JP2000327210A - Image formation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image formation device to print and put out a document having secrecy in a state of securing secrecy. SOLUTION: A copying device 1 sequentially reads copies to be set by an optical unit 4, forms toner images on sheets for documents delivered from paper feeding trays 19, 22-24 by the optical unit 4, an image forming unit 5, a developing unit 6 and a fixing unit 7 and delivers them to an automatic classification paper discharge unit 10 through a carrier part 18 when the copies are set on an ADF or a contact glass of a pressure plate 3 and printing instruction operation of a confidential document is carried out by a confidential document key of an operation display part. The automatic classification paper discharge unit 10 places a document sheet of the confidential document on a confidential document special paper discharge tray 27 on the bottom stage, and when all the document sheets of the confidential documents are placed on the confidential document special paper discharge tray 27, the copying device 1 places only one cover sheet of a cover tray 20 of a paper feeding unit 8 on the confidential document special paper discharge tray 27 by carrying and accumulating it and covers a recording surface of the confidential document sheet with the cover sheet.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus that prints out a confidential document while ensuring confidentiality.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, networks centering on electronic mail have been established by companies and organizations, and various notifications and personnel information have been transmitted and received by individual personal computers. In an environment in which such a network is constructed, a personal computer used by each person and an image forming apparatus such as a printer are shared by the network, and business reports and the like are created by the personal computer connected to the network. Is recorded and output by a printer or the like connected to the printer.

[0003] Conventional image forming apparatuses such as facsimile machines and printers simply discharge the recorded recording paper onto a paper discharge tray, and a document created by a personal computer connected to a network can be processed. They are sequentially stored on the same paper discharge tray. In such an image forming apparatus, when the image is discharged onto the paper discharge tray with the recording surface facing upward, the recorded contents are exposed to human eyes.

In a company or the like, a secret document requiring confidentiality such as personnel information or a document relating to privacy is also created on a personal computer connected to such a network, and the image forming apparatus connected to the network creates the secret document. Recorded and output.

[0005]

However, in such a conventional technique, when a document is recorded and output by an image forming apparatus connected to a network, a document requiring confidentiality is placed on the same output tray as other documents. Confidential documents that require confidentiality are exposed to the human eye. Therefore, conventionally, when a document requiring confidentiality is recorded and output,
It is necessary to immediately go to the image forming apparatus, wait for recording and output, and remove documents that require confidentiality from the output tray of the image forming apparatus. There was a problem of bad. Particularly, in the case of a facsimile machine, when transmitting a document requiring confidentiality, the receiving operator is notified before transmitting the document by telephone or the like, and the receiving operator receives the confidential document. When the recording and output are performed, it is necessary to immediately remove the recording sheet from the discharge tray. For this reason, there has been a problem that complicated work is forced and the usability is poor.

Therefore, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when printing of a confidential document is instructed by the instructing means for instructing printing of a confidential document having confidentiality in print information, the printing means prints the confidential document. By discharging the paper to a dedicated document output unit for exclusively discharging the document paper on which the secret document is printed, the operator can wait for the secret document to be printed out without waiting in front of the image forming apparatus. By preventing the document from being exposed to the public, ensuring the confidentiality of the secret document, and saving time and increasing efficiency in using the image forming apparatus,
It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of improving usability.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, at least a fold line for facilitating folding of the document sheet at the central portion in a width direction or a longitudinal direction is formed on at least a document sheet on which a secret document is printed. When the printing of the confidential document is instructed by the instructing means for instructing the printing of the confidential document whose printing information is confidential, a folding line is formed, and the printing paper on which the confidential document is printed is printed by the printing means. Is folded in two by the folding mechanism with the document inside, the document sheet on which the confidential document is printed can be quickly and accurately folded without the operator waiting for the confidential document to be printed out in front of the image forming apparatus. In order to improve the usability of the image forming apparatus, the confidentiality of the confidential document can be more appropriately prevented by preventing the confidential document from being exposed to the public, and the time and efficiency of using the image forming apparatus can be saved. And its object is to provide an image forming apparatus that can be.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, when printing of a confidential document is instructed by an instructing means for instructing printing of a confidential document having confidentiality in print information, the printing means prints the confidential document on a document sheet. By discharging the cover sheet from the cover tray to the paper output unit with the cover surface covering the print surface, the printing surface of the confidential document is covered with the cover sheet, and the operator can print and output the confidential document. Without waiting in front of
Properly preventing confidential documents from being exposed,
It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of improving the usability by securing the confidentiality of a secret document, saving time and increasing efficiency in using the image forming apparatus.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, when the printing of the confidential document is instructed by the instructing means for instructing the printing of the confidential document having the confidentiality in the print information, the plain paper from the paper feed tray or the printing means is used. A cover sheet dedicated to the cover by conveying the document paper on which the cover of the secret document has been printed to the paper discharge section with the printing surface of the document paper on which the secret document is printed covered by the printing means. Without providing
Covering the printing surface of the confidential document with a cover sheet so that the operator can more appropriately prevent the confidential document from being exposed to the public without waiting for the confidential document to be printed out in front of the image forming apparatus. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of improving the usability by securing the confidentiality of a secret document, saving time and increasing efficiency in using the image forming apparatus.

[0010] According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a cover sheet that is overlaid so as to cover a printing surface of a document sheet on which a secret document is printed and a document sheet on which the secret document is printed are overlapped and bound. To further secure the confidentiality of secret documents,
An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of handling a secret document without limiting a person who handles the secret document and further improving the usability.

[0011]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus for printing a document on a document sheet by a predetermined printing method, and instructing printing of a secret document having confidential print information. Instruction means, a discharge unit for discharging the document sheet printed by the printing unit, and a secret document dedicated discharge unit for exclusively discharging the document sheet on which the secret document is printed, When the printing of the confidential document is instructed by the instructing means, the document sheet on which the confidential document is printed by the printing means is discharged to the confidential document exclusive discharge section, thereby achieving the above object.

