Replenishment management system and replenishment control method

Abstract

To solve the problem in a case where the replenishment of a consumable material is allowed or restricted, local authentication by an image forming device is not preferable for the purpose of managing the use state of the image forming device or the consumable material by a user under some contract condition.SOLUTION: A replenishment management system includes: an acquisition unit configured to acquire a code present in a user environment and unique to an accommodating device accommodating a consumable material to be consumed for image formation; an opening / closing mechanism capable of opening / closing a replenishment path for the consumable material from the accommodating device to an image forming device and disposed in at least one of the accommodating device and the image forming device; a server device present in a remote environment and configured to authenticate the accommodating device, based on the code acquired by the acquisition unit; and a control unit present in the user environment and allowing the opening / closing mechanism to open the replenishment path for the consumable material or allowing the replenishment path to be opened by the opening / closing mechanism, when the authentication performed by the server device is successful.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 17

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a supply management system, a supply control method, an image forming apparatus, and a server apparatus. [Background technology]

[0002] Image forming devices such as copiers, printers, and facsimile receivers consume consumables such as toner or ink to form images on recording media. When a consumable runs out, a user replaces the used cartridge with a new one or replenishes the consumables from a pack containing the consumables in the image forming device's tank. Compared to the widely used removable cartridge system, a replenishment system in which a device such as a replenishment pack is connected to the image forming device only when replenishment is required and the device replenishes (e.g., injects) the consumables into the device has the advantages of being low cost and having a low environmental impact. For example, Patent Document 1 proposes a mechanism for connecting a cylindrical container containing toner to a printer and replenishing the toner from the container to the printer.

[0003] Image forming devices are known that incorporate memory into devices such as the cartridges or refill packs and perform advanced information processing based on information read from the memory. For example, Patent Document 2 discloses a technology in which data indicating the amount of toner remaining in a toner cartridge is stored in the memory of the cartridge, and when the data indicates a low toner level, the user is prompted to timely order a new cartridge. Patent Document 3 discloses a technology in which a printer reads a random number from the memory of a cartridge installed in the printer, and when authentication based on the random number is successful in a server device, the printer enables the supply of toner from the cartridge. The printer described in Patent Document 1 also performs authentication based on authentication data read from the memory of the containing device, but the authentication is limited to local authentication by a single printer. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2020 / 046338 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-090384 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2021-030667 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The local authentication by the image forming device described in Patent Document 1 can verify compatibility between the device and the image forming device. However, local authentication alone may not be desirable for applications such as managing user usage of the image forming device or consumables under certain contractual conditions. It may be difficult to allow or prevent the replenishment of consumables by considering conditions other than device compatibility that are unknown to the image forming device. On the other hand, storing various information such as remaining amount data and random numbers in the device's memory as described in Patent Documents 2 and 3 would increase the cost of the device and the running costs borne by the user. Eliminating memory and functions such as authentication management or remaining amount management would minimize running costs. However, this would result in disadvantages to the user, such as breakdowns, malfunctions, or degradation of image quality due to the use of unauthorized consumables or devices, or unexpected depletion of consumables.

[0006] The technology disclosed herein seeks to eliminate or mitigate at least one of the above-mentioned disadvantages. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] According to one aspect, there is provided a supply management system including: an acquisition unit that exists in a user environment and acquires a code unique to a storage device that stores a consumable material consumed for image formation; an opening / closing mechanism disposed in at least one of the storage device and the image forming device, capable of opening and closing a supply path of the consumable material from the storage device to the image forming device, wherein the opening / closing mechanism opens and closes the supply path of the consumable material when a user operates an operating member of the opening / closing mechanism; a locking mechanism that locks and unlocks operation of the operating member that opens the supply path of the consumable material; a server device that exists in a remote environment and performs authentication of the storage device based on the code acquired by the acquisition unit, the server device transmitting an unlock command to unlock the operation of the operating member that opens the supply path of the consumable material in response to the unlock command received from the server device if the authentication performed by the server device is successful; and a control unit that exists in the user environment and causes the locking mechanism to unlock the operation of the operating member in response to the unlock command received from the server device if the authentication performed by the server device is successful. Corresponding supply control methods, image forming devices, and server devices are also provided. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view illustrating an example of the appearance of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of the internal physical configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view illustrating an example of a configuration of a consumable goods supply path according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an example of a configuration of a storage unit and its surroundings according to an embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view for explaining an example of a schematic configuration of a supply pack according to an embodiment. [Figure 6] 5A and 5B are explanatory diagrams for explaining opening and closing of a discharge tray according to an embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a supply pack is connected to a toner receiving portion. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a locking mechanism for locking the operation of the opening and closing mechanism. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a supply management system according to a first embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a management server according to the first embodiment. [Figure 11] 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of updating a database when registering a device. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of updating a database when a pack is delivered. [Figure 13] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a user terminal according to the first embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a schematic processing flow related to device registration. [Figure 16] 10A to 10C are sequence diagrams showing examples of a general process flow related to providing a refill pack to a user. [Figure 17] FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a schematic process flow according to the first embodiment when replenishing consumable items. [Figure 18] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of authentication processing executed by the management server. [Figure 19] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of a lock control process executed by the image forming apparatus. [Figure 20] FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a schematic process flow according to the second embodiment when consumable items are replenished. [Figure 21] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a supply management system according to a modified example of the first embodiment. [Figure 22] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a supply management system according to a second embodiment. [Figure 23] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram for explaining the connection between the supply pack and the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment. [Figure 24]FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment. [Figure 25] FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a schematic process flow when replenishing consumable items in the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the scope of the invention claimed. Although multiple features are described in the embodiments, not all of these multiple features are necessarily essential to the invention, and multiple features may be combined arbitrarily. Furthermore, in the accompanying drawings, the same reference numerals are used to designate the same or similar components, and redundant explanations will be omitted.

[0010] <1. Description of Replenishment Type Image Forming Apparatus> In this section, the basic configuration of a replenishment-type image forming apparatus will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 8. In the following description, the configuration of image forming apparatus 1, which is a monochrome laser printer, will be exemplified, but the technology according to the present disclosure can also be applied to other types of printers, such as color laser printers and inkjet printers. Generally speaking, the technology according to the present disclosure can be widely applied to image forming apparatuses in general, such as copiers, printers, facsimile receivers, and multifunction devices.

[0011] Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of the external appearance of an image forming apparatus 1 according to one embodiment. Fig. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of the internal physical configuration of the image forming apparatus 1. The image forming apparatus 1 is a monochrome laser printer that forms an image on a recording medium based on input image data. The recording medium here can include various media made of different materials, such as paper, plastic film, envelopes, sheets, and cloth.

[0012] In the following description, the height direction of the image forming apparatus 1 when the image forming apparatus 1 is installed on a horizontal surface is referred to as the Z direction. The direction perpendicular to the Z direction and parallel to the rotation axis direction (main scanning direction) of the photosensitive drum 44 (described later) is referred to as the X direction. The direction perpendicular to the X direction and the Z direction is referred to as the Y direction.

[0013] <1-1. Appearance of the device> The housing of the image forming apparatus 1 includes a front cover 20 (see FIG. 2), an exterior cover 21, a rear cover 22, and an ejection tray 82 (see FIG. 1). A handle 23 is provided on the rear cover 22. The front cover 20 is provided on one side of the image forming apparatus 1 so as to be able to open and close, and protects a processing circuit 90 (described later). The rear cover 22 is provided on the other side of the image forming apparatus 1 so as to be able to open and close. A user can grasp the handle 23 of the rear cover 22 to open the rear cover 22, thereby exposing a portion of the transport path through which the recording medium is transported and the process unit 41, and perform maintenance work such as clearing a jam or replacing the process unit 41. FIG. 1(A) shows the rear cover 22 in a closed state, and FIG. 1(B) shows the rear cover 22 in an open state.

[0014] <1-2. Internal configuration of the device> 2, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a feeding unit 30, an image forming unit 40, a fixing unit 70, a pair of discharge rollers 80, and a processing circuit 90. The feeding unit 30 feeds a recording medium P toward the image forming unit 40. The image forming unit 40 consumes toner, which is a consumable material, to form an image (toner image) on the recording medium. The fixing unit 70 fixes the image formed by the image forming unit 40 onto the recording medium P. The pair of discharge rollers 80 discharges the recording medium P processed by the fixing unit 70 onto a discharge tray 82.

[0015] The image forming section 40 has a process unit 41, a scanner unit 42, and a transfer roller 43. The process unit 41 has a photosensitive drum 44, a developing roller 45, a cleaning unit 46, a charging roller 47, and a storage section 48. The process unit 41 may be fixed to the main body of the image forming apparatus 1 or may be detachable.

[0016] The photosensitive drum 44 is an image carrier and has a photosensitive layer formed of an organic photosensitive material on a drum-shaped substrate. The photosensitive drum 44 is driven to rotate in the direction R in the figure by a motor. A charging voltage is applied to the charging roller 47 by a high-voltage power supply, and the charging roller 47 is pressed against the photosensitive drum 44, uniformly charging the surface of the photosensitive drum 44. The scanner unit 42 irradiates the photosensitive drum 44 with laser light in accordance with input image data, exposing the surface of the photosensitive drum 44. This exposure forms an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the input image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 44. Note that the scanner unit 42 may irradiate the photosensitive drum 44 with light from an LED array instead of laser light.

[0017] The developing roller 45 is rotatably supported by a storage unit 48. The storage unit 48 stores toner. Although not shown in FIG. 2, the storage unit 48 may further include a supply roller that applies the toner stored in the storage unit 48 to the surface of the developing roller 45. A developing voltage is applied to the developing roller 45 by a high-voltage power supply. When the toner carried by the developing roller 45 comes into contact with the photosensitive drum 44, the toner is transferred from the developing roller 45 to the drum surface in accordance with the potential distribution on the surface of the photosensitive drum 44. This develops a toner image from the electrostatic latent image.

[0018] The feeding unit 30 has a cassette 31, a pickup roller 32, a pair of separation rollers 33, and a pair of conveying rollers 34. A stack of recording media P is loaded in the cassette 31. The cassette 31 can be pulled out from the housing of the image forming apparatus 1. The pickup roller 32 picks up the recording media P in the cassette 31 and sends the recording media P toward the pair of separation rollers 33. The pair of separation rollers 33 separates one recording medium P and conveys it toward the pair of conveying rollers 34. The pair of conveying rollers 34 conveys the recording medium P toward the transfer nip between the transfer roller 43 and the photosensitive drum 44. A transfer voltage is applied to the transfer roller 43 from a high-voltage power supply, and the transfer roller 43 transfers the toner image developed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 44 to the recording medium P conveyed to the transfer nip.

[0019] The recording medium P onto which the toner image has been transferred is transported along a transport path and reaches a fixing unit 70. The fixing unit 70 has a heating roller 71, a pressure roller 72, and a fixing heater 73. The heating roller 71 and the pressure roller 72 heat and pressurize the recording medium P as the recording medium P passes through the nip between these rollers. This melts the toner particles and then solidifies them, fixing the toner image to the recording medium P. After passing through the fixing unit 70, the recording medium P is discharged by a pair of discharge rollers 80 from a discharge opening 81 to a discharge tray 82. A cleaning unit 46 is disposed near the photosensitive drum 44. The cleaning unit 46 cleans the photosensitive drum 44 by scraping off toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 44.

[0020] The processing circuit 90 has electronic components 91, 92, and 93 arranged on a substrate. For example, the electronic component 91 may be a processor, the electronic component 92 may be a memory, and the electronic component 93 may be an input / output device. The input / output device may include a communication interface. When a job instructing image formation is input to the image forming apparatus 1, an image formation process based on input image data received from, for example, an external computer is started. In the image formation process, as described above, the scanner unit 42 forms an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 44 in accordance with the input image data, the developing roller 45 develops a toner image from this electrostatic latent image, and the toner image is transferred to the recording medium P by the transfer roller 43. The processing circuit 90 operates as a controller for controlling this image formation process.

[0021] <1-3. Detailed configuration of the storage unit> Next, a more specific example of the configuration related to the storage unit 48 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view illustrating an example of the configuration of a consumable supply path of the image forming apparatus 1. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an example of the configuration of the storage unit 48 and its surroundings. Referring to FIG. 3, the storage unit 48 constitutes a part of the toner supply unit 100. The toner supply unit 100 has the storage unit 48 and a toner receiving unit 110. The toner receiving unit 110 includes a cylindrical member 112, a main body shutter 116, and a connecting member 120. The toner receiving unit 110 further includes a ring member 111, which will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8, but the ring member 111 is omitted in FIG. 3 in order to show the other components. The internal space of the cylindrical member 112 is in communication with the storage unit 48 via a side opening 115 and a hollow connecting member 120. The main body shutter 116 serves as an opening / closing mechanism that can open and close a supply path for a consumable material (toner in this case) from a supply pack 200 (described later) to the storage unit 48. A protrusion 117 is formed on the inner surface of the main body shutter 116.

