JP2948712B2 - Copier with department management device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a copying machine provided with a department management device for accumulating and managing the number of copies in the copying machine for each department.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Some copying machines have a department management device for accumulating and managing the number of copies for each department. In general, a department management device is a counter attached to a copying machine (if there are several copying machines, for each copying machine), and a department management device that can communicate with the counter and compiles data of one or more counters. And a main body. The counter sets a department by inserting a magnetic card, inputting a personal identification number, and the like. When the department setting is performed, the counter transmits a copy permission signal to the copying machine to set the copying machine in a copy enabled mode. . When a copy signal (a signal indicating that one copy has been made) is transmitted from the copier, the number of copies is accumulated in the memory area of the corresponding department. When there are a plurality of counters, the department management apparatus main body receives and accumulates the accumulated data stored in each counter, and performs processing such as printout.
Based on the accumulated data, a bill is made to each department.

When the counter is released by removing the magnetic card or operating the numeric keypad, the counter transmits a copy prohibition signal to the copying machine to put the copying machine into the copy prohibition mode. The copier also sets a standard mode by clearing the copy mode including the number of copies and the copy magnification at the same time as setting the copy prohibition mode to prevent a mistake in setting the copy conditions at the next copy. There is.

[0004]

In a copying machine, troubles such as jams occur during a series of copying processes (for example, continuous processes such as copying a plurality of copies while continuously feeding a plurality of documents). When the copying machine runs out of paper or the like, the operator may leave the copier in the middle of the series of copying processes. In this case, the department may be canceled by removing the magnetic card of the counter or operating the numeric keypad. However, in a copying machine that sets the standard mode by clearing the copy mode including the number of copies and the copy magnification at the same time when the copy prohibition mode is set by canceling the department, a series of copy processing stored by the department cancel operation is performed. All copy modes are cleared. For this reason, the copy mode, such as the number of copies and the copy magnification, must be re-entered when copying is resumed. Further, it is checked to what point a series of copy processes has been completed before the input process of the number of copies is performed. There is a problem that it has to be performed, which takes a lot of trouble.

An object of the present invention is to provide a department management apparatus which can save a copy mode and continue copying even when a department is canceled while continuous copying is interrupted, thereby eliminating troublesome labor. The present invention is to provide a copying machine equipped with the same.

[0006]

According to the present invention, when a department is set by inserting a card, operating a numeric keypad, or the like,
Means for permitting copy processing, means for counting the number of copies permitted for copy processing as the number of copies for the department, and number of copies and copy magnification when the department is released by removing the card, operating the numeric keypad, etc. Means for clearing the copy mode and prohibiting the copy processing, and when the section is canceled while the series of copy processing is interrupted due to paper exhaustion, jam, etc., until the series of copy processing is completed, Means for permitting copy processing by postponing clearing of the copy mode and prohibition of copy processing.

Further, when a copy mode change such as the number of copies is input while the prohibition of the copy process is postponed and the copy process is permitted, the copy process is prohibited. A means for executing the means may be provided.

[0008]

According to the present invention, while a department is set, a copy mode is input, and a series of copy processing is performed,
When the copy process is interrupted due to paper shortage, jam, or the like, the copy mode is not cleared even if the card is removed and the ten keys are operated to cancel the department. Therefore, it is not necessary to input the copy mode when resuming the interrupted copy, and the copy can be continued. The number of copies that have been continued is counted and stored in the counter for each department.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided means for inhibiting the copy process when the copy mode is changed while suspending the copy process.
It is possible to prevent other departments from making illegal copies during suspension.

[0010]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a counter section of a department management apparatus and a main part of a copying machine, and FIG. 2 is a view showing an appearance of a card type counter.

[0011] As shown in FIG.
It has a connector 2 for connecting to a copying machine, a card insertion unit 3 for inserting a magnetic card, a connector connection unit 4 for connecting a connector of a department management apparatus main body (not shown), and a display unit 5. When the magnetic card 6 is inserted into the card insertion section 3, an internal card reader 7 (see FIG. 1) reads magnetic data written on the magnetic card 6. In the case of a counter for inputting a password, a numeric keypad for inputting a password is provided.

As shown in FIG. 1, the counter 1 has a CPU
8, ROM 9, RAM 10, card reader 7, communication port 11 for copying machine, communication port 1 for department management device main body
Two. The RAM 10 is backed up by a battery, and stores a department code for which copying is permitted, and the cumulative number of copies for each department. As described above, the card reader 7 reads data (such as a department code) stored in the inserted magnetic card 6. Meanwhile, the copying machine 21
Are various processing devices including a CPU 22, a ROM 23, a battery-backed RAM 24, a communication port 25, an operation panel 26 having a display unit and an input unit, a motor 27, a charger 28, and a sheet for detecting the presence or absence of a copy sheet. The sensor 29 includes various sensors such as a jam sensor 30 for detecting a paper jam during copying. The paper sensor 29 detects the presence or absence of the paper set in the copying machine 21 by being stored in a paper cassette or being placed on a paper tray. The jam sensor 30 detects a paper or document jam. When the paper sensor 29 detects that there is no paper, or when the jam sensor 30 detects that paper or a document has jammed,
This is displayed on the display of the operation panel 26,
Even during a series of copy processes, the process is interrupted, and the process stands by until the sheet is set or the jam is released.

A series of copy processes is, for example, a process in which an automatic document feeder conveys originals one by one from a bundle of originals on an original tray and copies one or a plurality of copies for each original. This is a continuous copy of the number of copies. The CPU 22
If the set number of copies has not been completed or if a document on the document tray of the automatic document feeder has been detected and no paper or a jam has been detected, it is determined that copying has been interrupted.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are flowcharts showing the processing procedure of the counter and the copying machine according to the present invention. The copying processing procedure will be described below with reference to this flowchart.

