JP4580639B2 - Consumable management system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a consumables management system, and more particularly, to a consumables management system with good usability by ordering consumables for devices easily and appropriately at an intended time.

  About.

  Office equipment such as printers, copiers, and facsimile machines require consumables, and the consumables need to be replaced appropriately.

  Conventionally, for example, when storing on a sheet using an image forming apparatus, a developer such as toner is used as a consumable to form an image on the sheet. The remaining amount of toner in the cartridge containing the developer is detected, and a warning is lit on the display panel or the like. Then, the user of the image forming apparatus orders a consumable manually by watching a warning on the display panel or the like. Therefore, users of devices that require consumables have a desire to easily purchase consumables.

  Therefore, conventionally, the image forming apparatus is connected to a management apparatus installed in a service center using a communication means such as a public line, and the remaining amount of consumables is constantly monitored to reduce the remaining amount of consumables. In this case, a technique for automatically ordering consumables from a service center management apparatus via a network has been proposed (see Patent Document 1, Patent Document 2, Patent Document 3, and the like).

  Therefore, according to this prior art, the order of consumables is automatically performed according to the remaining amount of consumables without human intervention, and the burden on the user can be reduced.

JP 2001-31394 A JP 2003-63104 A JP 2003-63117 A

  However, in the above prior art, it is possible to reduce the burden of manual labor, but if you want to adjust the purchase time of consumables and the purchase amount according to the budget by hand, you have no choice but to stop automatic ordering. Cannot be fully used. In addition, if a company uses equipment that requires replacement of consumables such as multiple image forming devices, each device will automatically place an order independently, and the consumables must be purchased manually. There is a problem that adjusting the time and the amount of purchase becomes more complicated and difficult, and the availability of automatic ordering is poor.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, when a consumable case is automatically ordered based on the remaining amount of consumables by providing a recording medium for storing the ID number in the consumable case, ordering / delivery of the consumable case with this ID number is performed. It is an object to provide a consumable management system with good usability by performing management and easily adjusting the purchase time and quantity of consumables.

In addition, the present invention is to simply and easily adjusted in the operation and instructions of the management server the purchase time and purchase amount of consumables case, also, the ordering and delivery of consumables cases managed by the ID number, consumables The purpose is to provide a consumable management system with good usability by easily and appropriately adjusting the purchase time and quantity.

The present invention also aims to as it can be seen that incorrect consumable case the operator has been delivered in the equipment, to prevent erroneous delivery, provides a good consumable management system availability It is said.

Further, as the state present invention, which as can be seen equipment consumables case the operator has been delivered in it is appropriate, it is possible to prevent the erroneous delivery, with a storage means to interchange the next consumables, The purpose is to provide a consumable management system with good usability.

The present invention also whether or not paid goods are consumable case of correct ID number before mounting the device, or can check before opening consumables case, further good usability Aims to provide a consumable management system.

In addition, the present invention is, while preventing confusion preventing duplicate ordered the side of the delivery reminder and new orders of consumables case, perform the appropriate delivery reminder, the more availability of good consumables management system The purpose is to provide.

The present invention also aims at in the management server delivery completion or erroneous shipment consumables cases easily manage and provide a more favorable consumable management system availability.

The present invention, in response to the device requesting the pay goods are consumable case situation (for example, but delivery of consumable case has not been performed, status, etc. have lost their earlier consumables) It is an object of the present invention to provide a consumable management system that controls a device that sends a consumable case with a management server, and manages the consumables more appropriately.

In order to achieve the above object, according to a first means of the present invention, a device that requires replacement of consumables and a management server that manages ordering / delivery of the consumables are connected via a predetermined communication path. Detects the remaining amount of each consumable item in replaceable consumable case units, and orders delivery of the consumable case with the remaining amount of the consumable item below a predetermined amount to the management server through the communication path. When the management server orders the consumable case from the device, it places an order to the consumable case supplier at a predetermined time, and when the consumable case is delivered from the supplier, the order is received. A consumable management system for delivering a consumable case to a device, wherein the consumable case is provided with a recording medium storing an ID number unique to the consumable case for identifying the consumable case , The equipment Comprising reading means for reading the consumable case unique ID number of the recording medium of the consumables case, storage means for storing a consumable case-specific ID number read, and the management server of the consumable casing When ordering a consumable case, the ID number unique to the consumable case to be ordered is notified to the management server via the communication path, and if the consumable case is ordered, the management server responds to the order. The consumable case ID of the consumable case to be newly delivered is notified to the device through the communication path in advance, and when the device receives the ID number unique to the consumable case , the consumable case It stores a unique ID number in the storage unit, and performs delivery management.

