JP2001148067A - Image printing apparatus and program recording medium therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] To make it possible to print a selected image from the side where an image is selected, and to minimize the waiting time until an image print can be obtained even if the number of printed images is large, It can be expected that the customer turnover rate will improve as well as the service to the service. When "speed printing" is selected as a print type, a desired plurality of images are sequentially selected as print targets from a list of candidate images that can be selected as print targets. In the process of sequentially selecting each of a plurality of desired images as print targets, the CPU 11 gives a print request to the image printing unit 18 every time an individual image is selected, and prints the selected image. Is started immediately.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image printing apparatus for printing an image selected and designated as a print target, and a program recording medium therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known an image printing and vending machine which prints image data supplied from a customer externally with high quality and sells them. For example, when an electrophotographic image taken by a digital still camera is externally supplied via a portable recording medium (memory card), this type of image printing and vending machine converts a photographic image read from the memory card into a high-quality image. It prints and sells high-quality color images, and enables high-quality image printing, such as developing a silver halide film and printing it on photographic paper. A user (customer) of the printing vending machine inserts a memory card extracted from a digital still camera or the like into the main body of the vending machine, and then designates all captured images recorded and stored in the memory card as printing targets. Or, in a state where all the images in the memory card are read and displayed in a list, while checking the images one by one on the display screen, select and specify the desired image from among them as the print target. I was After all the desired images have been selected in this way, when printing is instructed, image printing is started, and each selected image is printed one by one and discharged.

[0003]

However, in the case where a desired image is selected and designated from among them while checking the images one by one on the display screen, it is very difficult to select which image is selected except for the image that failed to be photographed. And it takes a lot of time to select all the images, and high-quality printing of images takes a long time to print per sheet. It will take a considerable amount of time. Therefore, in a printing method in which image printing is started after all desired images have been selected, if the number of prints is large, it takes a long time until all printing is completed, during which time the customer is in front of the vending machine. As a result, the turnover rate of customers at the stores that manage and manage vending machines has fallen, which has had a major impact on profits. By the way, for the customer, even if the image printed matter is not available at that time, sometimes it is only necessary to obtain it in a few hours, but even in such a case, the customer has to wait a long time in front of the vending machine. Become. Also,
If there is no room to wait for printing, the printing is postponed at a later date, and the customer is robbed by another vending machine. An object of the first invention is to enable printing of a selected image from the side where an image is selected, and to minimize the waiting time until an image print can be obtained even if the number of printed images is large, and It is expected that the customer turnover rate can be expected to improve with the service improvement. A second object of the present invention is to provide an image printed matter that can be obtained later.
By only accepting reservations as to which images should be printed, and storing the printed images separately for each reservation,
The purpose is to be able to immediately obtain the printed image of the image later, and to expect an improvement in customer turnover as well as an improvement in service to the customer.

[0004] The means of the present invention are as follows. According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image printing apparatus for printing an image selected and designated as a print target, an image display means for displaying a list of candidate images selectable as a print target, and the image display means. An image selecting means for sequentially selecting desired individual images from among the candidate images listed by the display means as a print target, and a process for sequentially selecting a plurality of desired images by the image selecting means, Print control means for immediately starting printing of the selected image every time the selected image is selected. It is to be noted that a discriminating means for discriminating whether the printing fee for the number of images selected by the image selecting device has been paid is provided, and when it is determined that the printing fee has been paid by this discriminating device, Alternatively, the printing of the selected image may be immediately executed. In the process of sequentially selecting a plurality of desired images by the image selecting means, each time an individual image is selected, an immediate print mode for immediately executing the printing of the selected image is provided. After all are selected, a mode switching unit that switches between a batch printing mode in which printing of all the selected images is collectively printed is provided, and the print control unit includes:
The image may be printed in accordance with the print mode specified by the mode switching unit. According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the process of sequentially selecting desired individual images as printing targets from among candidate images in which a list of candidate images selectable as printing targets is displayed, the individual images are selected. Every time the printing is performed, the printing of the selected image is immediately started. Therefore, the selected image can be printed immediately after the image is selected, and even if the number of prints is large, the waiting time until an image print can be obtained is reduced as much as possible. An improvement in the turnover can be expected.

