JPH1184963A - Copying device capable of being provided with charge processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a copying device which can be provided with a charge processing device deciding a copying charge considering the sum of money for toner based on toner consumption and displaying it before starting copying operation. SOLUTION: Preliminary scanning is started by turning on a printing key (P3), the image data of every scanning line is counted in dot unit (pixel unit) at every image density level and the cumulative value of all the scanning lines of the entire surface of the original is stored in a memory (P4 and P5). A copying mode and other data are fetched (P6), and the toner consumption is calculated based on the cumulative value and toner adhesive amount corresponding to the image density level (P7). The sum of money for the toner consumption is calculated (P8), the sum of money based on recording paper is calculated from the size of the recording paper and the number of copies (P9), and both of them are added to calculate and display the copying charge (P10).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a copying apparatus to which a charge processing device can be attached.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At convenience stores,
A copying apparatus with a charge processing device is installed, and a copy service is performed in which a customer himself / herself inputs a copy charge into the charge processing device and performs a copying operation.

A charge processing device connected to the copying machine displays the amount of money input, and when the amount of money input is equal to or more than the minimum amount that allows copying operation, sends a copying operation permission signal to the copying device to perform the copying operation. Tolerate. When a copying operation is performed and a signal indicating this is received, a predetermined copy fee is subtracted from the input amount to display the remaining amount, and it is determined whether or not the remaining amount is equal to or more than the minimum fee that allows the copying operation.
If the copying operation is permissible, a signal is sent to the copying machine. If the remaining amount is equal to or less than the minimum fee for allowing the copying operation, a copying operation prohibition signal is sent to prohibit the copying operation of the copying machine.

[0004] As described above, the conventional fee processing device has a function of permitting and prohibiting the operation of the copying device by managing the input amount.

[0005]

The fee processing apparatus as described above has been used by being connected to a copying machine for copying an analog black-and-white image. Recently, however, a digital color copying machine has been used. -Has been used by being connected to a copying machine that performs the same.

However, in most of the conventional analog copying machines, the copying fee is set according to the size of the recording paper and the number of copies.

[0007] Since the cost required for copying is mostly for the recording paper and toner, the copy fee is set in consideration of the size of the recording paper, the number of copies, and the cost of the consumed toner. It is reasonable to do so, and a document having many image portions consumes much toner. Therefore, it is sufficient to judge the nature of the document and set the toner cost according to the degree of the image portion. However, the copying machine of the analog system cannot determine the nature of the document in advance, so that the toner consumption cannot be determined. Further, analog type copying machines are not suitable for reproducing smooth multi-level gradations such as photographic originals due to their gradation characteristics, and have been mainly used for copying character originals.

For this reason, in the conventional monochrome copying machine, the toner cost is estimated based on the average toner consumption when copying a character document, and the cost based on the recording paper size and the number of copies is estimated. Additions were made to determine the copy fee.

On the other hand, digital full-color copying machines can reproduce smooth multi-step gradations, and therefore often copy originals such as photographs and paintings. Such a color original is much more toner-toner than a black-and-white original.
Consumption increases. This is because the background portion of the image is also colored, so that the toner adheres also to this background portion, and three or four color toner images are superimposed to reproduce the color image. Is formed.

For this reason, conventionally, the copy fee of a full-color copying machine has a black / white ratio (hereinafter referred to as B
/ W ratio), the toner amount is estimated based on the toner consumption in the case of a document having a high ratio, and the cost based on the recording paper size and the number of copies is added to determine the copy fee.

However, recently, there is a demand to make a color copy of a color original, that is, a color original having a color other than black. The toner consumption in this case is smaller than the toner consumption of a document having a high B / W ratio, such as the above-mentioned photographic document. For this reason, the copy fee based on the toner consumption determined based on the document having a high B / W ratio has a disadvantage that the copy fee becomes too high.

Thus, in the case of full color copy,
Since the toner consumption fluctuates greatly depending on the nature of the document, the toner consumption is determined based on the toner consumption actually consumed or the estimated value without uniformly determining the toner consumption in advance. -It was desired to set a fee. An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems.

