JP2000263880A - Apparatus for controlling printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent paper moneys or the like from being printed by setting a first memory means in which identification numbers related to printers are stored and a second memory means in which a list of identification numbers related to printers prohibited from printing is stored, and prohibiting an operation of the printer when the identification number is in the list. SOLUTION: An identification number specific to a printer is stored in a first memory means such as a RAM 23 and an external memory device 24 or the like of a computer (or printer). A list (black list) of identification numbers specific to printers prohibited from printing is stored in a second memory means such as a RAM 23 different from a first recording means, and the external memory device 24 or the like. The identification number specific to the printer is compared with the list of identification numbers specific to printers prohibited from printing by a CPU 21, and whether or not the number agrees with the list is judged by the CPU. When the number is judged to agree with the list, a printing function-stopping command signal is output to switch the printer to a printing function stop state.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention has a function of preventing a forgery of a specific document which should not be reproduced and printed, for example, banknotes and securities (hereinafter referred to as banknotes) by inhibiting the operation of the printer. The present invention relates to a printer control device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in order to prevent counterfeiting of bills and the like using a printer, there is a printer which specifies a printer used by adding a printer-specific symbol to printed matter (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-294682). Etc.).

[0003]

However, such a technology for preventing forgery in a conventional printer has a problem that even if the used printer is specified, further forgery cannot be prevented. . The present invention
A printer control device that has been made by focusing on such a conventional problem and that can prevent printing of a new bill or the like by prohibiting printing of a printer specified to have been used for forgery. The purpose is to provide.

[0004]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
A first storage unit storing an identification number related to the printer, a second storage unit storing a list of identification numbers related to the printers for which printing is prohibited, and an identification number stored in the first storage unit. And determining whether the identification number is in the list in the second storage means, and when the identification number is determined to be in the list, controlling the printer corresponding to the identification number to control the printer. It is provided in the device.

The identification number related to the printer includes an identification number given to an accessory such as a toner cartridge in addition to a unique identification number given to the printer body.

The first storage means is a means for storing an identification number relating to the printer, and includes a RAM in a computer, an external storage device, a ROM in the printer, a ROM of a toner cartridge, and the like, which will be described later.

The second storage means stores a list of identification numbers (hereinafter referred to as a blacklist) related to the printer identified as having been used for forgery, for prohibiting printing on the printer thereafter. ) Stored in the computer, which is described later.
M, an external storage device or a RAM in a printer. The means for storing the identification numbers related to the printer and the means for storing the list of identification numbers related to the printers for which printing is prohibited are both on the printer side or on the computer side, or each is separately provided. It may be.

The control means compares the identification number stored in the first storage means with the black list in the second storage means. If the identification number matches the black list, a signal for prohibiting printing to the printer, that is, By issuing a print function stop command signal and stopping the operation of the printer, the printer that is found to have been used for counterfeiting becomes unusable, and further counterfeiting can be prevented. The control means can be constituted by a CPU in a computer or a CPU in a printer.

The second storage means is provided for a plurality of printers, and the control means stores an identification number stored in the first storage means corresponding to a printer to be printed to which print data is to be sent. A configuration may be adopted in which the list is compared with a list stored in the second storage unit.
The first storage means may be located on the printer side or on the computer side controlling the printer. The second storage means may be mounted on an ink supply component such as a toner cartridge or an ink cartridge which stores a blacklist indicating an identification number of a printer whose printing is prohibited.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.
This will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a connection example between a computer 11 and a printer 12. The communication ports of the computer 11 and the printer 12 are connected by connection means such as a cable 13. This connection means includes serial, parallel, SCSI, IEEE 1394, USB, and Ether.
A device corresponding to many connection modes such as net is used.

FIG. 2 shows the internal structure of the computer 11. Its internal structure includes a CPU 21 for performing arithmetic processing, a ROM 22 containing initial settings relating to the activation and interface of the computer 11, and a blacklist of identification numbers related to the printer 12 and identification numbers related to the printers that stop the printing function. R that stores both or one
An external storage device 24 storing an ID 23 related to the printer and / or a blacklist of identification numbers related to the printer 11 for stopping the printing function in addition to the image processing software and image data; An interface circuit 25 for transmitting an internal signal to an external device using a communication port 26.
The exchange of signals between these blocks is performed by the system bus 2
7, data is exchanged between the computer 11 and the printer 12, which is an external device.
8 is performed. RAM 23 in the computer 11
An SRAM and a DRAM are used as the RAM 464 in the print controller 350.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic structure in the case where the printer 12 is a color laser printer. The printer 12 performs rastering, exposure, development, transfer,
The printing operation is performed through each step of fixing.

