JPS61184672A - Control device of equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the operability of a control device by controlling the titled device so that a display mode is suspended to return to a prescribed state of the system in case a signal is not outputted for a determined period of time when the display is being executed as switching between plural data related to the quantities of service. CONSTITUTION:A card controller main body 1 is incorporated with a microcomputer, and is provided with an operation displaying part 5 and a card-receiving slot 9. The main body 1 is inserted in a socket that is fixed in the outer casing of the equipment, and it stores plural control data that include data related to the service quantity of the equipment. By an inserting of a division card into the sot 9, the equipment is made also to operate, and a division number and a serial service quantity are displayed in a displaying part 5. During this display in the above mentioned mode, if a signal is not outputted for a determined period of time, the mode is suspended, and the system restores a prescribed status. Thus the operation of the control device is improved.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an apparatus for managing the amount of equipment used, such as the number of copies made by a copying machine and the number of facsimile communications, using a recording medium on which predetermined data is recorded.

BACKGROUND TECHNOLOGY Conventionally, each department is treated as one unit, and each department is provided with a mechanical counter (so-called key counter) as a means for managing, for example, the number of copies, and this counter is used when using a copying machine. There was a device that enabled copying operations by being inserted into a copying device, and also registered the number of copies made in a counter.

However, if the administrator wants to know the number of copies,
The counters that display the number of copies are kept by department, so the administrator has to visit each department from time to time to check the number of copies displayed on the counter, which requires a lot of effort and tabulation. The major drawback was that the work was troublesome. Furthermore, since the counter itself is relatively expensive, it is not economically desirable if it is used in multiple units, and it also has the disadvantage of being less convenient to carry in terms of shape and weight.

From this point of view, in recent years, when using equipment, a department card with a department code recorded on it is inserted into the device to enable operation, and the device is also equipped with a memory that stores the usage amount by department. If the administrator wants to keep track of the amount of equipment used by all departments, the amount of equipment used by each department can be recorded by inserting a card with a predetermined function code into the device. A device management device configured to display the amount and total amount used has been proposed.

In such a device, when the administrator wants to understand the amount of usage in all departments, there are known techniques for displaying the amount of usage by inserting a special card or using a dedicated key. . However, once the display of the usage amount is started using the above method, there is a problem in that the copying machine cannot be used until all usage data for all departments is displayed.

Purpose The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and its purpose is to provide a management device for a device that can switch from a mode to another mode while operating in a mode that displays data related to usage. It is about providing.

Example The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a device management device "a" (hereinafter referred to as a card controller) which is an embodiment of the present invention.1
is the card controller main body, 5 is the operation display section, 9 is the second
An insertion slot 23 is used to insert a card as shown in FIGS. (L) to (d), and a connector 23 is used to connect a printer.

FIG. 3-1 is a perspective view showing a receiving unit member (hereinafter referred to as a socket) when the card controller 1 is installed in a device such as a copying machine.

100 is a socket body, and 4 is a connector connected to the socket. This socket 100 is mechanically fixed to the external device 01 of the device with screws 102 as shown in FIG. 3-2. Also, electrically, by combining the east line connector inside the device and the connector 4 connected to the socket, inserting the card controller l into the socket 100, and turning on the power of the device, as shown in Fig. 2 (a). Cards as shown in ~(d) can be accepted.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the operation display section 5 in FIG.
It consists of various operation key switches (+, -, ENTER switches) 8-1 to 8-4, and the operation of the key switches, the department card erasing card shown in Fig. 2 (a) to (d), and the unit price By inserting the setting card and the upper limit setting card into the insertion slot (9) of the card controller 1, the following functions can be performed.

Here, the operating functions of the device using the function cards shown in FIGS. 2(a) to 2(d) will be explained.

(1) Accumulated function of the number of operable sheets for each section of device a By inserting the department card shown in FIG. ．．
7 displays the card department number and the total number of copies.

(2) Erasing function The tally contents are erased by inserting the erasing card shown in FIG. 2(b) and operating the key switch 8-3 in FIG. 4.

(However, the upper limit set value and unit price set value, which will be described later, are not deleted.) (3) Qi price setting function 1 Insert the unit price setting card shown in Figure 3 (d), and switch the key switches 8-1 to 8-8 in Figure 3. You can set the unit price per piece with just 3 steps.

