JP3307430B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention arranges a plurality of discriminating means for detecting a special manuscript such as a bill or a securities, and executes a detecting process from a detecting device which ends detection process early or has a low detection accuracy. Accordingly, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of quickly detecting a non-special document without lowering detection accuracy and improving productivity.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the spread of PPC, it has become possible to easily make a copy. In a full-color image forming apparatus, the image level has been improved to the extent that it cannot be distinguished from an original (original). There is a concern that counterfeiting of special originals for which banknotes, securities, and the like are originally prohibited from being socially copied by the image forming apparatus as described above.

As a result, many image forming apparatuses have been proposed that have a function of automatically prohibiting copying of special documents such as banknotes and securities. For example, as a conventional technology having a special original copy prohibition function, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
There is an "image forming apparatus" disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 0481. In this technique, when forming an image, it is determined whether or not the image is a special image such as a bill or a securities, and a part of the image forming apparatus is stopped in response to the determination that the image is a special image. Is to prevent forgery. As a method for determining whether or not the image is a special image, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
There is an "image processing apparatus" disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. -210591. In this image processing apparatus, the position of a document is detected, image data of a specific portion in the document is extracted, and the similarity to a previously registered pattern is determined to determine whether the document is a special document. Determine.

[0004]

However, according to the above-mentioned prior art, it is determined whether or not the image is a special image by determining the degree of similarity with a pre-registered pattern. Attempting to do so requires processing time, which makes it impossible to perform a quick recognition process on a non-special document, resulting in a reduction in productivity. Conversely, satisfactory detection accuracy cannot be expected if we try to obtain the detection result in a short period of time, so there is a high possibility that counterfeit copies will flow out due to erroneous detection. In the forming operation, there is a problem that the operation efficiency is remarkably reduced by partially stopping the operation of the apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above, and has as its object to quickly detect a non-special document without lowering the detection accuracy, to improve productivity and to improve work efficiency. And

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention detects in real time during an image forming operation whether or not an original to be processed is a special original such as a bill or a securities. First detecting means, second detecting means for detecting whether or not the original to be processed is the special original with an accuracy higher than the detection accuracy of the first detecting means, and an open / close state of the original pressure plate And a pressure plate detecting means for detecting when the document is a special document by the first detecting means, and when the pressure plate is detected to be in a closed state, the second detecting means The process proceeds to a detection process, and when the pressure plate is detected to be in the open state, the first
Control to shift to the detection process by the detection means of
When the pressure plate is detected to be in the open state during the detection process by the second detection unit, the detection process by the second detection unit is stopped, and the process proceeds to the detection process by the first detection unit. When it is detected that the pressure plate is in the closed state, the detection process is continued, and when it is detected that the original is a special document by the detection process, the process returns to the detection process by the first detection unit and the processing loop is repeated to repeat the special process. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that performs control to continue an image forming operation when it is detected that the document is not a document.

[0007]

The image forming apparatus according to the present invention executes the detecting operation by the first detecting means for processing in real time, and when the detecting operation determines that the original is a special original, the original replacing operation by opening and closing the pressure plate is also performed. By performing the detection, the detection operation by the highly accurate second detection means is selectively executed.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration around a main CPU excluding an image processing unit (IPU) of a PPC. A lamp voltage, a P sensor emission voltage, a P sensor light reception voltage, a potential sensor, an ADS A sensor group 102 such as a sensor, a lamp light amount sensor, a drum current sensor, and a fixing thermistor; an A / D converter 103 for converting an analog information signal output from the sensor group 102 into a digital information signal; and a memory clear DIPS
W, an operation unit 104 including a human body detection sensor, remote communication enable / disable DIPSW, and the like, and an IN port 105 for inputting a signal from the operation unit 104 to the main CPU 101
And an operation unit 104a including a display panel and the like, and an OUT port 105a for inputting a control signal from the main CPU 101 to the operation unit 104a.

Further, around the main CPU 101, a communication interface 106 for executing communication with a communication control unit, a communication interface 107 for executing communication with an IPU CPU, and an exposure for executing an exposure process. An optical system control unit 108 for controlling the lamp 109; a high voltage power supply unit 110 for controlling charging means 111 such as a charging charger, a separation charger, a transfer charger, a PTC, and a developing bias; and a motor control unit 112 for controlling a main motor 113. Control unit 114 for controlling fixing heater 115
Printer control unit 1 for controlling printer 117
16, P sensor, ADS sensor, lamp light quantity sensor 1
19, a sensor sensitivity control unit 118 for controlling a sensor group 119, a timer 120, a RAM 121 (RAM
In addition, a calendar IC is provided, which has a clock (real-time clock) function), and a ROM 122 is connected.

