Printing device management device, printing device management program, printing device management system, and printing device

Abstract

To provide a printer management device that calculates an appropriate maintenance contract fee for maintenance work on a printer.SOLUTION: A printer management device includes: a maintenance information derivation unit that derives, on the basis of at least one of operation result information on an operation result of a printer, execution history information on an execution history of maintenance work of the printer, ink information on ink used in the printer, media information on media to be printed by the printer, and installation environment information on installation environment of the printer, maintenance information on a risk of occurrence of maintenance work for a printer; an evaluation unit that derives, on the basis of the maintenance information and at least one of a usage amount and a purchase amount of consumables used in the printer, evaluation of a user on the printer; and a fee calculation unit that calculates, on the basis of the derived user evaluation, a maintenance contract fee for maintenance work on the printer.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a management device for a printing device, a management method for a printing device, a management program for a printing device, a management system for a printing device, and a printing device.

Background Art

[0002] Printing devices such as inkjet printers are used in various places such as general households, offices, and factories. The usage methods and usage environments of such printing devices are also diverse, and the types and frequencies of abnormalities that occur, as well as the necessary maintenance work, vary depending on the user.

[0003] Manufacturers of such printing devices conclude maintenance contracts with users and perform maintenance and repair of the printing devices owned by the users based on the maintenance contracts. For example, based on at least one of device information indicating the state of the printing device owned by the user, usage information indicating the usage state of the printing device, and contract information regarding the maintenance contract between the user and the manufacturer, a technique for determining priority information indicating the priority of maintenance when an abnormality occurs in the printing device is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [[ID=!17]]

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] Maintenance services for such printing equipment are often based on fixed-rate, periodic maintenance contracts. Therefore, the more frequent the dispatch of the manufacturer's maintenance personnel, the more free replacements of maintenance parts are made, and the more expensive the replacement parts are, the greater the manufacturer's losses. On the other hand, users who utilize maintenance services infrequently during the contract period end up paying more than necessary for their periodic maintenance contract. For this reason, it is essential for manufacturers and users to conclude periodic maintenance contracts with appropriate fees.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above, and aims to provide a printing device management device, a printing device management method, a printing device management program, a printing device management system, and a printing device that can calculate an appropriate maintenance contract fee for maintenance work on the printing device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The printing apparatus management device according to the present invention comprises: a maintenance information extraction unit that derives maintenance information regarding the risk of maintenance work occurring for the printing apparatus based on at least one of the following pieces of information: operational performance information regarding the operating performance of the printing apparatus, implementation history information regarding the history of maintenance work performed for the printing apparatus, ink information regarding the ink used in the printing apparatus, media information regarding the media to be printed on by the printing apparatus, and installation environment information regarding the installation environment of the printing apparatus; an evaluation unit that derives a user evaluation of the printing apparatus based on the maintenance information and at least one of the amount used or purchased of consumables used in the printing apparatus; and a fee calculation unit that calculates a maintenance contract fee for maintenance work on the printing apparatus based on the derived user evaluation.

[0008] The printing apparatus management method according to the present invention includes: a maintenance information derivation step of deriving maintenance information regarding the risk of maintenance work occurring for the printing apparatus based on at least one of the following pieces of information: operation performance information regarding the operating performance of the printing apparatus, implementation history information regarding the history of maintenance work performed for the printing apparatus, ink information regarding the ink used in the printing apparatus, media information regarding the media to be printed on by the printing apparatus, and installation environment information regarding the installation environment of the printing apparatus; an evaluation step of deriving a user evaluation of the printing apparatus based on the maintenance information and at least one of the amount used or purchased of consumables used in the printing apparatus; and a fee calculation step of calculating a maintenance contract fee for maintenance work on the printing apparatus based on the derived user evaluation.

[0009] The printing apparatus management program according to the present invention causes a computer to perform the following steps: a maintenance information derivation step that derives maintenance information regarding the risk of maintenance work occurring for the printing apparatus based on at least one of the following pieces of information: operation performance information regarding the operating performance of the printing apparatus, implementation history information regarding the history of maintenance work performed for the printing apparatus, ink information regarding the ink used in the printing apparatus, media information regarding the media to be printed on by the printing apparatus, and installation environment information regarding the installation environment of the printing apparatus; an evaluation step that derives a user evaluation of the printing apparatus based on the maintenance information and at least one of the amount used or purchased of consumables used in the printing apparatus; and a fee calculation step that calculates a maintenance contract fee for maintenance work on the printing apparatus based on the derived user evaluation.

[0010] The printing apparatus management system according to the present invention comprises a printing apparatus and a management device that is capable of communicating with the printing apparatus and manages the printing apparatus, wherein the above-mentioned printing apparatus management device is used as the management device.

