SUPPLY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, SUPPLY CONTROL METHOD, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND SERVER APPARATUS

Abstract

To provide a supply management system, a supply control method, an image forming apparatus, and a server apparatus which permit or block the supply of a consumable material in consideration of conditions which are difficult to determine for a single image forming apparatus.SOLUTION: A supply management system according to the present invention has an acquiring unit (a code acquiring unit of a user terminal 401) for acquiring a code unique to a housing device (supply pack 200) housing a consumable material in a user environment consumed for image forming, an opening and closing mechanism provided in at least either of the housing device and an image forming apparatus 1 and capable of opening and closing a supply path of the consumable material from the housing device to the image forming apparatus, a management server 301 provided remotely for authenticating the housing device based on the code acquired by the acquiring unit, and a control unit (a device acquiring unit of the user terminal) in a user environment for, if authentication by the server device is successful, controlling the opening and closing mechanism to open the supply path of the consumable material or allowing the opening and closing mechanism to open the supply path.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 device. [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 the consumables run out, the user replaces the used cartridge with a new cartridge, or refills the consumables from a pack that contains the consumables into the tank of the image forming device. Compared to the widely used removable cartridge system, a refill system in which a device such as a refill pack is connected to the image forming device only when refilling is required to refill (e.g., inject) 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 refilling the printer with toner by connecting a cylindrical storage device that contains toner to the printer.

[0003] Image forming apparatuses are known that are equipped with a memory in a device such as the cartridge or refill pack and perform advanced information processing based on information read from the memory. For example, Patent Document 2 discloses a technique in which data indicating the remaining amount of toner in a toner cartridge is stored in the memory of the toner cartridge, and when the data indicates that the remaining amount of toner is low, the user is prompted to timely order a cartridge. Patent Document 3 discloses a technique in which a printer reads a random number value from the memory of a cartridge mounted in the printer, and when authentication based on the random number value is successful in a server device, the supply of toner from the cartridge is enabled. 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 Application Laid-Open No. 2021-030667 [Summary of the Invention] [Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

[0005] In the local authentication by the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the compatibility between the storage device and the image forming apparatus can be verified. However, for example, in applications for managing the usage status of an image forming apparatus or consumables by a user under certain contract conditions, local authentication alone may not be preferable. It is also assumed that it is difficult to permit or suppress the replenishment of consumables in consideration of conditions that are not known to the image forming apparatus other than the device compatibility. On the other hand, when attempting to store various types of information such as remaining amount data and random numbers described in Patent Documents 2 and 3 in the memory of the device, the cost borne by the device increases, and the running cost borne by the user increases. If functions such as authentication management or remaining amount management are omitted without mounting a memory on the device, the running cost will be minimized. However, in this case, the user will be subjected to disadvantages such as malfunctions, malfunctioning, or deterioration of image quality caused by the use of non-genuine consumables or devices, or depletion of consumables at unexpected timings.

[0006] The technology according to the present disclosure aims to eliminate or reduce at least one of the above-mentioned inconveniences. [Means for Solving the Problems]

[0007] According to one aspect, an acquisition unit that acquires a code unique to a storage device that exists in a user environment and stores a consumable product consumed for image formation, and an opening / closing mechanism that is disposed in at least one of the storage device and the image forming apparatus and that is capable of opening and closing a supply path of the consumable product from the storage device to the image forming apparatus, an opening / closing mechanism in which a supply path for the consumables is opened and closed by a user operating an operating member of the opening / closing mechanism; and, a lock 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 accommodated device based on the code acquired by the acquisition unit, and when the authentication is successful, Supply route for the consumables to release The operation of the operating member is unlocked. For Unlock the server device that transmits a command; and the authentication information that is present in the user environment and that is received from the server device when the authentication performed by the server device is successful. Unlock In response to orders, The lock mechanism unlocks the operation of the operating member. A replenishment control system including a controller and a control unit is also provided. Corresponding replenishment control methods, image forming apparatuses, and server devices are also provided. [Brief description 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. [Diagram 2] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of the internal physical configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view for explaining an example of a configuration of a consumable supply path according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining an example of a configuration of a storage unit and its surroundings according to an embodiment. [Diagram 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. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a replenishing pack is connected to a toner receiving portion. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of a lock 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] 13 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of updating a database when registering an apparatus. [Figure 12] FIG. 13 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. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a schematic process flow related to device registration. [Figure 16] 11A to 11C are sequence diagrams showing examples of schematic process flows related to the provision of refill packs to users. [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 an authentication process 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. 11 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. 13 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. 11 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a supply management system according to a second embodiment. [Figure 23] 13 is a schematic diagram for explaining a connection between a supply pack and an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment. FIG. [Figure 24] FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment. [Diagram 25]FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a schematic process flow when replenishing consumable items in the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims. Although the embodiments describe a number of features, not all of these features are essential to the invention, and the features may be combined in any manner. Furthermore, in the attached drawings, the same reference numbers are used for the same or similar configurations, and duplicated descriptions are omitted.

[0010] <1. Description of the image forming apparatus using the replenishment method> 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 illustrated, 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 machines.

[0011] Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of the external appearance of an image forming apparatus 1 according to an 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 defined 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 defined as the X direction. The direction perpendicular to the X direction and the Z direction is defined 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 a discharge 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 openable and closable, 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 openable and closable. A user can grasp the handle 23 of the rear cover 22 to open the rear cover 22, thereby exposing a part of the transport path along which the recording medium is transported and the process unit 41, and perform maintenance work such as, for example, removing 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 section 30, an image forming section 40, a fixing section 70, a pair of discharge rollers 80, and a processing circuit 90. The feeding section 30 feeds a recording medium P toward the image forming section 40. The image forming section 40 consumes toner, which is a consumable material, to form an image (toner image) on the recording medium. The fixing section 70 fixes the image formed by the image forming section 40 onto the recording medium P. The pair of discharge rollers 80 discharges the recording medium P processed by the fixing section 70 onto a discharge tray 82.

[0015] The image forming section 40 includes a process unit 41, a scanner unit 42, and a transfer roller 43. The process unit 41 includes 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 removable.

[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 rotated 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 to uniformly charge 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 to expose 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. 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 section 48. The storage section 48 stores toner. Although not shown in FIG. 2, the storage section 48 may further include a supply roller that applies the toner stored in the storage section 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 causes a toner image to be developed from the electrostatic latent image.

