JP7070158B2 - Image forming device and print control program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a print control program, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus and a print control program having a function of limiting printing.

An image forming apparatus equipped with a function of limiting the number of printed sheets is known in order to control the use of the image forming apparatus. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for saving the number of prints by setting prints using a print layout function, a double-sided print function, and a blank page saving function when the remaining number of printable sheets is small. ing.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-44300

However, in an image forming apparatus equipped with a function for limiting the number of printed sheets as described above, if the cumulative number of printed sheets exceeds the upper limit, the print job may not be executed at all, which may hinder the user's work.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and even when the cumulative number of printed sheets exceeds the upper limit, the user can work by avoiding the situation where the print job cannot be executed while limiting the printing. The purpose is to be able to prevent situations that cause problems.

The image forming apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention includes a printing unit that prints an image on a recording paper based on a printing job, an operation unit that accepts settings input by a user, and a control unit. , When the operation unit accepts the setting to limit the usage by the number of prints instead of the print fee, and the print unit is made to execute printing based on the print job, the cumulative number of prints is predetermined. When the upper limit of is exceeded, printing by the printing unit is restricted, and the setting is accepted via the operation unit to limit the usage by the printing fee instead of the number of printed sheets, and the printing unit is set based on the print job. When printing is executed and the cumulative total of printing charges exceeds a predetermined upper limit of printing charges, printing by the printing unit is restricted , and the control unit limits the usage through the operation unit by the number of prints instead of the printing charges. Even if the settings to be made are accepted and the cumulative number of prints exceeds the predetermined upper limit of the number of prints when printing is executed by the printing unit based on the print job, the cumulative print charges will be accumulated. If the upper limit of the printing fee set in advance is not exceeded, the printing unit is made to execute printing based on the printing job .
The image forming apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention includes a printing unit that prints an image on a recording paper based on a printing job, an operation unit that accepts a setting input by a user, and a control unit, and controls the image forming apparatus. The unit accepts a setting to limit the usage by the number of prints instead of the print fee via the operation unit, and when the print unit is made to execute printing based on the print job, the cumulative number of prints is predetermined. When the upper limit of the number of prints is exceeded, printing by the printing unit is restricted, and the setting is accepted via the operation unit to limit the usage not by the number of prints but by the printing fee, and printing is performed based on the print job. When the total printing charge exceeds the predetermined upper limit of the printing charge when the printing is executed by the unit, printing by the printing unit is restricted, and the control unit limits the cumulative printing charge to the preset upper limit of the printing charge. If the above is exceeded, the print setting indicated by the print job is changed to a setting that does not exceed the preset upper limit of the print charge, and the printing unit is made to execute printing based on the print job. The print settings include color settings, paper type, and toner consumption, and the control unit controls color printing to the print settings indicated by the print job when the cumulative total of print charges exceeds a predetermined upper limit of the print charges. If is included, the print setting of the paper type among the print settings indicated by the print job is changed, and the cumulative print charge exceeds the predetermined upper limit of the print charge, and the print setting indicated by the print job is included. If monochrome printing is included in, by changing the setting contents of the toner consumption among the print settings indicated by the print job, the print settings indicated by the print job can be set to the upper limit of the print charge in which the cumulative total of the print charges is predetermined. Change to the setting that does not exceed the value.

A print control program according to another aspect of the present invention controls an image forming apparatus including a printing unit that forms an image on a recording paper based on a printing job, and an operation unit that accepts settings input by a user. This is a computer program for printing, and the computer accepts a setting to limit the usage by the number of prints instead of the printing fee via the operation unit, and the printing unit is made to execute printing based on the print job. When the cumulative number of printed sheets exceeds the predetermined upper limit of the number of printed sheets, the printing by the printing unit is restricted, and the setting is accepted via the operation unit to limit the usage by the printing fee instead of the number of printed sheets. If the printing unit is made to print based on the print job and the cumulative printing charge exceeds the predetermined upper limit of the printing charge, printing by the printing unit is restricted and the usage restriction is printed via the operation unit. Even if the setting is accepted based on the number of prints instead of the charge, and the cumulative number of prints exceeds the predetermined upper limit of the number of prints when the printing unit is made to print based on the print job. If the cumulative total of printing charges does not exceed the predetermined upper limit of printing charges, the printing unit is made to function to execute printing based on the printing job .

According to the present invention, even when the cumulative number of printed sheets exceeds the upper limit, it is possible to avoid a situation in which a print job cannot be executed while limiting printing, so that printing desired by the user can be continued. Become. Therefore, it becomes possible to prevent a situation in which the work of the user is hindered.

It is a perspective view which shows the appearance of the image forming apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the image forming apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of charge information in a table format. It is a flowchart which shows the 1st print control process. It is a flowchart which shows the 2nd print control processing. It is a figure which shows an example of the history information of a print job in a table format. It is a figure which shows an example of the 1st error screen. It is a figure which shows an example of the history information of a print job in a table format. It is a figure which shows an example of the 2nd error screen. It is a flowchart which shows the 3rd print control process.

(First Embodiment)
Hereinafter, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The image forming apparatus 1 is a multifunction device having a plurality of functions such as a facsimile function, a copy function, a printer function, and a scanner function.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the image forming apparatus 1. With reference to FIG. 1, the housing 7 of the image forming apparatus 1 houses a plurality of devices for realizing various functions of the image forming apparatus 1. For example, the housing 7 accommodates an image reading unit 5, an image forming unit 12 (not shown in FIG. 1), a fixing unit 13 (not shown in FIG. 1), a paper feeding unit 30, and the like. There is.

The image reading unit 5 includes an ADF (including a document conveying unit 6 for conveying a document and a scanner for optically reading the document conveyed by the document conveying unit 6 or a document placed on a contact glass (not shown)). Auto Document Feeder). The image reading unit 5 irradiates the document with a light irradiation unit and receives the reflected light with a CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) sensor to read an image from the document and acquire image data.

