JP2001188450A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance such security that a special font is not unnecessarily used in an image forming device constituted so that a developing device can be exchanged and a storage medium incorporating at least a memory chip and storing the special font can be attached. SOLUTION: This image forming device is provided with a developing device detection switch 2 detecting that the developing device is exchanged and a control means 9 controlling the device so that the use of the special font is inhibited when the exchange of the developing device is detected.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a printer, for example,
The present invention relates to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus used in a copying machine or the like, in particular, in which a developing device can be replaced and a storage medium (for example, an IC card) in which a special font is stored by incorporating at least a memory chip can be mounted. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a so-called mica toner developing device containing a special magnetic powder by replacing a developing device (including a case where only a toner container is used) with an image forming device that prints on paper with normal toner has been used. There is an image forming apparatus for mica toner that prints a numerical value such as a check or securities in a special font.

[0003]

However, in such a conventional image forming apparatus, the use of a special font is not prohibited when the developing device is replaced, and anyone can easily replace the developing device and replace the mica. Since printing can be performed as an image forming apparatus equipped with a toner developing device, there is a security problem.

Further, when a special font is stored in an IC card and the IC card is mounted on the image forming apparatus, the special font is stored in the IC card.
There is a type in which a password stored in a C card is compared with a password input by a user, and if the passwords match, printing is possible.

However, such a method is not effective in terms of security because a plurality of users know the same password when there are a plurality of users.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has a developing device that can be replaced and a storage medium having at least a memory chip and a special font stored therein can be mounted. A developing device detecting means for detecting whether the developing device is a predetermined developing device, and the special font when the developing device detecting device detects use of a developing device other than a predetermined developing device. The image forming apparatus is provided with control means for controlling use of the image forming apparatus.

Further, code input means having a developing device identification signal providing means for each developing device or providing a developing device identification code, providing a storage medium identification code for each storage medium, and inputting the identification code; A storage medium detecting means for detecting the mounting of the storage medium and the storage medium identification code; and a storage means for storing each identification signal and the identification code or each identification code, wherein the developing device detection means includes a developing device identification signal or a developing device. When the control means detects that the storage medium is inserted, the control means detects the developing device identification signal or the developing device identification code, the storage medium identification code, and the identification code, and detects the detection code. And each identification signal stored in the storage means is compared with an identification code or each identification code, and if all match, the special format of the storage medium is used. It is obtained by the image forming apparatus controls to allow the use of bets. Alternatively, a code input unit that has a developing device identification signal providing unit for each developing device or provides a developing device identification code, provides a storage medium identification code for each storage medium, and inputs the identification code, and mounting of the storage medium A storage medium detecting means for detecting a storage medium identification code; and a storage means for storing each identification signal and an identification code or an array pattern of each identification code, wherein the developing device detection means includes a developing device identification signal or a developing device identification code. When the control means detects that the storage medium has been inserted, the control means arranges the developing device identification signal or the developing device identification code, the storage medium identification code, and the identification code in the order of detection, and Is compared with the arrangement pattern stored in the storage means, and if they match, the use of the special font in the storage medium is permitted. It is obtained by the image forming apparatus.

[0008]

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

FIG. 1 is a view showing an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, which includes a developing device 1, a developing device detection switch 2, an operation panel 3, and an external memory insertion slot 4 as components related to the present invention. Become.

The developing device 1 is a developing device for normal printing which can be developed on paper with normal toner or a developing device for mica toner which can develop a numerical value such as a check or securities with a special font using mica toner. It is a device that can be replaced as appropriate according to the purpose of use of the user. here,
In order to detect whether the developing device is a normal printing developing device or a mica toner developing device, the shape of the projecting portion 1a is changed by each developing device, and the location and number of the developing device detection switches 2 pressed by the projecting portion 1a are varied. It can be detected by.
As a simplified example, when there are two developing device detection switches 1a, "1" is pressed when pressed and "0" when not pressed, "00" is not mounted, and "01" is for normal printing. The developing device "11" may be detected as an identification signal like a developing device for mica toner. In the present embodiment, the case has been described in which the developing device 1 is provided with the protrusion 1a as an identification signal applying means. However, an IC chip is provided in the developing device 1, and a different identification code is stored in the IC chip for each developing device. Alternatively, the image forming apparatus may detect the identification code.