[0005] The invention described in claim 4 (second invention) is:
In an image printing apparatus that prints an image selected and designated as a print target, when a request for a print reservation to postpone receiving an image-printed printed matter is received, the image printing apparatus responds to the image data selected as the print target image. Request information storage means for storing print request identification information for identifying the print request, identification information output means for outputting the print request identification information to present the print request identification information to the requester; After printing, the image printed matter is stored in the printed matter storing means based on the input print request identification information, based on the input print request identification information, and a printed matter storage unit for storing the image printed matter in association with the print request identification information. Storage location specifying means for specifying the storage location of the corresponding printed image. Note that, when a print reservation request for postponing the reception of an image-printed printed matter is received, a reservation money receiving unit that receives the reservation money, and when the image printed matter is received, the reservation fee receiving unit receives the print fee from the printing fee. A balance calculating means for calculating the balance by subtracting the received reservation money, and a control means for permitting reception of the printed image when the balance calculated by the balance calculating means is paid may be provided. In addition, when a request for reservation printing is received to postpone receiving a printed matter printed with an image, a predetermined privilege service is executed in order to give a preferential treatment for a print reservation request compared to a case where a request for normal printing is received. Service processing executing means may be provided. According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when a print reservation request for postponing the reception of a printed image printed is received, the print request is identified in accordance with the image data selected as the print target image. After storing the print request identification information, and outputting the print request identification information to present to the requester, and printing the image data for which the print request has been received,
The printed image is stored in association with the print request identification information. Then, upon receiving the image print, the storage location of the corresponding image print is specified based on the input print request identification information. Therefore, if it is only necessary to obtain an image printout later, it is only possible to accept a reservation as to which image should be printed, and the image printout can be stored separately for each reservation so that the image printout can be obtained later. Can be obtained immediately, and the customer turnover rate can be expected to improve as well as to improve service to customers.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an image printing and selling machine PT. A stationary type apparatus main body 1 has a recording medium connection unit 2, a display panel 3, an operation panel 4, and a charge input / output. In this embodiment, in addition to the return port 5 and the image printed material take-out port 6, a portable terminal connection unit 7 to which a portable information device (user terminal) owned by the customer is connected is provided. This portable terminal connection unit 7 is connected to a portable information device CR owned by a customer via a cable instead of a portable recording medium (memory card) CF mounted on the recording medium connection unit 2. Is used as an image supply medium for externally supplying image data to the image printing and vending machine PT. The memory card CF as an image supply medium is a compact flash card, PC card, smart media,
(Optical magnetic disk), FD (floppy disk), and the like, and portable information devices owned by customers include, for example, notebook computers, PDAs, electronic organizers, and mobile phones. Further, in this embodiment, in addition to printing and selling images externally supplied from an image supply medium owned by a customer, printing and selling of copyrighted images and the like, that is, paying for character images and original images prepared in advance are also required. Print sales.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an image printing and selling system having a plurality of image printing and selling machines PT and a sales management device communicatively connected to each image printing and selling machine PT. That is, in this embodiment, an image printing and selling system (wide area communication system) in which a plurality of image printing and selling machines PT deployed on a nationwide scale or in a specific area are communicatively connected to the sales management apparatus MT via the network MW. The sales management device MT is installed in the center that manages the image printing and vending machine PT.
Note that the network MW is, for example, a telephone line network or a service digital network, but may use wireless communication means.

