JP2000053314A - Image output apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a printed matter from being taken out by other person by locking each mailbox respectively with a door having an electronic lock. SOLUTION: A printer has a printer body 1 and a mailbox unit 2 which comprises a plurality of mailbox units having bins 21-25. Each mailbox is provided with doors 31-35 having an electronic lock, and as the electronic lock a lock which locks or unlocks with a solenoid. The printer prints printing data fed from a personal computer onto recording paper, and stores the printed matter in a mailbox corresponding to a mailbox number transmitted to the printer. Here, when a cipher code inputted by a user according to a guide screen matches with a cipher code corresponding to a pre-inputted mailbox number, the user can release the electronic lock, opens a door of a specified mailbox, and takes out the printed matter.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a copying machine (PPC),
The present invention relates to an image output device such as a facsimile machine, a printer, and a multifunction printer (MFP).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the case where a plurality of operators perform printing using the same printer via one or a plurality of personal computers, it may not be known to whom the discharged printed matter is directed. .

Therefore, there is a printer which has a plurality of mailboxes and discharges printed matter from a personal computer to a mailbox corresponding to a mailbox number designated. When such a printer is used, prints for oneself are stored in a predetermined one's own mailbox, so that it is possible to clearly know who the discharged prints are for.

However, even with such a printer, it is impossible to prevent another person from taking out the printed matter in his / her mailbox.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an image output apparatus which can prevent a printed matter for oneself from being taken out by another person.

[0006]

A first image output device according to the present invention has a plurality of mailboxes, and at the time of image output, a printed matter is stored in a mailbox corresponding to a designated mailbox number. In each image output device, each mailbox is closed by a door with an electronic lock, and for each user who uses the image output device, a mailbox number of a mailbox owned by the user is given. For each mailbox number, a password registered in advance by the user who owns the mailbox is stored, the mailbox number and the password are input by the user, and the input password is the input mail. If the password matches the password corresponding to the box number, the mailbox corresponding to the entered mailbox number Door electronic lock provided in box is characterized in that it is allowed to unlock.

A second image output device according to the present invention has a plurality of mailboxes, and at the time of image output, prints are stored in a mailbox corresponding to a designated mailbox number. Each mailbox is closed so that the printed matter cannot be taken out, and a stock unit for discharging the printed material in each mailbox and a transport mechanism for transporting the printed material from each mailbox to the stock unit are provided. For each user who uses the image output device, a mailbox number of a mailbox owned by the user is given, and for each mailbox number, a password registered in advance by the user who is the owner is provided. It is stored, and the user inputs the mailbox number and the password,
If the entered password matches the password corresponding to the entered mailbox number, the printed material in the mailbox corresponding to the entered mailbox number is transported to the stock unit by the transport mechanism. It is characterized by.

[0008] A third image output device according to the present invention is an image output device provided with a storage device, wherein the storage device includes:
An area corresponding to each mailbox number is allocated, and image data sent from the outside is stored in an area corresponding to the specified mailbox number among the areas in the storage device, and the image output device A mailbox number is given to each user who uses the, and a password registered in advance by the user who owns the mailbox number is stored for each mailbox number, and the mailbox is stored in the image output device by the user. If a password and a password are entered and the entered password matches the password corresponding to the entered mailbox number, the entered mailbox number of the respective areas in the storage device is The image data stored in the corresponding area is printed on recording paper and discharged.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[1] Description of First Embodiment

FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a printer.

The printer includes a printer main body 1 and a mailbox unit 2. The mail box unit 2 includes a plurality of mail box units having bins 21 to 25. Each mail box is provided with doors 31 to 35 having an electronic lock. As the electronic lock, for example, a lock that is locked and unlocked by a solenoid is used.

Each user who uses the printer is given a mailbox number in advance. The printer stores, for each mailbox number, a password registered in advance by the user who owns the mailbox. When sending print data from a personal computer to a printer, the user also sends his or her own mailbox number. Then, the printer prints the print data sent from the personal computer on the recording paper, and stores the printed matter in the mailbox corresponding to the mailbox number sent to the printer.

FIG. 2 shows the procedure of a printed matter removal process executed by the control device of the printer when the printed matter stored in the mailbox is taken out.

When taking out the printed matter stored in the mailbox, the user inputs the mailbox number from which the printed matter is taken out using the operation display unit of the printer.

