JP4992504B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of duplex printing. The image forming apparatus includes a multifunction peripheral device (MFP) called a copying machine, a printer, and a multifunction peripheral.

  Copiers that can be used by unspecified customers for a fee are installed in various stores such as convenience stores. Generally, this type of copying machine is configured so that a customer can specify and select several items such as the number of copies, the density of prints, and the paper size. In addition, an increasing number of stores have color copiers that can be used as monochrome copiers. Many color copiers are multifunctional types that allow duplex printing by installing a duplex unit.

  In recent years, as a new form of paid copy service (hereinafter referred to as paid copy), a business in which advertising paper is printed on one side in advance is stored in a copier, and the advertiser bears all or part of the copy fee. Is attracting attention. The original brought in by the customer is copied to the other side of the advertisement-printed paper. Customers can receive a copy service for free or at a discounted rate. Instead, the advertisement is always printed on the received form. Advertisers can conduct effective advertising according to the customer base. This business can be implemented by a general-purpose copying machine that does not have an additional function of printing advertisements separately from the original image.

A copying machine having a function of printing an advertisement image when copying a document is known. For example, the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1 includes a copying machine having a memory for storing an advertisement image and a billing apparatus that receives a charge, and the advertisement image is printed on the back side of a sheet on which a document is copied or on another sheet. Print. Further, the printer system described in Patent Document 2 prints an advertisement image reduced or enlarged according to the size of a margin determined by the size and position of the original image in single-sided printing. There are various other proposals such as ones that allow customers to select the type of advertising product.
JP 2000-347533 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-281282

  In general, a copying machine including a plurality of paper storage units is used for pay copying, and a customer using a copy service can select a desired size from a plurality of paper sizes. It is also possible to select a paper larger than the original and designate an enlarged copy, or conversely select a paper larger than the original and designate a reduced copy. In recent years, the same charge may be set for monochrome printing regardless of A4 size and A3 size that is twice as large.

  A free copy service (hereinafter referred to as free copy) that allows the customer to select the paper size is also conceivable. Although this service is useful for customers, it may not be established as a business from the perspective of the service provider. The larger the paper size is, the more color material is consumed and the printing cost per sheet is higher. Therefore, if the proportion of customers who specify a large paper size is large, the profit of the service provider decreases. Even if the advertisement image is enlarged and printed on a large size paper by applying the technique of the above-mentioned Patent Document 2, the service provider's service is required unless the advertiser approves the collection of the advertisement fee according to the print size. Profits cannot be secured.

  In the present invention, in view of such circumstances, the service provider obtains a desired profit even when the paper size selection by the service user is biased to a large size when used in a print service in which the advertiser bears the printing cost. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that is easy to handle. Another object is to enable smooth advertisement operation from the viewpoint of the advertiser.

The image forming apparatus to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus including a multi-attribute duplex printing mode for printing the print vital advertisement image an original image on one side of the sheet to the other side of the sheet, the first size And a plurality of paper feed ports for feeding paper of a second size larger than the first size, and a paper for selecting one of the plurality of paper feed ports according to a paper size designation input and selection means, in the double attribute duplex printing mode, when the sheet more second size to a specified input of the paper size is selected, the number of advertising images to be printed on one side compared with the case where the sheet of the first size is selected Print control means for increasing the number of prints.

In a preferred embodiment, the image forming apparatus includes an image storing means including a nonvolatile memory for storing the advertising image. One of the plurality of paper feeding openings corresponds to a first size paper having a size corresponding to one of the advertisement images, and the other one has a size corresponding to two of the advertisement images. It corresponds to the second size paper. When the first size paper is designated, the print control means sets the number of advertisement images printed per sheet to 1, and when the second size paper is designated, the print control means The number of prints of the advertisement image is 2.

The image forming apparatus of this embodiment, for example, the first size A4 size, and the second size is A3 size, print one advertisement image on A4 size paper, two ads on A3 size paper Print the image. The print service provider can expect an advertising revenue twice as large as the A4 size for the A3 size.

  In another preferred embodiment, the image forming apparatus performs grouping into three or more groups in the storage of the advertisement image by the image storage means, and specifies a combination of groups that determines two advertisement images to be printed on one sheet of paper Operation is configured to be possible. According to this, advertisers of two advertisement images printed on one sheet can be made different or the same. Further, it is possible to prevent advertisements from advertisers competing in the market from being printed on one sheet of paper, thereby enabling smooth advertisement operation from the viewpoint of the advertiser. Conversely, if there is a request from the advertiser, an advertisement for a competing product can be printed on one sheet of paper.