[0008] Each of the image printing and vending machines PT, when performing image printing, includes four types of printing types determined in advance.
Image printing of the designated type is executed according to which print type is designated by the customer. That is, the four types of printing include “normal printing”,
There are "speed printing", "slow printing", and "special printing". "Normal printing" is an operation mode in which all the selected images are printed after all the images to be printed are selected, and "Speed printing" is a mode in which the selected images are selected immediately after the images are selected. This is an operation mode for starting printing.
`` Slow printing '' means that if it is only necessary to obtain the printed image later, it is only possible to accept the reservation of which image should be printed, and after printing the image for which the reservation has been received, the printed material is classified and stored. This is the operation mode to keep. "Special printing" means that if high-quality printing that exceeds the printer performance of the image printing vending machine PT is specified or printing in large format that exceeds the printable standard size is specified, This is an operation mode that allows only a reservation reception of which image should be printed in order to request the installed large printer to print the image. In other words, this "special printing" is not to print an image with the image printing and selling machine PT, but to print the image with a large printer installed at the center side.
When receiving the printed matter printed on the center side, the person in charge of operation and management manually stores the printed matter in an image printed matter stocker described later.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the image printing / vending machine PT and the sales management device MT. here,
Basically the same components as the image printing vending machine PT and the sales management device MT are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description is also used. For the sake of identification, the components of the sales management device MT are denoted by “A” in the figure, and the image printing vending machine P
The configuration of T will be described, and description of the sales management device MT will be omitted. The CPU 11 is a central processing unit that controls the overall operation of the image printing and selling machine PT according to an operating system and various application software in the storage device 2. The storage device 12 stores an operating system and various application software,
It has a recording medium 13 composed of a magnetic, optical, semiconductor memory or the like, and a drive system therefor. The recording medium 13 is a fixed medium such as a hard disk or a CD-ROM, a floppy disk,
It is a portable medium such as an AM card or a magnetic card. The programs and data in the recording medium 13 are loaded into a RAM (for example, a static RAM) 14 under the control of the CPU 11 as needed, or the data in the RAM 14 is saved in the recording medium 3. Further, the recording medium may be provided on an external device such as a server, and the CPU 11 can directly access and use the program / data in the recording medium via a transmission medium. Further, the CPU 11 can take in a part or all of the data stored in the recording medium 13 from another device via a transmission medium and newly register or additionally register the recording medium 3. That is, the transmission control unit 15 receives programs / data transmitted from other devices constituting the computer communication system via a wired transmission line such as a communication line or a cable or a wireless transmission line such as radio waves, microwaves or infrared rays. Then, it can be installed in the recording medium 13. Furthermore, the program / data may be stored and managed on the external device side such as a server, and the CPU 11 can directly access and use the program / data on the external device side via a transmission medium.

On the other hand, the CPU 11 has a transmission control unit 15, an input unit 16, a display unit 17,
An image printing unit 18, a charge control unit 19, and an image printed matter stocker 20 are connected via a bus line, and the CPU 11 controls their operations according to an input / output program. The display unit 17 is a liquid crystal display, a CRT, a plasma display device, or the like that performs full-color display. Image data (e.g., copyrighted image) is printed as a high-quality full-color image, and high-quality image printing, such as developing a silver halide film and printing on photographic paper as described above, is possible. ing. The fee control unit 19 has a normal configuration of counting the amount of printing fee input from the fee input / return port 5 and the refund amount of returned change and the like, and performs forgery determination and the like.

The image printed matter stocker 20 constitutes an automatic sorting / sorting apparatus for storing printed images until the customer comes to pick up the image. When the above-mentioned "slow printing" is designated by the customer, The image prints for which the reservation has been accepted are automatically sorted and stored in the image print stocker 20. When the “special printing” described above is designated by the customer, the person in charge of operation and management of the image printing and vending machine PT receives the printed matter printed on the center side and manually sends it to the image printed matter stocker 20. I keep it. FIG. 4 conceptually shows the configuration of the image printed matter stocker 20. The image printed matter stocker 20 has a plurality of classification pockets 20a. The stocker body is slidable within the movable range shown in FIG. Is discharged from the slot 20b into the sorting pocket 20a. Then, when receiving the customer, the classification pocket 20
By opening the bottom of “a”, the image printed matter in the pocket is discharged from the outlet 20 c to the image printed matter outlet 6.

FIG. 5A is a diagram showing the configuration of a reservation management table BT provided on each image printing and vending machine PT side, and includes “reservation number”, “print contents”, “image data”,
It is configured to store a plurality of reservation records each consisting of items of “classification pocket number”. The “reservation number” is unique identification information automatically generated on the sales management apparatus MT side when a reservation is received, and the image printing and vending machine PT issues a reservation reception receipt printed with the “reservation number”. To offer to customers. The “print content” is a print size, image quality, and the like designated by the customer. The "classification pocket number" is a pocket number assigned to each classification pocket 20a constituting the image print material stocker 20, and indicates in which pocket the image print material reserved for printing is stored. FIG. 5B is a diagram showing the configuration of a sales image management table ST provided on the sales management apparatus MT side. The “image number”, “ The unit price and the number of times of use are stored. The “image number” is identification information for designating a sales image in the image file group TG, the “unit price” is a printing fee for each sales image, and
The “number of times of use” is a total of the number of times of printing using the sales image in each vending machine.

Next, the operation of the image printing and selling machine PT in this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. Here, a program for realizing each function described in these flowcharts is:
Recording medium 13 in the form of readable program code
The CPU 11 sequentially executes the operation according to the program code. Further, the CPU 11 can also sequentially execute an operation according to the above-described program code transmitted via the transmission medium. That is, an operation unique to this embodiment can be executed using a program / data externally supplied via a transmission medium in addition to a recording medium.

