JP2002361969A - Image recorder, image recording method, program therefor, and computer readable medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image recorder which prevents forgery more surely, an image recording method, and a program storage medium for realizing the method. SOLUTION: When images corresponding to inputted image data are to be recorded to a recording material by a point sequential method of recording an image of a plurality of color components for every pixel and forming a full color image in a pixel order, the inputted image data 1501 is analyzed and it is detected concurrently with recording images of one screen whether or not the image to be recorded is a recording prohibition image 1503. When the image to be recorded is detected as the recording prohibition image, after recording all images to be recorded to the recording material finishes, a pattern image is recorded by overlapping on all images already recorded to the recording material (1502).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus, an image recording method, and a program storage medium for realizing the method for preventing printing of print-inhibited images such as bills and securities.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, forgery of specific documents such as banknotes and securities has been jeopardized. In order to prevent such forgery of specific documents, the features of specific images represented in specific documents are recognized. There have been proposed various image recording methods for controlling such an image not to be recorded as it is.

However, this type of image recording method involves temporarily storing data of an entire image to be recorded on one recording material, such as an electrophotographic color copier or a part of a laser printer, and then storing the image to be recorded. It is generally applied to a recording device.

On the other hand, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 05-09294, when it is determined that the input image data includes a specific image, the printing of the image data is stopped at that time, and the image data is printed in the already printed area. On the other hand, it has been proposed to further superimpose and print a stitch pattern that can be recognized as a forged print. This is shown in FIG. In the example of FIG.
If it is determined for the first time that the printing has progressed to the vicinity of the image area 1503, it is determined that the input image is a copy-prohibited object. ing.

[0005]

However, in the above-described prior art, when a printed matter output with a stitch pattern superimposed thereon is viewed, a portion determined to be a specific image can be estimated. Then, the malicious user notices that the specific image can be partially printed, and is likely to print up to the portion immediately before the determination. That is, forgery can be partially performed.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned drawbacks of the conventional example, and has as its object to provide an image recording apparatus, an image recording method, and an image recording method for more reliably preventing forgery.
An object of the present invention is to provide a program storage medium for realizing the method.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, an apparatus according to the present invention records a plurality of color component images for each pixel, and forms a full-color image in a pixel-sequential manner. Recording means for recording an image corresponding to the input image data on a recording material, and analyzing the input image data to determine whether the image to be recorded is a predetermined recording prohibited image for one screen. When the determination means determines in parallel with the image recording of the above and the determination means determines that the image to be recorded is the recording prohibited image, the recording of all the images to be recorded on the recording material is terminated. Later, control means for controlling the recording means so as to record a predetermined disturbing image, superimposed on the image already recorded on the recording material,
It is characterized by having. The recording unit has a recording head that performs recording by relatively moving with respect to the recording material, and the control unit relatively moves the recording head to a recorded area of the recording material to reduce the interference image. It is characterized by superimposed recording. The recording means performs recording in units of a stripe having a predetermined data amount. In order to achieve the above object, a method according to the present invention records an image of a plurality of color components for each pixel, and forms a full-color image in pixel order in a dot-sequential manner in accordance with input image data. What is claimed is: 1. A control method for an image recording apparatus for recording an image on a recording material, comprising: analyzing input image data to determine whether an image to be recorded is a predetermined recording prohibited image for one screen. It is determined in parallel with image recording, and when it is determined that the image to be recorded is the recording-inhibited image, after the recording of all images corresponding to the input image data is completed, the recording is already performed on the recording material. It is characterized in that a predetermined disturbing image is superimposed and recorded on the recorded image.

A program according to the present invention records an image corresponding to input image data in a dot-sequential manner in which an image of a plurality of color components is recorded for each pixel and a full-color image is formed in pixel order. The input image data is analyzed by an image recording apparatus for recording on a recording material, and it is determined in parallel with the image recording for one screen whether or not the image to be recorded is a predetermined recording prohibition image. Function, when the determination unit determines that the image to be recorded is the recording-inhibited image, after finishing recording all the images to be recorded on the recording material, the image already recorded on the recording material. A control program for realizing a recording function of recording a predetermined disturbing image by superimposing it on a recording medium.

