EP1995647A1 - Elektronische Kopienzählvorrichtung mit Manipulationsschutz für Blattbedruckungsgeräte wie Drucker - Google Patents

Elektronische Kopienzählvorrichtung mit Manipulationsschutz für Blattbedruckungsgeräte wie Drucker Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1995647A1
EP1995647A1 EP07425305A EP07425305A EP1995647A1 EP 1995647 A1 EP1995647 A1 EP 1995647A1 EP 07425305 A EP07425305 A EP 07425305A EP 07425305 A EP07425305 A EP 07425305A EP 1995647 A1 EP1995647 A1 EP 1995647A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
tampering
signal
detecting means
control signal
electronic counter
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP07425305A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Raffaele Trani
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Italeco Srl
Original Assignee
Italeco Srl
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Italeco Srl filed Critical Italeco Srl
Priority to EP07425305A priority Critical patent/EP1995647A1/de
Publication of EP1995647A1 publication Critical patent/EP1995647A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G21/00—Arrangements not provided for by groups G03G13/00 - G03G19/00, e.g. cleaning, elimination of residual charge
    • G03G21/02—Counting the number of copies; Billing
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G2215/00—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes
    • G03G2215/00362—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes relating to the copy medium handling
    • G03G2215/00535—Stable handling of copy medium
    • G03G2215/00611—Detector details, e.g. optical detector
    • G03G2215/00616—Optical detector

