JPH09197927A - Image forming device and controlling method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize forgery preventive function with high efficiency at a low cost. SOLUTION: By this color copying machine, the first forgery decision is executed by reading an original image (S302), the image forming is interrupted if there is any suspicion of the forgery (S304), a reading condition in the beginning is converted (S305), and the decision of the forgery is executed again by reading again (S307). In the meantime, if the suspicion of the forgery is present again, the image forming is suspended (S309). If the suspicion is absent, copying is pursued. By making the decision twice with different condition, the detection rate of paper money or the like is raised, and more, toner and cormorants is respectively prevented from being wasted unwittingly. Moreover, as for an alternating condition, there is such as a correcting method, a reading area, and the wavelength of irradiating light.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and its control method, and more particularly to a forgery prevention function in a digital color image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a digital color image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, the image quality is remarkably improved, which is why paper money,
Forgery of securities, etc. is also a concern, and there is a device equipped with a function to prevent forgery as a social responsibility.

Currently, this function generally has both a counterfeit tracking function and a bill recognition function. The counterfeit tracking function records a pre-registered machine-specific recognition code on all output recording materials so that they cannot be seen with the naked eye. This makes it possible to quickly identify the output device in the event that a bill, securities, or the like is output. In addition, the bill recognition function, when it is determined that the output digital image is a bill registered in advance in the device, stops the output, modifies the output image, does not perform faithful image output, etc. To do.

[0004]

In the bill recognition function, the bill recognition rate does not reach 100%,
There is a problem of misrecognition. When the device user erroneously determines that the bill is a recognition target banknote when outputting the document that is not the recognition target, the document cannot be output.
Not only that, but wasteful consumption of recording materials, consumables such as toner, etc. is forced, which is a serious problem. To avoid this, it is possible to set the recognition of the target banknotes gently and make it difficult for documents other than the target banknotes to be recognized as the target banknotes. Occur.

It is possible to increase the recognition rate by increasing the memory capacity of the device and the data transfer rate, though the information to be compared can be processed faster and more information can be processed in order to increase the recognition rate. The cost is enormous.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to minimize the cost and efficiently improve the recognition rate.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, in the present invention, in a digital image processing section for carrying out bill recognition processing based on a digital image signal obtained by reading an original with a digital color image reader section, If it is determined that the bill is a registered recognition target bill, the reading signal is again sent to the digital color image reader unit, and
It is characterized in that the document is read, and the bill recognition process is executed a plurality of times. Further, it is characterized in that the reading condition for reading again is changed from the previous reading condition to a condition registered in advance with a high recognition rate.

Further, the structure of the present invention has the following structure. That is, an image forming apparatus that reads an original image and makes a copy, and a reading unit that reads the original image and generates an image signal under a predetermined condition, and the original image is a predetermined image based on the image signal. The determination means for determining that there is an original image and the determination means for determining the original image read by the reading means, and when it is determined that the image is a predetermined image, the predetermined condition is changed and the reading means again It is determined again that the read and read document image is the predetermined image, and if the result of the determination over again is that the document image is the predetermined image, the copying of the image is interrupted, and In other cases, the control unit includes a control unit that controls to continue copying the read document image.

Alternatively, there is provided a control method for controlling an image forming apparatus for reading and copying an original image, the first reading step of reading the original image and generating an image signal under a predetermined condition, and the image signal. Based on the first determination step of determining that the original image is a predetermined image, and the determination step is determined to be a predetermined image,
Secondly, the predetermined condition is changed and the original image is read again.
Reading step, the second determination step of determining that the document image read by the second reading step is the predetermined image, and the determination result of the second determination step, the document image is the predetermined image. If it is determined that the image is the image, the copying of the image is interrupted, and in other cases, the control unit performs control to continue copying the read original image.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a color image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the digital color image reader unit is provided on the upper portion and the digital color image printer unit is provided on the lower portion.

In the reader unit, the original 30 is placed on the original table glass 31 and exposed and scanned by the lamp 111, so that the reflected light image from the original 30 is condensed on the full color sensor 34 by the lens 33, and a color separated image is formed. Get the signal. The color-separated image signal is processed by a video processing unit (not shown) through an amplification circuit (not shown) and sent to a printer unit.

