JPH08152826A - Control system for image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To make a user possible to accurately calculate the number of image forming times by subtracting the number of image forming times in the case of maintenance by a serviceman from the total number of image forming times. CONSTITUTION: When a serviceman arrives and operates a maintenance start button in a copying machine 1, a copying machine control device 2 communicates with a host computer 4 and the number of copying times by the serviceman in the midst of maintenance processing is counted in real time on the computer 4 side. The total number of copied sheets (total count) in the copying machine 1 is received by the computer 4 through data communication at the time of regular communication and controlled in a copying machine control data base. Thus, on the closing day when the monthly settlement of accounts is performed, the number of sheets obtained by subtracting the number of sheets for maintenance from the total count is clalculated as the number of actually used sheets by the user. A claimed sum calculated based on the number of the used sheets by the user is correct because it is obtained by subtracting the number of sheets for maintenance by the serviceman from the total.

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 management system, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus management system for managing the total count of image forming times.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, the total number of image forming times is counted based on the number of sheets of paper passing through an image forming section. The total count is displayed on a display unit such as a counter provided in the image forming apparatus, and is managed by a serviceman recording the total count during regular maintenance.

Further, in a copying machine management system in which a plurality of copying machines having a communication function are connected to a host computer via a line, a total count is transmitted together with various operation data at the time of regular communication from the copying machine, and the host computer Manage this total count in. By checking this total count on the closing date of each month and comparing it with the total count on the closing date of the previous month, it is possible to know the number of image formations of that month. The maintenance contract may determine the billing amount based on the number of image formations per month, and in such a case, the billing amount is calculated from the number of image formations per month based on the above-mentioned total count.

[0004]

In the image forming apparatus as described above, only the total count of actual image formation is counted and managed. Therefore, this total count includes the number of times of image formation used by the service person at the time of maintenance of the image forming apparatus. The billing amount of the maintenance contract calculated based on such a total count is disadvantageous to the user. Even if a bill is issued by deducting a large amount from the billed amount based on the number of times that the service person seems to have used the bill, the billed amount is not accurate and is unreliable.

An object of the present invention is to provide a management system for an image forming apparatus which enables accurate calculation of the number of image formations by a user by subtracting the number of image formations during maintenance by a service person from the total number of image formations. .

[0006]

An image forming apparatus management system according to the present invention comprises a total count management means, a maintenance instruction means, a test count management means, and a usage count calculation means. The total count management means manages the total number of times of image formation in the image forming apparatus. The maintenance instruction means gives an instruction to start and end the maintenance process. The test count management means is
The number of image formations during the maintenance process is managed based on the instruction from the maintenance instruction means. The use count calculation means calculates the number of times of image formation by the user based on the total number of times of image formation managed by the total count management means and the number of times of image formation managed by the test count management means.

Here, the image forming apparatus communicates with the maintenance instruction means, the counting means for counting the number of times of image formation, and the host computer connected through the line, and transmits the operation data including the counting result of the counting means. The host computer may be provided with a total count management means, a test count management means, and a usage count calculation means.

In addition, the communication control unit may communicate with the host computer when the maintenance instruction unit gives an instruction to start maintenance, and may transmit the number of image formations counted by the counting means during the maintenance process. Further, the image forming apparatus is provided with a storage unit for storing the total number of times of counting the total number of images by the counting unit and the number of times of image formation during the maintenance process, and the communication control unit communicates with the host computer at a predetermined time so that It is also possible to transmit the stored contents.

The host computer may further comprise a billing amount calculating means for calculating the billing amount of the maintenance contract based on the calculation result of the use count calculating means.

[0010]

In the management system for an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the total count management means manages the total number of times of image formation in the image forming apparatus. The test count management unit counts and manages the number of image formations during the maintenance process based on the instruction from the maintenance instruction unit. The usage count calculation means calculates the number of times of image formation by the user based on the number of times of image formation managed by the total count management means and the test count management means. As a result, the usage count used by the service person at the time of maintenance can be removed from the total count to accurately grasp the actual number of times of image formation by the user.

The image forming apparatus includes maintenance instruction means, counting means for counting the number of times of image formation, and a communication control section for communicating with a host computer connected via a line, and the host computer makes a total count. When the management unit, the test count management unit, and the usage count calculation unit are provided, the host computer can accurately grasp the total number of image formations in the image forming apparatus and the number of image formations during the maintenance process.