[0018] The feeding section 30 includes 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 media P toward a transfer nip between a transfer roller 43 and a photosensitive drum 44. A transfer voltage is applied to the transfer roller 43 from a high-voltage power source, and the toner image developed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 44 is transferred to the recording media 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 section 70. The fixing section 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 press the recording medium P when the recording medium P passes through the nip between these rollers. As a result, the toner particles melt and then adhere to the recording medium P, thereby fixing the toner image to the recording medium P. The recording medium P that has passed through the fixing section 70 is discharged from a discharge port 81 to a discharge tray 82 by a pair of discharge rollers 80. The cleaning unit 46 is disposed near the photosensitive drum 44. The cleaning unit 46 cleans the photosensitive drum 44 by scraping off the toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 44.

[0020] The processing circuit 90 has electronic component groups 91, 92, and 93 arranged on a board. 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 forming process based on input image data received from an external computer, for example, is started. In the image forming process, as described above, the scanner unit 42 forms an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 44 according to the input image data, the developing roller 45 develops a toner image from the 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 such an image forming process.

[0021] <1-3. Detailed configuration of the storage unit> Next, an example of a more specific configuration related to the storage unit 48 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view for explaining an example of the configuration of a consumable supply path of the image forming apparatus 1. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining an example of the configuration of the storage unit 48 and its periphery. 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 for the purpose of showing other components. The internal space of the cylindrical member 112 communicates 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 capable of opening and closing a supply path for a consumable material (toner in this case) from a supply pack 200 to storage unit 48, which will be described later. A protrusion 117 is formed on the inner surface of the main body shutter 116.

[0022] 4 shows the state in which the resupply pack 200 is connected to the toner receiving section 110, together with a cross-section of the storage section 48 and its surrounding configuration. The resupply 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 resupply path extending from the resupply pack 200 to the storage section 48 through the connecting member 120 is opened. With the resupply path open, toner released from the resupply pack 200 is replenished to the storage section 48 through the resupply 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 reaches the developing roller 45. The agitating member 60 may have a spiral member instead of the blade 60b. The agitating member 60 may have a role of scraping the toner from the developing roller 45 and circulating the toner in the storage unit 48 to homogenize 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 remaining amount of toner in the storage unit 48. The remaining amount detection unit 61 has a light emitter 61a and a light receiver 61b. The light emitter 61a emits light that travels inside the storage unit 48 along an optical axis Q1. The light receiver 61b is disposed at a position facing the light emitter 61a and receives the light emitted from the light emitter 61a. Note that, in the case where the light is guided by, for example, a light guide tube, the light receiver 61b does not necessarily have to be disposed at a position facing 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 a 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 depending 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 ratio of the time during which the light from the light emitter 61a is blocked (by the toner) for a certain time window while the toner is being stirred. The remaining amount of toner may be detected or estimated by any method, without being limited to the above-mentioned configuration example 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 after the previous toner supply from the total amount at the time of the previous toner supply. The processing circuit 90 may derive the amount of toner used based on statistics regarding the image forming operation, such as the number of recording media consumed by printing or pixel count.

[0026] <1-4. Supply Pack Composition> 5 shows an example of a 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 in order to store toner, which is a consumable material. The storage section 211 is filled with toner in advance. The storage section 211 may be, for example, a plastic bag that is easily deformable. However, without being limited to this example, the storage section 211 may be configured 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 communicates 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 is disposed radially outward of the nozzle 212. The pack shutter 214 has an opening 214c. A part of the edge portion forming the opening 214c constitutes a drive transmission surface 214b. When the pack shutter 214 rotates relative to the nozzle 212 during toner supply so that the opening 213 of the nozzle 212 overlaps with the opening 214c of the pack shutter 214, the toner discharge path blocked by the pack shutter 214 can be opened. As 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 can be further 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. Supply of consumables> Next, the connection of the supply pack 200 to the toner receiving section 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 arranged on the housing along the X direction. In the example of FIG. 6(A), 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 of FIG. 6(B), the discharge tray 82 is in an open state, and in this state, the supply port 114 of the toner receiving section 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. The user can connect the supply pack 200 to the toner receiving section 110 by lifting and opening the discharge tray 82 as shown in FIG. 6(B) 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. The ring member 111 surrounding the periphery of 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 held by the user, and a protrusion 111d shown 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 (see FIG. 3) of the main body shutter 116. When the user operates the lever 111b to rotate the ring member 111 around the central axis, the force generated in the rotation 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, for example, a 90-degree rotation. When the supply path is opened, the toner contained in the container 211 of the supply pack 200 is injected into the toner receiver 110 from the opening 213 of the nozzle 212, and is supplied to the storage unit 48 through the connecting member 120. The rotation of the ring member 111 can be restricted by a restricting member (not shown) so that the ring member 111 does not rotate beyond a predetermined upper limit angle.

[0031] Although an example has been described above in which the toner supply path is opened by a rotational force generated by the user operating lever 111b, the supply path may be blocked and opened without relying on the user's 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 by the rotation of the shutter described above. Instead of a rotating shutter, a shutter that can move in a linear direction may be adopted, or a mechanism different from a shutter, such as a valve, may be adopted. The opening / closing mechanism may be disposed 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 be always open on one side of the storage device and the image forming apparatus, and may be opened and closed only on the other side. Instead, the supply path may be opened and closed on both the storage device and the image forming apparatus, as in the above example. Also, a sensor may be additionally disposed for detecting the operation of the opening / closing mechanism by the user or for detecting the state (open state or closed state) of the opening / closing mechanism.