In the printer section, the photosensitive drum 1 as an image bearing member is rotatably supported in the direction of the arrow, and a pre-exposure lamp 11, a corona charger 2, a laser exposure optical system 3, and a potential sensor 12 are provided around the photosensitive drum 1. , Four developing devices 4y, 4c, 4m, 4bk of different colors, on-drum light amount detecting means 13, transfer device 5, and cleaning device 6 are arranged.

In the laser exposure optical system 3, the image signal from the reader unit is converted into an optical signal by a laser output unit (not shown), and the converted laser light is polygon mirror 3a.
And is projected onto the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 through the lens 3b and the mirror 3c.

When forming an image on the printer section, the photosensitive drum 1
Is rotated in the direction of the arrow to uniformly charge the photosensitive drum 1 after the charge is removed by the pre-exposure lamp 11 by the charger 2 to irradiate the light image E for each separated color to form a latent image. .

Next, a predetermined developing machine is operated to develop the latent image on the photosensitive drum 1 to form a resin-based toner image on the photosensitive drum 1. The developing device has an eccentric cam 24.
By the operations of y, 24c, 24m, and 24bk, the photosensitive drum 1 is selectively approached according to the color separation color.

Further, the toner image on the photosensitive drum 1 is
The recording material is transferred from the recording material cassette 7 to the recording material supplied to the position facing the photosensitive drum 1 via the transport system and the transfer device 5. In the present embodiment, the transfer device 5 includes a transfer drum 5a,
A transfer charger 5b, an attraction charger 5c for electrostatically attracting the recording material, an attraction roller 5g facing the attraction charger 5c, an inner charger 5d,
A recording material carrying sheet 5f made of a dielectric material is integrally stretched in a cylindrical shape in an opening area of a peripheral surface of a transfer drum 5a which is rotatably driven and has an outer charger 5e. There is. The recording material supporting sheet 5f uses a dielectric sheet such as a polycarbonate film.

As the drum-shaped transfer device, that is, the transfer drum 5a is rotated, the toner image on the photosensitive drum is transferred onto the recording material carried on the recording material carrying sheet 5f by the transfer charger 5b.

In this way, a desired number of color images are transferred to the recording material that is sucked and conveyed to the recording material carrying sheet 5f to form a full color image.

In the case of forming a full-color image, when the transfer of the four color toner images is completed in this way, the recording material is separated by the action of the transfer drum 5a, the color separation claw 8a, the separation push-up roller 8b and the separation charger 5h, and the heat is generated. The roller fixing device 9 fixes the toner image on the recording material, and the tray 10
Paper.

On the other hand, after the transfer, the photosensitive drum 1 is subjected to the image forming process again after cleaning the residual toner on the surface with the cleaner 6.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of the image processing system of the digital color image reader unit in this embodiment. This image processing diameter is A / D conversion 102 with respect to the output of the analog signals (R1, G1, B1) of the 3-line CCD 101.
Are converted into digital signals (R2, G2, B2). After that, a standard white plate (not shown) is read, shading correction is performed by the shading correction 103, and the 3-line CCD 10 is performed by the line delay 104.
The positions of 1 are aligned. By the light-to-density conversion 105, the alignment signals (R4, G4, B3) are converted into C1, M1, Y1 signals corresponding to the reflected light of the toner in the printer section. Further, the masking UCR 106 and the forgery prevention processing unit 107 are used to send C2 and M to the final printer unit.
2, Y2, Bk2 are converted into color separation digital signals and output to the laser exposure system of the printer section. These controls are performed by the CPU 108, and a lamp 111 that illuminates the document and a lamp driver 109 that drives the lamp 111,
The motor 112 and the motor driver 110 that drive the optical system that scans the document are also controlled by the CPU 108.

FIG. 3 shows the CPU 108 in this embodiment.
7 shows a flowchart of a forgery determination process by.

Based on the reading start signal of the original, the image reading of the first color is started in the digital color image reader section (step S301). Here, the first forgery prevention processing circuit makes a forgery determination (step S302), the color separation image signal is sent to the printer, a latent image of the first color is formed on the photosensitive drum 1, and a developing device is formed. A toner image is formed by 4 m. On the other hand, the recording materials conveyed one by one from the recording material cassette
The toner image is transferred onto the transfer drum while being transferred by the transfer device.

