JP2004280461A - Print managing device and wide area printing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a print managing device and a wide area printing device for setting an image forming apparatus to a power saving state from a print managing device side by a simple operation. <P>SOLUTION: This print managing device 42 for transmitting print data received from a server on the Internet to a printer, and for managing the printing operation of an image forming apparatus is provided with a device main body 431 equipped with a coin input port 4313 and a change return button 4314 and an operating part 432 mounted on the upper face 4312 of the device main body 431 so as to be turnable, to which instructions necessary for data transmission/reception with the server and the print of the image data received from the server are inputted with an external operation. Also, the print management device 42 is configured to turn in a direction where the operating part 432 approaches the upper face part of the device main body 431, and when a coin input port 4313 is depressed by the operating part 432, a switch part incorporated in the device main body 431 is turned on, and a power saving mode instruction signal is transmitted from a power saving mode instruction signal transmitting part to the image forming apparatus. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a print management apparatus that sends print data received from a server on the Internet to an image forming apparatus and manages a printing operation of the image forming apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a wide area printing system capable of calling and printing print data stored in a server on a network such as the Internet from an image forming apparatus installed in a remote place via the Internet (for example, Patent Document 1). reference). The wide area printing system includes a print management device that is interposed between a server on the Internet and the image forming device and manages a printing operation of the image forming device based on print data received from the server on the Internet. Is also known.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP, 2002-32205, A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The above-described print management device manages data received from a server on the Internet and a print fee. Therefore, the image forming apparatus used in the wide area printing system is in a power saving state (a temperature of the fixing device is reduced) during a print waiting time. A setting operation such as a mode for lowering the power consumption by lowering the temperature must be performed by the operation unit on the image forming apparatus side, and cannot be set from the print management apparatus side. In addition, when performing a setting operation on the image forming apparatus side, the operation for the setting operation must be performed separately, and the setting operation is troublesome.
[0005]
SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to provide a print management apparatus and a wide-area printing apparatus that can set an image forming apparatus to a power saving state or the like from a print management apparatus with a simple operation. With the goal.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print management apparatus that sends print data received from a server on the Internet to an image forming apparatus and manages a printing operation of the image forming apparatus.
An apparatus body provided with a coin slot and an input section for a change return instruction,
An operation unit which is rotatably attached to an upper surface portion of the apparatus main body, and an instruction necessary for data transmission / reception with the server and printing of print data received from the server is input by an external operation,
Instruction signal transmitting means for transmitting an instruction signal for switching the image forming apparatus to the power saving state to the image forming apparatus;
Switch means that is turned on or off based on a turning operation of the operation unit in the direction of the upper surface of the device body,
Control means for causing the instruction signal sending means to send an instruction signal to the image forming apparatus when the switch means is turned on,
The coin insertion slot is provided on the upper surface of the apparatus main body so as to be movable up and down, and when the coin insertion slot is pressed down in contact with the operation unit, the switch means is turned on. It is.
[0007]
According to this configuration, when the operation unit rotates and comes into contact with the coin insertion slot and pushes down the coin insertion slot, the switch means is turned on, and the control means sends an instruction signal to the instruction signal sending means to the image forming apparatus. Is transmitted, it is possible to set the image forming apparatus to the power saving state from the print management apparatus side by a simple operation of rotating the operation unit.
[0008]
The invention according to claim 2 is the print management device according to claim 1, wherein the input unit for the change return instruction is provided on an upper surface of the apparatus main body so as to be vertically movable. The switch means is turned on when the input unit for the change return instruction is pressed down in contact with the operation unit instead of the coin slot.
[0009]
According to this configuration, when the operation unit rotates and depresses the input unit of the change return instruction, the switch unit is turned on, and the control unit causes the instruction signal transmission unit to transmit the instruction signal to the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus can be set to the power saving state from the print management apparatus by a simple operation of rotating the operation unit.
