JP5177212B2 - Inventory management device, inventory management system, image processing device, inventory management method, inventory management program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus having a function of forming an image on a recording sheet using consumables such as toner, an inventory management apparatus for managing inventory on the user side of consumables used in the image processing apparatus, and The present invention relates to an inventory management system in which the image processing apparatus and the inventory management apparatus are communicably connected.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image processing apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer using an electrophotographic method, when the remaining amount of toner in a toner cartridge falls below a predetermined threshold, it is determined that the toner is almost out (near empty) In general, a message notifying the user is displayed on a display device such as an operation panel to notify the user. In response to this notification, the user prepares a replacement toner cartridge, and places an order if there is no toner cartridge in stock.

  In recent years, an image processing apparatus is connected to an inventory management apparatus through a communication circuit, and the inventory management apparatus is further connected to a remote inventory management system to exchange various information and perform inventory management of the image processing apparatus. It is coming. In many cases, the inventory management apparatus is installed in an image processing apparatus sales or service company, and various information including the toner near empty information from the image processing apparatuses of a plurality of users is used for maintenance management of the image processing apparatus. ing. If the image processing apparatus is connected to such an inventory management apparatus, the inventory management apparatus can recognize the toner near empty state and the toner replacement.

  Further, the inventory management device may be connected to an ordering system for replacement consumables such as toner. In such a case, the inventory management device orders replacement consumables from the consumable ordering system. It is also possible to go and deliver to the user. In this way, an automatic delivery system has been built in which replacement consumables are automatically delivered to the user without the user placing an order for consumables.

In particular, in the case of consumables that need to be replaced relatively frequently, such as toner, the advantage of using such an automatic delivery system is that the user is freed from the trouble of frequently ordering toner. There is. In addition, there is a merit that manufacturers can reduce the administrative procedure costs associated with ordering.
In Patent Document 1, in a consumable item order management system including a management device that manages a device group of a plurality of image forming apparatuses, the order number of consumables received from each device group is set for each device group. A configuration is disclosed in which when the number of receptions is reached, consumables addressed to the device group are ordered together.

  Further, in Patent Document 2, when there is a consumable that manages a device (printer) for each group and the stock quantity is predicted to fall below a predetermined threshold within a period required for delivery, another consumable Thus, a configuration is disclosed in which replenishment and delivery are performed together if there are items that are less than or equal to the preset maximum inventory number for each consumable.

JP 2008-271231 A JP 2008-90710 A

However, the configurations disclosed in Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2 focus on improving delivery efficiency and reducing delivery costs, and do not consider how much inventory space is available on the user side. For this reason, there is a risk that a user who does not have much room in the inventory space may have trouble placing the consumables when the consumables are shipped together.
However, in particular, when a plurality of image processing apparatuses are used, if there is not enough room for the stock space to store one toner cartridge at a time for all the image processing apparatuses, which image processing apparatus It is very difficult for the user to determine which color toner cartridge should be stocked with a spare toner cartridge.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its purpose is to stock only the minimum necessary consumables as stock even when the user's inventory space is very limited. Thus, an object of the present invention is to provide an inventory management device that does not cause excess inconvenience to be stocked, and that does not cause inconvenience to the user because necessary consumables are out of stock.

  Another object of the present invention is an inventory management system having such an inventory management apparatus, an image processing apparatus having the functions of such an inventory management apparatus, and the inventory management apparatus, inventory management system, and image processing. An object of the present invention is to provide an inventory management method executed in the apparatus, and an inventory management program executed in a computer of the inventory management apparatus and the image processing apparatus.

  In order to achieve the above object, an inventory management apparatus according to the present invention is connected to a group of apparatuses including one or a plurality of image processing apparatuses via a network, and performs inventory management of consumables used in the image processing apparatus. An inventory management device for each device group, including information indicating that the consumables of the image processing device have been replaced, the type of consumables replaced, and identification information of the image processing device from which the consumables have been replaced Replaced consumable information information acquiring means for acquiring replaced consumable information, consumption information acquiring means for acquiring consumable information indicating the degree of consumption of each consumable in use in each of the image processing apparatuses, and the consumable For each consumable, based on the information, a replacement time predicting means for predicting a replacement time that needs to be replaced due to wear, information indicating an inventory quantity for each of the consumables, and the consumable Information on the image processing device to be used, information on the device group to which the image processing device belongs, an inventory upper limit quantity set for the device group, and a predicted replacement time by the replacement time prediction means Associating, storing as stock information in units of the device group, referring to the replaced consumable information, updating stock information, and selecting stock replenishment consumables for selecting consumables to be restocked And the stock replenishment consumable selection means, when the replaced consumable information is acquired by the replaced consumable information acquisition means, the image processing apparatus which is the supply source of the replaced consumable information Refer to the inventory information about the device group to which the device belongs, and within the range that does not exceed the inventory upper limit quantity, the consumables used in the device group are out of stock, and from the earliest expected replacement time And executes a first consumable selection mode for selecting should compartment refill consumables.

The inventory management system according to the present invention includes the inventory management apparatus.
Furthermore, the image processing apparatus according to the present invention is provided with the function of the inventory management apparatus.

  With the above configuration, the inventory management apparatus of the present invention predicts the time when replacement of consumables such as a toner cartridge is necessary, and starts from the consumable that comes soon with a predicted replacement time within the preset upper limit of inventory. Since consumables for inventory replenishment are selected, even a user with a very limited inventory space can secure the minimum necessary inventory without exceeding the maximum number of inventory.

  In addition, the inventory information includes information on a predetermined priority condition, and the inventory replenishment consumable selection unit includes the inventory information about the device group to which the image processing apparatus that is a supply source of the replaced consumable information belongs. When there is a plurality of consumables predicted replacement times within a predetermined period from the earliest predicted replacement time among the consumables used in the device group that are not in stock, the first consumable selection mode Instead of executing the above, a consumable item may be selected from the plurality of consumable items in accordance with the predetermined priority condition within a range not exceeding the stock upper limit quantity.

This makes it more important for the user to consider the second priority condition in addition to the predicted replacement time when there are multiple consumables that reach the predicted replacement time between the earliest predicted replacement time and the predetermined period. It is possible to ensure that high-grade consumables are stocked at the user's hand when replacement is necessary.
The replacement consumable information acquisition means further comprises consumable delivery instruction means for instructing a delivery server connected via a network to deliver the consumable selected by the inventory replenishment consumable selection means. Obtains delivered consumable information indicating that the instructed consumable has been delivered from the delivery server, and the inventory information storage means refers to the delivered consumable information to obtain the inventory information. May be updated.

As a result, since the selected consumable item to be replenished is automatically delivered to the user, it is possible to save the user's trouble of placing an order for the stock and contribute to the convenience of the user.
In addition, it is possible to save the user from manually adding the consumables delivered to the user to the inventory information, thereby contributing to the convenience of the user.
Here, message information for notifying the user of the consumables selected by the inventory replenishment consumables selection means as consumables to be ordered for inventory replenishment is displayed on the display means provided in the image processing apparatus. May be.

This makes it possible to deal with individual user situations, such as when placing an order for stock with a vendor that does not support a delivery server, or when waiting for a few days to place an order for consumables. can do.
Here, the consumable item selection mode of the second consumable item selection mode for selecting the same type of consumable item as the replaced consumable item or the first consumable item selection mode is executed. The apparatus further comprises mode selection acquisition means for acquiring a user's selection, and the inventory replenishment consumable selection means, when the acquired user selection is in the second consumable selection mode, the first consumable Instead of executing the selection mode, the second consumable item selection mode may be executed.

Accordingly, it is possible to cope with a user who wants to deliver the same consumable as the replaced consumable.
Here, the predetermined priority condition is the degree of consumption of the consumable item, and the stock replenishment consumable item selection means gives priority to the consumable item having a higher degree of consumption item among the plurality of consumable items. May be selected.

As a result, when the prediction of the replacement time deviates, a consumable item with a low degree of buffer capacity against the deviation is preferentially selected, and even if the prediction deviates, the user is surely in stock as a stock. Therefore, it is possible to prevent inconvenience for the user and contribute to the convenience of the user.
Here, the predetermined priority condition relates to a color in which the consumable item is used in the image processing apparatus, and the inventory replenishment consumable item selection unit includes a consumable item used in black among the plurality of consumable items. In some cases, the consumable may be selected preferentially over consumables used for other colors.

This makes it possible to preferentially select the black consumables that are most frequently used in offices, etc., when outputting character information, etc. It can prevent and contribute to the convenience of the user.
Further, here, the predetermined priority condition is the stability of the consumption rate of the consumable item, and the inventory replenishment consumable item selection means may preferentially select the one with a lower stability of the consumption rate. Good.

As a result, by preferentially selecting consumables that tend to deviate from the predicted replacement time and have a large variation in consumption speed, even if the prediction deviates, the replacement stock is reliably stocked at the user's hand. As such, it can contribute to the convenience of the user.
Further, the predetermined priority condition relates to a function of the image processing apparatus, and the inventory replenishment consumable selecting means includes a consumable used in the image processing apparatus having a facsimile function among the plurality of consumables. In this case, the consumable item may be selected with priority.

As a result, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a situation in which a facsimile function that is often used for exchanging important information cannot be used, thereby contributing to user convenience.
Further, the predetermined priority condition is a length of an unusable period from when the consumable is completely consumed and the image processing apparatus becomes unusable until the consumable is replaced and becomes usable again. The inventory replenishment consumable selection unit may preferentially select a consumable used in an image processing apparatus having a shorter unusable period.

As a result, an image processing apparatus with a short unusable period is a higher-priority image processing apparatus that cannot be used by a user. As a result, the occurrence of a situation where the image processing apparatus having a high degree of importance cannot be used can be suppressed, which contributes to user convenience.
Here, the predetermined priority condition is compatibility of the consumables with other image processing apparatuses in an apparatus group to which the image processing apparatus to which the consumables are supposed to be used belongs, and the inventory replenishment consumable selection The means may preferentially select a consumable that does not have compatibility over the consumable that has compatibility.

  As a result, consumables that cannot be used as a first aid by removing consumables from other image processing devices are selected preferentially, and are reliably stocked as stock at the user's hand. When there is no consumables stock, it is not possible to cope with the first-aid measures, and the situation where the image processing apparatus cannot be used at all can be prevented, which contributes to the convenience of the user.

  Here, when there is a change in registered information including addition and deletion of registered image processing apparatuses and a change in model for each of the apparatus groups, a user of the apparatus group in which the change has been made In contrast, a notification means for notifying the user of a message for prompting an input about the setting change of the inventory upper limit quantity, and an inventory upper limit quantity setting acquisition means for acquiring a setting input from the user for the inventory upper limit quantity, The stock information storage unit may change the setting of the stock upper limit quantity and update the stock information according to the input from the user acquired by the stock upper limit quantity setting acquisition unit.

As a result, appropriate inventory management can be performed even when the operation status changes, such as a change in the number of installed image processing apparatuses or a change in model.
Here, the image processing apparatus further includes a replacement time determining means for determining a time when a consumable used in the image processing apparatus is replaced, and the inventory replenishment consumable selecting means includes the replaced consumption When the replacement consumable information is acquired by the product information acquisition means, in the apparatus group to which the image processing apparatus that is the supply source of the replaced consumable information belongs, If there is a consumable item that has not been confirmed, the consumable item to be restocked may be selected after the time when the consumable item has been replaced is determined.

As a result, when selecting a consumable item to be replenished in stock, a more appropriate selection can be made based on a more accurate inventory situation at the time of selection.
Here, the stock upper limit quantity may be the total number of consumables.
Accordingly, since the inventory management is performed by the number of consumables, there is a convenience that it is easy for the user to understand and to easily grasp the stock status.

Further, the stock upper limit quantity may be obtained from a volume of consumables in a packaged state.
This makes it possible, for example, when consumables of various sizes are used, especially for users with very limited inventory space, when large consumables are stocked as stock. In addition, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a situation where the user cannot fit in the stock space and contribute to the convenience of the user.

Further, the image processing apparatus forms a toner image on a recording sheet, and calculates the consumption information by calculation from a count value counted by a dot counter that cumulatively adds a toner usage amount in forming the toner image as a dot count number. You may provide the consumption information calculating part to acquire.
As a result, the consumption amount of toner as a consumable can be acquired more accurately, and the replacement timing of the toner cartridge that most frequently needs replacement can be predicted more accurately.

The present invention can achieve the same effect as an inventory management system including the above-described inventory management apparatus and an image processing apparatus including the functions of the above-described inventory management apparatus.
Furthermore, the present invention may be an inventory management method executed in the inventory management apparatus, inventory management system, and image processing apparatus, or an inventory management program executed in a computer of the inventory management apparatus and image processing apparatus. it can.

It is a figure which shows typically schematic structure of the inventory management system provided with the inventory management apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a schematic configuration of a tandem type color digital printer which is an image processing apparatus constituting an inventory management system in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating a schematic configuration of a developing device, a toner cartridge, and a sub hopper illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a schematic configuration inside a sub hopper shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a schematic configuration inside a developing device. It is a control block diagram of an image processing apparatus. It is a control block diagram of an inventory management apparatus. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating toner state transition in a toner cartridge and a sub hopper. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the contents of toner cartridge replacement completion time determination processing. (A) is a figure which shows the structural example of the notification frame of exchanged toner information, (b) is a figure which shows the structural example of image processing apparatus registration information. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of toner consumption amount information. FIG. 6 is a graph illustrating a method for predicting a transition of a remaining amount of toner in a toner cartridge and a replacement time. (A) is a table showing a configuration example of inventory information in the first embodiment, and (b) is a table showing the priority order of toner cartridges to be replenished based on the inventory information of (a). It is. 6 is a part of a flowchart showing a control sequence between the image processing apparatus and the inventory management apparatus related to consumables inventory management processing of the inventory management apparatus in the first embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the continuation of the flowchart shown in FIG. (A) is a table showing a configuration example of inventory information in the second embodiment, and (b) is a table showing the priority order of toner cartridges to be replenished in stock determined based on the inventory information of (a). It is. 10 is a part of a flowchart showing processing contents of the inventory management apparatus in a control sequence between the image processing apparatus and the inventory management apparatus related to consumables inventory management processing of the inventory management apparatus in the second embodiment. (A) is a table which shows the example of a structure of the inventory information in the modification 1, (b) is a table which shows the priority of the toner cartridge which should be restocked determined based on the inventory information of (a). is there. 10 is a part of a flowchart showing processing contents of an inventory management device in a control sequence between an image processing device and an inventory management device related to consumables inventory management processing of the inventory management device in Modification 1; (A) is a table which shows the example of a structure of the inventory information in the modification 2, (b) is a table which shows the priority of the toner cartridge which should be restocked determined based on the inventory information of (a). is there. 10 is a part of a flowchart showing processing contents of an inventory management device in a control sequence between an image processing device and an inventory management device related to consumables inventory management processing of the inventory management device in Modification 2. (A) is a table which shows the example of a structure of the inventory information in the modification 3, (b) is a table which shows the priority of the toner cartridge which should be restocked determined based on the inventory information of (a). is there. 14 is a part of a flowchart showing processing contents of an inventory management device in a control sequence between an image processing device and an inventory management device related to consumables inventory management processing of the inventory management device in Modification 3. (A) is a table which shows the example of a structure of the inventory information in the modification 4, (b) is a table which shows the priority of the toner cartridge which should be replenished in stock determined based on the inventory information of (a). is there. 14 is a part of a flowchart showing processing contents of an inventory management device in a control sequence between an image processing device and an inventory management device related to consumables inventory management processing of the inventory management device in Modification 4. (A) is a table which shows the example of a structure of the inventory information in the modification 5, (b) is a table which shows the priority of the toner cartridge which should be restocked determined based on the inventory information of (a). is there. 10 is a part of a flowchart showing processing contents of an inventory management device in a control sequence between an image processing device and an inventory management device related to consumables inventory management processing of the inventory management device in Modification 5. 18 is a part of a flowchart showing processing contents of an inventory management device in a control sequence between an image processing device and an inventory management device related to consumables inventory management processing of the inventory management device in Modification 6. 18 is a part of a flowchart showing processing contents of an inventory management device in a control sequence between an image processing device and an inventory management device related to consumables inventory management processing of an inventory management device in Modification 9; 16 is a flowchart illustrating a control sequence between an image processing apparatus and an inventory management apparatus according to inventory information update processing of an inventory management apparatus in Modification 10; 18 is a flowchart showing a control sequence between an image processing apparatus and an inventory management apparatus related to consumables inventory management processing of an inventory management apparatus in Modification 11. FIG. 19 is a control block diagram of an image processing apparatus in Modification 12. FIG. 20 is a control block diagram of an inventory management device in Modification 12. 20 is a part of a flowchart showing a control sequence between an image processing apparatus and an inventory management apparatus related to consumables inventory management processing of an inventory management apparatus in Modification 13; FIG. 35 is a flowchart showing a continuation of the flowchart shown in FIG. 34. FIG. FIG. 29 is a control block diagram of an image processing device in Modification 14; 28 is a flowchart showing the contents of consumables inventory management processing of the image processing apparatus in Modification 14. 18 is a flowchart showing the contents of inventory upper limit number setting change processing of the inventory management device in Modification 15.

Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
<Embodiment 1>
(1. Overall system configuration)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an inventory management system including an inventory management apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in the figure, in the inventory management system, the image processing apparatus 100 and the client apparatus 200 are connected via a LAN (Local Area Network), and further, the inventory management apparatus 300 and the consumables delivery server 400 are connected. Etc. are connected to the LAN via a network such as the Internet.
The image processing apparatus 100 is, for example, a so-called multi function peripheral (MFP) having a printer function, a copy function, a FAX function, and a scanner function, but does not necessarily have all these functions. Alternatively, the image processing apparatus may have some or any one of these functions. In addition, it may be a color model or a monochrome model.