According to the above configuration, when the printing of the confidential document is instructed by the instructing means for instructing the printing of the confidential document whose print information is confidential, the document sheet on which the confidential document is printed is printed by the printing means. Since the document paper on which the document is printed is discharged to a dedicated document output unit for exclusive use of the secret document, the secret document is exposed to the public without waiting for the secret document to be printed out in front of the image forming apparatus. To prevent
The confidentiality of the confidential document can be ensured, and time can be saved and efficiency in using the image forming apparatus can be improved, so that usability can be improved.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus, comprising: a printing unit that prints a document on document paper by a predetermined printing method; an instruction unit that instructs printing of a confidential document having confidential print information; A paper discharge unit for discharging the document paper printed by the printing means, wherein at least the central part of the document paper for printing the confidential document is located at the center in the width direction or the longitudinal direction. A folding line for facilitating folding of the document is formed, and the paper discharge unit includes a folding mechanism that folds the document sheet in two at the folding line, and the instruction unit instructs the printing of the secret document. Then, the document sheet on which the fold line is formed and on which the confidential document is printed by the printing means is folded in two by the folding mechanism with the print surface of the confidential document inside. Ri, has achieved the above object.

According to the above arrangement, at least a fold line for facilitating the folding of the document paper at the central portion in the width direction or the longitudinal direction is formed on the document paper on which the secret document is to be printed, and the printing is performed. When the printing of the confidential document is instructed by the instructing means for instructing the printing of the confidential document whose information is confidential, a folding line is formed, and the printing paper of the confidential document is placed inside the printing surface of the confidential document by the printing means. And the folding mechanism folds it in two, so that the document sheet on which the confidential document is printed can be quickly and accurately folded, and the operator does not have to wait for the confidential document to be printed out in front of the image forming apparatus. Can be more appropriately prevented from being exposed to the public, the confidentiality of confidential documents can be ensured, and time can be saved and efficiency in using the image forming apparatus can be improved. It is possible to above.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus, comprising: a printing unit that prints a document on document paper by a predetermined printing method; an instruction unit that instructs printing of a confidential document having confidential print information; A discharge unit for discharging the document sheet printed by the printing unit; and a cover tray for storing a predetermined cover sheet. When the instruction unit instructs printing of the secret document, the printing unit The above object is attained by discharging the cover sheet from the cover tray to the discharge section in a state where the cover sheet covers the printing surface of the document sheet on which the secret document is printed.

According to the above arrangement, when the printing of the confidential document is instructed by the instructing means for instructing the printing of the confidential document whose print information is confidential, the printing means of the document sheet on which the confidential document is printed by the printing means. The cover paper is discharged from the cover tray to the paper output section with the cover paper covered, so that the printing surface of the confidential document is covered with the cover paper, and the operator can print the confidential document in front of the image forming apparatus. Without waiting, the confidential document can be more appropriately prevented from being exposed to the public, the confidentiality of the confidential document can be ensured, and time and efficiency in using the image forming apparatus can be reduced. Thus, usability can be improved.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus, comprising: printing means for printing a document on document paper by a predetermined printing method; and a paper feed tray for accommodating a plurality of the document papers and supplying the document paper to the printing means. An instruction unit for instructing printing of a confidential document having confidentiality in print information; and a discharge unit for discharging the document sheet printed by the printing unit, wherein the instruction unit prints the confidential document. Is instructed, the plain paper document sheet from the paper feed tray or the document paper printed by the printing means to indicate that it is a cover of a secret document is printed on the document paper on which the secret document is printed by the printing means. The above-described object is achieved by transporting the printed surface of the cover sheet to the discharge section in a state where the cover sheet covers the print sheet.

According to the above arrangement, when the printing of the confidential document is instructed by the instructing means for instructing the printing of the confidential document having the confidentiality in the print information, the confidential document is printed from the sheet feeding tray by plain document paper or by the printing means. The cover paper is conveyed to the paper output unit with the cover surface covering the print surface of the document paper on which the secret document is printed by the printing means. Without covering the printing surface of the confidential document with a cover sheet, the operator does not have to wait for the confidential document to be printed out in front of the image forming apparatus.
Properly preventing confidential documents from being exposed,
The confidentiality of the confidential document can be ensured, and time can be saved and efficiency in using the image forming apparatus can be improved, so that usability can be improved.

[0019] In the above case, for example, as set forth in claim 5, the cover sheet and the printed secret document are superimposed so as to cover the printing surface of the document sheet on which the secret document is printed. A binding means for overlapping and binding the document paper may be further provided.

According to the above configuration, the cover sheet and the document sheet on which the secret document is printed are overlapped and bound to cover the printing surface of the document sheet on which the secret document is printed. The confidentiality can be further ensured, the confidential document can be handled without limiting the person who handles the confidential document, and the usability can be further improved.

[0021]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments described below are preferred embodiments of the present invention, and therefore, various technically preferable limitations are added. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the following description. The embodiments are not limited to these embodiments unless otherwise specified.

FIGS. 1 to 3 show a first embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. In this embodiment, when a recording operation of a confidential document is instructed, the confidential document is output. Is discharged onto a dedicated paper discharge tray, and the recording surface of the recorded secret document paper is covered with a cover paper, which corresponds to claims 1, 3 and 4.

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a copying apparatus 1 to which an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention is applied. ADF is placed on the contact glass.
(Automatic document feeder) and an openable and closable pressure plate 3 are provided. The copying apparatus 1 includes optical units 4, an image forming unit 5, a developing unit 6, a fixing unit 7, a paper feed unit 8, and other units built in a main body housing 2. Is an additional paper feed unit 9, and an automatic sorting paper discharge unit 10
Are arranged.