[0010]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the print management apparatus according to the first or second aspect, wherein a power switch of the print management apparatus is turned on or off with the rotation of the operation unit. The state can be switched.
[0011]
According to this configuration, the power of the print management apparatus can be turned on and off by closing the operation unit without particularly performing an operation for turning off the power switch of the print management apparatus.
[0012]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the print management apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein an upper surface of the apparatus main body is an inclined surface having a lower front side. The upper surface of the coin insertion slot and the change return instruction input unit has a horizontal angle with the installation surface of the apparatus main body.
[0013]
According to this configuration, the upper surface of the apparatus main body is at an angle (such as an angle toward the eyes of the apparatus operator) that is easy for the apparatus operator standing in front of the print management apparatus to visually recognize. Since the upper surface of the change return instruction button is at an angle at which the device operator can easily press the button or perform the charge input section, the operability and visibility of the device operator are improved.
[0014]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print management apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects,
The present invention is a wide-area printing apparatus including an image forming apparatus including a power saving mode control unit that sets each unit of the apparatus to a power saving state in accordance with an instruction signal received from an instruction signal transmitting unit of the print management apparatus.
[0015]
According to this configuration, the image forming apparatus can be set to the power saving state from the print management apparatus side by a simple operation of rotating the operation unit.
[0016]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a print management device and a wide area printing device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a wide area printing system including a print management apparatus and a wide area printing apparatus according to the present invention. In the wide area printing system 1, the document server 3 temporarily receives print data stored in the content server 2 connected to the Internet via the Internet, and installs the data in a convenience store 4, a print station 5, a hotel 6, and the like in a remote place. The document server 3 transmits print data (information to be printed) via the Internet to the wide area printing apparatuses 40, 50, and 60 that have been printed, and prints them. The convenience store 4, the print station 5, the hotel 6, and the like are connected by an Internet network.
[0017]
The content server 2 is a server having a database in which various types of information are stored. For example, the content server 2 distributes print target information (hereinafter, referred to as print data) used by a product distributor or the like for advertisement. For example, the content server 2 adds a print data unique number (when a certain print data is registered in the content server 2) to each print data to be provided to a user (a person who becomes an operator of the print management apparatus). A content ID (identification), which is a number assigned for identification, is assigned, and a user ID is assigned to each user (print data receiver). The user ID is a user-specific identification number assigned to each user when the user is registered in the content server 2 for the purpose of printing out print data.
[0018]
The content server 2 distributes print data by electronic mail or the like to communication terminal devices such as a mobile phone 7, a PC (notebook personal computer) 9, and a PDA (personal digital assistants) 10 of each user. Send a message.
[0019]
The document server 3 creates a document ID from the content ID and the user ID received from the content server 2 and stores the print data received from the content server 2 in association with the document ID. The document ID is transmitted from the document server 3 to a communication terminal device such as the user's mobile phone 7, notebook PC (notebook personal computer) 9, PDA 10, etc., and the print data is stored in a convenience store via the Internet in accordance with an instruction from the user. 4, transmitted to the wide area printing devices 40, 50, 60 installed in the print station 5, the hotel 6, and the like.
[0020]
The wide area printing devices 40, 50, and 60 installed in the convenience store 4, the print station 5, the hotel 6, and the like each include a print management device and a printer connected thereto. The print management devices 42, 52, 62 are connected to the Internet, and are interposed between the document server 3 and the printers 41, 51, 61 to transmit print data received from the document server 3 to the printers 41, 51, 61. It is sent out. Further, the print management devices 42, 52, and 62 receive a document ID from the user and transmit the document ID to the document server 3, and collect print charges from the user based on billing data received from the printers 41, 51, and 61. It has the function to do.
[0021]
When the user inputs the document ID to one of the print management devices 42, 52, and 62 and the document ID is transmitted from any of the print management devices 42, 52, and 62 to the document server 3, the document server 3 After the document ID is authenticated, print data corresponding to the document ID is transmitted to the print management devices 42, 52, and 62 that have transmitted the document ID.
