Dynamic Printing Rate Coefficient Adjustment for Fair Charging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming apparatuses lack the ability to adjust charging methods according to individual user needs, particularly in fields like production and print, where diverse printing rates and paper sizes require customized counting methods to provide fair and acceptable charging settings.
Innovation Solution
The image forming apparatus includes a storage unit for printing rate coefficients and size coefficients, a control unit to calculate and apply these coefficients based on the printing rate and paper size, allowing for dynamic adjustment of counting methods to reflect the specific usage patterns of each user.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed charging method is used for all users, then the charging system is simple to operate, but it cannot provide customized charging structures for different user needs and printing patterns
Solution Approach 1:
The charging system is segmented into multiple printing rate levels (first level, second level, third level) with different coefficients. Each level corresponds to a specific printing rate range, allowing the system to adapt to different user printing patterns while maintaining manageable complexity through structured classification.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging system dynamically adjusts the counting coefficient based on the calculated printing rate. Instead of a fixed charging method, the system automatically selects appropriate coefficients from storage unit 12, enabling customized charging structures that adapt to each user's actual printing behavior without requiring manual configuration.
2Measurement precision
If charging is based on page count only, then the charging method is simple, but it does not reflect the actual consumption of recording material which varies with printing rate and image area
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the charging parameter from a simple page count to a printing rate-dependent coefficient. The control unit 10 calculates the printing rate for each page and selects the appropriate coefficient from storage unit 12, thereby precisely reflecting recording material consumption while keeping the counting method implementation straightforward through parameter-based adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The printing rate calculation serves as an intermediary between the simple page count and the complex recording material consumption measurement. By introducing this intermediate parameter and using it to select from pre-defined coefficients in storage unit 12, the system achieves accurate consumption measurement without requiring direct complex measurement of toner usage.
3Ease of operation
If discounted charges are offered for specific printed matters, then user satisfaction improves, but the charging system becomes more complex to manage
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different charging coefficients to different printing rate levels, creating local quality variations in the charging structure. Each printing rate level (first, second, third levels) receives appropriately differentiated coefficients stored in storage unit 12, allowing customized charging for different printing patterns while managing complexity through systematic local differentiation rather than individual case management.
Data Source
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AI summary
An image forming apparatus, including: an image forming unit to perform an image formation on paper; a storage unit to store a printing rate coefficient corresponding to one of printing rate levels, the printing rate levels being a plurality of levels into which a printing rate is divided, the printing rate coefficient being stored for each of the printing rate levels; a coefficient changing operation section for changing a printing rate coefficient for each of the printing rate levels; and a control unit to calculate a printing rate on each page of the paper on which the image formation is performed, to read a printing rate coefficient, corresponding to one of the printing rate levels to which the calculated printing rate belongs, from the storage unit, and to add up the read printing rate coefficient as a count coefficient.