JPH04183175A - Image copier - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make it possible to secure confidential information in an image copier by installing a user identification management means for storing image data in a memory unit and, at the same time, deleting stored image data in the case one other than those authorized uses the stored image data. CONSTITUTION:When a user's ID card is inserted in either an ID card reading section 102, a control circuit section 204 compares user management codes written in the control circuit section 4 with a user management codes newly inserted in the ID card reading section 102, and if their user management codes are different from each other, deletes image data stored in an image memory section 205. If their codes coincide with each other, a recopy display lamp on an operating section lights up to indicate that image data stored in the image memory section 205 can be outputted again as copy image. With this, securing confidential image of original is made possible.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an image copying apparatus, and particularly to an image copying apparatus, which digitally reads an original image, once stores the image data in a storage device, reads out the image data, and reproduces color blinking, etc. The present invention relates to an image copying apparatus that outputs a copied image using the following methods.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, a digital color copying machine as this type of image copying device is composed of a scanner section and a printer section.

In the scanner section, the original image is red (referred to below as R),
Color separation is performed through optical filters of three colors, green (hereinafter referred to as G) and blue (hereinafter referred to as B), and then read pixel by pixel by an image sensor such as a CCD line sensor. The analog image signals output from these image sensors are analog/digital (
A/D) converter converts the image signal into a digital image signal. In the printer section, for example, an image carrier such as a photosensitive (body) drum is used for magenta C or lower Ml, cyan (hereinafter referred to as C),
Yellow (hereinafter referred to as Y) and black (hereinafter referred to as BX) are arranged in parallel at a predetermined interval in this order.

When copying a color original image, mark M and C on the recording paper.
, Y, BK to sequentially store color images in the order of M,
The timing at which images of each color of C, Y, and B are recorded is different. However, since each image signal read by the scanner section is outputted at the same timing for RlG and B, it is necessary to match the timing between the scanner section and the printer section.

For this reason, in the scanner section, a method is used in which the digital image signal is temporarily stored in a storage device as image data, and then output from the storage device sequentially for each color in accordance with a predetermined timing of the printer section.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the conventional example as described above, when outputting image data stored in a storage device, there is no means for determining which worker has stored the image data. Therefore, anyone can easily read out the stored image data, and there is a problem in that it is impossible to maintain the confidentiality of the original image.

In addition, in these conventional examples, the image data of the original remains stored in the storage device after the prescribed copying operation is completed, so there is also a difficulty in retaining the original hand height m = .

The present invention has been made in view of the problems of the prior art as described above, and an object of the present invention is to provide document security function means for this type of image copying apparatus.

[Means for Solving the Problems 1] Therefore, in the present invention, in an image copying apparatus of this type that outputs a copy image after once storing image data of an original image in a storage device, the image data is stored in the storage device. A user (operator) identification management means for storing the image data is provided, and the stored image data is erased when a person other than a specific user attempts to use it, or a predetermined number of reproduced images are stored. The purpose of maintaining confidentiality is achieved by configuring the stored image data to be deleted after outputting it.

C Effect: With the configuration of the present invention as described above, when a person other than the user who has stored image data in the storage device attempts to use this image copying device, or after copying a predetermined number of sheets, the storage device is Since the stored image data is erased, the functionality of the original image data that has already been stored can be retained.

[Example] (composition) The present invention will be explained below based on examples.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an embodiment of a color copying machine according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of its control configuration, FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the operation of the color copying machine, and FIG. 4 is a diagram of the operation section. An enlarged front view is shown.

This system includes a color league section 101 for reading color originals and performing image processing;
rD (identification) card reading unit 102 as an identification management means for confirming the operator's identity attached to a part of 01
As shown in FIG. 3, it is equipped with an operation unit 104 equipped with a copy start key 41, a numeric keypad 42, etc., and image bearing units such as photosensitive (body) drums for each different color, and is capable of producing color images in accordance with digital image signals. It consists of a laser beam color printer 103 for reproduction.

(Copying Procedure) Next, an actual copying procedure in the color copying machine configured as described above will be explained based on the control block diagram of FIG. 2 and the flowchart of FIG. 3.

The operator first places a document on a document table (not shown) (step S1), and inserts the user's ID card into the ID card reading section 102. Here, the user management code, copy count number, etc. written in the ID card are written into the memory in the control circuit section 204 (S2).

Next, the operator sets the required number of copies using the numeric keypad 42 on the operation unit 104 (S3), and the 7-segment LED
After confirming the number of copies on the copy number display section 44, the copying operation is started using the copy start key 41 (S4).

The flow of image data will be explained below with reference to FIG.

A color original on a document table (not shown) is exposed to light using a halogen lamp (also not shown), a reflected color image is captured by a CCD line sensor 201, and an analog image signal output from the CCD line sensor 201 is sent to an analog signal processing unit 20.
2, and after amplifying the analog image signal to a predetermined level, it is converted into an 8-bit digital image signal. These R, G, and B digital image signals are subjected to shading correction for white level correction, input masking processing using 3×3 matrix calculations, and scaling processing in the main scanning direction in the digital signal processing unit 203. . The magnification in the sub-scanning direction is CC in the sub-scanning direction.
This is achieved by changing the scanning speed of D201 (
S5).