The operation panel 3 is code input means capable of inputting an identification code, and the external memory insertion slot 4 is for mounting an external storage medium such as an IC card having at least a memory chip therein and storing a special font. Part.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the inside of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. The developing apparatus detecting means detects the mounting of the developing apparatus 1 and the developing apparatus identification signal ("01" or "11" described above). A certain developing device detection switch 2, card detection means 6 for detecting the mounting of an IC card and a card identification code set for each IC card, some developing device identification signals, an IC card identification code, and identification. It comprises a storage means 7 for storing codes or several developing device identification signals, an IC card identification code, and an arrangement pattern of identification codes, a printing means 8, and a control means 9.

In the present invention, the control means 9 may be a non-predetermined developing device (specifically, the predetermined developing device may be a mica toner developing device, and the non-predetermined developing device may be a normal printing developing device. ), The use of special fonts in the IC card is controlled to be prohibited when the attachment of ()) is detected. Further, as means for releasing the prohibition, when the control means 9 detects that the IC card has been inserted into the external memory insertion slot 4, it detects the developing device identification signal, the card identification code, and the identification code. And if all match with those stored in the storage means 7, or the developing device identification signal, the card identification code, and the identification code arranged in the order of detection are compared with the arrangement pattern stored in the storage means 7. If they match, control is performed to permit the use of the special font of the IC card. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, there are three possible arrangement patterns for the same code. By such control, security can be easily improved. In this embodiment, the case where an IC card is used has been described, but another external storage medium may be used.

Further, when it is detected that the IC card is properly inserted into the external memory insertion slot 4, the font is replaced with a special font, or at the same time, a predetermined area of the storage unit in the IC card is used as a font. When it is detected that the IC card is inserted in the external memory insertion slot 4, at least a predetermined area of the storage unit in the IC card, a special font, or a font together with the IC card is prohibited, thereby further improving security. Can be done.

Next, as a further embodiment for further improving security, use history management such as use time, user, number of prints, etc. may be managed in a storage section of an IC card and / or an image forming apparatus. The usage history management information is printed out on a status page or a desired printed matter, the user is controlled as history management information including operator information by a predetermined code, or a ROM in an IC card is used. A special font may be stored in the memory, and user information or the like may be input to a readable / writable memory such as a flash ROM.

[0016]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Provided is a developing device detecting means for detecting that a developing device has been mounted, and an image forming apparatus having improved security by controlling the use of the special font when the replacement of the developing device is detected. can do.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing combinations of various identification codes according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: Development device 2: Development device detection switch 3: Operation panel 4: External memory insertion slot 6: Card detection device 7: Storage device 8: Printing device 8 9: Control device

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G06K 17/00 G03G 21/00 390 9A001 B41J 29/00 Z

Claims (3)

[Claims] An image forming apparatus in which a developing device is replaceable and at least a storage medium having a built-in memory chip and storing a special font is mountable, wherein the mounted developing device is a predetermined developing device. A developing device detecting unit for detecting whether or not there is a developing device, and a control unit for controlling to prohibit use of the special font when the developing device detecting unit detects a developing device other than a predetermined developing device. Image forming apparatus. And a code input means for providing a developing device identification code for each developing device or for giving a developing device identification code, for giving a storage medium identification code for each storage medium, and for inputting the identification code. Storage medium detecting means for detecting the mounting of the medium and the storage medium identification code; and storage means for storing each identification signal and the identification code or each identification code, wherein the developing device detection means is a developing device identification signal or a developing device identification. Detecting the code, the control means, when detecting that the storage medium is inserted, detects a developing device identification signal or a developing device identification code, a storage medium identification code, and an identification code,
Comparing the detected signal with each identification signal stored in the storage means and the identification code or each identification code, and performing control so as to permit use of the special font of the storage medium when all of them match. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: And a code input means for providing a developing device identification code for each developing device or providing a developing device identification code, providing a storage medium identification code for each storage medium, and inputting the identification code. A storage medium detecting means for detecting the mounting of the medium and the storage medium identification code; and a storage means for storing each identification signal and an identification code or an array pattern of each identification code, wherein the developing device detection means is provided with a developing device identification signal or Detecting a developing device identification code, the control means, when detecting that the storage medium is inserted, arranges a developing device identification signal or a developing device identification code, a storage medium identification code, and an identification code in the detection order. Comparing the arrangement with the arrangement pattern stored in the storage means, and when the arrangement pattern matches, permits the use of the special font of the storage medium. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control.