The print data is input to the printer 12 via a path 351. The print data input to the printer 12 is developed by the printer controller 350 into raster image data.

The raster image data developed by the printer controller 350 is input to a laser unit 301, and a laser beam is emitted from the laser unit 301. The laser beam is applied to the photosensitive drum 302 by the optical polygon mirror 305. On the photosensitive drum 302,
After being uniformly charged by the charger 303, an image is formed by the irradiated laser beam (exposure). The image at this point is formed by electric charges in an invisible state.

In this embodiment, the description is made with respect to exposure using a laser beam. However, there is a method using a LED for exposure, and this may be used. It is well known to use an F-θ lens or the like.

In the development, the toner cartridge 31
A visible image is formed on the photosensitive drum 302 with toners of 1 to 314 (each process color of a yellow portion, a black portion, a cyan portion, and a magenta portion). The laser beam is fired four times for each process color. The toner of each process color remaining on the photosensitive drum 302 is removed by the photosensitive drum cleaner 304. This removal is performed four times for each process color. The ROM 315 is mounted on the toner cartridge of this embodiment.

The developed image is transferred to the transfer drum 320 or the sheets 330 and 33 wound around the transfer drum 320.
5 is transferred. Transfer is performed for each process color,
In the case of the transfer drum system, an image is directly transferred onto a sheet. The toner remaining on the transfer drum 320 is removed by the transfer drum cleaner 321.

After an image is formed on the paper 330 fed from the paper path 331 from the manual feed tray or the paper path 332 from the paper feed cassette, the paper is heated by the heater of the fixing unit 340 to melt the toner. Paper 33
Fix the image to zero. At this time, oil is supplied to the fixing device 340 by the fixing oil roll 342 so that the toner does not adhere to the fixing device 340. The sheet after fixing passes through the paper discharge path 333 from the side paper discharge tray or the paper discharge path 334 from the upper paper discharge tray to the printer 12.
The paper is ejected outside the

FIG. 4 schematically shows a printer controller. The printer controller 350 performs C
PU 462 and ROM 46 containing initial settings relating to color conversion tables, image processing tables and interfaces
5, a RAM 464 for temporarily storing image data received from the computer 11,
An interface circuit 4 for interpreting instructions of the computer 11 including a protocol receiver and a command implementer
61, an image processing ASI for processing image data suitable for the engine unit 300 based on the data in the ROM 465
C463, an engine output controller 466 for controlling the laser of the engine unit 300, the drum, and the motors of the respective units, and transmission and reception of signals between the respective blocks is performed via a bus 470.

Next, the flow of printing image data stored in the external storage device 24 or the RAM 23 of the computer 11 will be described with reference to FIGS. The image data is sent by the CPU 21 of the computer 11 to the printer 12 via the cable 13, and is temporarily stored in the RAM 464 of the printer 12. The image data is processed by the image processing ASIC 463 using the color conversion table and the image processing table in the ROM 465.
The data is converted to data conforming to the output method of 0. When the engine unit 300 is ready, the image data is sent to the engine unit by the engine output controller 466 and output.

The CPU 21 of the computer 11 or the CPU 462 of the printer 12
AM 23, external storage device 24, ROM in printer 12
465 or a printer-specific identification number stored in a first storage means such as a ROM 315 of the toner cartridges 311 to 314;
3. RAM in the external storage device 24 or the printer 12
List of unique identification numbers of printers for which printing is prohibited, stored in storage means such as 464 (black list)
To determine whether they match, and if they match, outputs a print function stop command signal and causes the printer 12 to stop the print function. Here, the former storage means is the first
It is called a storage means, and the latter storage means is called a second storage means.

Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the operation of the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, the printer identification number is stored in the ROM 465 of the printer 12 in advance, the blacklist is stored in the external storage device 24 of the computer 11, and the computer 11 determines whether or not the blacklist matches the blacklist. Things. The black list stored in the external storage device 24 is updated, for example, when the printer driver program is updated and revised, thereby preventing the recurrence of forgery.

The computer 11 sends a signal requesting the printer identification number or toner cartridge identification number when the printer is connected, when printing is started, or when the black list is updated (hereinafter, when the printer operation starts, etc.). ). When the printer operation starts, the CPU 21 of the computer 11
To the printer identification number request signal (step S
1). This signal is sent to the printer 12 through the communication port 26. Upon receiving the printer identification number request signal (step S2), the CPU 462 of the printer 12
The printer identification number stored in advance in the printer 65 is transmitted to the computer 11 (steps S3 and S4). The CPU 21 of the computer 11 compares the received printer identification number with the blacklist stored in the external storage device 24 of the computer 11 in advance. 1
2 (step S6).