(4) Upper limit setting function By inserting the upper limit setting card shown in Fig. 1(e) and operating the key switches 8-1 to 8-3 shown in Fig. 3, it is possible to limit the number of sheets used in each department. Further, by setting this upper limit value to a value less than or equal to the current number of sheets used in each department, use of that department can be prohibited.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the control section of the card controller. In the figure, lO is a microcomputer, 11 is a RAM for storing total information, and 12 is a RAM for holding information stored in the RAM when the device is powered off. backup battery,
13 is a comparator for comparing the voltage of the battery 12 with a reference voltage set by a resistor 14.15. 16 is an analog switch, which has an analog card function for detecting the voltage of the battery 12 only immediately after the device is powered on and immediately after the insertion of the various cards mentioned above is completed, and the signal from the output port 026 of the microcomputer 10 is Comparator 13 is made analog conductive only when it is output.
The voltage of the battery 12 is input through the input line 17 and voltage comparison is performed. This is to minimize the source current from the battery 12 and maximize the life of the battery.

In addition, 18 and 19 are the battery 12 when the device is powered on, respectively.
16. Analog switch to prevent current from flowing into the device and to turn off the device. This is a diode to prevent current from flowing into elements other than RAM II. Further, 20 is a reset circuit for resetting the microcomputer IO when the power is turned on, 21 is a converter that exchanges the 24V current received from the device to 5V, and 22 is a converter that changes the sheet count pulse signal sent from the device to a 5V voltage signal. It is also a photo H-coupler for removing line noise. Also D
1-D5 is a driver D1, and 02 is a driver for driving the printer motor 24 and printer magnet 25 during tally printing by connecting a printer (not shown) to the connector 23 in FIG.

D3 is a driver for shorting the 3.5 line of the connector 4 with the relay contact 26 to turn on the relay coil 27 to enable the device to operate. D4.
D5 is a driver for the LEDs 28 and 29 for card data A and B, and its configuration is shown in Figures 6-1.6-2 and 7.
As shown in the figure.

That is, the two systems of perforated data provided on the card are transferred to the phototransistor 30. A photo interrupter 34 consisting of (32), LED 31, and (33). (35), card data A signal generation circuit 36 and card data B
Input signal from signal generation circuit 37) I9. It is input to I9. 38, 39.40 are respectively shown in Figure 4 8-
+ switch signal and - switch signal respectively generated by pressing 1 to 8-3.

This circuit generates an ENTER switch signal, and these signals are input to input ports I4 to I6. 41
, 42, and 43 are the printer CP signal and printer S, respectively, which are necessary for the above-mentioned printer to operate normally.
P signal is the printer connect signal. When printing the total, it is detected that the printer is connected by the printer connect signal 43, and the printer motor 24 is first turned on, and the printer motor number 41 that is generated every time printing and the home position are generated. Printing is performed sequentially by turning on the printer magnet 25 while monitoring the timing of the printer motor 42.

In this embodiment, a key counter that mechanically stores the usage amount can also be connected to the socket 100 described above. FIG. 8-1 is an external perspective view of the key counter, and FIG. 8-2 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of the key counter. The key counter 45 maintains the cumulative number of used keys by mechanically rotating a cam using an electromagnetic magnet 44. Connector 4' is the same connector as connector 4 in Figure 5, and electrically, the power supply, sheet count pulse signal, and short bar terminals for enabling the equipment to operate are also connected to the same numbers. . The card controller shown in Figure 5 is inserted into the socket 100 shown in Figure 3-1.3-2, and by inserting the department card, the relay contact 26 is turned on, and numbers 3 and 5 of the connector 4 are shorted, allowing the device to operate. becomes. In the case of key counter 45, connect connector 4 in advance.
' No.3 and No.5 are shorted and the key counter is 4.
5 into the socket 100 shown in Fig. 3-1.3-2 to make the device operational. So socket 100
has a structure that can be used with both the card controller l and the key counter 45. This makes it possible to selectively install a key counter when the number of departments is small, and a card controller when there are many departments, which satisfies the user's requirements in terms of cost.

9 to 16.18 and 20.22 to 24 are flowcharts showing embodiments of the present invention.