[0011] The printing apparatus according to the present invention comprises a maintenance information extraction unit that derives maintenance information regarding the risk of maintenance work occurring for the printing apparatus based on at least one of the following pieces of information: operational performance information regarding the operating performance of the printing apparatus, implementation history information regarding the history of maintenance work performed for the printing apparatus, ink information regarding the ink used in the printing apparatus, media information regarding the media to be printed on by the printing apparatus, and installation environment information regarding the installation environment of the printing apparatus; and an evaluation unit that derives a user evaluation of the printing apparatus based on the maintenance information and at least one of the amount of consumables used or purchased by the printing apparatus. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the present invention, it is possible to calculate an appropriate maintenance contract fee for maintenance work on a printing apparatus. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] Figure 1 shows an example of a management system for a printing apparatus according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a flowchart showing an example of a management method for a printing apparatus according to this embodiment. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing content in the maintenance information derivation step. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of maintenance information derived in the maintenance information derivation step. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing steps in the evaluation process. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an evaluation derived in the evaluation step. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing steps involved in the fee calculation process. [Figure 8] Figure 8 schematically shows an example of a maintenance contract fee calculated in the fee calculation step. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing content of the related information derivation step.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0014] Hereinafter, embodiments of a management device for a printing device, a management method for a printing device, a management program for a printing device, a management system for a printing device, and a printing device according to the present invention will be described based on the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited by this embodiment. Also, the components in the following embodiments include those that can be replaced and are easy for those skilled in the art, or those that are substantially the same.

[0015] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a management system 100 for a printing device according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the management system 100 includes a printing device 10 and a management device 20. In the present embodiment, the printing device 10 and the management device 20 are connected via a network NW such as the Internet.

[0016] The printing device 10 includes a main body portion 11, a head 12, and a control portion 13. In the present embodiment, the printing device 10 is an inkjet type printing device. The main body portion 11 has portions for performing printing operations and related operations, such as a conveyance portion 31 for conveying the medium M, a head drive portion 32 for moving the head 12, an ink supply portion 33 for supplying ink to the head 12, a cleaning portion 34 for cleaning the head 12, an operation panel 35 for operating the printing device 10, an ultraviolet irradiation portion 36 for irradiating ultraviolet rays to the ink, etc. The head 12 discharges ink onto the medium M. The control portion 13 comprehensively controls each part of the main body portion 11 and the head 12.

[0017] The control unit 13 includes a communication unit 14, a processing unit 15, and a storage unit 16. The communication unit 14 performs wired or wireless communication with external devices including the management device 20. The communication unit 14 includes an interface such as a network interface card. The processing unit 15, the processing unit 22 performs various information processing. The processing unit 22 includes a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and memories such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory). The processing unit 15 performs information processing for controlling each part of the printing device 10. The processing unit 15 controls to transmit various information (described later) for managing the printing device 10 from the communication unit 14 to the management device 20.

[0018] The storage unit 16 stores information such as various programs and data. The storage unit 16 includes a storage such as a HDD (Hard Disk Drive), a SSD (Solid State Drive), and cloud storage.

[0019] The management device 20 includes a communication unit 21, a processing unit 22, and a storage unit 23. The management device 20 manages the printing device 10. The management device 20 can use various information processing devices such as a personal computer, a tablet, and a smartphone. The management device 20 may be connected to an input unit (keyboard, mouse, touch panel, etc.) and an output unit (display unit, audio output unit, etc.) not shown.

[0020] The communication unit 21 performs wired or wireless communication with external devices including the printing device 10. The communication unit 21 includes an interface such as a network interface card.

[0021] The processing unit 22 performs various information processing. The processing unit 22 includes a processor such as a CPU and memories such as a ROM and a RAM.

[0022] The processing unit 22 includes a maintenance information extraction unit 24, an evaluation unit 25, a fee calculation unit 26, and a related information extraction unit 27. The maintenance information extraction unit, evaluation unit, fee calculation unit, and related information extraction unit may be separate entities, or all or part of them may be the same entity.

[0023] The maintenance information extraction unit 24 extracts maintenance information regarding the risk of maintenance work occurring for the printing device 10. The maintenance information extraction unit 24 extracts maintenance information based on at least one of the following pieces of information: operational performance information regarding the operating performance of the printing device 10, implementation history information regarding the history of maintenance work performed for the printing device 10, ink information regarding the ink used in the printing device 10, media information regarding the media to be printed on by the printing device 10, and installation environment information regarding the installation environment of the printing device 10.

[0024] The operational record of the printing device 10 includes at least one of the following: power-on time, number of power-on cycles, operating time, number of cycles, ink usage, printed area on media printed by the printing device 10, print success rate, and error history. The operational record information may be raw data relating to the operational record, or processed data obtained by processing raw data relating to the operational record. Examples of processed data include the time taken for each print, the average time taken for a single print, the cumulative time taken for printing, and the cumulative idling time.