In the above configuration, the main CPU 1
01 performs operation mode control, paper transport control, process control around the photoconductor, various settings and operations related to the prevention of counterfeiting of special documents such as banknotes and securities, and a communication control unit and a management device. The main CPU 101 executes a selection process so that the main CPU 101 can execute command transmission and reception of image data by the IPU.

FIG. 2 shows the main CPU 101 shown in FIG.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an IPU CPU, an IPU, and its peripheral configuration, which are serially connected to a CPU. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 201 denotes a CCD (solid-state imaging device) that reads image information from a document; 202, an A / D converter that converts analog image information output from the CCD into digital image information;
Reference numeral 03 denotes a color correction / color processing circuit that receives the R, G, and B signals output from the A / D converter 202 and executes color correction and color processing, and reference numeral 204 denotes an output from the color correction / color processing circuit 203. Selector 205 for inputting and selectively outputting BK, C, M, and Y signals, memory 205 for temporarily storing signals output from the selector 204, and 206 for the laser diode 2
The LD driving circuit drives the 06a based on a signal output from the memory 205.

Reference numeral 207 denotes an extraction circuit for extracting a specific pattern from the R, G, and B signals output from the A / D converter 202, and reference numeral 208 denotes a specific pattern read from the specific pattern I unit 209 (for a special document). The detection circuit I, 210 for determining whether or not the pattern) matches the specific pattern extracted by the extraction circuit 207, in other words, the A / D converter 202 determines whether or not the document is a special original such as a bill.
A memory for respectively storing R, G, and B signals output from
Reference numeral 211 denotes an extracted color processing selector combining circuit that extracts R, G, and B signals output from the memory 210, executes color processing, and selectively combines the signals. 212 denotes a signal output from the extracted color processing selector combining circuit 211. And specific pattern II unit 21
It is determined whether or not the specific pattern (pattern relating to the special original) read out from the third pattern matches, in other words,
Detection circuits II and 21 for determining whether or not the document is a special document such as a bill.
4 is a detection circuit control data buffer for storing the detection results from the detection circuits I208 and II212, 215 is a ROM, 216 is a RAM, and 217 is an I
The PU CPU 218 is a communication interface for the IPU CPU 217 to communicate with the main CPU 101.

FIG. 2 shows an example in which two special original detection circuits are provided. The extraction circuit 207 and the detection circuit I
208, a specific pattern I unit 209; an extraction color processing selector / combining circuit 211 for recognizing specific image data after arithmetic processing such as extraction, color processing, and synthesis; and a specific pattern II unit 21
A detection circuit control data buffer 214 connected to the data bus of the CPU 217 for the IPU.
Is stored in

Specific pattern I for detection circuit I208
The unit 209 (configured by an EEPROM or a nonvolatile RAM) stores image pattern data of a predetermined location such as a specific security. When image data is input to the extraction circuit 207 in real time during an image forming operation and a specific pattern is extracted, the image data and the specific pattern I are extracted.
The specific pattern stored in the unit 209 is synchronously input to the detection circuit I208. That is, this process is a short-time detection process that can detect whether a document is a special document in synchronization with the image forming operation.

A specific pattern II section 213 (configured by an EEPROM or a non-volatile RAM) for the detection circuit II212 stores image pattern data of a predetermined portion such as a specific security, and the hardware configuration is substantially the same as the specific pattern. This is the same as the I section 209. A document scan (different process condition) is executed separately from the image forming operation, data is temporarily stored in the memory 210, and extraction, color processing, synthesis, and the like are executed by the extracted color processing selector / synthesis circuit 211, and the specific pattern II is further executed. After performing an arithmetic process so as to have the same format as the recognition data of the unit 213, the data is input to the detection circuit II212. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the extracted color processing selector combining circuit 211 has an independent hardware configuration, but may be the same as the hardware configuration for image formation. When this detection circuit II212 is used, arithmetic processing and the like are executed without synchronizing with a series of image forming operations, so that the time required for detection becomes long.
The detection accuracy is improved as compared with the 08 pattern matching.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of the main CPU 101 when the image forming operation is performed. An execution command of the detection circuit I208 is transmitted to the IPU together with the execution of the image forming operation. That is, it is determined whether "1" is set in the forgery flag (S30).
1) If it is determined that “1” is not set in the forgery flag, then it is determined whether or not the detection circuit II212 is performing a detection operation (S302). As a result, if it is determined that the detection circuit II 212 is not being executed, it is next determined whether the printer is in the ready state (S30).
3) If it is determined that the printer is in the ready state, then it is determined whether or not the print start key has been turned on (S304). If it is determined that the print start key has been turned on, the process further proceeds. It is determined whether the pressure plate is open or closed (S305). If it is determined that it is in the open state, the pressure plate closing flag is set to "0" (S306). Conversely, if it is determined that the platen is in the closed state, the pressure plate close flag is set to “1”.
Is set (S307). Thereafter, the copy mode data is transmitted to the IPU (S308), an instruction to start the image forming operation is transmitted to the IPU (S309), and the detection circuit I20
Then, a signal is transmitted to the IPU to execute the detection process by S8 (S310), and the process returns.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a polling processing operation for detecting the opening and closing of the pressure plate during the execution of the image forming operation. In the present embodiment, since the detection circuit II212 requires a document scan different from the document scan during execution of the image forming operation, the document replacement operation (opening / closing operation of the platen) is always monitored by the polling process. That is, it is determined whether or not the image forming operation is being performed (S401). If it is determined that the image forming operation is being performed, it is determined whether the pressure plate is open or closed (S402). As a result, when it is determined that the pressure plate is in the open state, the pressure plate closing flag is set to “0” (S40).
3).

