JP2004230603A - Image forming apparatus, method of forming image, and program for executing the method on computer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve a security by setting a limit of the number of times of printing to printing data in a printing operation in an image forming apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: Information of an operator such as a user ID registered through a system initial setting screen 1100 displayed on a liquid crystal touch panel 201 is stored in a nonvolatile memory NV-RAM 512. The authentication of the user of the image forming apparatus is thereby carried out. The total number of times of printing that image data is allowed to be printed without designation of the user or the number of times that the printing can be performed by each user with respect to the image data to be printed is stored in the nonvolatile memory NV-RAM 512 through a system initial setting/accumulated document sheet number management screen 1200. When the printing is performed, a printer application 602 and a system controller 603 look up the setting information to limit the number of time of printing. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, and a program for causing a computer to execute the method for a printing process in the image forming apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
With the recent improvement and spread of image forming apparatuses such as copiers, it is possible to easily obtain multiple copies of confidential documents and important documents in a company, which may lead to leakage of confidential information or unauthorized use. I have.
[0003]
At present, in order to solve the leakage of confidentiality or unauthorized use of the printed matter, a method of identifying a person who can access in advance when accessing a confidential document or an important document stored in the image forming apparatus has been adopted. . In this method, a user name, an identification code, a password, and the like are registered in the image device in advance, and when printing or the like is performed, printing is permitted after authentication. Alternatively, print data such as a document to be printed as well as the image data is provided with information such as an operator and a distribution destination, and is printed only after collation with user information registered in the image device. There is also an image forming apparatus having such a function that the function cannot be performed.
[0004]
For example, as an example of preventing a confidential document from being easily copied by a copying machine, management information such as a document ID number, a distributor ID number, a password or an operator ID number is stored inside the copying machine. Requesting the input of an ID number, and if the ID number is satisfied, start reading. If there is a mark or pattern indicating a confidential document registered in advance in the read original image, the mark or pattern is deleted. The document ID number is read based on the document ID, and a set of an operator ID number, a document ID number, and a distributor ID number stored inside the copying machine is searched. If they are already stored, they are refused to copy, and if they are not stored, they are registered and then permitted to be copied. Further, there is a copy management method for printing information of an operator of a copying machine and information of a distribution target together with an image of a document to be copied when a confidential document is copied (see Patent Document 1 below).
[0005]
In addition, as an example of a printer system connected via a network, print data instructed to be printed from a terminal device such as a computer device is stored in a print buffer in the printer, and the print data includes security information. Check if it is. Then, when security information is included, there is a system or the like that determines whether or not a print instruction has been issued from the terminal device of the authenticated print request source, and executes printout only when the terminal device is authenticated ( See Patent Document 2 below.)
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-7-49645
[Patent Document 2]
JP-A-11-15609
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described related art, when an identification code of an operator of a printing apparatus or an image forming apparatus leaks to a person other than the user, a document or print data that can be printed only by the user or the operator is used. The printing is continued until the person who knows the identification code notices that the printing is illegal. In addition to printing, the authentication method for identifying the user is also the same when logging in to another computer device, and has the weakness that if an identification code or password is leaked, it will not be noticed until it is misused. I have.
[0008]
In addition, a user identification code for specifying a person who operates the image forming apparatus and a password are set in order to enhance security. Further, if identification codes are created to further specify a document or a distribution destination, the number of identification codes to be managed increases, and the complexity increases. It is easy to happen. Also, if an identification code that identifies the operator or document is used, the risk of leakage of the identification code itself increases, as with a password, and printing is performed indefinitely until it is noticed that it has been leaked to another person. It becomes possible to do.