In order to achieve the above object, a second aspect of the present invention, in the first means, the device from the management server and supplies case unique ID number of the newly delivered is consumable Case Compared with the ID number unique to the consumable case notified and stored in the storage means, and if the two ID numbers are different, the predetermined notice means notifies that the delivered consumable case is incorrect. It is characterized by that .

In order to achieve the above object, a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second means, the device has the a newly consumables case unique ID number of the delivered consumable Case The ID number unique to the consumable case is notified from the management server and stored in the storage means, and when the ID numbers unique to both consumable cases match, a notification to that effect is given. , characterized by erasing the consumable case unique ID number stored in the storage means.

In order to achieve the above object, according to a fourth means of the present invention, in any one of the first to third means, the device is configured so that the consumable item is not attached to the device. A non-attached reading unit that reads the ID number unique to the consumable case of the recording medium of the case in a non-contact manner, and the newly delivered consumable case is not attached to the device with the non-attached reading unit. characterized by reading the consumable case unique ID number of the recording medium of the consumable case.

In order to achieve the above object, according to a fifth means of the present invention, in any one of the first to fourth means, if the device does not deliver the ordered consumable case within a predetermined period, using consumable case unique ID number of the consumable case is the delivery are stored in the storage means, to the management server, and performs delivery request.

In order to achieve the above object, a sixth means of the present invention, in the fifth any means from the first, the device, consumables of the recording medium of the newly delivered is consumable Case The ID number unique to the case is read by the reading unit or the non-attached reading unit, and collated with the ID number unique to the consumable case notified from the management server and stored in the storage unit. and notifies the management server.

In order to achieve the above object, a seventh aspect of the present invention, in any one of means of the first to sixth, wherein the management server, consumables consumables case that the delivery was previously notified to the device When a change occurs in the case-specific ID number, the device notifies the consumable case-specific ID number change to the device, and the device receives a consumable case-specific ID number change notification from the management server. When, in response to the notification of the change, and changes the consumable case unique ID number stored in the storage means.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, it can be simply and easily adjusted by the operation-instruction of the management server purchase time and purchase amount of consumables case, also, ID ordering and delivery of consumable Case It is possible to manage by number, and it is possible to easily and appropriately adjust the purchase time and the purchase amount of consumables, thereby improving the usability.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, it can ensure that it can be seen that the wrong consumable component case the operator has been delivered in the equipment, to prevent incorrect delivery, improve usability Can do.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, can be equipment consumables case the operator has been delivered in is so can be seen that adequate, it is possible to prevent the erroneous delivery, next consumable Usability can be improved as a state in which storage means is provided for replacement of goods.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, whether or not paid goods are consumable case of correct ID number before mounting the device, or can check before opening consumables case, use The property can be further improved.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, it can be carried out it is possible to prevent duplicate order to prevent confusion with the re-delivery reminds new orders of consumables case, the appropriate delivery reminder, Usability can be further improved.

According to the sixth means of the present invention, it is possible to easily manage the delivery completion or erroneous shipment consumables cases in the management server, it is possible to further improve the usability.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the device requesting the pay goods are consumable case situation (for example, but delivery of consumable case is not carried out, have lost their earlier consumables Depending on the situation, etc., the management server can control the device to which the consumable case is sent, and more appropriate consumables can be managed.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, since the Example described below is a suitable Example of this invention, various technically preferable restrictions are attached | subjected, However, The scope of the present invention limits this invention especially in the following description. As long as there is no description of the effect, it is not restricted to these aspects.

  1 to 3 are diagrams showing an embodiment of the consumable management system of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a system configuration of the consumable management system 1 to which one embodiment of the consumable management system of the present invention is applied. FIG.

  In FIG. 1, a consumable management system 1 includes a device 10 and a management server 20 connected via a wired or wireless communication path 30. Place an order for consumables with the company 40.

  The device 10 is a device that requires replacement of consumables such as an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, and a printer, and has a plurality of consumable cases 11 such as process cartridges. 1 shows a case where only one consumable case 11 is mounted in order to simplify the explanation, a plurality of consumable cases 11 are actually mounted.

  As shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 2, the consumable case 11 has a rewritable recording medium 12, for example, an RFID (Radio Frequency-Identification) ID tag attached to the outer surface of the case 11. In the recording medium 12, a unique ID number for recognizing the consumable case 11 is registered and stored.

  The device 10 includes a reading unit (reading unit) 13 that reads an ID number stored in the recording medium 12, a readable / writable nonvolatile memory (storage unit) 14, a display unit (notification unit) 15, and the like. Although not shown, each part necessary for the operation of the device 10 is provided.