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of the main CPU 101 for the detection result (detection circuit I208). If the detection result (detection circuit I208) is counterfeit, execution of the detection operation of the detection circuit II212 is determined in consideration of the detection of the opening / closing of the pressure plate (whether or not the document replacement operation is possible). That is, it is determined whether or not there is transmission data from the IPU (S501). If it is determined that there is transmission data, it is determined whether or not the result data of the detection circuit I208 has been obtained (S502). If it is determined that is obtained, the result of the detection circuit I208 is stored in the memory (S503), and it is determined whether the result of the detection is forgery (S504). As a result, when it is determined that the forgery is counterfeit, it is determined whether or not the pressure plate closing flag is “1” (S505). When it is determined that the pressure plate closing flag is “1”, the execution of the detection circuit II212 is instructed. Then, a signal is transmitted to the IPU to perform the operation (S506).

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing operation (interruption of image forming operation) of the main CPU 101 with respect to a detection result (detection circuit I208). In addition to the flowchart shown in FIG. 5, regardless of the result of the detection of the opening / closing of the pressure plate (whether or not the document replacement operation is possible), the detection circuit I2
If the result of the detection in step 08 is counterfeit, the currently executing image forming operation is interrupted, that is, the paper jam (jam) is forcibly prevented to prevent counterfeiting.
That is, it is determined whether there is transmission data from the IPU (S601), and if it is determined that there is transmission data,
It is determined whether or not the result data of the detection circuit I208 is obtained (S602). If it is determined that the result data is obtained, the result of the detection circuit I208 is stored in the memory (S602).
603). Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the result of the detection is forgery (S604). If it is determined that the forgery is forgery, the image forming operation is interrupted (S605).
In this embodiment, only the currently executing image forming operation is interrupted. Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the pressure plate closing flag is “1” (S606). If it is determined that the pressure plate closing flag is “1”, a signal is transmitted to the IPU to instruct execution of the detection circuit II212. (S607). Further, when the interruption process of step 605 is executed, display guidance for indicating that may be added for operator recognition.

FIG. 7 shows the detection circuit I of the main CPU 101.
It is a flowchart which shows the selection processing operation of I212.
If there is a possibility of a document replacement operation during the execution of the detection circuit II212, the forgery detection by the detection circuit II212 is stopped and the normal jam recovery processing is executed. That is, when it is determined that the result of the detection circuit II212 is forgery, the different detection circuits I208 are also determined to be forgery, and the image forming operation is prohibited. On the other hand, when it is determined that the result of the detection circuit II 212 is not forgery,
Of the interruption process (jam) in step 605 of FIG. Basically, a jam is caused by the result of the detection circuit I208, and a new image forming operation is not accepted. During that time, the detection circuit II212, which spends time for detection but has high forgery detection accuracy, is executed to detect false detection of forgery. Prevent surely.

The details will be described below. First, the detection circuit I
It is determined whether or not I212 is being executed (S701). If it is determined that it is being executed, it is determined whether the pressure plate is open or closed (S702). As a result, when it is determined that it is in the open state, the stop of the detection circuit II212 is transmitted to the IPU (S703). On the other hand, if it is determined that the data is in the closed state, it is determined whether or not there is data to be transmitted from the IPU (S704). It is determined whether or not there is result data (S705). If it is determined that there is result data, the result of the detection circuit II212 is stored in the memory (S7).
06). Thereafter, it is determined whether the result of the detection is forgery (S
707) If it is determined that it is counterfeit, "1" is set in the counterfeit flag (S708). Conversely, if it is determined that it is not counterfeit, "0" is set in the counterfeit flag (S709). ), And execute a jam recovery process (S7).
10).

FIG. 8 shows an example of a discriminating means utilizing the magnetic information of a special document. A special document 805 such as a bill placed on a contact glass uses magnetic ink. When magnetism is emitted from the magnetism generator 801 to the magnet 805, the magnetism detector 802 detects the magnetism, and the CPU 803 determines whether or not the document is a special original based on the detection result.