  According to the present invention, when the print cost is used for a print service that the advertiser bears, the service provider can easily obtain a desired profit even if the service user is biased toward a large paper size selection. A forming apparatus can be realized.

  A typical example of the situation where the “multi-attribute double-sided print mode”, which is a mode for printing two types of images from different image data output means on the front and back of one sheet, is as described above. Free copy to bear. Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus used for a copy service that performs multi-attribute double-sided printing when a customer who receives the service designates a free copy will be exemplified. Note that it is not necessarily free, and a discount may be used. Pricing is a matter that service providers should decide.

  The image forming apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1 is installed in a convenience store, for example, and is used in a self-service manner by an unspecified customer. Hereinafter, an unspecified customer who is a temporary user of the image forming apparatus 10 is referred to as a user for convenience. If the user accepts that the advertisement is printed on the back side of the paper, the user can copy the manuscript free of charge. If you do not agree to print the advertisement, you can copy the manuscript for a fee. The free copy print mode is a mode in which the original image is printed on one side of the paper and the advertisement image is printed on the other side. The pay copy print mode is a mode in which only the original image is printed and the advertisement image is not printed.

  The image forming apparatus 10 includes a multifunction peripheral (MFP) 11 capable of color printing and a charging device 12. The charging device 12 shown in the figure is a coin bender having a vertically long box shape, and is placed beside the multifunction device 11 and connected to the multifunction device 11 via a cable-like relay connector 17 drawn from the back. .

  For example, when a user inserts a coin in pay copying, the charging device 12 sequentially displays the amount of money inserted on the display unit 15 including a liquid crystal display, and when the amount of money reaches a predetermined amount, printing is performed on the multifunction device 11. Instructs acceptance of panel operation for specifying details. The user operates the operation panel 18 to specify items such as a set number (number of copies), a paper size, and a print color (monochrome / color). If the copy fee corresponding to the designated copy content is equal to or less than the amount that has been entered, the charging device 12 permits the multifunction device 11 to perform a copy operation. In the case of a free copy, items that can be specified by the user are limited. When the user presses the start key on the operation panel 18, the copy operation starts. The multifunction device 11 transmits discharge information to the charging device 12 when the paper is discharged to the face-up tray 54 (or the face-down tray 53 in the case of a free copy). Upon receipt of the discharge information, the charging device 12 collects a predetermined copy fee and newly displays the balance. The copy fee to be collected depends on the copy content. When the balance falls below a predetermined amount, the charging device 12 prohibits the copying operation. When a coin is additionally inserted, the charging device 12 permits the copying operation again. When the user presses the coin return button 14 of the charging device 12 while the copying operation is stopped, coins corresponding to the balance are sent from the inside of the charging device 12 to the coin return port 16 on the front surface.

  In addition, although the charging apparatus 12 which consists of a coin vendor was shown in figure, it can also be set as the charging apparatus using information storage media, such as a prepaid card which memorize | stored money amount information. The billing apparatus in this case collects a copy fee based on the balance information stored in the inserted prepaid card.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the multi-function device 11 enables reduction projection type flat image scanner 21 as a document image input means, tandem color printer 23, multistage paper stocker 25, and two types of paper discharge. A discharge unit 26 and a duplex unit 27 are provided. The paper stocker 25 includes three paper feed ports 251, 252, and 253 and a manual paper feed port 254, and is configured to be capable of selecting one of a plurality of types of paper having different sizes.

  In the copying operation, the document image is read by the image scanner 21 and becomes a toner image of four colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) by the color printer 23. The four color toner images formed at a predetermined timing are sequentially primary-transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 40 and overlapped on the intermediate transfer belt 40. The superimposed four color toner images are secondarily transferred to the paper fed from the paper stocker 25 to the color printer 23. Thereafter, the toner image is fixed on the sheet through the fixing unit. The sheet on which the toner image is fixed is discharged through the discharge unit 26. In the case of duplex printing, the sheet is sent to the duplex unit 27 after the transfer of the first page. The paper that has been turned upside down by the duplex unit 27 returns to the transfer position (printing position) and is discharged after the transfer of the second side. Since the basic configuration of such a multifunction machine 11 is widely known, detailed description of the structure and function of each element is omitted here.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control system of the image forming apparatus 10.

  The multi-function device 11 and the billing device 12 communicate with each other via the relay connector 17 and the input / output interfaces 60a and 60b. Communication control of the multifunction device 11 is controlled by a control unit 61 provided in the multifunction device 11, and communication control of the charging device 12 is controlled by a control unit 71 provided in the charging device 12.

