JPS6151162A - Controller of copying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform departmental control over the utilization state of the copying machine by calculating the kind of the copying machine in use and the charge corresponding to form size on the basis of the departmental counted values of the quantity of copies which are taken, and displaying them departmentally. CONSTITUTION:When the kind of equipment is set by the equipment kind setter 121 of the controller 100, an enable signal EN is supplied to a copying machine 10 or 20 through a CPU110, etc., and a card is read by a card reader 122, so that the CPU110 identifies department information. Then, a count signal CT, form size information SD, etc., from the copying machine 10 or 20 in use are supplied to the CPU110 to count the quantity of copies which are taken, and the charge corresponding to the kind of the equipment and form size is calculated by using a coefficient corresponding to each kind of equipment in a coefficient memory 131 and totalized departmentally. Then, the departmental charge in a totalization period specified on a keyboard 123 is displayed on a display device 150 through a data memory 140, thereby performing the departmental control over the utilization state of the copying machine.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a copying machine management device that is connected to a copying machine and manages the usage status of the copying machine.

[Conventional technology]

For example, in a company or government office that has many departments due to the division of work, when people from each department share one or more copying machines, the copy machine is generally used. In other words, this type of management device connects the same copying machine to the same copying machine to facilitate management of its usage status. In order to accurately understand whether or not the copying machine is used, the copying machine can be used only after the department information for identifying the copying machine user's department is entered accurately, for example, using a magnetic card or keyboard. This makes it possible to easily manage which department uses the same copy style and how many times.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, although the conventional management device described above facilitates the management of the usage status of the connected copying machine, it only has the function of simply counting, storing and displaying the number of copies taken for each department. First, it was functionally inadequate when actively trying to reduce costs or when trying to perform more detailed management of consumables such as copy paper.

[Means and effects for solving the problem] The present invention not only counts the number of copies collected for each department as described above, but also determines the model of the copying machine used and the paper of the collected copies based on the counted value. The copying fee is also calculated according to the size, and the result of this calculation can also be visually displayed as appropriate.

In other words, when considering the above copying fee, strictly speaking, the type of copying machine used or the collected copy 1:
- The fee structure differs depending on the paper size, etc., and there is a means to recognize the model of the copying machine used above, a means to recognize the paper size of the collected copy, and a method to recognize the model and paper size of the copy machine used. A calculation means is provided to calculate the required copying fee by determining the calculation coefficient in the fee system based on the above-mentioned coefficient and multiplying the determined coefficient by the applicable one of the above counted values, and calculating the copying fee for each department,
Furthermore, the total copying charges and the like for each department for a predetermined period are displayed visually.

〔Effect of the invention〕

Therefore, according to the three-copy machine management device according to the present invention, it becomes possible to manage the usage status of the same copy machine, including the copying fees actually spent by each department, and to manage the budget for each department and the management of consumables. Interest rate management etc. will also become extremely easy.

Embodiment] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a copying machine management device according to the present invention. Note that this type of management equipment usually has one copy machine and one
In this example, for convenience of explanation, it is assumed that two copiers with different QFffl, that is, with different copy fee structures, are connected and managed simultaneously. The following is a case in which

Now, in FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 denotes the management device of the same embodiment, and this management device [100 includes f, respectively, as described above.
Two copying machines 10 and 20, a first copying machine and a second copying machine 20 having different ftfffl, are connected as shown. These KS 1 and the second copying machines 10 and 20 are enabled to operate with the copying machine by transmitting an enable signal EN from the management device 100, and are designated or detected as appropriate when driving the copying machine. Information indicating the size of the copy paper (paper size information) SD and a count signal CT that notifies you of this each time the same copy is taken.
The control unit 11 sends the information to the management device 100.
and 21, respectively, and the usage status of the same lj(v, 10 and 20) is substantially managed via these control units 11 and 21.

First, the functions of each block that makes up this management device 100 will be explained.

Interfaces 101 and 102 are connected to the management device 1.
When transmitting and receiving the above-mentioned enable signal EN, paper→noise information SD, and count signal CT between the CPU 00 (described later) and the control units 11 and 21 of the copying machines 10 and 20, these are mutually transmitted. This is a circuit that converts or formats data appropriately for processing.

The CPU 110 uses the interfaces 101 and 1
02, M[setting device 121, card league 122. Keyboard 123. Coefficient memory 131. Data memory 132. It is a device that exchanges necessary data with the program memory 140 and display device 150 and executes various arithmetic processes centrally. Note that this execution program is stored in advance in the program memory 140, and a specific example of its operation will be described in detail later.

