JPH04321061A - Image forming device system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To connect plural image forming devices through a communicating means using a telephone circuit, and to perform highly centralized control for every department (every ID). CONSTITUTION:As to an image forming device system including the image forming device 2 provided with the function of counting every ID counter and a host computer 1 for summing up a counter value by a communicating means, the host computer 1 is provided with the function of transferring the command of inhibiting copying by an applicable ID number to each image forming device 2 when the sum result reaches a limit value which is registered in the host computer 1 in advance.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus system including an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine and a host computer connected through communication means, and in particular to an image forming apparatus system that includes a departmental counter to manage the number of copies. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus system in which the image forming apparatus is configured to perform the following steps.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, image forming apparatuses such as copying machines have become widespread, and their performance and functions have also shown remarkable progress. Unlike simple copying machines used for personal use, such high-performance copying machines are often managed in common with each department within a company. In this case, it is appropriate to divide the management costs etc. according to the number of copies to be used. For this purpose, multiple memory cards (portable storage means) that are removable and attachable to the device body and that have department and individual codes registered are distributed to each workplace, and copies are made. By attaching the device to the main body of the device, it is now possible to manage the number of copies for each workplace. There are many proposals for copying devices that can be equipped with memory cards. For example, JP-A-60-165
No. 664, JP-A-61-277976, JP-A-62-
No. 96958, JP-A-62-96966, JP-A-1-
The specification of Japanese Patent No. 105964 discloses a technique related to this.

[0003] As a result, copying machines have been able to tally the number of copies for each registered department and display it as necessary. However, a memory card is a single image forming device (
It is not only intended for copying machines (hereinafter also referred to as copying machines),
Because it is attached to multiple copiers to make copies,
Even if the number of copies made by each registered department for each copying machine is totaled, it is not possible to obtain the total total for a particular registered department.

As a means for dealing with this, an image forming apparatus system is formed by connecting one host computer and a plurality of copying machines through communication means such as a telephone line.
The host computer now communicates with each copying machine and calculates the total number of copies for each registered department.

[0005]

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] However, in terms of budget management, it is not sufficient to simply tally up the number of copies for each department and grasp the current situation.

[0006] The present invention further provides an image forming apparatus system that enables centralized control by issuing commands from a host computer to prevent exceeding a preset limit value. With the goal.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The above object is to provide an image forming apparatus system that includes an image forming apparatus having a counter function for each ID counter and a host computer that aggregates the counter values by means of communication. This is achieved by an image forming apparatus system characterized in that when a limit value registered in advance in the host computer is reached, the host computer has a function of sending a copy prohibition command to each image forming apparatus using the corresponding ID number. be done.

Here, as an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus system, characterized in that the host computer has a selection function to send the copy prohibition command to other image forming apparatuses excluding a specific image forming apparatus. In another embodiment of the present invention, the host computer has a function of issuing a prohibition command to permit only a specific image forming apparatus and prohibit others when the limit value is approached. There is a former system.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be explained below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1(a) shows the configuration of an image forming apparatus system according to the present invention, in which a host computer 1 serving as a control means is connected to a plurality of copying machines 2 through communication means 3 each using a telephone line. A communication means 3 is used between the computer 1 and the copying machine 2 to count the number of copies and to send and receive instructions for inhibiting copying operations. The copying machine 2 used here is a copying machine into which a removable memory card (ID card) storing an ID number can be loaded. In the example described below, the pre-registered ID
This is a copying machine that counts the number of copies by ID such as department by attaching a card, but it is not limited to this; it is a copying machine equipped with a means to write a password, and the password can be used in place of an ID card. It may be something like this.

FIG. 1(b) is a block diagram showing the control structure within the host computer 1 and the image forming apparatus 2. As shown in FIG. Both the host computer 1 and the image forming device 2 have a determining means 11,
21, the communication means 1 of the host computer 1
2 and a communication means 22 of the image forming apparatus 2 are connected by a communication means 3 of a telephone line. The host computer 1 contains preset limit values for the number of copies for each department,
In addition to a storage means 13 for storing data such as departmental copy counts read from the image forming apparatus 2 and a totaling means 14 for totalizing the read data such as departmental copy counts, an input means 15 and a display means 16 are provided. It is being Also,
The image forming apparatus 2 determines whether the ID card is a registered ID card or not, and stores the ID number. ID No. to specify. Specifying means 25
By pressing a copy button provided on the operation panel, an input means 27 for inputting copy conditions, a counting means 24 for counting the number of copies, and a pre-registered I/O
D card no. The storage means 23 stores information such as the number of copies and the number of copies counted, and the ID No. Prohibition means 26 and display means 28 are provided.