  The control unit 61 of the multifunction machine 11 is connected to operation mechanisms and sensors provided in the image scanner 21, the color printer 23, the discharge unit 26, and the duplex unit 27 through an interface. In addition, a signal processing unit 22 that processes a read signal from the image scanner 21 and the above-described operation panel 18 are also connected to the control unit 61. In addition, the control unit 61 includes an advertisement image memory unit 63 including a non-volatile memory for storing a plurality of A4 size advertisement images in advance, and a charging unit for accumulating and storing the number of advertisements printed and the charging for the advertiser. Memory 64, working memory 65 used for temporary storage of image data and image composition, timer 66 for measuring the current time, counter 67 for accumulating the number of printed advertisements, advertisement image and / or document image A determination unit 68 for determining productivity to be connected is connected.

  The operation panel 18 includes an advertisement function selection unit 82 which is an operation input unit for managing advertisement images by the apparatus administrator, and a color mode setting unit 83 for setting a color mode (monochrome copy / color copy) for printing a document image. An image quality setting unit 84 for setting copy density and background level, various other keys 85, and a display unit 88 for displaying various operation screens. The display unit 88 includes a display and a touch panel. The image quality setting unit 84 functions only in the case of pay copying, and in the case of free copying, the image quality is automatically set by preliminary scanning (pre-scanning). Other keys include a start key for the user to select paid / free copies.

  On the other hand, the control unit 71 of the billing apparatus 12 includes the display unit 15 described above, a billing table memory 72 that stores table data indicating correspondence between copy contents and charges, and a billing that stores the number of copies and the billing amount for the user in an accumulated manner. A memory 73 is connected.

  The free copy in the image forming apparatus 10 having the above configuration has some restrictions.

  First, the free copy mode is a low function in which a part of the functions in the paid copy mode is limited, and the user is subject to usage restrictions not found in the paid copy mode. Specifically, the number of prints per manuscript is arbitrary within the range of “1” to “999” in the paid copy, but is fixed to “1” in the free copy. So-called multi-copy cannot be specified with free copy. However, the user can make multiple copies by pressing the start key after each copy. In paid copy, the user can select monochrome print or color print, select the paper size, and specify the copy magnification. In free copy, the user can select the paper size. Cannot be selected and copy magnification cannot be specified.

  Second, even if the user wishes to make a free copy, he / she must put a coin of a certain amount or more determined by the service provider into the charging device 12 as a deposit. The image forming apparatus 10 accepts an operation input for the user to select a free copy or a paid copy after confirming the insertion of a coin of a set amount or more. If the user chooses a free copy, the deposit will be returned. Depositing a deposit has the effect of suppressing the mischief of leaving the copy operation in a state.

  In this way, the free copy has restrictions from the user's point of view, but has an advertisement image management function that supports the service provider. The advertisement image management function is a function for setting a combination of a plurality of advertisement images to be printed on one sheet in a free copy. This function includes, for example, a method of preventing advertising images of competing advertisers from being printed on the same sheet.

  The operation procedure of the image forming apparatus 10 is as follows.

  FIG. 4 shows the flow of switching operation guidance screens on the operation panel 18 of the multifunction machine 11, and FIGS. 5 to 17 show examples of various operation guidance screens. The liquid crystal display in the display unit 88 of the operation panel 18 is provided with a transparent touch panel, and a screen including operation keys is displayed on the liquid crystal display at an appropriate time. When the screen corresponding to the input item is displayed, the user can specify or select the input item.

  When the image forming apparatus 10 is in a standby state, the display unit 88 of the multifunction machine 11 displays a deposit request screen S1 illustrated in FIG. The deposit request screen S1 includes a message 101 requesting the user to insert coins into the billing apparatus 12.

  When the user inserts a predetermined amount of coins, a pay / free selection screen S2 is displayed instead of the deposit request screen S1. As shown in FIG. 6, the pay / free selection screen S2 includes selection keys 82A and 82B and a message 102 requesting the user to select either a pay copy or a free copy. Message 102 includes a sentence telling that the free copy will print the advertisement. The screen is switched in response to pressing (touch) of the selection key.

  When the user selects a paid copy, the user can make various designations and selections. First, a color copy or a monochrome copy is selected on a color mode selection screen S3 displayed instead of the pay / free selection screen S2. As shown in FIG. 7, the color mode selection screen S3 has two operation keys for selection. Next, the user designates the copy magnification on the magnification selection screen S4. In this example, enlargement and reduction of 1.000 times, 1.414 times, 0.707 times, and 0.900 times can be selected as shown in FIG.