An operation display unit 11 shown in FIG. 2 is provided at an upper portion of the main body casing 2.
It has various operation keys such as a numeric keypad 12, a start key 13, and a function key 14, a secret document key 15, and a liquid crystal display 16 and the like. From the operation keys of the operation display unit 11, various operations necessary for causing the copying apparatus 1 to perform a copy process (print process) are performed.
The secret document key (instruction means) 15 is used to instruct printing (recording) of the secret document. Liquid crystal display 16
Indicates the contents of various commands input from the operation keys and the copy device 1
Displays various information to be notified to the operator.

Referring again to FIG.
Reference numeral 8 denotes the optical unit 4 above the main body housing 2, the image forming unit 5 below the optical unit 4, and the image forming unit 5.
The developing unit 6 is disposed on the right side of the image forming unit 5, and the fixing unit 7 is disposed on the left side of the image forming unit 5. The developing unit 6 is disposed at a position where the function as the copying apparatus 1 can be efficiently performed.

The optical unit 4 includes a lamp (for example, a halogen lamp) for irradiating the original set on the contact glass with light, a traveling body mounted with the lamp and moved in the sub-scanning direction below the contact glass, and a reflection on the original. An optical system or the like is provided for condensing the emitted light with a lens and irradiating the photosensitive body 17 of the image forming unit 5 with the optical system, and reads image information of a document to form a latent image on the photosensitive body 17.

The image forming unit 5 includes a photosensitive member 17 as a center,
A charging unit, a transfer unit, a separator, a cleaning unit, a static eliminator, and the like are arranged. The developing unit 6 attaches toner to the photoreceptor 17 on which a latent image is formed by being charged by the charging unit and irradiated by the optical unit 4. And developed. The developed photoreceptor 17 is transferred to document paper by a transfer device, and the toner remaining on the photoreceptor 17 is removed and cleaned by a separator, a cleaning device, and a static eliminator.

The developing unit 6 applies toner to the photoreceptor 17 on which the electrostatic latent image is formed, develops the toner, and applies the toner adhered to the photoreceptor 17 to document paper by the transfer unit of the image forming unit 5. Transcribe.

The fixing unit 7 includes a fixing roller which has a built-in heater and is heated to a predetermined fixing temperature, and a pressure roller which is pressed against the fixing roller with a predetermined pressure. The toner on the document paper is fixed to the document paper by heating and pressing. The fixing unit 7 discharges the document paper on which the fixing has been completed to the automatic sorting and discharging unit 10 via the transport unit 18. The optical unit 4, the image forming unit 5, the developing unit 6, and the fixing unit 7 function as printing means as a whole.

The paper feed unit 8 includes a paper feed tray 19, a cover tray 20, a transport mechanism 21, and the like. A plurality of document sheets are stored in the paper feed tray 19, and inside the cover tray 20. , A plurality of cover sheets serving as covers of secret documents described later are stored. The paper feed unit 8 is provided for the paper feed tray 1.
9 are separated one by one and transported by the transport mechanism 21 between the photoreceptor 17 of the image forming unit 5 and the transfer device to transfer the toner image on the photoreceptor 17 to the document paper. The sheet is conveyed to the fixing unit 7, the toner image is fixed on the document paper by the fixing unit 7, and is discharged to the automatic sorting and discharging unit 10 via the conveying unit 18. Also, the paper feeding unit 8
Causes the cover sheets in the cover tray 20 to be separated one by one and sent out to the transport unit 18, and discharged from the transport unit 18 to the automatic sorting / discharging unit 10. The cover paper may be pre-recorded or engraved with images such as predetermined characters and marks (for example, characters and marks of Maru Secret) indicating that the document is a secret document such as Maru Secret. The image indicating the document may be recorded by the copying apparatus 1 itself and stored in the cover tray 20.

The additional paper feed unit 9 includes a plurality of paper feed trays 22 to 24, a transport mechanism 25, and the like. A plurality of document papers are stored in each of the paper feed trays 22 to 24. The additional paper supply unit 9 is provided with each paper supply tray 22 to 2.
4 is separated one by one and transported between the photoconductor 17 of the image forming unit 5 and the transfer device by the transport mechanism 25 and the transport mechanism 21 of the paper feed unit 8, and the toner on the photoconductor 17 is After the image is transferred to the document sheet, the image is transferred to the fixing unit 7, the toner image is fixed on the document sheet by the fixing unit 7, and the sheet is discharged to the automatic sorting and discharging unit 10 via the transfer unit 18.

As shown in FIG. 3, the automatic sorting / discharging unit 10 includes a plurality of discharge trays (discharge units) 26, a secret document discharge tray 27, a bin lift 28, and a jogger unit 2.
9, a staple section 30, a chuck section 31, etc., each of which has a paper output tray 26 and a paper output tray 27 for exclusive use of secret documents.
Are attached to the bin lift 28. The bin lift 28 individually moves the attached discharge trays 26 and the discharge tray 27 exclusively for confidential documents along the bin lifts 28, and sends them out of the transport section 18 in the main body housing 2 to the automatic sorting paper discharge unit 10. The paper 32 such as document paper or cover paper to be used is classified by the stapling unit 30 and is selectively placed on the plurality of paper output trays 26 and the paper output tray 27 exclusively for confidential documents with the recording surface facing upward. Place.