In order to achieve the above object, a storage medium according to the present invention records an image of a plurality of color components for each pixel and forms a full-color image in a pixel-sequential manner.
An image recording apparatus that records an image corresponding to the input image data on a recording material analyzes the input image data and determines whether or not the image to be recorded is a predetermined recording prohibited image for one screen. A determination function for determining in parallel with image recording, when the determination unit determines that the image to be recorded is the recording-inhibited image, after finishing recording all images to be recorded on the recording material, A computer-readable medium having recorded thereon a control program for realizing a recording function of recording a predetermined interference image superimposed on an image already recorded on the recording material.

[0010]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the relative arrangement of components, display screens, and the like described in the embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention to them only unless otherwise specified.

FIG. 1 shows an image processing system to which a printer as an embodiment of an image recording apparatus according to the present invention can be applied. In the figure, 1
Denotes a personal computer, 2 denotes a color image scanner, and 3 denotes a connection cable for exchanging data between the personal computer 1 and the color image scanner 2. Reference numeral 4 denotes a color printer as an image recording device that performs image recording in accordance with input image data. Reference numeral 5 denotes a personal computer 1 and a color printer 4.
Represents a connection cable for exchanging data between the devices.

In this embodiment, the color printer 4 is a full-color ink jet printer using a binary recording head of an ink jet recording system, but the present invention is not limited to this.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram in which main parts in the configuration of FIG. 1 are represented by blocks as functional modules. In the figure, 11 is a CPU, 12 is a RAM,
13 is a ROM, 14 is a display control unit, 15 is a display, 16 is an operation input such as a keyboard and a mouse, 1
7 is a connection I / O of an operation input device such as a device keyboard or a mouse, 18 is an external storage device such as a hard disk device, 19 is a connection I / O of an external storage device, 20 is a bus,
Reference numeral 22 denotes a connection I / O with the color image scanner 2. Reference numeral 23 denotes an interface unit with communication means such as a network, and reference numeral 25 denotes a connection I / O with the color printer 4.

Next, the internal mechanism of the color printer 4 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 shows a color printer 4.
FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing the internal configuration of the device.

In FIG. 3, a recording sheet as a recording material is a sheet cassette 50 for storing cut sheets of a small fixed size (A4 to A3 in this embodiment), and a large size (A2 in this embodiment). (Up to A1 size). The recording material includes not only paper but also various materials such as OHP sheets. By inserting recording paper one sheet at a time from a manual insertion slot (not shown), paper feeding from outside the apparatus (manual paper feeding) is also enabled. ing. The pick-up roller 54 is a roller for feeding cut sheets one by one from the paper feed cassette 50. The fed cut paper is conveyed to the first paper feed roller 56 by the cut paper feed roller 55. You. The roll paper 59 is sent out by the roll paper feed roller 30 and the cutter 31
, And is conveyed to the first paper feed roller 56. Similarly, the recording paper inserted from the manual feed slot
The sheet is conveyed to the first sheet feeding roller 56 by the manual feed roller.

The pick-up roller 54, cut sheet feed roller 55, roll paper feed roller 30, first feed roller 56, and manual feed roller are provided with a feed motor (not shown) (for example,
The motor is driven by a DC turbo motor, and on / off control can be performed at any time by an electromagnetic clutch attached to each roller.

When the printing operation is started by an instruction from the computer system 1, the recording paper is conveyed from any one of the above-described paper feeding paths to the first paper sheet 56 that is selectively fed. In order to remove the skew of the recording paper, a first paper feeding roller 56 is turned on after a predetermined amount of paper loop is formed, and the recording paper is conveyed to the second paper feeding roller 57.

The first paper feed roller 56 and the second paper feed roller 57
In order to perform an accurate paper feed operation between the paper feed roller 28 and the second paper feed roller 57, the recording paper is slacked by a predetermined amount to form a buffer. Buffer amount detection sensor 33
Is a sensor for detecting the buffer amount. By always making the buffer during the paper conveyance, the paper feed roller 58 and the paper feed second
The load on the roller 57 can be reduced, and an accurate paper feeding operation can be performed.

At the time of printing by the recording head 37,
A scanning carriage 34 on which a recording head 37 and the like are mounted performs reciprocal scanning on a carriage rail 36 by a scanning motor 35. Then, an image is printed on the recording paper in the forward scan, and the recording paper is fed by a predetermined amount by the paper feed roller 58 in the backward scan. At this time, control is performed such that a predetermined buffer amount is always maintained while the drive system is detected by the buffer amount detection sensor 33 by the paper feed motor.

The printed recording paper is stored in a paper discharge tray 53.
And the printing operation is completed.