[0013]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems. According to a first aspect of the present invention, a copying machine can be operated when the remaining amount of money is displayed or more than a predetermined amount. A charge processing device for subtracting a predetermined copy fee from the balance each time a copying operation is performed and prohibiting a copying operation when the balance becomes less than the predetermined amount; and a copying device operating in conjunction with the fee processing device. A scanning device for scanning a document and outputting an image signal; and calculating image density information based on the image signal output from the scanning device. Toner consumption estimating means for estimating and calculating toner consumption based on image density information; and control means. The control means causes the scanning means to scan a document and
A copying process which can be provided with a charge processing device, wherein the toner consumption amount is estimated by the consumption amount estimating means, and a copy amount based on the toner consumption amount is determined from the calculated toner consumption amount. Device.

The control means sets a copy fee based on a sum of a copy amount based on the estimated toner consumption amount and a copy amount determined from the recording paper size and the number of copies to be used. The copy fee may be displayed on a display before the start of the copying operation.

The toner consumption estimating means calculates pixel-based density information based on the image signal output from the scanning means, and integrates the pixel-based density information to estimate toner consumption. Toner consumption estimation means.

Further, the display means may be a display device of an operation panel of a copying machine.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a scanning means for scanning an original to output an image signal, an image forming means for forming a toner image on a photosensitive member based on the image signal, and an image output from the scanning mechanism. Image-density information is calculated based on the obtained image signal, and toner-consumption estimation means for estimating and calculating toner consumption based on the calculated image-density information, and control means are provided. The copy fee is calculated based on the information such as the copy mode and the copy condition set in the above and the toner consumption information estimated and calculated by the toner consumption estimation means and output to an external fee processing device. A copying apparatus characterized by receiving information for controlling the operation of the copying apparatus output from an external fee processing apparatus and controlling the operation of the copying apparatus.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, each time a copy operation is performed, the remaining amount of the input amount is displayed, and when the remaining amount is equal to or more than a predetermined amount, information permitting the operation of the copying apparatus is output to an external copying apparatus. A predetermined copying fee is subtracted from the balance based on the information indicating the copying operation input to the copying device, and when the remaining balance is less than the predetermined amount, information for prohibiting the copying operation is output to an external copying device. A processing device, wherein the fee processing device, when receiving copy fee information from an external copying device, determines the predetermined copy fee based on the received copy fee information. It is a fee processing device of a copying machine.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

[Configuration of Copying Machine with Charge Processing Apparatus] FIG.
1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a copier with a fee processing device embodying the present invention, 11 is a copier, and 12 is a fee processing device. The fee processing device 12 includes an amount display unit 13 for displaying the inserted amount, and a coin return button 1 for returning inserted coins.
4, a coin slot 15 and a coin return slot 16 are provided.

The copying machine 11 and the fee processing device 12 are connected by a connection cable 17, and from the copying machine 11, copy mode information, information indicating that the copying operation is in progress and waiting, and the copying fee. The information is transmitted to the fee processing device 12. Further, information such as copy permission / non-permission information is transmitted from the fee processing device 12 to the copying machine 11.

Each of the copying machine 11 and the fee processing device 12 includes a control device (not shown), and controls operations of the copying machine and the fee processing device. The various control signals described below are exchanged between the CPU 1 forming the control device of the copying machine 11 and the CPU 2 forming the control device of the fee processing device.

FIG. 2 shows a control unit (CPU) of the copying machine 11.
It is a figure which shows the kind of signal exchanged between 1) and the control apparatus (CPU2) of a charge processing apparatus. The signals transmitted between the copying machine 11 and the fee processing device 12 and the operation of each device will be described below. That is, the fee processing device 12 outputs the amount of money (hereinafter referred to as a balance).
From the copy mode set by the copying machine, it is determined whether or not the copy is permitted. If the copy is permitted, a copy permission signal is output to the copying machine 11.

When receiving a copy permission signal from the charge processing device 12, the copying machine 11 sets the copying machine to a copy enabled state. Then, the user presses the start button to copy
When the operation is started, the copy operation information is output, and when the discharge of the recording paper is detected, the copy processing standby information and the information indicating the copy fee described later are output to the fee processing device 12. Other operations of the copying machine 11 will be described later in detail.

When the coin is inserted into the coin insertion slot 15, the charge processing device 12 displays the remaining amount on the amount display section 13.
If the balance is equal to or greater than the copy fee received from the copying machine 11, a copy permission signal is output to the copying machine. When receiving the standby information indicating the end of the copying operation from the copying machine 11, the received copy fee is subtracted from the balance at that time to display a new balance. If the new balance is equal to or greater than the copy fee received from the copying machine 11, a copy permission signal is output to the copying machine 11, and the new balance is required for the next copy.
When the charge is less than the charge, the copy prohibition information is output to the copying machine 11.