A discharge tray dedicated to the secret document (discharge section dedicated to the secret document) 27 is used exclusively for discharging and placing the secret document, and is provided at a lowermost position of another discharge tray 26. Therefore, the placed document paper is hardly exposed to human eyes. In particular, after the confidential document is discharged onto the confidential document discharge tray 27, the discharge tray 26 immediately above the confidential document discharge tray 27 is brought into a state close to the confidential document discharge tray 27. , This paper discharge tray 26
Serves as a cover of the secret document output tray 27, and the document sheet on which the secret document is printed on the secret document output tray 27 (hereinafter, referred to as a secret document sheet as necessary) becomes a public notice. Exposure is more appropriately prevented, and unless a predetermined operation for removing the secret document paper on the secret document discharge tray 27 is performed on the operation display unit 11, the discharge tray 26 immediately above is raised. By controlling not to move, it is possible to prevent the confidential document sheet on the confidential document dedicated discharge tray 27 from being carelessly taken out.

The copying apparatus 1 includes a control unit (not shown), and a memory in the control unit stores a basic processing program as the copying apparatus 1 and a processing program such as a secret document printing control processing program described later. Then, based on the program, each unit of the copying apparatus 1 is controlled to execute the basic processing as the copying apparatus 1 and to execute the secret document printing control processing.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described. When a printing instruction operation for a secret document is performed on the operation display unit 11, the copying apparatus 1 discharges the secret document sheet onto the secret document discharge tray 27 of the automatic classification sheet discharging unit 10 and the recording surface faces up. The feature lies in that the cover sheet is discharged onto the topmost secret document sheet on the secret document discharge tray 27 that is discharged in a facing state, and is placed in an overlapping manner.

That is, the copying apparatus 1 is configured such that the ADF
With the original set on the top, or with the original set on the contact glass, the operation display unit 11
When the secret document key 15 is input and a secret document print instruction operation is performed, the control unit recognizes that the secret document key 15 is input, and prints the secret document based on the secret document print control program. Perform processing.

In the printing process of the confidential document, the set documents are sequentially read by the optical unit 4 and are fed to the paper feed trays 19, 2 containing document paper suitable for the size of the document.
2 to 24, a toner image corresponding to the image of the document read by the optical unit 4 is formed on the photosensitive member 17 by the image forming unit 5, and the toner image on the photosensitive member 17 is transferred to the selected paper feed tray 19 (2) Transferring to a document sheet conveyed from 22 to 24 to form a toner image on the document sheet.

The copying apparatus 1 fixes the document paper on which the toner image has been transferred by the fixing unit 7, sends it out to the automatic sorting and discharging unit 10 via the transport unit 18, and sends the document to the automatic sorting and discharging unit 10. The discharge tray 27 is selected, and the document sheet of the confidential document is placed on the confidential document dedicated discharge tray 27.

The copying apparatus 1 performs the above-described secret document recording operation processing for all the original documents of the secret document in the same manner, and automatically sorts the document sheets of all the secret documents into the automatic sorting / ejecting tray unit 1.
When the document is placed on the output tray 27 for exclusive use of the confidential document No. 0, only one cover sheet stored in the cover tray 20 of the paper feeding unit 8 is sent out to the transport unit 18, and the automatic sorting and discharging is performed from the transport unit 18. The unit 10 is sent out. Copier 1
Controls the automatic sorting / discharging unit 10 so that the cover sheet is placed on the secret document sheet tray 27 with the recording surface facing up on the secret document dedicated discharge tray 27, Cover the recording surface of the paper with cover paper.

When the cover sheet is discharged onto the secret document output tray 27, the copying apparatus 1 moves the output tray 26 immediately above the secret document output tray 27 onto the secret document output tray 27. The secret document on the paper discharge tray 27 for exclusive use of the secret document is prevented from being carelessly pulled out or exposed to the public.

Accordingly, the copying apparatus 1 discharges a plurality of confidential documents onto the confidential document-dedicated paper discharge tray 27, so that the operator does not have to wait in front of the copying apparatus 1 for the confidential documents to be printed out. The confidential document can be prevented from being exposed to the public, the confidentiality of the confidential document can be further secured, the time can be saved and the efficiency can be improved, and the usability of the copying apparatus 1 can be improved.

Since the copying apparatus 1 discharges the cover sheet on the recording surface of the document sheet of the secret document discharged onto the discharge tray 27 exclusively for the secret document, the secret document is exposed to the public. Is more appropriately prevented, the confidentiality of the confidential document can be ensured, and the use of the copying apparatus 1 is further improved by saving time and efficiency in using the copying apparatus 1. Can be.

Further, the copying apparatus 1 moves the discharge tray 26 immediately above the secret document discharge tray 27 to a position closest to the secret document discharge tray 27, and the secret document discharge tray 27. It is possible to prevent the above secret document from being carelessly removed.

In the above embodiment, the recorded secret document is ejected onto the secret document ejection tray 27 with the recording surface facing up.
The cover sheet is ejected last so as to overlap the document sheet of the secret document ejected above. However, when the document sheet is ejected with the recording surface down onto the ejection tray 27 for exclusive use of the secret document. Causes the cover sheet to be discharged onto the secret document dedicated discharge tray 27 before the secret document document sheet is discharged, and then the secret document sheet is sequentially discharged with the recording surface down. In this manner, the secret document output tray 2
7 Even if the document paper of the confidential document is inadvertently pulled out from above, since the cover sheet is on the surface of the recording surface, it is possible to prevent the recorded content from being directly exposed to the public and to ensure confidentiality. it can.

In the above-described embodiment, the secret document ejection tray 27 is provided, and the document sheet of the secret document is ejected onto the secret document ejection tray 27.
When the cover sheet is ejected so as to hide the recording surface of the document sheet of the secret document, the contents of the secret document are exposed to the person on the copying apparatus 1 side even when the ejection tray 27 dedicated to the secret document is not provided. Can be prevented.