FIGS. 6 to 8 are flowcharts showing the operation of the image printing and selling machine PT during normal operation, that is, the operation during business hours for receiving image printing. In addition, in order to simplify the following description of the operation, the image printing and vending machine PT is referred to as a “terminal” and the sales management apparatus MT is referred to as a “center” as necessary.
Abbreviated. First, while the initial menu screen is displayed (step A1), it is monitored which menu item has been selected (steps A2 and A3). If "image reception / printing" is selected from "image reception / printing" and "reservation reception" as menu items, the process proceeds to step A4, and the next lower menu screen is displayed. That is, a menu item “customer carry-in data” indicating that an image externally supplied from an image supply medium owned by the customer is to be printed, and a sales image prepared in advance such as a copyrighted image is to be printed. The menu item "sales data" is displayed. Here, when "customer carry-in data" is selected (steps A5 and A6), a message for prompting connection of the image supply medium is displayed, and when the image supply medium is attached to the vending machine main body, the image supply Read each image data in the medium (steps A7, A
8). When "sales data" is selected (steps A5 and A6), a request for transmitting a sales image is made to the center, and in response to this, the sales image transmitted from the center is obtained (step A9).

Next, a print type menu screen is displayed (step A10), and one of the above-described four types of print types, "normal print", "speed print", "slow print", and "special print" is selected. When a desired type is selected (step A11), it is checked whether the selected type is "speed printing" (step A12). If it is not “speed printing”, the process proceeds to the processing flow of FIG. First, the image data acquired in step A8 or A9 is displayed as a selection candidate in a menu (step A1).
5) The customer selects one or more desired images one by one (steps A16 and A17). When all the desired images have been selected, it is checked whether the selected print type is "normal print" (step A18). If "normal print", the selected print type corresponds to the number of print images and the print size. Calculate and display the printing fee (step A1)
9, A20), and waits until the payment for the fee is received (step A21). Then, when the fee is paid, a print request is issued to the image printing unit 18 to instruct printing of all the selected images (step A22). Thereafter, the screen returns to the initial menu screen (step A1 in FIG. 6).

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image printing unit 18 which is started each time a print request is received. First, one print request job is acquired from the head of the print request queue (step B1), a printing operation is started (step B2), and image printing corresponding to the print request job is performed. If a plurality of images are designated as print targets, all the images are printed (steps B3 and B4). When the image printing corresponding to the print request job is completed, it is checked whether or not the next print request job exists in the queue (step B5).
After that, the above operation is repeated until there are no jobs waiting to be printed. Here, when the above-described “normal printing” is performed, the image print is discharged to the image print outlet 6.

On the other hand, if the selected printing type is "speed printing", the process proceeds to step A13 in FIG. 6 and waits until a fee is paid in advance. As described above, “speed printing” starts printing of a selected image immediately after an image is selected. When one image is selected, printing is started immediately. You pay in advance before you pay. In this case, even if the customer does not know the number of image
You only have to enter an approximate amount, such as 500 yen or 1000 yen, as the advance payment. Here, when the fee is paid in advance, the prepaid fee is stored as a fee balance (step A14), and the process proceeds to step A41 in FIG. First, the image acquired in step A7 or A9 in FIG. 6 is displayed in a menu. When a desired image is selected from the menu screen (step A42), the following processing (steps A41 to A48) is performed until the end of the selection is instructed (step A43).

That is, the fee for the image printing selected this time is obtained, this printing fee is subtracted from the fee balance, and it is checked whether the fee balance is sufficient (step A44). If it is insufficient, a message to that effect is displayed. (Step A46), and waits for the additional payment of the fee (Step A4).
7). Then, when the charge is added, the additional charge is added to the charge balance and updated (step A48).
The process returns to the charge shortage determination step A44 described above. As a result,
If it is determined that the charge balance is sufficient, a request to print the selected image is made to the image printing unit 18 (step A).
45). Next, the process returns to the above-described image menu display step A41, and thereafter, the above operation is repeated until the selection of all desired images is completed. As a result, a request to print the selected image to the image printing unit 18 is made every time one image is selected. When the selection of all the images is completed, the balance is returned (step A49), and the screen returns to the initial menu screen (step A1 in FIG. 6).