The image forming unit 12 includes a photoconductor drum, a charging device, an exposure device, a developing device, and a transfer device. The image forming unit 12 is a paper feeding unit 30 based on the image data acquired by the image reading unit 5 or the image data sent from a personal computer connected via a network line, another facsimile machine, or the like. A toner image is formed on the recording paper supplied from.

The fixing unit 13 heats the recording paper on which the toner image is formed on the surface by the image forming process of the image forming unit 12, and performs the fixing process of fixing the toner image on the recording paper by thermocompression bonding. After undergoing the fixing process by the fixing unit 13, the recording paper on which the image is printed is discharged to the paper ejection tray 4.

The paper feeding unit 30 pulls out the recording paper housed in the paper cassette or the recording paper placed on the manual feed tray one by one by a pickup roller (not shown) and sends it out to the image forming unit 12.

The image forming apparatus 1 includes an operating unit 47 in the vicinity of the image reading unit 5 and on the front side of the image forming apparatus 1. The operation unit 47 receives instructions input by the user regarding various functions that can be executed by the image forming apparatus 1. For example, the user of the image forming apparatus 1 places a document to be printed on the document transport unit 6, sets print settings by input via the operation unit 47, and instructs the start of printing by the copy function. You can print. The user of the image forming apparatus 1 can also set whether to limit the use of the image forming apparatus by the number of prints or the printing fee by inputting through the operation unit 47.

The operation unit 47 includes a touch panel type display unit 473. The display unit 473 displays various screens for setting various functions mounted on the image forming apparatus 1.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the image forming apparatus 1. With reference to FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a control unit 10. The control unit 10 includes a processor, a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and the like. The processor is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an MPU (Micro Processing Unit), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), or the like.

The control unit 10 includes a document transport unit 6, an image reading unit 5, an image forming unit 12, a fixing unit 13, a paper feeding unit 30, an operation unit 47, an image processing unit 31, an image memory 32, an HDD 92, a facsimile communication unit 71, and the like. It is electrically connected to the network interface unit 91 and the like. The image forming unit 12, the fixing unit 13, the feeding unit 30, the image processing unit 31, and the image memory 32 function as a printing unit 11 that executes printing based on a print job for printing an image on a recording paper.

The control unit 10 controls the entire image forming apparatus 1. More specifically, the control unit 10 operates various units of the image forming apparatus 1 by executing various computer programs, and an information processing device such as a personal computer 20 connected through a LAN (Local Area Network) or a network. Performs processing such as communication with.

The image processing unit 31 executes image processing on the image data acquired by the image reading unit 5 as necessary. The image memory 32 includes an area for temporarily storing image data acquired by the image reading unit 5. For example, the image memory 32 temporarily stores image data to be image-formed by the image forming unit 12.

The HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 92 is a large-capacity storage device that stores various data including image data read by the image reading unit 5. The HDD 92 stores various computer programs for realizing the operation of the image forming apparatus 1. The HDD 92 also stores a computer program (hereinafter referred to as “print control program”) that realizes the first print control process and the second print control process according to the present embodiment. The first print control process and the second print control process, which will be described later, may be configured to be executable by a hardware circuit regardless of the operation based on the computer program.

In the present embodiment, the HDD 92 stores charge information for calculating a charge charged for executing a print job (hereinafter, referred to as “print charge”). The printing fee is calculated according to the printing settings. The print settings include at least the color settings, paper type, toner consumption, and number of prints.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of charge information in a table format. With reference to FIG. 3, the HDD 92 stores the unit price according to the setting content or the consumption amount of the consumable material for each item regarding the print setting as the charge information 100. For example, in the item 101 of the "color setting", the unit price corresponding to the setting content of "monochrome" or "color" is stored. In item 102 of the "paper type", the unit price according to the setting content of "plain paper" or "replacement paper" is stored. In the item 103 of the "toner consumption amount", the unit price according to the consumption amount of "20% or more" or "less than 20%" is stored, respectively. The unit price in the above-mentioned charge information is an amount arbitrarily set by the service provider or the like of the image forming apparatus 1.

The printing fee is calculated by multiplying the total unit price according to each of the color setting contents, the paper type setting contents, and the toner consumption by the number of printed sheets. For example, when "full color" is set in the color setting, "plain paper" is set in the paper type, the toner consumption is "less than 20%", and the number of printed sheets is set to "100 (sheets)". (Hereinafter, the print settings are simply described as "full color", "plain paper", "less than 20%", and "100 (sheets)"), and the printing fee is calculated by the following formula (1). , 2000 yen.

(10 (yen) + 5 (yen) + 5 (yen)) x 100 (sheets) = 2000 (yen) ... Formula (1)

The HDD 92 also sets an upper limit of the number of prints (hereinafter referred to as "limit number") and an upper limit of the printing fee (hereinafter referred to as "limit amount") in order to limit the use of the image forming apparatus 1. Can be memorized in advance. The administrator or the like of the image forming apparatus 1 can set the above-mentioned limited number of sheets and the limited amount of money in advance by inputting via the operation unit 47 or the personal computer 20.

The HDD 92 further stores the print settings and the print charges as history information for each print job executed by the image forming apparatus 1. The history information is updated every time the print job is executed. The history information is also deleted and reset automatically by the administrator of the image forming apparatus 1 or the like when a predetermined condition such as the case where the payment of the printing fee is completed is satisfied.

The HDD 92 further stores in advance the print settings to be preferentially changed when the cumulative print charge exceeds the limit amount by executing the print job. This print setting to be changed preferentially is a setting for realizing a reduction in printing charges. The print settings to be preferentially changed are set in advance by the user of the image forming apparatus 1 by input via the operation unit 47 or the personal computer 20.

