Patent ID: 6484934
Filing Date: 2002-11-26
Classification: G03G,G07F

Abstract:
A method of enabling a self-service printing machine having an external customer interface device to bill for printing jobs which may require a printing machine to perform various types of printing operations comprising the steps of:programming different billing rates in the printing machine with the billing rates being a function of the printing operation; receiving an enable signal from the external customer interface device, indicating customer credits therein; controlling the printing of sheets fed to the printing machine, comprising: feeding a sheet to the printing machine; printing information on said sheet or leaving said sheet blank; determining if said sheet is blank, printed on one side, or printed on two sides to identify a type of printing operation; sending a signal to the external customer interface device corresponding to the billing rate amount programmed for said identified printing operation performed on said sheet; 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 if no customer credits remain within the external customer interface device; and sending an enable signal, after each said sheet is printed, 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.