract status of the user of the image forming apparatus for the consumable supply service. The contract status is managed by the server device. This makes it possible to control the replenishment of consumables from replenishment packs according to the user's contract status.

[Viewpoint 17]
In this embodiment, a management server 301 is provided that switches the unlock condition according to the contract status of the user of the image forming apparatus for the consumable supply service. This makes it possible to control the replenishment of consumables from replenishment packs according to the user's contract status.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications and variations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the claims are appended to make public the scope of the invention.

1: image forming apparatus, 50: supply path, 51: opening/closing mechanism, 200: supply pack, 201: code, 300: print management system, 301: management server, 313: management DB, 401: user terminal

Claims (17)

an acquisition unit that is present in the user's environment and acquires a code unique to a storage device that stores consumables to be consumed for image formation;
an opening/closing mechanism disposed in at least one of the storage device and the image forming apparatus capable of opening and closing a supply path of the consumable material from the storage device to the image forming apparatus;
a server device that exists in a remote environment and authenticates the contained device based on the code acquired by the acquisition unit;
a control unit that exists in the user environment and opens the supply path of the consumable material by the opening/closing mechanism or permits opening of the supply path by the opening/closing mechanism;
The opening/closing mechanism has an unlocked state in which the supply path for the consumable material is opened or permitted to be opened, and a locked state in which the opening of the supply path for the consumable material is restricted. ,
The server device or the control unit sets an unlock condition for controlling the opening/closing mechanism from the locked state to the unlocked state according to the contract status of the user of the image forming apparatus for the consumable supply service. Switching supply management system. The server device or the control unit,
controlling the opening/closing mechanism to the unlocked state in response to the success of the authentication performed by the server device if the user has a contract for the provision service of the consumables;
If the user does not have a contract for the consumable supply service, the authentication performed by the server device is skipped or disabled, and the opening/closing mechanism is controlled to the unlocked state. 1. The supply management system according to 1. The server device or the control unit,
controlling the opening/closing mechanism to the unlocked state in response to success of the authentication performed by the server device if the user's contract type for the consumables providing service is the first type;
2. The opening/closing mechanism is controlled to the unlocked state without depending on the authentication performed by the server device if the user's contract type for the consumable supply service is the second type. The supply management system described in . The opening and closing mechanism has a first operation mode and a second operation mode,
The first operation mode is a mode in which, when the authentication performed by the server device is successful, the open/close mechanism opens the consumable material replenishment path or permits the open/close mechanism to open the replenishment path,
The second operation mode is a mode in which the open/close mechanism opens the consumable material replenishment path or permits opening of the replenishment path by the open/close mechanism without requiring the authentication by the server device,
The server device or the control unit,
setting the operation mode of the image forming apparatus to the first operation mode if the user has a contract for the supply service of the consumables;
2. The replenishment management system according to claim 1, wherein the operation mode of said image forming apparatus is set to said second operation mode if said user does not have a contract for said consumable supply service. The server device has storage means for storing the contract status of the user of the image forming device,
5. The supply management system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said server device sets said unlock condition based on said contract status stored in said storage means via said control unit. The server device
a first storage means for storing the contract status of the user of the image forming apparatus;
a second storage means for storing an operation mode in association with each of the plurality of contract statuses;
5. The server device acquires from the second storage means the operation mode corresponding to the contract status stored in the first storage means, and applies it to the opening/closing mechanism via the control section. The supply management system described in . 7. The server device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a command or notification for setting the opening/closing mechanism to the unlocked state is transmitted or input to the control unit via the terminal device of the user. The supply management system described in . The server device transmits a notification indicating that the contract type of the user has been switched from the first type to the second type to the terminal device of the user;
The terminal device inputs to the control unit a notification indicating that the contract type of the user has been switched from the first type to the second type,
4. The replenishment management system according to claim 3, wherein said control unit switches said unlocking condition of said opening/closing mechanism based on said notification. The image forming apparatus stores identification information for identifying the image forming apparatus in advance, and when a predetermined input signal is detected, transmits the identification information to the server device,