[0033] The above-mentioned opening / closing mechanism may be capable of being prevented from operating (by user operation or automatically) by a locking mechanism described in the next section. As with 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 for preventing 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 so as not to rotate even if a user applies force to the ring member 111 under normal circumstances. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of a lock mechanism for locking the rotation of the ring member 111. FIG. 8 shows the toner receiving portion 110 as viewed from inside the apparatus (in the Z direction) so that an example of the internal configuration of the toner receiving portion 110 can be understood in more detail. The toner receiving portion 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) in the lock unit 150 biases a tip 153 of the lock member 152 opposite to the shaft 151 in a direction away from the lock unit 150, and as a result, the tip 153 is positioned on the rotation orbit of the protrusion 111k of the ring member 111. Therefore, even if the user attempts to rotate ring member 111 clockwise in the figure (Rc direction in the figure), tip 153 of locking member 152 interferes with protrusion 111k, preventing rotation of ring member 111; 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 in which the supply of toner from the supply pack 200 to the image forming apparatus 1 is permitted, and the solenoid rotates the lock member 152 by its suction force. When the solenoid is energized and the lock member 152 rotates, the tip 153 of the lock member 152 retreats from the rotation 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, that is, the opening and closing mechanism of the supply path is unlocked. The locking and unlocking of the opening and closing mechanism can be controlled by the processing circuit 90. Various examples of conditions for unlocking the opening and closing mechanism will be described in the following sections.

[0036] The configuration of the locking mechanism for locking and unlocking the opening / closing mechanism is not limited to the above-mentioned 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 by computer control without relying on user operation is employed, the locking and unlocking of the opening / closing mechanism may be realized 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 state of the opening / closing mechanism described above is locked or unlocked. The indicator 125 may be configured, for example, with an LED (Light-Emitting Diode) provided in the housing and a window that transmits light from the LED. When the indicator 125 shows that the opening / closing mechanism is in the unlocked state, the user can rotate the ring member 111 to open the supply path.

[0038] <2. Supply Management System (First Embodiment)> The image forming apparatus of the replenishment method described in Patent Document 1 determines whether to start replenishment of toner from a storage device connected to the image forming apparatus by local authentication. However, simple local authentication can only verify the compatibility between the image forming apparatus and the storage device, and it is difficult to permit or inhibit replenishment by considering other conditions, such as whether replenishment is being performed by a registered user based on a certain contract. In the image forming apparatus of the replenishment method, which has attracted attention because of its low cost and low environmental impact, if the conditions verified by local authentication are expanded, it will lead to the complication of the device and an increase in cost, and the original advantage of the replenishment method may be lost. Therefore, in the first embodiment described in this section, a mechanism is adopted in which a server device operating in a remote environment is involved in the management of 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, for example, routers, switches, gateways, wireless access points, and base stations.

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

[0042] The management server 301 is a server device for managing the supply of toner from the supply 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 consumables by multiple users. The management server 301 may be implemented as an application server, a database server, or a 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 supply 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 a plurality of physically separate devices working together. Also, a part of the database that will be 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 provided with 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 package of each supply pack 200 in a format that is optically readable by a user or a user terminal 401. The optically readable format may include, for example, a one-dimensional barcode or a two-dimensional QR code (registered trademark). The code 201 read by the user or 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> Fig. 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 for the management server 301 to communicate with other devices. For example, the communication I / F 311 communicates with the image forming device 1 and the user terminal 401 that exist 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 a semiconductor memory, such as a Read Only Memory (ROM) or a Random Access Memory (RAM), an optical disk, or a magnetic disk. The memory 312 may 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 resupply packs 200 provided by the resupply 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 in 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 logging in, and may be used as the addressee when the supply pack 200 is delivered. The "address" may be used as the addressee when the supply pack 200 is delivered. The "email address" may be used when various notifications are sent by email from the system to each user. The "contract type" represents the type of contract that each user has made with the business operator that operates the supply management system 300. The provision management unit 360, which will be described later, may determine when the supply pack 200 should be delivered to each user, depending on the contract type of the user. The "payment information" is information regarding the means by which the price of the supply pack 200 provided to each user is to be paid.

[0050] The device registration table 330 is a table that holds information about the image forming devices registered as devices of each user 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 a device of the user who has 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 regarding the 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" indicates "unverified", and when the verification is completed, the "status" can be changed to "verified". The "toner remaining amount" indicates the latest toner remaining amount value 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 account of the user to whom each refill pack was provided by the "user ID" registered in the account table 320. The "pack ID" is identification information for uniquely identifying each refill pack. The pair of the "contractor" and the "pack ID" indicates the association between each user account and at least one refill pack provided to the user who has the account. Since each user repeatedly consumes toner, the number of refill packs associated with one user account in the delivery pack table 340 increases over time. The "shipping date" indicates the date on which each refill pack was shipped to the "contractor". The "status" indicates the status regarding whether each refill pack has been used to refill toner to an image forming device. At the time of shipment, the "status" indicates "unused", and when each refill pack arrives in the user environment, is authenticated, and refills toner, the "status" can be changed to "used". The "use date" indicates the date on which each refill pack was used to refill 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 may 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 update of data in the management DB 313. The data management unit 350 may display a screen for accepting input of account information to be registered in the account table 320 on the user terminal 401, receive the input 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 for accepting input of device information about an image forming device owned by each user on the user terminal 401, receive the input 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 during a period in which user authentication using a user ID and password stored in the account table 320 is successful and the user is logged in to the system.

[0054] Specifically, in this embodiment, the data management unit 350 may perform simple verification as to 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 the user logs in to the system and inputs the device information of the image forming device 1 into the input screen, the data management unit 350 presents the user with a message urging 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 message transmitted here may include content urging the user to turn on the power of the image forming device 1 (if it is off). When the user performs the operation as prompted on the image forming device 1, the image forming device 1 transmits a device ID that identifies 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. Then, if the data management unit 350 receives from the image forming device 1 an apparatus ID identical to the apparatus ID input by the user before the timeout, the data management unit 350 determines that the image forming device 1 identified by that apparatus ID is actually installed in the user environment. For an apparatus before the completion of such verification, the data management unit 350 sets the value of "status" in the device registration table 330 to "unverified", and for an apparatus after the completion of verification, 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 value of "toner remaining amount" 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 value of "toner remaining amount" in device registration table 330, based on the received remaining amount information.

[0056] The provision management unit 360 manages the provision of the 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 the supply packs 200 to users.

[0057] An example of a trigger event may be a user's purchase of the resupply pack 200. For example, when an order for the resupply 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 resupply pack 200 to the user who is the purchaser.

