Registers – Systems controlled by data bearing records
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-29
2002-11-26
Frech, Karl D. (Department: 2876)
Registers
Systems controlled by data bearing records
C235S382000, C235S383000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06484934
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to electrophotographic printing machine billing systems, and more particularly relates to a programmable billing system for self-service electrophotographic printing machines.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many establishments now provide self-service copy machines, printers, or multifunctional devices, which are operated either on a coin or card basis. Commonly, the coin or card interface physically attaches to the machine via an interface port. The combination of the port and the interface device provides a means of controlling machine operation and a means for counting copies generated. The interface device (e.g. coin-operated machine or debit card reader) controls the processing of copy or print jobs by enabling or disabling a “machine enable” signal. When this signal is enabled, the system allows the marking of jobs.
When a sheet is marked (copied or printed), the system emits a “sheet fed” pulse to the interface device. When no credits remain, the interface device turns off the “machine enable” signal. Upon the disabling of this signal, the system stops the marking of the job. When more credits are provided, the foreign interface device turns on the “machine enable” signal that causes the system to resume the marking of the job.
However, as copiers, printers, and multi-functional machines have evolved, their functionality and available features have increased. These machines provide both simplex and duplex copies, various types of finishing (e.g. stitching, binding, hole-punching, etc.), and variable sheet size capabilities. Unfortunately, the standard interface is not configured with variable charge rates for simplex and duplex copying or printing operations. For the purposes of this disclosure, simplex refers to marking on one side of a sheet only; duplex refers to marking on both sides of a sheet. Although previous systems have provided fixed billing for each sheet side imaged to capture additional charges for duplex printing, these systems do not provide the capability for variable rate billing for printing operations. Variable rate billing would allow the system operator to maintain profitability levels as system costs change and avoid overcharge to the customer.
The following disclosures may be relevant to various aspects of the present invention and may be briefly summarized as follows:
U.S. Pat. No. 4,133,420 to McManus discloses a coin actuated device for operating a copy machine. The device couples to a conventional electrostatic or bond copy machine and provides both coin actuated or bypass operation. The circuitry of the control device includes a power control relay which provides power to a receptacle plug connected to the copy machine, a variable time delay circuit to allow warm-up time between coin actuation and print actuation, and a variable print process timing circuit to allow for process print time prior to shut down of the device.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,519,088 to Rademacher, et al. discloses a usage control system for copiers. The control system connects to the copier through an existing accounting system connection. The copier initiates operation when it receives a signal from a check-operated device, such as a coin box or magnetic card reader. The copier supplies a signal to increment the counter in the accounting system when the operation has progressed. After a delay to permit completion of the copy cycle, the operate signal is reset, and the copier is disabled.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,016,059 to Smeiman discloses a remote control system for providing accurate copy count and control in the operation of self-service photocopy machines. The system includes a remotely located transmitter, which sends digital signals to enable or disable a self-serve photocopy machine. A receiver mounted on the photocopy machine controls a digital display indicating the number of photocopies being made. A user-operated switch on the receiver lets a user disable the copy machine when copying is complete. The photocopy machine is then enabled by a reset signal sent from the remote transmitter, which also clears the digital display.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,172,398 to Simons discloses a device for recording charges or copies made on a copy machine by way of two or more accounting means connected by the device to the copy machine via a plurality of connection points. Each connection point is connected separately to a different accounting means and control means, which selectively activates one of the accounting means for recording charges.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,956,557 to Kato et al. discloses an image forming apparatus such as a coin-operated copy machine, which has an upper limit to the number of copies which are authorized to be made and which permits both simplex and duplex operation. The apparatus includes an intermediate tray, which temporarily stores sheets copied on their first side and is empty at the end of a copy cycle despite the image forming apparatus being fed more double-sided originals to copy than are authorized to be copied. The apparatus compares the upper limit value of the number of copies authorized to be made to the number of single-sided copies already made in the a current copy cycle and begins copying the second side of the originals onto sheets from the intermediate tray when the upper limit value equals a constant K plus twice the number of images formed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly stated, and in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of billing a customer for printing operations performed by a printing system. The method includes programming a printing machine with billing rates for different types of printing operations, receiving an enable signal from a customer interface, and feeding a sheet to the printing machine. After determining whether a sheet is blank, printed on one side only, or printed on both sides, sending a billing signal, corresponding to the billing rate for the operation performed, for each sheet marked to the customer interface.
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Frech Karl D.
Le U-Chau
Robb L. M.
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