Here, at the time of "speed printing", the image printing section 18 executes a printing operation according to the above-described flowchart of FIG. 9 every time a printing request is received.
Therefore, when the first print request is received (step B
1) Immediately, printing of the one image is started (steps B2 and B3). If the first image printing is completed before the next image is selected (step B
4) Since there is no print request currently waiting for printing (step B5), this flow ends, and the process waits until the next print request is received. Conversely, if the time until the next image is selected is earlier than the printing time for one image, there is a print request waiting to be printed in the queue. Immediately after printing of the image is completed, the next print request job is acquired, and printing of the one image is started. That is, after printing one image,
Printing of the next one image is started without a break.

On the other hand, if the selected print type is "slow printing" (step A29 in FIG. 7), a charge corresponding to the print type is calculated and displayed (steps A30 and A3).
1). That is, in this embodiment, when "slow printing" for obtaining the image print material later is selected, there is an advantage such that the turnover rate of the customer is improved for the shop that operates and manages the vending machine. Charges are discounted for such printing. Then, when the fee corresponding to "slow printing" is paid as a deposit (step A32), a request for transmitting the reservation number is made to the center, and the transmitted reservation number is obtained in response to the request (step A32). A33), print contents and image data are written in the reservation management table BT in association with the reservation number (step A34), and a reservation acceptance receipt printed with the reservation number is issued (step A40). afterwards,
The screen returns to the initial menu screen (step A1 in FIG. 6). As described above, when "slow printing" is designated as the print type, image printing is not performed at that time, and only reservation acceptance of which image should be printed is performed.

As described above, since "slow printing" allows only reservation reception, the image printing is performed when the image printing and selling machine PT is not operating, that is, during non-business hours such as at night. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image printing and vending machine PT when it is not operating, and is started when its execution is arbitrarily specified or when a preset schedule time comes. First, it is checked with reference to the reservation management table BT whether a reservation has been accepted (step C1). Here, if no reservation record is registered, this flow ends. If there is a reservation record, the print contents and image data are read from the record corresponding to the reservation number (step C).
2) Image printing is performed as specified in advance (step C3). When printing of one image is completed, it is checked whether there is another image with the same reservation number (step C4). If there is, the process returns to step C2, and image printing of the same reservation is sequentially repeated for each sheet.

When all the image printing of the same reservation is completed, the empty pockets of the image printed matter stocker 20 are detected (step C5), the classification pocket number is obtained (step C6), and the pocket number is reserved. The information is written into the reservation management table BT in association with the number (step C7). Then, the printed matter printed this time is put into the empty pocket and stored (step C8). Then, it is checked whether or not there is a record with another reservation number in the reservation management table BT (step C9). If there is, the process returns to step C2, and image printing with another reservation number is sequentially repeated for each sheet.

When "special printing" is selected as the print type, the user also inputs and specifies the special printing request contents such as special size and image quality. When this "special printing" is selected (step A29 in FIG. 7), the fee corresponding to the selected special printing is calculated and displayed (steps A35 and A36). In this case, since the fee is higher than the normal fee, the special fee is calculated accordingly. However, when performing service printing at the normal fee (high-quality printing or print size that is higher than the printer performance), The regular fee is calculated. Then, when this special fee is paid as a deposit (step A37), a request for transmission of a reservation number is made to the center as in the case described above, and the reservation number transmitted in response to the request is obtained. (Step A38). In this case, in order to notify the center of the special print request, the print type, print content, and image data are transmitted to the center in association with the reservation number (step A39). Note that the print type indicates a request for special printing, such as a print size and image quality.
Then, after issuing a reservation acceptance receipt printed with the reservation number (step A40), the process returns to the initial menu screen (step A1 in FIG. 1). Since such “special printing” is performed on the center side, the person in charge of operation and management of the image printing and vending machine PT receives the printed matter printed on the center side and manually receives the printed matter on the image printed matter stocker. 20
Keep it in.

As described above, the image printed matter stocker 20 includes:
The image prints of the print reservations received for "slow printing" and "special printing" are sorted and stored, so if the customer who made the print reservation receives it, select the "Reservation reception" item from the initial menu screen. Select (Steps A2 and A3 in FIG. 6). Then, the process proceeds to step A23 in FIG.
A message prompting you to enter your reservation number will be displayed.
The customer looks at the reservation reception receipt received at the time of reservation and inputs the reservation number described therein. Then, by referring to the reservation management table BT, it is checked whether the corresponding number exists (step A24). If there is no corresponding message, a message indicating an input error is displayed (step A28). The pocket number is extracted, and it is checked whether or not the image print is stored in the classification pocket 20a of the corresponding number based on the output result of the optical sensor or the like (step A25). As a result, if the image printed matter is stored in the corresponding pocket, the image printed matter stocker 20 is controlled, the bottom of the pocket is opened, and the image printed matter is discharged (step A27).

