Patent ID: 6477443
Filing Date: 2002-11-05
Classification: B41J,G03G,G06Q

Abstract:
A method of enabling a self-service printing machine having an external customer interface device to bill for printing jobs having mixed size sheets, comprising the steps of:programming different billing rates in the printing machine for different size sheets through use of a user interface; receiving a signal from the external customer interface device indicating customer credits therein, wherein said external customer interface device is independent of said user interface; controlling the printing of sheets fed to the printing machine, comprising: feeding a sheet to the printing machine; determining the size of said sheet; sending a signal to the external customer interface device corresponding to the billing rate amount programmed for said sheet size; deducting said billing rate amount from said customer credits contained within the external customer interface device; determining whether customer credits remain in the external customer interface device after deducting said billing rate amount from said customer credits; disabling the printing machine in response to the external customer interface device indicating that no customer credits remain within the external customer interface device; and sending an enable signal from the external customer interface device to the printing machine if credits remain within the external customer interface device; and repeating said controlling step until printing is terminated.