JP4444896B2 - Image forming apparatus and control program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a control program that perform use restriction control in accordance with usage records.

  When image data to be printed on a printing medium (printing paper) is received from each user's personal computer or the like, or when a copy execution request is received, the image data is printed on the printing medium and the used printing medium There is known an image forming apparatus that counts the number of sheets for each user and prohibits or restricts the use of the print medium of the user when the total number of sheets reaches a preset number. According to this image forming apparatus, since the administrator can easily grasp the number of print media used by each user, the number of print media used for each user is managed and the number of print media used is large. It is possible to conserve the print medium by restricting the user's use of the print medium.

However, when printing of image data on a print medium is prohibited, the image data is not saved, so the user who has output the image data to be printed on the image forming apparatus forgets that the print prohibition function is provided. It may happen that the original image data or original document is disposed of.
In order to solve such a problem, when the number of print media printed within a predetermined period exceeds a preset number, printing of image data on the print medium is restricted and the image data is An image forming apparatus that can be stored is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2004-309919 A

  However, the image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 can store image data when the number of print media exceeds a preset number, but recording of image data onto the print medium is not possible. There is a problem that printing on a print medium is still restricted because it is restricted.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances. An image forming apparatus and a control program that can save the number of used sheets while satisfying a user's request when the number of used sheets exceeds the limit number. The purpose is to provide.

  The present invention includes a usable sheet number storage unit that stores a usable sheet number value within a predetermined period, a use record storage unit that stores a use record sheet value within the predetermined period, and the use record sheet value that is usable. A flag storage means for storing an excess flag indicating whether or not the number of sheets has been exceeded, a performance management number storage means for storing a performance management number value that is the number of usable sheets per day, and a use result storage means. When the used actual number value exceeds the usable number value stored in the usable number storage means, an excess flag is stored in the flag storage means, and the actual management number is calculated, When the excess number flag is stored in the flag storage unit, the determination unit that stores the management number value in the actual management number storage unit; Further comprising a control means for limiting use so as not to exceed the performance management number values stored, characterized in.

  According to the present invention, the actual management number value is a number obtained by dividing the usable number stored in the usable number storage unit by the number of days in the predetermined period.

  The present invention is characterized in that the result management sheet number value is calculated based on a past use record in which the usable number is achieved within the predetermined period.

In the present invention, the usable sheet number value , the used record sheet number value, the excess flag, and the track record management sheet value are stored in each storage means in association with the section identification information for identifying the section, and the control means is provided for each section. It is characterized by performing control to limit use.

  The present invention includes a usable sheet number storage unit that stores a usable sheet number value within a predetermined period, a use record storage unit that stores a use record sheet value within the predetermined period, and the use record sheet value that is usable. Use restriction control in an image forming apparatus comprising flag storage means for storing an excess flag indicating whether or not the number of sheets has been exceeded, and performance management number storage means for storing a performance management number of sheets that can be used every day When the usage record number value stored in the use record storage means exceeds the usable number value stored in the usable number storage means, the flag storage means is exceeded. A flag is stored, the actual management number is calculated, a determination process for storing the actual management number value in the actual management number storage unit, and an excess flag is stored in the flag storage unit And a control process for restricting the use so that the daily use actual number value does not exceed the actual management number value stored in the actual result management number storage means when stored. To do.

  According to the present invention, when the usage record number exceeds the predetermined usable number, the daily management result number is calculated so that the daily use management number does not exceed the calculated actual management number. Since the use is limited, even when the predetermined limit number is exceeded, it is possible to save the number of used sheets while satisfying the user's request.

  Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the embodiment. In this figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a control unit that controls the overall processing operation of the image forming apparatus. Reference numeral 2 denotes an input unit including a numeric keypad, function keys, a touch panel, and the like. Reference numeral 3 denotes a display unit composed of a liquid crystal display or the like. Reference numeral 4 denotes an image reading unit that obtains image data by reading an image of a document placed on a document table. Reference numeral 5 denotes an image memory that holds image data to be printed. Reference numeral 6 denotes a printing unit that transfers an image to be printed to a printing medium based on image data held in the image memory 5. Reference numeral 7 denotes a timer that outputs current date and time information (date and time). Reference numeral 8 denotes an operation day database in which information on the date on which the image forming apparatus should operate is stored in advance. Reference numeral 9 denotes a department management database in which information on the number of usable sheets is stored for each department that uses the image forming apparatus. Reference numeral 10 denotes a communication unit that receives print data from a host computer (not shown) and stores the received print data in the image memory 5.