[0009]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described related art, and has an image forming apparatus and an image forming method capable of improving security by restricting printing of confidential documents and important documents in the image forming apparatus. And a program for causing a computer to execute the method.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, an image forming apparatus according to claim 1 reads out image information, accumulates image data, and prints out specific image data in the image forming apparatus. User registration means for setting and registering information of a user who permits the setting, and identification information for identifying the user, an authentication means for performing an authentication process using the information of the user set and registered by the user registration means, Means for setting and registering at least one of the number of times of printing the image data and the number of times of printing for each user; and referring to the number of times of printing set by the number of times of printing setting, and printing the number of times of printing. And print control means for permitting
[0011]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus, the number of times that image data to be printed can be printed, or a user who is permitted to print the image data and the user Can be set. This makes it possible to limit who can print when performing printing and to limit the number of times of printing. Since the total number of printed documents can be limited, it is possible to prevent flooding of confidential documents and important documents.
[0012]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, each time the image data is printed out, information of the user who has performed printing, printing date and time are displayed. , The number of copies, a security management number, and the like.
[0013]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, when printing is performed by the image forming apparatus, it is possible to store information such as the information of the user who performs the printing or the printing date and time of the image data and the security management number. In addition, the printing status of the confidential data can be grasped.
[0014]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, each time the image data is printed out, the print control unit performs printing on the transfer paper on which the printout is performed. The printing is performed by adding information such as the user information, printing date and time, number of copies, and confidential management number.
[0015]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, a record such as a confidential management number, a user name, and a print date and time is printed on the printed matter printed by the image forming apparatus. Can be specified.
[0016]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming method for reading image information, storing image data, and printing out the image information. A user registration step of setting and registering identification information for identification, an authentication step of performing authentication processing using the information of the user set and registered by the user registration step, a print count of the image data, and A print count setting step of performing setting registration of at least one of the print counts, a print control step of referring to the print count set by the print count setting step, and permitting printing for the print count. It is characterized by including.
[0017]
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the number of times the image data to be printed can be printed, or a user who is permitted to print the image data and the user are permitted. Information such as the number of times of printing can be set. This makes it possible to limit the number of people who can print at the time of printing, and to limit the number of times of printing. Since the total number of printed documents can be limited, flooding of confidential documents and important documents can be further prevented.
[0018]
A program according to a fifth aspect of the present invention can cause a computer to execute the method according to the fourth aspect.
[0019]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view showing the image forming apparatus of the present invention. A document bundle is placed on a document table 102 above an automatic document feeder (hereinafter, referred to as an ADF) 101 with the document image side up.
[0020]
When a “start” key 204 on the operation unit 200 (see FIG. 2) is pressed, the document is fed from the top document to a predetermined position on the contact glass 106 by the feed roller 103 and the feed belt 104. . The image data of the document on the contact glass 106 is read by the reading unit 150, and the document that has been read is discharged by the feed belt 104 and the discharge roller 105. Further, when the document set detection unit 107 detects that the next document is present on the document table 102, the document is fed onto the contact glass 106 in the same manner as the previous document. The feed roller 103, the feed belt 104, and the discharge roller 105 are driven by a transport motor 406 (see FIG. 4).
[0021]
The transfer sheets stacked on the first tray 108, the second tray 109, and the third tray 110 below the apparatus are fed by the first sheet feeding device 111, the second sheet feeding device 112, and the third sheet feeding device 113, respectively. Is transported by the vertical transport unit 114 to a position where it contacts the photoconductor 115. The image data read by the reading unit 150 is written on the photoconductor 115 by the laser from the writing unit 157 and passes through the developing unit 127 to form a toner image. Then, the toner image on the photoconductor 115 is transferred while the transfer paper is being conveyed by the conveyance belt 116 at the same speed as the rotation of the photoconductor 115. Thereafter, the image is fixed by the fixing unit 117, and the image is discharged to the finisher 170 of the post-processing device by the sheet discharging unit 118.