Specifically, the client device 200 includes, for example, a personal computer (PC), and performs a print job or the like that is a process of printing a document or an image created by installed application software on a recording sheet. Issue to 100 and execute.
For example, the office A, which is a user's company or department, is connected to the image processing apparatuses 100-A01, 100-A02, 100-A03 and the client apparatuses 200-A01, 200-A02 via the LAN 1, and the office B Are connected to the image processing apparatuses 100-B01 and 100-B02 and the client apparatuses 200-B01, 200-B02, and 200-B03 via the LAN2.

  When the toner cartridge as a consumable item is replaced, the inventory management apparatus 300 decreases the amount of inventory on the user side. Therefore, the inventory management device 300 indicates that the toner cartridge has been replaced, and the toner color of the replaced toner cartridge. Information relating to the replacement of the toner cartridge, such as in which image processing apparatus 100 the toner cartridge has been replaced, is acquired from each image processing apparatus 100 connected via the network, and the connected image processing apparatus 100 As a single device group (group) or divided into a plurality of device groups, the inventory on the user side is managed for each device group, and the toner cartridge to be replenished is selected and delivered to the user. The consumables delivery server 400 is instructed. Details will be described later.

  The apparatus group is set for an image processing apparatus that the user wants to manage as one apparatus group, such as a department or a company. In the figure, the image processing apparatuses 100-A01, 100-A02, and 100-A03 arranged in the office A are one apparatus group, and the image processing apparatuses 100-B01 and 100-B02 arranged in the office B are different. It is set and managed as a device group. Usually, a plurality of image processing apparatuses are set in one apparatus group, but one apparatus group may be used. Here, the term “apparatus group” is used even when there is only one image processing apparatus belonging to the apparatus group.

Further, in the present embodiment, there are a plurality of device groups managed by the inventory management device 300, but there may be only one device group.
The consumable delivery server 400 receives an instruction from the inventory management apparatus 300 to deliver the toner cartridge to be replenished to the user, and performs delivery processing of the designated toner cartridge.
(2. Configuration of image processing apparatus)
(2-1. Overall Configuration of Image Processing Device)
FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view schematically showing the overall configuration of the image processing apparatus 100. Here, a tandem color digital multi-function peripheral will be described as an example of the image processing apparatus 100.

  The image processing apparatus 100 includes an image reading unit 11, an image forming unit 12, a paper feeding unit 13, a fixing unit 14, a control unit 60, an operation panel 16, and the like, and reads a document image and records a recording sheet based on the image data. A copy job for forming an image on the printer, a print job for forming an image on a recording sheet based on image data sent from an external terminal via a network, a transmission job for transmitting image data to the outside by FAX and e-mail, etc. A so-called multi-function multifunction peripheral (MFP), which is a color image composed of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y) and black (K), or A monochrome, for example, black image is formed and reproduced on a recording sheet. Hereinafter, the reproduction colors of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black are represented as C, M, Y, and K, respectively, and are added as subscripts to be distinguished as corresponding to the reproduction colors.

The image reading unit 11 is a known device that reads an image of a set original and outputs image data obtained by the reading.
The image forming unit 12 corresponds to the image forming units 20C to 20K corresponding to the C, M, Y, and K reproduction colors, the intermediate transfer belt 21, and the toners of the C, M, Y, and K colors, respectively. Toner replenishing units 7C to 7K for replenishing the image forming unit 20 are provided.

The image forming units 20C to 20K are respectively photosensitive drums 1C to 1K, charging rollers 2C to 2K, exposure units 3C to 3K, primary transfer rollers 4C to 4K, developing units 5C to 5K, and photosensitive drums disposed around the photosensitive drums 1C to 1K. Cleaners 6C to 6K for cleaning the body drums 1C to 1K are provided, and C to K color toner images are formed on the photoreceptor drums 1C to 1K.
The intermediate transfer belt 21 is an endless belt, is stretched around a driving roller 22 and a driven roller 23, and is driven to circulate in a direction indicated by an arrow in FIG.

The paper feed unit 13 includes a paper feed cassette 31 that stores the paper S, a feed roller 32 that feeds the paper S in the paper feed cassette 31 one by one onto the transport path 37, and a transport roller that transports the fed paper S A pair 33, a timing roller pair 34 for taking the timing of sending the conveyed paper S to the secondary transfer position 351, a secondary transfer roller 35, and the like are provided.
The fixing unit 14 includes a fixing roller and a pressure roller that are pressed against each other, a heater for heating the fixing roller, and the like.

The operation panel 16 includes a group of keys for accepting an instruction for copying or the like and selection of a color or monochrome mode, and a liquid crystal display unit for notifying or warning various information to the user.
When the control unit 60 receives an instruction to execute copying or the like from the user via the operation panel 16 or the like, based on the instruction, the control unit 60 controls the image reading unit 11 and the image forming unit 12 to start the received operation such as copying. Let Specifically, in the case of copying, the image reading unit 11 is caused to execute reading of an original image, and the laser diodes of the exposure units 3C to 3K are driven based on image data obtained by reading. As a result, the laser light L for each color is emitted from the laser diodes of the exposure units 3C to 3K, and the photosensitive drums 1C to 1K are exposed and scanned line by line.

Before this exposure scanning, the photosensitive drums 1C to 1K are uniformly charged by the charging rollers 2C to 2K, and electrostatic latent images are formed on the photosensitive drums 1C to 1K by the exposure scanning of the laser beam L. Is done. The formed electrostatic latent image is developed (visualized) by a developer contained in the developing devices 5C to 5K, and toner images are formed on the photosensitive drums 1C to 1K.
Further, toner cartridges 71C, 71M, 71Y, 71K and sub hoppers 72C, 72M, 72Y, 72K are provided as a supply mechanism for supplying toner to the developing devices 5C, 5M, 5Y, 5K of the image forming units 20C, 20M, 20Y, 20K. Are arranged above the image forming units 20C, 20M, 20Y, and 20K.

The toner cartridges 71 </ b> C, 71 </ b> M, 71 </ b> Y, 71 </ b> K are taken out by opening a dedicated door (hereinafter referred to as “TC door cover”) (not shown) provided on the front surface of the image processing apparatus 100, or newly added from the outside. Can be loaded with other cartridges.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the toner cartridge 71K, the sub hopper 72K, and the developing device 5K. Actually, these configurations exist as many as the number of image forming units, but here, a black (K) type will be described as a representative. The other C, M, and Y colors have basically the same configuration except that the toner colors are different. In the following description, the reference numerals are omitted for the components of the toner cartridge 71K and the sub hopper 72K.

  As shown in the drawing, the toner cartridge 71K has a semi-cylindrical shape and has a space filled with toner. A gear mechanism 712 is provided on the end wall of the toner cartridge 71K (the back side of the image processing apparatus when mounted inside the image processing apparatus 100), and a spiral spring 711 having one end attached to the gear mechanism 712. Is rotatably accommodated in the space inside the toner cartridge 71K.

  In addition, a toner feeding hole 713 is formed at the bottom of the front side of the toner cartridge 71K (the front side of the image processing apparatus when mounted inside the main body of the image processing apparatus 100). The toner supply hole 713 is in a positional relationship with the upper entrance of the sub hopper 72K below the toner cartridge 71K. When the TC door cover is opened and the toner cartridge 71K is loaded into the image processing apparatus 100 main body, a stepping motor (hereinafter referred to as “cartridge motor”) 73CK provided with a gear mechanism 712 on the image processing apparatus 100 main body side. (See FIG. 2) and the spiral spring 711 is rotationally driven. As a result, the toner inside the toner cartridge 71K is fed out from the toner feeding hole 713 by an appropriate amount and supplied to the sub hopper 72K disposed below the toner feeding hole 713.

A toner feed hole 721 is also formed in the bottom of the sub hopper 72K. The toner feeding hole 721 is in a positional relationship that coincides with a toner receiving port provided in an upper portion of the developing device 5K below the toner feeding hole 721.
This type of image processing apparatus includes four toner cartridges for each of C, M, Y, and K colors, but has two cartridge motors 73 that drive the spiral spring 711. One is assigned for Y and M toner cartridges, and the other is assigned for C and K cartridges. The gear mechanism 712 for Y and K colors is composed of an even number of gears and a one-way clutch, and the gear mechanism 712 for M and C colors is composed of an odd number of gears and a one-way clutch. As a result, when the cartridge motor 73 is rotated forward, the Y-color and C-color spiral springs 711 are rotated, and the remaining (M-color and K-color) spiral springs 711 are idled. When 73 is reversed, the spiral springs 711 for M color and K color rotate, and the remaining (Y color and C color) spiral springs 711 run idle. Thus, the toner to be replenished is switched by switching between normal rotation and reverse rotation of the cartridge motor 73.

  FIG. 4 is a view showing a schematic configuration of a part of the main body 725 of the sub hopper 72K with a part cut away. The sub hopper 72K includes a scraping paddle 722, a spiral roller 723, and a toner empty sensor 724 inside a main body 725 having a quarter-cylindrical shape, and one end portion in the axial direction of the spiral roller 723 (in FIG. In addition, a toner receiving opening (not shown) is provided at the upper part of the rear end of the paper surface, and communicates with the toner cartridge 71K mounted on the upper part through the toner receiving opening.

  The spiral roller 723 includes a spiral blade standing on the peripheral surface of the rotation shaft, and is rotatably supported by the main body 725. One end portion of the rotating shaft passes through the main body portion 725, and the end portion is a stepping motor (hereinafter referred to as “sub hopper motor”) 74K provided in the vicinity of the sub hopper 72K (see FIG. 3). ) Through a gear or directly, and the spiral roller 723 rotates in response to the driving force.

The raking paddle 722 is fixed to the spiral roller 723, and rotates with the rotation of the spiral roller 723, stirs the toner in the sub hopper 72K and makes the liquid level of the toner in the sub hopper 72K uniform.
The toner that has moved by its own weight from the toner cartridge 71K mounted above the sub hopper 72K to the inside of the sub hopper 72K is conveyed in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure (the front side in the figure) by the rotation of the spiral roller 723. Then, the toner is supplied to the developing device 5K through a toner feeding hole 721 provided at an end of the sub hopper 72K on the downstream side in the toner conveyance direction (opposite to the toner receiving opening).

A toner empty sensor 724 made of a piezo sensor is disposed on the inner wall of the main body 725 of the sub hopper 72K, and the presence or absence of toner in the sub hopper 72K is detected.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a schematic configuration in the developing device 5K. The developer 5K is filled with developer (toner and carrier). The developing device 5K is provided with a stirring screw 51 that is rotationally driven by a developing motor (not shown) and conveys the developer. The stirring screw 51 is equipped with a mylar 52. As the mylar 52 rotates, the developer in the developing device 5K is agitated.

A toner density sensor 53 is installed on the bottom surface in the developing device 5K to detect the toner density. The developer around the toner density sensor 53 is stirred by the mylar 52 mounted on the stirring screw 51, and a new developer flows. That is, the developer around the toner density sensor can be replaced every rotation of the stirring screw (one ripple).
The toner concentration sensor 53 is, for example, a magnetic sensor that detects the magnetic permeability of the developer (toner and carrier) conveyed through the developing device 5K by the stirring screw 51 from a change in coil inductance. From the magnetic permeability detected by the toner density sensor 53, the ratio of the carrier, which is a magnetic substance contained in the developer, is detected, and the ratio of the toner to the developer, that is, the toner density is obtained indirectly. For example, when the carrier ratio contained in the developer is low, it is detected that the toner ratio is high. On the other hand, when the carrier ratio contained in the developer is high, it is detected that the toner ratio is low. A detection signal from the toner density sensor 53 is input to the control unit 60 (see FIG. 2), and a necessary toner replenishment amount is calculated based on the detection signal.
(2-2. Configuration of control unit of image processing apparatus)
FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the control unit 60.

As shown in the figure, the control unit 60 includes, as main components, a CPU 61, a communication interface (I / F) unit 62, an image processing unit 63, an image memory 64, a laser diode driving unit 65, a storage unit 66, a toner. A remaining amount counter unit 67 and a dot counter unit 68 are provided.
The communication I / F unit 62 is an interface for connecting to a LAN such as a LAN card or a LAN board, receives print job data from the outside, and sends the received data to the image processing unit 63.

The image processing unit 63 converts the print job data from the communication I / F unit 62 into C, M, Y, and K reproduction color image data, and outputs the image data to the image memory 64. This image data is reproduced color. Store each.
The laser diode driving unit 65 reads the image data of each color from the image memory 64 and drives each laser diode of the exposure unit 3.

The modem 81 is connected to a public telephone network or the like via an NCU (Network Control Unit) 82, and transmits / receives FAX data to / from a desired destination.
The storage unit 66 includes a ROM (Read Only Memory) 661, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 662, an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory) 663, a page dot number storage unit 664, and the like. .

The ROM 661 stores a control program related to the image forming operation.
The CPU 61 reads a necessary program from the ROM 661 and controls the operations of the image reading unit 11, the image forming unit 12, the paper feeding unit 13, and the fixing unit 14 in a unified manner with timing, and the communication I / F unit 62. Smoothly execute a print operation based on the print job data received by the user, a copy job input by the user from the operation panel 16, and the like.

Further, the CPU 61 receives a detection signal from the toner density sensor 53 and reads a necessary program from the ROM 661 to drive and control the cartridge motor 73 and the sub hopper motor 74 to supply a necessary amount of toner to the developing device 5. And replenish.
Further, the CPU 61 receives a detection signal from the toner empty sensor 724, determines the state of the toner in the sub hopper 72, and displays a message prompting the user to replace the toner cartridge according to the determination result. To display.

The RAM 662 is used as a work area for the CPU 61.
The CPU 61 includes a toner replacement completion time determination unit 611 and a toner consumption amount calculation unit (consumption information calculation unit) 613 as some of the functions of the CPU 61.
The toner replacement completion time determination unit 611 determines the time when the toner cartridge has been replaced based on detection signals from the toner cartridge set sensor 75, the TC door cover open / close detection sensor 76, and the toner empty sensor 724.

  The replaced toner information storage unit 665 is detected by the toner cartridge set sensor 75 when the toner cartridge is replaced, and the toner replacement time determination unit 611 determines the replacement time, which is the date when the toner cartridge is actually replaced. The information indicating the type of the replaced toner cartridge and the image processing apparatus identification information which is the identification information of the own apparatus are stored as the replaced toner information together with the determined replacement timing information.

The remaining toner counter 67 calculates the amount of toner supplied from the toner cartridge 71 to the sub hopper 72 by integrating the rotation amount such as the rotation time and rotation angle of the cartridge motor 73, and calculates this from the initial toner amount. By subtracting, the remaining amount of toner in the toner cartridge 71 is calculated, and the remaining amount of toner in the toner cartridge 71 is determined.
When image formation is started, the dot counter unit 68 counts the number of dots in units of pixels for each page in the page order, and counts the sum of the count values of all pixels as the number of page dots on the page. This page dot count is performed for each color. Since only the image portion is counted as the number of dots, if there is no image in one page, the number of page dots is 0 for each color for that page (paper).

The page dot number is sequentially correlated with time information when each page dot number is counted, that is, information indicating the date and time when each page is printed. 664 is stored. The page dot number storage unit 664 is a storage unit including a nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM.
The toner consumption amount calculation unit 613 reads out and accumulates the number of dots stored in the page dot number storage unit 664 for each color for a predetermined period, and calculates the period cumulative dot number. Then, for each color, the toner consumption (consumption information) that would have been consumed for image formation during the predetermined period is calculated. This calculation is performed by, for example, storing information on the estimated toner amount per unit dot consumed for one dot in advance for each color in the ROM 661 and the like, and multiplying the estimated cumulative toner amount by the cumulative number of dots for the period. It is. Therefore, the calculated value is an estimated value. The amount of toner per unit dot is obtained in advance through experiments or the like. Note that the toner consumption may be calculated using a method different from the above.

Further, the page dot number storage unit 664 and the replaced toner information storage unit 665 may be separate storage media, but may be separate storage areas of one storage medium.
Further, the EEPROM 663 may perform the function of one or both of the page dot number storage unit 664 and the replaced toner information storage unit 665.

Further, the CPU 61 is not limited to a single CPU, and may be composed of a plurality of CPUs working in cooperation with each other.
(3. Functional configuration of inventory management device)
FIG. 7 is a control block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the inventory management apparatus 300. As shown in the figure, the inventory management apparatus 300 includes a communication I / F unit 301, a display unit 302, an input / operation unit 303, a storage unit 320, and the like, which are connected to the control unit 310, respectively.

The communication I / F unit 301 transmits and receives exchanged toner information, toner consumption information, and the like to and from the image processing apparatuses 100-A01, 100-A02,... Via a network such as a LAN or the Internet. . Details will be described later.
The storage unit 320 includes an inventory information storage unit 321, a toner consumption information storage unit 322, and an image processing device registration information storage unit 323.

The inventory information storage unit 321 stores information such as the inventory status of toner cartridges used in each image processing apparatus 100 belonging to each device group as inventory information for each device group.
The toner consumption information storage unit 322 stores toner consumption information that is information about the consumption of each color toner used in each image processing apparatus.

The image processing device registration information storage unit 323 has, for each image processing device 100 to be managed by the stock management device 300, device group identification information, IP address, color or monochrome, copy function or FAX. Attributes such as image processing function information provided for the function or the like are stored in association with each image processing apparatus identification information.
The inventory information storage unit 321, the toner consumption information storage unit 322, and the image processing device registration information storage unit 323 may be separate storage areas in one storage medium such as an EEPROM. It may be a storage medium. These will be described in detail later.

