JPH033219B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a copying machine management device that manages the number of copies for each department of a copying machine using a recording medium in which department information is stored.

In conventional copying machines, there is a so-called key counter as a device for obtaining information about the usage status of the copying machine. This key counter is inserted into a predetermined part of the copying machine to make the copying machine ready for copying, receives a signal from the copying machine indicating that the copying machine has made copies, and sequentially counts the number of copies. It has an adding function (for example, using an electromagnetic force counter). Each department that uses a copying machine has its own dedicated key counter, and when making copies, the department's key counter is inserted into the copying machine. In this way, you can know information about the accumulated number of copies in your own department. In addition, the copying machine manager can collect the key counters from each department, know the number of copies for each department, all departments, etc., and use the information for budget management and the like. However, if you want to use this key counter to count the number of copies, either collect all the key counters at the management site at one time, or if that is not possible, have the person in charge of tally at the management site calculate the number of copies for each department. I had to make time. Furthermore, the person in charge of counting takes a lot of time to transcribe and tally the number of copies. Further, the key counters are expensive, and as the number of departments using the copying machine increases, a corresponding number of key counters are required, resulting in a large expense.

From this point of view, each department that uses a copying machine has a card that records department information, and by using that card when copying, the copying operation is possible, and the memory usage such as the number of copies for that department is stored. A device for cumulatively storing data has been proposed. However, in such a device, when an administrator wants to clear the number of copies stored in the memory of a copying machine, for example, the administrator must clear the department data using a department card that stores the department code for each department. The leaks had to be cleared one by one, which took time and caused trouble for the administrator.

Furthermore, in this case, since the number of copies in the copying machine can be cleared by using the department card, there is a drawback that a person other than the administrator may clear the cumulative number of copies without permission.

The present invention eliminates the above-mentioned disadvantages, and allows an administrator to easily clear the cumulative number of copies of all departments of a copying machine, and also allows a person other than the administrator to clear the cumulative number of copies without permission. An object of the present invention is to provide a copying machine management device that can prevent such problems. That is, the present invention provides a copying machine management device that manages the number of copies for each department of a copying machine using a recording medium in which department information is stored. ), and reading for reading a first recording medium on which department information is recorded and a second recording medium on which information for setting an erasing mode that enables erasing the number of copies stored in the storage means is recorded. means (card reader 2); and discriminating means (13 to 14 in FIG. 2,
14 to 15), a switch (manual switch S1) for selecting deletion of the number of copies stored in the storage means, and copying when the determining means determines that the recording medium is the first recording medium. At the same time, the number of copies made by the copying machine is stored in the storage means according to the department information recorded on the first recording medium (13 in FIG. 2).
-19-29) On the other hand, when the determining means determines that the recording medium is the second recording medium, the copying machine copies the data stored in the storing means without outputting a copy permission signal to the copying machine. control means (verification determination section 3, FIG. 2) for controlling the setting to an erasure mode that enables erasure of the number of sheets (13 to 14 to 15 in FIG. 2); is set, the pressed state of the switch is determined, and control is performed to erase the number of copies in all departments of the copying machine according to the determination result (15 to 16 to 17 in FIG. 2). The present invention provides a management device for copying machines.

The present invention will be explained below with reference to the drawings. 1st
The figure is a circuit configuration diagram of a copy information processing apparatus according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, card 1 (magnetic card,
A general term for punch cards, mark cards, etc.) is an ID (IDentify) that confirms the authenticity of the card.
Information, department information indicating the department in which the copying machine is used (generally represented by a code number), information indicating the number of copies, etc. are recorded in advance.

Next, by transferring the card 1 in the direction of arrow A, the information recorded on the card is read by the card reader 2, and the transfer of the card 1 at the time of reading is carried out manually or by using an elastic device such as a spring. Semi-automatic feeding using force or automatic feeding using driving force of a motor or the like may be considered, but any feeding method may be used), and furthermore, the card 1 is transferred and held in the card holding section 4. The information read by the card reader 2 is output to the collation determining section 3 from the signal line 2a. The verification/judgment unit 3 uses the signal input from the signal line 2a and the ROM 10.
The judgment is made by comparing the ID information (input from signal line 10a) stored in Outputs a "reject" signal. A signal that detects the holding of a card in the card holding section 4 is sent from the signal line 4a to the control section 6 and the storage section (ROM1).
0, RAM 11) and is output to the counter 12. Further, the collation determining section 3 also outputs a signal indicating whether or not the card reader 2 has inputted information from the card 1 to the control section 6 through the signal line 3a.

