JPH10105011A - Recording output service charging device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recording output service charging device which sets the recording raw material quantity required for recording output and the charging fare corresponding to the kinds, etc., of recording paper. SOLUTION: The copying service charging device 1 reads the images of originals by the copying function section 4 of an image reading and output function section 2 and records the images on the recording paper by an electrophotographic system. At this time, the toner adhesion of the recording paper is detected by a toner adhesion reading function section 7. An adhered toner integrated value calculating function section 8 of a charging function section 3 calculates the integrated quantity of the toner adhesion of every recording paper. A copying service fare calculating function section 10 calculates the copying service fare of every recording paper and calculates the total copying service fare required for copying of all the originals in accordance with the integrated value of the toner adhesion of this time and the results of the selection of the recording paper in a used copying paper selecting section 9. A copying service fare display function section 11 display the total copying service fare. A toner concn. control function section 6 controls the toner concn. of the copying function section 4 in accordance with the detection results of the toner adhesion reading function section 7.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a recording output service charging apparatus, and more particularly, to a charging method that can be used in accordance with the use status of a recording material used for recording an image of a document, such as an amount and a recording size. The present invention relates to a recording output service billing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a copying service or the like using a copying machine or the like, a charging fee is conventionally set according to the number of copies and the size of a copy image (for example, A4 or A3 copy size). Also, when copying on paper brought by a person receiving the recording output service, the charging fee for the copying service is constant, and in the case of copying and outputting color images, the fee is higher than that for monochrome images. , Is set constant as a color image output fee.

Conventionally, there is a copy service billing apparatus and a copy service billing system (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-89362) for easily charging such a recording output service.

In this method, a charging device is connected to a copying machine, a usage fee is calculated based on data on the number of copies output from the copying machine, and the calculated usage fee is printed on a predetermined card-like sheet with a bar code. This facilitates the settlement of the fee.

[0005]

However, in such a conventional image output charging apparatus, only the number of output images, the size of output image paper, and whether the image is a color image or a monochrome image is used. Since the charging fee for the recording output service was set, the charging system was uniform, and it was not possible to perform detailed charging, and there was a feeling of inequality.

That is, even if the size of the output image paper is the same, there is a difference in the size of the output image itself, and there is a difference in the cost of output raw materials (recording raw material) such as toner.
Also in a color image, there is a difference in recording material costs required for image output such as toner depending on a color ratio of a color. Further, even when the user of the recording output service brings the output paper, inequality is given at the same fee as when the user does not bring the output paper.

Therefore, the invention according to claim 1 detects the integrated amount of the recording material used for recording and outputting the image of the document on the recording paper, and based on the detection result of the integrated amount of the recording material, the recording fee is calculated. It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording output service billing apparatus capable of billing a recording fee in accordance with the amount of recording material used by calculating the recording material, and performing billing without inequality.

The invention according to a second aspect of the present invention provides a recording paper selection specification such as a recording paper brought by a user, a recording paper set in a recording output service charging apparatus and a size of the recording paper, and a detected recording material amount. By calculating the recording fee based on the above, even when recording on a recording paper brought by the user, etc., a recording output service charging that can perform a more detailed and appropriate charging without inequality. It is intended to provide a device.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, by directly detecting the recording material on the recording paper, the integrated amount of the recording material is appropriately detected regardless of the image recording method, and the recording fee is calculated. It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording output service charging apparatus capable of calculating a recording fee appropriately and performing charging without inequality.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the amount of recording material used for recording output is controlled based on the detection result of the amount of recording material detected at the time of calculating the recording fee. It is another object of the present invention to provide a recording output service billing apparatus capable of appropriately controlling the recording density at low cost.

[0011]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording output service billing apparatus for capturing an image of a document and recording and outputting the image of the document on recording paper using a predetermined recording material. A recording output service billing device for calculating a recording fee, wherein the recording raw material amount detecting means for detecting an integrated amount of the recording raw material used for the recording output, and the recording based on a detection result of the recording raw material amount detecting means. The above object is achieved by providing a fee calculating means for calculating a fee.