A detailed explanation will be given below.

First, as shown in Fig. 9, when the power is turned on,
A voltage check routine for the AMII backup power supply 12 is executed (Step 500), and it is determined whether a card is inserted. This is because in configurations in which power is supplied from the device itself, such as a copying machine, it cannot be determined even if a card is inserted by the user when the power is turned off, so when the power is turned on, it is always determined whether a card is inserted or not. In this case, it is necessary to have the card inserted again. Therefore, at step 5 in FIG. 9, the LED 31 for card data A and the LED 33 for card data B are turned on to start the detection of the photosensors 30 and 32, and at step 5 20, the signal card data is sent from the photosensors 30 and 32 facing the respective LEDs. Determine whether the A signal and B signal are on or off. If a card is inserted here, 5 step 1 because either or both of the A signal and B signal are turned off by the card.
At that time, in step 2, the display displays r --E E--J to prompt the user to reinsert the card. And always 5tepH
The signal is monitored, and only when both signals are turned on, it is determined that the card has been removed, and the "No card display r-p-" is displayed at step 13, and the check is completed at step 14.
Proceed to.

If the card is inserted, run the voltage check routine of the backup power supply 12 of 5-RAM11.5t
ep600), proceed to Step 14. 5tap14 is for determining the type of inserted card, and if no card is inserted, r-p-j is displayed on the display section 6 (S
t e p 14). When inserted, the card data is read, and based on the read data, it is determined whether it is a management card or a department card (Step 15).
The former has data 201 to 203, and can be set in unit price setting mode (Step 200) and upper limit setting mode (Step 200).
300), erase mode (Step 400) is executed, and the latter has data from 1 to 200, and department mode (Steploo) processing is executed (Step 400).
p20)-, if there is an error in card insertion, r-E E-J will be displayed on display section 6 (Step 16)
.

Next, a detailed explanation will be given of card data reading in 5rep14 using the explanatory diagram of FIG. 7 and the flowcharts of FIGS. 10 to 13.

In FIG. 7, the card is inserted in the direction of the arrow, and the card has holes corresponding to the start pattern, card data, and stop pattern, which are detected by the card data A/B signal. In particular, in this embodiment, the start pattern and stop pattern are always different patterns, and if they are not detected in a predetermined order, reading of card data is canceled. In the flowchart in Figure 10, first step 2
0 to detect the start pattern described later, and if it is detected, 5teP21"5tep25 (7) data is read. Data is read when the card is inserted within a certain speed range in order to eliminate errors. The configuration is such that it only executes the command, displays an error, and cancels the data for all other operations.

That is, at 5tpe21, a "data cancel timer" is used to wait in order to cancel the card insertion speed being too fast, and then at 5tep22, the "data out timer" is used to wait in order to cancel the card insertion speed being too slow. Perform data detection.If data cannot be detected even after the timer ends in 5tep22, 5tep
p23 displays r-E-J, prompts the user to reinsert the card, and waits for the card to be removed.

If data is detected, perform data detection/storage as described below in 5
This is done in step24, and then the data counter is incremented by 1 in 5rep25.

Data is read in 5 steps 21 to 26 until the counter reaches 8, that is, until 8 bits of card data are completed.

Then, in step 2B, start pattern detection, which will be described later, is performed, and if the process ends normally, reading of the card data ends.

FIG. 11 is a detailed explanation flow of start pattern detection, and the start pattern shown in FIG. 7 is detected as follows. First, in step 20-1, both the ■ signals of the card data are on, that is, the card has not been inserted yet, and then in step 20-2, both the ■ and 0 signals are off, that is, the tip of the card. It is recognized in this order that the card has been inserted, and then in step 20-3, only the 0 signal has been turned on, that is, the hole on the 0 signal side of the card has been detected. Here 5tep20
-3 If a detection other than the above is detected, it is not recognized as a start pattern and an error is generated.

Next, FIG. 12 is a detailed explanation flow of data detection. 5
In step 24-1, detect the position of the card without a hole,
At step 24-2, it is detected whether either the card data ■ signal or the 0 signal is off, that is, whether it is on the hole side or the ■ side, and at step 24-3, the ■ side data is set as o, and the e side is set as l. It is stored in the bits of [card data] that correspond to the contents of [data counter].