  The reading unit 13 reads an ID number stored in the recording medium 12. For example, when the recording medium 12 is an RFID ID tag, the reading unit 13 is an RFID reader. For example, a flash ROM (Read Only Memory) or the like is used as the nonvolatile memory 14 and stores the ID number of the recording medium 12 read by the reading unit 13 and the ID number of the consumable 11 to be delivered notified from the management server 20. To do. For example, a liquid crystal display or the like is used as the display unit 15, and various information notified to the user from the device 10, in particular, the consumable item in the consumable case 11 has been ordered. To this effect, various information such as the ID number of the recording medium 12 of the consumable case 11, the ID number of the ordered consumable case 11 and the ID number of the delivered consumable case 11 and the mismatch information are displayed.

  As will be described later, when the remaining amount of the consumable item in the consumable item case 11 becomes a predetermined amount or less, the device 10 orders the consumable item case 11 to the management server 20 via the communication path 30 and consumes the consumable item. The management server 20 is notified of the ID number stored in the recording medium 12 of the product case 11.

  The management server 20 is, for example, a personal computer, a workstation, or the like, which is equipped with a consumable management program and performs ordering / delivery management of the consumable case 11 from the device 10 based on the consumable management program. . That is, when the consumable case 11 is ordered from the device 10, the management server 20 orders the ordering operation of the ordering time by the operator or the ordering time registered in the consumables management program in advance, for example, from the device 10 As soon as the order is placed, or the orders from the plurality of image forming apparatuses 10 are collectively placed at the end of the month, the order is automatically placed at the consumables sales company 40.

  When the management server 20 places an order from the device 10 and immediately places an order to the consumables sales company 40, the management server 20 records the consumables newly delivered from the consumables sales company 40 (consumables case 11). When the ID number registered in the medium 12 is transmitted to the device 10 that has ordered the consumable case 11 via the communication path 30 and a plurality of orders are ordered collectively by the management server 20, the management server 20 allocates a provisional delivery ID number, and transmits the allocated provisional delivery ID number to each device 10 that has ordered the consumable case 11 via the communication path 30.

  When the management server 20 places an order for the consumable case 11 accompanied by the notification of the ID number from the device 10, the management server 20 registers the address number in the internal management memory and sends the consumable case 11 to be delivered notified to the device 10. ID numbers are stored in association with each other to prevent confusion between the consumable case 11 and the delivery destination device 10 when a plurality of automatic orders are generated.

  Further, when the temporary delivery ID number is transmitted from the management server 20, the automatically ordered device 10 registers the transmitted temporary delivery ID number in the nonvolatile memory 14.

  An order from the management server 20 to the consumables sales company 40 is automatically made by data communication or facsimile communication through a general public network.

  When there is an order for a consumable item, that is, a consumable case 11, the consumable item sales company 40 delivers a new consumable case 11a that has been ordered to the management server 20 as indicated by an arrow in FIG. At this time, however, a new ID number is assigned to the consumable case 11a to be delivered and registered in the recording medium 12a of the consumable case 11a.

  When the consumable goods case 11a is delivered from the consumable goods sales company 40, the management server 20 places an order based on the ID number or temporary delivery ID number transmitted to the equipment 10 when the equipment 10 places an order. The consumable item case 11a is newly delivered to each device 10.

  At this time, the ID number registered in the recording medium 12a of the new consumable case 11a is the previously notified ID number.

  As described above, when the ID number previously notified from the management server 20 to the device 10 is a provisional delivery ID number, when the ID number of the consumable case 11a to be newly delivered is determined. The temporary delivery ID number registered in the management server 20 corresponding to the device 10 is deleted and a new ID number is registered, and the new ID number is sent to the device 10. Upon receiving the new ID number, the device 10 deletes the provisional delivery ID number registered in the nonvolatile memory 14 and registers the new ID number.

  In the device 10, when a new consumable case 11 a is delivered, the delivered consumable case 11 a is attached to the device 10.

  When a new consumable case 11a is mounted, the device 10 reads the ID number of the recording medium 12a of the consumable case 11a with the reading unit 13, and the ID number stored in the nonvolatile memory 14, that is, the management server 20 is collated with the ID number of the consumable case 11 to be delivered notified from 20, the collation result is displayed on the display unit 15, and the management server 20 is communicated via the communication path 30.

  The operator of the device 10 can easily and appropriately confirm whether the delivered consumable case 11a is appropriate or erroneously delivered by displaying the comparison result on the display unit 15.