When the coin return button 14 is pressed, a coin corresponding to the balance at that time is discharged to the coin return slot 14.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view for explaining the internal configuration of the digital full-color copying machine 11. This copier comprises an image reader 101 for reading an original image and a printer 102 for forming an image on a recording sheet.

The image reader unit 101 includes a document table 10
3, a projection optical system including a scanner 104, mirrors 106 to 108, a condenser lens 109, and a full color C
It comprises a CD sensor 110. The document placed on the document table 103 is irradiated by an exposure lamp 105 of a scanner 104, and the reflected light forms an image on a full-color CCD sensor 110 via mirrors 106 to 108 and a condenser lens 109. The full color CCD sensor 110 converts reflected light from the original into red (R), green (G), and blue (B) electric signals (analog signals) and outputs the electric signals to the image signal processing unit 111.

The scanner 104 is a scanner motor 112.
Moves in the direction of the arrow (sub-scanning direction) to scan the entire document. The image signal processing unit 111 converts the input red (R), green (G), and blue (B) analog electric signals into a laser drive signal, which is a predetermined digital signal, and supplies the laser drive signal to the laser device 113. And modulates the laser light projected from the laser device 113.

The printer unit 102 includes a laser device 113,
Photoconductor drum 115, transfer drum 126, developing device 116
119, fixing device 132, paper cassettes 120-12
2. Timing roller 123 and photosensitive drum 11
5, a charging roller 114 disposed around the transfer drum 126, an adsorption roller 124, an electrostatic adsorption charger 125, a transfer charger 127, a separation charger 129, and a charge removing charger. -Jaws 130, separation claws 131,
It consists of a feather brush unit. Note that 128
Is a drum motor.

An image latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 115 by the laser light projected from the laser device 113 is
The image is developed by four color developing units 116 to 119 of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black which are sequentially selected.

The recording paper of a desired size supplied from the paper supply cassettes 120 to 122 is temporarily stopped by the timing roller 123 and then is stopped by the electrostatic attraction roller 124 opposed to the attraction roller 124. The toner is absorbed onto the transfer drum 126 by the jewel 125. The toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 115 is transferred to a recording sheet on the transfer drum 126. In the case of full color copy, the above printing process is repeatedly executed for four toner colors of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black, and the transfer drum 126 rotates four times in total.

Thereafter, the recording paper on which the toner image has been formed on the transfer drum 126 is separated by the separation charger 129 and the separation claw 1.
The transfer drum 126 is separated from the transfer drum 126 by the operation of the charging roller 31 and the charge of the surface of the transfer drum 126 by the charge-removing charger 130, is fixed by the fixing device 132, and is then discharged to the discharge tray 133.

[Estimation of toner consumption and calculation of copy fee] Next, estimation of toner consumption consumed by the copying machine,
And the calculation of the copy fee will be described. The control device 150 for controlling the copying machine controls the entire operation of the copying machine, and the details of the control are the same as those of the known copying machine control. Means copier control, toner consumption forecast,
And a function for calculating a copy fee. Less than,
The prediction of toner consumption and the calculation of a copy fee executed by the control device will be described.

The image signal processing section 111 of the image reader section 101 stores image data for each scanning line of the scanner in dot units (pixel units) in addition to the components for performing normal image signal processing. ), There is provided a density counter memory which counts each image density level and stores the accumulated value of dots (pixels) for each density level.

When it is determined that the scanning of one scanning line has been completed, the controller 150 reads out the contents of the density counter memory, performs a toner consumption estimation calculation described below, and calculates the toner consumption estimation value. To calculate the amount of toner. When the reading of the density counter memory is completed, the contents of the memory are cleared to prepare for the count of the density level in pixel units for the image data of the next scanning line.

The content of the density counter memory is a content represented by a histogram as shown in FIG. 4, and is a cumulative value of the number of dots for each image density level.

The tone reproduction of the printer aims to make the image density level and the image density have a relationship as shown in FIG. By setting the image density level low when the image density is low and setting the image density level high when the image density is high, the gradation reproduction range can be widened.

In general, the amount of toner adhered to the photoreceptor of the copying machine and the image density have the relationship shown in FIG. 6, and the amount of toner adhered to the photoreceptor and the image density level are shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 and the relationship between the image density level and the image density level for widening the color reproduction range described above, per dot for each image density level. Is estimated and calculated. And this is shown in FIG.
And stored in a memory such as a ROM in the form of a table as shown in FIG.