Here, the document may be a document having an image recorded on paper, a document having an image recorded on a floppy disk, or a document having an image obtained by communication such as a facsimile reception / recording service. And so on.
In addition, the recording of the image of the original is performed by an electrophotographic recording device,
Including an image recording apparatus such as an ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording using various recording methods, the recording material used for recording an image of a document differs depending on the recording method.

According to the above arrangement, the integrated amount of the recording material used for recording and outputting the image of the document on the recording paper is detected, and the recording fee is calculated based on the detection result of the integrated amount of the recording material. In addition, the recording fee can be charged according to the amount of the recording material used, and the fee without inequality can be charged.

In this case, for example, as set forth in claim 2, the recording output service charging device is set in the recording output service charging device, such as a recording paper brought by a user as the recording paper to be used. Recording paper specifying means for selecting and specifying which of the recording papers to use and the size of the recording paper, and the fee calculation means,
The recording fee may be calculated according to a detection result of the recording raw material amount detecting means and a designation of the recording paper by the recording paper designating means.

According to the above configuration, the recording paper brought by the user, the recording paper set in the recording output service charging apparatus and the designation of the recording paper such as the size of the recording paper, the detected amount of the recording material, Since the recording fee is calculated based on the
Even when recording on recording paper brought by the user,
It is possible to perform more detailed and appropriate charging without inequality.

Further, for example, the recording raw material amount detecting means may detect an integrated amount of the recording raw material on the recording paper.

According to the above configuration, since the recording material on the recording paper is directly detected, the recording charge can be calculated by appropriately detecting the integrated amount of the recording material regardless of the image recording method. By appropriately calculating the recording fee, it is possible to perform charging without inequality.

Further, for example, as set forth in claim 4, the recording output service billing device controls the amount of the recording material used for the recording output based on the detection result of the recording material amount detecting means. The recording material control means may be further provided.

According to the above configuration, the amount of recording material used for recording output is controlled based on the result of detection of the amount of recording material detected when calculating the recording fee, so that the configuration is simple and inexpensive. Thus, the recording density can be appropriately controlled.

[0020]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The embodiments described below are preferred embodiments of the present invention, and are therefore limited in various technically preferred manners. However, the scope of the present invention is not particularly limited in the following description. The present invention is not limited to these embodiments unless stated to limit the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a recording output service billing apparatus according to the present invention, which is applied to a copy service billing apparatus.

1 to 4, a copy service charging apparatus (recording output service charging apparatus) 1 includes an image reading / output function unit 2 and a charging function unit 3.

The image reading / output function unit 2 is a normal copying apparatus, and includes a copying function unit 4, a control function unit 5, a toner density control function unit 6, a toner adhesion amount reading function unit 7, and the like.

The billing function unit 3 includes an attached toner accumulated amount calculation function unit 8, a used copy paper selection unit 9, a copy service charge calculation function unit 10, a copy service or charge presentation function unit 11, and the like.

Copy function unit 4 of image reading / output function unit 2
Is a functional unit having a normal electrophotographic copying function, and includes an image reading unit and an image recording unit. The copying function unit 4 includes a light source, an optical system, a photoelectric conversion unit, and the like. The scanning unit scans a document, reads an image of the document, and outputs a multi-valued gradation signal to the image of the copying function unit 4. Output to the recording unit. The image recording unit of the copy function unit 4 compares, for example, a gradation signal input from the image reading unit of the copy function unit 4 with a predetermined threshold value when the document image is a simple binary image,
If the original is a halftone image such as a photograph, it is converted to a halftone binary image signal having a predetermined gradation.