Next, each digital image signal is written into the image storage unit 205 in accordance with the image area enable signal in the main scanning direction and the image area enable signal in the sub-scanning direction output from the control circuit unit 204 (S6). The digital image signals written in the image storage unit 205 are sent to the photosensitive drums 106 to 1 of each color of M, C, Y, and BK in the printer unit 103.
Control circuit unit 204 according to the timing of writing to 09.
According to the image area read signal outputted from the image area read signal, each toner color image signal corresponding to each toner color signal Y, M, C, B is read out and input again to the digital signal processing section 203 (S7).

Here, after background processing and masking processing are performed, various image processing is performed, then γ correction and edge emphasis are performed, and the image is output to the printer unit 103 (S8).

In the printer section 103, M, C, Y.

Irradiating each of the corresponding photosensitive drums 106 to 109 with a laser beam corresponding to each toner color signal of BN,
A respective latent image is formed on each photosensitive drum IC16-109. Next, each latent image of each color is developed using toner of each color of M, C, Y, and BK by each developing means (not shown). The developed M, C, Y, and BK images are bound to the transfer belt 11O and transferred onto recording paper that moves as the transfer belt rotates, and each toner is fixed by the fixing device 111. The image is output as a copy image (S9).

On the other hand, the control circuit unit 204 outputs an image area read signal so that each toner color image signal is output from the image storage unit 205 for the number of copies set by the operator in advance, and The copying operation is ended at the stage when the copied image is output (S10).

Next, when one of the user's ID cards is inserted into the ID card reading unit 102 again, the control circuit unit 204 reads the new user management code and the user management code written in the memory in the control circuit unit 204. Compare the user management code written in the ID card inserted into the ID card reading unit 102 (521), and if the two user management codes are different, the user management code is recorded in the image storage unit 205. The existing image data is deleted (S15).

In addition, if the two management codes match, the operation unit 1
The re-copy indicator lamp 45 on the image storage unit 20
A message indicating that the image data stored in 5 can be output again as a copy image is displayed (S I 2). Furthermore, when the operator desires to re-copy (313), the re-copy is started using the print key 43 on the operation unit 104 (S1
4).

(Second Embodiment) In the first embodiment, a method was explained in which an ID card was used as a fixed management means for an operator.
As an operator management means, instead of using an ID card, a method of inputting a password using the numeric keypad 42 on the operation unit 104 can be used. That is, after setting the document on the document table, the operator inputs his/her personal identification number using the numeric keypad 42. Here, in the control circuit section 204,
The control circuit unit 20 inputs the password entered from the numeric keypad 42.
4 Write to memory. Next, the operator uses the copy start key 41 to command the start of the copying operation.

After the copying operation is completed, when one of the operators inputs the password again from the numeric keypad 42, the password written in the memory in the control circuit section 204 is compared with the newly input password, and the newly input password is inputted. If the two passwords are different, the image data stored in the image storage unit 205 is deleted.

In addition, if the two PIN numbers match, the operation unit 10
The re-copy indicator lamp 45 on the image storage unit 205
The display is configured to display that the image data stored in the image data can be output again as a copy image.

(Third Embodiment) If one ID card is to be shared by multiple operators, the ID card is inserted into the ID card reading section 102, and a one-digit PIN number, for example, is input using the four numeric keys. This also allows operators to be managed.

(Fourth Embodiment) In each of the above embodiments, an example of a user management means using an ID card PIN number has been described, but after the copying operation of a predetermined number of copies is completed, the digital image stored in the image storage unit 205 is It is also possible to ensure the confidentiality of document image data by configuring the signal to be erased.

[Effect of the Invention 1] As explained above, according to the present invention, in this type of image copying apparatus, by providing an identification management means for user confirmation that stores image data in the storage device, image data can be stored in the storage device. In the case of a user other than the user who stored the image data, the confidentiality of the original image is maintained by deleting the image data stored in the storage device. becomes possible. Further, when the same user outputs image data once stored in the storage device as a copy image, the operation of reading the original image can be omitted, so that the copying time can be shortened.

Furthermore, if necessary, the secrecy of the original image can be reliably maintained by erasing the previous memorized image data after a predetermined number of copied images have been output.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an embodiment of a color copying machine according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of its control configuration, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the copying machine. 101, which is an enlarged front section of the operation section...Color reader section 102...--ID card reading section 103...
...Printer section 104...Operation section 201, ...CCD line sensor 202...
... Analog signal processing section 203 ... Digital signal processing section 204 ... Control circuit section 205 ... Image storage section

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) It has a storage means for reading image data and storing the read image data, and once the image data is stored in the storage means, the stored image data is read and the read image data is read out. An image copying apparatus that outputs a reproduced image according to the image data stored in the storage device is provided with a management means for user identification, and when a person other than the user who has stored the image data in the storage device attempts to use the image copying apparatus, . An image copying apparatus characterized in that the image copying apparatus is configured to erase the stored image data.