[0011] Since the counting of the number of copies and the prohibition command via the communication means 3 according to the present invention are made in an idle loop in the copy process, this is a flowchart from the time when the power is turned on to the image forming apparatus 2 to the start of copying. The present invention will be explained based on FIGS. 2 to 6.

First, when the image forming apparatus 1 is powered on, the image forming apparatus 1 initializes the CPU in step C1, initializes the peripheral I/O in step C2, and clears the RAM in step C3. Then, in step C4, the dip switch is read, and the process proceeds to step C5. Step C
In step C5, initialization is performed and the process proceeds to step C6. In step C6, it is determined whether or not the mode is a test mode. If the mode is the test mode, the process proceeds to the test mode; if not, the process proceeds to steps C7 and C8. This test mode is a mode that is set only when a service engineer or the like performs initial settings or adjustments of the image forming apparatus, or changes to the information stored in the ID card. Test mode is set by pressing.

In steps C7 and C8, it is checked whether the temperature of the fixing means is at a predetermined fixing temperature. If it is below the fixing temperature, the image forming mode is initialized in step C9, and if it is above the fixing temperature, image formation is started in step C10. The mode is restored and the process proceeds to step C11. In step C11, the fixing heater, which is the heat source of the fixing means, is turned on, and the process proceeds to the next idle loop.

Upon entering the idle loop, step D
In step D1, the warm-up of the fixing means is checked, in step D2, a jam on the transfer material conveyance path is checked, and in step D3, the loading of the paper feed cassette and the transfer material in the paper feed cassette are checked, and the process proceeds to step D4. In step D4, it is determined whether or not the jam flag is set. If it is not set, the process proceeds to step D5. If it is set, a jam is displayed on the display means in step D6, and the fixing heater is turned off in step D7. Return to step D1.

In step D5, it is determined by the display means 28 whether or not the display section provided on the operation panel is displaying that no card is displayed. If it is not displayed, the process proceeds to step D8; if it is displayed, Proceed to step D9. In step D9, it is determined whether the card-in signal is ON or not. If it is ON, the process proceeds to step D10, and if it is not ON, the process returns to step D1. Step D10
Then, it is determined whether the card invalidation signal is ON or not. If it is ON, proceed to step D8; if not, proceed to step D1.
1 to clear the display of no card, and step D12 to set the card ID number. is received, and the process proceeds to step D13. In step D13, it is determined whether or not the job is being interrupted. If the job is being interrupted, the process returns to step D1; otherwise, the process returns to step C9.

In step D8, the card-in signal is turned ON.
If it is turned on, the process advances to step D14. That is, when the detection means detects that the card is inserted, the determination means 2
The judgment is made based on the card-in signal input to 1. Conversely, if the card-in signal is not turned on, step D1
In step 5, a message indicating that there is no card is displayed and the process returns to step D1. That is, if the card is not inserted by the detection means, the card-in signal will not be turned on and no signal will be sent to the card-in transmission means. The display section on the panel displays, for example, "Card Reset".

In step D14, the card invalidation signal is set to O.
It is determined whether or not it is N. If it is not ON, the process proceeds to step D16, and if it is ON, an indication that the card is invalid is set in step D17, and the process proceeds to step D1. The card invalidation signal is a signal input from the determination means 21 to the determination means 21 via the card invalidation transmission means. The above-mentioned indication that the card is invalid is displayed on the above-mentioned display section by the display means 28, and for example, it is displayed as "KONOCARD HATSUKA EMASEN".

In step D16, various operation buttons on the operation panel (not shown) are checked and processed according to their respective subroutines. When the various operation buttons have been checked, the process advances to step D18. Steps D18 to D26 are a flowchart in which information and commands are exchanged with the host computer 1 via the communication means 3 according to the present invention.