As described above, in this embodiment,
When “speed printing” is selected as the print type, in the process of sequentially selecting each of a plurality of desired images as a print target from a list of candidate images that can be selected as a print target, the individual image Every time is selected, the printing of the selected image is started immediately, so even if the image to be printed is carefully selected one by one, the selected image can be printed as soon as the image is selected Thus, even when the number of printed sheets is large, the waiting time until an image printed matter can be obtained is reduced. Therefore, it is possible to expect improvement in customer turnover as well as improvement in service to customers.

This "speed printing" is performed on condition that the printing fee for the selected image is paid, so that the "speed printing" is suitable for an automatic vending system based on cash advance payment. Even if the number of image selections to be selected thereafter is not known, an approximate amount of money, such as 500 yen or 1,000 yen, may be input as the advance payment. Further, there is a “speed printing” mode for executing the above-described immediate printing, and an “normal printing” operation mode for printing all selected images at once after all desired plural images are selected. Can be changed freely, so if you want to select the image more carefully, specify "Normal print", and after final confirmation of the selection, print the image. You can get started. That is, the operation mode can be selected according to the customer's preference.

On the other hand, when a print reservation request for postponing the reception of the printed image is received, that is, when "slow printing" is selected as the print type, the image selected as the image to be printed is displayed. Write a reservation number for identifying the print request in the reservation management table BT corresponding to the data, issue a reservation reception receipt printing this reservation number, and print the image data for which the print request was received during non-business hours. The image printout is stored in the classification pocket 20a of the image printout stocker 20 in association with the reservation number, and when the image printout is received, the reservation management table BT is searched based on the input reservation number. , The storage location of the relevant printed image is specified and ejected. , It is only possible to accept reservations as to which images should be printed, and by storing the image prints separately for each reservation, the image prints can be immediately obtained later, and the service to customers is improved, An improvement in customer turnover can be expected.

When a print reservation request is received, the reservation money is received, and when the image printed matter is received, the reservation money is subtracted from the print fee to calculate the balance.
Because we accept the printed image on condition that this balance is paid, even if the customer does not come to receive the printed material, there is no damage and no obstacle to realizing the reserved printing. Can be effectively prevented. In addition, when a print reservation request is received, a predetermined service process is executed in order to give priority to a print reservation request as compared with a case where a normal print request is received. By encouraging, it is possible to expect a further improvement in customer turnover and an increase in profit.

In the above-described embodiment, after accepting the reservation of "slow printing", the image printing is performed when the image printing and vending machine PT is not operating, that is, during non-business hours such as at night. Even during business hours, the printing may be performed during idle time when the customer is not using it. In other words, it is also possible to specify a time when the usage frequency is extremely low based on the past usage status, and to print out the reserved images one by one using that time. in this case,
If the use of a new customer is instructed during the reservation printing, the reservation printing is interrupted, and the image printing of the customer is immediately started when the printing of one image is completed. Good.

In one embodiment described above,
To encourage "slow printing", the "slow printing" fee was set lower than when a normal printing request was received. Service printing such as increasing the number of services may be performed. The configuration of the image print stocker 20 is as follows.
The present invention is not limited to the slide type described above, and may be a rotary type stocker. That is, a plurality of classification pockets may be formed inside the rotating body by providing a bottomed cylindrical rotating body and partitioning the inside of the rotating body radially.

The photographed image is not limited to an image photographed by a digital still camera, but may be a still image of one frame or a continuous image of several frames arbitrarily designated among moving images photographed by a digital video camera. May be decomposed and extracted one image at a time at a predetermined timing to perform high-quality printing. Further, the image externally supplied from the customer is not limited to the photographed image, and may be an image read by an image scanner. The object on which the image is printed is not limited to paper, but may be a portable information device. The image may be printed on the surface of the image.