The control unit 310 includes a replaced toner information acquisition unit 311, a toner consumption information acquisition unit 312, a toner replacement time prediction unit 313, an inventory replenishment consumable selection unit 315, a delivery instruction unit 316, and the like.
The replaced toner information acquisition unit 311 acquires information about the replaced toner cartridge in each image processing apparatus.

The toner consumption information acquisition unit 312 acquires information on the consumption of each color toner in each image processing apparatus.
The toner replacement time prediction unit 313 predicts the replacement time, which is the time when the toner is consumed and needs to be replaced for each toner cartridge in use in each image processing apparatus.
The inventory replenishment consumable selection unit 315 selects a consumable (toner cartridge) to be restocked for each device group.

The delivery instruction unit 316 instructs the consumables delivery server 400 to deliver the toner cartridge selected by the inventory replenishment consumables selection unit 315.
These will be described in detail later.
The display unit 302 and the input / operation unit 303, for example, display information necessary for the manager when the manager of the inventory management system performs maintenance inspection or the like, or provide a data input unit.

The consumable delivery server 400 (detailed configuration is not shown) includes a general-purpose computer including a display unit, an input / operation unit, a storage unit, a control unit, a communication I / F unit, and the like. When the communication I / F unit receives a toner cartridge delivery instruction (notification), the received order is received from an order receiving processing terminal installed on the order receiving side (manufacturer or sales agent of the image processing apparatus). Based on the device group information and toner cartridge identification information included in the ordering instruction, a processing function for placing an order for the toner cartridge indicated by the toner cartridge identification information corresponding to the device group indicated by the device group information is provided.
(4. Toner cartridge replacement)
(4-1. Transition of toner remaining state)
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating toner state transitions in the toner cartridge 71 and the sub hopper 72.

There are four states relating to the remaining amount of toner in the toner cartridge 71 and the sub hopper 72: cartridge near empty, cartridge empty, sub hopper empty, and normal state.
The cartridge near empty is a result of accumulating the rotation amount of the cartridge motor 73 when the cartridge motor 73 rotates and estimating the amount of toner replenished from the toner cartridge 71 to the sub hopper 72. As a result, the toner remaining in the toner cartridge 71 becomes the near empty region. It is in a state. In this state, the toner cartridge 71 still has an amount of toner that can be printed on the order of several thousand sheets, so printing is permitted.

  Cartridge empty is a state in which the output of the toner empty sensor 724 in the sub hopper 72 is OFF for a predetermined time when the cartridge motor 73 rotates. At this time, since about 100 copies of toner remain in the sub hopper 72, printing is permitted. After the toner cartridge is replaced, when the remaining amount of toner in the sub hopper 72 is recovered by normal toner replenishment and the output of the toner empty sensor 724 is turned on, a transition is made to the normal state.

  The sub hopper empty is a state in which the toner is further consumed from the cartridge empty and the toner in the sub hopper 72 is exhausted, and the toner in the developing device 5 is also consumed and the toner density is lowered. Specifically, for example, the toner density in the developing device 5 detected by the toner density sensor 53 is 1% or more lower than the target toner density, and this is detected 30 times continuously. At this time, printing is prohibited. When the toner cartridge is replaced and the sub-hopper 72 is forcibly supplied from the new toner cartridge 71, the normal state is entered.

The normal state is a state other than the above. When the remaining amount of toner in the toner cartridge 71 is in the near empty region in the normal state, the state changes to cartridge near empty.
In the case of cartridge near empty, a message is displayed on the operation panel 16 to inform the user that the time for replacement of the toner cartridge is approaching. In the case of cartridge empty, a message prompting the user to replace the toner cartridge is displayed. In the case of hopper empty, a full warning is displayed to the effect that printing is prohibited due to running out of toner.
(4-2. Confirmation of toner cartridge replacement period)
Some image processing apparatuses and toner cartridges that are widely used generally include a mechanism that detects that a new toner cartridge is mounted on the image processing apparatus. As a mechanism for detecting a new toner cartridge, for example, information indicating that it is new (unused) is stored in an IC chip provided in the toner cartridge. There are a detection method by reading, a detection method by a fuse provided in the toner cartridge, and the like. Since these methods are known techniques, a detailed description thereof is omitted here.

  In the present embodiment, the image processing apparatus 100 includes a new toner cartridge detection unit 77. As a result, when a toner cartridge having a corresponding new article detection mechanism is installed, it is detected that the installed toner cartridge is new and that the toner cartridge has been immediately replaced. Accordingly, in this case, as soon as the toner cartridge is replaced, the replacement timing is determined.

On the other hand, when a toner cartridge that does not have a corresponding new article detection mechanism is installed, the image processing apparatus 100 cannot detect whether or not the installed toner cartridge is new.
Here, the image processing apparatus 100 includes a TC door cover open / close detection sensor 76 that detects that a cover (hereinafter referred to as a “TC door cover”) at a portion where the toner cartridge of the apparatus main body is mounted is opened and closed. A toner cartridge set sensor 75 for detecting that the toner cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body is provided. If opening / closing of the TC door cover is detected by the TC door cover open / close detection sensor 76, the toner cartridge may be replaced. Further, when the output of the toner cartridge set sensor 75 is turned off (the toner cartridge is removed) and then turned on (the toner cartridge is attached), the toner cartridge may be replaced.

However, the toner cartridge may not be replaced although the TC door cover is opened and closed. Also, the toner cartridge may have been removed once, but it may not have been replaced with a new one, but the same toner cartridge may have been restored.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the content of the toner cartridge replacement timing determination process for determining that the toner cartridge has been replaced and the replacement timing when the toner cartridge not equipped with the new article detection mechanism has been replaced. .

First, it is assumed that the toner cartridge has been replaced, such as opening / closing of the TC door cover, removal of the toner cartridge and mounting, and power-off / on of the main body of the image processing apparatus 100 (hereinafter, “ It is determined whether or not “toner cartridge replacement estimation operation” is detected (step S1).
When the toner cartridge replacement estimation operation is detected, it is determined whether the toner empty state is equal to or higher than the cartridge empty (step S1: YES, step S2). Here, the toner empty state equal to or higher than the cartridge empty means the state of the cartridge empty and the sub hopper empty.

If the toner empty state is not equal to or higher than the cartridge empty, it is not necessary to replace the toner cartridge yet, and it is unlikely that the toner cartridge has been replaced. Therefore, it is determined that the toner cartridge has not been replaced (step S2: NO, step S3). ), Return as it is.
When the toner empty state is equal to or higher than the cartridge empty, it is highly likely that the toner cartridge has been replaced. Therefore, it is determined that the toner cartridge has been replaced temporarily, and the counter value of the remaining toner counter 67 is reset and started. The date when the replacement estimation operation is detected is stored as a temporary replacement date, and the display of a message prompting the user on the operation panel 16 to replace the toner cartridge is turned off (step S2: YES, step S4, step S5, step S6, step S7).

  Then, it is determined whether a predetermined amount of print job has been executed (step S8). Here, the predetermined amount of print job refers to the remaining amount of toner in the sub hopper 72 when the cartridge motor 73 is rotationally driven so as to supply toner from the toner cartridge 71 to the sub hopper 72 as the print job is executed. Is increased so that the rotation amount of the cartridge motor 73 is supplied so that a sufficient amount of toner is supplied so that the output of the toner empty sensor 724 is turned on. Although it depends on the image, specifically, for example, a print job of about several tens to several hundreds of A4 sheets.

If a predetermined amount of print job has not been executed, the determination is continued until it is executed (step S8: NO, step S8).
If a predetermined amount of print job is being executed, it is next determined whether or not the output of the toner empty sensor 724 is ON (step S8: YES, step S9).
If the output of the toner empty sensor 724 is ON, it means that the remaining amount of toner in the sub hopper 72 has increased. Therefore, it is determined that the toner cartridge has been replaced, and the toner cartridge replacement estimation operation detected in step S6 is detected. The date is determined as the replacement timing of the toner cartridge, which is the date when the toner cartridge is actually replaced (step S9: YES, step S10, step S11).

  If the output of the toner empty sensor 724 is not ON in step S9, that is, if it is OFF, the remaining amount of toner in the sub hopper 72 has not increased, that is, toner has not been supplied from the toner cartridge 71 to the sub hopper 72. Therefore, it is determined that the toner cartridge has not been replaced, the count value of the remaining toner counter 67 is reset, and a message prompting the user to replace the toner cartridge is displayed on the operation panel 16 again. (Step S9: NO, Step S12, Step S13, Step S14).

According to the above-described method, the replacement and replacement timing of the toner cartridge not equipped with the new article detection mechanism are determined. In this case, as described above, the replacement is performed after the replacement is actually performed. There is a time lag before it is confirmed.
(4-3. Prediction of toner cartridge replacement time)
Next, prediction of toner cartridge replacement timing will be described.
(4-3-1. Notification / Acquisition of Replaced Toner Cartridge Information)
First, when a new toner cartridge is replaced, the image processing apparatus 100 detects that the toner cartridge has been replaced by the above-described method, and notifies the inventory management apparatus 300 of it.

  FIG. 10A shows a configuration example of a notification frame for the replaced toner information notified from the image processing apparatus 100 to the inventory management apparatus 300 at this time. As shown in the figure, in the replaced toner information, in addition to the notification destination information for recognizing the notification destination of the replaced toner information (inventory management apparatus 300), the supply source (notification source) of the replaced toner information Image processing apparatus identification information for identifying the image processing apparatus 100 (image processing apparatus 100 in which toner cartridge replacement has been detected), toner cartridge identification information indicating the type of the replaced toner cartridge, and a confirmed toner cartridge It has a configuration including information on a confirmed replacement time indicating the replacement date (the actual replacement date).

Here, in the inventory management apparatus 300, information indicating the attributes of all the image processing apparatuses to be managed is registered in advance, and stored as image processing apparatus registration information in the image processing apparatus registration information storage unit 323 (see FIG. 7). ing.
FIG. 10B shows an example of the configuration of the image processing apparatus registration information. As shown in the figure, the image processing device registration information includes identification information of each image processing device 100 arranged in each device group (office A, office B) in the system configuration of FIG. 1, and a device to which each image processing device belongs. Group identification information, destination information (in the example shown in the present embodiment, IP address), and function information of each image processing apparatus 100 (color or monochrome, printer function, scanner function, copy function, FAX function) Are associated with each other and stored in the image processing apparatus registration information storage unit 323. In the figure, A-T07-JP represents the identification information of the office A, and B-T07-JP represents the identification information of the office B.

  When the stock management device 300 acquires the replaced toner information from the image processing device, the stock management device 300 refers to the image processing device registration information and identifies a device group to which the image processing device that supplied the replaced toner information belongs. As a result, the inventory management apparatus 300 can know which toner cartridge was replaced and when in which image processing apparatus 100 belonging to which apparatus group.

Note that the replacement toner information may be notified from the image processing apparatus 100 to the inventory management apparatus 300 at the timing when the replacement of the toner cartridge is confirmed. The information storage unit 665 may be periodically accessed to check and acquire the replaced toner information. In this case, it is not preferable that the inventory management apparatus 300 waits for a long time after the toner cartridge is actually replaced to detect the replacement, so that accurate inventory management becomes difficult. It is recommended to check and acquire toner information.
(4-3-2. Prediction of toner cartridge replacement time)
In each image processing apparatus 100, when an image forming operation is executed, the dot counter 68 counts the number of dots in units of pixels for each page in the page order. The information on the number of dots is the information on the counted date and time. It is stored in the page dot number storage unit 664 in association with it.

  The inventory management device 300 periodically requests each image processing device 100 for toner consumption amount information for each toner cartridge consumed during a predetermined period. When receiving the request for the toner consumption amount information, each image processing apparatus 100 calculates the cumulative number of dots for each period by integrating the number of page dots counted during the requested period for each color. Then, for each color, a toner consumption amount that would have been consumed for image formation during the predetermined period is calculated. Then, the toner consumption amount of each color acquired by the calculation is transferred to the inventory management apparatus 300.

  An example of the configuration of the toner consumption information transferred from the image processing apparatus to the inventory management apparatus 300 is shown in FIG. As shown in the drawing, the toner consumption amount information includes the consumption amount of each color toner in the requested period in association with the identification information of the toner cartridge, and also includes identification information of the image processing apparatus 100. It is. The inventory management apparatus 300 acquires such toner consumption amount information from each image processing apparatus a plurality of times at time intervals. For each toner cartridge, the remaining amount of toner is calculated, and the date when the remaining amount of toner becomes zero based on the obtained remaining amount of toner, that is, the replacement time is predicted.

  FIG. 12 is a graph schematically showing a method for predicting the replacement time of the toner cartridge. In the figure, a solid line represents a change in the remaining amount of toner over time, and a broken line represents an approximate line obtained from a change in the remaining amount of toner indicated by the broken line. In this way, by using the approximate line, the replacement time can be predicted by obtaining the time when the remaining amount of toner becomes 0% in the approximate line. In the figure, as an example, the change in the remaining amount of toner in the Y toner cartridge of the image processing apparatus 100-A01 and the C toner cartridge of the image processing apparatus 100-A02 and approximate straight lines thereof are shown. .

  The Y toner cartridge of the image processing apparatus 100-A01 was replaced on May 4, 2011, and the C toner cartridge of the image processing apparatus 100-A02 was replaced on May 28, 2011. However, since the consumption speed of the C color toner of the image processing apparatus 100-A02 is faster than the consumption speed of the Y color toner of the image processing apparatus 100-A01, the predicted replacement time, which is the predicted replacement time, becomes earlier. Yes. The predicted replacement time of the Y toner cartridge of the image processing apparatus 100-A01 is August 20, 2011, whereas the predicted replacement time of the C toner cartridge of the image processing apparatus 100-A02 is 7/2011. The 25th of the month. The confirmed replacement timing of each toner cartridge is obtained by referring to the replaced toner information.

The acquisition of the toner consumption may be performed periodically (at equal time intervals). However, if it is known how much time intervals are acquired, it is not always performed at the same time intervals. It does not have to be.
Further, in this embodiment, each image processing apparatus 100 holds information on the estimated toner amount per unit dot consumed for one dot in its own device in the ROM 661 or the like for each color, and the cumulative number of dots for the period Each of the image processing apparatuses 100 calculates the toner consumption amount of each color in its own apparatus by multiplying the estimated toner amount by the same, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the inventory management apparatus 300 stores information on the estimated toner amount per unit dot consumed for each dot for each image processing apparatus 100 that is the object of inventory management for each color, and performs image processing. Upon receipt of information on the cumulative number of dots for the period from the apparatus 100, the toner management amount of each color in each image processing apparatus 100 may be calculated on the inventory management apparatus 300 side.
(5. Selection of toner cartridge for inventory replenishment)
FIG. 13A shows a configuration example of inventory information used by the inventory management apparatus 300 to manage the inventory of toner cartridges in units of apparatus groups. The inventory information includes information for identifying a device group, an upper limit number of inventory set for the device group, information for identifying each image processing device belonging to the device group, and each toner used in each image processing device Information on the inventory status of the cartridge and the predicted replacement timing of each currently used toner cartridge is included, and these pieces of information are associated with each other and stored in the inventory information storage unit 321 (see FIG. 7) of the inventory management apparatus 300. . Here, as an example, the inventory information when the M-color toner cartridge of the image processing apparatus 100-A01 is replaced in the office A (the replacement time is fixed) and the inventory information is updated is shown. Since the M color toner cartridge of the image processing apparatus 100-A01 is immediately after replacement (a state in which the replacement time has already been determined), the replacement time has not yet been predicted. At that time, in the inventory storage area (also referred to as “inventory space”) of office A, there are a total of three toner cartridges of K color of the image processing apparatus 100-A01, M color of the image processing apparatus 100-A02, and K color. Is stocked as stock. Then, a total of six toner cartridges of C color, M color, Y color of the image processing apparatus 100-A01, C color, Y color of the image processing apparatus 100-A02, and K color of the image processing apparatus 100-A03 Is out of stock. Since the upper limit number of inventory is 4, one toner cartridge to be restocked is selected from the above six that are not in stock. In the figure, those items that are not in stock are shown surrounded by thick lines. The same applies to the second embodiment and each modification.

The inventory replenishment consumable selection unit 315 (see FIG. 7) of the inventory management apparatus 300 selects a toner cartridge (consumable) to be replenished with reference to the inventory information. Hereinafter, a method for selecting a toner cartridge to be replenished in the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 13B shows a table in which toner cartridges that are not in stock at that time are extracted from the device group (in this case, office A) and are arranged in order of the predicted replacement time. In the table shown in the figure, the earliest predicted replacement time is July 25, 2011 for the C toner cartridge of the image processing apparatus 100-A02. In the present embodiment, a toner cartridge to be replenished in stock is selected in a range that does not exceed the upper limit number of stocks from the higher priority order when the predicted replacement time is earlier. Therefore, the C toner cartridge of the image processing apparatus 100-A02 has the highest priority and is selected as a toner cartridge to be replenished in stock.

For the M color toner cartridge of the image processing apparatus 100-A01, the replacement time is not yet predicted because it is immediately after replacement. In the table shown in the figure, the forecast exchange time is treated as the latest. The same applies to the second embodiment and each modification.
FIG. 14 is a part of a flowchart showing a control sequence between the image processing apparatus 100 and the inventory management apparatus 300 related to the consumables inventory management process of the inventory management apparatus in this embodiment, and FIG. 15 shows the continuation. It is the remaining flowchart. Here, office A (see FIG. 1) will be described as an example.