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

[0059] Another example of the trigger event may be detection of a decrease in the remaining amount of toner in the image forming device 1 registered in the device registration table 330. For example, a user may have an automatic purchase contract with a business operator under which a new refill pack 200 is automatically provided when the remaining amount of toner in the image forming device 1 owned by the user decreases. In this case, the provision management unit 360 may monitor the value of "remaining amount of toner" in the device registration table 330 for the image forming device 1 registered by the user, and may start providing the refill pack 200 to the user when it is determined that the remaining amount of toner falls below a predetermined threshold. Additionally or alternatively, the trigger event regarding the automatic purchase of the refill pack 200 may be the reaching of a threshold value of the number of operations (e.g., the number of times a job is executed or the cumulative number of sheets of recording media consumed) of the registered image forming device 1. Additionally or alternatively, the trigger event regarding the automatic purchase of the refill pack 200 may be detection of the use of a refill pack 200 provided to the user in the past. For example, the provision management unit 360 may monitor the "status" in the delivery pack table 340 for a supply pack 200 that has been provided to a user who has entered into an automatic purchase contract, and may start providing the supply pack 200 when the value changes from "unused" to "used."

[0060] By periodically or automatically providing the user with a new refill pack 200 in response to detection of these trigger events, the possibility of the image forming device 1 becoming unusable due to consumables running out at a time unexpected by the user can be reduced.

[0061] The provision management unit 360 may determine which of the above-mentioned trigger events should be monitored for each user based on the contents of the "contract type" in the account table 320. When the provision 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 transmits a message to a delivery person instructing the delivery of the allocated replenishment pack 200. The provision management unit 360 also adds a new record indicating the user ID of the delivery destination user and the pack ID identifying the allocated replenishment pack 200 to the delivery pack table 340, 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 may be set to the date on which the replenishment pack 200 is shipped, and the "status" and "usage date" may be set to "unused" and blank as initial 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 permit replenishment of the replenishment pack 200 to be used for toner replenishment. The pre-supply authentication may include a determination as to whether the replenishment pack 200 is an object that can be permitted to be used (e.g., whether it was provided to the user through a regular route). As described with reference to FIG. 9, in this embodiment, a unique code 201 for uniquely identifying each replenishment pack 200 is given to the replenishment pack 200. The code 201 is printed, for example, on each replenishment pack 200 or its package in a format that can be read by a user or a user terminal 401. The authentication unit 370 receives the code of the replenishment pack 200 to be used for replenishment from a code acquisition means 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 some examples.

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

[0064] The pre-replenishment authentication may include determining whether the resupply 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 resupply pack 200 to be used for resupply corresponds to the user account of the user attempting to perform the resupply. In this way, by verifying the correspondence between the resupply pack 200 and the user account, it is possible to prevent a resupply pack 200 obtained without complying with a contract from being used to replenish consumables.

[0065] Additionally or alternatively, the pre-supply authentication may include a determination as to whether the image forming apparatus 1 to which the consumables are to be supplied corresponds to the user account of the logged-in user. For example, the authentication unit 370 presents a message to the user who is about to perform the supply, prompting the user to perform a predetermined operation in the image forming apparatus 1 to which the consumables are to be supplied. 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 operation as prompted on the image forming apparatus 1, the image forming apparatus 1 transmits a device ID that identifies 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 to which the consumables are to be supplied corresponds to the user account of the logged-in user. In this way, by making the 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 the image forming device 1, the management server 301 can reliably identify the device to which the user is trying to replenish toner, and can transmit a subsequent control command (for example, an unlock command or an open command, which will be described later) to the replenishment destination device.

[0066] In response to the above-mentioned predetermined operation, authentication unit 370 may receive remaining amount information indicating the latest remaining amount of toner together with the device ID from image forming device 1. Then, authentication unit 370 may refuse to supply toner to image forming device 1 when the received remaining amount information indicates that there is a sufficient amount of toner remaining. This makes it possible to prevent excessive toner from being supplied to image forming device 1.

[0067] Additionally or alternatively, the pre-replenishment authentication may include determining whether the resupply 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 a pack ID based on the code 201, and if the value of "status" is "unused", allow the resupply 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 resupply pack 200 for replenishment. In this way, by making the resupply pack 200 unused as a condition for successful authentication, unauthorized or accidental reuse of the resupply pack 200 can be prevented.

[0068] Additionally or alternatively, the pre-supply authentication may include a determination as to whether the supply pack 200 identified based on the code 201 is a genuine product that is compatible with the supply destination device. To determine whether the product is genuine, the device registration table 330 may have the model number of each image forming device, and the delivery pack table 340 may have the model number of each supply pack, as additional data items. Furthermore, the management DB 313 may have an additional table indicating the model numbers of one or more supply packs that are compatible with each model number of the image forming device. In this case, the authentication unit 370 may permit the use of the supply pack 200 for replenishment only when it is determined that the supply destination device and the supply 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 device 1 includes an opening / closing mechanism capable of opening and closing the supply path of the consumables. This opening / closing mechanism is locked by a locking mechanism so that it is not opened under normal circumstances. When the above-mentioned pre-supply authentication is successful, the authentication unit 370 transmits a result of authentication success to the image forming device 1 via the communication I / F 311, and enables the image forming device 1 to open the supply path by the opening / closing mechanism (i.e., causes the locking mechanism to unlock the opening / closing mechanism). In addition, in the case where the opening / closing mechanism in the image forming device 1 is operated by computer control without relying on the user's operation, the authentication unit 370 may cause the opening / closing mechanism of the image forming device 1 to open the supply path of the consumables instead of unlocking the opening / closing mechanism. The unlock command (or the open command) for the image forming device 1 may be directly transmitted from the management server 301 to the image forming device 1. Alternatively, the user terminal 401 that receives a result of authentication success from the management server 301 may transmit the unlock command (or the open command) to the image forming device 1. If the pre-replenishment authentication fails due to any of the above conditions not being satisfied, the authentication unit 370 transmits a result of the authentication failure to the image forming apparatus 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, an apparatus not registered, or a pack already used) on the screen of any of the apparatuses.

[0070] When the opening / closing mechanism is unlocked based on the authentication result, the supply path is opened, and toner is supplied from the supply 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. In addition, when the received remaining amount information indicates that the remaining amount of toner has increased, the data management unit 350 changes the "status" of the supply pack 200 in the delivery pack table 340 to "used". This makes it possible for the authentication unit 370 to not permit reuse of the supply pack 200 based on the status information when the same supply pack 200 is subsequently reused. In addition, it is also possible for the provision management unit 360 to allocate a new supply pack 200 to a user in response to detection of use of the supply pack 200.