[0032]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to print the selected image immediately after the image is selected, and to minimize the waiting time until an image print can be obtained even when the number of printed images is large. It is possible to expect a reduction in the number of customers and an improvement in customer turnover as well as improvement in service to customers. According to the second aspect, when it is sufficient that the image printout can be obtained later,
By only accepting reservations as to which images should be printed, and storing the printed images separately for each reservation,
The image print can be immediately obtained later, and the customer turnover rate can be expected to be improved while improving the service to the customer.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an image printing and vending machine PT.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an image printing and selling system having a plurality of image printing and selling machines PT and a sales management device communicatively connected to each of the image printing and selling machines PT.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image printing / vending machine PT and a sales management device MT.

FIG. 4 is a diagram conceptually showing a configuration of an image print material stocker 20.

FIG. 5A is a diagram showing a configuration of a reservation management table BT provided on each image printing and vending machine PT side, and FIG.
5 is a diagram showing a configuration of a sales image management table ST provided on the sales management device MT side.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the image printing / vending machine PT during a normal operation.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation during normal operation following FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation during normal operation following FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the image printing unit 18 that is started each time a print request is received.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an operation of the image printing / vending machine PT when it is not operating.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Recording Media Connection Portion 7 Mobile Terminal Connection Portion PT Image Printing / Vending Machine MT Sales Management Device BT Reservation Management Table ST Sales Image Management Table 11 CPU 12 Storage Device 13 Recording Medium 15 Transmission Control Unit 16 Input Unit 17 Display Unit 18 Image Printing Unit 19 Charge control unit 20 Printed stocker

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An image printing apparatus for printing an image selected and designated as a print target, an image display means for displaying a list of candidate images selectable as a print target, and a candidate image displayed in a list by the image display means. Image selecting means for sequentially selecting desired individual images from among the images to be printed, and in the process of sequentially selecting a plurality of desired images by the image selecting means, each time an individual image is selected, An image printing apparatus comprising: a print control unit for immediately starting printing of a selected image. 2. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a determining unit configured to determine whether the printing fee for the number of images selected by the image selecting unit has been paid, and determining that the printing fee has been paid by the determining unit. The control means is configured to immediately execute printing of the selected image.
The image printing device according to 1. 3. In the process of sequentially selecting a plurality of desired images by the image selecting means, each time an individual image is selected, an immediate print mode for immediately executing printing of the selected image is provided. After a plurality of images are all selected, a mode switching unit is provided for switching between a batch printing mode in which printing of all the selected images is collectively printed,
2. The image printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said print control means executes image printing in accordance with a print mode designated to be switched by said mode switching means. 4. An image printing apparatus which prints an image selected and designated as a print target, when receiving a print reservation request to postpone receiving the printed matter printed with the image,
According to the image data selected as the print target image,
Request information storage means for storing print request identification information for identifying the print request; identification information output means for outputting the print request identification information to present the print request to the requester; After that, the image print product is stored in the print product storage device based on the input print request identification information, based on the input print request identification information, and a print product storage unit that stores the image print product in association with the print request identification information. And a storage location specifying means for specifying a storage location of the corresponding image printed matter. 5. A reservation deposit accepting means for accepting a reservation deposit when receiving a print reservation request for postponing the reception of a printed matter printed with an image, and the reservation deposit based on the printing fee when receiving the image printed matter. There is provided a balance calculating means for calculating a balance by subtracting the reservation money received by the receiving means, and a control means for permitting reception of the image printed matter when the balance calculated by the balance calculating means is paid. The image printing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein: 6. When a request for reservation printing is received to postpone receiving the printed matter after image printing, a predetermined privilege is provided to give a higher priority to the request for printing reservation than when receiving a request for normal printing. 5. The image printing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a service processing execution unit for executing a service. 7. A recording medium having a computer readable program code, wherein a computer readable program code for displaying a list of candidate images selectable as a print target and a list of candidate images included in the list are displayed. And a computer-readable program code for immediately starting printing of the selected image each time an individual image is selected in the process of sequentially selecting desired individual images as print targets from . 8. A recording medium having a program code readable by a computer, the image data being selected as an image to be printed when a print reservation request for delaying the reception of a printed image is received. A computer-readable program code for storing print request identification information for identifying the print request, and a computer-readable program code for outputting the print request identification information for presentation to the client And after printing the image data requested to be printed,
A computer readable program code for storing the image print in association with the print request identification information, and when receiving the image print, specify a storage location of the corresponding image print based on the input print request identification information. And a computer-readable program code for causing the computer to execute the program.