[0025] The implementation history information includes at least one of the following: the cleaning history of the printing device 10, the station maintenance history of the printing device 10, the head maintenance history of the printing device 10, the wiper replacement history of the printing device 10, the number of periodic inspections performed on the printing device 10, the number of malfunction repairs and maintenance work other than periodic inspections performed on the printing device 10, the number of times maintenance parts of the printing device 10 have been replaced, the replacement interval of maintenance parts of the printing device 10, the usage record of maintenance parts of the printing device 10, consumables used in the printing device 10, and maintenance replacement parts used in the printing device 10.

[0026] Ink information includes at least one of the following: information about the type of ink, information about whether the ink is genuine or not, and information about the ink's composition.

[0027] Media information includes at least one of the following: information about the type of media, information about whether the media is genuine or not, and information about whether the media is a recommended product or not.

[0028] The installation environment information includes at least one of the following: temperature, humidity, altitude, cleanliness of the installation location where the printing device 10 is installed; the inclination angle of the floor on which the printing device 10 is installed; the amount of ultraviolet radiation at the installation location; information on illuminance and brightness at the installation location; information on the material of the floor; and information on the structure of the building at the installation location.

[0029] The maintenance information extraction unit 24 can extract maintenance information based on the number of maintenance operations performed in the printing device 10 within a predetermined period, the cost of the maintenance operations performed in the printing device 10, and at least one of the reasons for the maintenance operations performed in the printing device 10.

[0030] The maintenance information extraction unit 24 can further extract maintenance information based on the types of maintenance work performed up to that point and the intervals between maintenance work occurrences.

[0031] Maintenance information can be expressed as graded values ​​such as "high," "medium," and "low" risk of occurrence. The maintenance information output unit 24 may output maintenance information for each item that is the target of maintenance work, such as the head and cleaning unit, or it may output maintenance information for the entire printing apparatus 10.

[0032] The evaluation unit 25 requests an evaluation from the user of the printing device 10. The evaluation unit 25 requests an evaluation based on maintenance information and at least one of the amount of consumables used or purchased by the printing device 10. Examples of consumables include ink, media, and cleaning solution.

[0033] In addition to the above, the evaluation unit 25 can request a user evaluation based on at least one of the following items: the number of printers 10 owned, whether or not the maintenance history of the printers 10 is recorded, the number of successful prints and errors by the printers 10, the amount of genuine media and genuine ink used relative to the total printing time of the printers 10, whether or not maintenance of the printers 10 is performed at a predetermined frequency, the frequency of replacement of maintenance parts relative to the total printing time of the printers 10 and the cost incurred for replacing maintenance parts, and the usage status of replaced maintenance parts.

[0034] The number of printing devices 10 owned by the user could include, for example, the total number of printing devices 10 owned by the user, the number of devices located in the same installation location, or the total number of printing devices 10 owned by the user to date.

[0035] The evaluation unit 25 can derive scoring information based on the derived maintenance information and the operating record of the printing device 10, and can request a user evaluation based on said scoring information.

[0036] The fee calculation unit 26 calculates the maintenance contract fee for maintenance work on the printing device 10. The fee calculation unit 26 calculates the maintenance contract fee based on the derived user evaluation.

[0037] The fee calculation unit 26 can calculate the user's service quality based on the calculated evaluation and calculate the maintenance contract fee based on the calculated service quality. The service quality can be set in stages, such as a grade.

[0038] The fee calculation unit 26 can further calculate the maintenance contract fee based on the installation location of the printing device 10. The maintenance contract fee can be set up as a fee system in which the amount changes in stages, such as a tiered system or a multi-tiered system.

[0039] The fee calculation unit 26 can calculate the necessary labor charges each time maintenance is performed on the printing device 10, based on the derived maintenance information.

[0040] The related information extraction unit 27 extracts related information about the printing device 10. The related information extraction unit 27 extracts related information based on at least one of the extracted maintenance information and the user's evaluation. The related information includes at least one of the following: information on areas where the user should make improvements when using the printing device 10, information on the health of the printing device 10, and information on when the printing device 10 should be maintained.

[0041] The maintenance information derivation unit 24, evaluation unit 25, fee calculation unit 26, and related information derivation unit 27 can derive maintenance information, evaluations, and calculate maintenance contract fees based on a predetermined learning model. The learning model learns to associate maintenance information, evaluations, and maintenance contract fees with the input items necessary to calculate or derive these maintenance information, evaluations, and maintenance contract fees, and can output a corresponding value (maintenance information, evaluation, or maintenance contract fee) when a predetermined input item is input. The learning model can be stored, for example, in the storage unit 23.

[0042] The memory unit 23 stores various programs, data, and other information. The memory unit 23 includes storage devices such as HDDs and SSDs.