For example, when "toner consumption" is preset as a print setting to be changed preferentially, the control unit 10 changes the setting content of "toner consumption" in preference to other print settings. That is, the control unit 10 changes the print setting so that the toner consumption changes from "20% or more" to "less than 20%". In this case, printing is executed in the toner amount reduction mode in which the toner consumption is suppressed and the image is formed. If "Toner consumption for monochrome printing" is preset as the print setting to be changed preferentially, or if the print setting indicated by the print job is monochrome printing, the above-mentioned toner consumption setting content is changed. Will be done.

Further, when the "paper type" is set in advance as the print setting to be changed preferentially, the control unit 10 changes the setting content of the "paper type" in preference to other print settings. That is, the control unit 10 changes the print setting so that the paper type is changed from "plain paper" to "replacement paper". If "For color printing, paper type" is preset as the print setting to be changed preferentially, the above-mentioned paper type setting content is changed when the print setting indicated by the print job is color printing. ..

The facsimile communication unit 71 connects to a public line and transmits / receives image data via the public line.

The network interface unit 91 takes an interface with a LAN or a network. The image forming apparatus 1 performs data communication with an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer 20 on a LAN or a network via the network interface unit 91. The user of the image forming apparatus 1 can execute a print job by the printer function by selecting image data to be printed by input via the personal computer 20, setting print settings, and instructing to start printing.

A power supply (not shown) is connected to each part of the image forming apparatus 1, and each part of the image forming apparatus 1 operates by supplying electric power from this power source.

Hereinafter, the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 and the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described with respect to the control structure of the print control program executed by the image forming apparatus 1 in order to execute the first print control process and the second print control process according to the present embodiment. It will be explained together. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the first print control process. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the second print control process.

The program for executing the first print control process is executed by setting that the usage limit of the image forming apparatus 1 is set according to the number of prints by the input via the operation unit 47. The program for executing the second print control process is executed by setting the usage restriction of the image forming apparatus 1 to be performed by the printing fee by the input via the operation unit 47. In the following description, the image forming apparatus 1 is in a state where the power is turned on.

In order to limit the number of sheets of recording paper used and the amount of money used for printing charges, the administrator of the image forming apparatus 1 inputs the limited number of sheets "1000 (sheets)" and the limited amount of money "1000 (sheets)" by inputting through the operation unit 47. 13600 (yen) ”is set in advance. The amount of "13600 (yen)" is the full color / monochrome ratio for the limited number of sheets "1000 (sheets)" in the standard setting ("full color" or "monochrome", "plain paper", "less than 20%"). Is 1: 4 (that is, "200 (sheets)": "800 (sheets)"), which corresponds to the total amount of printing charges.

(1) When the limit number of sheets is not exceeded The user of the image forming apparatus 1 sets to limit the use of the image forming apparatus according to the number of printed sheets by input via the operation unit 47.

The image forming apparatus 1 has not executed the print job since the history information of the print job was reset by the administrator. Therefore, the HDD 92 does not store the history information of the print job.

With reference to FIG. 4, the user selects the image data to be printed by inputting via the personal computer 20, and sets "full color", "plain paper", and "100 (sheets)" as print settings. Then, when the instruction to start the print job is instructed, the control unit 10 determines that the instruction to start printing has been accepted (YES in step S101), and when printing is executed based on the print job, the cumulative number of printed sheets is limited. (Step S102).

Specifically, the control unit 10 calculates the difference between the limited number of sheets "1000 (sheets)" and the cumulative total of the number of printed sheets up to now "0 (sheets)". Since the calculated difference, that is, the number of remaining printable recording papers is "1000 (sheets)" and the number of prints in the accepted print setting is "100 (sheets)", the control unit 10 controls the number of prints. It is determined that the cumulative total of the number of sheets does not exceed the limit number (NO in step S102), and the printing unit 11 is made to execute printing based on the accepted print job (step S103).

When printing is completed, the control unit 10 indicates to the HDD 92 the print settings of "full color", "plain paper", "less than 20%", and "100 (sheets)" as the history information of the executed print job. The information and the information indicating the printing fee of "2000 (yen)" are stored in association with each other (step S104).

The toner consumption is calculated by the control unit 10 based on the image data to be printed. The method for calculating the toner consumption is not particularly limited as long as it is a general method, but for example, it may be calculated based on the print rate of image data or may be calculated by pixel count. The print charge is calculated by the control unit 10 based on the charge information 100 stored in the HDD 92 and the received print setting (see the above formula (1)).

(2) When the limit number of sheets is exceeded and the limit amount is not exceeded The user of the image forming apparatus 1 sets to limit the use of the image forming apparatus by the number of printed sheets by input via the operation unit 47. do.

The image forming apparatus 1 has completed three print jobs since the history information of the print job was reset by the administrator. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of print job history information in a table format.

With reference to FIG. 6, the HDD 92 stores the first history information 201, the second history information 202, and the third history information 203 as the print job history information 200. The first history information 201 includes information indicating print settings of "full color", "plain paper", "less than 20%", and "100 (sheets)" and information indicating a printing charge of "2000 (yen)". And include. The second history information 202 includes information indicating print settings of "monochrome", "plain paper", "less than 20%", and "400 (sheets)" and information indicating a printing charge of "4800 (yen)". And include. The third history information 203 includes information indicating print settings of "monochrome", "separate paper", "less than 20%", and "500 (sheets)" and information indicating a printing charge of "4500 (yen)". And include.

In the following processing, the control unit 10 has "1000 (sheets)" which is the cumulative total of the number of printed sheets up to the present and "11300 (11300)" which is the cumulative total of the printing charges up to the present based on the history information 200 of the print job. Yen) ”is calculated as appropriate. In FIG. 6, the history information is numbered in ascending order, that is, in chronological order of the date and time when the process was executed.

With reference to FIG. 4, the user places the original to be printed on the original transfer unit 6, and by inputting via the operation unit 47, the print settings are "full color", "plain paper", and "100 (plain paper). When the condition "(sheets)" is set and an instruction to start a print job is instructed, the control unit 10 determines that the instruction to start printing has been accepted (YES in step S101), and when printing is executed based on the print job, the control unit 10 determines that the instruction to start printing has been accepted. It is determined whether or not the cumulative number of printed sheets exceeds the limit number (step S102).