  In addition, the management server 20 can manage whether the delivery of the consumable case 11a has been properly completed, whether the ID number is inconsistent, and there has been a delivery error, by transmitting the ID number verification result. it can.

  Further, when the consumable case 11 that has been ordered is not delivered within a predetermined period, the device 10 is notified from the management server 20 and stored in the nonvolatile memory 14 in advance. A delivery request is made to the management server 20 using the ID number.

  As described above, the consumable item management system 1 of this embodiment connects the device 10 that requires replacement of the consumable item and the management server 20 that manages the ordering / delivery of the consumable item via the predetermined communication path 30, 10 detects the remaining amount of various consumables in units of replaceable consumable cases 11, and delivers the consumable case 11 with the remaining amount of consumables below a predetermined amount via the communication path 30 to the management server 20. When the management server 20 places an order for the consumable case 11 from the device 10, the management server 20 places an order to the consumable sales company 40 that is the delivery source of the consumable case 11 at a predetermined time. When the consumable case 11a is delivered, the recording medium 1 stores an ID number for identifying the consumable case 11 in the consumable case 11 when the consumable case 11a is delivered to the device 10 for which the order has been placed. The device 10 notifies the management server 20 via the communication path 30 of the ID number of the recording medium 12 of the consumable case 11 read by the reading unit 13 when placing an order with the management server 20 of the consumable case 11. When the consumable case 11 is ordered, the management server 20 notifies the device 10 of the ID number of the consumable case 11a to be newly delivered according to the order through the communication path 30 in advance. The notified ID number is stored in the nonvolatile memory 14 for delivery management.

  Accordingly, the purchase timing and purchase amount of the consumable case 11 can be easily and easily adjusted by the operation / instruction of the management server 20, and the ordering and delivery of the consumable case 11 can be managed by the ID number. In addition, it is possible to improve the usability by easily and appropriately adjusting the purchase time and purchase amount of the consumables.

  Further, in the consumable item management system 1 according to the present embodiment, when the consumable case 11 is delivered, the device 10 is notified from the management server 20 and the ID number of the newly delivered consumable case 11a and the nonvolatile memory 14. When the ID numbers are different from each other, the fact is displayed on the display 15 for notification.

  Therefore, it is possible for the operator of the device 10 to know that the consumable case 11 to which the operator 10 has been delivered is incorrect, thereby preventing erroneous delivery and improving the usability.

  Further, in the consumable item management system 1 of this embodiment, when the consumable case 11 is delivered, the device 10 is notified from the management server 20 and the ID number of the newly delivered consumable case 11a and the nonvolatile memory 14. When the ID numbers match each other, the display unit 15 displays a notification to that effect and deletes the ID number stored in the nonvolatile memory 14.

  Therefore, it is possible for the operator of the device 10 to know that the consumable case 11a delivered is appropriate, prevent erroneous delivery, and use the nonvolatile memory 14 for the next replacement of consumables. Usability can be improved as a prepared state.

  In addition, the consumables management system 1 according to the present embodiment is configured such that, if the consumable case 11 ordered by the device 10 is not delivered within a predetermined period, the ID number of the consumable case 11 to be delivered stored in the nonvolatile memory 14 is stored. Is used to make a delivery request to the management server 20.

  Therefore, it is possible to prevent confusion between a new order for the consumable case 11 and a second delivery prompt and prevent a duplicate order, and it is possible to appropriately perform a delivery prompt and further improve the usability. it can.

  Further, in the consumable item management system 1 according to the present embodiment, when the consumable item case 11 is delivered to the device 10, the reading unit 13 reads the ID number of the recording medium 12a of the newly delivered consumable item case 11a. Thus, the management server 20 notifies the management server 20 of the verification result by comparing with the ID number notified from the management server 20 and stored in the nonvolatile memory 14.

  Therefore, the management server 20 can easily manage the completion of delivery of the consumable case 11 and erroneous shipment, and the usability can be further improved.

  In addition, when the management server 20 changes the ID number of the consumable case 11 delivered to the device 10 in advance, the consumable management system 1 of this embodiment notifies the device 10 of the change of the ID number. When the device 10 receives the ID number change notification from the management server 20, the ID number stored in the nonvolatile memory 14 is changed according to the change notification.

  Accordingly, the status of the device 10 for which the management server 20 requests the delivered consumable case 11 (for example, the situation where the consumable case has not been delivered but the consumable has been exhausted first). Accordingly, the device 10 to which the consumable case 11 is sent can be controlled, and more appropriate consumable management can be performed.