Therefore, the control unit 6 compares the output of the collation determining unit 3 inputted from the signal line 3a and the output of the card holding unit 4 inputted from the signal line 4a, thereby determining whether the card 1 reaches the card holding unit 4 within a predetermined time. It is determined whether or not the data has been retained. Then, the control unit 6 collates
The above-mentioned signal inputted from the determining section 33 is processed and a signal indicating whether or not copying is allowed is sent out from the signal line 6a. In other words, if the card reader 2 does not read the information or the card 1 does not arrive from the card reader 2 to the card holder 4 within a predetermined time, the signal line 6a prevents the copying machine 7 from operating. The signal line 6b causes the display section 8 to display (for example, a blinking display) to that effect. This makes it possible to prevent unauthorized card usage and point out operational errors.

The storage unit is RAM (Random Access) for storing copy size, cumulative number of copies, price, etc.
Memory) 11 and ROM that stores ID information
(Read Only Memory) Consists of 10. and,
The collation/judgment section 3 connects the RAM 11 to the RAM 11 through the signal line 3b.
The various types of information read from the card 1 by the card reader 2 are stored in the RAM 11 through the verification/judgment section 3, and further stored in the RAM 1.
1 sends the stored information to the collation/judgment section 3. Further, when the RAM 11 detects that the card 1 is held through the signal line 4a, it can output the contents of the RAM (such as the cumulative number of copies) from the signal line 11b and display it on the display 8. Furthermore, while card 1 is being held, even if card reader 2 reads information from another card (without worrying about whether it is a valid card or not), it will refuse to store that information and will not be able to view it. - It is possible to send information to the control unit 3 to prevent the other card from operating the copying machine 7.

The detection member 5 provided in the card holder 4 detects the card 1
When the detachment is detected, the detected signal is transmitted to the signal line 4b.
The signal is output from the control unit 6, RAM 11, and counter 12. As a result, the control section 6 stops the operation of the copying machine 7, and the contents stored in the RAM 11 are transferred to the signal line 1.
The signal output from 1a can be displayed on the display 8 or stored in the printer 9, and the counter 12 can return the counted contents to "0".

The counter 12 inputs and counts information such as the copy size and the number of copies output from the signal line 7a when the copying machine 7 executes copying. The counted information can be displayed on the display 8 through the signal line 12a, and furthermore, the counted information can be displayed on the display 8 through the signal line 12b.
11 can be used to accumulate the counted values. Then, the accumulated count value is transferred to the signal line 3 as necessary.
It is possible to output the data from b to the verification/judgment section 3.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the collation determining section 3. In FIG. 2, if the card 1 is a management card (referring to a "total card" that tallies and prints the number of copies for all departments or an "erase card" that erases the contents of the RAM), routes 13 to 18 , 39 and 40, and in the case of a normal card (which controls the operation of the copying machine 7), it passes through routes 13, 19-38. The details of the flowchart route will be described later.

Next, the display device 8 shown in FIG.
e. Displays shown in FIGS. 4a to 4d can be performed. In other words, if you use a normal card, the second
In the flowchart shown in the figure, go through routes 13 and 19 and check the "copy machine ID", "department code ID", and "set number of copies exceeded", and if there is an error, route 3
The error details are displayed on the display section 8 through steps 2, 33, and 34.

That is, FIG. 3a shows the initial state of the display section 8,
In the state before the card 1 is read by the card reader 2, all digits are lit as "-". In the case of an inappropriate card or an inappropriate card read as described above, a warning can be given by flashing a "-" display by means of a signal via the signal line 6b shown in FIG. When the information on the card 1 is read by the card reader 2 and held by the card holder 4, it passes through routes 20, 21, and 22 in the flowchart of FIG. 2, and then reaches routes 23 and 24, and the copying machine 7 can be started. become a state. In this case, the display is shown in Figure 3b.
It will be displayed as follows.

In FIG. 3b, the department information is shown as "1234" on the left side, and the cumulative number of copies to date for that department is shown as "02468" on the right side. This means that the collation judge 3 in FIG. 1 judges that the code information of the card 1 is "1234" and outputs the cumulative number of copies stored in the RAM 11 "02468" to the display section 8 from the signal line 11b. It is for this purpose.