Specifically, the control unit 10 calculates the difference between the limited number of sheets "1000 (sheets)" and the cumulative total of the number of printed sheets up to now "1000 (sheets)". Since the calculated difference, that is, the number of remaining printable recording papers is "0 (sheets)" and the number of prints in the accepted print setting is "100 (sheets)", the control unit 10 controls the number of prints. It is determined that the cumulative total of the print jobs exceeds the limit number (YES in step S102), and the first error screen 300 indicating that the print job is limited is displayed on the display unit 473 (step S105). FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the first error screen 300. With reference to FIG. 7, for example, the first error screen 300 includes a pop-up window 301 containing the message "The limit has been exceeded."

The user of the image forming apparatus 1 who has confirmed the first error screen 300 changes the setting so that the usage of the image forming apparatus 1 is restricted by the printing fee by the input via the operation unit 47.

With reference to FIG. 5, the user places the original to be printed on the original transfer unit 6, and by inputting via the operation unit 47, the print settings are "full color", "plain paper", and "100 (plain paper). When the condition "(sheets)" is set and the print job start is instructed again, the control unit 10 determines that the instruction to start printing has been accepted (YES in step S201), and executes printing based on the print job. , It is determined whether or not the cumulative total of printing charges exceeds the limit amount (step S202).

Specifically, the control unit 10 first calculates the toner consumption based on the image data to be printed. As a result of the calculation, the print settings are "full color", "plain paper", "less than 20%", and "100 (sheets)". The control unit 10 calculates 2000 (yen) as the printing fee for the received print job by the above formula (1).

The control unit 10 further calculates the difference between the limit amount of "13600 (yen)" and the cumulative total of printing charges up to now, "11300 (yen)". Since the calculated difference, that is, the remaining amount that can be used is "2300 (yen)" and the charge for the received print job is "2000 (yen)", the control unit 10 has a cumulative total of print charges. It is determined that the limit amount is not exceeded (NO in step S202), and the printing unit 11 is made to execute printing based on the accepted print job (step S205).

When printing is completed, the control unit 10 supplies "full color", "plain paper", "less than 20%", and "less than 20%" as the history information (in this case, the fourth history information) of the executed print job to the HDD 92. The information indicating the print setting of "100 (sheets)" and the information indicating the print charge of "2000 (yen)" are stored in association with each other (step S206).

(3) When both the limited number of sheets and the limited amount of money are exceeded The user of the image forming apparatus 1 sets to limit the use of the image forming apparatus by the number of printed sheets by input via the operation unit 47.

The image forming apparatus 1 has completed two print jobs since the history information of the print job was reset by the administrator. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of print job history information in a table format. With reference to FIG. 8, the HDD 92 stores the first history information 401 and the second history information 402 as the print job history information 400. The first history information 401 includes information indicating print settings of "monochrome", "plain paper", "less than 20%", and "100 (sheets)" and information indicating a printing charge of "1200 (yen)". And include. The second history information 402 includes information indicating print settings of "monochrome", "separate paper", "less than 20%", and "800 (sheets)" and information indicating a printing charge of "7200 (yen)". And include.

In the following processing, the control unit 10 has "900 (sheets)" which is the cumulative total of the number of printed sheets up to the present and "8400 (8400)" which is the cumulative total of the printing charges up to the present based on the history information 400 of the print job. Yen) ”is calculated as appropriate.

With reference to FIG. 4, the user selects the image data to be printed by inputting via the personal computer 20, and the print settings are "full color", "plain paper", and "250 (sheets)". When the control unit 10 determines that the instruction to start printing has been accepted (YES in step S101) and executes printing based on the print job, the cumulative number of printed sheets is limited. It is determined whether or not the number of sheets is exceeded (step S102).

Specifically, the control unit 10 calculates the difference between the limited number of sheets "1000 (sheets)" and the cumulative total of the number of printed sheets up to now "900 (sheets)". Since the calculated difference, that is, the number of remaining printable recording papers is "100 (sheets)" and the number of prints in the accepted print setting is "250 (sheets)", the control unit 10 controls the number of prints. It is determined that the cumulative total of the print jobs exceeds the limit number (YES in step S102), and the first error screen 300 indicating that the print job is limited is displayed (step S105).

The user of the image forming apparatus 1 who has confirmed the first error screen 300 changes the setting so that the usage of the image forming apparatus 1 is restricted by the printing fee by the input via the operation unit 47.

With reference to FIG. 5, the user selects the image data to be printed by inputting via the personal computer 20, and the print settings are "full color", "plain paper", and "250 (sheets)". When the control unit 10 determines that the instruction to start printing has been accepted (YES in step S201) and executes printing based on the print job, the control unit 10 accumulates printing charges. Determines whether or not exceeds the limit amount (step S202).

Specifically, the control unit 10 first calculates the toner consumption based on the image data to be printed. As a result of the calculation, the print settings are "full color", "plain paper", "20% or more", and "250 (sheets)". The control unit 10 calculates 6250 (yen) as the printing fee for the received print job by the following formula (2).

(10 (yen) + 5 (yen) + 10 (yen)) x 250 (sheets) = 6250 (yen) ... Equation (2)

The control unit 10 further calculates the difference between the limit amount of "13600 (yen)" and the cumulative total of printing charges up to now, "8400 (yen)". Since the calculated difference, that is, the remaining amount that can be used is "5200 (yen)" and the charge for the received print job is "6250 (yen)", the control unit 10 has a cumulative total of print charges. It is determined that the limit amount is exceeded (YES in step S202), and it is determined whether or not the print setting can be changed (step S203).