[0071] Hereinafter, the update of the contents of the management DB 313 along a typical process flow will be described with reference to Figs. 11 and 12. Fig. 11 shows an example of the update of the device registration table 330 at the time of device registration. 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 of the account table 320 are omitted in the figure. The middle part of Fig. 11 shows a 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, an 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. Also, an image forming device identified by a device ID "D00" has already been registered in the device registration table 330 as a device of the user U01.

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

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

[0075] In response to detection of 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 the 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 usage date 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> Fig. 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 for the user terminal 401 to communicate with other devices. For example, the communication I / F 411 communicates with the image forming apparatus 1 present in the user environment E1 and the management server 301 present in the remote environment E2. The communication I / F 411 may be a wired communication interface or a wireless communication interface. When 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 only a single communication I / F 411 is shown in FIG. 13, the user terminal 401 may be provided with a plurality of different communication modules for communicating with the image forming apparatus 1 and the management server 301, respectively. The 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 a semiconductor memory, such as a ROM or RAM, an optical disk, or a magnetic disk. The memory 412 may 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 composed of, for example, a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) or an Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED).

[0083] The processing circuitry 416 may be, for example, a CPU, and provides various functions of the user terminal 401 by executing a computer program 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 management of 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 generally 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 an 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 unique to the resupply 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 resupply pack 200 or its package (e.g., a piece of paper wrapped or enclosed with the resupply pack), 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 input 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. In addition, when the image forming device 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 input 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, the application unit 440 may provide a user interface for requesting the management server 301 to execute pre-supply authentication to a user who wishes to supply consumables from the supply pack 200 to the image forming apparatus 1. For example, when a button for requesting authentication is operated by a user, the application unit 440 activates the code acquisition unit 430 to acquire a code unique to the supply pack 200, and transmits the acquired code 201 to the management server 301 via the communication I / F 411. The application unit 440 may transmit the code 201 to the management server 301 as part of a request for permission to supply consumables. Furthermore, the application unit 440 may transmit the code 201 to the management server 301 as part of a request for opening a supply path (or unlocking an opening / closing mechanism).

[0088] In one embodiment, the application unit 440 may transmit a transmission request to the image forming apparatus 1 to transmit to the management server 301 a device ID required for pre-replenishment authentication by 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 in the image forming apparatus 1 to transmit the device ID.

[0089] When pre-supply authentication is performed by management server 301 based on code 201 unique to supply pack 200, application unit 440 receives the result of the pre-supply authentication from management server 301. If the authentication result indicates success of pre-supply authentication, application unit 440 may cause device control unit 420 to transmit to image forming device 1 an unlock command for unlocking the opening / closing mechanism or an open command for opening the supply path. Note that when these commands are transmitted directly from management server 301 to image forming device 1, user terminal 401 does not need to transmit 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, open the supply path by operating the opening / closing mechanism that has been blocking the supply path of the consumables, and supply the consumables from the supply pack 200 to the image forming apparatus 1. At this time, since the opening / closing mechanism is unlocked by the image forming apparatus 1, the operation of opening the supply path by the user is not hindered. Note that the connection of the supply pack 200 to the image forming apparatus 1 may be performed before the request for pre-supply authentication, or may be performed 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 to authenticate, the user may retry the pre-supply authentication after taking appropriate measures, or give up on the immediate supply of the consumables, depending on the cause of the failure that may be displayed on the screen. At this time, the opening / closing mechanism remains locked by the image forming apparatus 1, or the opening / closing mechanism is not automatically operated and the supply path remains blocked.

[0091] <2-4. Example of the configuration of an image forming device> 14 is a block diagram showing an example of a functional configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present 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 for the image forming apparatus 1 to communicate with other apparatuses. 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 a 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. Although only a single communication I / F 11 is shown in FIG. 14, the image forming apparatus 1 may be provided with a plurality of 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 a RAM, an optical disk, or a magnetic disk. The memory 12 may 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 stores in advance, 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 operations and information input by a user, 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 the toner stored in the storage unit 48 to form an image on a recording medium. The opening / closing mechanism 51 is a mechanism capable of opening and closing 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 protruding portion 111d described above, 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 for inhibiting (i.e., locking) the operation of the opening / closing mechanism 51 by a user or automatic operation of the opening / closing mechanism 51 and for releasing (unlocking) the inhibition. The locking unit 150 described above is an example of the locking mechanism 52.

[0096] From a functional point of view, the above-mentioned electronic component group 91, 92, 93 of the processing circuit 90 can mainly function as a print control unit 95 and a lock control unit 96. The print control unit 95 controls the operation 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 based on input image data included in the print job on a recording medium.

[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 designated by the user for device registration is actually installed in the user environment E1 of the user. In addition, the device ID transmitted to the management server 301 may be used for 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 reception signal (e.g., a transmission request for transmitting 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 the reception of 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 specific 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 the detection of 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-supply authentication, the lock control unit 96 waits for reception of an unlock command, which is a control signal based on the result of pre-supply authentication, for a predetermined standby period. When the unlock command is received before the expiration of the standby period, 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 in the example of FIG. 8B. This allows the user to rotate the main body shutter 116 and the pack shutter 214 of the supply pack 200 together with the ring member 111 to open the supply path 50. Note that, in the case where a configuration is adopted in which the image forming apparatus 1 automatically operates the opening / closing mechanism 51, the lock control unit 96 may wait for reception of 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] When the standby period expires without receiving an unlock command or an open command (i.e., 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 standby for a control signal from the outside only for a limited period triggered by the detection of a specific input signal, the risk of unauthorized operation of the image forming device 1 by a malicious third party can be minimized. In addition, the image forming device 1 can be put into a sleep state during periods other than the standby period to reduce the power consumption of the image forming device 1.

[0101] When an unlock command or an open command is received before the expiration of the standby period, the lock control unit 96 may maintain the opening / closing mechanism 51 in an unlocked state for a predetermined unlock period from the reception of the command, and may lock the opening / closing mechanism 51 again after the expiration of the unlock period. In the example of FIG. 8, even if the solenoid is de-energized while the opening / closing mechanism 51 is in an open state, the ring member 111 can 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 rotation position of the ring member 111 is returned to its original position, the tip 153 of the lock member 152 returns to the position of FIG. 8(A) by 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 lock member 152. In this manner, re-locking of the opening / closing mechanism 51 can be achieved. It should be noted again that the configuration shown in Fig. 8 is merely one example of the opening / closing mechanism 51 and the lock 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 forming operation is performed and when consumables 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. Then, the remaining amount detection unit 61 estimates the remaining amount of toner based on the acquired light detection signal and reports the estimated remaining amount of toner to the print control unit 95. The print control unit 95 reports remaining amount information indicating the remaining amount of toner detected in this manner 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, the management server 301 can detect the increase in the remaining amount of toner based on the remaining amount information, and thereby know that the refill 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 refill pack 200 has been used.

