JP4717854B2 - Image forming system, image forming apparatus, and program for image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming system for printing an image on a sheet, and in particular, an image forming system, an image forming apparatus, and an image forming program having at least one sheet tray for storing advertisement-attached sheets on which advertisements are printed in advance. About.

  In recent years, copying machines can be used everywhere. For example, there are stores where photocopiers are installed in station premises, and many supermarkets and convenience stores have photocopiers installed. For this reason, the number of users who use copiers available to the public is increasing.

Under such circumstances, an idea has appeared in which printing paper is discounted by inserting advertisement-added paper into a part of the paper tray of the copier, and selecting this paper tray for printing. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1). Under this idea, a provider of a copy machine that can be used by the public can collect an advertising fee from the advertiser, and therefore can discount the printing fee to be imposed on the user.
JP 2004-38754 A

  Usually, advertisement-added paper has an expiration date. When advertisements have expired, advertisers are often unable to promote sales even if advertisement-added forms are distributed. On the other hand, for the user, the advertisement on the advertisement-added paper that has expired has no information value. For this reason, when the expiration date of the advertisement with a sheet of paper in the tray has expired, it is preferable to recover such advertising with the paper as soon as possible from the paper tray.

  On the other hand, as the number of copiers with advertisement-added paper increases, it becomes difficult for advertisers to quickly collect advertisement-added paper that has expired.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming system, an image forming apparatus, and a program for an image forming apparatus that can prevent a disadvantage to an advertiser and a user even when collection of an advertisement-added paper whose expiration date has expired is delayed. Is to provide.

  The image forming system of the present invention prints an image on a sheet. The image forming system includes a paper storage unit, an image forming unit, a time limit management unit, a detection unit, and a display unit. The paper storage unit has a plurality of paper trays for storing paper with advertisements on which advertisements are printed in advance. The image forming unit prints an image on the paper supplied from the paper storage unit. The time limit management unit stores the expiration date of the advertisement-attached paper as the advertisement time-limit information in association with the paper tray that accommodates the advertisement-added paper. The detection means detects whether or not the advertisement-attached paper in each paper tray that stores the advertisement-attached paper is within the expiration date based on the advertisement time-limit information stored by the time limit management unit. Further, the detection means determines whether or not the expiration date of the advertisement-added paper in the paper tray used for printing has expired during the printing process. The display means interrupts printing when the expiration date of the advertisement-attached paper in the paper tray used for printing at the time of printing processing, and there is another paper tray that accommodates the advertisement-added paper within the expiration date. If so, this is displayed.

  According to the present invention, even if an expired advertisement with the paper collection is delayed, allowing prevents prejudice to the advertiser and the user.

  An image forming system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The image forming system 10 includes an image forming apparatus 20. The image forming apparatus 20 is installed in a place available to the public, for example, a convenience store. The image forming apparatus 20 is configured to be able to print on a paper with an advertisement on which an advertisement is printed in advance.

  The image forming apparatus 20 is connected to the router 30, the term management server 40, the charging apparatus 60, and the image reading apparatus 90 via the network 70. The router 30 is connected to the Internet 80. The term management server 40 manages the expiration date of the advertisement-added paper stored in the image forming apparatus 20. FIG. 2 shows an example of the contents stored in the time limit management server 40. As shown in FIG. 2, the expiration date management server 40 stores the expiration date of the advertisement-attached sheet as advertisement expiration information in association with the sheet tray that accommodates the advertisement-added sheet. Since the expiration date management server 40 is configured to be accessible via the Internet 80, information on the expiration date of the advertisement-attached sheet can be viewed from the outside. The accounting device 60 performs accounting processing for use of the image forming apparatus. Charging device 60, usually paper, (the expiration date) advertising with paper, and advertising with paper to set the (expired) different unit price for each. FIG. 3 shows an example of the contents stored in the charging time limit management server. The image reading device 90 reads an image of a document and generates image data.

  The image forming apparatus 20 includes an interface unit 220, an operation unit 212, an image forming unit 218, a display unit 210, a paper feeding unit 208, a ROM 206, a RAM 204, a nonvolatile memory 214, and a CPU 202.

  The interface unit 220 has a function of managing communication with the network 70. The operation unit 212 includes a plurality of operation keys for receiving input operations from the user. The image forming unit 218 executes an electrophotographic image forming process on the paper based on the input image data. The display unit 210 is configured to display information to be notified to the user. The paper feeding unit 208 is configured to supply paper to the image forming unit 218. The ROM 206 stores a plurality of programs necessary for the operation of the CPU 202. The RAM 204 is a volatile memory that temporarily holds image data and the like. The nonvolatile memory 214 is configured to hold the advertisement deadline information acquired from the deadline management server 40. The CPU 202 is configured to comprehensively control the operation of the image forming apparatus 20 based on a program stored in the ROM 206.