[0022]
The finisher 170 of the post-processing device can guide the transfer paper toward the normal discharge roller 172 and the lower stapling section. By switching the switching plate 171 upward, it is possible to discharge the paper to the normal paper discharge tray 174 via the transport roller 173. Further, by switching the switching plate 171 downward, the sheet can be conveyed to the staple table 178 via the conveying rollers 175 and 177. The transfer paper stacked on the staple table 178 is aligned by a paper alignment jogger 179 every time one sheet is discharged, and is stapled by the stapler 176 when a part of the copy is completed. The transfer paper group bound by the stapler 176 is stored in the staple completed paper output tray 180 by its own weight.
[0023]
On the other hand, the normal paper discharge tray 174 is a paper discharge tray that can move back and forth. The normal paper output tray 174 that can be moved back and forth moves back and forth for each original or for each copy unit sorted by an image memory 506 (see FIG. 5) described below, and easily outputs the copy paper. It is something to sort.
[0024]
When images are formed on both sides of the transfer paper, the transfer paper fed and imaged from each of the paper feed trays 108 to 110 is not guided to the normal paper output tray 174 side, and a branch claw 182 for path switching is provided. Is set on the upper side to temporarily stock the duplex sheet feeding unit 181. Thereafter, the transfer paper stocked in the duplex paper feed unit 181 is re-fed from the duplex paper feed unit 181 to transfer the toner image formed on the photoconductor 115 again, and a branch claw 182 for path switching. Is set on the lower side, and is guided to the normal paper discharge tray 174. The double-sided paper feeding unit 181 is used to create an image on both sides of such transfer paper.
[0025]
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of display contents of the operation unit 200. The operation unit 200 includes a liquid crystal touch panel 201, a numeric keypad 202, a "clear / stop" key 203, a "start" key 204, a "preheat" key 205, a "reset" key 206, an "initial setting" key 207, and a "copy" key. An LCD 208, a “copy server” key 209, and the like are provided. On the liquid crystal touch panel 201, keys for mode setting described later, a message indicating the state of the image forming apparatus, and the like are displayed.
[0026]
By pressing the “initial setting” key 207, the initial state of the machine can be arbitrarily customized. It is possible to arbitrarily set the size that is set when the paper size stored in the machine is set or when the mode clear key of the copy function is pressed. In addition, select the application etc. that is preferentially selected when there is no operation for a certain period of time, set the transition time to low power according to the International Energy Star plan, and set the time to transition to auto off / sleep mode And so on.
[0027]
When the “preheat” key 205 is pressed, the machine shifts from the standby state to the power reduction state, lowers the fixing temperature, and turns off the display of the operation unit 200. The preheating state means a low power state according to the International Energy Star Program. To release the preheating state, the off state / sleep state, and shift to the standby state, the “preheating” key 205 is pressed again. By pressing the “copy” key 208, a copy function can be used. A “copy server” key 209 is used to edit existing copy image data (set copy mode, print, delete). Details of the “copy server” key 209 will be described later.
[0028]
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of display contents of the liquid crystal touch panel 201 provided in the operation unit 200. This screen is displayed when the “copy server” key 209 shown in FIG. 2 is pressed. When the operator touches the key displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 201, the key indicating the selected function is inverted to black. If the details of the function need to be specified (for example, if the magnification is a variable magnification, touching the key displays a setting screen for the detailed function. Since such a liquid crystal touch panel 201 uses a dot display, it is possible to graphically perform an optimal display at that time. To read a document from the document table 102 in FIG. 1 and store the document, a “document read” key 301 is pressed.
[0029]
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a system configuration of the image forming apparatus. The photoconductor 115, the conveyance belt 116, the fixing unit 117, the paper discharging unit 118, and the developing unit 127 are driven by a main motor 405 shown in FIG. 4, and each of the paper feeding devices 111 to 113 controls the driving of the main motor 405 by a paper feeding clutch. The transmission is driven by 402 to 404. The vertical transport unit 114 is driven to transmit the drive of the main motor 405 by the intermediate clutch 401. The main controller 400 controls these components. In addition, a connection for a linked printing operation is performed with another image forming apparatus via an image processing unit (IPU) 407.