(3-1) When the print setting can be changed The user of the image forming apparatus 1 presets "toner consumption" as a print setting to be preferentially changed by input via the operation unit 47. The control unit 10 changed the print setting related to "toner consumption" from "20% or more" to "less than 20%" among the print settings indicated by the received print jobs according to the print settings to be changed preferentially. Calculate the printing fee for the case. In this case, the print settings are "full color", "plain paper", "less than 20%", and "250 (sheets)", so that the control unit 10 uses the following formula (3) to change the print settings. 5000 (yen) is calculated as the printing fee for the printing job.

(10 (yen) + 5 (yen) + 5 (yen)) x 250 (sheets) = 5000 (yen) ... Formula (3)

As described above, the remaining amount that can be used is "5200 (yen)", and the charge for the print job after changing the print setting is "5000 (yen)". It is determined that the change is possible (YES in step S203), and according to the print setting to be changed preferentially, the setting content of "toner consumption" is changed in preference to other print settings, and the print setting is changed to ". Change to "full color", "plain paper", "less than 20%", and "250 (sheets)" (step S204).

The control unit 10 causes the print unit 11 to execute printing based on the received print job with the changed print settings (step S205). In this case, printing is executed by the toner amount reduction mode in which the toner consumption is suppressed and the image is formed.

When printing is completed, the control unit 10 displays "full color", "plain paper", "less than 20%", and "less than 20%" as the history information (in this case, the third history information) of the executed print job on the HDD 92. The information indicating the print setting of "250 (sheets)" and the information indicating the print charge of "5000 (yen)" are stored in association with each other (step S206).

(3-2) When the print setting cannot be changed The user of the image forming apparatus 1 presets a "paper type" as a print setting to be preferentially changed by input via the operation unit 47. The control unit 10 calculates the printing charge when the setting content of the "paper type" is changed from "plain paper" to "replacement paper" among the received print settings according to the print setting to be changed preferentially. In this case, the print settings are "full color", "separate paper", "20% or more", and "250 (sheets)". Therefore, the control unit 10 uses the following formula (4) to change the print settings. 5500 (yen) is calculated as the printing fee for the printing job.

(10 (yen) + 2 (yen) + 10 (yen)) x 250 (sheets) = 5500 (yen) ... Formula (4)

As described above, the remaining amount that can be used is "5200 (yen)", and the charge for the print job after changing the print setting is "5500 (yen)". It is determined that the change is not possible (NO in step S203), and the display unit 473 displays a second error screen 500 indicating that the print job is restricted (step S207). FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the second error screen 500. With reference to FIG. 9, for example, the second error screen 500 includes a pop-up window 501 containing the message "The limit has been exceeded."

(Second embodiment)
In the second embodiment of the present invention, the image forming apparatus 1 stores in the HDD 92 a print control program that realizes a third print control process described later in place of the first print control process described above. Except for this, it is the same as the configuration of the first embodiment described above.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a third print control process. Hereinafter, the control structure of the print control program executed by the image forming apparatus 1 in order to execute the third print control processing will be described together with the operation of the image forming apparatus 1. The program for executing the third print control process is executed by setting that the usage limit of the image forming apparatus 1 is set according to the number of prints by the input via the operation unit 47. In the following description, the image forming apparatus 1 is in a state where the power is turned on.

In order to limit the number of sheets of recording paper used and the amount of money used for printing charges, the administrator of the image forming apparatus 1 inputs the limited number of sheets "1000 (sheets)" and the limited amount of money "1000 (sheets)" by inputting through the operation unit 47. 13600 (yen) ”is set in advance.

(1) When the limit number of sheets is not exceeded The user of the image forming apparatus 1 sets to limit the use of the image forming apparatus according to the number of printed sheets by input via the operation unit 47.

The image forming apparatus 1 has not executed printing since the history information of the print job was reset by the administrator. Therefore, the HDD 92 does not store the history information of the print job.

With reference to FIG. 10, the user selects image data to be printed by inputting via the personal computer 20, and sets "full color", "plain paper", and "100 (sheets)" as print settings. Then, when the instruction to start the print job is instructed, the control unit 10 determines that the instruction to start printing has been accepted (YES in step S301), and when printing is executed based on the print job, the cumulative number of printed sheets is limited. (Step S302).

Specifically, the control unit 10 calculates the difference between the limited number of sheets "1000 (sheets)" and the cumulative total of the number of printed sheets up to now "0 (sheets)". Since the calculated difference, that is, the number of remaining printable recording papers is "1000 (sheets)" and the number of prints in the accepted print setting is "100 (sheets)", the control unit 10 controls the number of prints. It is determined that the cumulative total of the number of sheets does not exceed the limit number (NO in step S302), and the printing unit 11 is made to execute printing based on the accepted print job (step S306).

When printing is completed, the control unit 10 indicates to the HDD 92 the print settings of "full color", "plain paper", "less than 20%", and "100 (sheets)" as the history information of the executed print job. The information and the information indicating the printing fee of "2000 (yen)" are stored in association with each other (step S307).

(2) When the limit number of sheets is exceeded and the limit amount is not exceeded The user of the image forming apparatus 1 sets to limit the use of the image forming apparatus by the number of printed sheets by input via the operation unit 47. do.

The image forming apparatus 1 has completed three print jobs since the history information of the print job was reset by the administrator. In the following processing, the control unit 10 is based on the print job history information 200 shown in FIG. A certain "11300 (yen)" is calculated as appropriate.

The user places the original to be printed on the original transfer unit 6 and sets the conditions of "full color", "plain paper", and "100 (sheets)" as print settings by inputting via the operation unit 47. Then, when the instruction to start the print job is instructed, the control unit 10 determines that the instruction to start printing has been accepted (YES in step S301), and when printing is executed based on the print job, the cumulative number of printed sheets is limited. (Step S302).