  The configuration of the image forming apparatus 20 will be further described with reference to FIG. As shown in the figure, a paper conveyance path 260 is provided inside the image forming apparatus 20. The photosensitive drum 230 is disposed so as to be in contact with the sheet conveyance path 260. Around the photoconductor 230, a charging device 242, an exposure device 232, a developing device 234, and a transfer device 236 are arranged. Further, a fixing device 238 and a discharge roller 240 are provided downstream of the photoconductor 230 in the paper conveyance path 260.

  The charging device 242 uniformly charges the peripheral surface of the photoreceptor 230. The exposure device 232 forms an electrostatic latent image on the peripheral surface of the photoreceptor 230. The developing device 234 develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the peripheral surface of the photoreceptor 230 with toner. The transfer device 236 transfers the toner image formed on the peripheral surface of the photoreceptor 230 onto the surface of the paper. The fixing device 238 fixes the toner image attached to the paper to the paper by heat and pressure. The discharge roller 240 discharges the paper onto the paper discharge tray 262.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the paper feed unit 208 includes three paper feed trays 244, 246, and 248. An advertisement-added paper on which an advertisement is printed is set in at least one of the paper feed trays 244, 246, and 248. Pickup rollers 250, 252, and 254 are provided in the vicinity of the paper feed trays 244, 246, and 248.

  With reference to FIG. 5, the operation procedure of the CPU 202 in the time limit management processing during standby for printing will be described. During printing standby, the CPU 202 acquires advertisement deadline information from the deadline management server 40 at an appropriate timing (S1). Subsequently, the CPU 202 acquires current date and time information (S2). Subsequently, the CPU 202 compares the advertisement deadline information with the current date and time information to determine whether or not expired advertisement-added paper is stored in the paper feed trays 244, 246, or 248 (S3).

  If there is a paper tray that accommodates the expired advertisement-added paper in the determination step of S3, it is displayed that the advertisement-added paper in the paper tray has expired (S4). As an example of the display screen in the step of S4, the mode shown in FIG. 6A or FIG. When the display process is executed during standby, as shown in FIG. 6A, a display to the effect that the advertisement deadline has expired is performed. Further, when the display process is executed immediately before printing, a display as shown in FIG. 6B is performed. The CPU 202 continues the display of S4 until the next key operation (S5). In step S5, when the key operation by the user is detected, the CPU 202 stops the display of S4 (S6).

  Next, the operation procedure of the CPU 202 in the time limit management process during printing will be described with reference to FIG. Even during printing, the CPU 202 acquires advertisement time limit information from the time limit management server 40 at an appropriate timing (S11). Subsequently, the CPU 202 acquires current date and time information (S12). Subsequently, the CPU 202 compares the advertisement expiration date information with the current date and time information, and determines whether or not the expired advertisement-added sheet is accommodated in the used sheet feeding tray (S13).

  In the determination step of S13, when the expired advertisement-added paper is stored in the paper feed tray in use, if there is a paper tray for storing the expired advertisement-added paper, the expiration display as shown in FIG. Processing is executed (S14). Then, the user selects whether to stop printing or to continue printing on the expired advertisement-added paper (S15).

  If the user selects cancel printing in step S15, the CPU 202 cancels printing (S16).

  On the other hand, if the user selects to continue printing in step S15, the CPU 202 obtains the advertisement deadline information from the deadline management server 40 again (S16), and attaches the advertisement within the expiration date in another tray. It is determined whether or not there is a sheet containing paper (S17). If there is another tray that accommodates the advertisement-added paper within the expiration date in the determination step of S17, the CPU 202 displays the selection screen shown in FIG. 9 on the display unit 210 and waits for the tray selection by the user. (S21). If the user selects a tray in step S21, the printing process is resumed using the selected tray. On the other hand, if the user does not select a tray in step S21, printing is stopped (S22).

  In step S17, when there is no other tray that accommodates the advertisement-added paper within the expiration date, the CPU 202 causes the display unit 210 to display the screen illustrated in FIG. The CPU 202 continues the display of S18 until the next key operation (S20). If a user's key operation is detected in step S20, the CPU 202 stops the display in step S18.

  The image forming apparatus 20 displays a breakdown of the amount to be charged as shown in FIG. 10 every time the printing process is completed.

  According to the above embodiment, even when the expiration date of the advertisement-added sheet expires during printing, it is possible to execute the printing process using another effective advertisement-added sheet. For this reason, since the opportunity to print on the paper which has passed the deadline is reduced, it is possible to prevent the advertiser and the user from being disadvantaged.

  In addition, when the expiration date of the advertisement-added paper passes during printing, the unit price may be changed to a considerable unit price for the expired paper. By doing so, it is difficult for a user who has received an expired sheet to suffer a disadvantage.

  Note that when the expiration date of the advertisement-added paper approaches during printing, a screen as shown in FIG. 11 may be displayed on the display unit 210 in advance.

  The above description of the embodiment is to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown not by the above embodiments but by the claims. Furthermore, the scope of the present invention is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of the claims.