As shown in FIG. 2, the image recording section of the copying function section 4 includes a photosensitive member 20 and a developing section 21, and a toner adhesion amount reading function section 7 is provided. The photoconductor 20 is driven to rotate in a direction indicated by an arrow in FIG. 2 by a motor or the like (not shown), and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photoconductor 20 by light such as a laser based on the image data read by the image reading unit. Is done. A toner 22 as a recording material is attached to the photoreceptor 20 on which the electrostatic latent image is formed from a developing unit 21 rotated in a direction indicated by an arrow in FIG. The toner 22 is a black toner when the document is a black and white image, and is a CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black) color toner when the document is a color image.

The toner 22 adhered to the photoconductor 20 is transported in a direction indicated by an arrow in FIG.
The toner 22 transferred to the recording paper 23 and transferred to the recording paper 23 is heated by a fixing unit (not shown) and fixed to the recording paper 23, and the recording paper 23 on which the toner 22 is fixed is The recording paper is discharged to a recording paper tray (not shown). As shown in FIG. 3, the toner adhering amount reading mechanism 7 is located in the middle of the conveyance path of the recording paper 23 onto which the toner 22 is transferred.
The toner adhering amount reading mechanism unit 7 detects the adhering amount of the toner 22 transferred to the recording paper 23 and outputs the detected amount to the control function unit 5.

As shown in FIG. 3, the toner adhering amount reading mechanism (recording material amount detecting means) 7 has at least the width of the maximum size of the recording paper 23 that can be copied by the copying mechanism 2. Therefore, a normal photo sensor array is used. That is, the toner adhering amount reading mechanism unit 7 includes, for example,
As shown in FIG. 4, a large number of reflective photocouplers 7a are arranged in the length direction of the toner adhesion amount reading mechanism 7.
Each photocoupler 7a includes a light emitting element 24 and a light receiving element 25. The light emitting element 24 irradiates the recording paper 23 with light and the reflected light is received by the light receiving element 25. As described above, the toner adhesion amount reading mechanism unit 7
3 is irradiated with light from the light emitting element 24, the reflected light is received by the light receiving element 25, and the toner 2 transferred onto the recording paper 23 is
2 and outputs the detection result to the control function unit 5.

The toner density control function section (recording material control means) 6 controls the image density by the copy function section 4 via the control function section 5. In the present embodiment, the toner density control function unit 6 controls the image density based on the toner adhesion amount read by the toner adhesion amount reading function unit 7.

The integrated toner amount calculating section (recording material amount detecting means) 8 of the charging function section 3 has a toner adhering amount read by the toner adhering amount reading function section 7 from the control function section 5, that is, one line. The toner adhesion amount for each is entered,
The attached toner accumulated amount calculation function unit 8 integrates the attached amount of toner on the entire recording paper 23 from the toner attached amount for each line input from the control function unit 5 and outputs the accumulated amount to the control function unit 5.

The control function unit 5 controls the copy service charging apparatus 1 based on a program stored in its internal memory.
The image reading / output function unit 2 and the charging function unit 3 are controlled to execute processing as the copy service charging apparatus 1.

Copy paper selection section (recording paper designating means) 9
Is the size of the recording paper 23, for example, whether to use the recording paper 23 provided in the copying function unit 4 or to use the recording paper 23 brought by the user who uses the copy service charging apparatus 1. A recording paper (copy paper) 23 used for copying of A4 size, A3 size, B4 size, B5 size, or the like is selected, and the selection result is output to the control function unit 5.

Control function unit 5 of image reading / output function unit 2
When the integrated toner amount of the entire recording paper 23 is input from the integrated toner amount calculator 8, the integrated toner amount is output to the copy service fee calculation function unit 10. When the result of selection of the used recording paper 23 is input from, the selection result of the used recording paper 23 is output to the copy service charge calculation function unit 10.

Copy service charge calculation unit (charge calculation means)
When the selection result of the used recording paper 23 and the integrated amount of the attached toner are input from the control function unit 5, a copy service or fee is calculated for each page (each recording paper 23) of the recording paper 23,
When the user completes the copy service, the total copy service fee is calculated by adding the copy service fee for each recording paper 23, and the calculated total copy service or fee is output to the control function unit 5. The formula for calculating the copy service fee by the copy service fee calculation unit 10, the unit price of the toner 22 used for the calculation, the unit price of the recording paper 23, and the like are stored in advance in the internal memory of the copy service fee calculation unit 10. In addition, the unit price of the toner 22 and the unit price of the recording paper 23 can be appropriately changed.