[0030]
Next, an operation from reading an image of a document to forming a latent image on a recording surface will be described with reference to FIG. A latent image is a potential distribution generated by converting an image into optical information and irradiating the image on the photoreceptor surface. The reading unit 150 includes a contact glass 106 on which a document is placed and an optical scanning system. The optical scanning system includes an exposure lamp 151, a first mirror 152, a lens 153, a CCD image sensor 154, and the like. I have. The exposure lamp 151 and the first mirror 152 are fixed on a first carriage (not shown), and the second mirror 155 and the third mirror 156 are fixed on a second carriage (not shown).
[0031]
When reading a document image, the first carriage and the second carriage are mechanically scanned at a relative speed of 2: 1 so that the optical path length does not change. This optical scanning system is driven by a scanner drive motor (not shown). The document image is read by the CCD image sensor 154, converted into an electric signal, and processed. By moving the lens 153 and the CCD image sensor 154 in the left-right direction in FIG. 1, the image magnification changes. That is, the positions of the lens 153 and the CCD image sensor 154 are set in the left-right direction corresponding to the designated magnification.
[0032]
The writing unit 157 includes a laser output unit 158, an imaging lens 159, and a mirror 160. Inside the laser output unit 158, a rotating polygon mirror (polygon) that rotates at a constant high speed by a laser diode as a laser light source and a motor at a high speed. Mirror). The laser light emitted from the laser output unit 158 is polarized by a polygon mirror that rotates at a constant speed, passes through the imaging lens 159, is turned back by the mirror 160, and forms a focused image on the surface of the photoconductor.
[0033]
The polarized laser light is exposed and scanned in a direction (main scanning direction) orthogonal to the direction in which the photoconductor 115 rotates, and the image signal output from a later-described selector 504 (see FIG. 5) of an image processing unit in line units. Make a record of An image (electrostatic latent image) is formed on the photoconductor surface by repeating main scanning at a predetermined cycle corresponding to the rotation speed and the recording density of the photoconductor 115.
[0034]
As described above, the laser light output from the writing unit 157 is applied to the photoconductor 115 of the image forming system. Although not shown, a beam sensor that generates a main scanning synchronization signal is arranged at a position near one end of the photoconductor 115 where the laser beam is irradiated. Based on the main scanning synchronization signal, control of image recording start timing in the main scanning direction and generation of a control signal for inputting / outputting an image signal described later are performed.
[0035]
Next, the configuration of the image processing unit 407 (the reading unit 150 and the writing unit 157 shown in FIG. 1) shown in FIG. 4 will be described. FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the image processing unit 407. The light emitted from the exposure lamp 151 shown in FIG. 1 irradiates the original surface, and the reflected light from the original surface is imaged and received by an image forming lens (not shown) by the CCD image sensor 154, and the light is received. After that, the digital signal is converted by the A / D converter 501 into a digital signal. The image signal converted into the digital signal is subjected to shading correction by a shading correction unit 502, and then MTF correction and γ correction are performed by an MTF / γ correction unit 503. The selector 504 switches the destination of the image signal to the print synthesizing unit 511 or the memory controller 505. In the print synthesizing unit 511, the setting of the editing function is reflected from the print image data generating device (print unit) 514, and the image signal passing through the print synthesizing unit 511 passes through the scaling circuit 515 and is scaled according to the scaling factor. Then, it is sent to the writing unit 157.
[0036]
The image processing unit 407 includes a CPU 508 for setting the memory controller 505 and controlling the reading unit 150 and the writing unit 157 shown in FIG. 1, and a ROM 509, a RAM 510, and an NV-RAM 512 for storing the programs and data. The I / O port 507 is also connected. The CPU 508 writes and reads data in the image memory 506 via the memory controller 505. An HD 513 is provided to save or save the contents of the image memory 506.