[0022] 4 shows the state in which the supply pack 200 is connected to the toner receiving unit 110, along with a cross-section of the storage unit 48 and its surrounding configuration. The supply pack 200 is an example of a storage device that stores consumable materials consumed for image formation. When the main body shutter 116 is opened, a supply path extending from the supply pack 200 to the storage unit 48 through the connecting member 120 is opened. With the supply path open, toner released from the supply pack 200 is replenished to the storage unit 48 through the supply path.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 4, an agitating member 60 having a shaft 60a disposed along the X direction and a blade 60b rotating around the shaft 60a is provided inside the storage unit 48. The blade 60b is driven to rotate by a motor 65. The rotation of the blade 60b agitates the toner in the storage unit 48 and causes it to reach the developing roller 45. The agitating member 60 may have a spiral member instead of the blade 60b. The agitating member 60 may have the role of scraping the toner from the developing roller 45 and circulating the toner within the storage unit 48, thereby homogenizing the toner in the storage unit 48.

[0024] The storage unit 48 is further provided with a remaining amount detection unit 61. The remaining amount detection unit 61 is a sensor for detecting the amount of toner remaining in the storage unit 48. The remaining amount detection unit 61 includes a light emitter 61a and a light receiver 61b. The light emitter 61a emits light that travels through the storage unit 48 along an optical axis Q1. The light receiver 61b is disposed opposite the light emitter 61a and receives the light emitted from the light emitter 61a. Note that if the light is guided by, for example, a light guide tube, the light receiver 61b does not necessarily have to be disposed opposite the light emitter 61a. The light emitter 61a may be, for example, a light-emitting element such as an LED, or may be a halogen lamp or fluorescent lamp. The light receiver 61b may be, for example, a phototransistor, a photodiode, or an avalanche photodiode.

[0025] The light receiver 61b outputs a light detection signal having a signal level that depends on the amount of light received. The light detection signal is input to the processing circuit 90 after, for example, analog-to-digital conversion. The processing circuit 90 may estimate the remaining amount of toner based on, for example, the proportion of time during which light from the light emitter 61a is blocked (by toner) relative to a certain time window while the toner is being agitated. The remaining amount of toner may be detected or estimated by any method, without being limited to the above-described exemplary configuration of the remaining amount detection unit 61. For example, the remaining amount of toner may be estimated by subtracting the cumulative amount of toner used since the previous toner replenishment from the total amount of toner used at the time of the previous toner replenishment. The processing circuit 90 may also derive the amount of toner used based on statistical values related to image formation operations, such as the number of recording media consumed by printing or pixel counts.

[0026] <1-4. Supply Pack Composition> FIG. 5 shows an example of the schematic configuration of the refill pack 200. In this configuration example, the refill pack 200 includes a storage section 211, a nozzle 212, and a pack shutter 214. The storage section 211 may be configured as, for example, a hollow tube or pouch to store toner, which is a consumable material. The storage section 211 is pre-filled with toner. The storage section 211 may be, for example, a bag made of easily deformable plastic. However, without being limited to this example, the storage section 211 may be made of any material, such as resin, paper, or vinyl, and may have any shape, such as a bottle, a cylinder, or a box.

[0027] The nozzle 212 is an interface with the toner receiving unit 110 of the image forming apparatus 1. The inside of the nozzle 212 is in communication with the inside of the storage unit 211. An opening 213 for discharging the toner to the outside is formed on the side of the nozzle 212. The opening 213 is normally closed by a pack shutter 214.

[0028] The pack shutter 214 is a cylindrical member concentric with the nozzle 212 and disposed radially outward of the nozzle 212. The pack shutter 214 has an opening 214c. A portion of the edge forming the opening 214c constitutes a drive transmission surface 214b. During toner replenishment, the pack shutter 214 rotates relative to the nozzle 212 so that the opening 213 of the nozzle 212 overlaps with the opening 214c of the pack shutter 214, thereby opening the toner discharge path that was previously blocked by the pack shutter 214. As will be described later, the drive transmission surface 214b is a surface that receives a force that rotates the pack shutter 214. FIG. 5(A) shows a state in which the toner discharge path is blocked, and FIG. 5(B) shows a state in which the toner discharge path is open. A seal member 231 that normally covers the opening 213 of the nozzle 212 may further be disposed on the inner peripheral surface of the pack shutter 214. The seal member 231 prevents toner from leaking from the refill pack 200 when toner is not being replenished.

[0029] <1-5. Replenishing consumables> Next, the connection of the supply pack 200 to the toner receiving unit 110 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. As shown in FIG. 6, the discharge tray 82 is configured to be openable and closable around an opening / closing axis disposed on the housing along the X direction. In the example shown in FIG. 6A, the discharge tray 82 is in a closed state, and the recording medium P discharged from the discharge port 81 is discharged onto the discharge tray 82 in this state. In the example shown in FIG. 6B, the discharge tray 82 is in an open state, and in this state, the supply port 114 of the toner receiving unit 110 is exposed. That is, in this configuration example, the discharge tray 82 also serves as a shielding member that shields the supply port 114. A user can connect the supply pack 200 to the toner receiving unit 110 by lifting and opening the discharge tray 82 as shown in FIG. 6B and inserting the nozzle 212 of the supply pack 200 into the exposed supply port 114 as shown on the left in FIG. 7.

[0030] The right side of FIG. 7 shows an enlarged view of the supply pack 200 connected to the toner receiving portion 110. A ring member 111 surrounding the supply port 114 is rotatably supported on the top surface of the cylindrical member 112. The ring member 111 has a lever 111b that is gripped by the user and a protrusion 111d, indicated by a dotted line in the figure. The protrusion 111d engages with a drive transmission surface 214b of the pack shutter 214 of the supply pack 200 inserted into the toner receiving portion 110. The drive transmission surface 214b also engages with a protrusion 117 of the main body shutter 116 (see FIG. 3). When a user operates the lever 111b to rotate the ring member 111 around the central axis, a force generated in the rotational direction is transmitted from the protrusion 111d to the drive transmission surface 214b of the pack shutter 214, and further from the drive transmission surface 214b to the protrusion 117 of the main body shutter 116. As a result, the main body shutter 116 and the pack shutter 214 of the supply pack 200 rotate in conjunction with the ring member 111, and the toner supply path can be opened after a rotation of, for example, 90 degrees. When the supply path is opened, the toner stored in the storage section 211 of the supply pack 200 is poured into the toner receiving section 110 from the opening 213 of the nozzle 212, passes through the connecting member 120, and is supplied to the storage section 48. Note that the rotation of the ring member 111 can be restricted by a restricting member (not shown) so that it does not rotate beyond a predetermined upper limit angle.

[0031] Although the above describes an example in which the toner supply path is opened by a rotational force generated by a user operating lever 111b, the closing and opening of the supply path may be performed without relying on user operation. As an example, image forming apparatus 1 may include a pack sensor that detects that supply pack 200 is connected to toner receiving portion 110, and a drive motor that generates a drive force for rotating ring member 111. In this example, processing circuit 90 may operate the drive motor, and rotate ring member 111 with the rotational force of the drive motor to open the supply path, on the condition that the pack sensor detects that supply pack 200 is connected to toner receiving portion 110.

[0032] The opening / closing mechanism for opening and closing the supply path is not limited to the mechanism using the rotating shutter described above. Instead of a rotating shutter, a shutter that can move linearly may be used, or a mechanism other than a shutter, such as a valve, may be used. The opening / closing mechanism may be provided in at least one of the storage device such as the supply pack 200 and the image forming apparatus. That is, the supply path from the storage device to the image forming apparatus may always be open on one side of the storage device or the image forming apparatus, and may be opened or closed only on the other side. Alternatively, the supply path may be opened or closed on both the storage device and the image forming apparatus, as in the above example. A sensor may also be provided to detect the user's operation of the opening / closing mechanism or the state (open or closed) of the opening / closing mechanism.

[0033] The opening / closing mechanism described above may be capable of being prevented from operating (by user operation or automatically) by a locking mechanism described in the next section. Like the opening / closing mechanism, the locking mechanism may also be provided in at least one of the storage device and the image forming apparatus. A leakage prevention member such as a lid or cap to prevent toner leakage may be attached to the supply port 114 of the image forming apparatus 1 or the opening 213 of the supply pack 200. Such a leakage prevention member may be freely removable by the user at any time.

[0034] <1-6. Locking and unlocking the opening and closing mechanism> The ring member 111 of the image forming apparatus 1 may be locked under normal circumstances so as not to rotate even when a user applies force to it. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a locking mechanism for locking the rotation of the ring member 111. FIG. 8 illustrates the toner receiving unit 110 as viewed from inside the apparatus (in the Z direction) so that an example of the internal configuration of the toner receiving unit 110 can be understood in more detail. The toner receiving unit 110 includes, for example, a lock unit 150. The lock unit 150 has a rod-shaped lock member 152 that is supported at one end by a shaft 151 and is rotatable about the shaft 151. The ring member 111 also has a protrusion 111k. Under normal circumstances, the elastic force of a spring (not shown) within the lock unit 150 biases a tip 153 of the lock member 152, on the side opposite the shaft 151, in a direction away from the lock unit 150, thereby positioning the tip 153 on the rotational path of the protrusion 111k of the ring member 111. Therefore, even if the user attempts to rotate the ring member 111 clockwise in the figure (Rc direction in the figure), the tip 153 of the locking member 152 interferes with the protrusion 111k, preventing the ring member 111 from rotating; that is, the opening and closing mechanism of the supply path is locked in the closed state (see Figure 8(A)).

[0035] The lock unit 150 further includes, for example, a solenoid (not shown) for rotating the lock member 152 in a direction opposite to the elastic force of the spring. The solenoid is temporarily energized during a period when toner replenishment from the replenishment pack 200 to the image forming apparatus 1 is permitted, and the suction force rotates the lock member 152. When the solenoid is energized and the lock member 152 rotates, the tip 153 of the lock member 152 retracts from the rotational path of the protrusion 111k of the ring member 111 (see FIG. 8B). As a result, the user can rotate the ring member 111 clockwise in the figure, i.e., the opening / closing mechanism of the replenishment path is unlocked. The locking and unlocking of the opening / closing mechanism can be controlled by the processing circuit 90. Various examples of conditions for unlocking the opening / closing mechanism will be described in the following sections.

[0036] The configuration of the locking mechanism that locks and unlocks the opening / closing mechanism is not limited to the above example, and may be any mechanical, electromagnetic, electrical, or software mechanism. For example, the locking member 152 may be driven by a motor or other type of actuator instead of a solenoid. When an opening / closing mechanism that operates under computer control without relying on user operation is employed, the locking and unlocking of the opening / closing mechanism may be achieved simply by program code.

[0037] As shown on the right side of FIG. 7, an indicator 125 is provided near the ring member 111. The indicator 125 indicates to the user whether the opening / closing mechanism is in a locked state or an unlocked state. The indicator 125 may be configured, for example, with an LED (Light-Emitting Diode) provided inside the housing and a window that transmits light from the LED. When the indicator 125 shows that the opening / closing mechanism is in an unlocked state, the user can rotate the ring member 111 to open the supply path.

[0038] 2. Supply Management System (First Embodiment) The replenishment-based image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1 uses local authentication to determine whether to start replenishment of toner from a storage device connected to the image forming apparatus. However, simple local authentication only verifies compatibility between the image forming apparatus and the storage device, and it is difficult to allow or prevent replenishment while considering other conditions, such as whether replenishment is being performed by a registered user under a contract. Replenishment-based image forming apparatuses have attracted attention due to their low cost and environmentally friendly nature. Expanding the conditions verified by local authentication would lead to increased device complexity and cost, potentially undermining the inherent advantages of the replenishment system. Therefore, the first embodiment described in this section incorporates a mechanism involving a server device operating in a remote environment in managing the replenishment of consumables to the image forming apparatus.

[0039] <2-1. System Overview> 9 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a supply management system 300 according to the first embodiment. Referring to FIG. 9, the supply management system 300 includes an image forming apparatus 1, a management server 301, and a user terminal 401.