  In the paper size selection screen S5 displayed instead of the magnification selection screen S4, the user can select the paper size. In this example, as shown in FIG. 9, A3 size (first stage sheet feeding port), A4 vertical size (second stage sheet feeding port), and A4 horizontal size (third stage sheet feeding port) can be selected. “Vertical” corresponds to the portrait in the image layout, and “Horizontal” corresponds to the location.

  In the copy number designation screen S6 displayed instead of the paper size selection screen S5, the user designates the number of copies for one original. As shown in FIG. 10, the number designation screen S6 has a confirmation key 703 together with a numeric keypad for inputting numerical values. In this example, the user can specify any number from 1 to 999. The message 106 on the copy number designation screen S6 includes a number 701 indicating the set value of the current copy number. In the figure, the numeral 701 is the default value “1”. The value of the number 701 is sequentially changed in response to the numeric keypad input.

  On the pay copy setting display screen S7 displayed in response to the operation of the confirmation key 703, the user confirms the setting contents by the previous operation. As shown in FIG. 11, the pay copy setting display screen S7 includes a message 107 indicating setting contents, a return key 705, and density adjustment keys 84A and 84B. The message 107 includes a number 701b indicating the set value of the number of copies. In the figure, the color copy is selected, the setting contents are 1.000 times, the paper size is A3, and the number of copies is “5”. The user can adjust the print density with the density adjustment keys 84A and 84B, and can return the display to the pay / free selection screen S2 with the return key 702.

  On the other hand, when the user selects a free copy on the pay / free selection screen S2, a paper size selection screen S5 shown in FIG. 9 is displayed instead of the pay / free selection screen S2. The user can select A3 size, A4 vertical size, and A4 horizontal size as in the case of pay copy.

  When the user specifies the paper size, a free copy setting display screen S8 is displayed. As shown in FIG. 12, the free copy setting display screen S8 includes a message 108 indicating setting contents, density adjustment keys 84A and 84B, and a return key 805. The message 108 includes a number 801 indicating the set value of the number of copies. The free copy is limited to monochrome copy, and the magnification is fixed at 1.000. The number of copies is fixed at “1”. However, since the copy density needs to be adjusted depending on the state of the document or the apparatus, density adjustment keys 84A and 84B are provided. The user can use the return key 805 to return the display to the pay / free selection screen S2.

  When the user presses a start key (not shown) while the free copy setting display screen S8 is displayed, the free copy mode print operation starts. When copying is completed, a refund guidance screen S9 is displayed instead of the free copy setting display screen S8. As shown in FIG. 13, the refund guidance screen S <b> 9 includes a message 109 indicating that the refund is made by operating the coin return button 14 of the charging apparatus 12.

  The user may receive a refund according to the message 109 when the copying operation is completed. If the start key is pressed again with or without changing the original, one more copy can be made. You can get multiple copies for free by pressing the start key after each copy.

  Returning to FIG. 4, when the administrator of the image forming apparatus 10 performs a predetermined operation such as pressing the hidden button or inputting a password in the standby state in which the deposit request screen S1 is displayed, the standby state dedicated to the administrator is entered. The manager first screen AS1 related to the advertisement image management function is displayed. In this example, it is assumed that the advertisement image is read by the image reader 21 and stored in the advertisement image memory unit 63. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a configuration in which advertisement image data is acquired from an external server via a network, or a configuration in which the image data is acquired from a hard disk drive or other storage via a USB cable may be employed.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the administrator first screen AS1 includes a message 111 for requesting reading of image data, a start key 911, and a reset key 912. A start key 911 is a key for starting image reading. A reset key 912 is a key for resetting an advertisement counter (to be described later) related to the control of the order of advertisements to be printed.

  If the administrator wants to store a new advertisement, he sets the advertisement document on the document glass of the image reader 21 and presses the start key 911. When the reset key 912 is pressed, the count value is reset to 1, and the head of the print queue in the order of the count value returns to the first.

  The administrator second screen AS2 displayed in place of the administrator first screen AS1 is a screen relating to the grouping of the advertisement image data, and a message 121 and a group selection key for selecting a group as shown in FIG. 921, 922, and 923. In the example, the number of groups is 3, but the number of groups may be 4 or more depending on the capacity of the memory to be mounted.

  The grouping function is useful to prevent competing advertisers' advertisements from being printed on the same sheet. In this example, when printing a plurality of advertisements on one sheet, different groups of advertisements are selected. Therefore, if competing advertisers 'advertisements are registered together in one group, the competing advertisers' advertisements are placed on the same sheet. It will not be printed. For example, group 1 may be grouped such that automobile-related companies, group 2 are food-related companies, and group 3 is a travel-related company.