[0104] <2-5. Processing flow> In this section, examples of several process flows that may be executed in the supply management system 300 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the sequence diagrams of Figures 15 to 17 and the flowcharts of Figures 18 to 20. In the following description, a process step 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 process flow related to device registration. The sequence shown in Fig. 15 mainly involves the image forming device 1, the management server 301, and the user terminal 401. Note that it is assumed that the user's account information has already been registered in the account table 320 of the management DB 313 prior to the start of the sequence.

[0106] First, in S11, the user inputs 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 input user ID and password to the management server 301 for login. In S13, the authentication unit 370 of the management server 301 executes 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. 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, to 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 by the display device 415.

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

[0109] <2-5-2. Provision of supply packs> Fig. 16 is a sequence diagram showing several examples of a schematic process flow related to the provision of a refill 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 refill pack 200 to a user. Here, a first example of a trigger event will be a decrease in the remaining amount of toner, a second example will be an order for a refill pack 200 by a user, and a third example will be the arrival of the timing for provision based on a subscription purchase contract.

[0110] In the first example, in S31, the print control unit 95 of the image forming device 1 detects the remaining amount of toner in the storage unit 48, for example, when an image forming 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 supply 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 device 1 is low, and allocates a new supply pack 200 to the user who owns the image forming device 1. Allocating the supply pack 200 to the user may include adding a new record indicating the user ID and a pack ID that identifies the supply pack 200 to the delivery pack table 340. In addition, the provision management unit 360 sends a message to the delivery person instructing the delivery of the allocated supply 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 that sells the replenishment packs 200, for example, using 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 the 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. In addition, the provision management unit 360 transmits a message to a 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 for a user who has signed a regular purchase contract to be provided with a replenishment pack 200. In S42, the provision management unit 360 allocates a new replenishment pack 200 to the user for whom the time has come to receive the replenishment pack. 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 delivered to the user, the provision management unit 360 transmits a delivery 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 schematic process flow according to the first embodiment when replenishing consumables. The sequence shown in Fig. 17 mainly involves the image forming device 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 prior to the start of the sequence.

[0114] First, in S60, the user inputs a user ID and password on the login screen. In S61, the application unit 440 of the user terminal 401 transmits the input user ID and password to the management server 301. In S62, the authentication unit 370 of the management server 301 executes 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. 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, and 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. Here, since the replenishment pack 200 corresponds to the user account, it is assumed that the first stage authentication is successful. In response to the success of the first stage 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 by 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. Then, in S73, the lock control unit 96 reads out the apparatus ID from the memory 12, and transmits apparatus information including the read out apparatus ID to the management server 301. In S74, the second stage of pre-replenishment authentication is performed, and the authentication unit 370 judges whether the image forming apparatus 1, which is the replenishment destination, corresponds to the user account of the logged-in user based on the apparatus ID included in the received apparatus information by referring to the apparatus registration table 330. Here, since the image forming apparatus 1 corresponds to the user account, it is assumed that the second stage authentication is also successful. In response to the success of the pre-replenishment authentication, in S75, the authentication unit 370 notifies the user terminal 401 of the result of authentication success. In addition, 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] In S77, the lock control unit 96 of the image forming device 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. In S78, the unlocked opening / closing mechanism 51 is operated by a user (or automatically operated), the supply path 50 is opened, and consumables are replenished from the supply pack 200 to the image forming device 1. In 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 of toner to the management server 301. In S80, the data management unit 350 of the management server 301 updates the value of "remaining amount of toner" of the record in the device registration table 330 corresponding to the image forming device 1 in response to receiving the remaining amount information. In addition, the data management unit 350 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 receipt of an unlock command or unlocking of the opening / closing mechanism 51, the lock control unit 96 of the image forming apparatus 1 relocks the opening / closing mechanism 51 in S81.

[0120] As described above, only pre-supply authentication for the supply pack 200 in S67 may be executed, 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 the apparatus information in S73 may also be omitted. However, if the power of the image forming apparatus 1 is turned 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 turn on the power of 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 in Fig. 17. This authentication processing can be realized, for example, by causing processing circuit 314 to 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 process flow in the case where the user authentication fails will be omitted.

[0123] Next, at S115, the authentication unit 370 receives the code 201 unique to the supply pack 200 acquired in the user environment E1. Next, at S117, the authentication unit 370 determines whether the supply pack 200 identified based on the received code 201 has a corresponding relationship with the user account of the logged-in user. For example, if the 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 may be a permitted object (e.g., provided through the regular route), and the process proceeds to S121. On the other hand, if the 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 a permitted object, and the process proceeds to S119.

[0124] At S119, since the authentication unit 370 determines that the supply pack 200 is not a permitted object, it determines not to permit the replenishment of consumables from the supply pack 200. In this case, the authentication unit 370 transmits an authentication result notification indicating that the use of the supply pack 200 is not permitted and the pre-replenishment authentication has failed to the user terminal 401.

[0125] At 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] At S123, since the authentication unit 370 determines that the supply pack 200 has already been used, it determines not to permit the replenishment of consumables from the supply pack 200. In this case, the authentication unit 370 transmits an authentication result notification indicating that the pre-replenishment authentication has failed because the supply pack 200 has been used to the user terminal 401.

[0127] If the resupply 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 resupply destination device (for example, by displaying a message on the screen). Next, in S127, the authentication unit 370 receives device information including a device ID from the image forming device 1, which is the resupply destination device. Next, S129 Then, the authentication unit 370 judges 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 pre-replenishment authentication has failed due to the device not being registered.