[0040] The image forming device 1 is installed in a user environment E1 where a user exists. A user terminal 401 also exists in the user environment E1 and is carried by the user. The image forming device 1 and the user terminal 401 are connected to a local network N1, which may be, for example, a local area network (LAN). The management server 301 is installed in a remote environment E2. The remote environment E2 is connected to the local network N1 via an external network N2. The external network N2 may be, for example, the Internet or a virtual private network (VPN). Each of the local network N1 and the external network N2 may include any number of network devices of any type, such as routers, switches, gateways, wireless access points, and base stations.

[0041] In user environment E1, a user uses image forming apparatus 1. As described above, image forming apparatus 1 forms an image on a recording medium by consuming toner as a consumable material. When the toner stored in image forming apparatus 1 runs out, the user connects refill pack 200, which is a storage device for toner, to image forming apparatus 1 and replenishes toner from refill pack 200 to image forming apparatus 1. If refill pack 200 runs out and there is no spare refill pack 200 in user environment E1, the image forming apparatus 1 cannot be used the next time the toner runs out. In this embodiment, to prevent such a situation, management server 301 remotely manages the usage status of image forming apparatus 1 and refill pack 200 by each user.

[0042] The management server 301 is a server device for managing the replenishment of toner from the replenishment pack 200 to the image forming apparatus 1. The management server 301 may be a device for centrally managing the usage status of each image forming apparatus and consumable supplies by multiple users. The management server 301 may be implemented as an application server, database server, or cloud server using, for example, a high-performance general-purpose computer. The user terminal 401 is a terminal device that provides a user with a user interface for supporting the replenishment management function of the management server 301. The user terminal 401 may be, for example, a general-purpose terminal device such as a smartphone, a mobile phone, a PC (Personal Computer), or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant). The image forming apparatus 1 may also provide a user with a user interface.

[0043] The functions of the management server 301, which will be described in detail later, may be provided by a single device, or may be provided by multiple physically separate devices working together. Also, some of the databases described as being held by the management server 301 may be held by a device separate from the management server 301 (for example, another database server).

[0044] In this embodiment, each supply pack 200 is assigned a unique code 201 for uniquely identifying the supply pack 200. The code 201 may be referred to as, for example, a manufacturing number, a serial number, or a pack identifier. The code 201 is printed on the surface of the storage section 211 of each supply pack 200 or on the packaging of each supply pack 200 in a format that can be manually read by a user or optically read by a user terminal 401. Examples of optically readable formats include a one-dimensional barcode or a two-dimensional QR code (registered trademark). The code 201 read by the user or by the user terminal 401 is transmitted to the management server 301 and can be used for supply management, which will be described later.

[0045] <2-2. Management Server Configuration Example> 10 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the management server 301 according to this embodiment. Referring to FIG. 10, the management server 301 includes a communication interface (I / F) 311, a memory 312, a management database (DB) 313, and a processing circuit 314.

[0046] The communication I / F 311 is an interface through which the management server 301 communicates with other devices. For example, the communication I / F 311 communicates with the image forming device 1 and the user terminal 401 present in the user environment E1. The communication I / F 311 may be a wired communication interface or a wireless communication interface.

[0047] The memory 312 may include any type of storage medium, such as semiconductor memory, such as Read Only Memory (ROM) or Random Access Memory (RAM), an optical disk, or a magnetic disk. The memory 312 may also include a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. The memory 312 stores one or more computer programs executed by the processing circuitry 314 and various data.

[0048] Management DB 313 is made up of a group of tables for managing the supply of consumables to one or more image forming apparatuses under the management of supply management system 300. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 10 , management DB 313 includes an account table 320, an apparatus registration table 330, and a delivery pack table 340.

[0049] The account table 320 is a table that holds information about the accounts of users who use the supply packs 200 provided by the supply management system 300. The account table 320 may include, for example, one or more of the following information items: "User ID" ·"password" ·"name" ·"email address" ·"address" Contract Type Payment Method The "user ID" is identification information for uniquely identifying each user account. The "password" is used for user authentication when a user logs in to the system. The "name" represents the user name of each account. The user name may be displayed on the screen after login, and may be used as the addressee when delivering the supply pack 200. The "address" may be used as the addressee when delivering the supply pack 200. The "email address" may be used when the system sends various notifications to each user via email. The "contract type" represents the type of contract each user has with the business operator that operates the supply management system 300. The delivery management unit 360, described later, may determine when to deliver the supply pack 200 to each user depending on the user's contract type. The "payment information" is information regarding the method of payment for the supply pack 200 provided to each user.

[0050] The device registration table 330 is a table that holds information about the image forming devices registered as each user's device in the supply management system 300. The device registration table 330 may include, for example, one or more of the following information items: ·“Owner” ·“Device ID” "Registration date" ·"status" "Toner remaining" The "owner" indicates the account of the user who owns or manages each image forming device by the "user ID" registered in the account table 320. The "device ID" is identification information for uniquely identifying each image forming device. A pair of the "owner" and the "device ID" indicates an association between each user account and at least one image forming device registered as the device of the user who owns the account. Two or more image forming devices may be associated with one user account. The "registration date" indicates the date on which the "device ID" of each image forming device was registered in the device registration table 330. The "status" indicates the status of verification of whether each image forming device is actually installed in the user environment of the "owner." At the time of initial registration of the "device ID," the "status" may indicate "unverified." Once verification is complete, the "status" may change to "verified." The "toner remaining amount" indicates the latest remaining toner amount detected and reported by each image forming device. For example, the "toner remaining amount" may be expressed as a percentage.

[0051] The delivery pack table 340 is a table that holds information about the supply packs sent to each user. The delivery pack table 340 may include, for example, one or more of the following information items: "Contractor" Pack ID "Shipping date" ·"status" ·“Usage date” The "Contractor" indicates the user account to which each replenishment pack was provided by the "User ID" registered in the account table 320. The "Pack ID" is identification information for uniquely identifying each replenishment pack. The pair of "Contractor" and "Pack ID" indicates the association between each user account and at least one replenishment pack provided to the user who owns that account. Because each user repeatedly consumes toner, the number of replenishment packs associated with a single user account in the delivery pack table 340 increases over time. The "Shipped Date" indicates the date on which each replenishment pack was shipped to the "Contractor." The "Status" indicates whether each replenishment pack has been used to replenish toner in an image forming device. At the time of shipment, the "Status" indicates "Unused." Once each replenishment pack arrives in the user's environment, is authenticated, and is replenished with toner, the "Status" can be changed to "Used." The "Used Date" indicates the date on which each replenishment pack was used to replenish toner.

[0052] The processing circuitry 314 may be, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and provides various functions of the management server 301 by executing computer programs stored in the memory 312. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 10 , the processing circuitry 314 can function as a data management unit 350, a provision management unit 360, and an authentication unit 370.

[0053] The data management unit 350 manages the registration and updating of data in the management DB 313. The data management unit 350 may display a screen on the user terminal 401 for accepting input of account information to be registered in the account table 320, receive the entered account information via the communication I / F 311, and register the account information in the account table 320. Similarly, the data management unit 350 may display a screen on the user terminal 401 for accepting input of device information about an image forming device owned by each user, receive the entered device information via the communication I / F 311, and register the device information in the device registration table 330. These input screens may be provided in any format, such as a web page, an input form, or an application screen. Typically, the input of device information may be accepted while the user is logged in to the system after successful user authentication using the user ID and password stored in the account table 320.

[0054] Specifically, in this embodiment, the data management unit 350 may perform simple verification of whether the device information registered in the device registration table 330 is actually installed in the user environment of the corresponding user. For example, when a user logs in to the system and enters device information for the image forming device 1 into an input screen, the data management unit 350 presents the user with a message prompting the user to perform a predetermined operation on the image forming device 1. The predetermined operation may be, for example, pressing a specific physical button on the image forming device 1 or touching a button on a GUI (Graphical User Interface). Additionally or alternatively, the transmitted message may include content prompting the user to turn on the power of the image forming device 1 (if it is off). When the user performs the prompted operation on the image forming device 1, the image forming device 1 transmits a device ID identifying the image forming device to the management server 301. The data management unit 350 waits for reception of the device ID from the image forming device 1 until a predetermined period has elapsed since the presentation of the message. If the data management unit 350 receives a device ID identical to the device ID entered by the user from the image forming device 1 before the timeout, the data management unit 350 determines that the image forming device 1 identified by that device ID is actually installed in the user environment. For devices for which verification has not yet been completed, the data management unit 350 sets the value of "status" in the device registration table 330 to "unverified," and for devices for which verification has been completed, the data management unit 350 sets the value of "status" in the device registration table 330 to "verified."

[0055] In this embodiment, data management unit 350 also manages updates to the "toner remaining amount" value in device registration table 330. For example, data management unit 350 receives remaining amount information related to the remaining amount of consumables in storage unit 48 of a registered image forming device 1 via communication I / F 311. Then, data management unit 350 updates status information related to the remaining amount of consumables, i.e., the "toner remaining amount" value in device registration table 330, based on the received remaining amount information.

[0056] The provision management unit 360 manages the provision of supply packs 200 to users of the supply management system 300. For example, the provision management unit 360 monitors the occurrence of a trigger event that triggers the provision of a supply pack 200 to a user.

[0057] An example of a trigger event may be a user's purchase of the supply pack 200. For example, when an order for the supply pack 200 is accepted on a website that sells consumables for image formation (i.e., when an individual contract is concluded), the provision management unit 360 may start providing the supply pack 200 to the user who is the purchaser.

[0058] Another example of a trigger event is the arrival of a supply timing based on a contract with a user. For example, a certain user may have a subscription contract with a business operator to periodically purchase a certain number of supply packs 200 (e.g., once a month or once every few months). When it is determined that the time for the next supply pack 200 has arrived for such a user, the supply management unit 360 may start providing the user with a supply pack 200.

[0059] Another example of a trigger event may be the detection of a low level of toner in an image forming device 1 registered in the device registration table 330. For example, a user may have an automatic purchase contract with a business under which a new toner pack 200 is automatically provided when the toner level in the user's image forming device 1 becomes low. In this case, the provision management unit 360 may monitor the "toner level remaining" value in the device registration table 330 for the user's registered image forming device 1, and may begin providing the user with a replenishment pack 200 when it determines that the toner level falls below a predetermined threshold. Additionally or alternatively, a trigger event for the automatic purchase of a replenishment pack 200 may be the number of operations (e.g., the number of jobs executed or the cumulative number of recording media consumed) of the registered image forming device 1 reaching a threshold. Additionally or alternatively, a trigger event for the automatic purchase of a replenishment pack 200 may be the detection of the use of a replenishment pack 200 previously provided to the user. For example, the provision management unit 360 may monitor the "status" in the delivery pack table 340 for supply packs 200 that have been provided to users who have entered into an automatic purchase contract, and may begin providing the supply packs 200 when the value changes from "unused" to "used."

[0060] By periodically or automatically providing the user with a new supply pack 200 in response to the detection of these trigger events, the possibility of the image forming device 1 becoming unusable due to the consumables running out at a time the user does not expect can be reduced.

[0061] The delivery management unit 360 can determine which of the above-mentioned trigger events to monitor for each user based on the content of the "contract type" in the account table 320. When the delivery management unit 360 determines that a trigger event has occurred for a certain user, it allocates a new replenishment pack 200 to the user and sends a message to the delivery person instructing them to deliver the allocated replenishment pack 200. The delivery management unit 360 also adds a new record to the delivery pack table 340 indicating the user ID of the delivery destination user and the pack ID that identifies the allocated replenishment pack 200, and registers the association between the user account and the replenishment pack 200 in the management DB 313. The "shipping date" in the delivery pack table 340 can be set to the date the replenishment pack 200 is shipped, and the "status" and "usage date" can be set to "unused" and blank as default values, respectively.

[0062] The authentication unit 370 performs user authentication (e.g., password authentication) when a user logs in to the system, and also performs authentication (hereinafter referred to as pre-supply authentication) to authorize the replenishment pack 200 to be used for toner replenishment. The pre-supply authentication may include determining whether the replenishment pack 200 is an object that can be authorized for use (e.g., whether it was provided to the user through a legitimate channel). As described with reference to FIG. 9 , in this embodiment, a unique code 201 for uniquely identifying each replenishment pack 200 is assigned to the replenishment pack 200. The code 201 is printed, for example, on each replenishment pack 200 or its packaging in a format readable by the user or the user terminal 401. The authentication unit 370 receives the code of the replenishment pack 200 to be used for replenishment from a code acquisition unit present in the user environment E1 and performs pre-supply authentication based on the received code. How the code of the replenishment pack 200 is acquired in the user environment E1 will be described later with several examples.