The server device, as part of the authentication, determines whether the image forming device is associated with the user's account based on the identification information received from the image forming device. 9. The supply management system according to any one of 8. 10. The supply management system according to claim 9, wherein said predetermined input signal is a signal input via a user interface of said image forming apparatus. 10. The replenishment management system according to claim 9, wherein said predetermined input signal is a signal transmitted from said user's terminal device to said image forming device via a communication interface. 12. The server device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the server device updates the contract status associated with the user in response to the contract status switching request received from the terminal device of the user of the image forming apparatus. A supply management system as described in paragraph 1 above. an acquisition unit that is present in the user's environment and acquires a code unique to a storage device that stores consumables to be consumed for image formation;
an opening/closing mechanism disposed in at least one of the storage device and the image forming apparatus capable of opening and closing a supply path of the consumable material from the storage device to the image forming apparatus;
a server device that exists in a remote environment and authenticates the contained device based on the code acquired by the acquisition unit;
a control unit that exists in the user environment and opens the supply path of the consumable material by the opening/closing mechanism or permits opening of the supply path by the opening/closing mechanism;
The opening/closing mechanism has an unlocked state in which the supply path for the consumable material is opened or permitted to be opened, and a locked state in which the opening of the supply path for the consumable material is restricted. ,
The server device or the control unit,
When the user of the image forming apparatus has made a contract for the flat-rate service of the consumables, and the storage device is authenticated as the storage device for the flat-rate service, the opening/closing mechanism is placed in the unlocked state. control and
If the user of the image forming apparatus has not made a contract for the flat-rate service, skipping or disabling authentication as to whether the accommodated device is for the flat-rate service, and placing the opening/closing mechanism in the unlocked state. A replenishment management system that controls an acquisition unit that is present in the user's environment and acquires a code unique to a storage device that stores consumables to be consumed for image formation;
an opening/closing mechanism disposed in at least one of the storage device and the image forming apparatus capable of opening and closing a supply path of the consumable material from the storage device to the image forming apparatus;
a server device that exists in a remote environment and authenticates the contained device based on the code acquired by the acquisition unit;
a control unit that exists in the user environment and opens the supply path of the consumable material by the opening/closing mechanism or permits opening of the supply path by the opening/closing mechanism;
The opening and closing mechanism has a first operation mode and a second operation mode,
The first operation mode is a mode in which, when the authentication performed by the server device is successful, the open/close mechanism opens the consumable material replenishment path or permits the open/close mechanism to open the replenishment path,
The second operation mode is a mode in which the open/close mechanism opens the consumable material replenishment path or permits opening of the replenishment path by the open/close mechanism without requiring the authentication by the server device. supply management system. A replenishment control method for controlling replenishment of consumables consumed for image formation from a storage device storing the consumables to an image forming apparatus, comprising:
an opening/closing mechanism capable of opening and closing a replenishment path of the consumable material from the storage device to the image forming apparatus is provided in at least one of the storage device and the image forming apparatus;
The image forming device exists in a user environment,
The opening/closing mechanism has an unlocked state in which the supply path for the consumable material is opened or permitted to be opened, and a locked state in which the opening of the supply path for the consumable material is restricted. ,
The replenishment control method includes:
A server device or a control unit of the image forming apparatus arranged in a remote environment controls the opening/closing mechanism to the unlocked state according to the contract status of the user of the image forming apparatus for the consumable supply service. methods of supply management, including switching unlock conditions for An image forming apparatus installed in a user environment,
a reservoir for storing consumables replenished from a storage device containing the consumables;
an image forming unit that consumes the consumables stored in the storage unit to form an image on a recording medium;
a control unit for controlling an opening/closing mechanism capable of opening/closing a replenishment path of the consumable material from the housing device to the storage unit;
a communication interface that communicates with a server device that exists in a remote environment;
with
The opening/closing mechanism has an unlocked state in which the supply path for the consumable material is opened or permitted to be opened, and a locked state in which the opening of the supply path for the consumable material is restricted. ,
The control unit sets an unlocking condition for controlling the opening/closing mechanism to the unlocked state according to the contract status of the user of the image forming apparatus for the consumable supply service managed by the server apparatus. Image forming device to switch. A server device for managing replenishment of consumables to an image forming apparatus from a storage device storing consumables to be consumed for image formation,
at least one of the storage device and the image forming apparatus includes an opening/closing mechanism capable of opening/closing a supply path for the consumables;
The image forming device exists in a user environment, the server device exists in a remote environment,
The server device comprises a communication interface and a processing circuit,
The opening/closing mechanism has an unlocked state in which the supply path for the consumable material is opened or permitted to be opened, and a locked state in which the opening of the supply path for the consumable material is restricted. ,
The processing circuit is
A server apparatus that switches an unlock condition for controlling the opening/closing mechanism to the unlocked state according to a contract status of a user of the image forming apparatus for the supply service of the consumables.

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