After the reading of the first color is completed, if the original is determined to be the target bill (step S303-Yes), the image formation is temporarily stopped (step S304), and the reading conditions such as the magnification and the reading area are used for the forgery determination. After changing to the optimum conditions (step S305), reading of the document for forgery determination is started (step S306). In other words, it is possible to obtain more accurate information by limiting the capture area and changing the scanning speed in order to read the characteristic area of the target bill in detail. Here, by limiting the capture area, it can be implemented without increasing the memory of the device and changing the transfer rate, that is, without increasing the cost. Forgery is determined based on the image thus read (step S307).

During the reading of the document for the forgery determination, the recording material is idled on the transfer drum after the development and transfer of the first color are completed.

When the original is determined to be the target bill under the changed reading conditions (step S308-Yes), the image forming process is stopped (step S309), and the recording material is forcibly separated (step S310). After fixing (step S311), the paper is discharged (step S312). Alternatively, anti-counterfeiting means such as outputting a solid black image that is exposed, developed, and transferred in all image areas is performed.

By the read operation for judging forgery,
When it is determined that the document is outside the target bill (step S308)
-No), the reading condition is returned to the original (step S31
3) The normal second color reading and printing operations are restarted, and after the predetermined number of developments and transfers are completed, the recording material is separated, fixed, and discharged.

If it is determined in step S303 that the image is not the target of forgery determination, the printer section starts image formation (step S314), and the operation is repeated for four CMYK colors.

As described above, in the present embodiment, a more accurate judgment can be made by performing the reading operation for judgment for the image formation extraction on the original document which is difficult to judge whether it is the target bill or not under the optimum conditions. It is possible to solve the problem that the target bill is mistakenly copied, or conversely, the original document that is not the target bill cannot be copied. Further, the recognition rate can be improved without lowering the productivity in the normal copying operation.

(Second Embodiment) The operation of the second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of the image processing system of the digital color image reader unit in this embodiment. In this embodiment, the digital image processing circuit includes a digital image processing unit 120 such as a sharpness / filter.
It is characterized by having. In addition, the configuration of the device is the first
The same as in the embodiment of. FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of the forgery determination by the CPU 108 in this embodiment.

Similar to the first embodiment, the first color image reading is started in the digital color image reader section based on the original reading start signal (step S50).
1). Here, the forgery determination processing is performed by the first anti-counterfeiting processing circuit (step S502), the color separated image signal is sent to the printer unit, the latent image of the first color is formed on the photosensitive drum 1, and the developing device is formed. A toner image is formed by 4 m. On the other hand, the recording materials conveyed one by one from the recording material cassette are adsorbed on the transfer drum while the toner image is transferred by the transfer device.

After the reading of the first color is completed, when the original is determined to be the target bill (step S503-Yes), the image formation is temporarily stopped (step S504), and the digital image processing unit 120 is subjected to color correction and contouring. After changing the digital image processing conditions such as extraction and filter processing to the optimum conditions for the forgery determination (step S505), the original reading for the forgery determination is started (step S506). Forgery is determined based on the image thus read (step S50).
7). During this period, the recording material idles on the transfer drum after the development and transfer of the first color are completed.

When the original is determined to be the target bill under the changed reading conditions (step S508-Yes), the image forming process is stopped (step S509), and the recording material is forcibly separated (step S510). The paper is discharged (step S512). Alternatively, anti-counterfeiting means such as outputting a solid black image that is exposed, developed, and transferred in all image areas is performed.

By the reading operation for judging forgery,
When it is determined that the document is outside the target bill (step S508)
-No), the condition of the digital image processing is returned to the original condition (step S513), the normal second color reading and printing operations are restarted, and after the predetermined number of developments and transfers are completed, the recording material is separated and fixed. And eject the paper.

As described above, in this embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be expected. In addition, since the present embodiment can be carried out only by changing the processing of the digital signal without changing the reading conditions, the idle rotation time for reading for discrimination can be made equal to one rotation, and the idle bill outside the target bill that is easily misrecognized It is possible to suppress a decrease in the productivity of the manuscript.