When the communication control unit communicates with the host computer when the maintenance instructing unit gives an instruction to start maintenance, and the number of image formations during the maintenance process is transmitted, the number of image formations during the maintenance process is transmitted to the host. It can be managed securely by a computer, and the number of times of image formation by the user can be accurately calculated.

If the image forming apparatus is provided with a storage means for storing the total number of image formations and the number of image formations during the maintenance processing, and the communication control means is configured to communicate with the host computer at a predetermined time, the predetermined time The total number of image formations of the image forming apparatus and the number of image formations during the maintenance process can be transmitted to the host computer during the communication with the host computer, and the user can reliably manage the number of image formations in the host computer. .

When the host computer further comprises a billing amount calculating means for calculating the billing amount for the maintenance contract based on the calculation result of the use count calculating means, the number of times of image formation during the maintenance process is eliminated. It is possible to accurately calculate the billing amount based on the number of times of image formation by the user.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a management system for an image forming apparatus to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. Here, a copying machine is assumed as the image forming apparatus. Each of the plurality of copying machines 1 is connected to the copying machine management device 2. Each copying machine management device 2 is connected to a host computer 4 via a line 3.

As shown in FIG. 2, the copying machine 1 is provided with an exposure section 5 for reading a document on the upper part thereof. The exposure unit 5 is composed of a light source, a mirror, a lens unit and the like. Further, an image forming unit 6 for forming a toner image of the read original is provided at the center of the copying machine 1. The image forming section 6 has a photosensitive drum 7 on the surface of which an electrostatic latent image is formed. Around the photosensitive drum 7, a charging device 8, a developing device 9, a transfer separation device 10, and a cleaning device 11 are arranged.

A paper feed unit 12 is provided below the copying machine 1. The paper feeding unit 12 includes a bypass table 13 provided on the right side of the copying machine 1 in FIG. 2 and three paper feeding cassettes 14, 15, 16 arranged vertically below the copying machine 1.
A large paper feed cassette 17 and a paper feed device 18 for feeding the paper stored in the bypass table 13 or the paper feed cassettes 14 to 17 to the image forming unit 6. On the downstream side of the image forming unit 6 in the sheet conveying direction, a sheet discharge conveying unit 1 for conveying the sheet to the left side of the apparatus in FIG.
9 and a fixing device 20 for fusing and fixing the toner image on the paper.
And a discharge roller 21 for discharging the sheet at the time of fixing,
A paper discharge tray 22 for receiving paper is provided.

Further, the copying machine 1 is provided with a control section 31 shown in FIG. The control unit 31 includes a CPU, RA
It is composed of a microcomputer system including M, ROM, various drivers and various IOs. The operation panel 23 is connected to the control unit 31. Operation panel 23
Is arranged on the upper surface of the copying machine 1 as shown in FIG.
It includes an input key unit and a display unit composed of a liquid crystal display element or LED. Further, the control unit 31 is connected to a storage unit 32 that stores various operation data. Further, a paper passing count sensor 33 for counting the number of times of image formation is connected to the control unit 31. A plurality of sheet passing count sensors 33 are provided at appropriate places in the sheet conveyance path that passes the image forming unit 6 and the fixing device 20 from each sheet feeding cassette to the sheet ejection tray 22. When the paper passing count sensor 33 detects a normal paper passing, the total count of the number of copies in the storage unit 32 is incremented.

Further, the control section 31 is connected with a maintenance start / end instruction button 34 for instructing the start and end of maintenance processing by a service person. An interface 35 connected to the control unit 31 is connected to the copying machine management device 2, and a maintenance start signal and maintenance based on the number of image formations counted by the paper passing count sensor 33 and the operation of the maintenance start / end instruction button 34. An end signal or the like is transmitted to the copying machine management device 2.

The copying machine management device 2 has a serial interface 41 connected to the copying machine 1 as shown in FIG.
have. Serial interface 41 is a CPU
It is connected to 42. The CPU 42 is composed of a so-called microcomputer system, and includes a network control unit (hereinafter referred to as NCU) 43 and a RAM 4.
4, ROM 45, and clock IC 46. N
The CU 43 is connected to a modem 47, and the modem 47 is connected to a public line.