1 is a diagram schematically illustrating an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the memory content of a time limit management server. It is a figure which shows the example of the memory content of an accounting device. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement procedure of CPU at the time limit management process. It is a figure which shows the example of a display screen. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement procedure of CPU at the time limit management process. It is a figure which shows the example of a display screen. It is a figure which shows the example of a display screen. It is a figure which shows the example of a display screen. It is a figure which shows the example of a display screen.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10- Image forming system 20- Image forming apparatus 40- Time limit management server 60- Billing apparatus 100- Paper evacuation mechanism 202-CPU

Claims (3)

An image forming system for printing an image on paper,
A paper storage unit having a plurality of paper trays for storing paper with advertisements on which advertisements are printed in advance;
An image forming unit that prints an image on a sheet supplied from the sheet storage unit;
An expiration date management unit that stores the expiration date of the advertisement-attached sheet as advertisement expiration information in association with a paper tray that accommodates the advertisement-added sheet;
Detecting means for detecting whether or not the advertising paper in each paper tray that accommodates the advertising paper is within the expiration date, based on the advertising deadline information stored by the deadline management unit,
The detection means determines whether or not the expiration date of the advertisement-added paper in the paper tray used for printing at the time of the printing process,
The image forming system further includes:
If there is another paper tray that stops printing when the expiration date of the advertisement-attached paper in the paper tray used for printing expires, and contains the advertisement-attached paper within the expiration date, Display means for displaying the effect,
When printing is interrupted due to the expiration of the advertising paper in the paper tray, if there is another paper tray that accommodates the advertising paper within the expiration date, the user continues printing or printing from the other tray. A print control means for selecting stop and continuing printing from another paper tray selected by the user;
A billing unit that manages the charges to be charged for the use of the image forming unit, and billing with different unit price set for advertising paper within the expiration date, expired advertising paper, and regular paper Further comprising, and
The display means is configured to display the unit price of the advertisement-attached paper within the expiration date, the advertisement-attached paper that has expired, and the plain paper , and
The display unit is an image forming system that displays all of the other paper trays that store the advertisement-added paper within the expiration date . An image forming apparatus that prints an image on paper connected to a time limit management server that stores the expiration date of the advertisement-added paper as advertisement deadline information in association with the paper tray that stores the advertisement-added paper,
A paper storage unit having a plurality of paper trays for storing paper with advertisements on which advertisements are printed in advance;
An image forming unit that prints an image on a sheet supplied from the sheet storage unit;
Detecting means for detecting whether or not the advertisement-attached paper in each paper tray containing the advertisement-added paper is within the expiration date based on the advertisement deadline information stored by the deadline management unit,
The detection means determines whether or not the expiration date of the advertisement-added paper in the paper tray used for printing at the time of the printing process,
The image forming apparatus further includes:
If there is another paper tray that stops printing when the expiration date of the advertisement-attached paper in the paper tray used for printing expires, and contains advertisement-attached paper within the expiration date Display means for displaying the effect, and
When printing is interrupted due to the expiration of the advertising paper in the paper tray, if there is another paper tray that accommodates the advertising paper within the expiration date, the user continues printing or printing from the other tray. A print control means for selecting stop and continuing printing from another paper tray selected by the user;
A billing unit that manages the fees to be charged for the use of the image forming unit, and billing with different unit price set for advertising paper with expiration date, advertising paper with expiration date, and plain paper Further comprising, and
The display means is configured to display the unit price of the advertisement-added paper within the expiration date, the advertisement-added paper that has expired, and the plain paper , and
The display unit is an image forming apparatus that displays all of the other paper trays that store the advertisement-added paper within the expiration date . Image formation used for an image forming apparatus that prints an image on paper connected to a time limit management server that stores the expiration date of the advertisement-attached paper as advertisement deadline information in association with the paper tray that stores the advertisement-added paper A device program,
The image forming apparatus includes:
A paper storage unit having a plurality of paper trays for storing paper with advertisements on which advertisements are printed in advance;
An image forming unit that prints an image on a sheet supplied from the sheet storage unit;
With
The image forming apparatus program is:
Based on the advertisement deadline information stored by the deadline management unit, it is a detection means for detecting whether or not the advertisement-added paper in each paper tray that accommodates the advertisement-added paper is within the expiration date, and is used for printing at the time of printing processing Detecting means for determining whether or not the expiration date of the advertisement-attached paper in the paper tray,
If there is another paper tray that stops printing when the expiration date of the advertisement-attached paper in the paper tray used for printing expires, and contains the advertisement-attached paper within the expiration date, Display means for displaying the effect;
When printing is interrupted due to the expiration of the advertising paper in the paper tray, if there is another paper tray that accommodates the advertising paper within the expiration date, the user continues printing or printing from the other tray. Print control means for selecting stop and continuing printing from another paper tray selected by the user;
A billing unit that manages the charges to be charged for the use of the image forming unit, and billing with different unit price set for advertising paper within the expiration date, expired advertising paper, and regular paper And the display means is configured to display the unit price of the advertisement-attached paper within the expiration date, the advertisement-attached paper that has expired, and the plain paper , and
The display means is a program for an image forming apparatus that displays all of the other paper trays that store advertisement-added paper within the expiration date .

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