(Third Embodiment) The operation of the third embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

The schematic block diagram of the image processing system of the digital color image reader unit in this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment of the present invention. The present embodiment is characterized in that the reading condition for forgery determination is changed by performing voltage modulation on the color frequency of the illumination system of the document. FIG.
3 shows a flowchart of forgery determination according to the present embodiment. This processing is also executed by the CPU 108.

In the same manner as in the first embodiment, the digital image reader unit 1 is activated based on the original reading start signal.
The image reading of the color is started (step S60).
1). Here, forgery determination is performed in the forgery prevention processing circuit for the first time (step S602), and the color separation image signal is sent to the printer unit, and the 1
A latent image of a color is formed, and a toner image is formed by the developing device 4m. On the other hand, the recording material conveyed one by one from the recording material cassette is adsorbed on the transfer drum while the toner image is transferred by the transfer device.

After the reading of the first color is completed, if the original is determined to be the target bill (step S603-Yes), the image formation is temporarily interrupted (step S604), and the CPU 1
The lamp driver 109 causes the lamp 11 to
The voltage output to 1 is modulated (step S604),
After changing the color frequency of the illumination system optimum for the forgery determination (step S605), the original reading for the forgery determination is started (step S606). During this time, the recording material is on the transfer drum,
After the development and transfer of the first color are completed, idle rotation is performed. Forgery is determined based on the image thus read (step S607).

When the original is determined to be the target bill under the changed reading conditions (step S608-Yes),
The image forming process is stopped (step S609), the recording material is forcibly separated (step S610), and the paper is ejected (step S612). Alternatively, anti-counterfeiting means such as outputting a solid black image that is exposed, developed, and transferred in all image areas is performed.

By the reading operation for judging forgery,
When it is determined that the document is out of the target bill (step S608)
-No), the color frequency of the illumination system is returned to the original (step S
613), the normal second color reading and printing operations are restarted, and after the predetermined number of developments and transfers are completed, the recording material is separated,
Fix and eject the paper.

As described above, in this embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be expected.

(Fourth Embodiment) The operation of the third embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. The schematic block diagram of the image processing system of the digital color image reader unit in the present embodiment is the same as that in the first embodiment of the present invention. The present embodiment is characterized by changing the reading position of the standard white plate for performing the shading correction as the change of the reading condition for the forgery determination. FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of the forgery determination according to this embodiment.

Similar to the first embodiment, the digital color image reader unit starts the image reading of the first color based on the original reading start signal (step S70).
1). Here, the forgery determination processing is performed for the first time by the forgery prevention processing circuit (step S <b> 702), and the color separation image signal is sent to the printer unit, and 1 is transferred onto the photosensitive drum 1.
A latent image of a color is formed, and a toner image is formed by the developing device 4m. On the other hand, the recording material conveyed one by one from the recording material cassette is adsorbed on the transfer drum while the toner image is transferred by the transfer device.

After the reading of the first color is completed, if the original is determined to be the target bill (step S703-Yes), the image formation is temporarily stopped (step S704), and the CPU 1
The drive signal from the motor driver 110 to the scanning system drive motor 112 is changed by the command 08 (step S7).
05) After the reading position of the standard white plate is changed, shading correction is performed and the reading of the document for forgery determination is started (step S706). Forgery is determined based on the image thus read (step S707). During this period, the recording material idles on the transfer drum after the development and transfer of the first color are completed.

When it is determined that the original is the target bill under the changed reading conditions (step S708-Yes),
The image forming process is stopped (step S709), the recording material is forcibly separated (step S710), and the paper is ejected (step S712). Alternatively, anti-counterfeiting means such as outputting a solid black image that is exposed, developed, and transferred in all image areas is performed.

By the reading operation for judging forgery,
When it is determined that the document is outside the target bill (step S708)
-No), the reading position of the standard white plate for shading correction is returned to the original position (step S713), and the normal 2
After reading the colors and restarting the printing operation, and after the development and transfer of various constants are completed, the recording material is separated, fixed, and discharged.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the probability of post-recognition due to fine stains, scratches, etc. on the standard white plate can be reduced, and the same effect as in the first embodiment can be expected.