In step D18, it is checked whether the carrier detect signal (CD signal) is ON or not.
If it is ON, line communication in step D19 is performed. The image forming apparatus system of the present invention provides the following functions by connecting the host computer 1 and the copying machine 2 through a telephone line, which is the communication means 3.

(1) A function for the host to read various data from the copier (2) A function for the host to prohibit departmental copying by the copier This is a function for the host to read various data from the copier. The various data that can be read from the copying machine are as follows.

(1) Serial No. (2) Total copy count (3) Copy count by transfer paper size (8 types) (4)
Department copy count (15 types) The host reads various data from the copying machine by the following means.

(1) The host calls the copier.

(2) Once the line is connected, the copier requests a password from the host.

(3) The host replies the password to the copying machine.

(4) Copy machine accepts password to host
Answer.

(5) The host sends a data transmission request command to the copying machine.

(6) The copying machine sends the above various data to the host.

(7) Until all data transmission is completed (5) to (
Repeat 6).

(8) The host disconnects the line.

(9) The copying machine disconnects the line.

[0031] Regarding the function in which the host prohibits departmental copying of the copying machine, the prohibition instruction is issued by the following means.

(1) The host calls the copier.

(2) When the line is connected, the copier requests a password from the host.

(3) The host replies the password to the copying machine.

(4) Copy machine accepts password to host
Answer.

(5) The host sends a data reception request command to the copying machine.

(6) The copying machine replies to the host that the reception request is OK.

(7) The host sends departmental copy prohibition data to the copying machine.

(8) Copy machine accepts received data to host
Answer.

(9) The host disconnects the line.

(10) The copying machine disconnects the line.

Transmission and reception of data between the copying machine and the host via the communication line is performed by asynchronous serial communication via a modem. While the copying machine 2 is communicating with the host 1, it displays a message such as ``Omachikudasai.Host is ready'' on the display means 28, and does not enter the copy sequence.

On the copying machine side, an incoming call from the host is recognized by receiving a line connection result code from the modem. To disconnect the communication line from the host, connect the line (
After recognizing an incoming call, the CD signal is recognized by detecting that it continues to be OFF for a period of time set by the value of the specific byte of the memory switch data. Further, the communication line from the copying machine is disconnected by turning off the ER signal, which has been turned on, for a period of time set by the value of a specific byte of the memory switch data.

Table 1 shows the flow of transmission control between the copying machine and the host, and shows the transmission control of the line communication shown in step D19. It consists of seven states from P1 (waiting for incoming call) to P7 (waiting for timeout). When the incoming call result code CONNECT is received in state P1 (waiting for incoming call), timer T1 is started and the state shifts to state P2 (waiting for communication).

When the line disconnection CD signal from the host turns OFF in state P2, the state returns to state P1. Further, if there is no line disconnection CD signal OFF from the host, a password request is sent upon timeout, timer T2 is started, and the process moves to P3 (waiting for password reception). Then, the process goes to P4 (waiting for data request reception), and when a data transmission request is received, the collected data is transmitted, and when a data reception request is received, a reception request OK is sent, a timer T3 is started, and the process moves to P5 (data reception waiting). Data is fetched in state P5, and upon timeout, data error transmission is performed, timer T4 is started, and state P6 (wait for line disconnection) is entered. When timeout occurs in state P6, the ER signal is turned OFF and timer T5 is started, resulting in state P7 (waiting for timeout). When the timeout occurs in the state of P7, the state returns to P1.

During step D19, data such as the copy count by department of the copying machine is transmitted to the host, and the host aggregates the data of the plurality of copying machines with the aggregation means 14, and preliminarily
In comparison with the limit value stored in the storage means 13, the limit value (or a second limit value lower than the limit value)
When this is reached, the determination means 11 issues a prohibition command to the copying machine, but the prohibition command is either set in advance or in the next prohibition command mode input by the input means 15.

(A) Copying with the corresponding ID card is prohibited in all copying machines.

(B) Copying is permitted to a specific copying machine, and copying is prohibited to other copying machines.

(C) When a second limit value lower than the limit value is reached, a specific copying machine is allowed to copy;
Other copiers are prohibited from copying.