[0022]
The printers 41, 51, and 61 installed in the convenience store 4, the print station 5, the hotel 6, and the like need only have at least a printer function, and are so-called multifunction machines having a plurality of functions such as a printer, a copier, and a facsimile. It may be.
[0023]
The provider 8 is an organization that provides an Internet connection service, and is capable of connecting from the document server 3 to communication terminal devices such as a notebook PC (notebook personal computer) 9 and a PDA (personal digital assistants) 10 via the Internet. I have to.
[0024]
The telephone company 11 provides a voice call service to the mobile phone 7 and, as a provider, provides an internet connection service for enabling the mobile phone 7 to transmit and receive data. Note that the telephone company 11 itself does not need to provide the Internet connection service, and may enable the Internet connection through the service of another provider group. The mobile phone 7 has a data transmission / reception function in addition to a normal voice call function.
[0025]
Next, an outline of the internal configuration of the printers 41, 51, 61 will be described. Since the main parts of the internal configuration of each printer are the same, the following description will be made by taking the printer 41 as an example. FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing the internal configuration of the printer 41. The printer 41 receives and prints the print data sent from the print management device 42, and sends billing data about the print fee of the print data to the print management device 42.
[0026]
The printer 41 includes an LCD (liquid crystal display) display section on which various messages necessary for operation of the printer 41 are displayed, an operation panel 411 including a touch panel on which operation instructions and the like necessary for printing are input by a user, and the like. A data transmission / reception unit 412 for transmitting / receiving print data and billing data to / from the print management device 42, a print control unit 413 for generating a print job signal based on the print data received from the print management device 42, A print output unit 414 that prints the print data in accordance with the print job signal generated by the print unit 413, and a charge data for printing the print data received from the print management device 42 (based on the print data, Required number of sheets and paper size, color or black and white stamp Apart to determine the data indicating the determination result and a charging control unit 415 that generates to) the billing data.
[0027]
Further, the printer 41 sets or cancels the power saving mode of the printer 41 in accordance with the power saving mode instruction signal or the power saving mode release signal received from the print management device 42, and the print management device by the data transmitting / receiving unit 412. A control unit that controls the operation and the like of each unit of the apparatus, such as data transmission and reception control with the P. 42 and print data being printed by the print output unit 414 based on a print permission signal received from the print management apparatus 42 via the data transmission and reception unit 412. 417.
[0028]
Note that the power saving mode is such that the power consumption of the printer 41 is reduced by lowering the temperature of the fixing device provided in the print output unit 414 or turning off the display of the operation panel 411 during standby for printing. Refers to the control mode.
[0029]
The internal configuration of the print management device will be described. Since the internal configuration of each print management device is the same, the following describes the print management device 42 as an example. FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing the internal configuration of the print management device 42. The print management device 42 includes a print data management unit 421 and a billing data management unit 422. The print data management unit 421 receives the print data transmitted from the document server 3 and sends it to the printer 41, and the billing data management unit 422 receives the billing data from the printer 41 and collects the printing fee from the user. Has become.
[0030]
The print data management unit 421 transmits to the document server 3 a display unit 4211 on which various messages (such as the URL of the document server 3 and the name of the content to be printed) necessary for operating the print management device 42 are displayed. An operation key unit 4212 (corresponding to ten keys 4323, arrow keys 4324, and function keys 4325 to be described later) into which a document ID and the like are input by the user, transmission and reception of a document ID and print data with the document server 3, and a printer 41 A data transmission / reception unit 4213 for exchanging print data and the like with the control unit 4213, and a control unit 4214 for controlling the overall operation of the print data management unit 421.