[0043] The storage unit 23 stores, for example, a management program for the printing device 10. The management program for the printing device 10 causes the computer to execute the following steps: a maintenance information derivation step that derives maintenance information regarding the risk of maintenance work occurring for the printing device 10 based on at least one of the following pieces of information: operation performance information regarding the operating performance of the printing device 10, implementation history information regarding the history of maintenance work performed for the printing device 10, ink information regarding the ink used in the printing device 10, media information regarding the media to be printed on by the printing device 10, and installation environment information regarding the installation environment of the printing device 10; an evaluation step that derives a user evaluation of the printing device 10 based on the maintenance information and at least one of the amount used or purchased of consumables used in the printing device 10; and a fee calculation step that calculates a maintenance contract fee for maintenance work for the printing device 10 based on the derived user evaluation.

[0044] In the management device 20, the processor in the processing unit 22 reads various programs and loads them into memory, thereby executing information processing corresponding to the functions of each of the above-mentioned parts. Examples of various programs include programs received by the communication unit 21, programs stored in the storage unit 23, and programs recorded on an external recording medium. The management device 20 functions as an information processing device (computer) that executes various information processing. Note that other information processing devices different from the management device 20 may execute various programs, or the management device 20 and other information processing devices may cooperate to execute various programs.

[0045] Next, an example of a method for managing the printing device 10 using the management system 100 configured as described above will be explained. Figure 2 is a flowchart of an example of a method for managing the printing device 10 according to this embodiment. As shown in Figure 2, the method for managing the printing device 10 according to this embodiment includes a maintenance information derivation step S10, an evaluation step S20, a fee calculation step S30, and a related information derivation step S40.

[0046] In the maintenance information derivation step S10, the maintenance information derivation unit 24 collects various information such as operational performance information, performance history information, ink information, media information, and installation environment information. This various information can be obtained from the printing device 10 via information communication through the communication unit 21. For example, when a maintenance worker of the printing device 10 performs maintenance work, they register various information such as the maintenance work history in the printing device 10 using the operation panel or the like. In addition, when various parts are replaced or maintenance work is performed, the type of replaced parts, the content of the maintenance work, the replacement history of parts, and the maintenance work history may be automatically registered in the printing device 10 using one-dimensional barcodes, two-dimensional barcodes, various sensors, etc. In the printing device 10, the registered various information is stored in the storage unit 16 of the printing device 10. The processing unit 15 causes the communication unit 14 to transmit the various information stored in the storage unit 16 to the management device 20. The maintenance information derivation unit 24 collects the various information transmitted from the printing device 10 and derives maintenance information based on the collected information.

[0047] Figure 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing content in the maintenance information derivation step S10. As shown in Figure 3, for example, the maintenance information derivation unit 24 derives the number of maintenance operations that have occurred within a predetermined period based on the collected information (step S11), derives the cost of the maintenance operations that have occurred within the predetermined period (step S12), and derives the reason for the occurrence of maintenance operations in the printing device 10 (step S13). The maintenance information derivation unit 24 can derive maintenance information based on the contents of each item derived in steps S11 to S13 (step S14). The maintenance information derivation unit 24 may further derive at least one of the type of maintenance operation and the interval between occurrences of maintenance operations, and derive maintenance information based on the derived results and the derived results in steps S11 to S13.

[0048] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of maintenance information derived in the maintenance information derivation step S10. As shown in Figure 4, the maintenance information derivation unit 24 can derive maintenance information for each user or for each printing device 10. The maintenance information derivation unit 24 can store the derived maintenance information in the storage unit 23. The maintenance information derivation unit 24 may derive maintenance information for each item subject to maintenance work, or it may derive maintenance information for the printing device 10 as a whole. Furthermore, based on the derived maintenance information, the maintenance information derivation unit 24 can predict the costs incurred each time maintenance work is required. For example, based on the maintenance information, the maintenance information derivation unit 24 can predict, for example, the number of maintenance sessions per year and predict the annual cost required for maintenance work. The maintenance information derivation unit 24 can display the prediction results on a display unit (not shown) or the like.

[0049] In evaluation step S20, the evaluation unit 25 obtains a user evaluation of the printing device 10 based on maintenance information and at least one of the amount of consumables used or purchased by the printing device 10. The evaluation unit 25 can derive scoring information based on the derived maintenance information and the operating record of the printing device 10, and obtain a user evaluation based on the scoring information.

[0050] Figure 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing content in evaluation step S20. As shown in Figure 5, for example, the evaluation unit 25 can classify the maintenance information and the operating performance of the printing device 10 derived in maintenance information derivation step S10 into categories (step S21), derive scoring information for each classified category (step S22), calculate the sum of the derived scoring information (step S23), and obtain the user's evaluation based on the calculation result (step S24).

[0051] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an evaluation derived in evaluation step S20. As shown in Figure 6, the evaluation unit 25 can derive scoring information and evaluations for each user or for each printing device 10. The evaluation unit 25 can store the derived scoring information and evaluations in the storage unit 23. The evaluation unit 25 can derive the user's scoring information and evaluations as graded values ​​such as points or grades. The scoring information and evaluations are not limited to the example shown in Figure 6 and may be in other forms.

