Billing Counter with Dynamic Multiplication Rates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current image forming apparatuses with soft counters lack the ability to accurately reflect the consumption degree of consumable products in billing, leading to unfair billing due to fixed multiplication rates and limited counter classifications.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a number-of-sheet counter, integrating counter, and billing counter, along with a multiplication rate setting unit, that calculates billing based on the consumption degree of consumable products, allowing for dynamic adjustment of multiplication rates according to usage conditions, such as print mode and sheet size, to provide a fairer billing system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a soft counter is used instead of a mechanical counter, then device complexity is reduced and space is saved, but the ability to accurately reflect consumable product consumption in billing deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the multiplication rate adjustable and variable based on different conditions (print mode, sheet size, color mode). Instead of using a fixed multiplication rate, the system dynamically selects appropriate rates to accurately reflect consumable consumption under varying operating conditions, thereby resolving the contradiction between simplified counter structure and billing accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of multiplication rate from a fixed value to a variable that depends on multiple factors including print mode (color/mono), sheet size (A4/A3), and color mode (full color/mono). By adjusting this parameter according to actual consumption patterns, the system maintains billing accuracy despite using a simpler soft counter structure.
2Ease of operation
If fixed multiplication rates are used for billing, then ease of operation is improved, but fairness in billing deteriorates due to not reflecting actual consumable consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the multiplication rate parameter based on multiple conditions (print mode, sheet size, color mode) to accurately reflect consumable consumption. This allows the billing calculation to remain automated and easy to operate while simultaneously improving fairness by adapting the rate to actual resource usage patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms by monitoring actual print conditions and consumable usage patterns, then using this information to select appropriate multiplication rates. This feedback loop ensures that billing remains both automated (easy to operate) and fair (accurately reflects consumption).
3Device complexity
If counter classification is limited to basic categories, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to user demands deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the counter classification dynamic by introducing multiple dimensions (print mode, sheet size, color mode) that can be combined to create diverse billing categories. This allows the system to adapt to various user demands and billing scenarios without requiring a fundamentally complex counter structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The counter system achieves multi-functionality by using a single soft counter that can track multiple types of printing operations with different characteristics. By combining basic classification categories, the system provides versatile billing capabilities while maintaining relatively simple device structure.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided an image forming apparatus in which when printing is performed based on an electrophotographic process, counting is performed by a counter for each print operation, and billing corresponding to the kind of the print operation is performed based on the count value of the counter, and which includes, as counters, a number-of-sheet counter to count the number of sheets for each print operation, an integrating counter to integrate the counter value of the number-of-sheet counter, and a billing counter to determine billing from the counter values of the number-of-sheet counter and the integrating counter, and a multiplication rate previously stored in a data table.