[0031]
Further, the print data management unit 421 is turned on in conjunction with a vertical movement of a coin insertion slot 4313 described later, and a power saving signal sending unit 4215 for sending an instruction signal for setting or canceling the image forming apparatus to the power saving state. And a switch section 4216 for turning off. The switch unit 4216 is turned on when the operation unit 432 of the print management device 42 rotates in the direction of the upper surface 4312 (see FIG. 6 described later) of the device main body 431 and the coin insertion slot 4313 is pressed down. It turns off when the coin insertion slot 4313 is released from the pressing by the operation unit 432. When the switch unit 4216 is turned on or off, the control unit 4214 causes the power saving signal transmission unit 4215 to transmit the instruction signal to the printer 41.
[0032]
The billing data management unit 422 is based on a billing display unit 4221 for displaying a printing fee and the like, a data transmitting and receiving unit 4222 for exchanging various data such as billing data with the printer 41, and billing data received from the printer 41. A charge calculating unit 4223 for calculating a printing charge by detecting a bill and a coin inserted as a printing charge from an apparatus user, and sending a print permission signal to the printer 41 when the printing charge is collected. And a control unit 4225 that controls the operation of the entire billing data management unit 422.
[0033]
The processing performed by each unit constituting the wide area printing apparatus will be described. Since the internal configuration of each wide area printing apparatus is the same, the following describes the wide area printing apparatus 40 as an example. FIG. 4 is a block diagram schematically showing the internal configuration of the wide area printing apparatus 40. In the print management device 42, when the data transmission / reception unit 4213 of the print data management unit 421 receives print data from the document server 3, the print data is sent to the printer 41.
[0034]
In the printer 41, print data is received from the print management device 42 by the data transmission / reception unit 412 via the interface 418. The print control unit 413 processes print data received from the print management device 42 and generates a print job signal. The print output unit 414 executes printing based on print data according to the print job signal. Further, the charging control unit 415 determines the number of sheets required for printing, the paper size, and whether the printing is color or black and white printing from the print data received from the print management device 42, and uses the data after this determination as the charging data as an interface. The data is sent to the print management device 42 via the 419.
[0035]
In the print management device 42, the billing data transmitted from the billing control unit 415 of the printer 41 is received by the data transmission / reception unit 4222 of the billing data management unit 422. The fee calculating unit 4223 calculates the printing fee based on the billing data, and the fee collecting unit 4224 determines whether the printing fee has been input by the user and collects the printing fee. A print permission signal is sent to the printer 41.
[0036]
The printer 41 causes the print output unit 414 to print the print data based on the print permission signal received from the print management device 42 via the interface 419.
[0037]
Further, when the coin insertion slot 4313 is pressed down based on the turning operation of the operation unit 432 and the switch unit 4216 is turned on (the details of this mechanism will be described later), the control unit 4214 sends the power saving signal transmission unit 4215 to the printer 41. A power saving mode instruction signal is transmitted. When the coin insertion slot 4313 is opened by the pressing of the operation unit 432 and the switch unit 4216 is turned off, the control unit 4214 causes the power saving signal transmission unit 4215 to transmit a power saving mode release signal to the printer 41.
[0038]
When the data transmitting / receiving unit 412 of the printer 41 receives the power saving mode signal or the power saving mode release signal from the power saving signal transmitting unit 4215 of the print management device 42, the power saving mode control unit 416 controls the printer 41 in accordance with these signals. The power saving mode is set as described above.
[0039]
The outer shape of the print management devices 42, 52, 62 will be described. Since the internal configuration of each print management device is the same, the following describes the print management device 42 as an example. 5 is a plan view of the print management device 42, FIG. 6 is a front view thereof, FIG. 7 is a side view thereof, FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an apparatus main body 431 of the print management device 42 and a partially enlarged view of the upper surface portion 4312, and FIG. FIG. 3A is a perspective view illustrating a state in which an operation unit 432 of the print management apparatus 42 is opened, and FIG. 3B is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the operation unit 432 of the print management apparatus 42 is closed.