When the total copy service charge is input from the copy service charge calculation function unit 10, the control function unit 5 outputs the input total copy service or charge to the copy service charge presentation function unit 11.

The copy service fee presentation function unit 11 is formed of, for example, a liquid crystal display, and displays and outputs the total copy service fee input from the control function unit 5 as a copy service fee. Note that the copy service fee presentation function unit 11 is not limited to the above-described display-output unit, and may be, for example, a unit that outputs audio, or a unit that performs both audio output and display output. .

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described. When using the copy service billing apparatus 1, the user of the copy service billing apparatus 1 selects the recording paper (copy paper) 23 to be used from the used copy paper selection unit 9. At this time, when the user performs recording on the brought recording paper 23,
This is input from the used copy paper selecting section 9.

The copy paper selection section 9 is used for the recording paper 2 to be used.
When 3 is selected and input, the selection result is output to the control function unit 5.

Upon receiving a request for a copy service, the copy service charging apparatus 1 copies the original set in the copy function unit 4 to the original.
The image is read by the image reading unit of the copying function unit 4, and it is necessary to perform simple binarization, halftone binarization or color binarization of the image of the document read by the image reading unit, and enlarge or reduce the image. Then, the binary data is output to the image recording unit of the copying function unit 4 after performing the appropriate image processing.

The image recording section of the copy function section 4 forms an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member 20 based on the image data read by the image reading section of the copy function section 4, and forms the electrostatic latent image. The developing unit 21 attaches the toner 22 to the photoconductor 20 and transfers the toner 22 on the photoconductor 20 to the recording paper 23. After the recording paper 23 to which the toner 22 has been transferred is subjected to a fixing process, the recording paper 23 is output to a recording paper tray.

The toner adhesion amount transferred onto the recording paper 23 is detected (read) by the toner adhesion amount reading function unit 7 and output to the control function unit 5. The control function unit 5 outputs the toner adhesion amount on the recording paper 23 detected by the toner adhesion amount reading function unit 7 to the accumulated toner accumulation amount calculation function unit 8. The integrated amount of the adhered toner 22 is calculated for each, and the accumulated amount of the adhered toner is output to the control function unit 5. The control function unit 5 outputs to the copy service charge calculation function unit 10 the integration toner adhesion amount input from the adhesion toner accumulation amount calculation function unit 8 and the selection result of the recording paper 23 selected and input from the used copy paper selection unit 9. The copy service charge calculation function unit 10 is configured to calculate the accumulated toner adhesion amount calculated by the adhesion toner accumulation amount calculation function unit 8 and the copy paper selection unit 9 to be used.
Of the recording paper 23 selected and input from, and the recording paper 2
A copy service fee for each recording paper 23 is calculated based on a unit price of 3 and a unit price of the toner 22 based on an arithmetic expression set in advance.

When the copying (copying) of all the originals is completed, the copy service fee calculating function unit 10 returns to the recording paper 23
The total copy service fee calculated for each is calculated, and the total copy service or fee is output to the control function unit 5.

When the total copy service charge is input from the copy service charge calculation function unit 10, the control function unit 5 displays the total copy service charge in the copy service charge presentation function unit 11.
And causes the copy service fee presentation function unit 11 to present the fee required for the current copy service as a copy service fee by display, audio output, or the like.

Therefore, in the copy service, a copy service fee corresponding to the amount of toner consumed when outputting a copy can be set, and a fair copy service charge can be set.

In addition, when a paper charge is added depending on the paper size or when paper is brought in, the paper charge can be set free of charge, and the recording output service can be set even more evenly. .