In other words, in the case of Figure 7, the data is 01010110B, which is 1
In base 0, it is 86.

In FIG. 13, the stop pattern detection is as follows:
5 step 26-1 detects no hole, 26-2 detects a hole only on the side, 26-3 detects no hole once, 26-4,
The stop pattern is recognized in the order that 0 detects a hole and 26-5 detects no hole. Here 5tep26
If there is any other detection at -2 and 26-4, it will not be recognized as a stop pattern and will be treated as an error.

Next, processing in each mode will be explained.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing details of processing contents in department mode.

In this mode, each time a copy is made, the total number of copies corresponding to the department card number is increased to +IL, and at the same time the RAM in the microcomputer IO is
This is the mode in which data is stored in .

At 5teplOO-1, the relay coil 27 is turned on by a signal from the terminal 03 of the microcomputer 10, and its contact 26 is turned on to permit the copying machine main body to copy.

In 5teplOO-2, pictogram display mark 7-1.7-
4 and indicate the "#" mark and the "Evening" mark respectively. Then, using the card data as department data, the corresponding [number of copies] and [upper limit number of copies] are read out from the backed-up and stored 5-RAM.

At step 5 100-4, (card data) (department number) and the cumulative number of copies for that department are displayed on the number display section 6. Next, at step 100-5, the copying machine outputs a pulse every time it makes a copy. Number of sheets count pulse signal〕
, and add 1 to the above-mentioned [number of copies] by outputting the signal, and at the same time fill and save the [number of copies] in the above-mentioned 5-RAM, and then return to 5teplO0-4.
The number is displayed on the number display section 6.

On the other hand, in 5TEP100-6, while the [sheet count pulse signal] is not output, the [number of copies per copy] is the [upper limit number of copies].
If this is the case, the relay coil 27 is turned off, copying is prohibited, and at the same time the display on the number display section 6 is blinked to notify the user that the number of copies has reached the upper limit. Additionally, St peloo-7
Then, the user always checks whether the card is inserted or not, and if the user removes the card during copying, that is, if the user wants to interrupt copying, the relay coil 27 is immediately turned off to prohibit copying, and the number display section 6 is displayed. Close (-P-) to indicate that there is no card.

FIGS. 15 and 16 are flowcharts showing in detail the processing contents of the unit price setting mode.

As mentioned above, this mode is used to set the unit price for each copy, and when the unit price setting card is inserted, the data (201 in this embodiment) of the card is read and this mode is started.

First, in step 200-1, change the display of number display section 6 to r---
-J, and at the same time read unit price setting data from S-RAMII. At this time, if nothing is set, rO, ol
J is read in 0th step 5 step 100-2, press e key 8-
Check whether 1 is pressed or not, and emoji display mark 7
-2゜Turn on 7-3, indicate the "@ mark" and "q mark", and enter the unit price setting data in (a) and c in Figure 17.
Display it like r+. Soshi Te S te p 200-3
It is checked whether keys 8-1 to 8-3 have been pressed. When the Φ key 8-1 is pressed, the unit price data is counted up to ten, and when the e key 8-2 is pressed, it is counted up to -. Figure 16 shows the details of the counting method, but unit price data from 0.01 to 9.99 is 0.
．． 17(b)),
9.99+0.01 switches the display to l O, 0 (1st
From FIG. 7(C)) onwards, the count is made in increments of O0■ from io and o to 60.0 (FIG. 17(d)). this is,
This is necessary to support foreign currencies, and in Japan, up to 0.1 yen is sufficient, but in the United States, for example, up to 0.01 $ is required.

Then, when the ENTER key 8-3 is pressed, the unit price setting is confirmed, the display is turned off after 5 step 200-4, the data for which 1 sand diameter has been confirmed is displayed on the number display section 6, and at the same time, it is displayed on the S-RAMI 1. Write and exit this mode.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing in detail the processing contents of the upper limit setting mode.

As mentioned above, this is a mode that sets the upper limit for the number of copies for a specific department, and in particular, it is a mode that can prohibit or cancel the use of a specific department, and when the upper limit setting card is inserted, the data of that card is (202 in this example)
Read and start upper limit setting mode.