[0040]
The print management device 42 has a built-in fee collection unit 4224, and performs data transmission and reception between the document server 3 and a device main body 431 in which the device operator inputs a print fee and inputs a change return instruction. And an operation unit 432 for inputting an instruction necessary for printing the print data received from the device operator. At the lower portion of the device main body 431, a leg portion 4311 for erecting the device main body 431 on an installation surface is provided.
[0041]
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the apparatus main body 431 has an upper surface 4312 that is formed as an inclined surface having a lower front side (left side in FIG. 7) and a higher rear side. Accordingly, when the apparatus operator stands on the front side of the print management apparatus 42, the apparatus operator can easily visually recognize the upper surface portion 4312. In the upper surface portion 4312, a coin insertion slot 4313 into which a printing fee is inserted by the apparatus operator, and when a surplus is generated in the printing fee inserted from the coin insertion slot 4313, the surplus is returned as change. And a change return button 4314 protruding therefrom. Further, the upper surface section 4312 is provided with a charge display section 4221 composed of an LED (light emitting diode) or the like and displaying a print charge calculated by the charge calculation section 4223 (FIGS. 3 and 4). .
[0042]
The upper surface portion 4312 is formed at a standard height that is assumed to be the level of the operator standing at the front of the print management device 42 and is easy for the operator to operate. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the upper surface of the coin insertion slot 4313 and the change return button 4314 has an angle substantially parallel to the installation surface of the device main body 431 (that is, the angle of inclination of the upper surface portion 4312 of the device main body 431). Is different angle), so that the apparatus operator can easily press the change return button 4314 from above the upper surface portion 4312 or insert a fee into the coin insertion slot 4313. Note that a coin return port 4315 is provided on the front surface of the apparatus main body 431.
[0043]
The operation section 432 is rotatably attached to the rear edge of the upper surface section 4312 of the apparatus main body 431, as shown in FIGS. The operation unit 432 has an attachment portion 4316 with the upper surface portion 4312 serving as a fulcrum, and an edge on the front side of the device main body 431 (the side opposite to the edge where the attachment portion 4316 is provided) is connected to the upper surface of the device main body 431. It is configured to move in the direction of contact and separation with the part 4312.
[0044]
The operation unit 432 has an operation panel 4321 on the surface facing the upper surface 4312 of the apparatus main body 431. The operation panel 4321 includes an LCD (liquid crystal display) or the like, and displays a variety of information necessary for network communication such as a URL of the document server 3 and a display unit 4322, and displays information such as a document ID and the number of print copies. Numeric keys 4323, arrow keys 4324 for designating items displayed on the display unit 4322 and scrolling the screen of the display unit 4322, and function keys for inputting various instructions such as print execution instructions by the operator. 4325 is provided.
[0045]
The operation unit 432 has a substantially spherical back surface 4326 (FIG. 7). The back surface 4326 includes an interface for transmitting / receiving data to / from the document server 3 and data to / from the printer 41. An interface (serial port, parallel port, USB port, IEEE 1394, etc.) for transmitting and receiving is provided (all are not shown).
[0046]
The coin insertion slot 4313 is provided on the upper surface 4312 of the apparatus main body 431 so as to be vertically movable. The coin insertion slot 4313 can be freely inserted into and removed from the surface of the upper surface portion 4312 of the device main body 431, and is urged upward from the upper surface portion 4312 inside the device main body 431 by a coil spring (not shown). The operator rotates the operation unit 432 in a direction approaching the upper surface 4312 of the apparatus main body 431, and the operation panel 4321 of the operation unit 432 contacts the upper part of the coin insertion slot 4313, and the operation unit 432 is pressed down by the operator. Then, the coin insertion slot 4313 is pushed down by the operation unit 432.
[0047]
The operation section 432 is rotated until the operation panel 4321 of the operation section 432 and the upper surface section 4312 of the apparatus main body 431 come into contact with each other (FIG. 9B), and the coin insertion slot 4313 is pushed down by the operation section 432 in this contact state. , The switch unit 4216 is turned on in conjunction with the operation of the coin insertion slot 4313.