FIG. 9 shows the coordinates (x ₁ , y ₁ ) of each corner of the special original 901 on the contact glass 902,
(X ₂ , y ₂ ), (x ₃ , y ₃ ), (x ₄ , y ₄ ) are detected, and the shape of the special document 901 is detected from each of the coordinates to determine whether the document is a special document. FIG.

FIG. 10 shows a background color of a special document, and a color histogram (R, G,
FIG. 4B is a conceptual explanatory diagram of a method of determining whether or not a document is a special document by comparing a histogram for comparison registered in the memory with B).

FIG. 11 shows a specific pattern (all or a part of a special document) extracted from a special document (in this embodiment, an impression portion of a bill) and compared with a pattern previously registered in a memory. FIG. 4 is a conceptual explanatory diagram of a method of determining whether or not a document is a special document based on the similarity.

FIG. 12 shows the color histograms (R, G, B) of all or a part of the extracted original document, and the color histograms for comparison registered in the memory. 7 is a conceptual explanatory diagram of a method of determining whether or not a document is a special document by comparing.

[0027]

As described above, in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the first detection for detecting in real time during the image forming operation whether or not the original to be processed is a special original such as a bill or a securities. Means, second detection means for detecting whether or not the document to be processed is the special document with an accuracy higher than the detection accuracy of the first detection means, and a pressure plate for detecting the open / close state of the document pressure plate Detecting means for detecting that the original is a special original and detecting that the pressure plate is in a closed state when the first detecting means detects that the original is a special original. When it is detected that the pressure plate is in the open state, the control for shifting to the detection process by the first detection means is performed again,
When the pressure plate is detected to be in the open state during the detection process by the detection device, the detection process by the second detection device is stopped, and the process proceeds to the detection process by the first detection device, and the pressure plate is closed. If the state is detected, the detection process is continued. If the detection process detects that the document is a special document, the process returns to the detection process by the first detection unit and repeats the processing loop. If detected, control to continue the image forming operation is performed, so that non-special documents can be quickly detected without lowering the detection accuracy, thereby improving productivity and improving work efficiency. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an IPU of a PPC of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration around a main CPU except for a main CPU;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an IPU serially connected to a main CPU of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention and a peripheral configuration thereof;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a processing operation during an image forming operation of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a polling processing operation of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a processing operation on a detection result (detection circuit I) of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing operation on a detection result (detection circuit I) of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a selection processing operation of a detection circuit of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a method of determining whether or not a document is a special document by detecting magnetic information of the special document.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a method of determining whether a document is a special document by detecting the shape of the special document.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a method of determining whether a document is a special document by comparing color histograms in a background portion of the special document.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a method of determining whether or not a special document is a special document by detecting and comparing all or a part of the image pattern of the special document.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a method of determining whether a document is a special document by comparing color histograms (hues) of all or a part of the special document.

[Explanation of symbols]

101 Main CPU 121 RA
M 201 CCD 203 Color correction / color processing circuit 204 Selector 205 Memory 206 LD drive circuit 206a Laser diode 207 Extraction circuit 208 Detection circuit I 209 Specific pattern I section 210 Memory 211 Extraction color processing selector synthesis circuit 212 Detection circuit II 213 Specific pattern II Part 214 detection circuit control buffer 215 RO
M 216 RAM 217 IP
U CPU

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Yoshio Kaneko 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Company, Ltd. (72) Inventor Hiroshi Takahashi 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Takuji Saito 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-4-207467 (JP, A) JP-A-1 -300285 (JP, A) JP-A-4-21865 (JP, A) JP-A-55-115051 (JP, A) JP-A-4-32365 (JP, A) JP-A-2-210481 (JP, A) (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 1/40

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A first detecting means for detecting whether or not a document related to the processing is a special document such as a bill or a securities in real time during an image forming operation, and a detection accuracy by the first detecting means. A second detecting means for detecting whether or not the document to be processed is the special document with improved accuracy; and a pressure plate detecting means for detecting an open / closed state of the document pressure plate, wherein the first detection If the original is detected as a special original by the means and the pressure plate is detected as being in the closed state, the process proceeds to the detection processing by the second detection means, and if the pressure plate is detected as being in the open state. Performs control to shift to detection processing by the first detection means again. When the pressure plate is detected as being open during the detection processing by the second detection means, the detection processing by the second detection means is performed. And the first The process proceeds to detection processing by the detection means, and when the pressure plate is detected as being closed, the detection processing is continued. When the detection processing detects that the original is a special document, the detection processing is performed again by the first detection means. And a control loop for repeating a processing loop, and performing control to continue the image forming operation when it is detected that the document is not a special document.