  In the above description, the reading unit 13 that reads the recording medium 12 of the consumable case 11 is disposed near the mounting position of the consumable case 11 in the device 10, and the consumable case 11 is not mounted in the device 10. The ID number of the recording medium 12 in the consumable case 11 cannot be read. However, as shown in FIG. 3, the ID number is also recorded in the box 50 in which the consumable case 11 is packed. A recording medium 51 such as an RFID ID tag may be provided, and an unmounted reading unit (unmounted reading means) 60 such as an RFID reader for reading the recording medium 51 in a non-contact manner may be provided on the outer surface of the device 10.

  In this way, the unmounted reading unit 60 outside the device 10 reads the ID number of the recording medium 51 provided in the box 50 in which the new consumable case 11a that has been delivered is stored. By comparing the ID number with the ID number of the nonvolatile memory 14, it is possible to determine whether or not an appropriate consumable case 11 has been delivered in a packaged state. When the wrong consumable case 11 has been delivered It is possible to save the trouble of dismantling the packaging and repackaging when returning the product.

  The invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Needless to say.

  The present invention can be applied to a device management system that efficiently orders consumables for a plurality of devices and improves the manageability.

1 is a system configuration diagram of a consumable management system to which one embodiment of a consumable management system of the present invention is applied. FIG. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a consumable case to which the recording medium of FIG. 1 is attached. Explanatory drawing of the state which is reading the recording medium of the box of a consumables case with the unloading reading part of the outer side of an apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Consumables management system 10 Apparatus 11, 11a Consumables case 12, 12a Recording medium 13 Reading part 14 Non-volatile memory 15 Display part 20 Management server 30 Communication path 40 Consumables sales company 50 Box 51 Recording medium 60 Unmounted reading part

Claims (7)

A consumable case unit in which a device that requires replacement of consumables and a management server that manages the ordering / delivery of the consumables are connected via a predetermined communication path, and the device can exchange the remaining amount of various consumables And the delivery of the consumable case in which the remaining amount of consumables is equal to or less than a predetermined amount is ordered to the management server through the communication path, and the management server orders the consumable case from the device. A consumable management system that places an order from the supplier of the consumable case at a predetermined time and delivers the consumable case to the equipment that has been ordered when the consumable case is delivered from the supplier. The consumable case is attached with a recording medium for storing an ID number unique to the consumable case that identifies the consumable case, and the device stores the consumable case of the consumable case in the recording medium. A reading means for reading the unique ID number; and a storage means for storing the read unique ID number of the consumable case. The order of the consumable case to be ordered when the consumable case is ordered from the management server. An ID number unique to the consumable case is notified to the management server via the communication path, and when the consumable case is ordered by the management server, the consumable case specific to the consumable case newly delivered in response to the order The ID number is notified to the device in advance through the communication path, and when the device receives a notification of the ID number specific to the consumable case, the ID number unique to the consumable case is stored in the storage means, Consumables management system characterized by delivery management.   The device compares the ID number unique to the consumable case of the newly delivered consumable case with the ID number unique to the consumable case notified from the management server and stored in the storage means. 2. The consumable item management system according to claim 1, wherein, when the ID numbers are different, a predetermined notification means notifies that the delivered consumable case is wrong.   The device compares the ID number unique to the consumable case of the newly delivered consumable case with the ID number unique to the consumable case notified from the management server and stored in the storage means. 2. The consumable item case-specific ID number is notified by a predetermined notification means, and the consumable item case-specific ID number stored in the storage unit is erased. Or the consumables management system of Claim 2.   The device includes an unmounted reading unit that reads the ID number unique to the consumable case of the recording medium of the consumable case in a non-contact manner in a state where the consumable case is not mounted on the device, and the unmounted reading unit 2. The ID number unique to the consumable case of the recording medium of the consumable case is read in a state where the newly delivered consumable case is not attached to the device. Item 4. The consumable item management system according to any one of Items 3 to 4.   If the ordered consumable case is not delivered within a predetermined period, the device uses the ID number unique to the consumable case of the delivered consumable case stored in the storage means to the management server. The consumables management system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a delivery request is made.   The device reads an ID number unique to the consumable case of the recording medium of the newly delivered consumable case with the reading unit or the non-attached reading unit, and is notified from the management server and stored in the storage unit. 6. The consumable management system according to claim 1, wherein the consumable case is collated with an ID number unique to the consumable case, and the collation result is notified to the management server.   When a change occurs in the ID number unique to the consumable case of the consumable case to be delivered that has been notified to the device in advance, the management server notifies the device of the change in the ID number unique to the consumable case, and the device When the notification of the change of the ID number unique to the consumable case is received from the management server, the ID number unique to the consumable case stored in the storage means is changed in response to the notice of the change. The consumable item management system according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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