[0052] Furthermore, the operational performance information used for user evaluation can be used to perform health checks on the printing device 10. In this case, the evaluation unit 25 can display the results of the health check on the printing device 10 on a display unit (not shown).

[0053] In the fee calculation step S30, the fee calculation unit 26 calculates the maintenance contract fee for the maintenance work of the printing device 10. The fee calculation unit 26 calculates the maintenance contract fee based on the user evaluation derived in step S20.

[0054] Figure 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing content in the fee calculation step S30. As shown in Figure 7, for example, the fee calculation unit 26 can calculate the user's goodness score based on the evaluation calculated in step S20 (step S31), calculate the travel cost to the installation location based on the installation location of the printing device 10 (step S32), calculate the labor charge required each time maintenance of the printing device 10 is performed based on the maintenance information derived in step S10 (step S33), and calculate the maintenance contract fee based on the calculated goodness score, travel cost, and labor charge each time (step S34). For example, the fee calculation unit 26 can calculate the maintenance contract fee such that the higher the goodness score, the higher the discount rate. Also, the fee calculation unit 26 can calculate the maintenance contract fee such that the longer the period of high goodness, the higher the discount rate. In such cases, the higher the goodness score, the lower the maintenance contract fee. Alternatively, the fee calculation unit 26 may directly calculate the maintenance contract fee using a learning model with the evaluation from evaluation step S20 as an input item. In this case, maintenance contract fees can be set dynamically based on the evaluation.

[0055] Figure 8 schematically shows an example of a maintenance contract fee calculated in the fee calculation step S30. As shown in Figure 8, the fee calculation unit 26 can derive a maintenance contract fee for each user or for each printing device 10. The fee calculation unit 26 can store the derived maintenance contract fee in the storage unit 23. The fee calculation unit 26 can calculate the maintenance contract fee based on the quality and relocation costs. In addition to the above maintenance contract fee, the fee calculation unit 26 can also present to the user a labor charge calculated each time, for example, by displaying it on a display unit (not shown). Alternatively, the final maintenance contract fee may be calculated by adding the fee calculated by the fee calculation unit to the basic maintenance fee for each model of printing device.

[0056] In the related information derivation step S40, the related information derivation unit 27 derives related information about the printing device 10. Figure 9 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing content in the related information derivation step S40. As shown in Figure 9, for example, the related information derivation unit 27 calculates information about points that the user should improve when using the printing device 10 (step S41), calculates information about the health of the printing device 10 (step S42), and calculates information about the timing of maintenance for the printing device 10 (step S43). In steps S41 to S43, the related information derivation unit 27 can use at least one of the maintenance information derived in step S10 and the user evaluation information derived in step S20.

[0057] For example, by calculating information on areas where the user should make improvements using the related information extraction unit 27, it is possible to present the user with methods to lower the maintenance contract fee based on that information.

[0058] As described above, the management device (printing device management device) 20 according to this embodiment includes a maintenance information derivation unit 24 that derives maintenance information regarding the risk of maintenance work occurring for the printing device 10 based on at least one of the following pieces of information: operation performance information regarding the operating performance of the printing device 10, implementation history information regarding the implementation history of maintenance work for the printing device 10, ink information regarding the ink used in the printing device 10, media information regarding the media to be printed on by the printing device 10, and installation environment information regarding the installation environment of the printing device 10; an evaluation unit 25 that obtains a user evaluation of the printing device 10 based on the maintenance information and at least one of the amount used or purchased of consumables used in the printing device 10; and a fee calculation unit 26 that calculates a maintenance contract fee for maintenance work for the printing device 10 based on the derived user evaluation.

[0059] Furthermore, the management method for the printing apparatus 10 according to this embodiment includes a maintenance information derivation step of deriving maintenance information regarding the risk of maintenance work occurring for the printing apparatus 10 based on at least one of the following pieces of information: operational performance information regarding the operating performance of the printing apparatus 10, implementation history information regarding the history of maintenance work performed for the printing apparatus 10, ink information regarding the ink used in the printing apparatus 10, media information regarding the media to be printed on by the printing apparatus 10, and installation environment information regarding the installation environment of the printing apparatus 10; an evaluation step of obtaining a user evaluation of the printing apparatus 10 based on the maintenance information and at least one of the amount used or purchased of consumables used in the printing apparatus 10; and a fee calculation step of calculating a maintenance contract fee for maintenance work on the printing apparatus 10 based on the derived user evaluation.