Specifically, the control unit 10 calculates the difference between the limited number of sheets "1000 (sheets)" and the cumulative total of the number of printed sheets up to now "1000 (sheets)". Since the calculated difference, that is, the number of remaining printable recording papers is "0 (sheets)" and the number of prints in the accepted print setting is "100 (sheets)", the control unit 10 controls the number of prints. (YES in step S302), and when printing is executed based on the print job, it is determined whether or not the cumulative total of printing charges exceeds the limit amount (step S303).

Specifically, the control unit 10 first calculates the toner consumption based on the image data to be printed. As a result of the calculation, the print settings are "full color", "plain paper", "less than 20%", and "100 (sheets)". The control unit 10 calculates 2000 (yen) as the printing fee for the received print job by the above formula (1).

The control unit 10 further calculates the difference between the limit amount of "13600 (yen)" and the cumulative total of printing charges up to now, "11300 (yen)". Since the calculated difference, that is, the remaining amount that can be used is "2300 (yen)" and the charge for the received print job is "2000 (yen)", the control unit 10 has a cumulative total of print charges. It is determined that the limit amount is not exceeded (NO in step S303), and the printing unit 11 is made to execute printing based on the received print job (step S306).

When printing is completed, the control unit 10 supplies "full color", "plain paper", "less than 20%", and "less than 20%" as the history information (in this case, the fourth history information) of the executed print job to the HDD 92. The information indicating the print setting of "100 (sheets)" and the information indicating the print charge of "2000 (yen)" are stored in association with each other (step S307).

(3) When both the limited number of sheets and the limited amount of money are exceeded The user of the image forming apparatus 1 sets to limit the use of the image forming apparatus by the number of printed sheets by input via the operation unit 47.

The image forming apparatus 1 has completed two print jobs since the history information of the print job was reset by the administrator. In the following processing, the control unit 10 is based on the print job history information 400 shown in FIG. A certain "8400 (yen)" is calculated as appropriate.

(3-1) When changing the toner consumption in the case of monochrome printing is set as the print setting to be changed preferentially. The user inputs the image data to be printed by inputting through the personal computer 20. When the selection is made and the conditions of "monochrome", "plain paper", and "400 (sheets)" are set as the print settings and the start of printing is instructed, the control unit 10 determines that the instruction to start printing has been accepted. (YES in step S301), and when printing is executed based on the print job, it is determined whether or not the cumulative number of printed sheets exceeds the limit number (step S302).

Specifically, the control unit 10 calculates the difference between the limited number of sheets "1000 (sheets)" and the cumulative total of the number of printed sheets up to now "900 (sheets)". Since the calculated difference, that is, the number of remaining printable recording papers is "100 (sheets)" and the number of prints in the accepted print setting is "400 (sheets)", the control unit 10 has the number of prints. (YES in step S302), and when printing is executed based on the print job, it is determined whether or not the cumulative total of printing charges exceeds the limit amount (step S303).

Specifically, the control unit 10 first calculates the toner consumption based on the image data to be printed. As a result of the calculation, the print settings are "monochrome", "plain paper", "20% or more", and "400 (sheets)". The control unit 10 calculates 6800 (yen) as the printing fee for the received print job by the following formula (5).

(2 (yen) + 5 (yen) + 10 (yen)) x 400 (sheets) = 6800 (yen) ... Formula (5)

The control unit 10 further calculates the difference between the limit amount of "13600 (yen)" and the cumulative total of printing charges up to now, "8400 (yen)". Since the calculated difference, that is, the remaining amount that can be used is "5200 (yen)" and the charge for the received print job is "6800 (yen)", the control unit 10 has a cumulative total of print charges. It is determined that the limit amount is exceeded (YES in step S303), and it is determined whether or not the print setting can be changed (step S304). The user of the image forming apparatus 1 presets "toner consumption in the case of monochrome printing" as a print setting that is preferentially changed by input via the operation unit 47. The control unit 10 charges for changing the print setting related to "toner consumption" from "20% or more" to "less than 20%" among the received print settings according to the print setting to be changed preferentially. Is calculated. In this case, the print settings are "monochrome", "plain paper", "less than 20%", and "400 (sheets)". Therefore, the control unit 10 uses the following formula (6) to change the print settings. 4800 (yen) is calculated as the printing fee for the printing job.

(2 (yen) + 5 (yen) + 5 (yen)) x 400 (sheets) = 4800 (yen) ... Formula (6)

As described above, the remaining amount that can be used is "5200 (yen)", and the charge for the print job after changing the print setting is "4800 (yen)". It is determined that the change is possible (YES in step S304), and according to the print setting to be changed preferentially, the setting content of "toner consumption" is changed in preference to other print settings, and the print setting is changed to ". Change to "monochrome", "plain paper", "less than 20%", and "400 (sheets)" (step S305).

The control unit 10 causes the print unit 11 to execute printing based on the received print job with the changed print settings (step S306). When printing is completed, the control unit 10 supplies "monochrome", "plain paper", "less than 20%", and "monochrome", "plain paper", and "less than 20%" as the history information (in this case, the third history information) of the executed print job to the HDD 92. The information indicating the print setting of "400 (sheets)" and the information indicating the print charge of "4800 (yen)" are stored in association with each other (step S307).

(3-2) When it is set to change the paper type in the case of color printing as the print setting to be changed preferentially The user selects the image data to be printed by inputting via the personal computer 20. When printing is instructed by setting the conditions of "full color", "plain paper", and "220 (sheets)" as the printing settings, the control unit 10 determines that the instruction to start printing has been accepted. (YES in step S301), when printing is executed based on the print job, it is determined whether or not the cumulative number of printed sheets exceeds the limit number (step S302).

Specifically, the control unit 10 calculates the difference between the limited number of sheets "1000 (sheets)" and the cumulative total of the number of printed sheets up to now "900 (sheets)". Since the calculated difference, that is, the number of remaining printable recording papers is "100 (sheets)" and the number of prints in the accepted print setting is "220 (sheets)", the control unit 10 controls the number of prints. (YES in step S302), and when printing is executed based on the print job, it is determined whether or not the cumulative total of printing charges exceeds the limit amount (step S303).