[0050]

[Other Embodiments] Even if the present invention is applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), an apparatus (for example, a copying machine) Machine, facsimile machine, etc.).

Further, an object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium recording a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiment to a system or apparatus, and to supply a computer (or CPU) of the system or apparatus.
And MPU) read and execute the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD
-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) May perform some or all of the actual processing, and the processing may realize the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instructions of the program code, It goes without saying that the CPU included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

[0056]

As described above, the image forming apparatus and the control method therefor according to the present invention improve the recognition rate of originals such as banknotes and securities for which forgery is prevented, and minimize the cost. The effect that it can be suppressed is produced.

[0057]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a color image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an image processing system of a reader unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a forgery determination processing unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of an image processing system of a reader unit according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a forgery determination processing unit according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a forgery determination processing unit according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a forgery determination processing unit according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 CCD 102 A / D conversion 107 Forgery prevention processing unit 108 CPU 111 Lamp 112 Stepping motor

Claims (16)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus for reading an original image and copying the original image, the reading unit reading the original image and generating an image signal under a predetermined condition, and the original image is a predetermined image based on the image signal. Of the original image read by the reading unit, and if it is determined that the image is a predetermined image, the predetermined condition is changed to read the original image. The image is read again by the means, it is again determined that the read original image is the predetermined image, and if the original image is determined to be the predetermined image as a result of the repeated determination, the copying of the image is interrupted. However, in other cases, the image forming apparatus is provided with a control unit that controls to continue copying the read original image. 2. The reading unit is a color image reading unit that reads a color image for each of a plurality of color elements, and the control unit performs the control for each image of the color elements read by the image reading unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The control means, based on the predetermined condition,
3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reading condition is changed and the reading is performed again. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the reading conditions include magnification and reading area. 5. The reading means has an image processing means for processing the generated image signal, and the control means changes the image processing condition by the image processing means from the predetermined condition and reads again. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, is performed. 6. The condition of the image processing includes color correction, contour extraction, filter processing, and the like.
An image forming apparatus according to claim 1. 7. The reading unit irradiates a document image with light having a desired color frequency to generate an image signal from the reflected light, and the control unit changes the color frequency condition from the predetermined condition. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the image is read again. 8. The reading means has a correction means for generating a color image as an image signal for each color element, and reading a standard white plate to perform shading correction, and the control means has the standard condition based on the predetermined condition. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the reading position of the white plate is changed to read again. 9. A control method for controlling an image forming apparatus for reading and copying an original image, comprising: a first reading step of reading the original image and generating an image signal under a predetermined condition; Based on the first determination step of determining that the document image is a predetermined image based on the above, if the determination step determines that the document image is the predetermined image, the predetermined condition is changed and the document image is again read. A second reading step of reading the document, a second determination step of determining that the document image read by the second reading step is the predetermined image, and a result of the determination by the second determination step And a control means for controlling the copying of the image to be interrupted when it is determined that the image is the predetermined image and the copying of the read original image to be continued otherwise. Method of controlling an image forming apparatus. 10. The image forming apparatus is an apparatus for reading and copying a color image for each of a plurality of color elements, and the first reading step to the control step are performed for each image of the read color element. 10. The method according to claim 9, wherein
A method for controlling an image forming apparatus according to item 1. 11. The method of controlling an image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein in the second reading step, the reading condition is changed from the predetermined condition and the reading is performed again. 12. The method of controlling an image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the reading condition includes a magnification and a reading area. 13. The method according to claim 9, wherein in the second reading step, the reading is performed again by changing the condition of the image processing by the image processing means from the predetermined condition. A method for controlling an image forming apparatus. 14. The method for controlling an image forming apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the condition of the image processing includes color correction, contour extraction, filter processing, and the like. 15. The second reading step is performed again by changing the condition of the color frequency of the light applied to the document at the time of reading the image from the predetermined condition and reading again. Alternatively, the method of controlling the image forming apparatus according to Item 10. 16. The method according to claim 9, wherein in the second reading step, the reading position of the standard white plate for shading correction is changed from the predetermined condition and the reading is performed again. 10. The method for controlling the image forming apparatus according to item 10.