[0063] As one example, the code 201 may be equal to the pack ID of each supply pack 200, in which case the authentication unit 370 may use the received code as is for pre-replenishment authentication. As another example, the code 201 may be generated by encoding the pack ID of each supply pack 200, in which case the authentication unit 370 may use the pack ID derived by decoding the code 201 for pre-replenishment authentication.

[0064] The pre-replenishment authentication may include determining whether the replenishment pack 200 identified based on the code 201 corresponds to the user account of the logged-in user. For example, the authentication unit 370 checks whether an association between the pack ID based on the code 201 and the user ID of the logged-in user is registered in the delivery pack table 340. If this association is registered in the delivery pack table 340, the authentication unit 370 may determine that the replenishment pack 200 to be used for replenishment corresponds to the user account of the user attempting to perform the replenishment. In this way, verifying the correspondence between the replenishment pack 200 and the user account can prevent a replenishment pack 200 obtained without compliance with the contract from being used to replenish consumables.

[0065] Additionally or alternatively, the pre-replenishment authentication may include determining whether the image forming apparatus 1 receiving the consumables corresponds to the logged-in user's user account. For example, the authentication unit 370 may present a message to the user attempting to replenish the consumables, prompting the user to perform a predetermined operation on the image forming apparatus 1 receiving the consumables. Again, the predetermined operation may be, for example, pressing a specific physical button on the image forming apparatus 1 or touching a button on the GUI. When the user performs the prompted operation on the image forming apparatus 1, the image forming apparatus 1 transmits a device ID identifying the image forming apparatus 1 to the management server 301. The authentication unit 370 waits for reception of the device ID from the image forming apparatus 1 until a predetermined period has elapsed since the presentation of the message. Then, the authentication unit 370 checks whether an association between the device ID received from the image forming apparatus 1 before the timeout and the user ID of the logged-in user is registered in the device registration table 330. If this association is registered in the device registration table 330, the authentication unit 370 may determine whether the image forming apparatus 1 receiving the consumables corresponds to the logged-in user's user account. In this way, by making it a condition for successful authentication that the replenishment destination device has already been registered as the user's device, it is possible to promote the registration of device information in the database. Furthermore, by receiving the device ID from image forming device 1, management server 301 can reliably identify the device to which the user is attempting to replenish toner, and can transmit subsequent control commands (for example, an unlock command or an open command, which will be described later) to that replenishment destination device.

[0066] In response to the predetermined operation, authentication unit 370 may receive remaining amount information indicating the latest remaining amount of toner along with the device ID from image forming device 1. Then, if the received remaining amount information indicates that there is sufficient toner remaining, authentication unit 370 may refuse to replenish toner to image forming device 1. This makes it possible to prevent excessive replenishment of toner to image forming device 1.

[0067] Additionally or alternatively, the pre-replenishment authentication may include determining whether the supply pack 200 identified based on the code 201 has been used based on the value of "status" in the delivery pack table 340. For example, the authentication unit 370 may refer to a record in the delivery pack table 340 for the pack ID based on the code 201, and if the value of "status" is "unused," allow the supply pack 200 to be used for replenishment. On the other hand, if the value of "status" in the referenced record is "used," the authentication unit 370 may refuse to use the supply pack 200 for replenishment. In this way, by requiring that the supply pack 200 be unused as a condition for successful authentication, it is possible to prevent fraudulent or accidental reuse of the supply pack 200.

[0068] Additionally or alternatively, the pre-replenishment authentication may include determining whether the replenishment pack 200 identified based on the code 201 is a genuine product compatible with the replenishment destination device. To determine authenticity, the device registration table 330 may include the model number of each image forming device, and the delivery pack table 340 may include the model number of each replenishment pack as an additional data item. Furthermore, the management DB 313 may include an additional table that indicates the model numbers of one or more replenishment packs compatible with each image forming device model number. In this case, the authentication unit 370 may permit the replenishment pack 200 to be used for replenishment only if it is determined that the replenishment destination device and the replenishment pack 200 are compatible with each other based on their respective model numbers.

[0069] As described above, at least one of the supply pack 200 and the image forming apparatus 1 includes an opening / closing mechanism that can open and close the supply path for consumable supplies. This opening / closing mechanism is normally locked by a locking mechanism so that it cannot be opened. If the pre-supply authentication described above is successful, the authentication unit 370 transmits a result of successful authentication to the image forming apparatus 1 via the communication I / F 311, allowing the image forming apparatus 1 to open the supply path using the opening / closing mechanism (i.e., causes the locking mechanism to unlock the opening / closing mechanism). Note that in the image forming apparatus 1, if the opening / closing mechanism is operated by computer control without relying on user operation, the authentication unit 370 may cause the opening / closing mechanism of the image forming apparatus 1 to open the supply path for consumable supplies instead of unlocking the opening / closing mechanism. An unlock command (or an open command) for the image forming apparatus 1 may be transmitted directly from the management server 301 to the image forming apparatus 1. Alternatively, the user terminal 401, which receives a result of successful authentication from the management server 301, may transmit the unlock command (or open command) to the image forming apparatus 1. If the pre-replenishment authentication fails because any of the above conditions is not satisfied, the authentication unit 370 transmits a result of the authentication failure to the image forming device 1 or the user terminal 401 via the communication I / F 311. The authentication unit 370 may display a message indicating the cause of the authentication failure (for example, an inappropriate pack, the device not registered, or the pack has already been used) on the screen of either device.

[0070] When the opening / closing mechanism is unlocked based on the authentication result, the replenishment path is opened, and toner is replenished from the replenishment pack 200 to the image forming device 1, the remaining amount of toner in the storage unit 48 of the image forming device 1 increases. As described below, the image forming device 1 detects the remaining amount of toner in the storage unit 48 and transmits the remaining amount information to the management server 301. The data management unit 350 receives this remaining amount information via the communication I / F 311 and updates the value of "Remaining Toner Amount" in the device registration table 330. Furthermore, if the received remaining amount information indicates that the remaining toner amount has increased, the data management unit 350 changes the "Status" of the replenishment pack 200 in the delivery pack table 340 to "Used." This allows the authentication unit 370 to deny reuse of the replenishment pack 200 based on the status information. Furthermore, the provision management unit 360 can assign a new replenishment pack 200 to a user upon detecting the use of the replenishment pack 200.

[0071] 11 and 12, updating of the contents of the management DB 313 along a typical processing flow will be described below. FIG. 11 shows an example of updating the device registration table 330 when registering a device. The upper part of FIG. 11 shows an account table 320 having a user ID 321 and a name 322 as data items. Other data items in the account table 320 are omitted from the figure. The middle part of FIG. 11 shows the device registration table 330 having an owner 331, a device ID 332, a registration date 333, a status 334, and a remaining toner amount 335 as data items. In the example of FIG. 11, the account of a user identified by a user ID "U01" (hereinafter referred to as user U01) has already been registered in the account table 320. In addition, an image forming device identified by a device ID "D00" has already been registered in the device registration table 330 as user U01's device.

[0072] User U01 installs a new image forming device (hereinafter referred to as device D01) identified by device ID "D01" in user environment E1. When user U01 inputs device information for device D01 via an input screen provided by management server 301, management server 301 adds a record for the device information for device D01 to device registration table 330. The owner 331 of the added record indicates "U01," device ID 332 indicates "D01," registration date 333 indicates the date of registration, status 334 indicates "unverified," and remaining toner amount 335 indicates "0%."

[0073] Furthermore, user U01 performs an operation for device registration on the newly installed device D01, for example, following a message displayed on the screen. Device D01 pre-stores its own device ID "D01," and transmits device information including this device ID to management server 301 in response to an operation by the user. If the device ID thus received matches the device ID entered by user U01, data management unit 350 changes the value of status 334 of the record added to device registration table 330 from "unverified" to "verified," as shown in the lower part of FIG. 11 .

[0074] Figure 12 shows an example of updating the delivery pack table 340 when a pack is delivered. The upper part of Figure 12 shows the contents of the account table 320, similar to that of Figure 11. The middle part of Figure 12 shows the delivery pack table 340, which has the data items of contractor 341, pack ID 342, shipping date 343, status 344, and usage date 345. In the example of Figure 12, a supply pack identified by pack ID "P01" has already been provided to user U01, and the supply pack has been used.

[0075] In response to detecting one of the trigger events described above, the supply management unit 360 newly allocates a supply pack identified by pack ID "P11" (hereinafter referred to as supply pack P11) to user U01. The supply management unit 360 also adds a record to the delivery pack table 340 for managing the status of the allocated supply pack P11. The added record's contractor 341 indicates "U01," pack ID 342 indicates "P11," shipping date 343 indicates the date of shipping, status 344 indicates "in delivery," and date of use 345 is blank.

[0076] When authentication by authentication unit 370 is successful and toner is replenished from replenishment pack P11 to the replenishment destination device, the replenishment destination device reports an increase in the remaining toner amount to management server 301. Based on this report, data management unit 350 changes the value of status 344 of the record added to delivery pack table 340 from "in delivery" to "used," and adds the date on which the increase in the remaining toner amount was reported to date of use 345.

[0077] <2-3. Example of user terminal configuration> 13 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a user terminal 401 according to this embodiment. Referring to FIG. 13, the user terminal 401 includes a communication I / F 411, a memory 412, a camera 413, an input device 414, a display device 415, and a processing circuit 416.

[0078] The communication I / F 411 is an interface through which the user terminal 401 communicates with other devices. For example, the communication I / F 411 communicates with the image forming apparatus 1 in the user environment E1 and the management server 301 in the remote environment E2. The communication I / F 411 may be a wired communication interface or a wireless communication interface. If the communication I / F 411 is a wireless communication interface, the communication I / F 411 may be, for example, a WLAN interface for communicating with a WLAN access point or a cellular communication interface for communicating with a cellular base station. Although FIG. 13 shows only a single communication I / F 411, the user terminal 401 may include multiple different communication modules for communicating with the image forming apparatus 1 and the management server 301, respectively. Communication between the user terminal 401 and the image forming apparatus 1 may be performed using a communication protocol for connecting peripheral devices, such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) or USB (Universal Serial Bus).

[0079] The memory 412 may include any type of storage medium, such as semiconductor memory such as ROM or RAM, an optical disk, or a magnetic disk. The memory 412 may also include a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. The memory 412 stores one or more computer programs executed by the processing circuit 416 and various data.

[0080] The camera 413 is a module capable of capturing an image or video of an object. In one embodiment described below, the camera 413 is used to optically read the unique code 201 on the supply pack 200.

[0081] The input device 414 is used as a user interface for accepting operations and information input by a user. The input device 414 may include, for example, one or more of a touch sensor, a keypad, a keyboard, a pointing device, and a microphone. In one embodiment described below, the code 201 unique to the supply pack 200 is input by the user via the input device 414.

[0082] The display device 415 is used to display images and information and may be configured with, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or an OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode).

[0083] The processing circuitry 416 may be, for example, a CPU, and provides various functions of the user terminal 401 by executing computer programs stored in the memory 412. More specifically, as shown in Fig. 13, the processing circuitry 416 may function as a device control unit 420, a code acquisition unit 430, and an application unit 440. Note that although this specification mainly describes only functions related to managing the supply of consumables to the image forming device 1, the processing circuitry 416 may also provide the user with many other functions that a user terminal typically has.

[0084] The device control unit 420 controls image formation and other operations performed in the image forming apparatus 1. The device control unit 420 may include driver software for the image forming apparatus 1. For example, the device control unit 420 detects one or more devices available to the user terminal 401 present in the user environment E1 and presents a list of the detected devices to the user on the screen of the display device 415. The device control unit 420 may obtain the status of each device (e.g., power on / off, remaining toner amount, etc.) and present the obtained status to the user. When the user selects the image forming apparatus 1 and instructs printing, the device control unit 420 transmits a print job including image data of the image to be printed to the image forming apparatus 1 and causes the image forming apparatus 1 to print the image.

[0085] The code acquisition unit 430 acquires the code 201 that is unique to the supply pack 200 that the user intends to use to replenish consumables. As one example, if the code 201 is an optically readable code printed on the supply pack 200 or its packaging (e.g., on the wrapping or a piece of paper enclosed therein), the code acquisition unit 430 may optically read the code 201 using the camera 413. As another example, if the code 201 is a code that can be read manually (e.g., visually), the code acquisition unit 430 may have the user input the code 201 using the input device 414 and acquire the input code 201.

[0086] The application unit 440 may be an application for supply management that operates in cooperation with the management server 301. The application unit 440 may be a web browser. For example, the application unit 440 displays an account information input screen on the display device 415 when a new user account is registered or when a change occurs. When account information is entered on the account information input screen, the application unit 440 transmits the received account information to the management server 301 via the communication I / F 411. Furthermore, when the image forming apparatus 1 is installed in the user environment E1, the application unit 440 displays a device information input screen on the display device 415. When device information is entered on the device information input screen, the application unit 440 transmits the received device information to the management server 301 via the communication I / F 411.