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an electronic copy counting device, equipped with an anti-tampering device, for sheet printing equipment, such as printers, and in particular to an electronic microprocessor-controlled copy counting device to be fitted externally to printers or similar.
  • Figure 1 shows an operating diagram of a printer featuring a known counting device.
  • the Figure 1 printer indicated as a whole by 1, comprises an integrated electronic counting device 2, which, by means of an optical sensor 3 and/or mechanical sensor 4, and as each sheet 5 is fed through, increments an electronic counter 6, which is also integrated and can be reset by the user. In other words, counting is performed by the passage of each printed sheet 5 screening optical sensor 3 or moving mechanical sensor 4 out of its original position.
  • an electronic copy counting device for a sheet printing device, comprising a power unit, an electronic counter, and a sheet passage sensor; characterized in that said power unit is interposed between a mains power input and an input of said sheet printing device, and comprises an interlock circuit supplied with a control signal and including switching means; the device also comprising a control unit including said electronic counter and tampering-detecting means, which generate said control signal in a first form in normal operating conditions, and a second form in the event of tampering.
  • Figure 2 shows one embodiment of a copy counting device 10 fitted to a known printer 1, and comprising a power unit 11; and a control unit 29 defined by a microprocessor circuit 14 with a display 19, and by a sheet sensor 17 connected to microprocessor circuit 14 to detect the passage of sheets.
  • power unit 11 is connected to control unit 29, and is interposed between an electric power source (represented by a plug 7) and a bipolar cable 15 connected to the mains power socket of printer 1.
  • Bipolar cable 15 is preferably secured firmly to power unit 11, and is sealed to printer 1 to prevent fraudulent replacement.
  • power unit 11 is defined by a voltage rectifier 12 and an interlock circuit 13.
  • Interlock circuit 13 is defined by relays or similar, and comprises two switches 13a, 13b interposed between plug 7 and bipolar cable 15; and a signal detector 13c controlling switches 13a, 13b.
  • Voltage rectifier 12 is connected to plug 7, and powers both signal detector 13c and microprocessor circuit 14 by converting the mains voltage (typically 220Vac) to roughly 12 Vdc.
  • Signal detector 13c receives a control signal s0, and opens and closes switches 13a, 13b depending on the form of control signal s0.
  • control signal s0 is variable and typically square-wave (with a frequency ranging over a wide range, but typically of 1kHz); and, in the event of tampering, control signal s0 is constant (zero or equal to the supply voltage of microprocessor circuit 14).
  • switches 13a, 13b of interlock circuit 13 remain closed; conversely, switches 13a, 13b of interlock circuit 13 are opened to cut off power to printer 1.
  • Any no-signal or continuous-voltage-value condition (interruption caused by cutting the control signal s0 carrier wire; ground or power shorting caused by fraudulent grounding or power connection of the carrier wire) therefore opens switches 13a, 13b of interlock circuit 13 to cut off power to printer 1.
  • Microprocessor circuit 14 comprises a microprocessor 23, an electronic counter 26, and a non-volatile memory 16.
  • Electronic counter 26 comprises a partial counter 24 and a total counter 25 for keeping both a partial count of the copies printed (i.e. over the lease period of printer 1 only) and a total count (i.e. over the entire working life of printer 1) ; and the partial and total counts are stored in non-volatile (e.g. EEPROM or flash) memory 16 under the control of microprocessor 23.
  • non-volatile e.g. EEPROM or flash
  • non-volatile memory 16 is housed in the casing 27 of microprocessor circuit 14, and therefore cannot be accessed or erased by the user. Erasure of the non-volatile memory can only be done using an electronic key 18, only issued to technicians authorized to reset the memory, and is characterized by an encrypted code unknown to and therefore not reproducible by the user. More specifically, in the embodiment shown, electronic key 18 is connected electrically to microprocessor circuit 14 by a USB connector 22, but may be connected to microprocessor circuit 14 by other wired connections, e.g. 12C, SPI, 1-wire or serial, or by wireless connection (e.g. RFID). Erasure of non-volatile memory 16 only resets partial counter 24, and not total counter 25, both of which form part of electronic counter 26. In other words, reset of partial counter 24 can only be activated by connecting electronic key 18, and updates the corresponding location in non-volatile memory 16; and encryption of the code memorized in electronic key 18 prevents fraudulent erasure of non-volatile memory 16.
  • Display 19 is connected electrically to non-volatile memory 16 and microprocessor circuit 14, is housed in casing 27 ( Figure 2 ), and shows the copy count.
  • display 19 is an LCD, but may be a different type (OLED, plasma, 7-part LED, VFD, etc.), and alternatively displays the partial and total copy counts.
  • Sheet sensor 17 is also connected electrically to microprocessor circuit 14, and, as each printed sheet 5 is fed through, transmits an electric signal to microprocessor circuit 14 over a cable 28. More specifically, in the embodiment shown, sheet sensor 17 is defined by a fork-shaped optical sensor comprising a photodiode 20, and a phototransistor 21 which only conducts current when illuminated.
  • photodiode 20 is supplied by microprocessor circuit 14 with a square-wave signal s1 of, for example, roughly 100Hz frequency.
  • phototransistor 21 supplies microprocessor circuit 14 with a detection signal s2 in phase opposition with respect to square-wave signal s1. And, when a printed sheet 5 is fed through, the light beam of photodiode 20 is interrupted, and detection signal s2 becomes continuous and high.
  • microprocessor 23 checks detection signal s2 by comparing detection signal s2 with square-wave signal s1 supplied to photodiode 20; and, if the square-wave signal s1 is continuous and high, the microprocessor determines passage of a sheet and increments partial and total counters 24, 25.
  • Microprocessor 23 also determines the correct value of detection signal s2 : as long as this remains in phase opposition with respect to square-wave signal s1 (no sheets) or remains constant and high (passage of a sheet), microprocessor 23 maintains a square-wave form of control signal s0, interpreted as correct operation by interlock circuit 13. Conversely, if detection signal s2 assumes a low level (e.g. caused by cutting cable 28 or screening photodiode 20), microprocessor 23 determines an anomaly, and causes signal s0 to assume a constant value, so that signal detector 13c opens switches 13a, 13b of interlock circuit 13, as described above.
  • detection signal s2 assumes a low level (e.g. caused by cutting cable 28 or screening photodiode 20)
  • microprocessor 23 determines an anomaly, and causes signal s0 to assume a constant value, so that signal detector 13c opens switches 13a, 13b of interlock circuit 13, as described above.
  • copy counting device 10 provides for counting the copies printed by a printer 1, with no possibility of the user resetting the count, which can only be done by an authorized technician issued with electronic key 18. Moreover, the device also provides for effectively detecting any tampering, and accordingly disabling operation of the printer.
  • the component parts of the electronic copy counting device may be modified to include more complex interlock circuits, or interlock circuits with devices other than relays for cutting off current supply to printer 1; mechanical or electromechanical sensors may be substituted for sheet sensor 17; signals s0, s1, s2 may be different types with different frequencies; the non-volatile memory may be of any type; and, finally, in addition to printers, electronic counting device 10 according to the invention may also be fitted to photocopying or fax machines.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Control Or Security For Electrophotography (AREA)
  • Accessory Devices And Overall Control Thereof (AREA)
EP07425305A 2007-05-21 2007-05-21 Elektronische Kopienzählvorrichtung mit Manipulationsschutz für Blattbedruckungsgeräte wie Drucker Withdrawn EP1995647A1 (de)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP07425305A EP1995647A1 (de) 2007-05-21 2007-05-21 Elektronische Kopienzählvorrichtung mit Manipulationsschutz für Blattbedruckungsgeräte wie Drucker

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP07425305A EP1995647A1 (de) 2007-05-21 2007-05-21 Elektronische Kopienzählvorrichtung mit Manipulationsschutz für Blattbedruckungsgeräte wie Drucker

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1995647A1 true EP1995647A1 (de) 2008-11-26

Family

ID=38563007

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP07425305A Withdrawn EP1995647A1 (de) 2007-05-21 2007-05-21 Elektronische Kopienzählvorrichtung mit Manipulationsschutz für Blattbedruckungsgeräte wie Drucker

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1995647A1 (de)

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3436530A (en) * 1966-02-17 1969-04-01 Hecon Corp Control device
US3872282A (en) * 1973-11-08 1975-03-18 John R Long Copy machine record system for cost control
EP0342910A2 (de) * 1988-05-17 1989-11-23 Monitel Products Corporation Photokopieüberwachungssystem und Verfahren zum Ueberwachen von Kopiergeräten

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3436530A (en) * 1966-02-17 1969-04-01 Hecon Corp Control device
US3872282A (en) * 1973-11-08 1975-03-18 John R Long Copy machine record system for cost control
EP0342910A2 (de) * 1988-05-17 1989-11-23 Monitel Products Corporation Photokopieüberwachungssystem und Verfahren zum Ueberwachen von Kopiergeräten

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