Further, when the secret document key 15 of the operation display unit 11 is turned on,
Although the above-described confidential document print control process is performed, the confidential document print data is transmitted together with a confidential document print command for instructing printing of the confidential document from a computer or the like connected to the network or the like. Under the control of the control unit, based on the secret document print command, the print data of the secret document is recorded and output on the document sheet, and is discharged and placed on the output tray 27 for exclusive use of the secret document. The secret document output tray 2
7, a secret document print control process of superposing a cover sheet on the recording surface of the document sheet of the secret document may be performed.

Further, in the above description, after all the document sheets of the confidential document are discharged onto the confidential document discharge tray 27, the cover sheet is transferred from the cover tray 20 via the transport unit 18 to the confidential document discharge tray. 27, but is not limited to this. The cover sheet tray 2 is synchronized with the timing at which the last document sheet of the secret document is conveyed to the conveyance section 18.
0, the cover sheet is sent to the transport unit 18, and the transport unit 18 overlaps the cover sheet with the recording surface of the document sheet of the last confidential document. You may make it discharge on the paper discharge tray 27.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the cover tray 20 dedicated to the cover sheet is provided. However, the cover document tray 20 is not provided, and the blank document sheet is removed from the sheet feed tray for storing the normal document sheet. May be conveyed to the secret document output tray 27. At this time, after appropriately printing a confidential character or mark indicating the cover,
The document may be conveyed to the secret document output tray 27.

FIGS. 4 to 6 are views showing a second embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. In this embodiment, when a recording operation of a confidential document is instructed, the confidential document is output. Is discharged after being folded, which corresponds to claim 2.

The image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment is applied to various printing apparatuses such as a copying apparatus, a printer, a facsimile apparatus, etc., and as shown in FIGS.
It has. The document sheet 41 for a secret document as shown in FIG. 6 is conveyed to the folding mechanism 40 after the secret document is printed. A folding line 42 such as a perforation is formed in the center in the width direction in advance in the width direction.

The folding mechanism 40 includes a rear paper tray 43 and a front paper tray 44, and the rear paper tray 43 and the front paper tray 44.
The document paper 41 is conveyed and placed on the upper side in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. In order to hold the leading end of the conveyed document paper 41 and prevent the document paper 41 from dropping, a paper stopper 45 projecting upward by a predetermined amount from the rear paper ejection base 43 is provided on the rear paper discharge tray 43. Are formed.

The front discharge tray 44 is disposed above the rear discharge tray 43 by a predetermined amount, and its arm 44a is attached to a movable mechanism (not shown). As shown by a double-headed arrow in FIG. 5, the front discharge tray 44 is shifted from the upper portion of the rear discharge tray 43 to the upstream side in the transport direction of the document paper 41 by the movable mechanism to which the arm unit 44 a is attached. 4) and a position overlapping the upper part of the rear paper discharge tray 43 (the position shown in FIG. 5), and are slid and moved as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the document sheet 41 of the secret document discharged while being placed on both the
Fold in half around the part.

In the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, in the normal state, the front paper tray 44 of the folding mechanism 40 is located at a position off the rear paper tray 43 as shown in FIG. When a print operation of a secret document is instructed by a key operation of an operation display unit (not shown), the secret document is printed on the document sheet 41 of the secret document on which the folding line 42 is formed, as shown in FIG. , And is discharged onto the folding mechanism 40.

The folding mechanism 40 stores the document paper 41 of the printed secret document in the rear paper output tray 43 and the front paper output tray 4.
4, the movable mechanism is driven under the control of the control unit, and as shown in FIG. 5, the front paper tray 44 is moved in a direction overlapping the rear paper tray 43, and the secret document is moved. Is folded in two around the folding line 42. At this time, since the folding line 42 is formed in advance on the document sheet 41 of the secret document, the document sheet 41 of the secret document can be quickly and reliably folded in two. When the folding of the document sheet 41 of the secret document is completed, the folding mechanism 40 changes the front paper discharge tray 44 to the rear paper discharge tray 43.
The document is moved to the initial position shown in FIG. 4 to be evacuated from above, and waits for the document sheet 41 of the next confidential document to be conveyed.

When the document sheet 41 of the next confidential document is conveyed onto the rear discharge tray 43 and the front discharge tray 44, the folding mechanism 40 discharges the front discharge tray 44 to the rear discharge tray in the same manner as described above. The operation of moving the document sheet 41 of the confidential document into two folds by moving it in the direction of the paper board 43 and returning the document paper 41 to the initial position where it is retracted from the rear paper ejection board 43 is sequentially repeated.

As described above, the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment has at least the document sheet 41 on which the secret document 41 is printed.
A fold line 42 is formed at the center in the longitudinal direction to facilitate folding of the document paper 41 at the center, and when printing of the secret document is instructed, the fold line 42 is formed and the confidential document is formed. The printed document paper 41 is folded in half by the folding mechanism 40 with the print side of the secret document facing inward.

Therefore, the document sheet 41 on which the confidential document is printed is quickly and accurately folded, and the confidential document is exposed to the public without waiting for the operator to print out the confidential document in front of the image forming apparatus. More appropriately, the confidentiality of the confidential document can be ensured, and time and efficiency in using the image forming apparatus can be reduced.
Usability can be improved.

In the above description, the case where the document sheet 41 of the secret document is folded into two folds one by one has been described. However, when the document sheet 41 of the secret document can be folded with a relatively small number of sheets, The foldable number of document sheets 41 of the confidential document are stored in the rear discharge tray 4.
After being placed on the front paper discharge tray 44 and the front paper discharge tray 44, the front paper discharge tray 44 is moved in the direction of the rear paper discharge tray 43 so that the document paper 41 of the overlapped confidential document is folded along the folding line 42. You may make it fold along. By doing so, the processing speed can be improved.