Next, the scanning carriage 34 will be described with reference to FIG.
A detailed explanation will be given.

In FIG. 4, a paper feed motor 40 is a drive source for intermittently feeding recording paper, and drives a second paper feed roller 57 via a second paper feed roller clutch 43. The scanning motor 35 is a drive source for scanning the scanning carriage 34 via the scanning belt 42 in the directions indicated by arrows A and B. In this embodiment, a pulse motor is used for the paper feed motor 40 and the scanning motor 35 because accurate paper feed control is required. The recording paper is fed to the second roller 27
, The paper feed second roller clutch 43 and the paper feed motor 40 are turned on, and the recording paper is transported on the platen 39 to the paper feed roller 58.

The recording paper is detected by a paper detection sensor 44 provided on the platen 39, and the sensor information is used for position control, jam control, and the like.

When the recording paper reaches the paper feed roller 58,
The second paper-feed roller clutch 43 and the paper feed motor 40 are turned off, and a suction operation is performed from the inside of the platen 39 by a suction motor (not shown) to bring the recording paper into close contact with the platen 39.

Prior to the image recording operation of the recording paper, the scanning carriage 34 is moved to the position of the home position sensor 41.
, And then forward scan is performed in the direction of arrow A, and cyan C, magenta M, yellow Y, and black K inks are ejected from the predetermined positions from the recording head 37 to perform image recording. When the image recording for a predetermined length is completed, the scanning carriage 34 is stopped, and conversely, the backward scanning is started in the direction of arrow B, and the scanning carriage 34 is returned to the position of the home position sensor 41. During the backward scanning, the paper is fed in the direction of the arrow C by driving the paper feed roller 57 by the paper feed motor 40 to feed the paper for the length recorded by the recording head 37.

In the present embodiment, the recording head 37 is an ink jet nozzle of the above-described system, and uses four nozzles each having 256 nozzles assembled in Y, M, C, and K, respectively. .

When the scanning carriage 34 stops at the home position detected by the home position sensor 41, the recording head 37 recovers. This is a process for performing a stable printing operation. In order to prevent non-uniformity at the start of ejection due to a change in viscosity of ink remaining in the nozzles of the printing head 37, the paper feeding time and the internal This is a process for performing a pressurizing operation to the recording head 37, an idle discharge operation of the ink, and the like according to pre-programmed conditions such as a discharge time and a discharge time.

By repeating the above operation, image recording is performed on the entire surface of the recording paper. FIG. 5 shows the locus of the movement of the recording head with respect to the recording paper for eight reciprocations.

The above-described paper feed roller and the like can also be rotated in the reverse direction. If necessary, the recording head 37 is conveyed backward to a position where printing can be performed again on an area on the recording paper where printing has already been completed. , So that printing can be added in a superimposed manner.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the processing executed in the color printer having the configuration shown in FIGS. The processing shown in the flowchart of FIG.
A program corresponding to this flowchart is stored in the ROM 13 in advance, and the CPU 11 reads the program from the ROM 13 and executes the program. Alternatively, the program may be stored in the external storage device 19 in advance and read into the RAM 12 before the CPU 11 executes the program on the RAM 12.

Hereinafter, description will be made along the flowchart of FIG. When a series of processes is started, in step S10, predetermined initialization required for printing image data (initialization of a RAM area, initialization of an interface unit,
(Eg, initialization of the printer unit). Upon completion of the predetermined initialization, the process proceeds to step S20.

In step S20, the first stripe of the image to be printed (band-shaped area, partial image data corresponding to the print area in the example of FIG. 5) is input to the image input I / O.
Unit 22, or external storage I / O unit 19, or
Interface unit 23 for communication means such as a network
Then, the data is read into the RAM 12 via the CPU and the process proceeds to step S30. In step S30, from the image data on the RAM 12 input in step S20, a feature indicating that the object is a print prohibition target is detected.
Proceed to 40. The feature indicating that the object is a print-inhibited object is detected by detecting information or the like, which is a copy-inhibited object embedded by the "digital watermarking" technique, or by copying the bill / secures feature. A feature amount indicating that the object is a prohibited object is detected.