[0060] Furthermore, the management program for the printing apparatus 10 according to this embodiment causes the computer to execute the following steps: a maintenance information derivation step that derives maintenance information regarding the risk of maintenance work occurring for the printing apparatus 10 based on at least one of the following pieces of information: operational performance information regarding the operating performance of the printing apparatus 10, implementation history information regarding the history of maintenance work performed for the printing apparatus 10, ink information regarding the ink used in the printing apparatus 10, media information regarding the media to be printed on by the printing apparatus 10, and installation environment information regarding the installation environment of the printing apparatus 10; an evaluation step that seeks a user evaluation of the printing apparatus 10 based on the maintenance information and at least one of the amount used or purchased of consumables used in the printing apparatus 10; and a fee calculation step that calculates a maintenance contract fee for maintenance work on the printing apparatus 10 based on the derived user evaluation.

[0061] Furthermore, the management system 100 of the printing apparatus 10 according to this embodiment comprises the printing apparatus 10 and a management device that can communicate with the printing apparatus 10 and manages the printing apparatus 10, and the management device 20 is used as the management device.

[0062] With these configurations, the system can evaluate users based on their past usage and maintenance history of the printing device 10, and calculate maintenance contract fees based on the evaluation results. This allows for an appropriate estimation of the risks and costs of future maintenance work. As a result, an appropriate maintenance contract fee can be calculated for maintenance work on the printing device. Furthermore, by evaluating users from the perspective of whether or not they are using manufacturer-recommended consumables, an appropriate discount rate can be set.

[0063] In the management device 20 according to this embodiment, the operational performance information includes at least one of the following: power-on time, number of power-on cycles, operating time, number of operations, ink usage, printed area on the media printed by the printing device 10, print success rate, and error history. With this configuration, maintenance information can be appropriately derived.

[0064] In the management device 20 according to this embodiment, the implementation history information includes at least one of the following: the cleaning implementation history of the printing device 10, the station maintenance implementation history of the printing device 10, the head maintenance implementation history of the printing device 10, the wiper replacement history of the printing device 10, the number of periodic inspections performed on the printing device 10, the number of malfunction repairs and maintenance work other than periodic inspections performed on the printing device 10, the number of times maintenance parts of the printing device 10 have been replaced, the replacement interval of maintenance parts of the printing device 10, the usage record of maintenance parts of the printing device 10, consumables used in the printing device 10, and maintenance replacement parts used in the printing device 10. With this configuration, maintenance information can be appropriately derived.

[0065] In the management device 20 according to this embodiment, the ink information includes at least one of the following: information about the type of ink, information about whether the ink is genuine or not, and information about the components of the ink. With this configuration, maintenance information can be appropriately derived.

[0066] In the management device 20 according to this embodiment, media information includes at least one of the following: information about the type of media, information about whether the media is genuine or not, and information about whether the media is a recommended product or not. With this configuration, maintenance information can be appropriately derived.

[0067] In the management device 20 according to this embodiment, the installation environment information includes at least one of the following: temperature, humidity, altitude, cleanliness of the installation location where the printing device 10 is installed; the inclination angle of the floor on which the printing device 10 is installed; the amount of ultraviolet radiation at the installation location; information on illuminance and brightness at the installation location; information on the material of the floor; and information on the structure of the building at the installation location. With this configuration, maintenance information can be appropriately derived.

[0068] In the management device 20 according to this embodiment, the evaluation unit 25 further requests a user evaluation based on the number of printing devices 10 owned. This configuration allows for an appropriate evaluation of the user.

[0069] In the management device 20 according to this embodiment, the evaluation unit 25 further determines the user's evaluation based on at least one of the following: whether or not the maintenance history of the printer 10 is recorded, the number of successful prints and the number of errors by the printer 10, the amount of genuine media and genuine ink used relative to the total printing time of the printer 10, whether or not maintenance of the printer 10 is performed at a predetermined frequency, the frequency of replacement of maintenance parts relative to the total printing time of the printer 10 and the cost incurred for replacing maintenance parts, and the usage status of the replaced maintenance parts. With this configuration, the user can be appropriately evaluated.

[0070] In the management device 20 according to this embodiment, the fee calculation unit 26 calculates a user's service quality score, which is a stepped value, based on the calculated evaluation, and calculates the maintenance contract fee based on the calculated service quality score. With this configuration, since the maintenance contract fee is calculated based on the service quality score, which is a stepped value, it is possible to easily estimate the cost when renewing the maintenance contract.

[0071] In the management device 20 according to this embodiment, the fee calculation unit 26 further calculates the maintenance contract amount based on the installation location of the printing device 10. With this configuration, when a maintenance worker is dispatched from the base, the cost including the travel cost between the base and the installation location can be calculated.

[0072] In the management device 20 according to this embodiment, the fee calculation unit 26 calculates the necessary labor charge each time maintenance is performed on the printing device 10, based on the derived maintenance information. With this configuration, the calculated maintenance contract fee and the labor charge can be compared and presented to the user. The user can compare the presented maintenance contract fee and the labor charge and select which is more favorable.

[0073] The management device 20 according to this embodiment further includes a related information extraction unit 27 that extracts related information about the printing device 10 based on at least one of the extracted maintenance information and the user's evaluation. With this configuration, by extracting related information, a wide range of information can be presented to the user when concluding a maintenance contract.