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the operation of the second embodiment. In the second embodiment, the ROM 46 of the printer 12 is used.
5, a printer identification number is stored in advance, and the computer 1
The blacklist is stored in the first external storage device 24 side,
The printer 12 determines whether or not it matches the black list transmitted from the computer 11.

At the start of the printer operation or the like, when the black list is transmitted from the computer 11 to the printer 12, and the CPU 462 of the printer 12 receives the black list (step S7), the CPU 462 stores the black list and the ROM 465 of the printer 12 The printer identification numbers are compared, and if they match (step S8), the printing function of the printer 12 is stopped (step S9).

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the operation of the third embodiment. In the third embodiment, the ROM 465 of the printer 12 is used.
The printer identification number is stored in the toner cartridge 3
The black list is stored in the ROM 315 of the printers 11 to 314, and the printer 12 determines whether or not it matches the black list.

At the start of the operation of the printer or the like, the CPU 462 of the printer 12 reads the black list (step S10), compares the read black list with the printer identification number,
If they match (step S11), the printing function of the printer 12 is stopped (step S12).

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the operation of the fourth embodiment. In the fourth embodiment, the identification number is stored in the ROM 315 of the toner cartridges 311 to 314 of the printer 12, the black list is stored in the computer 11, and the computer 11 determines whether or not the black list is matched. Things.

When the printer operation starts, the CPU 21 of the computer 11 transmits an identification number request signal to the printer 12 (step S21). Printer 12
CPU 462, upon receiving the toner cartridge identification number request signal (step S22), transmits the identification numbers of the toner cartridges 311 to 314 to the computer 12 (steps S23 and S24). The CPU 21 of the computer 11 compares the received toner cartridge identification number with the black list stored in the external storage device 24 of the computer in advance, and if they match (step S25), stops the printing function for the printer 12. A command signal is transmitted (step S26).

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the operation of the fifth embodiment. In the fifth embodiment, the identification number is stored in the ROM 315 of the toner cartridges 311 and 314 of the printer 12, the black list is stored in the computer 11, and the printer 12 is combined with the black list transmitted from the computer 11. It is to judge whether or not it has been done.

When a black list is transmitted from the computer 11 to the printer 12 at the start of a printing operation or the like, and the CPU 462 of the printer 12 receives the black list (step S27), the received black list and the ROM 465 of the printer 12 are stored. The print function of the printer 12 is stopped (step S29).

The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible. For example, the second ID is a ROM 465 or a RAM 464 that stores an identification number of a printer for which printing is prohibited or an identification number of a toner cartridge.
The storage means is provided for a plurality of printers 12, and the CPU 21 of the computer 11 or the CP of the printer 12
The control means, which is U462, controls the data stored in the RAM 23 in the computer 11, the external storage device 24, or the first storage means, which is the RAM 464 in the printer 12, corresponding to the printer 12 to which print data is to be sent. A comparison with the black list in the second storage means may be made.

Although the above embodiment has been described for the purpose of preventing forgery, the printer control can be used for other purposes.

[0034]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the unique identification number of an improperly used printer is known, the unique identification of the printer for prohibiting the subsequent printing by the printer. It has storage means for storing a list of numbers, and when the printer is operating, the printer's unique identification number is compared with the above list, and when it is detected that the identification number is in the list, the operation of the printer is prohibited, Further forgery can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a connection example between a computer and a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an internal structure of a computer.

FIG. 3 is a schematic structural view of a color laser printer.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a controller unit of the printer.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a flow of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a flow of a second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a flow of a third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a flow of a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a flow of a fifth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Computer 12 Printer 21 CPU 22 ROM 23 RAM 24 External Storage Device 315 ROM 350 Printer Controller 462 CPU 464 RAM 465 ROM

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Junji Hiraishi 10 Hanazono Todocho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Prefecture Inside of Omron Co., Ltd. Inside Mullon Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Takashi Kakiuchi 10th Hanazono Todo-cho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Japan O-Mron Co., Ltd. F-term (reference)

Claims (4)

[Claims] A first storage unit storing an identification number related to a printer; a second storage unit storing a list of identification numbers related to a printer for which printing is prohibited; and a first storage unit stored in the first storage unit. Identification number is the second
Control means for determining whether or not the identification number is in the list, and when the identification number is determined to be in the list, control means for inhibiting the operation of the printer corresponding to the identification number. apparatus. 2. The printer control device according to claim 1, wherein the identification number is a unique identification number given to the printer. 3. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the identification number is an identification number given to a part attached to the printer.
The control device of the printer according to the above. 4. The printer according to claim 1, wherein said second storage means is provided for a plurality of printers, and said control means stores an identification number stored in said first storage means corresponding to a printer to be printed to which print data is to be sent. 4. The printer control device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit compares the list with a list stored in the second storage unit. 5.