The raccoon setting device 121 is configured with an appropriate switch means such as a button switch or a key switch to enable the CPU 110 to identify the copying machine to be used.
Particularly in this embodiment, the above-mentioned rζ and second copying machine 10 and 2
By selecting and setting one of 0 that is desired to be used, the machine functions to send machine fence information MCF corresponding to the selected close-up camera to the CPU 110.

The card reader 22 reads the written information by inserting each card (for example, a magnetic card) into a card insertion section (not shown) on which different information indicating each department is written. It is a reading device, and the read information is sent to the CPU1 as department information SCF.
Send on 10.

It is assumed that the above-mentioned cards are distributed in advance to each department number, or are collectively stored in appropriate department numbers.

The keyboard 123 has at least a tally key and a clear key, and when you want aggregated data regarding the usage status of the copying machine on a weekly, monthly, or yearly basis, or after the aggregated data, you can use the data as described below. When it is desired to clear the stored contents of the memory 32, the CPU 32
110, inputs and commands other necessary matters related to the same management, and also sends instructions to the above-mentioned department information SCF.
It is assumed that inputs such as the following can also be performed based on appropriate key operations.

The coefficient memory 131 contains basic charge data A when copies are made by the vJ1 copying machine 10.

and the basic charge data B for making copies by the second copying machine 20 are stored in a table as shown in Table 1 below, and the paper size of the collected copies, for example, JIS standard A column 3. (hereinafter A
3 size), No. 4 in row B (hereinafter referred to as B4 size), No. 4 in row A (hereinafter referred to as A4 size), and No. 4 in row A (hereinafter referred to as A4 size), and No. 4 in row B (hereinafter referred to as A4 size).
Correction data al b l that further corrects the basic charges for each model according to column 5 (hereinafter referred to as B5 size) ζζ
This is a memory that stores CI and d in tables as shown in Table 2 below, and when calculating the copying charge described later, the basic charge data A and B are used according to the contents of the model information MCF. and operates to output either one of the correction data al b IC2 and d according to the content of the paper size information SD. Incidentally, based on the above model information MCF and paper size information SD, these basic charge data (A, B) and correction data (azbs
The CPU IIQζ that has read out the count signal CT calculates the copying fee by performing calculations such as count value X(AorB)X(aorborcord) based on the count value (number of copies to be collected) of the count signal CT.

Table 1 Table 2 Data memory 132 stores the model information MCF set above.
, the input department information SCF, the paper size information SD imported from the copying machine, the counted value of the count signal CT indicating the number of copies taken, and data indicating the copying fee calculated based on these, etc. Department information S
This is a memory that stores data for each CF at any time.

As mentioned above, the program memory 140 is
This is a memory in which execution programs related to various operations of l0 are stored in advance.

The display device 150 is a device that visually displays various information and data stored in the data memory 132, as well as aggregated data on the number of copies and copying fees, etc., in association with each department.

Hereinafter, an example of the operation of the management device 100 of the embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

Now, prior to making a copy, a person desiring to make a copy (hereinafter referred to as a user for convenience) selects one of the first and second copiers 10 and 20 that he/she desires to use through the model setting device 121. If the selected setting is made, the CPU IQ determines this (step SL), takes in the tffi fJ information MCF related to the setting, and temporarily stores it in the internal memory of the CPU 110 or the data memory 132. Although not shown in FIG. 2, the selected model may be visually displayed on the display device 150 at this point to facilitate user confirmation.

Next, when the card owned by the same user dedicated to the department is passed through the card reader 122 and the department information SCF of the department is read, the CPU 110 determines this (step S2) and reads the department information SCF that has been read. Once imported, it is checked whether the imported department information SCF is correct, that is, whether the card reader 122 has read it correctly (step S3).
).

This is achieved, for example, by collation with the entire amount of department information SCF that is registered in advance inside the CPU IIQ (or data memo IJ 132 ). Note that whether or not this is appropriate is also communicated to the user through the display device Fi: 150, and if the department information SCF is not read correctly, a request is made to have the user read the same card reader 122 again. In some cases, the department information SCF may also be input through the keyboard 123.

When the department information SCF is correctly input, the CPU 110 next transmits an enable signal EN to the copier corresponding to the set machine type information MCF to enable it to operate (step S4). For example, if the first copying machine 10 is selected, the enable signal EN is transmitted to the control unit 11 through the interface 101, and if the second copying machine 20 is selected, the enable signal EN is transmitted to the control unit 11 through the interface 102. The enable signal EN is transmitted to the control unit 21. Thereafter, a well-known copying operation is executed in the selected copying machine.

Tube ML! caioo executes the following process in conjunction with the copying operation.