[0087] Furthermore, application unit 440 may provide a user interface for requesting pre-supply authentication from management server 301 to a user who wishes to replenish consumables from replenishment pack 200 to image forming apparatus 1. For example, when a button for requesting authentication is operated by the user, application unit 440 activates code acquisition unit 430 to acquire a code unique to replenishment pack 200, and transmits acquired code 201 to management server 301 via communication I / F 411. Application unit 440 may transmit code 201 to management server 301 as part of a request for permission to replenish consumables. Application unit 440 may also transmit code 201 to management server 301 as part of a request for opening a replenishment path (or unlocking an opening / closing mechanism).

[0088] In one embodiment, the application unit 440 may send a transmission request to the image forming apparatus 1 to send the apparatus ID required for pre-replenishment authentication by the management server 301 to the management server 301. In another embodiment, the application unit 440 may cause the display device 415 to display a message prompting the user to perform an operation to transmit the apparatus ID in the image forming apparatus 1.

[0089] When pre-replenishment authentication is performed by management server 301 based on code 201 unique to replenishment pack 200, application unit 440 receives the result of the pre-replenishment authentication from management server 301. If the authentication result indicates success of pre-replenishment authentication, application unit 440 may cause device control unit 420 to send to image forming device 1 an unlock command for unlocking the opening / closing mechanism or an open command for opening the replenishment path. Note that if these commands are sent directly from management server 301 to image forming device 1, user terminal 401 does not need to send these commands to image forming device 1.

[0090] The application unit 440 displays the result of the pre-supply authentication received from the management server 301 on the display device 415. For example, if the result of the pre-supply authentication indicates a successful authentication, the user can connect the supply pack 200 to the image forming apparatus 1 and open the supply path by operating the opening / closing mechanism that had been blocking the supply path of the consumables, thereby supplying the consumables from the supply pack 200 to the image forming apparatus 1. At this time, because the opening / closing mechanism is unlocked by the image forming apparatus 1, the user's operation to open the supply path is not hindered. Note that the connection of the supply pack 200 to the image forming apparatus 1 may be performed before the pre-supply authentication request or after the authentication is successful. As described above, instead of the user operating the opening / closing mechanism, the image forming apparatus 1 may automatically operate the opening / closing mechanism. If the result of the pre-supply authentication indicates a failure, the user may retry the pre-supply authentication after taking appropriate measures, or give up on the current supply of consumables, depending on the cause of the failure that may be displayed on the screen. At this time, the opening and closing mechanism remains locked by the image forming apparatus 1, or the opening and closing mechanism does not automatically operate and the supply path remains blocked.

[0091] <2-4. Example of image forming device configuration> 14 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 according to this embodiment. Referring to Fig. 14, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a communication I / F 11, a memory 12, a user I / F 13, an image forming unit 40, an opening / closing mechanism 51, a locking mechanism 52, and a processing circuit 90.

[0092] The communication I / F 11 is an interface through which the image forming apparatus 1 communicates with other devices. For example, the communication I / F 11 communicates with a user terminal 401 present in the user environment E1 and a management server 301 present in the remote environment E2. The communication I / F 11 may be a wired communication interface or a wireless communication interface. If the communication I / F 11 is a wireless communication interface, the communication I / F 11 may be, for example, a WLAN interface or a cellular communication interface. Note that although only a single communication I / F 11 is shown in FIG. 14, the image forming apparatus 1 may be provided with multiple different communication modules for communicating with the user terminal 401 and the management server 301, respectively.

[0093] The memory 12 may include any type of storage medium, such as a semiconductor memory such as a ROM or RAM, an optical disk, or a magnetic disk. The memory 12 may also include a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. The memory 12 stores one or more computer programs executed by the processing circuit 90 and various data. The memory 12 pre-stores, for example, a device ID (also referred to as device identification information) that uniquely identifies the image forming device 1.

[0094] The user I / F 13 may include an input device for accepting user operations and information input, and a display device for displaying images and information. For example, the user I / F 13 may include one or more of a touch panel, a keypad, a button, a switch, a microphone, and a speaker. The user I / F 13 may be treated as an operation terminal integrated into the image forming apparatus 1. In one embodiment, the user I / F 13 may be used to accept input of a code 201 unique to the supply pack 200.

[0095] As described with reference to FIG. 2, the image forming unit 40 consumes toner stored in the storage unit 48 to form an image on a recording medium. The opening / closing mechanism 51 is a mechanism that can open and close the supply path 50 from the supply pack 200 connected to the toner receiving unit 110 to the storage unit 48. The ring member 111 including the lever 111b and the protrusion 111d, the pack shutter 214 of the supply pack 200, and the main body shutter 116 are examples of the opening / closing mechanism 51. The locking mechanism 52 is a mechanism that inhibits (i.e., locks) and releases (unlocks) the operation of the opening / closing mechanism 51 by a user or the automatic operation of the opening / closing mechanism 51. The locking unit 150 described above is an example of the locking mechanism 52.

[0096] From a functional standpoint, the above-described electronic component groups 91, 92, and 93 of the processing circuit 90 can function mainly as a print control unit 95 and a lock control unit 96. The print control unit 95 controls operations for image formation by the image forming unit 40. For example, when a print job is received from an external device via the communication I / F 11, the print control unit 95 controls the image forming unit 40 to form an image on a recording medium based on input image data included in the print job.

[0097] The lock control unit 96 controls the locking and unlocking of the opening / closing mechanism 51 by the lock mechanism 52. For example, when a predetermined input signal is detected, the lock control unit 96 transmits the device ID stored in the memory 12 to the management server 301. The device ID transmitted to the management server 301 may be used to verify whether the image forming device 1 identified by the device ID specified by the user for device registration is actually installed in the user environment E1 of that user. The device ID transmitted to the management server 301 may also be used by the management server 301 to perform pre-replenishment authentication. The lock control unit 96 may transmit remaining amount information indicating the latest remaining amount of toner to the management server 301 together with the device ID.

[0098] In one embodiment, the input signal that triggers the transmission of the device ID is a received signal (e.g., a transmission request requesting the transmission of the device ID) received from the user terminal 401 via the communication I / F 11. In this case, the lock control unit 96 reads the device ID from the memory 12 in response to receiving the transmission request, and transmits the read device ID to the management server 301. In another embodiment, the input signal that triggers the transmission of the device ID is a user input signal (e.g., an operation signal indicating that a predetermined button has been operated) detected via the user I / F 13. In this case, the lock control unit 96 reads the device ID from the memory 12 in response to detecting the user input signal, and transmits the read device ID to the management server 301.

[0099] After transmitting the device ID to the management server 301 for pre-replenishment authentication, the lock control unit 96 waits for a predetermined standby period to receive an unlock command, which is a control signal based on the results of the pre-replenishment authentication. If the unlock command is received before the standby period expires, the lock control unit 96 causes the lock mechanism 52 to unlock the opening / closing mechanism 51 in accordance with the unlock command. For example, the lock control unit 96 may energize the solenoid of the lock unit 150 to rotate the lock member 152 as shown in FIG. 8B . This allows the user to rotate the ring member 111, the main body shutter 116, and the pack shutter 214 of the supply pack 200 to open the supply path 50. Note that if the image forming apparatus 1 is configured to automatically operate the opening / closing mechanism 51, the lock control unit 96 may wait for an open command instead of an unlock command and open the supply path 50 by operating the opening / closing mechanism 51 in accordance with the received open command.

[0100] If the standby period expires without receiving an unlock command or an open command (i.e., if a timeout occurs), the lock control unit 96 ends the standby for the command. For example, the standby for the unlock command or the open command may be performed by temporarily opening a specific receiving port of the communication I / F 11. In this way, by only waiting for a control signal from the outside for a limited period triggered by the detection of a predetermined input signal, the risk of unauthorized operation of the image forming apparatus 1 by a malicious third party can be minimized. In addition, the image forming apparatus 1 can be put into a sleep state during periods other than the standby period to reduce the power consumption of the image forming apparatus 1.

[0101] If an unlock command or an open command is received before the standby period expires, the lock control unit 96 may maintain the opening / closing mechanism 51 in an unlocked state for a predetermined unlock period from the receipt of the command, and may relock the opening / closing mechanism 51 after the unlock period expires. In the example of FIG. 8 , even if the solenoid is de-energized while the opening / closing mechanism 51 is in the open state, the ring member 111 can still rotate counterclockwise. For example, after the opening / closing mechanism 51 is unlocked, the user rotates the ring member 111 clockwise in the figure to open the supply path, thereby starting the supply of consumables. After the supply of consumables is completed, the user rotates the ring member 111 counterclockwise to close the supply path. When the solenoid is de-energized and the ring member 111 is returned to its original position, the tip 153 of the lock member 152 returns to the position shown in FIG. 8(A) due to the elastic force of the spring. As a result, even if the user tries to rotate the ring member 111 clockwise again to open the supply path, the rotation of the ring member 111 is prevented by the locking member 152. In this way, the opening / closing mechanism 51 can be re-locked. It should be noted again that the configuration shown in FIG. 8 is merely one example of the opening / closing mechanism 51 and the locking mechanism 52, and any other configuration may be adopted.

[0102] The print control unit 95 controls the remaining amount detection unit 61 to detect the remaining amount of toner in the storage unit 48, for example, when an image formation operation is performed or when consumable supplies are replenished. For example, while the toner stored in the storage unit 48 is being stirred by the stirring member 60, the remaining amount detection unit 61 emits light from the light emitter 61a and acquires a light detection signal from the light receiver 61b. The remaining amount detection unit 61 then estimates the remaining amount of toner based on the acquired light detection signal and reports the estimated remaining amount to the print control unit 95. The print control unit 95 reports remaining amount information indicating the detected remaining amount of toner to the management server 301 via the communication I / F 11. The report of the remaining amount of toner may be sent to the management server 301 via the user terminal 401 instead of being sent directly to the management server 301.

[0103] When toner is replenished, the remaining amount of toner increases. As described above, by detecting the increase in the remaining amount of toner based on the remaining amount information, the management server 301 can know that the replenishment pack 200 for which pre-replenishment authentication was successful has been used by the user. Note that instead of the management server 301, the image forming apparatus 1 or the user terminal 401 may detect the increase in the remaining amount of toner and send a notification signal to the management server 301 indicating that the replenishment pack 200 has been used.

[0104] <2-5. Processing flow> In this section, examples of several processing flows that can be executed in the supply management system 300 according to this embodiment will be described using the sequence diagrams of Figures 15 to 17 and the flowcharts of Figures 18 to 20. In the following description, processing steps will be abbreviated as S (step).

[0105] <2-5-1. Registering device information> Fig. 15 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a schematic processing flow related to device registration. The sequence shown in Fig. 15 mainly involves the image forming device 1, management server 301, and user terminal 401. It is assumed that the user's account information has already been registered in account table 320 of management DB 313 before the sequence starts.

[0106] First, in S11, the user enters a user ID and password into a login screen provided by, for example, the application unit 440 of the user terminal 401. In S12, the application unit 440 transmits the entered user ID and password to the management server 301 for login. In S13, the authentication unit 370 of the management server 301 performs user authentication based on the user ID and password received from the user terminal 401. Here, it is assumed that the user authentication is successful and login to the system is established. The subsequent processing in FIG. 15 is performed while the login session continues.

[0107] At S14, the user inputs device information including the device ID of the image forming device 1 installed in the user environment E1, for example, into a device information input screen provided by the application unit 440. At S15, the application unit 440 transmits a device registration request including the input device information to the management server 301. At S16, the data management unit 350 registers the device information included in the received device registration request in the device registration table 330. At S17, the data management unit 350 instructs the application unit 440 to display a message prompting the user to perform a predetermined operation on the image forming device 1, and the message is displayed on the display device 415.

[0108] In S21, the user performs a predetermined operation on the user I / F 13 of the image forming apparatus 1. Then, in S22, the lock control unit 96 of the image forming apparatus 1 reads the apparatus ID from the memory 12 and transmits apparatus information including the read apparatus ID to the management server 301. In S23, the data management unit 350 compares the apparatus ID included in the apparatus information received from the image forming apparatus 1 with the apparatus ID registered in the apparatus registration table 330 in S16. If these apparatus IDs match, the data management unit 350 updates the corresponding "status" value in the apparatus registration table 330 to "verified." In S24, the data management unit 350 notifies the application unit 440 of the user terminal 401 of the results of this verification. The application unit 440 displays the notified verification results on the screen.