As shown in FIG. 5, the host computer 4 has a CPU 51 and a RAM 5 connected to the CPU 51.
2, ROM 53 and input / output interface 54. A CRT 55 for display, an input keyboard 56, an external storage device 57, etc. are also connected to the CPU 51. The input / output interface 54 is provided with input / output terminals such as RS232C and is connected to a public line via a communication modem 58. The external storage device 57 is
For example, a copying machine management database, which is composed of a hard disk drive (HDD) and manages the operating data of each copying machine 1 transmitted via a public line, is constructed.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described. Copier The copier 1 operates as shown in FIG. When the power is turned on, various parameters are initialized in step S1. In step S2, it is determined whether the maintenance start button of the maintenance start / end instruction buttons 34 has been operated. When the maintenance start button is operated, the process proceeds to step S3. In step S3,
A maintenance start signal is transmitted to the copying machine management device 2. In step S4, it is determined whether or not a copy operation is instructed by the input key portion of the operation panel 23. When it is determined that the input key section of the operation panel 23 has been operated,
Control goes to step S5. In step S5, a normal copy operation is performed based on the operation of the input key section of the operation panel 23. In step S6, the number of copies counted by the paper passing count sensor 33 is transmitted to the copying machine management device 2 based on the copy operation in step S5.

In step S7, it is determined whether the maintenance end button of the maintenance start end instruction buttons 34 has been operated. When the maintenance end button is operated, the process proceeds to step S8. Step S8
Then, the maintenance completion signal is transmitted to the copying machine management device 2. In step S9, other processing is performed. In step S10, it is determined whether or not the power switch is operated. If the power is on, the process proceeds to step S2, and if the power is off, the operation of the copying machine 1 is stopped.

Copier Management Device The copier management device 2 operates as shown in FIG. In step S11, it is determined whether the maintenance start signal is received from the copying machine 1. When the maintenance start signal is received, the process proceeds to step S12. In step S12, communication is performed with the host computer 4 via the NCU 43 and the modem 47. In step S13, the paper passing count sensor 3 of the copier 1 under maintenance.
The number of copies counted by 3 is transmitted to the host computer 4. In step S14, it is determined whether or not the maintenance end signal from the copying machine 1 is received. Until the maintenance end signal is received, the process proceeds to step S13, and the number of copies under maintenance is continuously transmitted to the host computer 4. If it is determined in step S14 that the maintenance end signal from the copying machine 1 is received, the process proceeds to step S15. In step S15, the communication with the host computer 4 ends.

In step S16, it is determined whether or not the current time by the timepiece IC 46 is the regular communication time.
If it is determined that the regular communication time has come, the process proceeds to step S17. In step S17, the NCU 43 and the modem 4
It communicates with the host computer 4 via 7. When the line with the host computer 4 is connected in step S17, various operation data in the copying machine 1 is transmitted to the host computer 4 in step S18. At this time, the host computer 4 obtains a total count based on the sheet passing count sensor 33 of the copying machine 1 together with various operation data of the copying machine 1 stored in the RAM 45.
Send to the side. In step S19, the communication with the host computer 4 ends. In step S20, other processing is performed.

Host Computer The host computer 4 operates based on the flowchart shown in FIG. In step S21, it is determined whether there is a call during maintenance from the copying machine management device 2. If there is a call during maintenance, the process proceeds to step S22. Step S22
Then, the number of copies of the copying machine 1 transmitted from the copying machine management device 2 is received and stored as a maintenance number.
In step S23, it is determined whether or not a signal for ending communication is received from the copying machine management device 2. Until the communication indicating the end of communication is received, the process proceeds to step S22, and the number of copies transmitted from the copying machine management device 2 is added to the number of maintenance sheets. When the communication indicating the end of communication is received in step S23, the process proceeds to step S24 and the communication with the copying machine management device 2 is ended. After this, the process proceeds to step S25.

In step S25, it is determined whether or not there is a periodical call from the copying machine management device 2. If there is a periodic call from the copying machine management device 2, the process proceeds to step S26. In step S26, various operation data of the copying machine 1 stored in the RAM 45 of the copying machine management device 2 are received and stored in the copying machine management database of the external storage device 57. Step S27
Then, the communication with the copier management device 2 is terminated.

In step S28, it is determined whether or not the closing date for monthly settlement is reached. If the closing date of the monthly settlement is not reached, the process proceeds to step S29. In step S29, the actual number of sheets used by the user is calculated according to the total count of the number of sheets copied from the operation data of the copying machine 1 received in step S26 and the number of maintenance sheets counted in step S22. In step S30, step S
The billing monthly amount of the maintenance contract is calculated according to the number of sheets used by the user calculated in 29. In step S31, a bill is issued based on the billing amount calculated in step S30. In step S32, other processing is performed.