First, in step 300-1, change the display of number display section 6 to r---
-J, and at the same time each department data (1
In the initial stage of the apparatus, when reading all the upper limit data for 200 to 200 sheets, each section is set to the maximum value (100,000 sheets).

Next, in 5tep300-2, Φ key 8-1 or e key 8-
When 2 is pressed, [department data] and [upper limit data]
is displayed on the number display section 6.

Then, in step 300-3, the emoticon display mark 7-1 is made to blink and the "# mark" is instructed to blink.

The pictogram display mark 7-4 is lit to indicate the "(mark)" (Fig. 19 (a)), and this state is maintained for 2 seconds until any of the keys 8-1 to 8-3 is pressed. When the mark 7-1 indicating "# mark" is flashing, it is the department mode, and when the key is pressed, the ■ key 8-1
The department code] is displayed as +t and -l for the e key 8-2 (FIGS. 19(b) and (c)), and the process is repeated for each key manually (Step 300-4).

In addition, if key human power is not performed, 5te after the aforementioned 2 seconds have elapsed.
Proceed to p300-5, and this time, mark 7-4 indicating "♂ mark" flashes, and mark 7-4 indicating "# mark J" flashes.
1 (Fig. 19 (d)), continue this state for 2 seconds until the key is pressed, and after 2 seconds, turn on 5tep300-
Return to 3. When the mark 7-4 indicated by "(mark)" is flashing, it is the upper limit setting mode, and if the key is pressed, Φ key 8-1 Te 4 * (Upper 111 Chi 1)
wo + 1000, e key 8-2 displays -10001 (Fig. 19 (e) (f)), and thereafter this is repeated for each key manually (Step 300-6). At this time, set [upper limit data] to O or Copying for that department can be prohibited by reducing the number to less than the current cumulative number of sheets used.

In addition, when the lower key 8-3 is pressed, the upper limit data is confirmed, and -H display is turned off at step 300-7.
The confirmed sand diameter [department data] and [upper limit data] are displayed on the number display section 6, and the marks 7-1 and 7-4 indicating the "# mark" and "θ mark" are lit, and at the same time the S-R
Write to AMII and exit this mode.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing details of the processing contents of the erase mode. This is a mode in which all the cumulative copy number data for departments 1 to 200 stored in the 5-RAM11 is cleared to O, and is not cleared in the upper limit setting mode or unit price setting mode.

First, (-------) is displayed on the number display section 6, and -(S
Step 400-1), Roro Yumiko] By pressing Lokey 8-3 (Step 400-2) the display turns off -H and 5te
p400-3), erase mode processing starts.

5tep400-4 ite [department data] from 1 to 2
Clear the corresponding sheet count data in S-RAMII one by one until it reaches 00, and when it is finished, S
p400-s Step number display section 6r00...Displays OOJ to notify completion of erasing. This allows you to easily clear the sheet count data.

Also, by doing this with an erasure card.

The user cannot erase data without this card, which improves management reliability.

Next, the display form of the pictogram display marks 7-1 to 7-4 and the display contents of the number display section 6 will be explained in detail with reference to FIGS. 21 and 22.

Figure 21 (a) shows the display format when the unit price setting card (Figure 1 (C)) is inserted, and the unit price (@) per sheet (1).
, and the display on the number display section 6 at that time indicates the value.

Further, FIGS. 21(b) to (e) show the display format when the ENTER switch 8-3 (FIG. 4) is pressed when no card is inserted. The process will be further explained below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. When no card is inserted, the display on the number display section 6 is (-P-). When the ENTER switch 8-3 is pressed from this state (Step 700-1), (----- ) and press the [RoroQ] button again to increase the (counter) by 1 and the (total number of sheets used) for all departments (6p)
Proceed to the display format showing (Fig. 21 (b) 0) Next, press the Rollo○ffl key 8-3 again to increment the (counter) by 1 and display the total number of sheets used in all departments as shown in Fig. 21 (c). Indicates the total amount of sheets multiplied by the unit price, and then presses the ENTER switch 8-3 to increase the (counter) by 1 and displays the department used and the cumulative number of sheets as shown in No. 21v!J (d), that is, # The !p (number of sheets used) indication mark of (department) lights up at 7-1.7-4.Also,
Next, by pressing the Rollo switch 8-3 (Roro Q), the counter is +1 and the display format changes to (Ce) in FIG.

Indicates the TAL amount, and then presses the next D button]] Switch 8
- From pressing 3, only the department in use will have a counter = 4.
= 5 and (d) and (e) are displayed repeatedly and in sequence.
(Steploo-3). Then, if a card is inserted while this mode is being executed, or if the ENTER key 8-3 is pressed.
If is not pressed until the timeout, the display immediately returns to the initial state of the middle fin, Figure 9 (SteP7
00-2), the mode is switched according to the content loaded on the card, and the display is also switched.

Next, the S-RA performed in 5 steps 500 and 600
A voltage check of the battery 12 for retaining MII storage information when the device is powered off will be described.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart for executing the above-described check performed in Step 500 when the power is turned on.

At step 500-1, the analog switch 16 described above is turned on by the signal from the terminal 026 of the microcomputer 10, and at step 500-2, after waiting for the timer time by the [gate-on timer], the circuit shown in FIG. 5 described above turns on the battery. Wait for the comparison output of the capacitance to stabilize and then check the voltage. In step 500-3, if it is determined that the voltage check input is higher than the standard, [analog switch 16] is turned off and the operation of the 1 device continues (11th figure(
b)), On the other hand, if the voltage is judged to be below the standard, 5 steps
500-4, the analog switch 16 is turned off to prevent further source current from flowing out, and at the same time the number display section 6 is turned off.
C----J and blinks to notify the user that it is time to replace the battery (FIG. 25(a)).

Further, FIG. 24 is a flowchart for executing the above-mentioned check every time a department card is inserted.
Detects the presence or absence of a card, and synchronizes with the above-mentioned 5tepGOO-1 to 5tepHOO-3.
Step 5 is the same step as voltage check.
00-', execute t~600-3. on the other hand.

If the voltage is below the standard, proceed to 5step 600-4, turn off the analog switch 16, and then turn on the department code and rC----J alternately as shown in Figure 25 to inform the user that it is time to replace the battery. (Fig. 25(C) to (e)
)).

Note that the various timers and counters set in the flowchart of this embodiment are R in the microcomputer IO.
This is set in a predetermined area of AM.

Furthermore, although this embodiment has been explained using the case of managing the number of copies made by a copying machine as an example, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to managing the number of recorded sheets of a printer such as a laser beam printer, or managing the number of facsimile communications. It is clear that this method can be applied to the management of the amount of usage of various devices.

Effects As described above, according to the present invention, if a switching signal is not output for a certain period of time during operation in a mode that switches and displays data related to a plurality of usage amounts, the mode is interrupted and a predetermined state is established, which improves usability. will improve.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is an external perspective view of a card controller that is an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a view showing various function cards, Fig. 3-1 is an external perspective view of a socket, and Fig. 3-2 is an external perspective view of a socket. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the operation display section of the card controller, Fig. 5JI is a block diagram showing the control section of the card controller, Fig. 6-1
The figure shows the configuration of the reading unit of the card controller, Figure 6-2 shows the electrical connection of the reading unit shown in Figure 6-1, and Figure 7 shows the operation of reading data recorded on the card. FIG. 8-1 is an external perspective view of the key counter and a flowchart, and FIGS. 17, 19, 21, and 25 are diagrams showing the display form of the display unit. In the figure, 1 is a card controller, 5 is an operation display section, 9 is a card insertion slot, 10 is a microcomputer, and 11 is R
AM, 12 is a buffer amplifier battery, 30.32 is a phototransistor, 31.331f LED, Zoo is a socket.

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) In a device that manages the amount of usage of a device, there is a storage means for storing data related to a plurality of usage amounts, a display means for displaying the usage data, and a plurality of usage amounts stored in the storage means. a switching means for outputting a switching signal for selecting a mode in which data related to the data is switched and displayed on the display means; and control for interrupting the mode and setting the mode to a predetermined state if the signal is not output for a certain period of time during the display. 1. A device management device comprising: means. (2) A device management device according to claim 1, characterized in that the device can be operated by a recording medium on which department data is recorded. (3) The equipment management device according to claim 1, wherein the data related to the plurality of usage amounts is usage data for each department.