[0109] <2-5-2. Provision of supply packs> 16 is a sequence diagram showing several examples of a general process flow related to providing a replenishment pack to a user. The sequence shown in FIG. 16 mainly involves the image forming apparatus 1, the management server 301, and the user terminal 401. The provision management unit 360 of the management server 301 continuously monitors the occurrence of a trigger event that triggers the provision of a replenishment pack 200 to a user. Here, the first example of a trigger event will be a decrease in the amount of remaining toner, the second example will be a user ordering a replenishment pack 200, and the third example will be the arrival of the provision timing based on a subscription purchase contract.

[0110] In a first example, in S31, the print control unit 95 of the image forming apparatus 1 detects the remaining amount of toner in the storage unit 48, for example, when an image formation operation is performed. Here, it is assumed that the remaining amount of toner is below a remaining amount threshold that triggers the provision of a new replenishment pack 200. In S32, the print control unit 95 reports remaining amount information indicating the detected remaining amount of toner to the management server 301. In S33, the provision management unit 360 of the management server 301 recognizes that the remaining amount of toner in the image forming apparatus 1 is low and allocates a new replenishment pack 200 to the user who owns the image forming apparatus 1. Allocating the replenishment pack 200 to the user may include adding a new record to the delivery pack table 340 indicating the user ID and a pack ID that identifies the replenishment pack 200. In addition, the delivery management unit 360 sends a message to a delivery person instructing them to deliver the allocated replenishment pack 200. When a new supply pack 200 is delivered to the user, the delivery management unit 360 transmits a delivery notification to the user terminal 401 in S34.

[0111] In the second example, in S36, the user accesses a website selling replenishment packs 200 using, for example, the user terminal 401, and places an order for a new replenishment pack 200. In S37, the user terminal 401 transmits order information indicating, for example, the type and number of ordered replenishment packs 200 to the management server 301. In S38, in response to receiving the order information, the provision management unit 360 of the management server 301 allocates a specified number of replenishment packs 200 to the user who is the purchaser. The provision management unit 360 also transmits a message to the delivery person instructing the delivery of the allocated replenishment packs 200. When the replenishment packs 200 are shipped to the user, the provision management unit 360 transmits a shipping notification to the user terminal 401 in S39.

[0112] In the third example, in S41, the provision management unit 360 determines that the time has come to provide a replenishment pack 200 to a user who has signed a subscription contract. In S42, the provision management unit 360 allocates a new replenishment pack 200 to the user for whom the time has come to provide the replenishment pack 200. The provision management unit 360 also transmits a message to a delivery person instructing the delivery of the allocated replenishment pack 200. When the replenishment pack 200 is shipped to the user, the provision management unit 360 transmits a shipping notification to the user terminal 401 in S43.

[0113] <2-5-3. Authentication and supply of consumables (first example)> Fig. 17 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a general process flow according to the first embodiment when replenishing consumables. The sequence shown in Fig. 17 mainly involves the image forming apparatus 1, the management server 301, and the user terminal 401. It is assumed that a new, unused replenishing pack 200 has been delivered to the user environment E1 before the sequence starts.

[0114] First, in S60, the user enters a user ID and password on the login screen. In S61, the application unit 440 of the user terminal 401 transmits the entered user ID and password to the management server 301. In S62, the authentication unit 370 of the management server 301 performs user authentication based on the user ID and password received from the user terminal 401. Here, it is assumed that the user authentication is successful and login to the system is established. The subsequent processing in FIG. 17 is performed while the login session continues.

[0115] In S65, the application unit 440 activates the code acquisition unit 430 in response to an operation by the user. The code acquisition unit 430 acquires the code 201 unique to the supply pack 200, for example, by optically reading it using the camera 413 or by accepting a user input. Next, in S66, the application unit 440 transmits an unlock request including the code 201 acquired by the code acquisition unit 430 to the management server 301.

[0116] In response to receiving the unlock request, the authentication unit 370 of the management server 301 starts pre-replenishment authentication. S67 is the first stage of pre-replenishment authentication, in which the authentication unit 370 determines whether the replenishment pack 200 identified by the code 201 included in the unlock request corresponds to the account of the logged-in user by referring to the delivery pack table 340. In this case, since the replenishment pack 200 corresponds to the user account, it is assumed that the first stage of authentication is successful. In response to the success of the first stage of authentication, in S68 the authentication unit 370 instructs the application unit 440 to display a message prompting the user to perform a predetermined operation in the replenishment destination device, and the message is displayed on the display device 415.

[0117] In S72, the user performs a predetermined operation on the user I / F 13 of the image forming apparatus 1, which is the replenishment destination apparatus. In response, in S73, the lock control unit 96 reads the apparatus ID from the memory 12 and transmits apparatus information including the read apparatus ID to the management server 301. In S74, the second stage of pre-replenishment authentication is performed. Based on the apparatus ID included in the received apparatus information, the authentication unit 370 determines whether the image forming apparatus 1, which is the replenishment destination, corresponds to the user account of the logged-in user by referencing the apparatus registration table 330. Since the image forming apparatus 1 corresponds to the user account, the second stage of authentication is also successful. In S75, if the pre-replenishment authentication is successful, the authentication unit 370 notifies the user terminal 401 of the authentication success. In S76, the authentication unit 370 transmits an unlock command to the image forming apparatus 1 to cause the lock mechanism 52 of the image forming apparatus 1 to unlock the opening / closing mechanism 51.

[0118] At S77, the lock control unit 96 of the image forming apparatus 1 causes the lock mechanism 52 to unlock the opening / closing mechanism 51 in response to receiving an unlock command from the management server 301. At S78, the unlocked opening / closing mechanism 51 is operated by the user (or automatically activated), opening the supply path 50, and supplying consumables from the supply pack 200 to the image forming apparatus 1. At S79, the print control unit 95 detects the remaining amount of toner in the storage unit 48 and reports remaining amount information indicating the remaining amount to the management server 301. At S80, in response to receiving the remaining amount information, the data management unit 350 of the management server 301 updates the value of "remaining toner amount" in the record in the device registration table 330 corresponding to the image forming apparatus 1. The data management unit 350 also changes the "status" of the record in the delivery pack table 340 corresponding to the used supply pack 200 to "used."

[0119] On the other hand, when a predetermined unlock period has elapsed since the unlock command was received or the opening / closing mechanism 51 was unlocked, the lock control unit 96 of the image forming apparatus 1 locks the opening / closing mechanism 51 again in S81.

[0120] As described above, only pre-supply authentication for the supply pack 200 in S67 may be performed, and pre-supply authentication for the image forming apparatus 1 in S74 may be omitted. In this case, the user operation in S72 and the transmission of apparatus information in S73 may also be omitted. However, if the image forming apparatus 1 is powered off, the image forming apparatus 1 cannot receive an unlock command from the management server 301, so the management server 301 may instruct the user to power on the image forming apparatus 1 in S68.

[0121] <2-5-4. Authentication process> Fig. 18 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of authentication processing executed by management server 301. The authentication processing in Fig. 18 corresponds to the processing executed by authentication unit 370 of management server 301 in S62 to S76 of Fig. 17. This authentication processing can be realized, for example, by having processing circuitry 314 execute a computer program stored in advance in memory 312 of management server 301.

[0122] First, in S111, the authentication unit 370 receives the user ID and password entered on the login screen. Next, in S113, the authentication unit 370 executes user authentication based on the received user ID and password. Here, it is assumed that the user authentication is successful, and the processing flow when the user authentication fails will be omitted.

[0123] Next, in S115, the authentication unit 370 receives the code 201 unique to the supply pack 200 acquired in the user environment E1. Next, in S117, the authentication unit 370 determines whether the supply pack 200 identified based on the received code 201 corresponds to the user account of the logged-in user. For example, if an association between the pack ID based on the received code 201 and the user ID of the logged-in user is registered in the delivery pack table 340, it is determined that the supply pack 200 is an object that can be permitted for use (for example, provided through a legitimate route), and the process proceeds to S121. On the other hand, if an association between the pack ID based on the received code 201 and the user ID of the logged-in user is not registered in the delivery pack table 340, it is determined that the supply pack 200 is not an object that can be permitted for use, and the process proceeds to S119.

[0124] In S119, the authentication unit 370 determines that the supply pack 200 is not an item that can be permitted for use, and therefore determines not to permit the supply of consumables from that supply pack 200. In this case, the authentication unit 370 transmits to the user terminal 401 an authentication result notification indicating that the use of the supply pack 200 is not permitted and that the pre-supply authentication has failed.

[0125] In S121, the authentication unit 370 determines whether the status of the supply pack 200 identified by the received code 201 is "unused" by referring to the delivery pack table 340. If the status is "unused," the process proceeds to S125. On the other hand, if the status is "used," the process proceeds to S123.

[0126] In S123, the authentication unit 370 determines that the supply pack 200 has already been used and therefore does not permit the supply of consumables from that supply pack 200. In this case, the authentication unit 370 transmits to the user terminal 401 an authentication result notification indicating that the pre-supply authentication has failed because the supply pack 200 has already been used.

[0127] If the replenishment pack 200 identified by the received code 201 is an item that can be permitted for use and is unused, then in S125 the authentication unit 370 instructs the user to perform a predetermined operation in the replenishment destination device (for example, by displaying a message on the screen). Next, in S127, the authentication unit 370 receives device information including the device ID from the image forming device 1, which is the replenishment destination device. Next, in S129, the authentication unit 370 determines whether the replenishment destination device identified by the received device ID has been registered as a device of the logged-in user. For example, if the association between the received device ID and the user ID of the logged-in user is registered in the device registration table 330, the replenishment destination device has been registered as a device of the logged-in user, and the process proceeds to S133. On the other hand, if the association between the received device ID and the user ID of the logged-in user is not registered in the device registration table 330, the replenishment destination device has not been registered as a device of the logged-in user, and the process proceeds to S131.

[0128] In S131, the authentication unit 370 determines that the replenishment destination device is not permitted to be replenished with consumables because the replenishment destination device is not registered as a device of the logged-in user. In this case, the authentication unit 370 transmits an authentication result notification to the user terminal 401 indicating that the pre-replenishment authentication failed because the device is not registered.

[0129] In S133, authentication unit 370 determines that the replenishment destination device is registered as the device of the logged-in user and therefore permits replenishment of consumables from replenishment pack 200 to image forming device 1, which is the replenishment destination device. In this case, authentication unit 370 transmits an unlock command to lock mechanism 52 of image forming device 1 to unlock opening / closing mechanism 51, and also transmits an authentication result notification indicating successful authentication to user terminal 401. Note that, although not shown in FIG. 18 , as described above, in S133, authentication unit 370 may permit replenishment of consumables to the replenishment destination device only if the remaining amount information indicates that the remaining amount of toner in the replenishment destination device is below a predetermined remaining amount threshold.

[0130] <2-5-5. Lock control processing> Fig. 19 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of lock control processing executed by image forming apparatus 1. The lock control processing in Fig. 19 corresponds to the processing executed by lock control unit 96 of image forming apparatus 1 in S72 to S81 of Fig. 17. This lock control processing can be realized, for example, by having processing circuitry 90 execute a computer program stored in advance in memory 12 of image forming apparatus 1.

[0131] First, in S211, the lock control unit 96 detects a predetermined input signal. This input signal may be, for example, an ID transmission request received from the user terminal 401 via the communication I / F 11, or a user input signal detected via the user I / F 13. In S213, in response to the detection of the predetermined input signal, the lock control unit 96 reads out a device ID from the memory 12 and transmits device information including the read device ID to the management server 301. Next, in S215, the lock control unit 96 starts waiting for reception of an unlock command, which is a control signal based on the result of pre-replenishment authentication.

[0132] In S217, the lock control unit 96 determines whether a predetermined standby period has expired, for example, by referring to the value of a timer that starts when standby mode begins. If the standby period has expired, the process proceeds to S237. On the other hand, if the standby period has not expired, the process proceeds to S219.

[0133] In S219, the process branches depending on whether or not an unlock command has been received from the management server 301. If an unlock command has been received from the management server 301, the process proceeds to S221. If an unlock command has not been received, the process returns to S217.

[0134] In S221, the lock control unit 96 causes the lock mechanism 52 to unlock the opening / closing mechanism 51 in accordance with the unlock command received from the management server 301. Next, in S223, the lock control unit 96 waits until the unlock period expires, for example, by using a timer that starts when the opening / closing mechanism 51 is unlocked. During this time, in S225, the lock control unit 96 monitors the operation of the opening / closing mechanism 51 by the user. When the user operates the opening / closing mechanism 51 and the supply path 50 is opened, the process proceeds to S227.