[0129] In S133, authentication unit 370 determines that the supply destination device is registered as the device of the logged-in user and therefore permits the supply of consumables from the supply pack 200 to image forming device 1, which is the supply 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 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 the supply of consumables to the supply destination device only if the remaining amount information indicates that the remaining amount of toner in the supply 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 a lock control process executed by the image forming apparatus 1. The lock control process in Fig. 19 corresponds to the process executed by the lock control unit 96 of the image forming apparatus 1 in S72 to S81 in Fig. 17. This lock control process can be realized, for example, by the processing circuit 90 executing a computer program stored in advance in the memory 12 of the image forming apparatus 1.

[0131] First, in S211, the lock control unit 96 detects a predetermined input signal. The input signal here 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, the lock control unit 96 reads out a device ID from the memory 12 in response to the detection of the predetermined input signal, 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 the standby period starts. 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 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 opening / closing mechanism 51 is operated by the user and the supply path 50 is opened, the process proceeds to S227.

[0135] In S227, the lock control unit 96 transmits 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, in S235, the lock control unit 96 causes the lock mechanism 52 to lock the opening / closing mechanism 51 again. In addition, in S237, the lock control unit 96 ends the wait for a control signal from the external device. Then, the lock control process in FIG. 19 ends.

[0137] <2-5-6. Authentication and supply of consumables (Second embodiment)> Fig. 20 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a schematic process flow according to the second embodiment when replenishing consumables. The sequence shown in Fig. 20 mainly involves the image forming device 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 prior to the start of the sequence.

[0138] The processing steps S60 to S62 relating to login and user authentication may be similar to 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 that may include the notified code 201 and device information including the device ID of the image forming device 1 to the management server 301.

[0140] Note that instead of transmitting a code notification including the code 201 to the image forming apparatus 1 in S69, the user terminal 401 may transmit an unlock request including the code 201 to the management server 301 and transmit 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 transmits device information including the device 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 starts pre-supply authentication. In S71, the authentication unit 370 determines whether the supply 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. Here, it is assumed that the supply pack 200 has an appropriate correspondence to the user account. Next, in S74, the authentication unit 370 determines whether the image forming device 1 at the supply destination corresponds to the user account of the logged-in user based on the device ID included in the unlock request by referring to the device registration table 330. Here, it is assumed that the image forming device 1 has an appropriate correspondence to the user account. Therefore, the pre-supply authentication is successful. In response to the success of the pre-supply authentication, in S75, the authentication unit 370 notifies the user terminal 401 of the result of authentication success. Furthermore, in S76, the authentication unit 370 transmits to the image forming apparatus 1 an unlock command for causing the lock mechanism 52 of the image forming apparatus 1 to unlock the opening / closing mechanism 51.

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

[0143] In the first embodiment of FIG. 17, the code 201 unique to the refill pack 200 is transmitted from the user terminal 401 to the management server 301, while the device ID for identifying the image forming device 1, which is the refill 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-mentioned mechanism can be realized with relatively low development costs. In the second embodiment of FIG. 20, the code 201 unique to the refill pack 200 is transferred from the user terminal 401 that has acquired the code 201 to the image forming device 1, and is relayed to the management server 301 together with the device information of the image forming device 1. Therefore, the user does not need to operate the image forming device 1 to trigger the transmission of the device ID, and the operational burden on the user for pre-refill authentication is reduced.

[0144] <2-6. Modifications> 21 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a supply management system 300b according to a modified example of the first embodiment. In this modified example, 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] The image forming device 1b is installed in a user environment E1 where a user exists. The image forming device 1b may basically have the same configuration as the image forming device 1 described above, except that it additionally includes an operation terminal 402. The operation terminal 402 provides a code acquisition function similar to that of the code acquisition unit 430 of the user terminal 401, and a UI function similar to that of the application unit 440 of the user terminal 401. The operation terminal 402 may be used, for example, to accept input of account information and to accept input of a code 201 unique to the supply pack 200. When the operation terminal 402 accepts input of the code 201, the lock control unit 96 of the image forming device 1b transmits an unlock request that may include the input code 201 and device information including the device ID of the image forming device 1b to the management server 301 via the 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 consumables, or unlocks the opening / closing mechanism 51 to enable the opening of the supply path 50.

[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 an operation to trigger the sending 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 of a consumable from a storage device that stores a consumable consumed for image formation to an image forming apparatus to an image forming apparatus is disposed in at least one of the storage device and the image forming apparatus. In addition, a code unique to the storage device to be used for supplying the consumable is acquired by a terminal present in a user environment, and the acquired code is transmitted to a server device in a remote environment. Then, authentication for permitting the supply of the consumable from the storage device is performed by the server device based on the code. If this authentication is successful, the supply path of the consumable is opened by the opening / closing mechanism, or the opening of the supply path by the opening / closing mechanism is enabled. Therefore, the supply of the consumable can be permitted or inhibited in consideration of 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 the stored device is an optically readable code printed on the device or its package, or a code that can be read manually by the user. Therefore, the code can be easily obtained by using the user interface or camera of the terminal. In this case, it is not necessary to install a memory for storing the code in each of the stored devices that are consumed one after another, so that the running costs borne by the user can be reduced.

[0149] In this section, an example has been mainly 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 image forming apparatus 1. In this case, the user terminal 401 or 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] In addition, in this section, an example 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 transmitted from the image forming device 1 to the management server 301 after toner replenishment has been mainly described, but the present 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 a certain modified example, the user terminal 401 or the image forming device 1 first displays on the screen a message asking the user whether the toner replenishment is completed. When the toner replenishment is completed, the user operates the input device 414 of the user terminal 401 or a (physical or GUI) button of the image forming device 1 to reply that the replenishment is completed. In response to the detection of such a user operation, the user terminal 401 or the image forming device 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 supply completion notification to management server 301. In response to receiving this supply 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 above-mentioned first embodiment, 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 device 1c is installed in a user environment E1 in which a user exists. A user terminal 401 also exists in the user environment E1 and is carried by the user. The image forming device 1c and the user terminal 401 are connected to a local network N1, which may be, for example, a LAN.

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

[0155] FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram for explaining the connection between the replenishing pack 200c according to the present embodiment and the image forming apparatus 1c. As shown in FIG. 23, the replenishing 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 receiving section 110 of the image forming apparatus 1c. The tag terminal 130 is electrically connected to the output terminal of the memory tag 230 when the replenishing pack 200c is connected to the toner receiving section 110. Through the electrical contact between these terminals, the image forming apparatus 1c can read out information stored in the memory tag 230 of the replenishing pack 200c.