[0048]
Further, the operation unit 432 is rotated by the operator in a direction away from the upper surface 4312 of the apparatus main body 431 (FIG. 9A), and the operation panel 4321 of the operation unit 432 contacts the upper surface 4312 of the apparatus main body 431. When the state is released, the coin insertion slot 4313 is moved upward by the urging force of the coil spring, and the switch section 4216 is turned off.
[0049]
Further, with the rotation of the operation unit 432, the change return button 4314 also moves up and down with respect to the upper surface unit 4312 by the pressing and release of the operation unit 432. The structure in which the change return button 4314 moves up and down is the same as the structure in which the coin slot 4313 moves up and down. That is, the change return button 4314 is configured to return the change by either the depression of the finger by the operator or the depression of the rotation of the operation unit 432. Therefore, when the operator finishes the printing operation and brings the operation unit 432 into contact with the upper surface 4312 of the apparatus main body 431 (that is, when the operation unit 432 is closed), the change return button 4314 is automatically pressed to change the change. Will be returned.
[0050]
Note that the above-described switch unit 4216 may be configured to be turned on / off as the change return button 4314 moves up and down. In that case, a configuration in which the switch unit 4216 is linked to the coin insertion slot 4313 is unnecessary.
[0051]
The printing process performed by the print management devices 42, 52, and 62 will be described. The processing of each print management device is the same. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a process at the time of printing by the print management device. When the fee collection unit 4224 detects that the fee has been input (YES in S1), the document ID input by the apparatus operator is transmitted to the document server 3 together with the print data transmission request (YES in S2, S3). ). When print data corresponding to the document ID is received from the document server 3 (S4), the print data is sent to the printer (S5). When the printer prints the print data, and the accounting data for the printing of the print data is sent from the printer, the print management device 42 receives the accounting data (S6). The printing fee is calculated based on the printing fee (S7), and the printing fee is collected (S8). Then, after the print fee is collected, a print permission signal is sent to the printer 41 (S9).
[0052]
Next, a process at the time of printing in the printer will be described. The processing of each printer is the same. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing this processing. When print data is received from any one of the print management devices (S11), billing data is created based on the print data by discriminating the number of sheets and the sheet size required for the printing, and whether the printing is color or monochrome printing ( S12), the accounting data is sent to the print management device (S13). Thereafter, when a print permission signal is received from the print management device 42 (YES in S14), the print data is printed (S15).
[0053]
The processing of the document server 3 and the corresponding processing on the printer side will be described. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing processing of the document server 3 and the print management device. When the document ID is input to the print management device 42 and the document ID and the print data transmission request are transmitted to the document server 3 (P1), the document server 3 receives the document ID and the print data transmission request (P1). D1), print data corresponding to the received document ID is retrieved from the print data storage unit (not shown) (D2).
[0054]
If the print data corresponding to the received document ID is present in the print data storage unit in the document server 3 (YES in D3), the print data corresponding to the document ID is transmitted to the print management device 42 that has transmitted the printer ID. It is transmitted (D4). The print management device 42 that has received the print data sends the received print data to the printer 41 (P3).
[0055]
Further, in the document server 3, when the print data corresponding to the received document ID is not in the print data storage unit (NO in D3), the print data indicating that the print service cannot be received is transmitted to the print management device 42 side. (D5). In the print management device 42 that has received the print data, a message indicating that the print service cannot be received is displayed on the display unit 4211 (P2).