[0074] In the management device 20 according to this embodiment, the relevant information includes at least one of the following: information on areas for improvement in the use of the printing device 10, information on the health of the printing device 10, and information on the timing of maintenance for the printing device 10. With this configuration, the number of maintenance tasks can be reduced by presenting the user with areas for improvement in the use of the printing device 10. Furthermore, by presenting the user with information on the health of the printing device 10 and information on the timing of maintenance for the printing device 10, it becomes easier for the user to understand when maintenance will be required. By understanding when maintenance will be required, the user can use the printing device 10 in a planned and efficient manner.

[0075] In the management device 20 according to this embodiment, the maintenance information extraction unit 24 further extracts maintenance information based on at least one of the number of maintenance operations that have occurred in the printing device 10 within a predetermined period, the cost of the maintenance operations in the printing device 10, and the reason for the occurrence of maintenance operations in the printing device 10. With this configuration, it is possible to determine whether the maintenance operation was caused by a reason for which the manufacturer is responsible, a reason for which the user is responsible, or a reason that is neither the manufacturer's responsibility nor the user's responsibility, such as a natural disaster, and to extract maintenance information based on the determination result, thereby enabling the extraction of maintenance information more appropriately.

[0076] In the management device 20 according to this embodiment, the maintenance information extraction unit 24 further extracts maintenance information based on the type of maintenance work and the interval at which maintenance work occurs. This configuration allows for more appropriate extraction of maintenance information.

[0077] In the management device 20 according to this embodiment, the maintenance information extraction unit 24, the evaluation unit 25, and the fee calculation unit 26 extract maintenance information, extract evaluations, and calculate maintenance contract fees based on a predetermined learning model. This configuration allows for more appropriate calculation of maintenance contract fees.

[0078] In the management device 20 according to this embodiment, the evaluation unit 25 derives scoring information based on the derived maintenance information and the operating record of the printing device 10, and requests a user evaluation based on the scoring information. With this configuration, the user can be evaluated in more detail by using the scoring information.

[0079] The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and modifications can be made as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, in the embodiments described above, the case in which the management device 20 is a separate device from the printing device 10 was given as an example, but the invention is not limited to this configuration. The management device 20 may be provided inside the printing device 10. In this case, each function of the processing unit 22 of the management device 20 can be provided in the processing unit 15 of the printing device 10.

[0080] For example, the printing device 10 may be configured to include a maintenance information derivation unit 24 that derives maintenance information regarding the risk of maintenance work occurring for the printing device 10 based on at least one of the following pieces of information: operational performance information regarding the operating performance of the printing device 10, maintenance history information regarding the history of maintenance work performed for the printing device 10, ink information regarding the ink used in the printing device 10, media information regarding the media to be printed on by the printing device 10, and installation environment information regarding the installation environment of the printing device 10; and an evaluation unit 25 that derives a user evaluation of the printing device 10 based on the maintenance information and at least one of the amount of consumables used or purchased by the printing device 10. In this case, the configuration corresponding to the fee calculation unit 26 does not need to be provided in the printing device 10. [Explanation of symbols]

[0081] M...Media, NW...Network, 10...Printing device, 11...Main unit, 12...Head, 13...Control unit, 14,21...Communication unit, 15,22...Processing unit, 16,23...Storage unit, 20...Management device, 24...Maintenance information output unit, 25...Evaluation unit, 26...Charge calculation unit, 27...Related information output unit, 31...Transport unit, 32...Head drive unit, 33...Ink supply unit, 34...Cleaning unit, 35...Operation panel, 36...Ultraviolet irradiation unit, 100...Management system

Claims

1. A maintenance information extraction unit derives maintenance information regarding the risk of maintenance work occurring for the printing device based on at least one piece of information: operational performance information regarding the operating performance of the printing device, implementation history information regarding the history of maintenance work performed for the printing device, ink information regarding the ink used in the printing device, media information regarding the media to be printed on by the printing device, and installation environment information regarding the installation environment of the printing device. An evaluation unit that derives a user evaluation of the printing device based on the maintenance information and at least one of the amount of consumables used or purchased by the printing device, A fee calculation unit calculates a maintenance contract fee for maintenance work on the printing device based on the derived user evaluation. A control device for a printing device equipped with the following features.

2. The aforementioned operational performance information includes at least one of the following: power-on time, number of power-on cycles, operating time, number of cycles, amount of ink used, print area on the media printed by the printing device, print success rate, and error history. A control device for a printing apparatus according to claim 1.