Specifically, the control unit 10 first calculates the toner consumption based on the image data to be printed. As a result of the calculation, the print settings are "full color", "plain paper", "20% or more", and "220 (sheets)". The control unit 10 calculates 5500 (yen) as the printing fee for the received print job by the following formula (7).

(10 (yen) + 5 (yen) + 10 (yen)) x 220 (sheets) = 5500 (yen) ... Equation (7)

The control unit 10 further calculates the difference between the limit amount of "13600 (yen)" and the cumulative total of printing charges up to now, "8400 (yen)". Since the calculated difference, that is, the remaining amount that can be used is "5200 (yen)" and the charge for the received print job is "5500 (yen)", the control unit 10 has a cumulative total of print charges. It is determined that the limit amount is exceeded (YES in step S303), and it is determined whether or not the print setting can be changed (step S304).

The user of the image forming apparatus 1 presets "paper type in the case of color printing" as a print setting to be preferentially changed by input via the operation unit 47. The control unit 10 calculates the printing charge when the setting content of the "paper type" is changed from "plain paper" to "replacement paper" among the received print settings according to the print setting to be changed preferentially. In this case, the print settings are "full color", "paper change", "20% or more", and "220 (sheets)". Therefore, the control unit 10 uses the following formula (8) to change the print settings. 4840 (yen) is calculated as the printing fee for the print job.

(10 (yen) + 2 (yen) + 10 (yen)) x 220 (sheets) = 4840 (yen) ... Equation (8)

As described above, the remaining amount that can be used is "5200 (yen)", and the charge for the print job after changing the print setting is "4840 (yen)". It is determined that the change is possible (YES in step S304), the setting contents of "Paper type" are changed in preference to other print settings according to the print setting to be changed preferentially, and the print setting is set to "Full color". , "Reprint", "20% or more", and "220 (sheets)" (step S305).

The control unit 10 causes the print unit 11 to execute printing based on the received print job with the changed print settings (step S306). When printing is completed, the control unit 10 supplies "full color", "replacement", "20% or more", and "20% or more" to the HDD 92 as the history information (in this case, the third history information) of the executed print job. The information indicating the print setting of "220 (sheets)" and the information indicating the print charge of "4840 (yen)" are stored in association with each other (step S307).

According to the first and second embodiments described above, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a printing unit 11 that prints an image on a recording paper based on a print job, an operation unit 47 that accepts settings input by a user, and an operation unit 47. A control unit 10 is provided. The control unit 10 accepts a setting via the operation unit 47 to limit the usage by the number of prints instead of the print charge, and when the print unit 11 is made to execute printing based on the print job, the cumulative number of prints is accumulated. When exceeds the predetermined upper limit of the number of printed sheets, printing by the printing unit 11 is restricted. The control unit 10 also accepts a setting via the operation unit 47 to limit the use by the print charge instead of the number of prints, and when the print unit 11 is made to execute printing based on the print job, the print charge is charged. When the cumulative total exceeds a predetermined upper limit of the printing fee, printing by the printing unit 11 is restricted.

In this way, the user can set whether to limit the usage by the number of prints or the print charge via the operation unit 47, so that the cumulative number of prints exceeds the upper limit and printing is restricted. Even in this case, by changing the usage limit to the setting based on the printing fee, printing can be continued if the cumulative printing fee does not exceed the upper limit. Therefore, even when the cumulative number of printed sheets exceeds the upper limit, it is possible to avoid the situation where the print job cannot be executed while limiting the printing, so that the user can continue the desired printing. Therefore, it becomes possible to prevent a situation in which the work of the user is hindered.

Further, according to the second embodiment, the control unit 10 accepts a setting via the operation unit 47 to limit the use by the number of prints instead of the print charge, and the print unit is based on the print job. Even if the cumulative number of prints exceeds the preset upper limit of the number of prints when printing is executed by 11, if the cumulative print charge does not exceed the predetermined upper limit of the print charge, the printing unit 11 is made to execute printing based on the print job.

In this way, even if the cumulative number of printed sheets exceeds the upper limit and printing is restricted, the control unit 10 continues printing if the cumulative printing fee does not exceed the upper limit. do. Therefore, even if the cumulative number of printed sheets exceeds the upper limit, it is possible to automatically avoid the situation where the print job cannot be executed while limiting the printing, so that the user can easily continue the desired printing. become. Therefore, it becomes possible to easily prevent a situation in which the work of the user is hindered.

Further, according to the first and second embodiments, when the cumulative printing charge exceeds the predetermined upper limit of the printing charge, the control unit 10 sets the print setting indicated by the print job to the cumulative printing charge. Is changed to a setting content that does not exceed a predetermined upper limit of the printing fee, and the printing unit 11 is made to execute printing based on the printing job.

This makes it possible to prevent a situation in which printing is stopped without the user's knowledge when the cumulative printing fee exceeds the upper limit, and the user can continue the desired printing. Therefore, it becomes possible to further prevent the situation where the work of the user is hindered.

Further, according to the second embodiment, the print setting includes the color setting, the paper type, and the toner consumption. When the cumulative printing charge exceeds the predetermined upper limit of the printing charge and the print setting indicated by the print job includes color printing, the control unit 10 uses paper among the print settings indicated by the print job. The control unit 10 also changes the setting contents of the seed, and when the cumulative printing charge exceeds the predetermined upper limit of the printing charge and the print setting indicated by the print job includes monochrome printing, the control unit 10 also changes. By changing the setting contents of the toner consumption among the print settings indicated by the print job, the print settings indicated by the print job are changed to the setting contents so that the cumulative total of the print charges does not exceed the predetermined upper limit of the print charges.

This makes it possible to more reliably prevent the situation where printing is stopped without the user noticing when the cumulative printing fee exceeds the upper limit, and the user can continue the desired printing. become.