[0156] <3-2. Example of the configuration of an image forming device> Fig. 24 is a block diagram showing an example of a 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 point of view, the processing circuit 90 can mainly function as a print control unit 95 and a lock control unit 196.

[0157] The lock control unit 196, like the lock control unit 96 of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment, 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 resupply pack 200c (for example, by using a sensor not shown), it reads out a code unique to the resupply pack 200c from the memory tag 230 of the resupply pack 200c via the tag terminal 130. The lock control unit 196 also reads out a device ID that uniquely identifies the image forming device 1c from the memory 12. Then, the lock control unit 196 transmits an unlock request including the code unique to the resupply pack 200c and the device ID of the image forming device 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 the user authentication is successful, the user is logged in to the system. The management server 301 executes the above-mentioned pre-supply authentication using the user ID of the logged-in user and the code and device ID received from the image forming device 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.

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

[0161] First, in S51, the user inputs 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 input user ID and password to the management server 301 for login. In S53, the authentication unit 370 of the management server 301 executes 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 resupply 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 resupply pack 200c from memory tag 230 of resupply 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 1.

[0163] In response to receiving the unlock request, the authentication unit 370 of the management server 301 starts pre-supply authentication. In S71, the authentication unit 370 determines whether the supply pack 200c identified by the code included in the unlock request corresponds to the account of the logged-in user by referring to the delivery pack table 340. Here, it is assumed that the supply pack 200c has an appropriate correspondence to the user account. Next, in S74, the authentication unit 370 determines whether the image forming device 1c corresponds to the user account of the logged-in user based on the device ID included in the unlock request by referring to the device registration table 330. Here, it is assumed that the image forming device 1c has an appropriate correspondence to the user account. Therefore, the pre-supply authentication is successful. In response to the success of the pre-supply 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] In 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. In S78, the unlocked opening / closing mechanism 51 is operated by the user (or automatically operated), the supply path 50 is opened, and the consumables are supplied from the supply pack 200c to the image forming device 1c. In 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 of toner to the management server 301. In S80, the data management unit 350 of the management server 301 updates the value of "remaining amount of toner" in the record of the device registration table 330 corresponding to the image forming device 1c in response to receiving the remaining amount information. In addition, the data management unit 350 changes the "status" of the record of 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 receipt of an unlock command or unlocking of the opening / closing mechanism 51, 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 of consumables from a storage device that stores consumables consumed for image formation to the image forming device is disposed in at least one of the storage device and the image forming device. Also, a code unique to the storage device to be used for supplying the consumables is read from the storage device to the image forming device, and the read code is transmitted to a server device in a remote environment. Then, authentication for permitting the supply of the consumables from the storage device to the image forming device is performed by the server device based on the code. If this authentication is successful, the supply path of the consumables is opened by the opening / closing mechanism, or the opening of the supply path by the opening / closing mechanism is enabled. Therefore, the supply of the consumables can be permitted or inhibited in consideration of conditions that are difficult to determine by the image forming device 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 device and a user account.

[0167] Also in this embodiment, instead of performing pre-replenishment authentication in response to receiving an unlock request, the management server 301 may verify the association between the user account and the refill pack 200 in response to receiving a verification 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 detection of a specific user operation, instead of a remaining amount report. 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] In addition, 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 effects described in relation to a certain example are applicable to any embodiment, example, and modification unless otherwise expressly stated.

[0170] <4. Other embodiments> The above-mentioned 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. It can also be realized 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 modifications and variations are possible 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 device, 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: lock 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 is present in a user environment and that stores a consumable material consumed for image formation; an opening / closing mechanism provided 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, the opening / closing mechanism opening and closing the supply path of the consumables by a user operating an operating member of the opening / closing mechanism; a lock 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 for unlocking the operation of the operating member that opens a supply path of the consumable product; a control unit that is present in the user environment and that causes the lock mechanism to unlock the operation of the operating 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 hosting device provided to a user having the account; Further comprising: When the storage device identified by the code in the database is associated with the account indicated by the account information, the server device determines that the storage device has a correspondence relationship with the account. The supply management system of claim 2 .

4. The image forming apparatus includes: 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 indicating an association between each account and at least one imaging 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 supply management system according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined input signal is a user input signal detected through 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 of the storage devices is in use 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 includes: receiving, from the image forming device, remaining amount information regarding a 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 reception of a control signal based on the result of the authentication for a predetermined period of time after the device identification information is transmitted to the server device in response to detection of the specified input signal, 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: a purchase of the containing device by the user; The timing of 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 an apparatus 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 the following:

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 storage device. The supply management system according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

16. The supply management system of any one of claims 1 to 14 includes a user terminal having an 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 a consumable material from a storage device that stores the consumable material to be consumed for image formation 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 provided in at least one of the storage device and the image forming device, the opening / closing mechanism opening and closing the supply path of the consumables by a user operating an operating member of the opening / closing mechanism; the image forming apparatus includes a lock mechanism that is present in a user environment and that locks and unlocks the operation of the operation member that opens a supply path of the consumables, The replenishment control method includes: acquiring a code unique to the storage 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; transmitting, from the server device, an unlock command for unlocking the operation of the operating member that opens a supply path of the consumable product when the authentication is successful; 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 for storing a consumable material replenished from a storage device storing the consumable material; an image forming unit that consumes the consumable material stored in the storage unit to form 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, the opening / closing mechanism being configured such that the supply path of the consumables is opened and closed by a user operating an operating member of the opening / closing mechanism; a lock 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 lock mechanism; A communication interface for communicating with a server device in a remote environment; Equipped with The control unit is Obtaining a code unique to the accommodated device and transmitting the obtained 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 operating 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 operating member in response to the received unlock command. Image forming device.

20. A server device for managing supply of consumables consumed for image formation from a storage device storing the consumables to an image forming device, the server device 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 consumables, the opening / closing mechanism being configured to open and close the supply path of the consumables by a user operating an operating member of the opening / closing mechanism; the image forming apparatus includes a lock mechanism that is present in a user environment and that locks and unlocks the operation of the operation member that opens a supply path of the consumables, The server device is located in a remote environment, the server device comprises a communication interface and a processing circuit; The processing circuitry includes: 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, transmitting an unlock command for unlocking the operation of the operation member that opens a 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