  A third screen for administrator AS3 displayed in place of the second screen for administrator AS2 is a full keyboard 931 that enables the input of a message 131 and an arbitrary character string as shown in FIG. It consists of. The administrator can register an advertisement name (may be an advertiser name) to each group using the full keyboard 931 as necessary.

  The administrator fourth screen AS4 displayed in place of the administrator third screen AS3 is a screen for displaying a registration state such as an advertisement name for the group. As shown in FIG. 17, the manager fourth screen AS4 includes a list 141 of advertisement names registered in each group and a return key 945. In this example, up to three advertisement names can be registered in each group. The return key 945 is a key for the administrator to cancel the administrator-only mode and return the display to the deposit request screen S1.

  FIG. 18 shows the correspondence between the count value of the advertisement counter and the advertisement number. In the drawing, each of the count values 1 to 9 corresponds to advertisement image data divided into three groups and assigned with a registration number for each group. For example, the count value 1 corresponds to the first data “1-1” of the group 1, the count value 2 corresponds to the first data “2-1” of the group 2, and the count value 3 corresponds to the data “3-1” which is the first in the group 3, and the count value 4 corresponds to the data “1-2” which is the second in the group 1.

  The advertisement counter is incremented every time printing is performed on one sheet of paper, and the advertisement corresponding to the count value is printed. Therefore, if one user takes multiple copies of A4 size, The same advertisement is never printed. That is, nine types of advertisements are effectively used. In addition, since the count value and the group are associated with each other so that the group also rotates, the advertisement of a specific group is not continuously printed.

  Hereinafter, an operation of the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present exemplary embodiment will be described with reference to a flowchart.

  FIG. 19 is a main flowchart of a control program executed by the control unit 61 of the multifunction machine 11. In response to the power-on or reset operation, the control unit 61 starts program execution. First, the control unit 61 performs initial setting of various control parameters (# 101). Thereafter, screen control related to display by the operation panel 18 (# 102), image data selection processing (# 103) for selecting an advertisement to be printed, print control (# 104) for controlling paper conveyance and an electrophotographic process, and billing Other processing (# 105) including communication with the apparatus 12 is executed in order, and a reference timer that defines one routine time length is waited (# 106). One routine time length is set to 10 ms, for example, and various timers and counters related to the control operate in units of times that are multiples of the one routine time length.

  Details of the screen control routine are shown in the flowchart of FIG.

  When this routine is executed for the first time after the power switch is turned on, a deposit request screen S1 is displayed (# 201, # 202). If in the administrator mode, the process moves to the administrator screen process (# 203, # 204). If the mode is not the administrator mode, the pay / free selection screen S2 is displayed in response to the receipt of the remaining amount signal from the control unit 71 of the charging device 12 (# 203, # 205, # 206), and the pay / free selection screen is displayed. The selection operation by the user in S2 is checked (# 207). When the pay copy is selected, the color mode selection screen S3 is displayed (# 208), and the pay copy screen processing routine is executed (# 209). When the free copy is selected, the paper size selection screen S5 is displayed (# 210), and the free copy screen processing routine is executed (# 211). In response to receiving the no-remaining signal from the control unit 71 of the charging apparatus 12, the deposit request screen S1 is displayed (# 212, # 213), and the process returns to the main routine.

  Here, the no-remaining signal is transmitted by the control unit 71 of the charging apparatus 12 when the coin return button 14 is pressed or when the total amount of charge reaches the deposit amount in the paid copy. The situation in which the no balance signal is transmitted is a situation where a new deposit is required.

  FIG. 21 is a flowchart of the pay copy screen processing routine.

  If there is an operation input on the color mode selection screen S3, the magnification selection screen S4 is displayed (# 301, # 305). If there is an operation input on the magnification selection screen S4, the paper size selection screen S5 is displayed (# 302, # 306). If there is an operation input on the paper size selection screen S5, the number designation screen S6 is displayed (# 303, # 307). If there is an operation input of the confirmation key 703 on the number designation screen S6, a pay copy setting display screen S7 is displayed (# 304, # 308). If there is an operation input of the return key 705 on the pay copy setting display screen S7, the pay / free selection screen S2 is displayed and the screen control routine is returned (# 309, # 310, # 311).

  FIG. 22 is a flowchart of a free copy screen processing routine.

  If there is an operation input on the paper size selection screen S5, the free copy setting display screen S8 is displayed (# 401, # 402). If there is an operation input of the return key 805 on the free copy setting display screen S8, the pay / free selection screen S2 is displayed and the screen control routine is returned (# 403, # 404, # 405).