When a mailbox number for taking out a printed matter is input (step 1), the printer determines whether or not a printed matter is present in the designated mailbox (step 2). This determination is made, for example, based on the output of a printed matter detector such as a limit switch and a photoelectric detector provided for each mailbox.

If there is no printed material in the designated mailbox, the current printed material removal process ends.

If there is a printed matter in the designated mailbox, a guidance screen for prompting the input of a personal identification number is displayed on the operation display unit of the printer. When the user inputs his / her personal identification number in accordance with this guidance screen (step 3), it is determined whether or not the input personal identification number matches the personal identification number corresponding to the mailbox number input in step 1 (step 3). Step 4).

If the input personal identification number does not match the personal identification number corresponding to the mailbox number input in step 1, the current printed matter removal processing ends.

If the input password matches the password corresponding to the mailbox number input in step 1, the electronic lock is unlocked (step 5).
Then, the user opens the door of the designated mailbox and takes out the printed matter. When the user takes out the printed material and closes the door, the electronic lock is automatically locked.

[2] Description of Second Embodiment

FIG. 3 shows a schematic configuration of the printer.

The printer has a printer main body 101 and a mailbox unit 102. The mailbox unit 102 includes a plurality of mailbox units having bins 121 to 124 and a stack unit 125 for taking out one printed material. Each mailbox is closed so that printed matter cannot be taken out from the outside. The printed matter stored in each mailbox is
The sheet is discharged to the stack unit 125 by the transport mechanism.

Each user who uses the printer is given a mailbox number in advance. The printer stores, for each mailbox number, a password registered in advance by the user who owns the mailbox. When sending print data from a personal computer to a printer, the user also sends his or her own mailbox number. Then, the printer prints the print data sent from the personal computer on the recording paper and stores the printed matter in the mailbox corresponding to the mailbox number sent to the printer.

FIG. 4 shows a print material removal processing procedure executed by the control device of the printer when removing the print material stored in the mailbox.

When taking out the printed matter stored in the mailbox, the user inputs the mailbox number from which the printed matter is taken out using the operation display unit of the printer.

When the mailbox number for taking out the printed matter is input (step 11), the printer determines whether the designated mailbox has the printed matter (step 12).

If there is no printed material in the designated mailbox, the current printed material removal process ends.

If there is a printed matter in the designated mailbox, a guidance screen for prompting the input of a password is displayed on the operation display unit of the printer. When the user inputs his / her personal identification number in accordance with this guidance screen (step 13), it is determined whether or not the input personal identification number matches the personal identification number corresponding to the mailbox number input in step 11 (step 13). Step 14).

If the input personal identification number does not match the personal identification number corresponding to the mailbox number input in step 11, the current printed matter removal processing ends.

If the input password matches the password corresponding to the mailbox number input in step 11, the transport mechanism is driven to print the printed matter stored in the mailbox. The sheet is transported to the stack section 125 (step 15). The user operates the stack unit 1
The printed matter conveyed to 25 is taken out.

[3] Description of Third Embodiment

The third embodiment is directed to a multifunction machine having a facsimile function and a printer function.
The multifunction peripheral includes a nonvolatile memory that can retain stored data even when the power is turned off.

Each user who uses the multifunction peripheral is given a mailbox number in advance. As shown in FIG. 5, a predetermined recording area (A to D in this example) is allocated to the non-volatile memory for each mailbox number.

In the MFP, for each mailbox number,
A password registered in advance by the owner (user) of the mailbox is stored. When sending print data (printer output image data) from a personal computer to a multifunction peripheral, the user also sends his or her own mailbox number. Then, the multifunction peripheral stores the print data sent from the personal computer in the storage area corresponding to the mailbox number sent to the multifunction peripheral among the areas A to D in the nonvolatile memory.

A person who performs facsimile transmission to this multifunction device also sends a mailbox number corresponding to the user of the other party. Then, the multifunction peripheral stores the facsimile-transmitted FAX reception data in the storage area corresponding to the mailbox number sent to the multifunction peripheral among the areas A to D in the nonvolatile memory.

FIG. 6 shows a multifunction peripheral when printer output image data and facsimile reception data (hereinafter collectively referred to as image data) recorded in a non-volatile memory are printed on recording paper and output. 2 shows a print material removal processing procedure executed by the control device of FIG.