[0056]
Next, processing for setting the printer to the power saving mode in accordance with the rotation of the operation unit 432 of the print management apparatus will be described. FIGS. 13 and 14 are flowcharts showing a process of setting the printer to the power saving mode in accordance with the rotation of the operation unit 432 of the print management device. The operator rotates the operation unit 432 of the print management apparatus 41 in a direction in which the operation panel 4321 approaches the upper surface 4312 of the apparatus main body 431, and the operation panel 4321 contacts the upper part of the coin insertion slot 4313 to insert a coin. When the mouth 4313 is pushed down and the switch unit 4216 is turned on (YES in D11), the control unit 4214 determines whether the operator has just pushed down the coin slot 4313 for a predetermined period of time (for example, about 5 seconds, or the like). (D12), and if a predetermined time has elapsed (D12 YES), the power saving signal transmission unit 4215 sends a power saving mode instruction signal to the printer 41. It is sent (D13). If the coin insertion slot 4313 returns to its original state before the predetermined time has elapsed even if the coin insertion slot 4313 is pressed down (NO in D12), the control unit 4214 issues a power saving mode instruction from the power saving signal transmission unit 4215. The process ends without sending a signal.
[0057]
When the data transmitting / receiving unit 412 of the printer 41 receives the power saving mode instruction signal from the power saving signal transmitting unit 4215 of the print management device 41 (P11), the power saving mode control unit 416 sets the printer 41 to the power saving mode (P11). P12).
[0058]
As shown in FIG. 14, after the switch unit 4216 of the print management device 42 is turned on, the operation unit 432 is rotated by the operator in a direction away from the upper surface 4312 of the device main body 431, and the coin insertion slot 4313 is provided. Is released from the pressed state by the operation panel 4321 and the switch unit 4216 is turned off (YES in D21), the control unit 4214 causes the power saving signal transmission unit 4215 to transmit a power saving mode release signal to the printer 41 (D22). .
[0059]
When the data transmitting / receiving unit 412 of the printer 41 receives the power saving mode release signal from the power saving signal transmitting unit 4215 of the print management apparatus 41 (P21), the power saving mode control unit 416 releases the printer 41 from the power saving mode (P21). P22).
[0060]
By performing such processing, when the operation unit 432 is rotated and the operation unit 432 pushes down the coin insertion slot 4313, a power saving mode instruction signal is transmitted from the print management device 42 to the printer 41, and the printer 41 is saved. Set to power mode. Further, when the operation unit 432 rotates and retreats from the coin insertion slot 4313, and the coin insertion slot 4313 is released from being pressed by the operation unit 432, a power saving mode release signal is transmitted from the print management device 42 to the printer 41. Then, the printer 41 is released from the power saving mode. As a result, the simple operation of rotating the operation unit 432 allows the print management device 42 to operate the setting / cancellation of the power saving of the printer 41.
[0061]
In the above processing, the switch unit 4216 is configured to be turned on and off in conjunction with the vertical movement of the coin insertion slot 4313. However, instead of or together with this configuration, the change return button 4314 is used. The switch unit 4216 may be configured to be turned on / off in conjunction with the vertical movement. In this case, the coin insertion slot 4313 is moved up and down to link the change return button 4314, which is configured to move up and down to input a change return instruction, with a switch for setting the printer to the energy saving mode. The switch unit 4216 can be turned on / off according to the rotation of the operation unit 432 without providing a mechanism.
[0062]
Further, according to the print management apparatus 41 of the above embodiment, when the operation unit 432 is rotated to bring the operation panel 4321 into contact with the upper surface 4312 of the apparatus main body 431, the change return button 4314 is also pushed down by the operation panel 4321. Therefore, when the operator finishes printing and closes the operation unit 432, the change is automatically returned.
[0063]
Note that the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible. For example, the power switch of the print management apparatus 41 may be turned off by closing the operation unit 432. In this case, the power of the print management apparatus 41 can be switched on and off by closing the operation unit 432 without particularly performing an operation for turning off the power switch of the print management apparatus 41.
[0064]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the operation unit rotates and comes into contact with the coin insertion slot to push down the coin insertion slot, the switch means is turned on, and the control means sets the instruction signal sending means. Since the instruction signal is transmitted to the image forming apparatus, the print management apparatus can set the image forming apparatus to the power saving state by a simple operation of rotating the operation unit.