  FIG. 23 is a flowchart of the administrator screen processing routine.

  If it is the timing immediately after switching to the administrator mode, the administrator first screen AS1 is displayed (# 501, # 502). If the reset key 912 is operated on the administrator first screen AS1, the advertisement counter is reset to 1 (# 503, # 504, # 505). In response to the end of image reading by the image scanner 21, the manager second screen AS2 is displayed (# 506, # 509). In response to the end of the predetermined operation input on the second administrator screen AS2, the third administrator screen AS3 is displayed (# 507, # 510). In response to the end of the predetermined operation input on the third manager screen AS3, the fourth manager screen AS4 is displayed (# 508, # 511). If the return key 945 is operated on the administrator fourth screen AS4, the pay / free selection screen S2 is displayed and the screen control routine is returned (# 512, # 513, # 514).

  FIG. 24 is a flowchart of the image data selection routine.

  If it is not a free copy, the process returns to the main routine (# 601). If it is a free copy, check the paper size selection result by the user (# 602). If the A4 size is selected, the advertisement image data corresponding to the count value is loaded from the advertisement image memory unit 63 to the work memory 65 with reference to the advertisement counter (# 603). Then, the advertisement counter value is incremented by adding 1 (# 604). Since the maximum value of the advertisement counter value is 9, when the incremented count value reaches 10, it is returned to 1. On the other hand, when A3 size is selected, referring to the advertisement counter, advertisement image data corresponding to the count value at that time and advertisement image data corresponding to the count value obtained by adding 1 to the count value at that time Load (# 605). That is, two advertisement images are selected as print targets. Then, 2 is added to the advertisement counter value (# 606). Since the maximum value of the advertisement counter value is 9, the value is returned to 1 when the added count value becomes 10 or more. Note that, as described above, since the two image data printed on the A3 size paper are considered to be selected from different groups, advertisements of companies in the same industry are not printed side by side. Further, if the advertisement counter is stored in a non-volatile memory represented by a battery-backed SRAM, the advertisement order is stored even when the power switch of the multifunction device 11 is turned off. It is possible to print as many times as possible.

  FIG. 25 is a flowchart of the print control routine.

  If it is not free copy, normal copy processing for pay copy is executed (# 701, # 706). If it is a free copy, switch the single-sided printing mode to the double-sided printing mode (# 702). It is checked whether or not the first page is printed (# 703), and if it is the first page, a process of printing the advertisement image of the number indicated by the advertisement counter is performed (# 704). If it is not the first page, that is, if it is the second page, a copy process of the document set by the user on the image scanner 21 is performed (# 705).

  If a copying operation is in progress, a copying signal is transmitted to the control unit 71 of the charging apparatus 12 (# 707, # 708). If copying is not in progress, the outgoing copying signal is canceled (# 707, # 709). If it is the discharge timing of the copy paper, a discharge timing signal is transmitted to the control unit 71 (# 710, # 711).

  FIG. 26 is a main flowchart of a control program executed by the control unit 71 of the charging apparatus 12. In response to the power-on or reset operation, the control unit 71 starts program execution. First, the control unit 71 performs initial setting of various control parameters (# 801). Thereafter, billing control (# 802), deposit control (# 803), and other processing (# 804) are executed in sequence, and a reference timer for defining one routine time length is waited (# 805). Other processing includes coin identification and display control. One routine time length is set to 10 ms, for example, and various timers and counters related to the control operate in units of times that are multiples of the one routine time length.

  FIG. 27 is a flowchart of a charging control routine.

  The copy mode is checked in response to receiving the ejection timing signal from the control unit 61 of the multifunction machine 11 (# 901, # 902). If it is a paid copy mode, a charge is made according to the copy content (# 903). Charging is in accordance with a predetermined first charge setting such as 10 yen for a monochrome copy and 50 yen for a color copy. If the balance is 0 (zero) as a result of charging, a no balance signal is transmitted to the control unit 61 (# 904, # 905). In the free copy mode, the process returns to the main routine without charging according to the second charge setting where the charge is free.

  FIG. 28 is a flowchart of a deposit control routine.

  Responding to the insertion of coins by the user, a balance remaining signal is transmitted to the control unit 61 of the multifunction machine 11 (# 1001, # 1002). The status of the copying signal from the control unit 61 of the multifunction machine 11 is checked (# 1003), and if the copying signal is in the transmission state (active), the process directly returns to the main routine.