Further, the toner density control function unit 6 controls the toner 2 by the copying function unit 4 via the control function unit 5 based on the detection result of the toner adhesion amount by the toner adhesion amount reading function unit 7.
2, the recording density can be controlled with a simple configuration and at low cost.

Although the invention made by the inventor has been specifically described based on the preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. It goes without saying that it is possible.

For example, in the above embodiment, the toner adhesion amount reading function unit 7 is disposed at a position for detecting the adhesion amount of the toner 22 after being transferred to the recording paper 23.
The attachment position of the toner adhesion amount reading function unit 7 is not limited to the above-described position. For example, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the attachment position is provided at a position where the toner 22 attached to the photoconductor 20 is detected. Alternatively, when there is another intermediate support, the intermediate support may be provided at a position where a recording material such as the toner 22 on the intermediate support is detected.

In the above embodiment, an electrophotographic image recording unit using toner is used for the copying function unit 4. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a sublimation type, an ink jet type, etc. It may be.

[0051]

According to the recording output service billing apparatus of the present invention, the integrated amount of the recording material used for recording and outputting the image of the original on the recording paper is detected, and the integrated amount of the recording material is detected. Since the recording fee is calculated based on the detection result, the recording fee can be charged in accordance with the amount of the recording material used, and the fee can be charged without feeling unequal.

According to the recording output service charging apparatus of the present invention, the user can select the recording paper brought by the user, the recording paper set in the recording output service charging apparatus, and the recording paper such as the size of the recording paper. Since the recording fee is calculated based on the specification and the detected recording material amount, even when recording on a recording paper brought by the user, etc., a more detailed and appropriate charging without inequality is performed. be able to.

According to the recording output service charging apparatus of the present invention, since the recording material on the recording paper is directly detected, the integrated amount of the recording material is appropriately detected regardless of the image recording method. It is possible to calculate the recording fee, calculate the recording fee appropriately, and perform the charging without inequality.

According to the recording output service charging apparatus of the present invention, the amount of recording material used for recording output is controlled based on the detection result of the recording material amount detected when calculating the recording fee. So, with a simple configuration, and
The recording density can be appropriately controlled at low cost.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram of a copy service charging apparatus to which a recording output service charging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a main part of an image recording unit of the copying function unit in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the image recording unit in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged front view of a toner adhesion amount reading function unit shown in FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 5 is a front view of a main part of the image recording unit in which a mounting position of the toner adhesion amount reading function unit of FIG. 2 is changed.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the image recording unit of FIG. 6;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Copy service billing device 2 Image reading / output function part 3 Billing function part 4 Copy function part 5 Control function part 6 Toner degree control function part 7 Toner adhesion amount reading function part 8 Adhered toner calculation function part 9 Selection of copy paper used Unit 10 Copy service charge calculation function unit 11 Copy service charge presentation function unit 20 Photoconductor 21 Developing unit 22 Toner 23 Recording paper 24 Light emitting element 25 Light receiving element

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A recording output service billing device for capturing an image of a document and calculating a recording fee for recording and outputting the image of the document on recording paper using a predetermined recording material,
Recording material amount detecting means for detecting the integrated amount of the recording material used for the recording output, and fee calculating means for calculating the recording fee based on the detection result of the recording material amount detecting means, A recording output service billing device characterized by the following. 2. The recording output service charging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recording paper used by said user is a recording paper brought by a user or said recording paper set in said recording output service charging apparatus. Recording paper specifying means for selecting and specifying a paper size and the like, wherein the fee calculating means is responsive to the detection result of the recording raw material amount detecting means and the recording paper specifying means for selecting and selecting the recording paper. The recording output service charging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording fee is calculated. 3. The recording output service charging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recording raw material amount detecting means detects an integrated amount of said recording raw material on said recording paper. 4. The recording output service billing apparatus further includes recording material control means for controlling the amount of the recording material used for the recording output based on the detection result of the recording material amount detecting means. 4. The recording output service charging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein: