JPH11184336A - Image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make accounting appropriately chargeable in accordance with actual output form (black-and-white, monochrome or full color). SOLUTION: An arithmetic unit 16 calculates an image count value in proportion to the toner amount of one page by accumulating the counted value of every pixel from the respective K, Y, M and C gradation data counting parts of a ROS I/F 3 in an image forming part 2 by one page, and further calculates image density per unit area (=toner amount per unit area) concerning K, Y, M and C based on the image count value and paper size supplied from a paper size detection part 15. Furthermore, the unit 16 compares a threshold stored in an accounting threshold storage part 18 with the image density. When the image density is equal to or above the threshold, the unit 16 calculates charge in page units based on the output form (black-and-white, monochrome or full color) and the paper size. On the other hand, when the image density is smaller than the threshold, the unit 16 does not charge the accounting.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a digital color copying machine and the like, and more particularly to an image processing apparatus for charging according to the number of output sheets, the output form and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image processing apparatus such as a digital color copying machine, a printer, etc., information such as a form in which a user designates output (black and white, single color, full color), information such as paper size and number of output sheets. To determine the fee to be charged. When copying, the user
A copy mode (black and white, single color, full color) is selected in advance, and the paper size, the presence or absence of enlargement / reduction, the number of copies, and the like are specified, and then copying is started. The copying machine determines the fee based on the copy mode (monochrome, single color, full color), paper size, number of copies, and the like at the time of copying (for example, JP-A-1-13563 and JP-A-4-3174).

[0003]

However, in the above-described conventional image processing apparatus, when a black-and-white page and a color page are mixed in a document (or image), the entire document is charged according to the selected copy mode. There is a problem. For example, if a manuscript (or image) consisting of 50 pages is one color page and 49 black and white pages, to copy one color page in color, select full color as the copy mode. Must. In this case, 49 black and white pages are charged in full color, and there is a problem that accurate charging is not performed.

Therefore, a method is considered in which color information is determined for each document (or image) (Auto Color Selection) and charging is switched. For example, when using a network or the like, the document (or image) is input. Input device, and the input document (or image) may be separated from the output device by copying the paper on paper,
If the above method is adopted in such a situation, the above-mentioned “Auto C
olor Selection ”function.
There is a problem that leads to an increase in cost.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and does not depend on an input device to which an original (or an image) is input, and can change an actual output form (black and white, single color, full color) and paper size. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus that can perform appropriate accounting in consideration of the above.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of image forming means for transferring images of different colorants onto a sheet of paper, and a plurality of these image forming means are provided. And charging means for charging the output paper based on the consumption of the different colorants.

According to the invention, when images of different color materials are transferred to a sheet by the plurality of image forming means, the output is performed by the charging means based on the consumption of each color material in the plurality of image forming means. In this case, the user is billed for the original paper (or image), so that appropriate billing can be performed according to the actual output form (black and white, single color, full color) without depending on the input device to which the original (or image) is input. It becomes possible. In addition, by calculating the consumption per unit area (image count value) for each color and charging the output paper based on the consumption per unit area, it is possible to eliminate the influence of noise and the like. Thus, it is possible to perform appropriate charging according to the actual output mode (black and white, single color, full color).

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.

A. Configuration of Embodiment FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an image memory, which is input from a predetermined input device and is image data for one page which is image-edited by a device (not shown);
Alternatively, one page of image data output from a terminal on the network is sequentially stored and output to the image forming unit 2 at a predetermined timing. The image data is a pulse train (= gradation data) corresponding to the gradation of each pixel for one page.
Consists of The image forming unit 2 includes a ROS interface (hereinafter, referred to as ROS I / F) 3 and an image forming laser optical system (hereinafter, referred to as ROS) 4.

The ROS I / F 3 is an interface for supplying a pulse train of image data from the image memory 1 to the ROS 4, and furthermore, a gradation data counting unit for counting the number of image data pulses for each pixel. (Described later). Actually, the image processing apparatus has a configuration capable of full-color output, and the image memory 1 is provided for each of image data of Y, M, C, and K colors. , The respective image data of the colors Y, M, C, and K are output at a predetermined timing.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the main part according to the present invention. The parts corresponding to those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals. In the figure, K,
Each of the Y, M, and C gradation data counting units includes respective gradation data counting units 3a, 3b, 3c, and 3d. The gradation data counting unit 3a counts a count value corresponding to the gradation of each pixel for K color, and the gradation data counting unit 3b
A count value corresponding to the gradation of each pixel for the Y color is counted. Hereinafter, similarly, the gradation data counting unit 3c counts a count value corresponding to the gradation of each pixel for M color, and the gradation data counting unit 3d calculates a total value corresponding to the gradation of each pixel for C color. Count numbers.

Since the pulse train of the image data corresponds to the gradation of each pixel, the gradation data counting sections 3a to 3d of the K, Y, M, and C colors respectively store the respective pixels for each color. And the count value of the image count corresponding to the gradation of. The image count value of each pixel corresponds to the so-called density, that is, the amount of toner (the amount of color material transferred or consumed). Therefore, values corresponding to the toner amount of each color and each pixel are obtained in the respective gradation data counting units 3a to 3d of the K, Y, M, and C colors. The count value is supplied to the arithmetic unit 16. Next, ROS4 is
Image data (K, Y,
The laser beam 5 for forming a latent image corresponding to the image on the photosensitive drum 6 is sequentially irradiated on the photosensitive drum 6 in accordance with the pulse train of (M, C).

On the photosensitive drum 6, latent images (Y, M, C, and K colors) corresponding to images are sequentially formed by the irradiation of the laser beam. Around the photosensitive drum 6, a charging corotron 7, a developing device 8, a toner replenishing device 9, a transfer corotron 10, a cleaner 11, a neutralizing lamp 12, and the like are arranged at predetermined positions. The charging corotron 7 charges a latent image portion of the photosensitive drum. The developing device 8 places the toner (K, Y, M, C colors) from the toner replenisher 9 on the charged latent image portion of the photosensitive drum 6. Transfer Corotron 10
Transfers the toner (K, Y, M, and C colors) on the photosensitive drum 6 onto the sheet discharged from the sheet tray 13 and conveyed by the transfer material carrier 14. The toner on the paper is fixed by a fixing device (not shown) and discharged onto a tray. Further, the paper tray 13 is provided with a paper size detecting unit 15 for detecting the size of the paper to be discharged, and the paper size detecting unit 15 supplies the detected paper size to the arithmetic unit 16.

Next, the arithmetic unit 16 comprises a CPU 17, a billing threshold storage unit 18, a billing data storage unit 19 and the like. The CPU 17 uses the ROS I / F3 K,
Y, M, and C, the count values for each pixel from the tone data counting units 3a to 3d, the paper size supplied from the paper size detection unit 15, the output supplied from an operation panel (not shown) set by the user. According to the number of sheets and the like, a fee is calculated by a process described later. In the charging threshold storage unit 18,
To avoid charging for dirt caused by noise, etc., or to charge in black and white when most are black and white and only partly in color, or have a faint color as a whole and look Stores a threshold value for charging in black and white when the original is close to a black and white original. The billing data storage unit 19 stores billing data (charge) calculated by the CPU 17.

The arithmetic unit 16 includes a ROS in the image forming unit 2.
The count value for each pixel from the gradation data counting units 3a to 3d of K, Y, M, and C of the I / F 3 is accumulated for one page, and the accumulated value is proportional to the toner amount for one page ( Hereinafter, the image count is calculated. Further, the gradation per unit area (image density: Δtoner amount / per unit area) is calculated from the image count and the paper size supplied from the paper size detection unit 15 by K , Y, M, and C are calculated.

Further, the arithmetic unit 16 is configured to avoid charging for dirt caused by noise or the like, or to charge in black and white when almost all are in black and only a part is in color, or in whole. The threshold value stored in the charging threshold value storage unit 18 is compared with the above image density in order to charge in black and white when the original is lightly colored and looks like a black and white original. If the image density is equal to or higher than the threshold value, the fee is calculated from the output form (black and white, single color, full color), the number of output sheets, the paper size, etc. It is determined that the output does not correspond to, and no charge is made. At this time, since the arithmetic unit 16 determines whether or not to charge each engine of K, Y, M, and C,
For each page, it is possible to easily determine whether the charge is a monochrome charge, a single-color charge, a full-color charge, or a mixed charge charged according to a ratio.

B. Next, an operation of the above-described embodiment will be described. Here, FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the present embodiment. First, when copying is instructed by the user, in step S1, image processing is performed on image data read or directly input by a scanner or the like, and a latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 3 by laser light.
Then, a copy process of discharging a sheet of a predetermined sheet size from No. 3 and transferring and outputting the toner placed on the latent image onto the sheet is started. In the course of the copying process, the paper size detection unit 15 detects the paper size of the paper discharged from the paper tray 13 and supplies the paper size to the control device 16. Also,
In the ROS I / F 3 in the image forming unit 2, K, Y, M, C
Each of the gradation data counting units 3a to 3d sequentially counts a pulse train corresponding to the gradation of each pixel, and the count value is supplied to the arithmetic unit 16.