In the above description, a case has been described in which a print operation of a confidential document is instructed on the operation display unit. However, when the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment is connected to a network, the image forming apparatus is connected to the network. When the print data of the confidential document is transmitted together with the confidential document print command instructing the printing of the confidential document from a computer or the like,
Under the control of the control unit, based on the secret document print command, the secret document is printed on the document sheet 41 of the secret document based on the print data of the secret document, and a secret document print control process of folding the document into two is performed. You may do so.

In the above-described embodiment, the folding line 42 is formed in the widthwise central portion of the document paper 41 of the secret document in the longitudinal direction center, but the folding line 42 is formed in the longitudinal direction at the widthwise central portion. In this case, the folding mechanism 40 is configured to fold the document paper 41 in the folding line direction.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a third embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. In this embodiment, when an instruction to record and output a confidential document is issued, the confidential document that has been printed is output. The document sheet and the cover sheet are partially adhered with an adhesive and bound, and correspond to claim 5.

The image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment is applied to various printing apparatuses such as a copying apparatus, a printer, a facsimile apparatus, etc., and as shown in FIG. An adhesive applying mechanism 51 for applying an adhesive is attached.

That is, in front of the paper discharge tray 50 in the paper discharge direction, a paper discharge roller 52 that is driven to rotate is disposed.
The paper discharge roller 52 is driven to rotate clockwise in FIG. 7, and discharges and places the secret document paper conveyed after printing on the paper discharge tray 50.

A small amount of adhesive is applied from the adhesive applying mechanism 51 to a predetermined position of the document sheet of the secret document conveyed onto the discharge tray 50 by the discharge roller 52. The adhesive applying mechanism 51 is provided on the frame 5 to which the paper discharge rollers 52 are attached.
3, a nozzle 54 for applying an adhesive to the document paper of the secret document, a bottle 55 for storing the adhesive, and a bottle 5
5 is provided with a pump mechanism 56 for sending out the adhesive in the pump 5, a hose 57 connecting the pump mechanism 56 and the nozzle 54, and the pump mechanism 56 is driven by a control unit (not shown) to remove the adhesive in the bottle 55. The ink is discharged from the nozzle 54 via the hose 57, and the adhesive is applied to a predetermined position of the document sheet discharged onto the discharge tray 50 by the discharge roller 52.

This image forming apparatus presses a document sheet (not shown) to which an adhesive has been applied and a cover sheet placed on the discharge tray 50 next to the document sheet, and the adhesive has been applied. A pressing mechanism for bonding the document sheet and the cover sheet with an adhesive is provided. The adhesive applying mechanism 51 and the pressing mechanism function as binding means as a whole.

In the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment, the document paper is conveyed with the printing surface facing upward, and the document paper is sequentially placed on the discharge tray 50 with the printing surface facing upward. Shall be placed. Then, when an instruction to print a confidential document is given by a key operation on an operation display unit (not shown), the image forming apparatus causes the confidential document to be printed on a document sheet, and FIG.
And the document sheet of the confidential document is discharged onto the discharge tray 50 by the discharge roller 52. Then, under the control of the control unit, the image forming apparatus places at least, out of the document sheets on which the confidential documents are printed, the document sheet to be placed on the discharge tray 50 on the discharge tray 50 with the discharge roller 52. When transporting and mounting the document, the pump mechanism 56 is driven to discharge the adhesive from the nozzle 54, and the adhesive is applied to a predetermined position of the document paper of the secret document, for example, a part of the upper end of the printing surface of the document paper. Give. Thereafter, the cover sheet on which a predetermined image indicating a plain document or a secret document such as a secret document is printed is conveyed to the discharge tray 50, and the cover sheet is attached to the document to which the adhesive has been applied by the pressing mechanism (not shown). The cover sheet is partially adhered to the document sheet of the secret document by pressing the sheet.

As described above, the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment makes it possible to combine the cover sheet, which covers the printing surface of the document sheet on which the secret document is printed, with the document sheet on which the secret document is printed, They are glued together and bound.

Therefore, the confidentiality of the confidential document is further ensured, and the number of persons who handle the confidential document is not limited.
Handling of secret documents can be made possible, and usability can be further improved.

In the above description, a case has been described in which the printing operation of the secret document is instructed on the operation display unit. However, when the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment is connected to a network, the image forming apparatus is connected to the network. When print data of the confidential document is transmitted together with a confidential document print command instructing printing of the confidential document from a connected computer or the like, under the control of the control unit, based on the confidential document print command, The secret document is printed on a document sheet based on the print data, and the binding process is performed.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are diagrams showing a fourth embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. In this embodiment, when the recording and output of the secret document is instructed, the printing is completed. This is to perforate and bind the document paper of the secret document and the cover paper.
This corresponds to claim 5.

The image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment is applied to various printing apparatuses such as a copying apparatus, a printer, a facsimile apparatus, and the like. As shown in FIG. A binding mechanism 61 for perforating and binding with a cover sheet is attached.

That is, in front of the paper discharge tray 60 in the paper discharge direction, a paper discharge roller 62 that is driven to rotate is disposed.
The paper discharge roller 62 is driven to rotate clockwise in FIG. 8, and the document paper conveyed after printing is discharged to the paper discharge tray 60.
Discharge it on top.

The image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment discharges the document sheet with the print side of the document sheet facing upward.
, And the document papers are sequentially placed on the paper output tray 60 with the printing surface facing upward. Further, the image forming apparatus includes:
In the secret document print mode, the output tray 60 is placed in a state where the printing surface of the document sheet on which the secret document is printed and the cover sheet are overlapped.
It has the function of transporting to

The binding mechanism (binding means) 61 is provided with a discharge roller 6
A shaft 64 attached via a movable mechanism (not shown) to a frame 63 to which the paper ejection rollers 6 are attached;
And a pair of sprockets 65 mounted near both ends in the axial direction of the shaft 2.
4 so as to be rotatable. The sprocket 65 is formed in a thin disk shape as shown in FIG.
The distal end has a blade portion 65a that is sharp in a predetermined sharp state. When the document sheet of the secret document and the cover sheet are conveyed in an overlapping manner, the binding mechanism 61 moves the shaft 64 to the position where the tip of the blade portion 65a of the sprocket 65 contacts the discharge roller 62 by the movable mechanism. The sprocket 65 is rotated in accordance with the conveyance of the document sheet and the cover sheet conveyed by the discharge rollers 62, and forms a predetermined hole in the document sheet and the cover sheet, thereby forming the document sheet and the cover sheet. Bind.