The flowchart in FIG. 2 further includes routes 25 and 26.
When the user performs the "copying operation" and passes through route 27, the current copying starts as shown in FIG. 3c, indicating that the copying of the first sheet has been completed. This is because, in FIG. 1, the output of the copying machine 7 is output from the signal 7a and counted by the counter 12, and the result is output from the signal line 12a and displayed on the display 8. Thereafter, the displayed value on the right side increases as the number of copies increases.

Figure 3d shows the display when the 37th copy is completed. In the flowchart of FIG. 2, "calculating the cumulative number of sheets used and storing it in the RAM" via path 28 means outputting a signal from the signal line 12b of FIG. Then, via path 29, ``take out the card into the holding means'' and via path 38, enter the department code, date, number of copies, price, etc. to the printer 9.
At the same time, the cumulative number of sheets is displayed for a certain period of time via path 30.

This means that, as shown in FIG. 3e, the display on the right side has become "2505", which is the sum of the previous number of copies, 2468, and the current number of copies, 37.
Note that the display in Figure 3 e disappears after a certain period of time and the display in Figure 3 e disappears after a certain period of time.
Returning to the display in Figure a, if another card is inserted even within the above-mentioned certain period of time, the third card will be inserted immediately.
Returning to Fig. a, the display as shown in Fig. 3 b, c, etc. is performed depending on the inserted card. Then, in the flowchart of FIG. 2, after passing through route 31, all operations are terminated with "copying machine stop".

In FIG. 1, the cumulative number of copies is stored in the RAM 11 in correspondence with the department information, so that the display can be made in accordance with the department information recorded on the card as described above. In addition, when the copying machine manager tallies the number of copies for each department or the number of copies for all departments, the cumulative number of copies for each department or all departments is stored in the RAM 11 using a memory tally card prepared by the manager. can be output sequentially from the display unit 8 or printer 9. When using the above tally card, route 1 in the flowchart of Figure 2 is used.
After going through step 4, the answer to "Is this an erased card?" is NO, so proceed to route 39. Then, the copy machine code, department code, copy size, cumulative number of copies, price, etc. are displayed or recorded, and the operation is "stopped" via path 40. Note that even if the sequential output described above changes the output content at predetermined time intervals,
Alternatively, it may be switched each time the manual switch _S2 shown in FIG. 1 is turned on.

Furthermore, the management source uses an erase card to erase RAM1.
It is also possible to erase all or part of the memory contents of 1. This is used when the number of copies is newly counted from the next time after completing the above-mentioned counting. When using the above erasing card, RAM11 due to erroneous operation
In order to prevent the memory contents from being erased, for example, the erasure is performed when the manual switch _S1 shown in FIG. (These are referred to as erroneous erasure prevention operations). This ``erases the contents of RAM'' via paths 14, 15, and 16 and stops operation via path 17 in the flowchart of FIG.

The above explanation has given an example in which the display value increases as the number of copies increases, but it is also possible to subtract the value from a predetermined value and display it. For example, set a budget for each department at the beginning of the period and set a limit on the total number of copies.
When stored in the RAM 11, the remaining number of copies that can be made is reduced as the number of copies increases. It is also possible to prevent the copying machine from operating when the number of copies that has been set at the beginning is reached.

On the other hand, when providing the above-mentioned copying service, it is desirable that the purpose can be achieved only by the customer's operation, such as with a vending machine. To do this, a customer purchases a magnetic card from a specific store that has information recorded on it that allows them to make copies for a predetermined fee or for a predetermined number of copies of a predetermined size. can be operated. (The card has ID information unique to the store with which you contracted, and cannot be used with copiers at other stores.) The card records the charge (unit price for each copy size) set by the contracted store, and each store can set its own price.

In FIG. 1, when the information recorded on the card is read by the card reader 2, the copying machine 7 can be operated in the same manner as described above, and the display section 8 can be made to display a predetermined display.

That is, in Figure 4a, all digits are displayed as "-",
It lights up or flashes in the same way as in Figure 3a.

In FIG. 4b, all digits are displayed as "0", indicating that the information on the card can be read and copied.

Figure 4c shows the display on the display section 8 when the customer enters an input into the input section K of the copying machine 7 to make 12 copies of A4 size, for example, and also shows that the unit price for A4 size is 35 yen. There is. Then, when copying starts, the number display section decreases to 12, 11, 10, etc. to show the remaining number of sheets, and the price display section increases to 35, 70, 105, etc. to show the price obtained by multiplying the number of copies by the unit price. .