  Next, the table structure of the working day database 8 shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a table structure of the working day database 8 shown in FIG. The operation day database 8 defines an operation flag for every day (July 1 to July 31) of the month (July as an example here) for managing the number of used sheets. When the operation flag is “1”, it indicates that it is an operation day, and when it is “0”, it indicates that it is a holiday. The operation flag stored in the operation day database 8 is defined in advance by the administrator of the image forming apparatus, and is written in the operation day database 8 in advance.

  Next, the table structure of the department management database 9 shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a table structure of the department management database 9 shown in FIG. In the department management database 9, for each department code for identifying a department to be managed, “current number of usable sheets”, “total number of actual results”, “excess flag”, “actual number of today”, “use of today” “Possible number” is related and stored. The number of usable sheets in this month is the number of usable sheets determined from the expense budget of the month, and is a value that the administrator writes in the department management database 9 in advance. The total number of actual results is a total value of the actual results of use in the management target month, and is a value counted by a counter inside the control unit 1. The excess flag is a flag that is set (set to “1”) when “the number of usable sheets of this month <the total number of actual results” is established, and is set by the control unit 1. The actual number of sheets for today and the number of usable sheets for today are valid values only when the excess flag is “1”. It is the number of sheets used and the number of records used per day. These two values (the actual number of sheets for today and the number of sheets usable for today) are set by the control unit 1. Further, the value of the actual number of records for today is reset (set to “0”) by the control unit 1 when the date changes based on the date information output by the timer 7.

Next, with reference to FIG. 2, an operation for performing use restriction based on the value of the usable number in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 will be described.
First, the control unit 1 reads the operation content of the input unit 2 (step S1), and determines whether the operation is an authentication request operation (step S2). As a result, if the operation is an authentication request operation, the control unit 1 causes the input unit 2 to input a department code and a password, and performs department authentication (step S3). When the input department code / password pair is valid (when authenticated), the control unit 1 reads the value of the excess flag associated with the input department code from the department management database 9. Then, if the read excess flag is “0” (if “available number of current month> total number of actual results”), the control unit 1 accepts a job request (step S11), and 1 of the accepted job. The number of sheets is executed (step S12), and the value of the total number of results in the department management database 9 is increased by “1” (step S13). The job here is a print job for printing based on print data transmitted from a personal computer or the like, a copy job for reading and copying a document image, and the like, and a job that consumes a printing medium (printing paper). .

  Next, the control unit 1 determines whether or not the value of the total number of results in the department management database 9 exceeds the usable number of this month (step S14). As a result of this determination, if the value of the total number of actual results does not exceed the usable number of current month (if “available number of current month ≧ total number of actual results”), the control unit 1 continues the requested job. It is determined whether or not there is a job (step S15). If there is a continuation of the job, the processing operations of steps S12 to S14 are repeatedly executed until the end of the job.

  On the other hand, when the value of the total number of results exceeds the value of the usable number of this month, the control unit 1 stores “1” in the excess flag associated with the authenticated department code (step S16). Then, the control unit 1 calculates today's usable number (usable number only for the current day) and writes it in the department management database 9 (step S17). The number of usable sheets for today is a value obtained by dividing the value of the usable sheet number for this month by the number of days in a predetermined period (here, one month). At this time, the number of days in the predetermined period is set as the number of working days in the target period (one month) with reference to the working day database 8. For example, if the number of usable sheets for this month is “1000” and the working day of this month is “20”, the number of usable sheets for today is 50 (1000/20).

  Next, the control unit 1 reads out the available number of sheets today and the actual number of sheets for today from the department management database 9 (step S5), and accepts the job being executed again (step S6). Then, the control unit 1 determines whether or not unexecuted pages can be executed based on the read today usable sheet value and the actual number of sheets for today (Step S7). If the result of this determination is that execution is possible (if today's usable number> today's actual number), the control unit 1 executes the unexecuted job (step S8), and the department management database The value of the actual number of sheets for 9 today is increased by the number of executed sheets (step S9). On the other hand, if execution is not possible (if today's usable number is equal to or less than today's actual number), the control unit 1 displays an error message on the display unit 3 (“today's limit number exceeded”) Is displayed (step S10), and the job is not executed.