  If the copying signal is in a canceled state (non-active), the balance is returned in response to the operation of the coin return button 14 (# 1004, # 1005), and a no balance signal is transmitted to the control unit 61 of the multifunction machine 11. (# 1006).

  In the above embodiment, as schematically shown in FIG. 29A, the advertisement image for the first size is printed on the first size paper (for example, A4 size) which is a small size among the selectable paper sizes. However, a configuration may be adopted in which two or more small advertisement images are printed side by side on the first size paper as shown in FIG. In this configuration, as shown in FIG. 30B, a maximum of twice as many advertising images as the number of advertising images in the first size are printed on a second size paper (for example, A3 size) which is a large size. For example, an application of printing an advertisement of a store near the store where the image forming apparatus 10 is installed is conceivable.

  In addition, the advertisement image to be printed on one sheet has been described as being selected from different groups, but conversely, a plurality of advertisement images may be selected from one group. For example, an application is considered in which advertisements of the same industry are grouped into a group for each type of industry such as a hospital, a coffee shop, and a beauty salon, and a list advertisement featuring a specific type of industry is printed.

  Regarding the paper size, the first size is not limited to the A4 size but can be selected according to the application such as B5 or letter size. The second size may be any size having an area that is twice or more the first size, and is not limited to the A3 size, and may be a B4 size, an 11 × 17 inch size, or the like. The combination of the first size and the second size may be a combination such as B5 and A3 where the second size is not twice the first size.

  In the above embodiment, the charging device 12 is not limited to a coin vendor, and includes a means for communicating with a card reader for accessing a prepaid card or a credit card, or a mobile phone with a settlement function, instead of or together with a coin vendor. But you can. Also, when used in a checkout system environment where the user is managed with an identification code and the payment of the print fee is associated with the identification code, the key is entered for the identification code or the identification card is inserted. Further, it may be configured such that the input to the recognition device for the biological information such as the fingerprint and the vein pattern is regarded as the input of money.

  The configuration of the image forming apparatus is not limited to the configuration in which the document image is input by the image reader 21. A personal computer or a memory device that requests image printing can also serve as the document input means. For example, a print service is conceivable in which a computer is connected to the image forming apparatus, and a customer stores image data as a document in a removable memory and brings the image data.

  The free copy need not be limited to monochrome prints, and there is no need to pay for it. For example, an image forming apparatus is configured by using a color copying machine having no monochrome print function, and one sheet on which an advertisement is not printed is, for example, a first fee setting color copy service of 50 yen, and one sheet on which an advertisement is printed. For example, it may be used for the second fee setting color copy service of 10 yen.

  The setting value of the number of copies per document in the free copy is not limited to 1 and may be 2 or more. Further, the limit on the number of copies may be changed according to the amount of deposit to be inserted. For example, a setting of 1 for 10 yen, 20 for 100 yen, and 100 for 500 yen can be considered.

  13 is provided with a return key for returning the display to the pay / free selection screen S2, so that the user can switch between the free copy and the paid copy without re-inserting coins. May be.

  As the advertisement image data output means, a communication means for acquiring advertisement image data from an external image server may be provided instead of or together with the memory unit 63. The image forming apparatus 10 may be connected to a terminal in a management facility that centrally manages image forming apparatuses installed in a plurality of stores via a network (not shown). In this management facility, the operation status of each image forming apparatus can be grasped, and advertisement images stored in the multifunction peripheral can be periodically replaced by remote operation.

  The color printer 23 is not limited to the tandem type, and may be a rotary type or other types. Color printing and monochrome printing may be performed by a method such as inkjet other than the electrophotographic process. The configuration of the image forming apparatus 10 can be changed as appropriate within the scope of the present invention.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a multifunction machine. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a control system of the image forming apparatus. FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a flow of switching operation guidance screens on the operation panel of the multifunction machine. It is a figure which shows the example of a payment request | requirement screen. It is a figure which shows the example of a pay / free selection screen. It is a figure which shows the example of a color mode selection screen. It is a figure which shows the example of a magnification selection screen. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a paper size selection screen. It is a figure which shows the example of a number designation screen. It is a figure which shows the example of a pay copy setting display screen. It is a figure which shows the example of a free copy setting display screen. It is a figure which shows the example of a refund guidance screen. It is a figure which shows the example of the 1st screen for managers. It is a figure which shows the example of the 2nd screen for managers. It is a figure which shows the example of the 3rd screen for managers. It is a figure which shows the example of the 4th screen for managers. It is a figure which shows an example of a response | compatibility with the count value of an advertisement counter, and the registration number of advertisement image data. 5 is a main flowchart of a control program executed by a control unit of the multifunction machine. 5 is a flowchart of a screen control routine in the multifunction machine. 10 is a flowchart of a pay copy screen processing routine in the multifunction peripheral. 10 is a flowchart of a free copy screen processing routine in the multifunction peripheral. It is a flowchart of an administrator screen process routine. It is a flowchart of an image data selection routine. 6 is a flowchart of a print control routine. It is a main flowchart of the control program which the control part of a charging device performs. It is a flowchart of a charging control routine in the charging device. It is a flowchart of the payment process routine in a charging device. It is a figure which shows a response | compatibility with the number of the 2nd attribute images printed of paper size. It is a figure which shows the other example of a response | compatibility with the number of the 2nd attribute images printed of paper size.