In the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment, the document paper is conveyed with the printing surface facing upward, and the document paper is sequentially placed on the discharge tray 60 with the printing surface facing upward. Shall be placed. When an instruction to print a confidential document is given by a key operation on an operation display unit (not shown), the image forming apparatus causes the confidential document to be printed on a document sheet, and FIG.
And the secret paper is discharged onto the discharge tray 60 by the discharge roller 62. Then, under the control of the control unit, the image forming apparatus discharges the cover sheet at least according to the transport timing of the document sheet to be placed on the discharge tray 60 at least among the document sheets on which the secret documents are printed. The sheet is conveyed to the paper roller 50, and is conveyed and placed on the paper discharge tray 60 by the paper discharge roller 62 in a state where the printing surface of the secret document and the cover sheet are overlapped. At this time, the movable mechanism 51 is driven, and the blade 6 of the sprocket 65 is moved by the movable mechanism.
The shaft 64 is moved in the direction of the paper discharge roller 621 to a position where the tip of 5a comes into contact with the paper discharge roller 62, and the sprocket 65 is rotated with the conveyance of the document paper and the cover paper carried by the paper discharge roller 62, A predetermined perforation is formed in the document sheet and the cover sheet conveyed in an overlapping manner, and the document sheet and the cover sheet are bound.

As described above, the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, the cover sheet and the document sheet on which the confidential document is printed are superposed so as to cover the printing surface of the document sheet on which the confidential document is printed. The holes are overlapped to form a perforation and bound.

Therefore, the confidentiality of the confidential document is further ensured, and the number of persons who handle the confidential document is not limited.
Handling of secret documents can be made possible, and usability can be further improved.

In the above description, a case has been described in which printing of a secret document is instructed on the operation display unit. However, when the image forming apparatus of this embodiment is connected to a network, When print data of the confidential document is transmitted together with a confidential document print command instructing printing of the confidential document from a connected computer or the like, under the control of the control unit, based on the confidential document print command, The confidential document is printed on the confidential document sheet 41 based on the print data, and the binding process with the cover by the perforation is performed.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a fifth embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. In this embodiment, a document sheet on which a secret document is printed is discharged to a discharge tray dedicated to the secret document. This is applied to a printer.

In FIG. 10, a printer 70 has a general paper output tray 72 and a paper output tray 73 exclusively for confidential documents on the side of a main body housing 71.
Reference numeral 2 denotes an upper tray, and a discharge tray 73 exclusively for confidential documents is disposed at a lower stage.

When a print operation of a secret document is instructed on an operation display unit (not shown), the printer 70 records and outputs the print data of the secret document on a document sheet, and sequentially discharges the print data onto a discharge tray 73 exclusively for the secret document. , Put on.

Therefore, the confidentiality of the confidential document can be appropriately secured, and the usability of the printer 70 can be improved.

In the above description, a case has been described in which a print operation of a secret document is instructed on the operation display unit. However, when the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment is connected to a network, the image forming apparatus is connected to the network. When the print data of the confidential document is transmitted together with the confidential document print command instructing the printing of the confidential document from a computer or the like,
Under the control of the control unit, based on the secret document print command, the secret document is printed on the document paper 41 based on the print data of the secret document, and is discharged onto the secret document discharge tray 73. Control processing may be performed.

As described above, the invention made by the inventor has been specifically described based on the preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. It goes without saying that it is possible.

For example, in each of the above embodiments, the case where the image forming apparatus is applied to a copying apparatus or a printer has been described, but the present invention can be similarly applied to a facsimile apparatus. In this case, the transmission-side facsimile apparatus performs a predetermined key operation on the transmission instruction of the confidential document, and transmits from the transmission-side facsimile apparatus to the reception-side facsimile apparatus that the transmission of the confidential document is performed by the predetermined facsimile control signal. In the same manner as in the above embodiments, the receiving facsimile apparatus discharges the recording paper on which the received confidential document is recorded to a dedicated output tray, folds the recording paper in two, or converts the confidential document. A secret document print control process, such as binding a cover on the recording surface of the recording paper, is performed.

[0086]

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, when the printing of the secret document is instructed by the instructing means for instructing the printing of the confidential document whose print information is confidential, the printing means outputs the confidential document. The document sheet on which the document is printed is discharged to a secret document dedicated discharge section for exclusively discharging the document sheet on which the secret document is printed, so that the operator can print out the secret document in front of the image forming apparatus. Without waiting, the confidential document can be prevented from being exposed to the public, the confidentiality of the confidential document can be ensured, and the time and efficiency of using the image forming apparatus can be saved and used. Performance can be improved.

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, at least the central portion of the document sheet on which the secret document is printed in the width direction or the longitudinal direction can be easily folded at the central portion. A fold line is formed, and when the printing of the confidential document is instructed by the instructing means for instructing the printing of the confidential document whose print information is confidential, a folding line is formed and the document paper on which the confidential document is printed by the printing means. Is folded in two by the folding mechanism with the printing surface of the secret document inside, so that the document sheet on which the secret document is printed can be quickly and accurately folded, and the operator can print the secret document in the image forming apparatus. Without waiting in front, the confidential document can be more appropriately prevented from being exposed to the public, the confidentiality of the confidential document can be ensured, and time is saved in using the image forming apparatus. The aim of streamlining, thereby improving the usability.