[0065]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the operation unit rotates and pushes down the input unit of the change return instruction, the switch unit is turned on, and the control unit transmits the instruction signal to the instruction signal transmission unit to the image forming apparatus. Therefore, the print management apparatus can set the image forming apparatus to the power saving state by a simple operation of rotating the operation unit.
[0066]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to switch on / off the power of the print management apparatus by closing the operation unit without particularly performing an operation for turning off the power switch of the print management apparatus. it can.
[0067]
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the upper surface of the apparatus main body is easily viewed by an apparatus operator standing in front of the print management apparatus (such as an angle toward the eyes of the apparatus operator). Thus, the upper surface of the printing fee input unit and the change return instruction button is at an angle at which the device operator can easily press the button and perform the fee input unit, so that the operability and visibility of the device operator are improved.
[0068]
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the image forming apparatus can be set to the power saving state from the print management apparatus by a simple operation of rotating the operation unit.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a wide area printing system including a print management apparatus and a wide area printing apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an outline of an internal configuration of the printer.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an outline of an internal configuration of the print management apparatus.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an outline of an internal configuration of the wide area printing apparatus.
FIG. 5 is a plan view of the print management device.
FIG. 6 is a front view of the print management device.
FIG. 7 is a side view of the print management device.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an apparatus main body of the print management apparatus and a partially enlarged view of an upper surface thereof.
9A is a perspective view illustrating a state where an operation unit of the print management apparatus is opened, and FIG. 9B is a perspective view illustrating a state where the operation unit of the print management apparatus is closed.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a printing process performed by the print management apparatus.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating processing during printing in the printer.
FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating processing of a document server and a print management device.
FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating processing for setting a printer to a power saving mode in accordance with rotation of an operation unit of the print management apparatus.
FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating processing for setting a printer to a power saving mode in accordance with rotation of an operation unit of the print management apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 wide area printing systems 40, 50, 60 wide area printing devices 41, 51, 61 printers 42, 52, 62 print management device 416 power saving mode control unit (power saving mode control means)
431 Device main body 432 Operation unit 4321 Operation panel 4214 Control unit (control means)
4215 Power saving signal transmission unit (instruction signal transmission means)
4216 Switch part (switch means)
4313 Coin slot 4314 Change return button

Claims (5)

A print management device that sends print data received from a server on the Internet to an image forming apparatus and manages a printing operation of the image forming apparatus,
An apparatus body provided with a coin slot and an input section for a change return instruction,
An operation unit which is rotatably attached to an upper surface portion of the apparatus main body, and an instruction necessary for data transmission / reception with the server and printing of print data received from the server is input by an external operation,
Instruction signal transmitting means for transmitting an instruction signal for switching the image forming apparatus to the power saving state to the image forming apparatus;
Switch means that is turned on or off based on a turning operation of the operation unit in the direction of the upper surface of the device body,
Control means for causing the instruction signal sending means to send an instruction signal to the image forming apparatus when the switch means is turned on,
The coin slot is protruded from the upper surface of the apparatus main body so as to be able to move up and down, and when the coin slot comes into contact with the operation unit and is pressed down, the switch means is turned on. A print management device characterized by the above-mentioned. An input unit for the change return instruction is provided so as to be able to move up and down on the upper surface of the apparatus main body, and instead of the coin slot, the input unit for the change return instruction comes into contact with the operation unit and is pressed down. 2. The print management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the switch is turned on when the switch is turned on. The print processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an on / off state of a power switch of the print management apparatus is switched with the rotation of the operation unit. The upper surface of the device main body is formed as an inclined surface having a lower front side, and the upper surfaces of the coin insertion slot and the change return instruction input portion are at a horizontal angle to the installation surface of the device main body. The print management device according to claim 1, wherein: A print management device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, and a power saving mode control unit that sets each unit of the device to a power saving state according to an instruction signal received from an instruction signal transmission unit of the print management device. And an image forming apparatus.

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