1. An information processing apparatus processing information of an optional function related to a function used in an image forming apparatus, comprising:
a receiving device receiving use history information related to a function of the image forming apparatus used by a user;
a storage storing said received use history information;
a collecting device collecting functions having high frequency of use based on said stored use history information;
an extracting device extracting, from optional functions prepared for said image forming apparatus, an optional function related to a function having high frequency of use; and
a transmitting device transmitting information related to said function of high frequency of use and related to said extracted optional function, to be presented to the user on said image forming apparatus, to said image forming apparatus.
2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising
an optional function storage storing an optional function introduced to said image forming apparatus; wherein
said transmitting device includes a transmitting unit for transmitting information related to said extracted optional function not introduced in said image forming apparatus.
3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
said collecting device includes a collecting unit collecting functions having high frequency of use by the category distinguished based on output rate of said image forming apparatuses;
said extracting device includes an extracting unit for extracting, by the category, an optional function related to a function having high frequency of use; and
said transmitting apparatus includes a transmitting unit for transmitting information related to the function having high frequency of use and related to said extracted optional function, to an image forming apparatus belonging to the same category.
4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, implemented by a management server performing remote-maintenance of said image forming apparatus.
5. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
a transmitting device transmitting, if transmission is permitted, use history information to the information processing apparatus according to claim 1; and
a receiving apparatus receiving information related to said optional function from said information processing apparatus.
6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:
a selecting device allowing a user to select a function to be used; and
a display device for presenting, when a function having high frequency of use is selected by the user, information of an optional function related to said selected function to the user.
7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising:
an input device used by the user to input whether information of the optional function is to be displayed or not; wherein
said display device includes a presenting unit presenting, if it is input by the user to display the information of the optional function, the information of said optional function to the user.
8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:
a communication apparatus communicating with a processing apparatus realizing said optional function by software; and
a result receiving device, when execution of an optional function is requested by the user, transmitting data to said processing device, and receiving result of operation executed by the software in said processing device, from said processing device.
9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:
a communication device communicating with an application providing apparatus providing software; and
a software receiving apparatus, when execution of an optional function is requested by the user, receiving software for realizing said optional function from said application providing apparatus.
10. An image forming system, comprising the information processing system according to claim 1 and the image forming apparatus according to claim 5.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A quantity regulating module of an automatic tablet dispenser, comprising:
a module body including an inlet through which a tablet is put, a hopper-side supply part supplying the tablet put through the inlet to a hopper of a medicine packing machine, and a recollecting part returning the tablet put through the inlet to a location from which the tablet starts to be transferred;
a detecting sensor counting the number of tablets put through the inlet; and
a controller comparing the number of tablets counted by the detecting sensor to a predetermined quantity, transferring the tablets to the hopper-side supply part if the counted number of tablets is equal to the predetermined quantity, and transferring the tablets to the recollecting part if the counted number of tablets exceeds the predetermined quantity.
2. The quantity regulating module of claim 1, wherein the detecting sensor comprises at least one light-emitting part for emitting light, and at least one light-receiving part for receiving the light emitted from the at least one light-emitting part and determining whether a tablet passes therethrough.
3. The quantity regulating module of claim 1, wherein the at least one light-emitting part is positioned in correspondence to the at least one light-receiving part.
4. The quantity regulating module of claim 1, wherein the module body further comprises a stopper for dropping a tablet rapidly into the inlet or preventing another tablet fallowing the tablet from being successively dropped, when the detecting sensor senses the tablet.
5. The quantity regulating module of claim 1, wherein the module body comprises:
a rotating member disposed below the inlet, including a plurality of wings positioned in a radial direction to receive the tablet falling down from the inlet between the plurality of wings, and discharging the tablet selectively to the hopper-side supply part or to the recollecting part according to a rotating direction of the rotating member; and
a motor rotating the rotating member forward or backward to selectively open the hopper-side supply part or the recollecting part under the control of the controller.
6. The quantity regulating module of claim 5, wherein the plurality of wings are positioned at angles of 120\xb0.
7. The quantity regulating module of claim 1 or 5, wherein the module body further comprises a discharge unit for discharging the tablet transferred to the recollecting part to the outside.
8. The quantity regulating module of claim 7, wherein the discharge unit further comprises a door for discharging the tablet to the outside, and a solenoid for driving the door.
9. A quantity regulating module of an automatic tablet dispenser, comprising:
a supply unit supplying a tablet to a hopper of a medicine packing machine;
a transfer passage guiding the tablet supplied from the supply unit to be transferred to the hopper;
a first door being opened if the number of tablets supplied from the supply unit is equal to a predetermined quantity;
a first door opening or closing the transfer passage between the first door and the hopper; and
a controller causing the supply unit to supply another tablet when the second door is opened, and maintaining the first door closed if a tablet exists between the first door and the second door.
10. The quantity regulating module of claim 9, further comprising a recollecting passage returning tablets supplied from the supply unit to the supply unit if the number of the tablets exceeds the predetermined quantity.
11. The quantity regulating module of claim 9, wherein the second door includes a plurality of door plates opening or closing the transfer passage and positioned in a radial direction, and is rotated by a motor.
12. The quantity regulating module of claim 9, wherein a plurality of concave curved parts are formed respectively at intersections of the plurality of door plates, to prevent a tablet from being caught by the plurality of door plates.
13. A tablet dispensing method of an automatic tablet dispenser, comprising:
supplying a tablet from a supply unit to a transfer passage;
determining whether the number of tablets supplied from the supply unit is equal to a predetermined quantity;
determining whether a tablet exists between a first door and a second door positioned on the transfer passage;
closing the first door to keep a tablet transferred to the transfer passage from the supply unit if a tablet exists between the first door and the second door, and opening the first door and transferring to the second door the tablet transferred to the transfer passage from the supply unit if no tablet exists between the first door and the second door; and
opening the second door in response to a signal of the controller and discharging the tablet to the hopper.
14. The tablet dispensing method of claim 13, further comprising supplying another tablet from the supply unit to the first door, after the first door is opened and the tablet is discharged to the second door.
15. The tablet dispensing method of claim 13, further comprising recollecting tablets if the number of the tablets exceeds the predetermined quantity.