Further, according to the above embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 further includes a display unit 473. When the cumulative number of printed sheets exceeds the predetermined upper limit of the number of printed sheets, the control unit 10 causes the display unit 473 to display a first error screen 300 indicating that printing is restricted.

As a result, the user of the image forming apparatus 1 can easily know that printing is restricted because the cumulative number of printed sheets exceeds the upper limit value. Therefore, the user can easily make a determination to change the setting so that the usage restriction of the image forming apparatus 1 is performed by the printing fee.

In the above embodiment, the user of the image forming apparatus 1 can set whether to limit the use of the image forming apparatus 1 by the number of prints or the printing fee by the input via the operation unit 47. However, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments. For example, it may be possible to set whether to limit the use of the image forming apparatus 1 by the number of prints or the printing fee by inputting through the personal computer 20.

Further, according to the above embodiment, the print setting includes the color setting, the paper type, the toner consumption, and the number of printed sheets, but the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment, for example, the paper size. It may be configured to further include.

Further, according to the above embodiment, the print control program is stored in the HDD 92, but the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment. For example, the computer program described above may be recorded on a computer-readable non-temporary recording medium (for example, a hard disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a semiconductor memory, etc.). The computer program stored in the non-temporary recording medium may be read by a reading device such as an optical disk drive and transferred to the HDD 92, or may be transmitted to the image forming apparatus 1 through a network line and stored in the HDD 92. .. Further, it may be directly loaded into the RAM of the control unit 10 from a non-temporary recording medium or via a network line.

The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made. For example, in the above embodiment, the color multifunction device is described as one embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, but this is only an example, and the monochrome multifunction device and other electronic devices, for example, Other image forming devices such as a printer, a copier, and a facsimile machine may be used.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the configuration and processing shown by the above-described embodiment with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10 are merely one embodiment of the present invention, and the present invention is not intended to be limited to the configuration and processing.

1 Image forming device 11 Printing unit 10 Control unit 47 Operation unit 473 Display unit

Claims (4)

A printing unit that prints images on recording paper based on a print job,
An operation unit that accepts settings entered by the user,
With a control unit,
The control unit accepts a setting that limits the usage by the number of prints instead of the print fee via the operation unit, and when the print unit is made to execute printing based on the print job, the number of prints is increased. When the cumulative total exceeds the predetermined upper limit of the number of prints, printing by the printing unit is restricted.
When the setting is accepted via the operation unit to limit the use by the printing charge instead of the number of printed sheets, and the printing unit is made to perform printing based on the printing job, the cumulative printing charge is accumulated in advance. When the upper limit of the printing fee specified is exceeded, printing by the printing unit is restricted.
When the control unit accepts a setting that limits the use by the number of prints instead of the print fee via the operation unit, and causes the print unit to perform printing based on the print job, the number of prints If the cumulative total of printing charges does not exceed the predetermined upper limit of the printing charges even if the cumulative total of printing charges exceeds the predetermined upper limit of the number of printed sheets, the printing unit is based on the printing job. An image forming device that executes printing. A printing unit that prints images on recording paper based on a print job,
An operation unit that accepts settings entered by the user,
With a control unit,
The control unit accepts a setting that limits the usage by the number of prints instead of the print fee via the operation unit, and when the print unit is made to execute printing based on the print job, the number of prints is increased. When the cumulative total exceeds the predetermined upper limit of the number of prints, printing by the printing unit is restricted.
When the setting is accepted via the operation unit to limit the use by the printing charge instead of the number of printed sheets, and the printing unit is made to perform printing based on the printing job, the cumulative printing charge is accumulated in advance. When the upper limit of the printing fee specified is exceeded, printing by the printing unit is restricted.
When the cumulative total of printing charges exceeds the preset upper limit of the printing charges, the control unit sets the print settings indicated by the print job so that the cumulative printing charges do not exceed the preset upper limit of the printing charges. Is changed to, and the printing unit is made to execute printing based on the printing job.
The print settings include color settings, paper type, and toner consumption.
When the cumulative total of printing charges exceeds a predetermined upper limit of printing charges and the printing settings indicated by the printing job include color printing, the control unit sets the printing settings indicated by the printing job. Among them, change the setting contents of the above paper type,
When the cumulative total of printing charges exceeds a predetermined upper limit of printing charges and the printing settings indicated by the printing job include monochrome printing, the toner consumption among the printing settings indicated by the printing job is used. An image forming apparatus that changes the print setting indicated by the print job to a setting content in which the cumulative total of print charges does not exceed a predetermined upper limit of the print charge by changing the setting content of. With more display
Either claim 1 or 2 , wherein the control unit causes the display unit to display a screen indicating that printing is restricted when the cumulative number of prints exceeds a predetermined upper limit of the number of prints. The image forming apparatus described in Crab. A computer program for controlling an image forming apparatus including a printing unit that forms an image on a recording paper based on a print job, an operation unit that accepts settings input by a user, and a computer.
In the case where the setting to limit the usage by the number of prints instead of the print fee is accepted via the operation unit, the cumulative number of prints is predetermined when the print unit executes printing based on the print job. When the upper limit of the number of printed sheets is exceeded, printing by the printing unit is restricted.
When the setting is accepted via the operation unit to limit the use by the printing charge instead of the number of printed sheets, and the printing unit is made to perform printing based on the printing job, the cumulative printing charge is accumulated in advance. When the upper limit of the printing fee specified is exceeded, printing by the printing unit is restricted .
When the operation unit accepts the setting that the usage restriction is performed not by the printing fee but by the number of printed sheets, and the printing unit is made to execute printing based on the printing job, the cumulative number of printed sheets is predetermined. Even if the upper limit of the number of printed sheets to be printed is exceeded, if the cumulative total of printing charges does not exceed the predetermined upper limit of the printing charges, the printing unit is made to execute printing based on the printing job. A print control program that works with.

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