When printing the print data and the received data recorded in the non-volatile memory on a recording paper and outputting the data, the user inputs his / her own mailbox number using the operation display unit of the multifunction peripheral. I do.

When the mailbox number is input (step 21), the printer operates in each area A in the nonvolatile memory.
It is determined whether or not the image data is stored in the storage area corresponding to the input mailbox number among (D) to (D) (step 22).

If no image data is stored in the storage area corresponding to the input mailbox number,
The print removal process of this time ends.

When image data is stored in the storage area corresponding to the input mailbox number, a guidance screen for prompting the input of a password is displayed on the operation display unit of the multifunction peripheral. When the user inputs his / her personal identification number in accordance with this guidance screen (step 23), it is determined whether or not the input personal identification number matches the personal identification number corresponding to the mailbox number input in step 21 (step 23). Step 24).

If the input personal identification number does not match the personal identification number corresponding to the mailbox number input in step 21, the current printed matter removal processing ends.

If the input password matches the password corresponding to the mailbox number input in step 21, the image data is stored in the storage area corresponding to the mailbox number input in step 21. Is read out, printed on recording paper, and discharged (step 25).

[0044]

According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent a printed matter for oneself from being taken out by another person.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a printer.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a print material removal processing procedure executed by a control device of a printer when removing a print material stored in a mailbox.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a printer.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a print material removal processing procedure executed by a printer control device when removing a print material stored in a mailbox.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a state where a predetermined recording area is allocated to a nonvolatile memory for each mailbox number;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a print material removal processing procedure executed by a control device of the multifunction peripheral when image data recorded in a nonvolatile memory is printed on recording paper and output.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 101 Printer main body 2, 102 Mailbox unit 21-25, 121-124 Bin 31-35 Opening door 125 Stack part

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Naka Yu 1-2-28 Tamazuki, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Inside Mita Kogyo Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Koji Minamino 1-2-2, Tamazuki, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka No. 28 Inside Mita Kogyo Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hidehiko Akutada 1-2-2 Tamatsukuri, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture Inside Mita Kogyo Co., Ltd. (72) Asami Nakata 1-2-2 Tamatsukuri, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Osaka No. 28 Mita Kogyo Co., Ltd. F term (reference) 2C059 AB06 AB15 2C061 AP03 AP04 AP07 BB10 HJ10 HK11 HN04 2H072 AA01 AA24 AB12 AB13 FB01 FC12 3F050 CA08 CB06 CB07 LA02 LA05 LA07 LB03 3F054 AA01 CA24 AC01 CA05 BF03

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image output device having a plurality of mailboxes and storing printed matter in a mailbox corresponding to a designated mailbox number when outputting an image, wherein each mailbox has an electronic lock. It is closed by a door, and the mailbox number of the mailbox owned by the user is given to each user who uses the image output device, and registered in advance by the owner user for each mailbox number The password entered is stored when the user inputs the mailbox number and the password, and the entered password matches the password corresponding to the entered mailbox number. The electronic lock on the door provided to the mailbox corresponding to the mailbox number An image output device according to claim. 2. An image output device having a plurality of mailboxes and storing printed matter in a mailbox corresponding to a designated mailbox number when outputting an image, wherein each mailbox cannot take out the printed matter. A stock unit for discharging printed materials in each mailbox and a transport mechanism for transporting printed materials from each mailbox to the stock unit are provided. For each mailbox number, a mailbox number of a mailbox owned by the user is given, and for each mailbox number, a password registered in advance by the user who owns the mailbox is stored. Number and PIN are entered and the entered PIN is entered in the mailbox Image output device in case of match with the corresponding security code item, printed matter in the mailbox corresponding to the entered mailbox number, characterized in that it is allowed to transport the stock unit by the transport mechanism. 3. An image output device provided with a storage device, wherein an area corresponding to a mailbox number is assigned to the storage device, and image data sent from outside is stored in each area in the storage device. The mailbox number is stored in the area corresponding to the designated mailbox number, and the mailbox number is given to each user who uses the image output device. A pre-registered password is stored, a mailbox number and a password are input by the user to the image output device, and the input password matches the password corresponding to the input mailbox number. In this case, the image data stored in the area corresponding to the input mailbox number in each area in the storage device is An image output apparatus characterized by being discharged are printed on recording paper.