When the magnetic card is inserted, the counter 1 reads a section code or the like written on the magnetic card and transmits a copy permission signal to the copying machine 21 (n1 → n2). When the magnetic card is removed, a copy prohibition signal is transmitted to the copying machine 21 (n
3 → n4).

On the other hand, the copying machine 21 enters a copy enabled mode upon receiving the permission signal, accepts a copy mode (number of copies, copy magnification, etc.), and then executes a copy process when a print switch is operated (see FIG. 1). n11 →
n12 → n13). In the copy process (n13), a copy signal is transmitted to the counter 1 for each copy,
When all the set originals have been copied for the set number of copies, a series of copy processing ends (n2).
0). If the copy prohibition signal is not received, the copy mode can be changed to perform the copy process (n23 →
n12 → n13...), if the copy prohibition signal is received, the copy mode is cleared and the standard mode is set.
Return to the state of waiting for a copy permission signal (n23 → n24 → n
11).

If the copying process is interrupted due to troubles such as paper out, jam, etc. during the above-described series of copying processes, an interruption signal is transmitted to the counter 1 and the process waits until the trouble is cleared (n14 → n15). → n16). And
If the copy prohibition signal is not received when the trouble is cleared by replenishing paper or removing jammed paper,
After pressing the print switch, the suspended copy processing is continued (n16 → n17 → n12 → n13...).
However, if a copy prohibition signal is received while the copy is interrupted (the magnetic card is removed), it is first checked whether the copy mode setting state has changed after the trouble is solved, for example, the number of copies and the copy magnification. It is determined whether or not the copy mode has been changed, and the copy can be continued only when the copy mode has not been changed (n17 → n18 → n1).
2 → n13 ...). On the other hand, when the copy mode is changed, the mode is set to the copy prohibition mode. That is, the current series of copy processing modes are cleared, the mode is set to the standard mode, and a copy permission signal is awaited (n18 → n19 → n1).
1). In this way, the magnetic card is removed while copying is suspended,
In addition, by setting the copy prohibition mode when the copy mode is changed, occurrence of illegal copying is prevented. As a criterion for n18, for example, conditions other than the image quality such as the number of copies and the copy magnification are accepted as a change in the copy mode, and conditions relating to the image quality such as the copy density are not treated as a change in the copy mode. Is also good.
When the clear key is operated, the process may proceed to n19.

When all the copy cycles are completed by executing the suspended copy processing (n17, n18 → n1)
2 → n13 → n20), and it is determined whether or not the processing is after the interruption (n21). This can be performed by using a flag or the like. In the case of processing after interruption, an interruption release signal is transmitted to the counter 1 (n22).

In the counter 1, an interruption signal (n15),
The processing corresponding to the interruption release signal (n22) is performed as follows. The interruption signal was received when the magnetic card was removed (n3), and the magnetic card was inserted until the interruption release signal was received (n5 → n6 → n).
9) If the magnetic card is a card in the department at the time of interruption, the magnetic card is accepted and a copy permission signal is transmitted (n7).
→ n2) If the magnetic card inserted until the interruption release signal is received is a card other than the department at the time of the interruption, the magnetic card is not accepted and “reception is impossible” is displayed (n6 → n7 →). n8). Since the processing is performed in this manner, for example, even if the operator pulls out the magnetic card and goes out to take out the paper due to running out of paper, when returning, a series of copy modes and the progress of copying that were being performed at the time of interruption are stored. And copying can be resumed from that state. If the magnetic card is removed, even if another department tries to make a copy during the interruption, the copy is not accepted, and the copy state of the operator before the interruption is protected.

In this embodiment, the section release is performed by removing the magnetic card. However, the same configuration can be applied to the case where the release processing is performed by a timer. Further, when the department management device is built in the copying machine, the copy mode before the interruption is stored when the magnetic card is removed at the time of interruption by the processing of the CPU in the copying machine body. By doing so, the same processing can be performed. Also, when the department is released, if the copy is interrupted, the copy mode is not cleared, and the interrupted copy can be resumed only when the magnetic card is inserted again. You may.

[0021]

According to the present invention, the copy mode is not cleared even if the department is canceled by removing the card or operating the numeric keypad when a series of copy processing is interrupted, and Since the copy is not inhibited, the copy process can be continued until a series of copy processes is completed. At this time, even if the card is removed, the number of copies for each section is stored by the means for counting the number of copies, so that there is no error in the number of copies and accurate counting can be performed. Further, since the department can be released (withdrawing the card or releasing by operating the numeric keypad) when the copying is interrupted, there is no problem that a person other than the department abuses the department setting state and acts improperly.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in a state where the card is removed, the copy process can be continued only in the mode of the interrupted copy cycle. Does not occur.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a main part of a department management device and a copying machine.

FIG. 2 is an external view of a counter portion of the department management device.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a main part processing procedure on the counter side of the department management device.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a main part processing procedure of the copying machine;

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Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] A means for permitting copy processing when a department is set by inserting a card, operating a numeric keypad, or the like; a means for counting the number of copies for which copy processing is permitted as the number of copies for the department; When the department is released by removing the card or operating the numeric keypad, etc., the copy mode such as the number of copies and the copy magnification is cleared, the copy process is prohibited, and a series of copy processes is interrupted by running out of paper, jam, etc. Means for permitting the copy process by postponing clearing of the copy mode and prohibition of the copy process until the series of copy processes is completed when the department is released. A copier equipped with a department management device. 2. A copy machine having a department management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a copy mode change such as the number of copies is input while copy processing is postponed and copy processing is permitted. A copying machine provided with a department management device, the copying machine further comprising means for executing means for inhibiting the copying process.