As a method for determining whether or not a document is a copy-prohibited object, as shown in the bill / securities feature extraction circuit described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2661966, each pixel value ( Based on the set of R, G, and B values corresponding to the three color signals, the color spectrum distribution of the image data obtained by scanning the original is compared with the data registered in the ROM 13 in advance. The sum of absolute values of difference values between numerical values, the calculation of cross-correlation values between distributions, etc.), or a comprehensive image pattern of a part or the whole of a document is registered in a ROM or the like in advance. A method of calculating an evaluation value by comparing with pattern data or the like has been proposed.

In step S40, based on the detection result in step S30, it is determined whether or not the partial image data is for a print-inhibited object. If it is determined that the data is image data of a printer prohibition target, the process proceeds to step S80; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S50.

In step S50, a stripe that is currently stored in the RAM and has not been printed is printed, and the flow advances to step S60. In step S60, it is checked by a known method using a printer driver or the like whether the stripe printed in step S50 is the last stripe image of the image to be printed, and if it is the last stripe, a series of processes is terminated. If not, the process proceeds to step S70. In step S70, the partial image of the next stripe is stored in the RAM 12 in the same manner as stripe S20.
Then, the process returns to step S30.

In step S80, just like step S50, a stripe that is currently stored in the RAM and has not been printed is printed, and the flow advances to step S90. In step S90, whether or not the stripe printed in step S80 is the last stripe image of the image to be printed is checked by a printer driver or the like by a known method, just as in step S60. Proceed to S110, otherwise proceed to Step S100. Step S100
Then, similarly to step S70, the partial image of the next stripe is fetched into the RAM 12, and the process returns to step S80.

In step S110, the recording sheet is reversely conveyed again to a printable position until the beginning of the entire area of the recording paper on which printing has already been completed by reversing the above-described paper feed roller or the like, and the flow proceeds to step S120. In step S120, by printing a stitch pattern, a pattern that can be recognized as a counterfeit print is superimposed and printed on the entire image area that has already been printed, and a series of processing ends.

In the above description, the loop from step S30 to step S70 corresponds to the flow of processing while the image data being printed is not determined to be a print prohibition target.
The loop up to 100 corresponds to the flow of the process of continuing printing up to the final portion of the input image after it is determined that the printing is to be prohibited, and forgery is performed on the entire image area printed after step S110. This corresponds to the flow of a process of superimposing and printing a pattern that is known to be a printed matter.

FIG. 8 shows an output example when this embodiment is applied.

According to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, even if it is determined that the area 1503 in the input image 1501 is a print prohibition target, forgery is performed on the entire image area. A pattern that is known to be a printed matter is superimposed and printed (see 1502).

Inexpensive printers such as ink jet printers often print an image for each band-shaped area. Therefore, the present embodiment is particularly effective in an image processing system including these devices as components.

In the present embodiment, a case has been described in which it is determined whether or not each stripe (band-shaped partial image data) is a print-inhibited object. However, the present invention is not limited to this. is not. That is, the printed portion is kept held (buffered on the RAM), and when a subsequent stripe is input, the partial image is sequentially added to the previous partial image as a wide partial image. The print prohibition target may be determined as a wider partial image. In this case, although the printing itself proceeds sequentially for each stripe, the determination itself as to whether or not it is a print-prohibited object is performed sequentially using image data of a wider partial image area, so that improvement in determination accuracy can be expected. .

Although the partial image itself of the input stripe is buffered, the partial image itself corresponding to each stripe is not buffered, but the partial image data corresponding to each stripe is obtained. Of course, it may be realized by buffering the extracted feature amount data and their integrated value.

Also, from the stripe portion determined to be a print-inhibited object, a pattern that is known to be a counterfeit print is synthesized with data to be printed, and printing is performed. The recording paper may be returned to the position where is printed, and the above pattern may be superimposed on the recorded image. In this case, it is only necessary to perform the superimposition recording only on the area recorded before the print prohibition target is determined.

Alternatively, if it is determined that the printing is prohibited,
The recording paper may be fed backward to return to the first stripe, and the above pattern may be superimposed and recorded. When the superimposed recording is completed up to the last recorded position, the above data may be combined with the above pattern for recording. With these methods, the printed matter shown in FIG. 8 can be obtained.

Although the above description has been made on the assumption that the processing is performed for each stripe, each stripe may be further divided into several blocks and the same processing may be performed for each block.

FIG. 9 shows an example of a block configuration in this case. FIG. 9 shows an example of an image in which each of the five stripes is composed of five blocks. First, from the first stripe x ₁ y _* (* is 1 to 5 in this example) to the fifth stripe The processing is performed for each block, and when the processing for all blocks is completed, the processing for the entire image area is completed.