[0135] In S227, the lock control unit 96 sends an operation notification to the management server 301 indicating that the supply path 50 has been opened. Also, in S229, the remaining amount detection unit 61 detects the remaining amount of toner in the storage unit 48. Then, in S231, the print control unit 95 reports the remaining amount of toner detected by the remaining amount detection unit 61 to the management server 301. The detection and reporting of the remaining amount of toner in S229 and S231 may be repeated until it is determined in S233 that the unlock period has expired.

[0136] If it is determined in S223 or S233 that the unlock period has expired, the lock control unit 96 causes the lock mechanism 52 to relock the opening / closing mechanism 51 in S235. In addition, the lock control unit 96 ends waiting for a control signal from an external device in S237. Then, the lock control process in FIG. 19 ends.

[0137] <2-5-6. Authentication and supply of consumables (Second Example)> Fig. 20 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a general process flow according to the second embodiment when replenishing consumables. The sequence shown in Fig. 20 mainly involves the image forming apparatus 1, the management server 301, and the user terminal 401. It is assumed that a new, unused replenishing pack 200 has been delivered to the user environment E1 before the sequence starts.

[0138] The processing steps S60 to S62 relating to login and user authentication may be the same as those in the first embodiment of FIG. 17, and therefore will not be described again here.

[0139] In S65, the code acquisition unit 430 of the user terminal 401 is activated in response to an operation by the user, and acquires the code 201 unique to the supply pack 200. Next, in S69, the device control unit 420 transmits a code notification including the code 201 acquired by the code acquisition unit 430 to the image forming device 1. In response to receiving the code notification, in S70, the lock control unit 96 of the image forming device 1 transmits an unlock request to the management server 301, which may include the notified code 201 and device information including the device ID of the image forming device 1.

[0140] Note that instead of sending a code notification including the code 201 to the image forming apparatus 1 in S69, the user terminal 401 may send an unlock request including the code 201 to the management server 301 and send an ID transmission request (not including the code 201) to the image forming apparatus 1. In this case, in response to receiving the ID transmission request, the lock control unit 96 of the image forming apparatus 1 sends apparatus information including the apparatus ID of the image forming apparatus 1 to the management server 301, as in S73 of FIG.

[0141] In response to receiving the unlock request, the authentication unit 370 of the management server 301 initiates pre-replenishment authentication. In S71, the authentication unit 370 determines whether the replenishment pack 200 identified by the code 201 included in the unlock request corresponds to the account of the logged-in user by referencing the delivery pack table 340. Here, it is assumed that the replenishment pack 200 corresponds appropriately to the user account. Next, in S74, the authentication unit 370 determines whether the image forming device 1 to be replenished corresponds to the user account of the logged-in user based on the device ID included in the unlock request by referencing the device registration table 330. Here, it is assumed that the image forming device 1 corresponds appropriately to the user account. Therefore, the pre-replenishment authentication is successful. In response to the success of the pre-replenishment authentication, in S75 the authentication unit 370 notifies the user terminal 401 of the authentication success result. In addition, in S76, the authentication unit 370 transmits to the image forming apparatus 1 an unlock command to cause the lock mechanism 52 of the image forming apparatus 1 to unlock the opening / closing mechanism 51.

[0142] The processing steps S77 to S81 after the transmission of the unlock command may be the same as those in the first embodiment of FIG. 17, and therefore will not be described again here.

[0143] 17 , a code 201 unique to the replenishment pack 200 is transmitted from the user terminal 401 to the management server 301, and a device ID identifying the image forming device 1, which is the replenishment destination device, is transmitted from the image forming device 1 to the management server 301. Therefore, there is no need to transmit and receive the code 201 between the user terminal 401 and the image forming device 1, and the above-described mechanism can be realized with relatively low development costs. In the second embodiment of FIG. 20 , the code 201 unique to the replenishment pack 200 is transferred from the user terminal 401 that acquired the code 201 to the image forming device 1, and is relayed to the management server 301 together with device information about the image forming device 1. Therefore, the user does not need to operate the image forming device 1 to trigger transmission of the device ID, and the operational burden on the user for pre-replenishment authentication is reduced.

[0144] <2-6. Variations> 21 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a supply management system 300b according to a modification of the first embodiment. In this modification, the functions of the user terminal 401 described above are substantially integrated into the image forming apparatus 1. Referring to FIG. 21, the supply management system 300b includes the image forming apparatus 1b and a management server 301.

[0145] Image forming apparatus 1b is installed in user environment E1 where a user exists. Image forming apparatus 1b may have basically the same configuration as image forming apparatus 1 described above, except that it additionally includes an operation terminal 402. Operation terminal 402 provides a code acquisition function similar to that of code acquisition unit 430 of user terminal 401 and a UI function similar to that of application unit 440 of user terminal 401. Operation terminal 402 may be used, for example, to accept input of account information and input of code 201 unique to supply pack 200. When operation terminal 402 accepts input of code 201, lock control unit 96 of image forming apparatus 1b transmits an unlock request, which may include the input code 201 and device information including the device ID of image forming apparatus 1b, to management server 301 via communication I / F 11. Then, based on the results of the pre-supply authentication performed by the management server 301, the lock control unit 96 causes the opening / closing mechanism 51 to open the supply path 50 of the consumable material, or unlocks the opening / closing mechanism 51 to enable the supply path 50 to be opened.

[0146] According to this modified example, it is possible to reduce development costs by eliminating the need to send and receive code 201 between user terminal 401 and image forming device 1, and to reduce the operational burden on the user by eliminating the need to perform operations to trigger the transmission of the device ID.

[0147] <2-7. Summary of the First Embodiment> According to the first embodiment described in this section, an opening / closing mechanism capable of opening and closing a supply path for consumables from a storage device that stores consumables consumed for image formation to the image forming apparatus is disposed in at least one of the storage device and the image forming apparatus. A unique code for the storage device to be used to supply the consumables is acquired by a terminal in the user environment, and the acquired code is transmitted to a server device in a remote environment. Then, authentication for permitting the supply of the consumables from the storage device is performed by the server device based on the code. If this authentication is successful, the opening / closing mechanism opens the supply path for the consumables or allows the opening of the supply path by the opening / closing mechanism. Therefore, it is possible to permit or prohibit the supply of consumables based on conditions that are difficult to determine by the image forming apparatus alone, such as the existence of a correspondence between the storage device and a user account or the existence of a correspondence between a supply destination device and a user account.

[0148] According to the first embodiment, the code unique to each device is an optically readable code printed on the device or its packaging, or a code that can be manually read by a user. Therefore, the code can be easily acquired using a user interface or a camera on a terminal. This eliminates the need to install a memory for storing the code in each device that is consumed one after another, thereby reducing the running costs borne by the user.

[0149] Note that, in this section, an example has been described in which the management server 301 performs pre-replenishment authentication in response to receiving an unlock request from the user terminal 401 or image forming apparatus 1 present in the user environment E1, but the present embodiment is not limited to such an example. For example, in response to receiving a verification request that may include a code unique to the replenishment pack 200, the management server 301 may verify the association between the user account and the replenishment pack 200 and send a verification result notification to the user terminal 401 or the image forming apparatus 1. In this case, the user terminal 401 or the image forming apparatus 1 that receives the verification result notification may determine whether or not to unlock the opening / closing mechanism 51 based on the notified verification result.

[0150] Furthermore, in this section, an example has been described in which the “status” of the corresponding record in the delivery pack table 340 is changed to “used” in response to a remaining amount report sent from the image forming apparatus 1 to the management server 301 after toner replenishment. However, this embodiment is not limited to such an example. For example, the trigger for the status change may be detection of a predetermined user operation. More specifically, in one modified example, the user terminal 401 or the image forming apparatus 1 first displays a message on the screen asking the user whether toner replenishment is complete. When toner replenishment is complete, the user operates the input device 414 of the user terminal 401 or a button (physical or GUI) on the image forming apparatus 1 to respond that replenishment is complete. In response to detection of such a user operation, the user terminal 401 or the image forming apparatus 1 transmits a replenishment completion notification to the management server 301. In response to receiving this replenishment completion notification, the management server 301 may change the “status” of the corresponding record in the delivery pack table 340 to “used.” In another modified example, a lever position sensor that detects the position of lever 111b may be additionally provided in image forming apparatus 1. Then, when the lever position sensor detects that lever 111b has returned to its original position, image forming apparatus 1 may transmit a replenishment completion notification to management server 301. In response to receiving this replenishment completion notification, management server 301 may change the "status" of the corresponding record in delivery pack table 340 to "used."

[0151] 3. Supply Management System (Second Embodiment) In the first embodiment described above, an example was described in which a code unique to a storage device is provided in a format that is optically readable or manually readable by a user. In the second embodiment described in this section, an example is described in which a code unique to a storage device is stored in a memory mounted on the storage device.

[0152] <3-1. System Overview> 22 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a supply management system 300c according to the second embodiment. Referring to FIG. 22, the supply management system 300c includes an image forming apparatus 1c, a management server 301, and a user terminal 401.

[0153] The image forming apparatus 1c is installed in a user environment E1 where a user exists. A user terminal 401 also exists in the user environment E1 and is carried by the user. The image forming apparatus 1c and the user terminal 401 are connected to a local network N1, which may be, for example, a LAN.

[0154] In user environment E1, a user uses image forming apparatus 1c. Image forming apparatus 1c forms an image on a recording medium by consuming toner as a consumable material. When the toner stored in image forming apparatus 1c runs out, the user connects a refill pack 200c, which is a toner storage device, to image forming apparatus 1c and refills toner from the refill pack 200c to image forming apparatus 1c. In this embodiment, each refill pack 200c is assigned a unique code for uniquely identifying the refill pack 200c. The refill pack 200c may be configured similarly to the refill pack 200 described above, except that it includes a memory chip (hereinafter referred to as a memory tag) that stores the code assigned to the refill pack 200c. The image forming apparatus 1c may be configured similarly to the image forming apparatus 1 described above, except that it additionally includes a configuration for reading the code from the memory tag of the refill pack 200c.

[0155] FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram illustrating the connection between a replenishment pack 200c and an image forming apparatus 1c according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 23, the replenishment pack 200c includes a storage section 211, a nozzle 212, a pack shutter 214, and a memory tag 230. The memory tag 230 is disposed, for example, at the tip of the nozzle 212. Meanwhile, a tag terminal 130 is disposed on the bottom surface of the cylindrical member 112 of the toner receiver 110 of the image forming apparatus 1c. The tag terminal 130 electrically contacts the output terminal of the memory tag 230 when the replenishment pack 200c is connected to the toner receiver 110. Through the electrical contact between these terminals, the image forming apparatus 1c can read information stored in the memory tag 230 of the replenishment pack 200c.

[0156] <3-2. Example of image forming device configuration> Fig. 24 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of an image forming apparatus 1c according to this embodiment. Referring to Fig. 24, the image forming apparatus 1c includes a communication I / F 11, a memory 12, a user I / F 13, an image forming unit 40, an opening / closing mechanism 51, a locking mechanism 52, a processing circuit 90, and a tag terminal 130. From a functional standpoint, the processing circuit 90 can mainly function as a print control unit 95 and a lock control unit 196.

[0157] Similar to the lock control unit 96 of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment, the lock control unit 196 controls the locking and unlocking of the opening / closing mechanism 51 by the lock mechanism 52. Here, only the differences between the lock control unit 96 and the lock control unit 196 will be described.

[0158] When the lock control unit 196 detects the connection of the replenishment pack 200c (for example, using a sensor not shown), it reads a code unique to the replenishment pack 200c from the memory tag 230 of the replenishment pack 200c via the tag terminal 130. The lock control unit 196 also reads a device ID that uniquely identifies the image forming apparatus 1c from the memory 12. The lock control unit 196 then transmits an unlock request, including the code unique to the replenishment pack 200c and the device ID of the image forming apparatus 1c, to the management server 301 via the communication I / F 11. Prior to or after transmitting the unlock request, the user inputs a user ID and password via the user I / F 13, and if user authentication is successful, the user is logged in to the system. The management server 301 performs the pre-replenishment authentication described above using the user ID of the logged-in user and the code and device ID received from the image forming apparatus 1c.

[0159] After transmitting the device ID to the management server 301 for pre-replenishment authentication, the lock control unit 196 waits for a predetermined standby period to receive an unlock command, which is a control signal based on the result of the pre-replenishment authentication. If the unlock command is received before the standby period expires, the lock control unit 196 causes the lock mechanism 52 to unlock the opening / closing mechanism 51 in accordance with the unlock command. If the standby period expires without receiving a command from the management server 301, the lock control unit 196 ends the standby period for a command.