In step S2, the paper size (mm unit, common to each color) supplied from the paper size detection unit 15
To get. Next, in step S3, the count value of each pixel, which is counted by each of the gradation data counting units 3a to 3d of K, Y, M, and C, is accumulated in the image count for each of K, Y, M, and C. I do. In step S4, it is determined whether or not one page is completed, and the above step S3 is repeated until the processing for one page is completed. When one page ends, the process proceeds to step S5, where K, Y, M, C
The image count for which the total value of one page is obtained is taken in.

At this point, the image count of each of K, Y, M, and C indicates whether the page is black and white, single color or full color, and further, for one page, black and white, single color or full color. This indicates how much of the part is present.

Next, in step S6, the image density per unit area (= toner amount / per unit area) is calculated from the image count and the paper size, and in step S7,
It is determined whether or not the image density is equal to or higher than a threshold value stored in the charging threshold value storage unit 18. If the image density is equal to or larger than the threshold value, the process proceeds to step S8, and charging is set for the target engine. On the other hand, if the image density is smaller than the threshold, the process proceeds to step S9,
Set not to charge for the target engine.

The above steps S3 to S9 are performed for K, Y, M,
C is performed in time series or in parallel for each engine. As a result, whether to charge each of the engines K, Y, M, and C is set.

Next, in step S10, a fee for the page is determined according to the paper size according to whether or not each engine is charged. The fee is displayed on the display unit 20 shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. Then, in step S11, it is determined whether or not the page is the last page. If there is a page that has not been output yet, the process returns to step S2, and the above steps S2 to S10 are repeatedly executed. On the other hand, if it is the last page, the copying process ends in step S12.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the output device determines whether each page is monochrome, monochrome, or full-color, and within one page, the monochrome, monochrome, or monochrome color portion. Since the ratio of the full-color portion is determined, the charge corresponding to black and white, single color or full color can be set for each page, and the charge is performed according to the presence ratio in the page. be able to. Also,
It is possible to prevent a problem of charging for blank output paper due to enlargement / reduction, failure in marker editing, no image, and the like.

Also, since the output device determines the charge, the input device for inputting the image data is provided with the AutoColl.
It is not necessary to provide a function for designating the engine used by the output device such as or Selection, so that the selection range of the components of the copying machine can be expanded.

Also, a threshold value is set, and if the image density is smaller than the threshold value, no charging is set. In the case where only a part is colored, it is possible to expand the degree of freedom of charging, such as charging in black and white.

In the above-described embodiment, an image processing apparatus of a type in which K, Y, M, and C are sequentially processed by one photosensitive drum or a developing device has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Developing devices are provided for each of K, Y, M and C,
A tandem-type image processing apparatus that performs each of them in accordance with the conveyance of a sheet may be used.

In the above-described embodiment, the fee is set in units of pages. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the fee is determined depending on the ratio of black and white, single color, and full color as a whole. You may make it set.
For example, if only one page out of 40 pages is full color, a black and white charge may be applied.

[0028]

As described above, according to the present invention, when images of different color materials are transferred to a sheet by a plurality of image forming means, each color material in the plurality of image forming means is charged by the charging means. Is charged based on the amount of paper consumed, so that the output device can determine whether it is monochrome, monochrome, or full-color, and how the monochrome, monochrome, or full-color portion is determined. Since it is possible to determine whether or not the document exists, the appropriate billing is performed in consideration of the actual output form (black and white, single color, full color) and the paper size without depending on the input device to which the document (or image) is input. The advantage is that it can be done.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image memory 2 Image formation part 3 ROS interface 3a-3d Gradation data counting part (accumulation means) 4 Laser optical system for image formation 16 Arithmetic device 17 CPU (accumulation means, image density calculation means, billing form determination means (Charging determining means) 18 charging threshold storage unit 19 charging data storage unit

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of image forming means for transferring images of different color materials onto a sheet, and a charging means for charging the output sheet based on the consumption of different color materials by the plurality of image forming means. An image processing apparatus comprising: 2. An accumulating means for accumulating an image count value corresponding to gradation data of each pixel of one page of output image data for each color, and an image count value for each color by said accumulating means. An image processing apparatus comprising: charging means for charging the output paper based on the cumulative value. 3. An accumulator for accumulating an image count value corresponding to gradation data of each pixel of one page of output image data for each color, and accumulating the image count value by the accumulator. An image density calculating unit that calculates an image count value per unit area for each color based on the value and a paper size on which the image data is output; and a unit for each color calculated by the image density calculating unit. An image processing apparatus comprising: a charging mode determining unit configured to determine a charging mode for the image data based on an image count value per area. 4. When the image count value per unit area is equal to or more than a predetermined threshold value, the image forming apparatus further includes a charging determining unit that determines charging. The charging mode determining unit determines whether charging is performed by the charging determining unit. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein when determined, a charging mode for the image data is determined based on an image count value per unit area for each color.