First, the information SD regarding the paper size specified by the user for the copying machine or automatically selected by the document size detection means, etc. is accepted (step S5), and this information is also stored in the internal memory of the CPU IIQ or directly in the data memory. 132 and the count signal C
The number of copies to be collected for the paper size is counted based on T (step S6). And after this counting, C
The PU 110 receives the basic charge data A and B from the coefficient memory 131 as well as the correction data a and b.

Corresponding coefficient data are selectively read out from the images C and d, respectively, and the above-mentioned calculation of the copying fee is performed (step 87). For example, right now, 1st vJ, military aircraft 10 is selected, and the same copy P! If 15 A4 size copies are taken from Alo, the copy fee will be calculated as follows: Copy fee = 15XAx ( After calculating the copy fee in this way,
CPU110 further displays the copying machine (model) used, the department name (or number), and the like through the display device 150.
When visually displaying the paper size, the number of collected sheets, the copying fee, etc. (step S8),
These display information are stored in the data memory 132 (step S9).

Because the above operations by the user and the processing by the management device 100 are repeatedly executed (when a user in the same department continuously collects copies using the same model, the steps 81 to 83 of the same user are (The above operations are omitted), and the above various information and data are sequentially stored in the data memory 132 in the format 7:iJi as shown in Table 3 below, for example.

Table 3 However, copying fees shown in this Table 3 The value of gold is Basic charge data A=15 Same B=10 Correction data a = 1.6 Same b = 1.4 Same C=1.2 Same d=1.0' This is the value calculated based on the provisional assumption.

As mentioned above, if the aggregation key of the keyboard 123 is operated by a staff member in the management department on a weekly, monthly, or yearly basis, for example, the CPU 1
The 1Q determines this (step 5IO) and performs aggregation calculations on the number of copies to be taken, copying fees, etc. for each department from the information and data stored in the data memory 132 (step 511), and also calculates the aggregation results. is displayed on the display device 150 (step 512).

When displaying this display, if the display area of the display device 150 is small and the total data of all departments cannot be displayed at once, the data related to any department ζζ may be displayed based on the appropriate operation by the staff member etc. Assume that aggregated data is displayed at any time. Of course, this aggregation-related operation is executed each time the aggregation key is operated, regardless of the units such as weekly, monthly, yearly, etc., and the data at the time the aggregation key is operated is calculated. Aggregation is performed based on.

In this way, according to this embodiment management device 100, it is possible to accurately obtain information on the copying fees spent in each department, which in turn makes it possible to carry out more detailed and rational copying machine management. .

Incidentally, after the above-mentioned totaling and this confirmation, if these data are no longer needed, the clear key on the keyboard 123 is operated. When the CPU 11Q determines this (step 513), it clears the information stored in the data memo IJ 132 (step 514) and clears the information stored in the data memo IJ 132 (step 514).
Initialize o.

Incidentally, in this embodiment, the operation mode and operation mode have been explained on the assumption that two copying machines are connected to the management device 100, but in the first place, the model setting device 121 is connected to the management device 100 in advance. Copying machines that are expected to be connected can be identified and set regardless of their level, and the number of connected copying machines (IJ type) is as follows:
There is no stipulation even if there is one or three or more. Of course, when dealing with many types of copying machines with different fee structures, the basic fee data stored in advance in the coefficient memory 131 is also increased in accordance with this number.

Furthermore, even if a plurality of copying machines of the same type, ie, the same charge system, are connected, the model information MC
By using F, the copying machine in use can be effectively identified. That is, in this case, an identification bit for identifying this actually used copying machine may be added to the machine a identification bit of the same model information MCF by, for example, adding a switch means of the model setting device 121. As a result, the management device 1
00 can be applied more widely.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 shows a copying machine according to this invention! FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of the management device of FIG. 10, 20... copying machine, 11.21... control unit,
100... Management device, 101, 102... Interface, 110... CPU, 121... Machine d setting device, 122... Card reader, 123... Keyboard, 131... Coefficient memory, 132...Data memory, 140...Program memory, 150...Display device.

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a copying machine management device that is electrically connected to a copying control unit of a copying machine and manages usage status of the copying machine, a setting means for setting model information for identifying the model of the connected copying machine; An input means for inputting department information for identifying the department of the copier user, a counting means for counting the number of copies collected by the copier, and paper size information indicating the paper size of the collected copies. a first calculating means for calculating a copying fee according to the setting model information and the received paper size information based on the counted value of the counting means; 1. A copying machine management device comprising: second calculation means for performing aggregation calculations for each piece of information; and display means for appropriately visually displaying the calculated information in association with the department information.