[0160] <3-3. Processing flow> Fig. 25 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a general process flow when replenishing consumables in this embodiment. The sequence shown in Fig. 25 mainly involves the image forming apparatus 1c and the management server 301. It is assumed that a new, unused replenishing pack 200 has been delivered to the user environment E1 before the sequence starts.

[0161] First, in S51, the user enters a user ID and password into a login screen provided by, for example, the user I / F 13 of the image forming apparatus 1c. In S52, the lock control unit 196 transmits the entered user ID and password to the management server 301 for login. In S53, the authentication unit 370 of the management server 301 performs user authentication based on the user ID and password received from the image forming apparatus 1c. Here, it is assumed that the user authentication is successful and login to the system is established. The subsequent processing in FIG. 25 is performed while the login session continues.

[0162] In S54, the user connects replenishment pack 200c to image forming apparatus 1c, and the connection is detected by lock control unit 196. Next, in S55, lock control unit 196 reads a code unique to replenishment pack 200c from memory tag 230 of replenishment pack 200c via tag terminal 130. Next, in S70, lock control unit 196 transmits an unlock request to management server 301, which may include the code read from memory tag 230 and device information including the device ID of image forming apparatus 1c.

[0163] In response to receiving the unlock request, the authentication unit 370 of the management server 301 initiates pre-replenishment authentication. In S71, the authentication unit 370 determines whether the replenishment pack 200c identified by the code included in the unlock request corresponds to the logged-in user's account by referencing the delivery pack table 340. Here, it is assumed that the replenishment pack 200c corresponds appropriately to the user account. Next, in S74, the authentication unit 370 determines whether the image forming device 1c corresponds to the logged-in user's user account by referencing the device registration table 330, based on the device ID included in the unlock request. Here, it is assumed that the image forming device 1c corresponds appropriately to the user account. Therefore, the pre-replenishment authentication is successful. In response to the success of the pre-replenishment authentication, in S76, the authentication unit 370 transmits an unlock command to the image forming device 1c to cause the lock mechanism 52 of the image forming device 1c to unlock the opening / closing mechanism 51.

[0164] At S77, the lock control unit 196 causes the lock mechanism 52 to unlock the opening / closing mechanism 51 in response to receiving an unlock command from the management server 301. At S78, the unlocked opening / closing mechanism 51 is operated by the user (or automatically activated), opening the supply path 50 and supplying consumables from the supply pack 200c to the image forming device 1c. At S79, the print control unit 95 detects the remaining amount of toner in the storage unit 48 and reports remaining amount information indicating the remaining amount to the management server 301. At S80, in response to receiving the remaining amount information, the data management unit 350 of the management server 301 updates the value of "Remaining Toner Amount" in the record in the device registration table 330 corresponding to the image forming device 1c. The data management unit 350 also changes the "Status" of the record in the delivery pack table 340 corresponding to the used supply pack 200c to "Used."

[0165] On the other hand, when a predetermined unlock period has elapsed since the unlock command was received or the opening / closing mechanism 51 was unlocked, the lock control unit 196 of the image forming apparatus 1c relocks the opening / closing mechanism 51 in S81.

[0166] <3-4. Summary of the second embodiment> According to the second embodiment described in this section, an opening / closing mechanism capable of opening and closing a supply path for consumables from a storage device that stores consumables consumed for image formation to the image forming apparatus is disposed in at least one of the storage device and the image forming apparatus. A code unique to the storage device to be used to supply the consumables is read from the storage device to the image forming apparatus, and the read code is transmitted to a server device in a remote environment. The server device then performs authentication based on the code to permit the supply of consumables from the storage device to the image forming apparatus. If the authentication is successful, the opening / closing mechanism opens the supply path for consumables or allows the opening of the supply path by the opening / closing mechanism. Therefore, the supply of consumables can be permitted or prohibited based on conditions that are difficult to determine by the image forming apparatus alone, such as the existence of a correspondence between the storage device and a user account or the existence of a correspondence between the image forming apparatus and a user account.

[0167] In this embodiment, too, the management server 301 may verify the association between the user account and the replenishment pack 200 in response to a verification request, instead of performing pre-replenishment authentication in response to an unlock request. In this case, the user terminal 401 or the image forming apparatus 1 that receives a verification result notification from the management server 301 may determine whether or not to unlock the opening / closing mechanism 51 based on the notified verification result.

[0168] Also in this embodiment, the "status" of the delivery pack table 340 may be changed to "used" in response to the detection of a predetermined user operation, instead of reporting the remaining amount. The user operation here may be a reaction to a question on the screen, or an operation on the opening / closing mechanism 51 detected by a lever position sensor.

[0169] The first and second embodiments and various examples and modifications described in this specification may be combined with each other in any manner. Features and advantages described in relation to a certain example are applicable to any embodiment, example, and modification unless otherwise explicitly stated.

[0170] <4. Other embodiments> The above-described embodiment can also be realized in the form of a process in which a program for realizing one or more functions is supplied to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or device read and execute the program, or by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

[0171] The invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following claims are appended to apprise the public of the scope of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0172] 1, 1b, 1c: image forming apparatus, 11: communication interface (communication unit), 13: user interface (communication unit), 40: image forming unit, 48: storage unit, 50: supply path, 51: opening / closing mechanism, 52: locking mechanism, 61: remaining amount detection unit, 96, 196: lock control unit (control unit), 200, 200c: supply pack (storage device), 201: code, 230: memory tag (memory), 300, 300b, 300c: supply management system, 301: management server (server device), 311: communication interface (communication unit), 313: management DB (database), 401: user terminal, 402: operation terminal (acquisition unit), 420: device control unit (control unit), 430: code acquisition unit (acquisition unit), E1: user environment, E2: remote environment

Claims

1. an acquisition unit that acquires a code unique to a storage device that exists in a user environment and stores a consumable material consumed for image formation; an opening / closing mechanism disposed in at least one of the storage device and the image forming device, capable of opening and closing a supply path of the consumables from the storage device to the image forming device, wherein the supply path of the consumables is opened and closed by a user operating an operating member of the opening / closing mechanism; a locking mechanism that locks and unlocks the operation of the operating member that opens the supply path of the consumables; a server device that exists in a remote environment and performs authentication for the storage device based on the code acquired by the acquisition unit, and when the authentication is successful, transmits an unlock command to unlock the operation of the operation member that opens the supply path of the consumable product; a control unit that exists in the user environment and that causes the lock mechanism to unlock the operation of the operation member in response to the unlock command received from the server device when the authentication performed by the server device is successful; A supply management system including:

2. The server device receives user account information; The authentication performed by the server device includes determining whether the containing device identified by the code has a correspondence relationship with the account indicated by the account information. The supply management system of claim 1 .

3. The supply management system includes: a database indicating an association between each account and at least one containing device provided to the user having the account; further comprising The server device determines that the containing device has a correspondence relationship with the account when the containing device identified by the code is associated with the account indicated by the account information in the database. The supply management system of claim 2 .

4. the image forming apparatus, device identification information for identifying the image forming device is stored in advance, transmitting the device identification information to the server device when a predetermined input signal is detected; The authentication performed by the server device further includes determining whether the image forming device identified by the device identification information has a correspondence relationship with the account. The supply management system of claim 3 .

5. the database further indicates an association between each account and at least one image forming device registered as a device of a user having the account; the server device determines that the image forming device has a correspondence relationship with the account when the image forming device identified by the device identification information in the database is associated with the account indicated by the account information; The supply management system of claim 4 .

6. 6. The replenishment management system according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined input signal is a user input signal detected via a user interface of the image forming apparatus.

7. 6. The supply management system according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined input signal is a received signal received from a user terminal via a communication interface.

8. The database includes status information indicating whether each storage device has been used or not; The authentication performed by the server device further includes determining whether the containing device identified by the code has been used based on the status information. The supply management system according to any one of claims 3 to 7.

9. the image forming apparatus includes a storage unit that stores the consumables, The server device receiving, from the image forming device, remaining amount information regarding the remaining amount of the consumable material in the storage unit; If the received remaining amount information indicates that the remaining amount of the consumable product has increased, updating the status information in the database for the storage device used to replenish the consumable product to indicate that the consumable product has been used. The supply management system of claim 8 .

10. A supply management system as described in any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the control unit waits for a predetermined period of time after the device identification information is sent to the server device in response to detection of the predetermined input signal to receive a control signal based on the result of the authentication, and the control signal includes the unlock command.

11. A supply management system as described in any one of claims 3 to 10, wherein the server device registers an association between the user's account and the storage device in the database when an event occurs that triggers the provision of the storage device to the user.

12. The event that triggers the provision of the containing device to the user is: the user's purchase of the containing device; The timing for provision based on the contract with the user has arrived, detecting a decrease in the remaining amount of the consumables in an image forming apparatus registered as a device of the user; The number of operations of an image forming device registered as a device of the user reaches a threshold value; and detecting the use of a storage device previously provided to said user; The supply management system of claim 11 , comprising one or more of:

13. the code is an optically readable code printed on the receiving device or on the packaging of the receiving device; The acquisition unit acquires the code by optically reading the code. The supply management system according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

14. The supply management system according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the acquisition unit acquires the code input by a user via a user interface.

15. The code is stored in a memory disposed in the receiving device; the acquisition unit acquires the code by reading the code from the memory of the containing device. The supply management system according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

16. A supply management system as described in any one of claims 1 to 14, including a user terminal equipped with the acquisition unit and a communication unit that transmits the code acquired by the acquisition unit to the server device.

17. The supply management system of any one of claims 1 to 15 includes an image forming device equipped with the acquisition unit, a communication unit that transmits the code acquired by the acquisition unit to the server device, and the control unit.

18. 1. A supply control method for controlling supply of consumables consumed for image formation from a storage device that stores the consumables to an image forming apparatus, comprising: an opening / closing mechanism capable of opening and closing a supply path of the consumables from the storage device to the image forming device is disposed in at least one of the storage device and the image forming device, and the supply path of the consumables is opened and closed by a user operating an operating member of the opening / closing mechanism; the image forming apparatus includes a locking mechanism that is present in a user environment and that locks and unlocks the operation of the operating member that opens the supply path of the consumables; The replenishment control method includes: acquiring a code unique to the containing device by an acquisition means present in the user environment; transmitting the acquired code from the acquisition means to a server device located in a remote environment; performing authentication of the accommodated device based on the received code by the server device; If the authentication is successful, transmitting from the server device an unlock command to unlock the operation of the operating member that opens the supply path of the consumable product; when the authentication performed by the server device is successful, the image forming apparatus causes the lock mechanism to unlock the operation of the operation member in response to the unlock command from the server device; A replenishment control method comprising:

19. An image forming apparatus installed in a user environment, a storage unit that stores consumable materials replenished from a storage device that stores the consumable materials; an image forming unit that consumes the consumable material stored in the storage unit and forms an image on a recording medium; an opening / closing mechanism capable of opening and closing a supply path of the consumables from the storage device to the storage unit, wherein the supply path of the consumables is opened and closed by a user operating an operating member of the opening / closing mechanism; a locking mechanism that locks and unlocks the operation of the operating member that opens the supply path of the consumables; a control unit that controls the locking mechanism; a communication interface for communicating with a server device in a remote environment; Equipped with The control unit acquiring a code unique to the accommodated device and transmitting the acquired code to the server device via the communication interface; When authentication of the storage device performed by the server device based on the transmitted code is successful, an unlock command for unlocking the operation of the operation member that opens the supply path of the consumable product is received from the server device, and the locking mechanism is caused to unlock the operation of the operation member in response to the received unlock command. Image forming device.

20. 1. A server device for managing the supply of consumables consumed for image formation from a storage device storing the consumables to an image forming apparatus, comprising: At least one of the storage device and the image forming apparatus includes an opening / closing mechanism capable of opening and closing a supply path of the consumable goods, the opening / closing mechanism being opened and closed by a user operating an operating member of the opening / closing mechanism; the image forming apparatus includes a locking mechanism that is present in a user environment and that locks and unlocks the operation of the operating member that opens the supply path of the consumables; The server device is located in a remote environment, the server device includes a communication interface and a processing circuit; The processing circuitry receiving a code unique to the containing device from an apparatus present in the user environment via the communication interface; performing authentication of the containing device based on the received code; When the authentication of the storage device is successful, an unlock command is sent to unlock the operation of the operation member that opens the supply path of the consumable product, thereby controlling the image forming apparatus so that the lock mechanism unlocks the operation of the operation member in response to the unlock command. Server device.

Images