First, the image processing apparatuses 100-A01, 100-A02, and 100-A03 belonging to the office A monitor whether or not toner cartridge replacement has been detected in their own devices (step S21). The toner cartridge replacement detection here includes detection of a toner cartridge replacement estimation operation.
When the replacement of the toner cartridge is detected in any one of the image processing apparatuses 100-A01, 100-A02, and 100-A03, the toner replacement timing determining unit 611 (see FIG. 6) is next used in the apparatus itself. It is determined whether or not the replacement timing of the toner cartridge is confirmed (step S21: YES, step S22).

If the replacement timing of the toner cartridge has not been determined, the determination is continued until it is determined (step S22: NO, step S22).
When the replacement timing of the toner cartridge is determined, the replaced toner information stored in the replaced toner information storage unit 665 (see FIG. 6) is transmitted to the inventory management apparatus 300 (step S22: YES, step S23).

  Here, the inventory management apparatus 300 monitors whether or not the replaced toner information is received (step S31). When the replaced toner information acquisition unit 311 (see FIG. 7) receives the replaced toner information, the inventory management apparatus 300 replaces each of the image processing apparatuses 100-A01, 100-A02, and 100-A03. A signal for requesting information indicating that the replacement period has been determined, which is information as to whether there is a toner cartridge that has been determined (the replacement period has not yet been determined), is transmitted (step S31: YES, step S32).

On the other hand, at this time, the image processing apparatuses 100-A01, 100-A02, and 100-A03 monitor whether or not the information request signal indicating that the replacement period has been determined has been received (step S24). Upon receipt of the information requesting signal for completion of replacement time, the information on the completion of replacement time is transmitted to the inventory management apparatus 300 (step S24: YES, step S25).
Then, the inventory management apparatus 300 monitors whether or not the exchanged time finalizing information has been received from all the image processing apparatuses 100 that have transmitted the request signal. It is determined whether or not there is a toner cartridge for which the replacement time has been determined with reference to the information on the completion of replacement time (step S33: YES, step S34).

In any one of the image processing apparatuses 100-A01, 100-A02, and 100-A03, if there is a toner cartridge for which the replacement timing is determined, the process returns to step S31, and the replacement timing for the determined toner cartridge is determined. Then, it waits until the replaced toner information is transmitted (step S34: YES, step S31).
When there is no toner cartridge for which the replacement time has been determined, the storage unit 320 (see FIG. 7) of the inventory management apparatus 300 refers to the replaced toner information received in step S31, and the image processing apparatus in which the toner cartridge has been replaced. In the inventory information of the device group to which 100 belongs (in this case, office A), the replaced toner cartridge is subtracted from the inventory, and the inventory information is updated (step S34: NO, step S35). In this way, when there is a product that has already been confirmed, it is possible to reflect the actual inventory status at that time more accurately in the inventory information by waiting until it is confirmed and updating the inventory information. Therefore, it is possible to more accurately select a toner cartridge to be replenished, which will be described later.

Then, with reference to the updated latest inventory information, it is determined whether or not the current inventory number P is smaller than the inventory upper limit number N preset for the device group (in this case, office A). (Step S36).
If the current stock quantity P is not smaller than the stock upper limit number N, that is, if the stock upper limit number N or more, if the stock is replenished, the stock upper limit number will be exceeded. Returning to step S31, the process returns to step S31 to monitor whether or not the next exchanged inventory information has been received (step S36: NO, step S31).

When the current stock quantity P is smaller than the stock upper limit number N, the current stock quantity P is subtracted from the stock upper limit number N to calculate the number n of toner cartridges (n is a positive integer) to be restocked (n is a positive integer). Step S36: YES, step S37).
Then, the inventory replenishment consumables selection unit 315 (see FIG. 7) of the inventory management apparatus 300 refers to the inventory information, selects n toner cartridges from the ones that are not in stock from the earliest predicted replacement time, and is selected. The delivery instruction unit 316 (see FIG. 7) instructs the consumables delivery server 400 to deliver the toner cartridge to the user (in this case, the inventory manager in the office A) (steps S38 and S39).

  Thereafter, the inventory management apparatus 300 receives the delivered consumable information from the consumables delivery server 400 informing that the toner cartridge instructed to be delivered has been delivered to the user (in this case, the inventory manager in the office A). When the received consumable information is received (step S40), the inventory information storage unit 321 (see FIG. 7) refers to the received consumable information and matches the delivered toner cartridge. In addition to the inventory of the device group to be used (in this case, office A), the inventory information of the device group is updated (step S40: YES, step S41), the process returns to step S31, and the next replaced toner information is stored. Monitor if received.

  As described above, according to the configuration of the present embodiment, the inventory of toner cartridges, which are consumables used in the image processing apparatus, is managed for each apparatus group, and the toner cartridges are consumed and need to be replaced. A toner cartridge to be replenished in stock is selected from the earliest predicted replacement time out of those that are not in stock within a range that does not exceed the preset stock limit for each device group by predicting the replacement time, and the user Will be delivered to Hereinafter, the method of selecting the toner cartridge for inventory replenishment in the present embodiment is referred to as “first selection mode”.

  As a result, even if there is a very limited stock space in an office or the like, and a toner cartridge as a consumable item can only be stored in a very limited quantity, a toner that is likely to be replaced next time. Since cartridges can be stocked within the upper limit of inventory, when there is a small amount of toner cartridges to be stocked, there is no inventory of toner cartridges to be replaced when the user needs to replace them. This can contribute to the convenience of the user by avoiding the situation where the user is troubled.

  In step S36, if the toner cartridge is replaced, the stock is reduced by that amount, so that the current stock number does not exceed the stock upper limit number. However, for example, when inventory information is manually updated when surplus toner cartridges are received from another department or office, a situation may occur in which the current inventory number P temporarily exceeds the upper limit number N of inventory. There is sex. Even when such an irregular state occurs, by providing the determination step in step S36, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the irregular state continues for a long time without being resolved thereafter. I can do it.

  In the present embodiment described above, the apparatus to which the image processing apparatus whose toner cartridge has been replaced belongs by referring to the image processing apparatus registration information based on the image processing apparatus identification information included in the replaced toner information. Although the group was specified, it is not limited to this. For example, identification information of the device group to which the image processing apparatus 100 whose toner cartridge has been replaced may belong to the replaced toner information. At this time, device group identification information may be incorporated in the image processing device identification information. In this way, the inventory management apparatus 300 (inventory information storage unit 321) does not refer to the image processing apparatus registration information, and uses the replaced toner as the identification information of the apparatus group to which the image processing apparatus 100 to which the toner cartridge has been replaced belongs. Can be obtained directly from the information.

<Embodiment 2>
In the first embodiment, the configuration is described in which the priority replacement condition is selected from the earliest predicted replacement time when selecting a toner cartridge for inventory replenishment. However, if there are other toner cartridges that reach the predicted replacement time within a predetermined period (for example, one week) from the earliest predicted replacement time, the replacement time is not predicted, and in fact, substantially the same time. There is a possibility that it will be time to exchange. In such a case, it does not make much sense to simply select the toner cartridge with the earliest predicted replacement time, and if there are other priority conditions to be considered in addition to the predicted replacement time, In some cases, it is better to select a toner cartridge for inventory replenishment.

In the present embodiment, when there is another toner cartridge that has a predicted replacement time within one week from the earliest predicted replacement time, in addition to the predicted replacement time as the first priority condition, the second A configuration for selecting a toner cartridge to be restocked in consideration of the remaining amount of toner as a priority condition will be described.
In addition, in order to avoid duplication of description, the description is abbreviate | omitted about the same content as Embodiment 1, and shall attach | subject the same code | symbol about the same component. Hereinafter, the same applies to each modification.

FIG. 16A is a configuration example of inventory information in the present embodiment. Here, as an example, a case will be described in which a toner cartridge to be replenished in stock is selected at the timing when the M toner cartridge of the image processing apparatus 100-A01 is replaced in the office A (the replacement time is fixed).
In the figure, among the items constituting the inventory information, the device group and the inventory upper limit number are the same as those in FIG. Hereinafter, the same applies to each modification.

At that time, a total of three toner cartridges of K color of the image processing apparatus 100-A01 and M color and K color of the image processing apparatus 100-A02 are stocked in the inventory storage area of the office A. Since the upper limit number of inventory is 4, one toner cartridge to be restocked is selected here.
FIG. 16B shows a table in which toner cartridges that are not in stock at that time are extracted from the device group (in this case, office A) and arranged in order of the predicted replacement time.

  In the table shown in the figure, the earliest predicted replacement time is July 20, 2011 for the Y toner cartridge of the image processing apparatus 100-A01. As a toner cartridge that reaches the predicted replacement time within one week from that day, there is a C toner cartridge (predicted replacement time: July 22, 2011) of the image processing apparatus 100-A02. In the figure, the two predicted exchange times are shown in bold.

Here, looking at the remaining amount of toner, the remaining amount of toner in the Y color toner cartridge of the image processing apparatus 100-A01 is 60%, whereas that of the C color toner in the image processing apparatus 100-A02. The remaining amount of toner in the cartridge is 20%.
When the toner consumption is low, if the toner consumption speed is faster than expected, the buffer capacity against the change in the toner consumption speed is low, and there is a high possibility that the toner will be used up immediately. The priority order of the C color toner cartridges of the image processing apparatus 100-A02 is raised and selected as a toner cartridge to be replenished in stock. In the drawing, for easy understanding, the toner cartridge is surrounded by a bold line, and the priority order, the predicted replacement time, and the toner remaining amount are shown in bold.

  FIG. 17 shows a part of a flowchart showing a control sequence between the image processing apparatus 100 and the inventory management apparatus 300 related to the consumables inventory management process of the inventory management apparatus in the present embodiment. In the figure, the control sequence of the image processing apparatus 100 is the same as that in FIG. 14, and in the control sequence of the inventory management apparatus 300, the processing step prior to step S61 is step S31 in the flow shown in FIG. From step S36, the illustration and description are omitted here.

In step S36 (see FIG. 14), when the current stock quantity P is smaller than the stock upper limit number N, the current stock quantity P is subtracted from the stock upper limit number N to obtain the number n (n = Positive integer) (step S36: YES, step S61).
Next, the number of toner cartridges n1 (n1 is a positive integer) that will reach the predicted replacement time within one week from the earliest replacement time, including those with the earliest predicted replacement time among those not in stock, is replenished. It is determined whether the number of toner cartridges to be used is n or less (step S62).

  When n1 ≦ n is not satisfied, that is, when n <n1, n toner cartridges that should be replenished in stock are selected from the ones that have a predicted replacement time within one week and the toner remaining amount is low. The delivery instruction unit 316 (see FIG. 7) instructs the consumables delivery server 400 (see FIG. 1) to deliver the toner cartridge to the user (in this case, the inventory manager in the office A) (step S62). : NO, step S64, step S65).

  If n1 ≦ n in step S62, even if n toner cartridges are selected in the first selection mode as in the first embodiment, the predicted replacement time is set within one week from the earliest replacement time. Since all the toner cartridges to be received are included, n toner cartridges to be replenished from the earliest predicted replacement time out of those that are not in stock are selected, and the selected toner cartridge is delivered to the user. The consumables delivery server 400 is instructed (step S62: YES, step S63, step S65).

Hereinafter, step S66 and step S67 are the same as step S40 and step S41 in the flow of FIG.
As described above, according to the configuration of the present embodiment, when there are a plurality of toner cartridges that reach the predicted replacement period within the predetermined period (here, one week) from the earliest predicted replacement period, By preferentially selecting the one with a smaller amount of toner, replacement toner cartridges can be reliably stocked even when the toner consumption speed is faster than expected.

  In the present embodiment, the predetermined period (one week) is fixedly set in advance. However, the predetermined period (one week) is not limited thereto, and can be set and changed on the operation panel 16 or the client device 200 by the user. It is good. In the present embodiment, the case where the predetermined period is one week has been described as an example. However, the predetermined period is not limited to this, and may be a period shorter than one week or a long period. However, if the period is set too long, the toner cartridge corresponding to the second priority condition may have a predicted replacement time with a high probability within the predetermined period. In such a case, the replacement time is the earliest, There is a possibility that a toner cartridge that does not meet the priority condition 2 is not selected for a long time and is not stocked as stock when replacement is necessary. Therefore, it is desirable that the predetermined period is about one month at the longest. The same applies to each modified example according to the present embodiment.

<Modification of Embodiment 2>
In the second embodiment, the remaining amount of toner is considered as the second priority condition. However, the second priority condition to be considered is not limited to the remaining amount of toner, and the following modifications may be considered.
(1) In this modification, the toner color is considered as the second priority condition.

  FIG. 18A is a configuration example of inventory information in this modification. Here, as an example, a case will be described in which a toner cartridge to be replenished in stock is selected at the timing when the M toner cartridge of the image processing apparatus 100-A01 is replaced in the office A (the replacement time is fixed). At this time, a total of three toner cartridges of C and K colors of the image processing apparatus 100-A01 and M color of the image processing apparatus 100-A02 are stocked in the inventory storage area of the office A. Since the upper limit number of inventory is 4, one toner cartridge to be restocked is selected here.

FIG. 18B shows a table in which toner cartridges that are not in stock at that time are extracted from the device group (in this case, office A) and arranged in order of the predicted replacement time.
In the table shown in the figure, the earliest predicted replacement time is July 24, 2011 for the C toner cartridge of the image processing apparatus 100-A02. The toner cartridge that reaches the predicted replacement time within one week from that day is the K toner cartridge (predicted replacement time: July 25, 2011) of the image processing apparatus 100-A02. In the figure, the two predicted exchange times are shown in bold.

  Here, monochrome printing can be performed even if the color toner is used up, but printing cannot be performed at all if the black toner is used up. Therefore, here, the priority of the black (K) toner cartridge is increased, and the K toner cartridge of the image processing apparatus 100-A02 is selected as the toner cartridge to be restocked. In the figure, for easy understanding, the toner cartridge is surrounded by a thick line, and the priority order, the predicted replacement time, and the toner color are shown in bold.

  FIG. 19 shows a part of a flowchart showing a control sequence between the image processing apparatus 100 and the inventory management apparatus 300 related to the consumables inventory management process of the inventory management apparatus in this modification. In the figure, the control sequence of the image processing apparatus 100 is the same as that in FIG. 14, and the processing steps prior to step S71 in the control sequence of the inventory management apparatus 300 are step S31 to step S36 in FIG. Therefore, illustration and description are omitted here.

Steps S71 and S72 are the same as steps S61 and S62 in the flow shown in FIG.
In step S72, when the number n1 of toner cartridges that reach the predicted replacement time within one week from the earliest predicted replacement time is not n1 ≦ n, that is, when n <n1, the predicted replacement time is set within the one week. A determination is made as to whether or not the number n2 of black (K) toner cartridges is not less than n (step S72: NO, step S73).

When n2 ≧ n, n toner cartridges to be restocked are selected from the n2 K-color toner cartridges with the earliest predicted replacement time, and the selected toner cartridge is delivered to the user. To the consumables delivery server 400 (step S73: YES, step S75, step S77).
When n2 ≧ n is not satisfied, that is, when n2 <n, these n2 K color toner cartridges are selected as the toner cartridges to be restocked, and then the remaining inventory except for the selected K color toner cartridges is selected. Among the remaining toner cartridges, n−n2 toner cartridges are selected from the earliest predicted replacement timing, and the consumables delivery server 400 is instructed to deliver the selected n toner cartridges to the user ( Step S73: NO, step S76, step S77).

  If n1 ≦ n in step S72, even if n toner cartridges are selected in the first selection mode as in the first embodiment, the predicted replacement time is set within one week from the earliest replacement time. Since all the toner cartridges to be received are included, n toner cartridges to be replenished from the earliest predicted replacement time out of those that are not in stock are selected, and the selected toner cartridge is delivered to the user. The consumables delivery server 400 is instructed (step S72: YES, step S74, step S77).

Hereinafter, step S78 and step S79 are the same as step S40 and step S41 in the flow of FIG.
As described above, according to the configuration of the present modified example, when there are a plurality of toner cartridges that reach the predicted replacement time within the predetermined period (here, one week) from the earliest predicted replacement time, By preferentially selecting the K (black) toner cartridge, at least monochrome printing can be surely executed.

(2) If the variation degree of the toner consumption speed is large, the prediction of the replacement time is likely to be deviated, and there is a high possibility that the toner will run out earlier than predicted.
In this modification, a variation in toner consumption speed is considered as the second priority condition.
FIG. 20A is a configuration example of inventory information in this modification. Here, as an example, a case will be described in which a toner cartridge to be replenished in stock is selected at the timing when the M toner cartridge of the image processing apparatus 100-A01 is replaced in the office A (the replacement time is fixed). At that time, a total of three toner cartridges of K color of the image processing apparatus 100-A01 and M color and K color of the image processing apparatus 100-A02 are stocked in the inventory storage area of the office A. Since the upper limit number of inventory is 4, one toner cartridge to be restocked is selected here.

FIG. 20B shows a table in which toner cartridges that are not in stock at that time are extracted from the device group (in this case, office A) and arranged in order of the predicted replacement time.
In the table shown in the figure, the earliest predicted replacement time is July 20, 2011 for the Y toner cartridge of the image processing apparatus 100-A01. As a toner cartridge that reaches the predicted replacement time within one week from that day, there is a C toner cartridge (predicted replacement time: July 22, 2011) of the image processing apparatus 100-A02. In the figure, the two predicted exchange times are shown in bold.

  Here, looking at the variations in the toner consumption speed, the toner consumption speed variation of the Y toner cartridge of the image processing apparatus 100-A01 is 2.8, whereas the variation in the toner consumption speed is 2.8. The variation in the toner consumption speed of the C02 toner cartridge of A02 is 7.6. Accordingly, here, the priority order of the C toner cartridge of the image processing apparatus 100-A02 having a large variation in the toner consumption speed is raised and selected as a toner cartridge to be replenished in stock. In the figure, for easy understanding, the toner cartridge is surrounded by a thick line, and the priority order, the predicted replacement time, and the toner consumption speed variation degree are shown in bold.

In this modification, the consumption amount per unit time (day) obtained from each toner consumption amount in each predetermined period used when calculating the predicted replacement time is used as an index of the variation degree of the toner consumption speed. Although a standard deviation of a certain toner consumption rate is used, the present invention is not limited to this, and any index may be used as long as it indicates the degree of fluctuation of the toner consumption rate.
FIG. 21 shows a part of a flowchart showing a control sequence between the image processing apparatus 100 and the inventory management apparatus 300 related to the consumables inventory management process of the inventory management apparatus in this modification. In the figure, the control sequence of the image processing apparatus 100 is the same as that in FIG. 14, and in the control sequence of the inventory management apparatus 300, the processing step prior to step S81 is step S31 in the flow shown in FIG. From step S36, the illustration and description are omitted here.

  Further, the processing steps from step S81 and step S82, and the determination from step S82 to YES after step S82 is followed by step S83 and step S85 are step S61 to step S62 and step S62 in the flow shown in FIG. Since this is the same as the processing steps subsequent to step S63 and step S65 after the determination of YES, the description is omitted here.

  In step S82, if the number n1 of toner cartridges that reach the predicted replacement time within one week from the earliest replacement time, including the one with the earliest predicted replacement time among those not in stock, is not n1 ≦ n, that is, If n <n1, n toner cartridges to be replenished in stock are selected from the ones with the smallest variation in the toner consumption speed among those that reach the predicted replacement time within one week, and the selected toner cartridge is addressed to the user. The consumables delivery server 400 is instructed to deliver (step S82: NO, step S84, step S85).

Hereinafter, step S86 and step S87 are the same as step S40 and step S41 in the flow of FIG.
As described above, according to the configuration of the present modified example, when there are a plurality of toner cartridges that reach the predicted replacement period in the predetermined period (here, one week) from the earliest predicted replacement period, By preferentially selecting the toner consumption rate with a larger degree of variation, the toner consumption rate is faster than expected, and the toner cartridge for replacement is surely secured even if the toner disappears earlier than expected. Can be stocked as stock.

  (3) Among the functions of the image processing apparatus, there are functions that are frequently used by the user and functions that are important to the user even if the frequency of use is low. Among them, FAX is used in offices for exchanging important information in business such as information that is not desirable to send and receive by e-mail in terms of security, and for sending and receiving information that is difficult to explain by telephone such as maps and drawings. Therefore, if the received fax cannot be output (printed out) because the toner has run out, there is a high risk of inconvenience.

In the present modification, the FAX function is considered among the specific functions provided in the image processing apparatus as the second priority condition.
FIG. 22A is a configuration example of inventory information in the present modification. Here, as an example, a case will be described in which a toner cartridge to be replenished in stock is selected at the timing when the M toner cartridge of the image processing apparatus 100-A01 is replaced in the office A (the replacement time is fixed). At this time, a total of three toner cartridges of Y color of the image processing apparatus 100-A01 and M color and K color of the image processing apparatus 100-A02 are stocked in the inventory storage area of the office A. . Since the upper limit number of inventory is 4, one toner cartridge to be restocked is selected here.

FIG. 22B shows a table in which toner cartridges that are not in stock at that time are extracted from the device group (in this case, office A) and are arranged in order of the predicted replacement time.
In the table shown in the figure, the earliest predicted replacement time is June 28, 2011 for the K color toner cartridge of the image processing apparatus 100-A01. As a toner cartridge that reaches the predicted replacement time within one week from that day, there is a K toner cartridge (predicted replacement time: June 30, 2011) of the image processing apparatus 100-A03. In the figure, the two predicted exchange times are shown in bold.

  Here, the image processing apparatus 100-A03 is provided with a FAX function, but the image processing apparatus 100-A01 is not provided with a FAX function. Therefore, here, the priority of the toner cartridge (K color) of the image processing apparatus 100-A03 having the FAX function is raised and selected as a toner cartridge to be replenished in stock. In the figure, for easy understanding, the toner cartridge is surrounded by a bold line, and the priority order, predicted replacement time, and FAX function are shown in bold.

  FIG. 23 shows a part of a flowchart showing a control sequence between the image processing apparatus 100 and the inventory management apparatus 300 related to the consumables inventory management process of the inventory management apparatus in this modification. In FIG. 14, the control sequence of the image processing apparatus 100 is the same as that in FIG. 14, and the processing steps prior to step S91 in the control sequence of the inventory management apparatus 300 are step S31 to step S36 in FIG. Therefore, illustration and description are omitted here.

Steps S91 and S92 are the same as steps S61 and S62 in the flow shown in FIG.
In step S92, if the number n1 of toner cartridges that reach the predicted replacement time within one week is not n1 ≦ n, that is, if n <n1, the FAX function It is determined whether or not the number n3 of toner cartridges used in the image processing apparatus having n is greater than or equal to n (step S92: NO, step S93).

  When n3 ≧ n, among the toner cartridges used in the image processing apparatus having the FAX function, n toner cartridges to be replenished in stock are selected from the earliest predicted replacement time, and the selected toner cartridge is addressed to the user. To the consumables delivery server 400 (step S93: YES, step S95, step S97).

  When n3 ≧ n is not satisfied, that is, when n3 <n, the n3 toner cartridges for the image processing apparatus with a FAX function are selected as the toner cartridges to be replenished, and then the remaining toner cartridges except for the selected toner cartridges are selected. N-n3 of the toner cartridges that are not in stock are selected from the earliest predicted replacement time, and the consumables delivery server 400 is configured to deliver the selected n toner cartridges to the user. An instruction is given (step S93: NO, step S96, step S97).

  In step S92, if n1 ≦ n, even if n toner cartridges are selected in the first selection mode as in the first embodiment, the predicted replacement time is set within one week from the earliest replacement time. Since all the toner cartridges to be received are included, n toner cartridges to be replenished from the earliest predicted replacement time out of those that are not in stock are selected, and the selected toner cartridge is delivered to the user. The consumables delivery server 400 is instructed (step S92: YES, step S94, step S97).

Hereinafter, step S98 and step S99 are the same as step S40 and step S41 in the flow of FIG.
As described above, according to the configuration of the present modified example, when there are a plurality of toner cartridges that reach the predicted replacement period in the predetermined period (here, one week) from the earliest predicted replacement period, By preferentially selecting a toner cartridge to be used in an image processing apparatus having a FAX function, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a situation where there is no toner when a FAX is received and the FAX cannot be output.

  In this modification, the toner cartridge used in the image processing apparatus having the FAX function is only K color. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a color MFP having the FAX function may be considered. In such a case, in step S93, among the toner cartridges that are out of stock and that reach the predicted replacement time within one week from the earliest predicted replacement time, they are used for the image processing apparatus having the FAX function and K color. The number of toner cartridges may be n3.

Further, in this modification, it is considered whether or not the FAX function is provided as the second priority condition, but the function of the image processing apparatus as the second priority condition is not limited to the FAX function. For example, in an office where copying is frequently used, a copying function may be used. The function of the image processing apparatus as the second priority condition may be settable by the user.
(4) Although the state of the cartridge empty is detected and a message prompting the user to replace the toner cartridge is displayed on the operation panel 16, the image processing apparatus is used without replacing the toner cartridge. If the operation continues, the sub hopper empty state is detected and printing is prohibited. When the toner cartridge is replaced and the toner density in the developing device 5 is restored, the image processing apparatus can print again. The elapsed time from when the image processing apparatus is prohibited to print to when it can be printed again is hereinafter referred to as a “stop period”.

  In the case of an image processing apparatus with low usage frequency or low importance, the user does not feel much inconvenience even when printing is prohibited, and may be left as it is when busy. On the other hand, in the case of an image processing apparatus that is frequently used or highly important, it is highly likely that the user will replace the toner cartridge before printing is prohibited. Is likely to be discovered and improved (toner cartridge replaced). Furthermore, even in the case of an image processing apparatus that is frequently used, when monochrome printing is the main and color printing output frequency is low, color (C, M, Y color) toner is lost and color printing is prohibited. Since the user does not feel much inconvenience, the possibility that the toner cartridge is left without being replaced even after the color toner has run out is considered to be relatively high. Accordingly, the history information of the stop period (unusable period) of each image processing apparatus is stored, and the length of the stop period is used as an index of the importance and use frequency of the image processing apparatus for the user. it can. Here, among the history of past stop periods of the respective image processing apparatuses, the longest stop period is stocked as the stop period for each of color (C, M, Y color toner cartridge) and monochrome (K color toner cartridge). Store in information.

In this modification, the stop period is considered as the second priority condition.
FIG. 24A is a configuration example of inventory information in the present modification. Here, as an example, a case will be described in which a toner cartridge to be replenished in stock is selected at the timing when the M toner cartridge of the image processing apparatus 100-A01 is replaced in the office A (the replacement time is fixed). At that time, a total of three toner cartridges of K color of the image processing apparatus 100-A01 and M color and K color of the image processing apparatus 100-A02 are stocked in the inventory storage area of the office A. Since the upper limit number of inventory is 4, one toner cartridge to be restocked is selected here.

FIG. 24B shows a table in which toner cartridges that are not in stock at that time are extracted from the device group (in this case, office A) and are arranged in order of the predicted replacement time.
In the table shown in the figure, the earliest predicted replacement time is July 20, 2011 for the Y toner cartridge of the image processing apparatus 100-A01. As a toner cartridge that reaches the predicted replacement time within one week from that day, there is a C toner cartridge (predicted replacement time: July 22, 2011) of the image processing apparatus 100-A02. In the figure, the two predicted exchange times are shown in bold.

Looking at these two stop periods, the stop period of the Y toner cartridge of the image processing apparatus 100-A01 is 6 hours, while the stop period of the C toner cartridge of the image processing apparatus 100-A02 is 6 hours. Is one hour.
Since it is considered that the use frequency and importance of the image processing apparatus are higher when the stop period is shorter, here, the priority order of the C toner cartridges of the image processing apparatus 100-A02 with a shorter stop period is increased, and the stock Select the toner cartridge to be refilled. In the figure, for easy understanding, the toner cartridge is surrounded by a bold line, and the priority order, the predicted replacement time, and the stop period are shown in bold.

  In this modification, the color (C, M, Y) toner is prohibited from color printing because the color reproducibility deteriorates even if one of the colors is in the sub-hopper empty state. Even in this case, if the K-color toner is not exhausted (unless the sub-hopper is in the empty state), monochrome printing is possible, so monochrome printing is permitted.

  FIG. 25 shows a part of a flowchart showing a control sequence between the image processing apparatus 100 and the inventory management apparatus 300 related to the consumables inventory management process of the inventory management apparatus in this modification. In the figure, the control sequence of the image processing apparatus 100 is the same as that in FIG. 14, and in the control sequence of the inventory management apparatus 300, the processing step prior to step S101 is step S31 in the flow shown in FIG. From step S36, the illustration and description are omitted here.

  Further, the processing steps from step S101 and step S102, and the determination of step S102 from YES to step S103 and step S105 are respectively step S61 to step S62 and step S62 in the flow shown in FIG. Since this is the same as the processing steps subsequent to step S63 and step S65 after the determination of YES, the description is omitted here.

  In step S102, if the number n1 of toner cartridges that reach the predicted replacement time within one week from the earliest predicted replacement time, including those with the earliest predicted replacement time among those not in stock, is not n1 ≦ n, that is, When n <n1, n toner cartridges to be replenished in stock are selected from the shorter stop period among those that reach the predicted replacement time within one week, and the selected toner cartridge is delivered to the user. Thus, the consumables delivery server 400 is instructed (step S102: NO, step S104, step S105).

Hereinafter, step S106 and step S107 are the same as step S40 and step S41 in the flow of FIG.
As described above, according to the configuration of the present modified example, when there are a plurality of toner cartridges that reach the predicted replacement period in the predetermined period (here, one week) from the earliest predicted replacement period, By preferentially selecting the shorter stop period, it is possible to reliably stock image cartridges used in image processing apparatuses that are frequently used and image processing apparatuses that are more important to the user in stock. it can.

  In this modification, even if the K color toner is in the sub-hopper empty state, if the color toner is not exhausted, monochrome printing is prohibited, but color printing is permitted. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, in a model that uses K toner for reproducing the black portion of a color image, both color printing and monochrome printing may be prohibited.

Further, when the toner is always changed before the sub hopper is in an empty state and there is no history of print stop, the stop period is 0 hour.
(5) Some toner cartridges have so-called compatibility that can be used for a plurality of different types of image processing apparatuses. When a compatible toner cartridge is used, in a certain image processing apparatus, if a sub-hopper empty state is detected for a certain toner and printing is prohibited, and the replacement toner cartridge is not in stock, the image processing is inevitably performed. If it is necessary to use the device, it is possible to take a first-aid method by removing the corresponding toner cartridge from another image processing device and mounting it on the image processing device that needs to be used for printing. it can. However, in the case of an incompatible toner cartridge, if there is no inventory when the sub hopper empty state is detected, another toner cartridge cannot be diverted and cannot be printed, which is very difficult for the user. Inconvenient.

Therefore, in this modification, toner cartridge compatibility is considered as the second priority condition.
FIG. 26A is a configuration example of inventory information in the present modification. Here, as an example, a case will be described in which a toner cartridge to be replenished in stock is selected at the timing when the M toner cartridge of the image processing apparatus 100-A01 is replaced in the office A (the replacement time is fixed). At the time point, a total of three toner cartridges of Y color of the image processing apparatus 100-A01 and M color and K color of the image processing apparatus 100-A02 are stocked in the inventory storage area of the office A. Since the upper limit number of inventory is 4, one toner cartridge to be restocked is selected here.

In this modification, the toner cartridge used in the image processing apparatus 100-A01 and the toner cartridge used in the image processing apparatus 100-A02 are compatible. There is no compatibility with toner cartridges used in 100-A03.
FIG. 26B shows a table in which toner cartridges that are not in stock at that time are extracted from the device group (in this case, office A) and are arranged in order of the predicted replacement time.

  In the table shown in the figure, the earliest predicted replacement time is June 28, 2011 for the K color toner cartridge of the image processing apparatus 100-A01. As a toner cartridge that reaches the predicted replacement time within one week from that day, there is a K toner cartridge (predicted replacement time: June 30, 2011) of the image processing apparatus 100-A03. In the figure, the two predicted exchange times are shown in bold.

  Here, the K toner cartridge of the image processing apparatus 100-A01 is compatible, but the K toner cartridge of the image processing apparatus 100-A03 is not compatible. Therefore, here, the priority of the toner cartridge (K color) of the image processing apparatus 100-A03 that is not compatible is raised and selected as a toner cartridge to be replenished in stock. In the figure, for easy understanding, the toner cartridge is surrounded by a bold line, and the priority order, predicted replacement time, and compatibility are shown in bold.

  FIG. 27 shows a part of a flowchart showing a control sequence between the image processing apparatus 100 and the inventory management apparatus 300 related to the consumables inventory management process of the inventory management apparatus in this modification. In FIG. 14, the control sequence of the image processing apparatus 100 is the same as that in FIG. 14, and the processing steps prior to step S111 in the control sequence of the inventory management apparatus 300 are step S31 to step S36 in FIG. Therefore, illustration and description are omitted here.

Steps S111 and S112 are the same as steps S61 and S62 in the flow shown in FIG.
In step S112, if the number n1 of the toner cartridges that reach the predicted replacement time within one week is not n1 ≦ n, that is, if n <n1, among the items that reach the predicted replacement time within one week, the compatibility It is determined whether or not the number n4 of toner cartridges having no toner is equal to or greater than n (step S112: NO, step S113).

When n4 ≧ n, among the incompatible toner cartridges, n toner cartridges to be restocked are selected from the earliest predicted replacement time, and the selected toner cartridge is delivered to the user. The consumables delivery server 400 is instructed (step S113: YES, step S115, step S117).
When n4 ≧ n is not satisfied, that is, when n4 <n, these n4 incompatible toner cartridges are selected as toner cartridges to be restocked, and then the remaining inventory excluding these selected toner cartridges In this case, n−n4 toner cartridges are selected from the earliest predicted replacement time, and the consumables delivery server 400 is instructed to deliver the selected n toner cartridges to the user. (Step S113: NO, Step S116, Step S117).

  In step S112, if n1 ≦ n, even if n toner cartridges are selected in the first selection mode as in the first embodiment, the predicted replacement time is set within one week from the earliest replacement time. Since all the toner cartridges to be received are included, n toner cartridges to be replenished from the earliest predicted replacement time out of those that are not in stock are selected, and the selected toner cartridge is delivered to the user. The consumables delivery server 400 is instructed (step S112: YES, step S114, step S117).

Hereinafter, step S118 and step S119 are the same as step S40 and step S41 in the flow of FIG.
As described above, according to the configuration of the present modified example, when there are a plurality of toner cartridges that reach the predicted replacement period in the predetermined period (here, one week) from the earliest predicted replacement period, By preferentially selecting toner cartridges that are not compatible, even if the replacement toner cartridge is out of stock, it is an incompatible toner cartridge. It is possible to prevent a situation in which printing cannot be performed at all in the detected image processing apparatus.

<Modification of Embodiments 1 and 2>
As described above, the present invention has been described based on the embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described first embodiment, the second embodiment, and the modified example of the second embodiment. Such a modification can be considered.
(6) In the first embodiment, when the toner cartridge is replaced, the configuration for selecting the toner cartridge to be replenished from the earliest predicted replacement time out of those not in stock has been described. Also, in the second embodiment, when there are a plurality of toner cartridges that have the predicted replacement time within one week from the earliest predicted replacement time out of those that are not in stock, the second priority condition among them The configuration for preferentially selecting the person corresponding to the above has been described.

  However, among users who manage inventory of consumables (toner cartridges) by the methods of the above embodiments, there are a mixture of users who have very limited inventory space and users who have sufficient inventory space. In such a case, it is possible that some users who have sufficient inventory space want to select a toner cartridge of the same type as the replaced toner cartridge as a toner cartridge to be restocked.

  In this modification, the first selection mode of the first embodiment and the selection mode for selecting the same type of toner cartridge as the replaced toner cartridge as the toner cartridge to be restocked (hereinafter referred to as “second selection mode”). The configuration that can be selected by the user as to which of the selection modes is executed by the inventory management apparatus 300 will be described. The selection by the user for executing the selection mode is set by inputting the selection from the operation panel 16 (see FIG. 2) by the user.

  FIG. 28 shows a part of a flowchart showing a control sequence between the image processing apparatus 100 and the inventory management apparatus 300 related to the consumables inventory management process of the inventory management apparatus in this modification. In the figure, the control sequence of the image processing apparatus 100 is the same as in FIG. 14, and the processing steps prior to step S51 in the control sequence of the inventory management apparatus 300 are step S31 to step S36 in FIG. Therefore, illustration and description are omitted here.

In step S36 (see FIG. 14), when the current stock quantity P is smaller than the stock upper limit number N, next, any one of the first selection mode and the second selection mode is selected by the user. (Step S36: YES, Step S51).
When the first selection mode is selected, the current stock number P is subtracted from the stock upper limit number N to calculate the number n (n = positive integer) of toner cartridges to be restocked (step S51: No. 1). 1, step S52).

Hereinafter, step S52 to step S57 are the same as step S37 to step S41 in the flow of FIG.
If the second selection mode is selected by the user in step S51, a toner cartridge of the same type as the replaced toner cartridge is selected for inventory replenishment, and the selected toner cartridge is selected by the user (in this case, office A). The delivery instruction unit 316 (see FIG. 7) instructs the consumables delivery server 400 to deliver to the inventory manager (step S51: second, step S54, step S55).

Hereinafter, step S56 and step S57 are the same as step S40 and step S41 in the flow of FIG.
As described above, according to the configuration of this modified example, the user can select and set which of the first and second selection modes the toner cartridge to be replenished in stock is selected. It is possible to respond to the user's individual desires and circumstances, which can contribute to the convenience of the user.

  The following cases are also conceivable. For example, when the image processing apparatuses 100-A01, 100-A02, and 100-A03 used in the office A are all the same type of color printer, the same toner cartridge can be used in each image processing apparatus. Even if all types of toner cartridges are stocked one by one, the number of stocks is four. In addition, when all the printers are monochrome printers, only one toner cartridge is used in each image processing apparatus, so the three image processing apparatuses have different models, and different types of toner cartridges are used. Even if all the toner cartridges for the three types are stocked one by one, the number of stocks is three. In such a case, for example, when the upper limit number of inventory is four, the toner cartridge of the same type as the replaced toner cartridge may be simply replenished.

In such a case, when a toner cartridge of a different type from the replaced toner cartridge is delivered for inventory replenishment, some users may feel uneasy even if there is actually no problem.
Therefore, even in such a case, it is possible to contribute to the convenience of the user by enabling the user to select either the first selection mode or the second selection mode.

  In the above description, the toner cartridge selection mode selection setting may be set once by the user in advance, and thereafter the setting may be followed unless the setting is changed by the user. Each time when the replacement toner cartridge is selected, a message prompting the user to input which selection mode to select is displayed on the operation panel 16, for example. You may make it follow a user's selection input every time.

In the above description, the selection input of the selection mode is performed from the operation panel 16. However, the selection mode is not limited to this and may be input from the input / operation unit 303 of the inventory management apparatus 300, or the client. It may be input from input means of the apparatus 200.
(7) In the modification example 6, the configuration in which the user can select either the first selection mode or the second selection mode has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

  For example, in the same way as in the second embodiment, when there are more toner cartridges that reach the predicted replacement time within one week from the earliest predicted replacement time among those that are not in stock, The user selects one of the selection modes of the selection mode (hereinafter referred to as “third selection mode”) for preferentially selecting a toner cartridge that meets the second priority condition, and the second selection mode. It is good also as a structure which can select.

(8) Furthermore, it is good also as a structure which a user can select any one selection mode from 1st, 2nd, 3rd selection mode.
(9) In the first and second embodiments and the modifications, the toner cartridge to be restocked is selected by the stock replenishment consumable selection unit 315 (see FIG. 7) of the stock management apparatus 300 (see FIG. 1). Then, an instruction is sent from the delivery instruction unit 316 (see FIG. 7) to the consumables delivery server 400 to deliver the selected toner cartridge to the user, and the selected toner cartridge is automatically delivered to the user. The configuration has been described.

  However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the following modifications can be considered. For example, when a toner cartridge to be restocked is selected by the stock replenishment consumables selection unit 315, the selected toner cartridge is restocked instead of being automatically instructed to the consumables delivery server 400. The toner cartridge may be displayed on the operation panel as a power toner cartridge, and a user who sees it may order the toner cartridge from an office supply dealer or a sales agent by FAX or telephone.

In this modification, the case where the above configuration is applied to the configuration of the first embodiment will be described as an example.
FIG. 29 shows a part of a flowchart showing a control sequence between the image processing apparatus 100 and the inventory management apparatus 300 related to the consumables inventory management process of the inventory management apparatus in this modification. In the figure, the control sequence of the image processing apparatus 100 is the same as that in FIG. 14, and the processing steps prior to step S121 in the control sequence of the inventory management apparatus 300 are step S31 to step S36 in FIG. Therefore, illustration and description are omitted here.

Further, step S121 and step S122 are the same as step S37 and step S38 in the flow of FIG. 15, respectively, and thus description thereof is omitted here.
In step S122, when n toner cartridges to be replenished in stock are selected, the selected toner cartridge is displayed on the operation panel 16 (see FIG. 2) as a toner cartridge to be replenished in stock, and in the flow shown in FIG. Returning to step S31, it is monitored whether or not the next replaced toner information has been received (steps S123 and S31).

  As described above, according to the configuration of this modification, it is desired that the inventory or the toner to be replenished is automatically selected by the inventory management apparatus 300, but the consumable delivery server 400 automatically orders the order. The user can place an order directly with a supplier who wants to ask a familiar supplier who has not been associated with the image processing apparatus manufacturer's sales / service company, etc., which can contribute to user convenience. .

  However, the consumables delivery server 400 in the inventory management system of each embodiment and each modification of the present invention is not limited to the consumables delivery server of the sales / service company of the image processing apparatus manufacturer. In the case of having a consumables delivery server that is compatible with the inventory management system of the present invention, the inventory management system of the present invention can be applied using the above-mentioned supplier's server as the consumables delivery server 400.

Note that the configuration of this modification may be applied to the second embodiment and each modification.
(10) In the above embodiments and modifications, the storage unit 320 (see FIG. 7) of the inventory management apparatus 300 (see FIG. 1) has been replaced with reference to the acquired replaced toner information. The configuration has been described in which the toner cartridge is updated to be subtracted from the inventory information of the corresponding device group, and the received toner cartridge is updated to be added to the inventory information of the corresponding device group with reference to the received delivered consumable information. .

However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the user may manually input information about increase / decrease in inventory to update the inventory information.
FIG. 30 is a flowchart showing a control sequence between the image processing apparatus 100 and the inventory management apparatus 300 related to the inventory information update process of the inventory management apparatus in this modification. Here, office A (see FIG. 1) will be described as an example.

First, in each of the image processing apparatuses 100-A01, 100-A02, and 100-A03 belonging to the office A, information related to increase / decrease in inventory (hereinafter referred to as “inventory change information”) is input by the user. Whether or not it has been monitored (step S131).
Here, the inventory change information includes information regarding a decrease in inventory due to the replacement of the toner cartridge (corresponding to the replaced toner information in the first embodiment), and the toner cartridge to be replenished in stock as stock. Information related to an increase in inventory due to the information (corresponding to the delivered consumable information in the first embodiment) is included.

Also, the input of inventory change information is performed by the user from the operation panel 16 (see FIG. 2) of any one of the image processing apparatuses 100-A01, 100-A02, and 100-A03.
When the input of inventory change information is accepted in step S131, the received inventory change information is transmitted to the inventory management apparatus 300, and then the process returns to step S131 to monitor whether the input of inventory change information is accepted again. (Step S131: YES, Step S132, Step S131).

The inventory management apparatus 300 monitors whether or not inventory change information has been received. When the inventory change information is received, the inventory information of the corresponding device group is updated with reference to the received inventory change information. Thereafter, the process returns to step S141 to monitor whether or not the inventory change information is received again (step S141: YES, step S142, step S141).
According to the configuration of this modified example described above, even when the user directly orders a toner cartridge to be replenished in stock, the inventory information can be updated to the latest state. Selection can be made appropriately.

  The input of the inventory information is performed by the user from the operation panel 16 of any one of the image processing apparatuses 100-A01, 100-A02, and 100-A03, but is not limited thereto. . For example, only one of the image processing apparatuses 100-A01, 100-A02, and 100-A03 may accept the inventory change information. In this case, only the receivable image processing apparatus may monitor whether or not the input of the inventory change information in step S131 is accepted.

  Further, the input of the inventory change information is not limited to the operation panel of the image processing apparatus. For example, inventory change information may be input from a client device connected via a network using an input device such as a keyboard. In this case, the input inventory change information may be transmitted directly to the inventory management apparatus 300 or may be transmitted to the inventory management apparatus 300 via the image processing apparatus 100.

Furthermore, the above-described inventory change information may be input only by a person in charge of inventory management using a password or the like. In this way, it is possible to prevent a plurality of users from entering the same inventory change information repeatedly without knowing that another user has input the inventory change information.
In addition, as the inventory change information, the user manually inputs only information related to inventory increase, and the inventory management apparatus 300 performs image processing apparatus information regarding inventory decrease as in the above embodiments and modifications. The replacement toner information may be acquired from 100 and updated by referring to the acquired replacement toner information.

  (11) In each of the above embodiments and modifications, when the replacement time is determined for each toner cartridge detected to be replaced by the image processing apparatus 100, the replaced toner information is transmitted to the inventory management apparatus 300. Each time the inventory management device 300 receives the replaced toner information, the inventory management device 300 requests the image processing device 100 in the corresponding device group for information on the completion of the replacement time, and the toner cartridge whose replacement time is being determined. When there is a toner cartridge, the configuration is described in which the stock information is updated after waiting for the confirmation, and the toner cartridge to be restocked is selected.

  However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be as follows, for example. When the image processing apparatus 100 detects the replacement of the toner cartridge in its own apparatus, the image processing apparatus 100 displays information on whether or not there is a toner cartridge whose replacement time has been determined in each image processing apparatus belonging to the apparatus group including the apparatus itself. If the acquired toner cartridge is not confirmed, the information about the replaced toner cartridge is transmitted to the inventory management apparatus 300 as the replaced toner information, and if there is a confirmed cartridge, it is confirmed. After waiting for this, the replaced toner information may be transmitted to the inventory management apparatus 300.

FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing a control sequence between the image processing apparatus 100 and the inventory management apparatus 300 related to the consumables inventory management process of the inventory management apparatus in this modification. Here, as an example, office A (see FIG. 1) will be described as an example in which the configuration of the present modification is applied to the first embodiment.
Step S151 and step S152 are the same as step S21 and step S22 in the flow shown in FIG.

  If it is determined in step S152 that the toner cartridge has been replaced, the replacement is then performed for each of the other image processing apparatuses 100 belonging to the same apparatus group to which the own apparatus belongs. A request is made to transmit information indicating that the replacement period has been determined, which indicates whether there is a toner cartridge for which the period has been determined (step S152: YES, step S153).

Then, it is monitored whether or not information indicating that the replacement period has been determined has been received from all requested image processing apparatuses 100 (step S154).
When all the information regarding the exchange time determined has been received, it is determined by referring to the received information regarding the completion of the replacement time whether or not there is a toner cartridge for which the replacement time has been determined in the image processing apparatus 100 of the device group. Step S154: YES, step S155).

  If there is a toner cartridge for which the replacement time has been determined, the process returns to step S153 to request each image processing apparatus 100 belonging to the same apparatus group to transmit information regarding the completion of replacement time (step S155: YES). Step S153) and thereafter, Steps S153 to S155 are repeated until it is determined in Step S155 that there is no toner cartridge for which the replacement time has been determined.

If there is no toner cartridge for which the replacement time is being determined, the replacement toner information is transmitted to the inventory management apparatus 300 (step S155: NO, step S156).
Here, the inventory management apparatus 300 monitors whether or not the replaced toner information is received (step S161).
When the replaced toner information acquisition unit 311 (see FIG. 7) of the inventory management apparatus 300 receives the replaced toner information, the storage unit 320 (see FIG. 7) refers to the received replaced toner information, and the toner cartridge is stored. In the inventory information of the apparatus group (in this case, office A) to which the replaced image processing apparatus 100 belongs, the replaced toner cartridge is subtracted from the inventory, and the inventory information is updated (step S161: YES, step S162).

Hereinafter, step S163 to step S168 are the same as step S36 to step S41 in the flow shown in FIG. 14 and FIG.
As described above, even in the configuration of the present modified example, even when a toner cartridge that does not include a new article detection mechanism is replaced, as in the configuration of each of the embodiments and each modified example, the replacement of the toner cartridge has been completed. By updating the inventory information after the timing is fixed, more accurate inventory information can be referred to, and the toner cartridge to be replenished can be selected more appropriately.

  When the replacement toner information is transmitted to the inventory management apparatus 300, if the image processing apparatus 100 in which the replacement of the toner cartridge is detected is different from the image processing apparatus 100 for which the replacement time has been determined, The image processing apparatus 100 may separately transmit information about the toner cartridges exchanged in the apparatus itself to the inventory management apparatus 300. For example, any one of the image processing apparatuses 100 may exchange these toner cartridges. May be collected and transmitted to the inventory management apparatus 300.

(12) In each of the above-described embodiments and modifications, the toner replacement time prediction unit 313 (see FIG. 7) that predicts the replacement time of each toner cartridge used in each image processing apparatus is included in the inventory management apparatus 300. It is provided, but it is not limited to this.
For example, each image processing apparatus 100 includes a toner replacement time prediction unit, and each image processing apparatus 100 predicts the replacement time of each toner cartridge used in its own apparatus, and stores information on the predicted replacement time in the inventory management apparatus 300. You may send to.

FIG. 32 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the control unit 60 of the image processing apparatus 100 in the present modification, and FIG. 33 is a control block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the inventory management apparatus 300 in the present modification.
The control unit 60 of the image processing apparatus 100 includes a toner consumption amount information acquisition unit 614 and a toner replacement time prediction unit 615, which are respectively a toner consumption amount information acquisition unit 312 and a toner in the first embodiment shown in FIG. It performs the same function as the replacement time prediction unit 313. Each of these is a part of the function of the CPU 61.

  The storage unit 66 includes a toner consumption amount information storage unit 666 that stores toner consumption amount information, which is information about the consumption amount of each color toner used in the own device. The toner consumption amount information storage unit 666 performs the same function as the toner consumption amount information storage unit 322 of the inventory management apparatus 300 according to Embodiment 1 shown in FIG. Note that the function of the toner consumption information storage unit 666 may be performed by the EEPROM 663.

On the other hand, the control unit 310 of the inventory management apparatus 300 in this modification does not include the toner consumption amount information acquisition unit 312 and the toner replacement time prediction unit 313 illustrated in FIG.
Further, the storage unit 320 of the inventory management apparatus 300 in the present modification does not store the toner consumption amount information shown in FIG.
(13) In the above embodiments and modifications, the upper limit of inventory is set and managed by the number of toner cartridges. However, depending on the type of toner cartridge, the size and shape of the toner cartridge itself may be different, or even if the toner cartridge has the same size and shape, it may be There may be a case where the size and shape of the toner cartridge are different. In such a case, for a user who has a very limited inventory space, the total volume of these stocks may vary depending on the combination of toner cartridges stocked as stock, even if the number is within the upper stock limit. There is a possibility that the upper limit volume of the inventory storage area will be exceeded and there will be a problem that it will not be able to be stored.

Therefore, in the present modification, a configuration in which the upper limit of inventory is managed not by the number but by the total volume of the toner cartridges in the packaged state will be described below.
FIG. 34 is a part of a flowchart showing a control sequence between the image processing apparatus 100 and the inventory management apparatus 300 related to the consumables inventory management process of the inventory management apparatus in this modification, and FIG. It is a flowchart of. Here, as an example, office A (see FIG. 1) will be described as an example in which the configuration of the present modification is applied to the first embodiment.

First, the image processing apparatuses 100-A01, 100-A02, and 100-A03 belonging to the office A each determine whether or not a cartridge empty has been detected in the own apparatus (step S171).
When a cartridge empty is detected in any of the image processing apparatuses 100-A01, 100-A02, and 100-A03, the toner cartridge in which the cartridge empty is detected, the image processing apparatus, and the apparatus to which the image processing apparatus belongs Information about the group is transmitted to the inventory management apparatus 300 as cartridge empty information (step S171: YES, step S172).
At this time, the inventory management apparatus 300 determines whether or not the cartridge empty information has been received. If the cartridge empty information has been received, the inventory replenishment consumables selection unit 315 (see FIG. 7) detects the cartridge empty. The delivery instruction unit 316 (see FIG. 7) instructs the consumables delivery server 400 to deliver the selected toner cartridge to the user (step S181: YES, step S189, Step S191).

Hereinafter, step S192 and step S193 are the same as step S40 and step S41 in the flow of FIG.
Returning to the image processing apparatus 100, if cartridge empty is not detected in step S171, it is next determined whether replacement of the toner cartridge is detected (step S171: NO, step S173).

If the replacement of the toner cartridge is not detected, the process returns to step S171 to determine again whether the cartridge empty is detected (step S173: NO, step S171).
If the replacement of the toner cartridge is detected, it is next determined whether or not the replacement timing of the toner cartridge has been determined (step S173: YES, step S174).

Hereinafter, step S174 to step S177 are the same as step S22 to step S25 in the flow shown in FIG. 14, and thus the description thereof is omitted here.
Returning to the inventory management apparatus 300, if cartridge empty information has not been received in step S181, it is next determined whether or not replaced toner information has been received (step S181: NO, step S182).

If the replaced toner information has not been received, the process returns to step S181 to determine whether or not cartridge empty information has been received (step S182: NO, step S181).
If the exchanged toner information has been received, a signal requesting information on the completion of exchange time is transmitted to each of the image processing apparatuses 100-A01, 100-A02, and 100-A03 (step). S182: YES, step S183).

Hereinafter, step S184 to step S186 are the same as step S33 to step S35 in the flow shown in FIG. 14, and thus description thereof is omitted here.
In step S186, after the inventory information of the device group (here, office A) is updated, the inventory information is subsequently referred to and preset for the device group (in this case, office A). When selecting the toner cartridge as the toner cartridge to be replenished by subtracting the current inventory volume L, which is the sum of the volumes of the toner cartridges stocked as stock at that time in the packed state, from the stock upper limit volume M Then, the maximum selection allowable volume Q indicating how much the maximum sum of the volumes of the toner cartridges in the packaged state can be selected is calculated (step S186, step S187).

The stock upper limit volume M is determined by the user based on the total volume of the shelves in the stock storage area, and is input and set in advance by the user.
Subsequently, it is determined whether there is a toner cartridge having a packing volume equal to or smaller than the maximum selection allowable volume Q among those not in stock (step S188).
If there is no toner cartridge having the maximum selection allowable volume Q or less, the toner cartridge for stock replenishment is not selected, and the process returns to step S181 to determine whether cartridge empty information has been received (step S188: NO, Step S181).

  When there is a toner cartridge having a maximum selection allowable volume Q or less, the inventory replenishment consumables selection unit 315 (see FIG. 7) refers to the inventory information, and within the range where the total volume is the maximum selection allowable volume Q or less, A delivery instruction unit 316 (see FIG. 7) is selected so that a toner cartridge is selected from the earlier ones that are not predicted, and the selected toner cartridge is delivered to the user (in this case, the inventory manager of office A). To the consumables delivery server 400 (step S188: YES, step S190, step S191).

Hereinafter, Step S192 and Step S193 are the same as Step S40 and Step S41 in the flow shown in FIG. 15 as described above, and thus description thereof is omitted here.
As described above, according to the configuration of this modification, the upper limit of inventory can be set and managed using the volume of the toner cartridge in the packaged state, and therefore, particularly when a plurality of types of toner cartridges having different sizes are used. In some cases, inventory management can be performed more appropriately than inventory management based on the number.

Further, as in this modification, when a cartridge empty is detected, the toner cartridge in the cartridge empty state is selected regardless of the maximum selection allowable volume Q, and is forcibly delivered to the user. By adopting the configuration, it is possible to prevent the following problems from occurring.
When setting the upper limit of inventory by volume and managing inventory only by volume, in an office (device group) where a large volume toner cartridge and a small volume toner cartridge are used in a packaged state, for example, When a toner cartridge to be replenished in stock is selected at the timing when a small toner cartridge is replaced (when the replacement timing is fixed), the toner cartridge with the earliest predicted replacement timing is the large toner cartridge, and the second and subsequent cartridges are small In the case of a toner cartridge, the maximum selection allowable volume Q is smaller than the volume of a large toner cartridge and larger than the volume of a small toner cartridge. Selected. However, when the next small toner cartridge is replaced again, the same situation as described above occurs again, and the second smallest toner cartridge is selected again. In such a case, since the large toner cartridge is not selected indefinitely, when the large toner cartridge is consumed and needs to be replaced, there is a possibility that the user may have trouble because the large toner cartridge is not in stock. is there.

  Even in such a case, when the cartridge empty information is received as in the configuration of the present modification, the toner cartridge that is in the cartridge empty state is forcibly selected regardless of the inventory state, and the user's By delivering the toner cartridge to the original, the replacement toner cartridge can be delivered to the user before the toner cartridge becomes sub-hopper empty and cannot be printed. In that case, the total volume of the stock toner cartridge may temporarily exceed the storage capacity of the stock storage, but the user suffers when compared with the inconvenience that printing cannot be performed because the toner cartridge is not in stock. The degree of inconvenience is small and can contribute to user convenience.

Further, the timing for forcibly selecting the toner cartridge and delivering it to the user may be when the remaining amount of toner is in any state, but is preferably when the cartridge empty is detected.
When the sub hopper empty is detected, printing is no longer possible, and the user waits until a replacement toner cartridge arrives.

  On the other hand, when the cartridge near empty is detected, there is still a quantity of toner that can be printed on the order of several thousand sheets, and it is considered that there is still time before the toner cartridge is actually replaced. Even if a replacement toner cartridge is delivered too early even though there is no toner, the user will be left with a toner cartridge overflowing from the inventory storage area for a long period of time.

(14) In each of the above-described embodiments and modifications, the image processing apparatus 100 and the inventory management apparatus 300 are connected via a network, the inventory management apparatus 300 selects a toner cartridge to be replenished in stock, and manages the inventory. The configuration for performing is described.
However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in the inventory management system shown in FIG. 1, the inventory management apparatus 300 may not be provided, and the functions of the inventory management apparatus 300 may be executed by each image processing apparatus 100.

Hereinafter, in this modification, the case where the above configuration is applied to the first embodiment will be described as an example.
FIG. 36 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the control unit 90 of the image processing apparatus 900 according to the present modification. Here, it is assumed that the image processing apparatus 900 is installed in the office A (see FIG. 1).

The communication I / F unit 92, the image processing unit 93, the image memory 94, and the laser diode driving unit 95 are the communication I / F unit 62 in the control unit block diagram of the image processing apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. The image processing unit 63, the image memory 64, and the laser diode driving unit 65 perform the same functions.
Further, the CPU 91 includes a toner replacement completion time determination unit 911, a toner consumption amount calculation unit 913, a toner consumption amount information acquisition unit 914, a toner replacement time prediction unit 915, an inventory replenishment consumable selection unit 917, and a delivery instruction unit 918. These are the toner replacement completion time determination unit 611, the toner consumption amount calculation unit 613, the toner consumption amount information acquisition unit 614, the toner replacement timing prediction unit 615, the inventory replenishment consumable selection unit 315, respectively, in FIGS. It performs the same function as the delivery instruction unit 316.

  The CPU 91 further includes a replaced toner information acquisition unit 912 as part of its function. When the toner cartridge has been replaced and the toner replacement time determination unit 911 has determined the replacement time, which is the date when the toner cartridge has actually been replaced, Information indicating the detected type of the replaced toner cartridge is acquired as the replaced toner information together with the information of the determined replacement timing. The acquired replaced toner information may be temporarily stored in the EEPROM 963 or the like.

  The storage unit 96 includes a ROM 961, a RAM 962, an EEPROM 963, and a page dot number storage unit 964, which are the same as the ROM 661, RAM 662, EEPROM 663, and page dot number storage unit 664 shown in FIG. The toner consumption amount information storage unit 965 fulfills the same function as the toner consumption amount information storage unit 322 shown in FIG.

In the present modification, the storage unit 96 of the control unit 90 further includes an inventory information storage unit 966, and the inventory information storage unit 966 performs the same function as the inventory information storage unit 321 in FIG.
FIG. 37 is a flowchart showing the contents of inventory management processing in the image processing apparatus 900 of the present modification.

First, it is monitored whether or not toner cartridge replacement is detected (step S201). The toner cartridge replacement detection here includes detection of a toner cartridge replacement estimation operation.
When the replacement of the toner cartridge is detected, it is determined whether or not there is a toner cartridge whose replacement time is being confirmed (unconfirmed) in the own device including the toner cartridge in which the replacement is detected (YES in step S201). Step S202).

If there is a toner cartridge for which the replacement time has been determined, the determination is repeated until the replacement time is determined (step S202: YES, step S202).
When there is no toner cartridge for which the replacement time is being determined, the inventory information storage unit 966 updates the inventory information with reference to the replaced toner information acquired by the replaced toner information acquisition unit 912 (step S202: NO, Step S203).

In the present modification, for example, a plurality of image processing apparatuses 900 are installed in the office A, and each image processing apparatus 900 is assigned a stock space dedicated to a toner cartridge used for its own machine. The upper limit number of stocks in the stock space allocated to the own device is set, and the stock information of the own device is stored.
Then, the updated latest inventory information is referred to, and it is determined whether or not the current inventory number P is smaller than the inventory upper limit number N preset for the own device (step S204).

When the current stock quantity P is not smaller than the stock upper limit number N, that is, when the stock upper limit number N is equal to or greater than the stock upper limit number N, stock replenishment is not performed here, and the process returns to step S201 to determine whether or not toner cartridge replacement is detected. Is monitored (step S204: NO, step S201).
When the current stock quantity P is smaller than the stock upper limit number N, the current stock quantity P is subtracted from the stock upper limit number N to calculate the number n of toner cartridges (n is a positive integer) to be restocked (n is a positive integer). Step S204: YES, step S205).

  Then, the inventory replenishment consumable selection unit 917 (see FIG. 36) refers to the inventory information, selects n toner cartridges that are not in stock from the earliest predicted replacement time, and selects the selected toner cartridge by the user ( In this case, the consumables delivery server 400 is instructed from the delivery instruction unit 918 (see FIG. 36) to deliver to the office A inventory manager) (steps S206 and S207).

  Thereafter, it is monitored whether or not delivered consumable information indicating that the toner cartridge instructed for delivery has been delivered to the user (in this case, the inventory manager of office A) is received from the consumable delivery server 400 ( In step S208), when the delivered consumable information is received, the stock information storage unit 966 (see FIG. 36) refers to the received delivered consumable information, adds the delivered toner cartridge to the stock, Inventory information is updated (step S208: YES, step S209), and the process returns to step S201 to monitor whether the toner cartridge has been replaced.

Here, the delivered consumable information is transmitted from the consumable delivery server 400 to the image processing apparatus 900 in which the delivered toner cartridge is used (subject to inventory replenishment).
Even with the configuration of the present modification described above, similar to each embodiment and each modification, the toner to be replaced when replacement is necessary even if the number of toner cartridges to be stocked is small. It is possible to avoid the occurrence of a situation in which the user is troubled because the cartridge is not in stock, which contributes to user convenience.

  In the configuration of this modification, since it is necessary to set a numerical value of at least one or more as the stock upper limit number for each image processing apparatus 900 used in each office or the like, the office or the like ( As a whole, it corresponds to an apparatus group in each embodiment), and at least an inventory space capable of accommodating a number of toner cartridges equal to the number of installed image processing apparatuses 900 in the office or the like is required.

The configuration of the present modification can also be applied to the case where there is one image processing apparatus 900 installed in an office or the like.
(15) For example, in an office or the like, there may be an increase or decrease in the number of image processing apparatuses arranged in the office due to factors such as an increase or decrease in personnel.
In such a case, particularly when the number of installed image processing apparatuses is increased, there is a risk that inadequate inventory management may occur unless the setting of the upper limit number of inventory is changed.

Also, when the number of installed image processing apparatuses decreases, some users want to reduce the number of toner cartridges in stock as much as possible to reduce the inventory space, and use that amount as space for placing other materials and equipment. In some cases.
Furthermore, depending on the user, even if the number of installed image processing devices increases, the inventory space is very limited and the maximum number of stocks cannot be increased any more. You may not want to change.

In addition, there is no change in the number of units when changing from a monochrome printer to a color printer, but the setting of the maximum number of inventory has been changed even when the type and total number of toner cartridges used in the device group have changed. Sometimes it is better.
Therefore, in this modified example, when there is a change in registration information for the image processing apparatus 100 managed by the inventory management apparatus 300, such as a change in the number of installed image processing apparatuses or model types in the apparatus group, inventory management is performed. When the apparatus 300 sends an inquiry notification to the user (administrator) whether to change the setting of the upper limit number of inventory, and the user's response is to change the setting of the upper limit number of inventory, the content of the response A configuration for changing the setting of the upper limit number of inventory and updating the inventory information will be described.

FIG. 38 is a flowchart showing the contents of the stock upper limit number setting change process executed in the stock management apparatus 300 in the present modification.
First, the inventory management apparatus 300 monitors whether the registration information of the image processing apparatus 100 has changed in each apparatus group managed by the own apparatus (step S211).
When there is a change in the registration information, an inquiry notification is sent to the person in charge of management of the device group (user) as to whether or not to change the currently set maximum number of stocks for the changed device group ( Step S211: YES, step S212).

Here, the change in the registration information includes a change in function information such as color, monochrome, and FAX accompanying the addition and deletion of the image processing apparatus 100 and the change in model.
The inquiry notification may be performed by e-mail, or a message may be displayed on the operation panel 16 of the image processing apparatus 100.
Next, it is determined whether a response from the user to the inquiry has been received (step S213).

If a response from the user is not received, the determination is continued (step S213: NO, step S213).
When a response from the user is accepted, it is determined whether or not the response is a content for instructing to change the setting of the stock upper limit number (step S213: YES, step S214).
When the content is an instruction to change the setting of the stock upper limit number, the stock information storage unit 321 of the stock management apparatus 300 updates the stock information by changing the stock upper limit number in the stock information of the corresponding device group according to the instruction content. Thereafter, the process returns to step S211 to monitor whether or not the registration information of the image processing apparatus 100 has changed (step S214: YES, step S215, step S211).

If the content is not an instruction to change the setting of the upper limit number of inventory, the process returns to step S211 to monitor whether or not the registration information of the image processing apparatus 100 has been changed again (step S214: NO, step S211).
The registration information is changed by a service person of the image processing apparatus manufacturer or an administrator such as an office from the operation panel 16 of the image processing apparatus 100 or from the client apparatus (PC) 200. Changes may be made by accessing the management apparatus 300.

  The image processing apparatus is usually shipped in a state where solid identification information such as a model number and a product number is stored in advance in a storage medium such as an EEPROM or a hard disk provided in the apparatus. Therefore, when a new image processing apparatus is installed in an office or the like and connected to the network, the inventory management apparatus 300 reads the solid identification information, and based on the read solid identification information, the newly installed image processing apparatus You may automate using the program which registers information.

  Further, information indicating that the device is an image processing apparatus, function information of the image processing apparatus, and individual information such as an IP address is stored in advance in a storage medium such as a hard disk of the image processing apparatus 100 newly installed. When the new image processing apparatus is installed and connected to the network, the inventory management apparatus 300 reads the individual information and registers the information of the newly installed image processing apparatus based on the read individual information. It may be automated by using a program such as

  Further, the inventory management apparatus 300 acquires information related to the connection status of each image processing apparatus to be managed to the network periodically (for example, every few minutes, every hour, once a day, etc.) (For example, about several weeks to several months) When there is an image processing apparatus 100 in which connection to the network is not detected, it is assumed that the image processing apparatus has been removed, and a program that deletes registration is used. It may be automated.

As described above, when registration information such as increase / decrease in the number of image processing devices or model changes is made, the user is inquired about whether or not to change the stock upper limit number setting, and according to the setting input from the user Appropriate inventory management can be performed by changing the setting of the maximum number of inventory.
(16) In the first modification, the second priority condition is that the toner is K (black), but the toner color considered as the second priority condition is not limited to the K color, and C, M, Either toner color of Y or K may be set as the second priority condition.

For example, in an office where C toner consumption is high, C color may be set as the second priority condition.
(17) In the third modification, the configuration considering the FAX function as the second priority condition has been described, but the function of the image processing apparatus considered as the second priority condition is not limited thereto.

  For example, an image processing apparatus that can use recording paper of various types (plain paper, cardboard, OHP sheet, etc.) and various sizes (A4, B5, A3, postcard size, etc.) is more convenient for the user. It is not difficult to imagine that the usage frequency and importance are high. Accordingly, a toner cartridge used in the image processing apparatus 100 having a large number of supported recording paper types and paper sizes may be preferentially selected.

(18) In each of the above embodiments and modifications, the timing for selecting the toner cartridge for inventory replenishment is the time when the toner cartridge is replaced (when the replacement is confirmed), but is not limited thereto. .
For example, the selection may be made at predetermined time intervals such as every day, every other day, several minutes, or several hours. In this case, if the predetermined time interval is too long, the order of the toner cartridge for stock replenishment may be delayed and may not be delivered to the user before it needs to be replaced. It is desirable to set the degree. It should be noted that the timing of the selection does not necessarily have to be every constant time interval as long as the time interval does not become too long.

Of course, when there is no toner cartridge to be replenished, such as when there is no available space in the stocking area, the stock replenishing toner cartridge is not selected.
(19) In each of the above-described embodiments and modifications, the toner cartridge has been described as an example of the consumable item to be stocked, but the present invention is not limited to this.
In addition to the toner cartridge, consumables such as a photoreceptor unit, a transfer belt unit, and a fixing unit may be consumables for inventory management. In this case, the timing for selecting the consumable item for inventory replenishment for each consumable item may be the time when the consumable item is replaced (when the replacement of the consumable item is confirmed), as in the above embodiments, For each consumable, for example, it may be set when a predetermined consumption level is reached.