Therefore, the cumulative value of the number of dots for each image density level read from the density counter memory (see FIG. 4).
Is multiplied by the estimated toner consumption per dot (see FIG. 8) for each image density level determined previously, and the same calculation is performed for all image density levels, and the results are integrated. , Toner consumption per scan line (estimated value)
Can be calculated. The calculation of the toner consumption (estimated value) for each scanning line is performed for all the scanning lines until the scanning of the entire surface of the document is completed, and the accumulated value is calculated. You can ask.

Next, the operation of the copying machine will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 9 shows the contents displayed on the display unit on the operation panel when the power of the copier is turned on and in a standby state. The user of the copier uses the normal copy mode as a copy mode. Mode and charge calculation mode can be selected. If the user selects the normal copy mode, the user enters the copy mode using a normal fee processing device.

When the charge calculation mode is selected, the contents displayed on the operation panel are as shown in FIG. 10, and the user can use the full color copy or the black and white copy as the copy mode.
Or paper size (B5, A4, A3, etc.), copy magnification,
Select and set the number of copies.

When a document is placed on a document table and a print key is pressed, preliminary scanning for determining a copy fee starts. In the case of full color copy, the original is scanned four times, and in the case of black and white copy, the original is scanned once. When the scanning is completed, the toner consumption is calculated and determined.
The copy fee is calculated by a calculation method described later including the recording paper size and the number of copies, and displayed on the display unit on the operation panel as shown in FIG. Here, the copy
Although the fee has been described as being displayed on the display unit on the operation panel, it may be displayed on the price display unit of the fee processing device.

When the displayed fee or more is charged into the fee processing device, the printer is ready for printing, and when the user presses the print key, the main scanning for image formation is started again. The print operation is executed to create a designated number of copies.

The calculation of the copy fee will be described. In this embodiment, the copy fee is based on the recording paper size, the copy
It is determined by the number of sheets and the toner consumption described above. For example, if the recording paper size is B5 or A4, one sheet
In the case of 0 yen and A3, it is 20 yen per sheet. As shown in FIG. 12, the amount of money for the toner consumption is set in increments of 10 yen according to the toner consumption. The amount of money for the toner consumption and the unit price corresponding to the recording paper size are stored in a memory such as a ROM in advance, and are read out at the time of the copy fee calculation process.

Next, the process of calculating the copy fee will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the copier is turned on and in a standby state, the display section of the operation panel displays the display contents shown in FIG. It is assumed that the user of the copying machine has selected the charge calculation mode as the copy mode (step P1).

When the charge calculation mode is selected, the display on the operation panel is switched to the display shown in FIG. The user selects / sets the copy mode, such as full color copy or black and white copy, paper size (B5, A4, A3, etc.), copy magnification, number of copies, and turns on the print key. The selection / setting of the copy mode or the like is completed, and it is determined whether the print key is turned on (step P2).

When the print key is ON, a preliminary scan for determining a copy fee is started (step P).
3). The image data for each scanning line of the scanner is counted for each image density level in dot units (pixel units).
The accumulated value is stored in the density counter memory, and
The process is repeated until the scanning of the entire original is completed, and the accumulated value of the count values for the image data of all the scanning lines is stored in the density counter memory (step P4), and the contents of the density counter memory are arranged in a histogram format. (Step P5).

Modes such as copy mode (full color copy or black and white copy), recording paper size (B5, A4, A3, etc.), copy magnification, and number of copies input based on the display on the operation panel. The data is fetched (step P6), the mode data and the above-mentioned histogram, and the toner adhesion amount corresponding to the preset image density level stored in the ROM are stored. Is calculated (step P7).

From the price table for toner consumption as shown in FIG. 12, an amount based on the toner consumption is calculated (step P8), and the recording paper size and copy to be used are further calculated.
The amount based on the number of recording papers and the number of copies is calculated from the number of sheets (step P9), and added to the amount based on the toner consumption to calculate and display a copy fee (step P10).

In the embodiment described above, the toner consumption and the mode such as the recording paper size, the copy magnification, and the number of copies are set.
The copying machine is configured to calculate the copy fee based on the data on the copying machine side and output it to the fee processing device. However, the toner consumption is calculated on the copying machine side and this is calculated on the recording paper. The data may be output to the charge processing device together with the mode data such as the size, the copy magnification, and the number of copies, and the charge processing device may calculate the copy charge.