3. The aforementioned implementation history information includes at least one of the following: the cleaning history of the printing device, the station maintenance history of the printing device, the head maintenance history of the printing device, the wiper replacement history of the printing device, the number of periodic inspections performed on the printing device, the number of malfunction repairs and maintenance work other than periodic inspections performed on the printing device, the number of times maintenance parts of the printing device have been replaced, the replacement interval of maintenance parts of the printing device, the usage record of maintenance parts of the printing device, consumables used in the printing device, and maintenance replacement parts used in the printing device. A control device for a printing apparatus according to claim 1.

4. The ink information includes at least one of the following: information regarding the type of ink, information regarding whether the ink is genuine or not, and information regarding the components of the ink. A control device for a printing apparatus according to claim 1.

5. The media information includes at least one of the following: information regarding the type of media, information regarding whether the media is genuine or not, and information regarding whether the media is a recommended product or not. A control device for a printing apparatus according to claim 1.

6. The installation environment information includes at least one of the following: temperature, humidity, altitude, cleanliness of the installation location where the printing device is installed; the inclination angle of the floor on which the printing device is installed; the amount of ultraviolet radiation at the installation location; information regarding illuminance and brightness at the installation location; information regarding the material of the floor; and information regarding the structure of the building at the installation location. A control device for a printing apparatus according to claim 1.

7. The evaluation unit further derives the user's evaluation based on the number of printing devices owned. A control device for a printing apparatus according to claim 1.

8. The evaluation unit further derives the user's evaluation based on at least one of the following: whether or not the maintenance history of the printing device is recorded, the number of successful prints and the number of errors by the printing device, the amount of genuine media and genuine ink used relative to the total printing time of the printing device, whether or not maintenance of the printing device is performed at a predetermined frequency, the frequency of replacement of maintenance parts relative to the total printing time of the printing device and the cost incurred for replacing the maintenance parts, and the usage status of the replaced maintenance parts. A control device for a printing apparatus according to claim 1.

9. The fee calculation unit calculates a graded value for the user's excellence based on the calculated evaluation, and calculates the maintenance contract fee based on the calculated excellence. A control device for a printing apparatus according to claim 1.

10. The aforementioned fee calculation unit further calculates the maintenance contract fee based on the installation location of the printing device. A control device for a printing apparatus according to claim 1.

11. The aforementioned fee calculation unit calculates the necessary labor charges each time maintenance of the printing device is performed, based on the derived maintenance information. A control device for a printing apparatus according to claim 1.

12. The system further includes a related information deriving unit that derives related information relating to the printing device based on at least one of the derived maintenance information and the user's evaluation. A control device for a printing apparatus according to claim 1.

13. The aforementioned related information includes at least one of the following: information on areas for improvement in the use of the printing apparatus; information on the health of the printing apparatus; and information on the timing of maintenance for the printing apparatus. A control device for a printing apparatus according to claim 12.

14. The maintenance information extraction unit further extracts the maintenance information based on the number of maintenance operations performed on the printing device within a predetermined period, the cost of the maintenance operations on the printing device, and at least one of the reasons for the maintenance operations performed on the printing device. A control device for a printing apparatus according to claim 1.

15. The maintenance information extraction unit further extracts the maintenance information based on the type of maintenance work and the interval at which the maintenance work occurs. A control device for a printing apparatus according to claim 1.

16. The maintenance information derivation unit, the evaluation unit, and the fee calculation unit derive the maintenance information, the evaluation, and the maintenance contract fee based on a predetermined learning model. A control device for a printing apparatus according to claim 1.

17. The evaluation unit derives scoring information based on the derived maintenance information and the operating record of the printing device, and obtains the user's evaluation based on the scoring information. A control device for a printing apparatus according to claim 1.

18. A maintenance information derivation step that derives maintenance information regarding the risk of maintenance work occurring for the printing device based on at least one piece of information: operational performance information regarding the operating performance of the printing device, implementation history information regarding the history of maintenance work performed for the printing device, ink information regarding the ink used in the printing device, media information regarding the media to be printed on by the printing device, and installation environment information regarding the installation environment of the printing device. An evaluation step that derives a user evaluation of the printing device based on the maintenance information and at least one of the amount of consumables used or purchased by the printing device, A fee calculation step to calculate the maintenance contract fee for maintenance work on the printing device based on the derived user evaluation. A management program for a printing device that causes a computer to execute commands.

19. Printing device and A control device that manages the printing device and is capable of communicating with the aforementioned printing device. Equipped with, As the management device, the management device for a printing apparatus described in any one of claims 1 to 17 is used. A management system for printing equipment.

20. A maintenance information extraction unit derives maintenance information regarding the risk of maintenance work occurring for the printing device based on at least one piece of information: operational performance information regarding the operating performance of the printing device, implementation history information regarding the history of maintenance work performed for the printing device, ink information regarding the ink used in the printing device, media information regarding the media to be printed on by the printing device, and installation environment information regarding the installation environment of the printing device. An evaluation unit that derives an evaluation of the user of the printing device based on the maintenance information and at least one of the amount of consumables used or purchased by the printing device. A printing device equipped with the following features.

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