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, when the printing of the confidential document is instructed by the instructing means for instructing the printing of the confidential document having the confidential print information, the printing means outputs the confidential document. Since the cover sheet is ejected from the cover tray to the output unit with the cover sheet covering the printed surface of the printed document sheet, the operator prints the secret document by covering the print surface of the secret document with the cover sheet. Without waiting in front of the image forming apparatus, the confidential document can be more appropriately prevented from being exposed to the public, the confidentiality of the confidential document can be ensured, and the use of the image forming apparatus can be prevented. It can save time and increase efficiency, and improve usability.

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, when the printing of the confidential document is instructed by the instructing means for instructing the printing of the confidential document having the confidentiality in the print information, the plain paper is fed from the paper feed tray. Since the document paper or the document paper printed by the printing means to indicate that it is the cover of the confidential document is conveyed to the paper discharge unit with the cover surface covering the printing surface of the document paper on which the confidential document is printed by the printing means, Instead of providing a cover tray exclusively for the cover, cover the printing surface of the secret document with cover paper,
Without the operator waiting in front of the image forming apparatus for the confidential document to be printed out, the confidential document can be more appropriately prevented from being exposed to the public, and the confidentiality of the confidential document can be ensured. It is possible to save time and increase efficiency in using the image forming apparatus, thereby improving usability.

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the cover sheet and the document sheet on which the secret document is printed are stacked so as to cover the printing surface of the document sheet on which the secret document is printed. Since the confidential documents are bound together, the confidentiality of the confidential documents can be further ensured, and the confidential documents can be handled without limiting the persons who handle the confidential documents, so that the usability can be further improved. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a copying apparatus to which an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of an operation display unit of the copying apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a detailed front view of the automatic sorting / discharging unit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a folding mechanism of an image forming apparatus to which a second embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the invention is applied.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the folding mechanism of FIG. 4 in a state where document paper is folded.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a document sheet folded by the folding mechanism of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an adhesive applying mechanism of an image forming apparatus to which a third embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a binding mechanism of an image forming apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of a sprocket of the binding mechanism of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a main part of a printer to which a fifth embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the invention is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Copier 2 Main body housing 3 Pressure plate 4 Optical unit 5 Image forming unit 6 Developing unit 7 Fixing unit 8 Paper feeding unit 9 Additional paper feeding unit 10 Automatic sorting and discharging unit 11 Operation display unit 15 Secret document key 17 Photoconductor 18 Transport Unit 19 paper feed tray 20 cover tray 21 transport mechanism 22 to 24 paper feed tray 25 transport mechanism 26 paper discharge tray 27 paper discharge tray for exclusive use of secret documents 28 bin lift 29 jogger unit 30 staple unit 31 chuck unit 32 paper 40 folding mechanism 41 document paper 42 Folding line 43 Rear paper discharge tray 44 Front paper discharge tray 44a Arm part 45 Paper stopper 50 Paper discharge tray 51 Adhesive applying mechanism 52 Paper discharge roller 53 Frame 54 Nozzle 55 Bottle 56 Pump mechanism 57 Hose 60 Paper discharge tray 61 Binding Mechanism 62 Discharge roller 63 Frame 64 Axis 65 Sprocket 65a Blade 70 Printer 71 Main Unit Housing 72 General Output Tray 73 Special Document Output Tray

Claims (5)

[Claims] A printing means for printing a document on document paper by a predetermined printing method; an instruction means for instructing printing of a confidential document having confidential print information; and a printing means for printing the document paper printed by the printing means. A discharge section for discharging the document, and a discharge section for exclusive use of the secret document for exclusively discharging the document sheet on which the secret document is printed, and when the printing of the secret document is instructed by the instruction means, the printing is performed. An image forming apparatus configured to discharge the document sheet on which the secret document is printed by the means to the secret document exclusive discharge unit. 2. A printing means for printing a document on document paper by a predetermined printing method, an instruction means for instructing printing of a confidential document having confidentiality in print information, and a means for printing the document paper printed by the printing means. The document sheet for printing at least the secret document has a folding line at the center in the width direction or the longitudinal direction, which facilitates folding of the document sheet at the center. The paper discharge unit is configured to divide the document sheet by the fold line by two.
When the printing of the secret document is instructed by the instructing means, the folding line is formed and the document sheet on which the secret document is printed by the printing means is provided by the folding mechanism. An image forming apparatus, wherein the print surface of the image forming apparatus is folded in two with the printing surface inside. 3. A printing means for printing a document on document paper by a predetermined printing method, an instruction means for instructing printing of a confidential document having confidentiality in print information, and a means for printing the document paper printed by the printing means. A discharge unit to be discharged; and a cover tray for storing a predetermined cover sheet. When printing of the secret document is instructed by the instructing unit, the document sheet on which the secret document is printed by the printing unit. An image forming apparatus configured to discharge the cover sheet from the cover tray to the discharge unit in a state where the cover surface covers the print surface of the image forming apparatus. 4. A printing means for printing a document on document paper by a predetermined printing method, a paper feed tray for accommodating a plurality of said document papers and supplying the printing means, and a secret document having confidential print information. Instruction means for instructing the printing of a document, and a discharge unit for discharging the document sheet printed by the printing means,
When printing of the secret document is instructed by the instructing means, the plain paper document from the paper feed tray or the document paper printed by the printing means to indicate that it is a cover of the secret document is printed by the printing means. An image forming apparatus configured to convey the document to the discharge unit in a state where the cover sheet covers a printing surface of the document sheet on which the secret document is printed. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cover sheet and the document sheet on which the secret document is printed are overlapped and bound so as to cover a printing surface of the document sheet on which the secret document is printed. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a unit.