On the other hand, on the copying machine side, the following two copy prohibition modes are set to ID No. It is also contained in the inhibiting means 26.

(a) When a section copy prohibition warning instruction is received, a warning is given for 3 seconds, but copying is possible. If you receive a prohibition instruction when inserting a card in card mode,
A warning will be given for 3 seconds, but copying is possible. (Copy prohibition warning mode) (b) When receiving a section copy prohibition instruction, issue a warning and do not accept copies. If a prohibition instruction is received when inserting a card in card mode, a warning will be issued and copying will not be accepted. (Copy prohibition mode) The warning messages in (a) and (b) above are displayed on the display means 2.
This is done by displaying, for example, "Bummon Limit Over Shimashita" at 8. Therefore, in the case of (1) prohibition command mode (A), the copy prohibition mode (b) is instructed.

(2) In the case of prohibition command mode (B), the copy prohibition warning mode (a) is instructed to a specific copying machine, and the copy prohibition mode (b) is instructed to other copying machines. It will be done.

(3) In the case of prohibition command mode (C), the copy prohibition warning mode (a) is instructed to a specific copying machine, and the copy prohibition mode (b) is instructed to other copying machines. It will be done. The warning message at this time is, for example, "
The display means 28 may display "Bumon Limit Nichi Kazuki Mashita".

The copying machine determines whether there is a prohibition command during the line communication from the host in step D19 by checking the ID No. in step D20. This is done by checking prohibition commands. If there is no prohibition command in step D21, it is checked in step D22 whether or not prohibition is displayed, and ID No. If there is no prohibition displayed, the process moves to step D27. Also ID No. If prohibition is being displayed, ID No. is displayed in step D26. The prohibition display is cleared and the process moves to step D27.

[0055] Also, in step D21, ID No. If there is a prohibition command, the ID No. A prohibition release check is performed, and in step D24 ID No. If the prohibition has been canceled, the process moves to the previous step D22. Also, ID No. in step D24. If the prohibition has not been canceled, it is checked in step D25A whether the prohibition command is a prohibition warning command, and if it is a prohibition warning command, the ID No. A prohibition warning is displayed for 3 seconds, and the process moves to step D27. If the prohibition command is issued, step D27 is executed.
ID No. 25C. The prohibition display is set and the process returns to step D1 at the beginning of the idling loop.

In step D27, it is determined whether or not the fixing means has been warmed up. If warm-up has been completed, the process proceeds to step D28; if not, the process returns to step D1. In step D28, it is determined whether or not there is transfer material P in the paper feed cassette, and if there is, step D29
If there is no such information, the process returns to step D1. Step D
In step 29, it is determined whether the image formation start command is ON or not.
If so, the routine enters a copy start routine, and if it is not ON, the process returns to step D1. This image formation start command is
If the copy button provided on the operation panel is pressed, it is turned on (input) via the input means 27.

[0057]

Effects of the Invention The image forming apparatus system of the present invention in which a plurality of image forming apparatuses are connected to a host computer not only calculates the total number of copies for each registered department, but also calculates the total number of copies when a preset limit value is reached. As a result of the issuing of a prohibition directive, an extremely proactive form of centralized control began to take place.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b) are block diagrams showing a control configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart after the power is turned on in the system of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart diagram of an idling loop following FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart including detection of an ID card IN signal following FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart following FIG. 4 and including line communication and a prohibition command.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart following FIG. 5 up to the start of copying.

[Table 1] This is a table showing the flow of transmission control between the copying machine and the host computer.

[Explanation of symbols]

1...Host computer (control means) 2... Image forming device (copying machine) 3...Communication means

Claims (3)

[Claims] Claims: 1. An image forming apparatus system including an image forming apparatus having a counter function for each ID counter and a host computer that totals the counter values through communication means, wherein the total results are registered in the host computer in advance. An image forming apparatus system characterized in that, when a set limit value is reached, the host computer has a function of sending a copy prohibition command using the corresponding ID number to each image forming apparatus. 2. The image forming apparatus system according to claim 1, wherein the copy prohibition command has a selection function to be sent to other image forming apparatuses other than a specific image forming apparatus. 3. The image forming apparatus system according to claim 1, further comprising a function of permitting only a specific image forming apparatus and prohibiting others when the limit value is approached.