The case where the copying apparatus with a charge processing device of the present invention is applied to a full-color copying machine has been described above. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied not only to a full-color copying machine but also to a monochrome copying machine. . Further, the present invention can be applied to a charging system for a copying machine to which a fee processing device is not connected.

[0053]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, prior to the copying operation, in addition to the recording paper size and the number of copies, the toner consumption consumed by preliminary scanning of the original image is calculated. The amount of toner based on the toner consumption and the amount of recording paper based on the recording paper size and the number of copies are added, and
The copy fee of the copying apparatus is determined, and the copy fee is displayed before the start of the copying operation.

As a result, it is possible to determine a copy fee that is more rational than the accounting method of the conventional copying apparatus. For example, the color of a color original, ie, a color original with a color other than black
For a request for a copy, such as a request to make a copy, which consumes a relatively small amount of toner, it is possible to make a copy at a relatively low copy fee. It also has the effect of promoting the use of copy.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a copying machine with a charge processing device embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing types of signals transmitted between a copying machine and a fee processing device.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view illustrating an internal configuration of a digital full-color copying machine.

FIG. 4 is a view for explaining the contents of a density counter memory.

FIG. 5 is a view for explaining the relationship between image density and image density level.

FIG. 6 is a view for explaining the relationship between the image density and the amount of toner adhered to a photosensitive member.

FIG. 7 is a view for explaining the relationship between the image density level and the amount of toner adhered to a photosensitive member.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a toner adhesion amount corresponding to an image density level.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing display contents on an operation panel when the copying machine is in a standby state.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing display contents of an operation panel when a charge calculation mode is selected.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a display of a copy fee on an operation panel.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of the amount of money with respect to toner consumption.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart for explaining a copy fee calculation process.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 11 copier 12 fee processing device 13 amount display section 14 coin return button 15 coin slot 16 coin return slot 17 connection cable

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. Displaying the balance of the input amount, enabling the copying apparatus to operate when the balance is equal to or more than a predetermined amount, and subtracting a predetermined copy fee from the remaining amount each time the copying operation is performed, thereby obtaining a predetermined balance. A charge processing device for prohibiting a copying operation when the amount of money is less than an amount of money, and a copy device to which a charge processing device including a copying device operating in conjunction with the charge processing device can be attached. Scanning means for outputting, toner-consumption estimating means for calculating image density information based on the image signal output from the scanning means, and estimating toner-consumption based on the calculated image density information, Control means, the control means causing the scanning means to scan a document, and causing the toner consumption estimating means to perform an estimation calculation of toner consumption, and the calculated toner consumption estimation value Luo toner - attached may copier fee processing apparatus characterized by determining the amount - copy based on consumption. 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to generate a copy fee based on a sum of a copy amount based on the estimated toner consumption value and a copy amount determined based on a used recording paper size and the number of copies. 2. A copying apparatus to which a fee processing device according to claim 1 can be attached. 3. The control means determines a copy fee based on a sum of a copy amount based on an estimated toner consumption value and a copy amount determined based on a used recording paper size and the number of copies. 2. A copying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said copy fee is displayed on a display means before the start of a copying operation. 4. The toner consumption estimating means calculates density information on a pixel basis based on the image signal output from the scanning means, and integrates the density information on a pixel basis to estimate toner consumption. 2. A copying apparatus to which a charge processing device according to claim 1, which is a toner consumption estimation means. 5. The copying apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said display means is a display device of an operation panel of the copying apparatus. 6. A scanning means for scanning an original to output an image signal, an image forming means for forming a toner image on a photosensitive member based on the image signal, and an image forming means for outputting an image signal based on the image signal output from the scanning mechanism. A toner consumption estimating means for estimating and calculating toner consumption based on the calculated image density information; and a control means. A copy fee is calculated based on information such as a mode and copying conditions, and toner consumption information estimated and calculated by the toner consumption estimation means, and is output to an external fee processing device. A copying apparatus characterized by receiving information output from a fee processing device for controlling the operation of the copying apparatus and controlling the operation of the copying apparatus. 7. A copying machine which displays the balance of the input amount, outputs information permitting the operation of the copying machine to an external copying machine when the balance is equal to or more than a predetermined amount, and inputs a copy every time the copying operation is performed. A charge processing device of a copying apparatus for subtracting a predetermined copy fee from a balance based on information indicating an operation and outputting information prohibiting a copying operation to an external copying device when the balance falls below a predetermined amount. Wherein the fee processing device, when receiving copy fee information from an external copying device, determines the predetermined copy fee based on the received copy fee information. apparatus.