  Next, the operation when the excess flag is already set ("1") will be described. When the read excess flag is “1”, the control unit 1 reads the available number of sheets today and the actual number of sheets for today from the department management database 9 (step S5), and accepts a job request (step S5). S6). Then, the control unit 1 determines whether or not the requested job can be executed on the basis of the read usable sheet value for today and the actual number of sheets for today (step S7). If “today's usable number ≧ (today's actual number of sheets + number of jobs to be executed)”, it is determined that execution is possible, and the control unit 1 executes the requested job (step S8). The value of the actual number of records for today in the department management database 9 is increased by the number of executed sheets (step S9). On the other hand, if “today's usable sheet number <(actual number of sheets for today's day + number of jobs to be executed)”, the control unit 1 determines that execution is impossible and displays an error message (“today's date). Cannot be executed because the limit number of sheets is exceeded (step S10), and the job is not executed.

  The number of usable sheets for today is the number of working days, which is the value of the smallest total number of the actual number of sheets used in the past that has achieved the usable number of sheets within a predetermined period (for example, one month). A value obtained by division may be used.

  In this way, when the actual usage number exceeds the usable number, the actual management number is calculated, and the usage is limited so that the daily actual usage number does not exceed the calculated actual management number. Even when the predetermined limit number is exceeded, the number of used sheets can be saved while satisfying the user's request.

  In FIG. 4, the period for managing the usable number of sheets is set to one month, and when the total number of recorded sheets exceeds the usable number of sheets, an example of managing the number of usable sheets every day is shown. The period to perform is not limited to one month but may be a period determined by the administrator (for example, half a year or one year). In addition, when the limit is exceeded, the management may be performed in units of weeks or months (a period shorter than the period for managing the usable number of sheets) instead of the management for each day.

  1 is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded on the recording medium is read into the computer system and executed, thereby executing the use restriction control process. May be performed. The “computer system” here includes an OS and hardware such as peripheral devices. The “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a storage device such as a flexible medium, a magneto-optical disk, a portable medium such as a ROM and a CD-ROM, and a hard disk incorporated in a computer system. Further, the “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a volatile memory (RAM) in a computer system that becomes a server or a client when a program is transmitted via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line. In addition, those holding programs for a certain period of time are also included.

  The program may be transmitted from a computer system storing the program in a storage device or the like to another computer system via a transmission medium or by a transmission wave in the transmission medium. Here, the “transmission medium” for transmitting the program refers to a medium having a function of transmitting information, such as a network (communication network) such as the Internet or a communication line (communication line) such as a telephone line. The program may be for realizing a part of the functions described above. Furthermore, what can implement | achieve the function mentioned above in combination with the program already recorded on the computer system, and what is called a difference file (difference program) may be sufficient.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the apparatus shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the table structure of the working day database 8 shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the table structure of the department management database 9 shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Control part, 2 ... Input part, 3 ... Display part, 4 ... Image reading part, 5 ... Image memory, 6 ... Printing part, 7 ... Timer, 8 ... Workday database, 9 ... Department management database, 10 ... Communication department

Claims (3)

Usable number storage means for storing the number of usable sheets within a predetermined period;
Use record storage means for storing the use record number value within the predetermined period;
Flag storage means for storing an excess flag indicating whether or not the actual use number value exceeds the usable number value;
A track record management number storage means for storing a track record management number value that is the number of usable pages per day;
The actual usage count value stored in said use record storage means, if it exceeds the available number value stored in the available number of storage means, causes storing said exceeded flag in the flag storage means In addition, the actual management number value is calculated by dividing the usable number stored in the usable number storage unit by the number of days in the predetermined period , and the actual management number value is stored in the actual management number storage unit. and storage make judgment means,
If the excess flag in the flag storage means is stored, the control means for limiting use so as not to exceed the performance management number value using actual number value of daily is stored in the actual performance management number storage means An image forming apparatus comprising: The usable sheet number value, the use record number value, the excess flag, and the record management sheet value are stored in each storage unit in association with department identification information for identifying a department,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit performs control to restrict use for each department . Usable sheet number storage means for storing the usable sheet number value within a predetermined period; use record storage means for storing the use record number value within the predetermined period; and the use record number value exceeding the usable sheet value. A control program for controlling usage restrictions in an image forming apparatus comprising a flag storage means for storing an excess flag indicating whether or not an actual flag and a result management number storage means for storing a result management number of sheets that can be used every day There,
When the use record number stored in the use record storage unit exceeds the useable sheet value stored in the useable sheet storage unit, the excess flag is stored in the flag storage unit. In addition, the actual management number value is calculated by dividing the usable number stored in the usable number storage unit by the number of days in the predetermined period, and the actual management number value is stored in the actual management number storage unit. A determination process to be stored;
When the excess flag is stored in the flag storage means, a control process for restricting the use so that the daily use actual number value does not exceed the actual management number value stored in the actual management number storage means When
A control program for causing a computer to perform the above.

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