FIG. 4d shows a state in which a predetermined number of copies (12 copies) have been completed, and the price displayed is "420 yen".

Next, when the customer inputs another size into the input section K, it is displayed on the size display sections c and d of FIG. 4, respectively, and can be operated in the same manner as described above.

Additionally, ID information and the unit price for each copy size are recorded on the card, and the number of copies and charges can be added and displayed using the operations described above, and the charges can be paid in arrears, contrary to the method described above. .

In FIG. 1, when all the copies are completed and the card 1 is removed from the card holder 4, the detection member 5 detects the removal of the card, and the information stored in the RAM 11 (using the removed card All or a portion of the information (size of copied paper, number of copies, size-specific charges, total charges) can be displayed on the display section 8, recorded on the printer 9, and taken out.

The information stored in the RAM 11 can be deleted each time, but if it is accumulated over a certain period of time, the total amount for that store can be obtained. In this case as well, the cumulative value can be read by using the tally card. Moreover, when taking out the card 1 from the card holding part 4, the card information changing part E provided in the card holding part 4
To prevent unauthorized use, erase the ID information recorded on the card or record stop information that prevents reuse. The card removed in this way is returned to the front desk of the store, where new ID information is recorded or the suspension information is erased, and new information (rate, paper size, number of cards, etc.) is recorded. Then, it can be made available for use by the next customer.

In this way, the management device according to this embodiment can be used to manage various types of information related to copying when each department in a company, factory, etc. shares a copying machine, or when providing copying services to general customers. It is also possible to check the number of copies and compile charges in an extremely rational manner. The operating status of the copying machine, which operates according to the information recorded on the card, can be checked on the display section, making it possible to detect malfunctions at an early stage and perform copying operations efficiently.

As explained above, according to the present invention, by using a recording medium on which information for setting the erase mode is recorded, without using a recording medium on which department information is recorded, the copying machine information stored in the memory can be used. It is possible to clear the cumulative number of copies for all departments, and it is possible to reduce the effort of the administrator in clearing the memory.

Moreover, the present invention divides the recording medium into one on which information for setting the erasure mode is recorded and one on which department information for using the copying machine is recorded, and the information for setting the erasure mode is recorded on the recording medium. When it is determined that the recorded recording medium has been read, the cumulative number of copies made by the copying machine can be erased. As a result, the present invention allows a person other than the administrator who does not own the recording medium for setting the erase mode to
It is possible to prevent the cumulative number of copies of a copying machine from being erased.

Furthermore, when the erase mode is set, the present invention determines the pressed state of the switch and erases the cumulative number of copies for all departments, thereby preventing inconveniences such as when the contents of the memory are erased due to an erroneous operation. becomes possible.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the electric circuit in the management device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the collation judgment section shown in FIG. 1, and FIGS. 3 a to 3e are A plan view of the first embodiment showing the display of each mode on the display section shown in the configuration diagram of FIG. 1, and FIGS. The second display shows the
A plan view of the embodiment. In the figure, 1...card, 2...card reader, 3...verification/judgment section, 4...card holding section, 6...control section, 7...copying machine, 8...display section, 9...storage section ,1
0...ROM, 11...RAM, 12...counter, S ₁ ,
S ₂ ...manual switch, K...input section, E...card information change section.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A copying machine management device that manages the number of copies for each department of a copying machine using a recording medium in which department information is stored, comprising: a memory that stores the number of copies for each department of the copying machine; a reading means for reading a first recording medium on which department information is recorded and a second recording medium on which information for setting an erasure mode that enables erasure of the number of copies stored in the storage means is recorded; means, determining means for determining whether the recording medium read by the reading means is the first recording medium or the second recording medium, and erasing the number of copies stored in the storage means. a switch for selecting; and when the determining means determines that the recording medium is the first recording medium, it outputs a copy permission signal to the copying machine and indicates the number of copies made by the copying machine; The department information recorded on the first recording medium is stored in the storage means, and when the determining means determines that the recording medium is the second recording medium, a copy permission signal is output to the copying machine. and control means for controlling the setting to an erasure mode that enables the number of copies of the copying machine stored in the storage means to be erased without any error, and further, the control means controls the switch when the erasure mode is set. 1. A management device for a copying machine, characterized in that it determines the pressed state of the button, and performs control to delete the number of copies in all departments of the copying machine according to the determination result.