(20) In the above embodiments and modifications, the configuration in which the toner empty sensor 724 detects the presence or absence of toner in the sub hopper 72 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this.
For example, a translucent window is provided on each of the opposing side walls of the main body 725 of the sub hopper 72, and a photosensor including a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit is disposed outside the main body 725 so as to face the translucent window, thereby emitting light. A method of detecting that the toner in the sub hopper 72 is exhausted by the light emitted from the portion being not blocked by the toner inside the sub hopper 72 and being received by the light receiving portion through the light transmission window, By detecting the position of the magnet attached to the detection plate placed on the toner liquid level with a reed switch, the height of the toner liquid level in the sub hopper 72 is detected, and the toner liquid level is a predetermined height. The remaining amount of toner may be detected using a method of detecting that the toner in the sub hopper 72 has run out when the value is lower than.

  (21) In Modification 9 above, when a toner cartridge to be restocked is selected by the inventory management apparatus 300, the selected toner cartridge is displayed on the operation panel 16 of the image processing apparatus 100 and notified to the user. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and as a notification method to the user, for example, a method of printing out from the image processing apparatus 100 and displaying it on a recording sheet, or sending an e-mail to the user (administrator) May be used, or a method of notifying the user by voice from a speaker provided in the image processing apparatus 100 may be used.

(22) In each of the above-described embodiments and modifications, the case where one inventory management apparatus 300 performs inventory management of a plurality of apparatus groups has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and one inventory management apparatus 300 is used. There may be one device group that performs inventory management. Further, as described in the first embodiment, the number of image processing apparatuses belonging to one apparatus group is not limited to a plurality, and may be one.
(23) In each of the above-described embodiments and modifications, when the replacement of the toner cartridge is detected and the replacement time is determined, the information about the replaced toner cartridge is referred to the updated inventory information. The configuration for selecting the toner cartridge to be restocked has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this.

For example, when the replacement of the toner cartridge is detected and the replacement completion time is determined, the toner cartridge to be replenished in stock may be selected prior to the update of the inventory information.
In the inventory information in which the information about the replaced toner cartridge is not updated, the toner cartridge is “in stock”, so it is not listed as a candidate for the toner cartridge to be replenished. Since the toner cartridge that has just been replaced still contains sufficient toner, and the replacement time cannot be predicted yet, it is considered that there is no problem even if it is excluded from the selection candidate of the toner cartridge to be replenished in stock.

  However, at this time, it is not preferable to select a toner cartridge to be replenished in stock before the replacement timing of the toner cartridge is determined. There is a possibility that the toner cartridge is not actually replaced in the state before the replacement time is fixed (indeterminate). In that case, if the toner cartridge to be replenished is selected, the number exceeds the upper limit of inventory. This is because there is a risk of overflowing from the inventory storage area.

(24) The image processing apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to a tandem-type color digital multifunction peripheral, and may be a multifunction peripheral that forms a monochrome image, and is not limited to a multifunction peripheral. The present invention can also be applied to printers, copiers, fax machines, and the like that can form an image.
Further, the contents of the above embodiments and the above modifications may be combined.

In addition, the numerical value shown in said each embodiment, each modification, and each drawing is shown as an example, and, of course, it is not limited to these numerical values.
Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the inventory management apparatus, the inventory management system, and the image processing apparatus, and may be a method for managing inventory in these. Furthermore, the method may be a program executed by a computer. The program according to the present invention includes, for example, a magnetic disk such as a magnetic tape and a flexible disk, DVD, CD-ROM, CD-R, BD-ROM, BD-R, BD-RE, HD DVD-R, and HD DVD-. It can be recorded on various computer-readable recording media such as optical recording media such as ROM, HD DVD-RW, HD DVD-RAM, MO, and PD, and flash memory recording media such as Smart Media (registered trademark). In some cases, production, transfer, etc. may be made in the form of the recording medium, and in the form of a program, it is transmitted and supplied via various wired and wireless networks including the Internet, broadcasting, telecommunication lines, satellite communications, etc. There is also a case.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is useful as a technique for managing inventory so that consumables such as toner cartridges used in an image processing apparatus are stocked at a necessary minimum and appropriately.

5 Developing Device 11 Image Reading Unit 12 Image Forming Unit 13 Paper Feeding Unit 14 Fixing Unit 16 Operation Panel 20 Image Forming Unit 51 Stirring Screw 52 Mylar 53 Toner Concentration Sensor 60 Control Unit 71 Toner Cartridge 711 Spiral Spring 712 Gear Mechanisms 713 and 721 Toner Feed hole 72 Sub hopper 722 Scoop paddle 723 Spiral roller 724 Toner empty sensor 725 Main body 73 Cartridge motor 74 Sub hopper motor

Claims (27)

An inventory management apparatus that is connected to a group of apparatuses including one or a plurality of image processing apparatuses via a network and performs inventory management of consumables used in the image processing apparatus in units of the apparatus group,
Replaced consumables that acquire replacement consumable information including information indicating that the consumables of the image processing apparatus have been replaced, the type of consumables replaced, and identification information of the image processing apparatus from which the consumables have been replaced Information acquisition means;
In each of the image processing apparatuses, consumption information acquisition means for acquiring consumption information indicating the consumption level of each consumable in use;
Based on the consumption information, for each consumable, a replacement time prediction means for predicting a replacement time that requires replacement due to wear,
For each of the consumables, information indicating the stock quantity, information on the image processing apparatus to which the consumables are to be used, information on the device group to which the image processing device belongs, and inventory set for the device group Stock information storage means for associating the upper limit quantity with the predicted replacement time by the replacement time prediction means, storing it as stock information in units of the device group, and updating the stock information with reference to the replaced consumable information When,
Inventory replenishment consumables selection means for selecting consumables to be restocked,
When the replaced consumable information information is acquired by the replaced consumable information information acquisition means, the inventory replenishment consumable selection means selects the device group to which the image processing apparatus that is the supply source of the replaced consumable information belongs. The consumables to be restocked are selected from the earliest predicted replacement time out of the consumables used in the device group that are not in stock within a range not exceeding the stock upper limit quantity. A stock management apparatus that executes a first consumable selection mode. The inventory information includes information on a predetermined priority condition,
The inventory replenishment consumables selection means is the stock information on the device group to which the image processing apparatus that is the supply source of the replaced consumable information belongs, of consumables used in the device group that are not in stock. In the case where a plurality of consumables have predicted replacement times within a predetermined period from the earliest predicted replacement time, instead of executing the first consumables selection mode, the stock upper limit quantity is not exceeded. The inventory management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a consumable item is selected from the plurality of consumable items according to the predetermined priority condition. Consumables delivery instruction means for instructing a delivery server connected via a network to deliver the consumables selected by the inventory replenishment consumables selection means,
The replaced consumable information acquisition means acquires, from the delivery server, delivered consumable information indicating that the instructed consumable has been delivered,
The inventory management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the inventory information storage unit updates the inventory information with reference to the delivered consumables information. Message information for notifying a user of a consumable selected by the inventory replenishment consumable selection means as a consumable to be ordered for inventory replenishment is displayed on a display means provided in the image processing apparatus. The inventory management apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3. Acquisition of a user's selection as to which consumable item selection mode to execute, the second consumable item selection mode for selecting the same type of consumable item as the replaced consumable item or the first consumable item selection mode, is acquired. Further comprising mode selection acquisition means for
When the acquired user selection is the second consumable item selection mode, the inventory replenishment consumable item selection unit replaces the execution of the first consumable item selection mode with the second consumable item. The inventory management device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a selection mode is executed. The predetermined priority condition is a degree of consumption of the consumable item,
The inventory management apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the inventory replenishment consumable selection unit preferentially selects, from among the plurality of consumables, a higher consumable consumption level. The predetermined priority condition relates to a color in which the consumable is used in the image processing apparatus,
The inventory replenishment consumable selection means selects, when there is a consumable used for black among the plurality of consumables, the consumable used preferentially over consumables used for other colors. The inventory management apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the inventory management apparatus is an inventory management apparatus. The predetermined priority condition is the stability of the consumption rate of the consumables,
The inventory management apparatus according to any one of claims 2, 6, and 7, wherein the inventory replenishment consumables selection unit preferentially selects the one with lower stability of the consumption speed. The predetermined priority condition relates to the function of the image processing apparatus,
The inventory replenishment consumable selecting means preferentially selects the consumable when there is a consumable used in an image processing apparatus having a facsimile function among the plurality of consumables. Item 2. The inventory management device according to any one of Items 6 and 6. The predetermined priority condition is a length of an unusable period from when the consumable is completely consumed and the image processing apparatus becomes unusable until the consumable is replaced and becomes usable again.
The inventory replenishment consumables selection means preferentially selects consumables used in an image processing apparatus having a shorter unusable period. The inventory management device according to the item. The predetermined priority condition is compatibility of the consumables with other image processing devices in a device group to which the image processing device to which the consumables are supposed to be used belongs,
The inventory replenishment consumables selection means preferentially selects consumables that are not compatible over the consumables that are compatible with each other. 11. The inventory management device described. For each of the device groups, when there is a change in registration information including addition and deletion of registered image processing devices and model changes, the inventory of the device group for which the change has been made A notification means for notifying the user of a message prompting for an input regarding the setting change of the upper limit quantity;
Stock upper limit quantity setting acquisition means for acquiring a setting input from the user about the stock upper limit quantity,
The inventory information storage means changes the setting of the inventory upper limit quantity and updates the inventory information according to the content of the input from the user acquired by the inventory upper limit quantity setting acquisition means. The inventory management device according to any one of 11 to 11. The image processing apparatus further includes a replacement time determination means for determining a time when a consumable used in the own machine is replaced,
The inventory replenishment consumables selection unit is configured such that when the replaced consumable information information is acquired by the replaced consumables information acquisition unit, the image processing apparatus to which the replaced consumables information is supplied belongs to the device group. In the case where there is a consumable that has not been determined by the replacement time determining means, the consumable to be restocked is selected after the time when the consumable is replaced is determined. The inventory management apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12. The inventory management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the stock upper limit quantity is a total number of consumables. The inventory management apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the stock upper limit quantity is obtained from a volume of consumables in a packaged state. The image processing apparatus forms a toner image on a recording sheet, and acquires the consumption information by calculation from a count value counted by a dot counter that cumulatively adds a toner usage amount in forming the toner image as a dot count number. The inventory management apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 15, further comprising a consumption information calculation unit. An inventory management system in which an apparatus group including one or a plurality of image processing apparatuses and an inventory management apparatus that performs inventory management of consumables used in the image processing apparatus in units of the apparatus group are connected via a network. There,
The image processing apparatus includes:
Consumables replacement detection means for detecting that the consumables used in its own machine have been replaced;
When it is detected that a consumable item has been replaced, the exchanged item stores information indicating that the consumable item has been replaced, the type of consumable item replaced, and the replacement consumable item information including its own identification information. Consumable information storage means;
Consumption information detection means for detecting consumption information indicating the degree of consumption of each consumable in use, and
The inventory management device comprises:
Replaced consumable information acquisition means for acquiring the replaced consumable information from the image processing apparatus;
Consumption information acquisition means for acquiring the consumption information from the image processing apparatus;
Based on the consumption information, for each consumable, a replacement time prediction means for predicting a replacement time that requires replacement due to wear,
For each of the consumables, information indicating the stock quantity, information on the image processing apparatus to which the consumables are to be used, information on the device group to which the image processing device belongs, and inventory set for the device group Stock information storage means for associating the upper limit quantity with the predicted replacement time by the replacement time prediction means, storing it as stock information in units of the device group, and updating the stock information with reference to the replaced consumable information When,
When the replaced consumable information is acquired, referring to the inventory information about the device group to which the image processing apparatus that is the supply source of the replaced consumable information belongs, in a range not exceeding the stock upper limit quantity, Inventory replenishment consumables selection means for executing a first consumable selection mode for selecting consumables to be restocked from the earliest predicted replacement time out of consumables used in the device group, An inventory management system characterized by comprising: The inventory information includes information on a predetermined priority condition,
The inventory replenishment consumables selection means is the stock information on the device group to which the image processing apparatus that is the supply source of the replaced consumable information belongs, of consumables used in the device group that are not in stock. In the case where a plurality of consumables have predicted replacement times within a predetermined period from the earliest predicted replacement time, instead of executing the first consumables selection mode, the stock upper limit quantity is not exceeded. 18. The inventory management system according to claim 17, wherein a consumable item is selected from the plurality of consumable items according to the predetermined priority condition. The predetermined priority condition is a degree of consumption of the consumable item,
The inventory management system according to claim 18, wherein the inventory replenishment consumable selection unit preferentially selects, from among the plurality of consumables, a higher consumable consumption level. The predetermined priority condition relates to a color in which the consumable is used in the image processing apparatus,
The inventory replenishment consumable selection means selects, when there is a consumable used for black among the plurality of consumables, the consumable used preferentially over consumables used for other colors. The inventory management system according to claim 18 or 19, characterized in that The predetermined priority condition is the stability of the consumption rate of the consumables,
The inventory management system according to any one of claims 18 to 20, wherein the inventory replenishment consumables selection unit preferentially selects the one having a lower stability of the consumption rate. The predetermined priority condition relates to the function of the image processing apparatus,
The inventory replenishment consumable selecting means preferentially selects the consumable when there is a consumable used in an image processing apparatus having a facsimile function among the plurality of consumables. Item 22. The inventory management system according to any one of Items 18 to 21. The predetermined priority condition is a length of an unusable period from when the consumable is completely consumed and the image processing apparatus becomes unusable until the consumable is replaced and becomes usable again.
23. The inventory replenishment consumable selection unit preferentially selects a consumable used in an image processing apparatus having a shorter unusable period. The inventory management system described. The predetermined priority condition is compatibility of the consumables with other image processing devices in a device group to which the image processing device to which the consumables are supposed to be used belongs,
24. The inventory replenishment consumable selection unit preferentially selects a consumable that does not have compatibility over the compatible consumable. 24. Inventory management system. An image processing apparatus in which a plurality of consumables are attached and used interchangeably,
Consumables replacement detection means for detecting that the consumables used in its own machine have been replaced;
When it is detected that the consumable has been replaced, a replacement consumable information acquisition unit that acquires replaced consumable information including the type of the consumable replaced,
Consumption information detecting means for detecting consumption information indicating the degree of consumption of each consumable in use;
Based on the consumption information, for each consumable, a replacement time prediction means for predicting a replacement time that requires replacement due to wear,
For each of the consumables, information indicating the stock quantity, the stock upper limit quantity set for the own machine, and the predicted replacement time by the replacement time predicting means are associated with each consumable and stored as stock information, Stock information storage means for updating the inventory information with reference to the replaced consumable information,
Inventory replenishment consumables selection means for selecting consumables to be restocked,
The inventory replenishment consumable selection means refers to the inventory information when the replaced consumable information information is acquired by the replaced consumable information acquisition means, and there is no stock within a range not exceeding the stock upper limit quantity. An image processing apparatus that executes a first consumable selection mode for selecting consumables to be replenished in stock from the one with the predicted replacement time earlier. An inventory management method in an inventory management apparatus that is connected to a group of apparatuses including one or a plurality of image processing apparatuses via a network and performs inventory management of consumables used in the image processing apparatus in units of the apparatus group,
In each of the image processing apparatuses, a consumption information acquisition step for acquiring consumption information that indicates the degree of consumption of each consumable being used;
Based on the consumption information, for each consumable item, a replacement time prediction step for predicting a replacement time that requires replacement due to wear,
For each of the consumables, information indicating the stock quantity, information on the image processing apparatus to which the consumables are to be used, information on the device group to which the image processing device belongs, and inventory set for the device group An inventory information storage step for associating an upper limit quantity with the predicted replacement time and storing as inventory information in units of the device group;
Replaced consumption to obtain replaced consumable information including information indicating that the consumable of the image processing apparatus has been replaced, the type of replaced consumable, and identification information of the image processing apparatus from which the consumable has been replaced Product information acquisition step;
When the replaced consumable information is acquired, an inventory information update step of updating the inventory information with reference to the replaced consumable information,
When the replaced consumable information is acquired, referring to the inventory information about the device group to which the image processing apparatus that is the supply source of the replaced consumable information belongs, in a range not exceeding the stock upper limit quantity, A first consumable item selection mode execution step for selecting a consumable item to be restocked from the earliest predicted replacement time out of consumable items that are not in stock in the device group. Inventory management method. Inventory management for managing inventory in an inventory management apparatus connected to an apparatus group including one or a plurality of image processing apparatuses via a network and performing inventory management of consumables used in the image processing apparatus in units of the apparatus group. A program,
In each of the image processing devices, consumption information acquisition processing for acquiring consumption information indicating the consumption level of each consumable in use, and
Based on the consumption information, for each consumable, a replacement time prediction process for predicting a replacement time that requires replacement due to wear,
For each of the consumables, information indicating the stock quantity, information on the image processing apparatus to which the consumables are to be used, information on the device group to which the image processing device belongs, and inventory set for the device group An inventory information storage process for associating an upper limit quantity with the predicted replacement time and storing it as inventory information in units of the device group;
Replaced consumables that acquire replacement consumable information including information indicating that the consumables of the image processing apparatus have been replaced, the type of consumables replaced, and identification information of the image processing apparatus from which the consumables have been replaced Information acquisition processing;
When the replaced consumable information is acquired, an inventory information update process for updating the inventory information with reference to the replaced consumable information,
When the replaced consumable information is acquired, referring to the inventory information about the device group to which the image processing apparatus that is the supply source of the replaced consumable information belongs, in a range not exceeding the inventory upper limit quantity, First consumable item selection mode execution processing for selecting a consumable item to be replenished from the earliest predicted replacement time among consumable items used in the device group that are not in stock, and a computer of the inventory management device. An inventory management program characterized by being executed.

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