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, a facsimile, etc.) comprising one device Device).

Further, an object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium (or a recording medium) on which a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is recorded to a system or an apparatus, and to provide a computer (or a computer) of the system or apparatus. Or a CPU or MPU) reads out and executes the program code stored in the storage medium,
It goes without saying that this is achieved. 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.
In addition, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also based on the instructions of the program code,
The operating system (OS) running on the computer performs part or all of the actual processing,
It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing is also included.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion card inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the program code is read based on the instruction of the program code. , The CPU provided in the function expansion card or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing,
It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing is also included.

When the present invention is applied to the storage medium, the storage medium stores program codes corresponding to the above-described flowchart (shown in FIG. 6).

[0052]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide an image recording device, an image recording method, and a program storage medium that realizes the image recording device and the image recording method that more reliably prevent forgery.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a main part of the image processing system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing an example of an internal configuration of the color printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a scanning carriage of the color printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a movement of a recording head on a recording sheet according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation procedure of the color printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of output to a print prohibition target according to a conventional example.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an output example of a color printer according to an embodiment of the present invention with respect to a print prohibition target.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing another processing unit of the color printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Computer system (personal computer) 2 Color image scanner 3 Connection cable 4 Color printer 5 Connection cable 11 CPU 12 RAM 13 ROM 14 Display control unit 15 Display 16 Input device such as keyboard and mouse 17 I / O with input device 18 Hard disk etc. External storage device 19 I / O with external storage device 20 Bus 21 Image scanner 22 I / O with image input device 23 Communication interface 24 Color printer 25 I / O with image output device

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C061 AQ05 AQ06 AR01 CL10 HH01 HJ06 HK11 HN02 HN15 2H134 NA24 NA26 5C076 AA14 BA06 5C077 LL14 MP08 PP23 PP55 PQ20 PQ25 TT06

Claims (6)

[Claims] An image of a plurality of color components is recorded for each pixel,
Recording means for recording an image corresponding to input image data on a recording material in a dot-sequential manner in which a full-color image is formed in pixel order; analyzing the input image data, and A determination unit for determining whether or not the image is a recording-inhibited image in parallel with the image recording for one screen; and when the determination unit determines that the image to be recorded is the recording-inhibited image, Control means for controlling the recording means so as to superimpose on the image already recorded on the recording material and to record a predetermined disturbing image after recording of all images to be recorded on the recording material is completed. An image recording apparatus, comprising: 2. The recording device according to claim 1, further comprising a recording head that performs recording by moving relative to the recording material, wherein the control unit relatively moves the recording head to a recorded area of the recording material. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the interference image is superimposed and recorded. 3. An image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recording means performs recording in a stripe-shaped unit having a predetermined data amount. 4. An image of a plurality of color components is recorded for each pixel,
A dot-sequential method of forming a full-color image in pixel order, a control method for an image recording apparatus that records an image corresponding to input image data on a recording material, analyzing the input image data, It is determined in parallel with the image recording for one screen whether or not the image to be recorded is a predetermined recording prohibited image, and when it is determined that the image to be recorded is the recording prohibited image, A control method, wherein after recording of all images corresponding to the input image data is completed, a predetermined disturbing image is superimposed and recorded on the image already recorded on the recording material. 5. An image of a plurality of color components is recorded for each pixel,
In an image recording apparatus that records an image corresponding to input image data on a recording material in a dot-sequential manner in which a full-color image is formed in pixel order, the input image data is analyzed, and the image to be recorded is A determining function of determining whether or not the image is a predetermined recording-inhibited image in parallel with the image recording for one screen; and determining that the image to be recorded is the recording-inhibited image. A control function for realizing a recording function of recording a predetermined disturbing image on the image already recorded on the recording material after the recording of all the images to be recorded on the material is completed. 6. An image of a plurality of color components is recorded for each pixel,
In an image recording apparatus that records an image corresponding to the input image data on a recording material in a dot-sequential manner in which a full-color image is formed in pixel order, the input image data is analyzed and the image to be recorded is A determining function of determining whether or not the image is a predetermined recording-inhibited image in parallel with the image recording for one screen; and determining that the image to be recorded is the recording-inhibited image. After recording all images to be recorded on the recording material is completed, a recording function of recording a predetermined disturbing image superimposed on the image already recorded on the recording material. Readable medium.