In this embodiment, when a serviceman arrives at the copying machine 1 and operates the maintenance start button, the copying machine management device communicates with the host computer, and the number of copies made by the serviceman during the maintenance process is calculated by the host computer. Count in real time on the side.
The total number of copies (total count) in the copying machine 1 is received by the host computer through data communication during regular communication and managed in the copying machine management database. Therefore, the number obtained by subtracting the maintenance number from the total count on the closing day when the monthly settlement is performed can be calculated as the actual number used by the user. The billing amount calculated based on the number of sheets used by the user is an accurate one, which is obtained by subtracting the number of sheets for maintenance by the service person.

[Other Embodiments] When the maintenance start button is operated, the number of maintenance sheets under maintenance processing in the copying machine management device 2 is stored in the RAM 45, and is sent to the host computer as the maintenance sheet number during regular communication. It is also possible to configure.

[0031]

In the management system for the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the number of image formations during the maintenance process is managed by the test count management means, and the total number of image formations and the test count management means managed by the total count management means. Since the number of times of image formation by the user is calculated based on the number of times of image formation to be managed, it is possible to accurately manage the actual number of times of image formation by the user.

When the image forming apparatus is connected to the host computer through a line, the total number of image formations and the number of image formations during the maintenance processing are transmitted by communication, so that the image by the actual user in the host computer is transmitted. It is possible to accurately grasp the number of times of formation. If the image forming apparatus communicates with the host computer to transmit the number of times of image formation during maintenance processing when the maintenance instruction unit issues an instruction to start maintenance, the number of times of image formation during maintenance processing is transmitted to the host computer. It can be managed in real time on the computer side.

When the image forming apparatus is provided with a storage means for storing the total number of image formations and the number of image formations during maintenance processing, the number of image formations during maintenance processing should be transmitted to the host computer during regular communication. It is possible to accurately grasp the number of times of image formation by the user. When the host computer is configured to calculate the billing amount of the maintenance contract based on the number of times of image formation by the user calculated by the use count calculation means, the total count is obtained by removing the number of times of image formation during maintenance processing from the total count. An accurate billing amount can be calculated based on this, and an invoice can be issued based on this accurate billing amount.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a management system of an image forming apparatus to which an embodiment of the present invention is adopted.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of a copying machine to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is a control block diagram of the copying machine.

FIG. 4 is a control block diagram of a copier management device.

FIG. 5 is a control block diagram of a host computer.

FIG. 6 is a control flowchart of the copying machine.

FIG. 7 is a control flowchart of a copier management device.

FIG. 8 is a control flowchart of the host computer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Copying Machine 2 Copying Machine Management Device 3 Public Line 4 Host Computer 23 Operation Panel 33 Paper Counting Sensor 34 Maintenance Start / End Button 35 Interface 43 NCU 47 Modem 55 CRT 57 External Storage Device

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Fumio Aizawa 1-2-2 Tamatsukuri, Chuo-ku, Osaka Mita Engineering Co., Ltd.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A total count management unit for managing the total number of times of image formation in an image forming apparatus, a maintenance instruction unit for instructing the start and end of maintenance processing, and a maintenance process underway based on an instruction from the maintenance instruction unit. A test count management unit that manages the number of image formations, a total image formation count that the total count management unit manages, and an image formation count that the user manages based on the image formation count managed by the test count management unit An image forming apparatus management system, comprising: a use count calculating unit. 2. The image forming apparatus communicates with the maintenance instructing means, a counting means for counting the number of times of image formation, and a host computer connected via a line, and an operation including a counting result of the counting means. The management system for an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a communication control unit that transmits data, wherein the host computer includes the total count management unit, the test count management unit, and the usage count calculation unit. 3. The communication control unit, upon receiving a maintenance start instruction from the maintenance instruction unit, communicates with the host computer and transmits the number of image formations counted by the counting unit during maintenance processing. Item 2
An image forming apparatus management system described in 1. 4. The image forming apparatus comprises storage means for storing the total number of times of image formation counted by the counting means and the number of times of image formation during maintenance processing, and the communication control means has the host computer at a predetermined time. The contents stored in the storage means by communicating with
The management system of the image forming apparatus according to claim 2. 5. The host computer further comprises a charge amount calculation means for calculating a charge amount for a maintenance contract based on the calculation result of the use count calculation means.
The management system for an image forming apparatus according to claim 2.