Explanation of symbols

10 image forming apparatus 18 operation panel (paper selection means)
71 Control unit (print control means)
82 Advertising function selection unit 21 Image scanner (first image data output means)
63 Advertising image memory unit (second image data output means)
251 252 253 Paper feed slot

Claims (8)

An image forming apparatus having a multi-attribute double-sided print mode for printing a document image on one side of a sheet and printing an advertisement image on the other side of the sheet,
A plurality of paper feed openings for respectively feeding a first size paper and a second size paper larger than the first size ;
Paper selection means for selecting one of the plurality of paper supply ports in accordance with a paper size designation input;
In double attribute duplex printing mode, when the sheet more second size to a specified input of the paper size is selected, the print to increase the number of advertisement image to be printed on one side compared with the case where the sheet of the first size is selected And an image forming apparatus. When there are a plurality of advertisement images printed on the one side, the plurality of advertisement images are images having different contents.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. Image storage means having a non-volatile memory for storing advertising images that are grouped so that competing advertisers are grouped together or grouped for each type of business of the advertiser ;
One of the plurality of paper feed ports corresponds to a first size paper having a size corresponding to at least one of the advertisement images, and the other one is a size corresponding to a plurality of the advertisement images. Corresponds to the second size paper with
Wherein the one surface of the first paper size to print at least one advertisement image, on one side of a sheet of the second size according to claim 1 or 2 for printing the plurality of advertisement images with different groups Image forming apparatus. Image storage means having a non-volatile memory for storing advertising images that are grouped so that competing advertisers are grouped together or grouped for each type of business of the advertiser ;
One of the plurality of paper feed ports corresponds to a first size paper having a size corresponding to at least one of the advertisement images, and the other one is a size corresponding to a plurality of the advertisement images. Corresponds to the second size paper with
Wherein the one surface of the first paper size to print at least one advertisement image, on one side of a sheet of the second size according to claim 1 or 2 for printing the plurality of advertisement images of the same group Image forming apparatus. Comprising an image storing means including a nonvolatile memory for storing the advertising image,
One of the plurality of paper feed ports corresponds to a first size paper having a size corresponding to one of the advertisement images, and the other one has a size corresponding to two of the advertisement images. It corresponds to the second size paper with
The print control means sets the number of prints of the advertisement image per sheet when the first size paper is designated, and designates the paper when the second size paper is designated. the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, the number of printing the advertising image per sheet and 2. The image storage means stores a plurality of advertising images that are grouped so that competing advertisers are grouped into one group, or grouped for each type of business of the advertiser,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 5 to print the two advertising images with different groups on one side of the sheet of the second size. 7. The advertisement image is stored by the image storage means and is grouped into three or more groups, and a group combination specifying operation for determining two advertisement images to be printed on one sheet is configured. The image forming apparatus described in 1. A multi-attribute for printing an image having a first attribute given by the first image data output means on one side of the paper and printing an image having a second attribute given by the second image data output means on the other side of the paper. An image forming apparatus having a duplex printing mode,
Multiple paper feed slots for feeding paper of different sizes;
Paper selection means for selecting one of the plurality of paper supply ports in accordance with a paper size designation input;
Print control means for switching the number of images of the second attribute to be printed on one side in response to the designation input of the paper size in the multi-attribute double-sided print mode;
Image storage means including a non-volatile memory for storing an advertisement image as the image of the second attribute as the second image data output means;
One of the plurality of paper feed ports corresponds to a first size paper having a size corresponding to one of the advertisement images, and the other one has a size corresponding to two of the advertisement images. It corresponds to the second size paper with
The image storage means stores a plurality of advertisement images having the same size and different contents,
The print control means sets the number of prints of the advertisement image per sheet when the first size paper is designated, and designates the paper when the second size paper is designated. The number of prints of the advertisement image per sheet is 2,
Two advertising images with different contents are printed on one side of the second size paper
An image forming apparatus.

Images