[0037]
The image sent to the memory controller 505 as the original image is sent to the image memory 506 after the image data is compressed by an image compression device in the memory controller 505. The reason for image compression here is that data of 256 gradations corresponding to the maximum image size can be written to the image memory 506 as it is, but the image memory 506 is used very much for one document image. By performing image compression, the limited image memory 506 can be used effectively.
[0038]
Further, since a large number of document image data can be stored at one time, the stored document image data can be output in the order of pages as a sorting function. In this case, when the image is output, the data is output while sequentially expanding the data in the image memory 506 by the expansion device in the memory controller 505. Such a function is generally called “electronic sorting”.
[0039]
Also, by utilizing the function of the image memory 506, it is possible to sequentially read a plurality of document images into an area obtained by dividing the area of one transfer sheet of the image memory 506. For example, four original images are sequentially written into an area of the image memory 506 which is divided into four equal parts for one transfer sheet, so that the four originals are combined into one transfer paper image, and the aggregated copy output is obtained. It is possible to obtain. Such a function is generally called “aggregated copy”. The image in the image memory 506 can be accessed from the CPU 508. Therefore, the contents of the image memory 506 can be processed, and for example, an image thinning process, an image cutout process, and the like can be performed.
[0040]
For processing, processing of the image memory 506 can be performed by writing data to the register of the memory controller 505. The processed image is stored again in the image memory 506. The image memory 506 is configured to divide the image data into a plurality of areas according to the size of the image data to be processed and to simultaneously execute input and output of the image data. An interface with the memory controller 505 is connected to the interface with the memory controller 505 by two sets of address and data lines for reading and writing so that input and output of image data can be executed in parallel in each divided area. This enables an operation of outputting (reading) an image while inputting (writing) the image.
[0041]
The image memory 506 may be provided with a separate HD 513 to store a large amount of image data. By using the HD 513, there is also a feature that an external power supply is unnecessary and an image can be held permanently. The HD 513 is generally used to read and hold a plurality of fixed originals (format originals) with a scanner.
[0042]
The writing and reading are temporarily stored and processed in the image memory 506 in order to absorb a difference in processing speed with respect to image formation of the main body and image writing from the scanner. When sending data from the image storage device to the writing unit 157, the data is temporarily stored in the image memory 506 and sent to the writing unit 157. As described above, the input and output of the image memory 506, the HD 513, the scanner image, and the image to be sent to the writing unit 157 of the apparatus for storing the image are all determined by the memory controller 505 in the image path.
[0043]
FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a system for operating a stored image according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 6, a function of operating an existing stored image exists as a copy server application 601 and is activated in the same row as the copy application 600 and the printer application 602, and each operates independently. The operation unit controller 604, the peripheral device controller 605, the image forming device controller 606, the image reading device controller 607, and the memory unit 608, which are shared resources, are arbitrated by the system controller 603, and control each of the input / output devices through the input / output control unit 609. Do it. The memory unit 608 controls a disk device or the like that conforms to the SCSI standard through a SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) controller 610. Each application described above can write its own operation screen information on the virtual screen provided by the operation unit 200. The operation unit 200 develops screen information of a virtual screen of an operation unit owner application (not shown) specified by the system controller 603 on a real screen.
[0044]
FIG. 7 is a system configuration diagram showing an example of a network system including the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. For example, the first terminal device 704, the second terminal device 705, and the third terminal device 706, and the first image forming device 701, the second image forming device 702, and the third image forming device 703 are Ethernet (R) or 1000BASE. The connection is made by a general LAN (Local Area Network) 707 such as -T. As shown in FIG. 5, between the memory controller 505 and the selector 504, image signals can be bidirectionally input / output. Although not shown in FIG. 5, the image processing unit 407 includes image data supplied from the outside via the I / O port 507 in addition to the image data input from the reading unit 150, such as the personal data shown in FIG. It has a function of selecting input and output of a plurality of data so that image data and the like input from the first terminal device 704, the second terminal device 705, and the third terminal device 706 such as a computer can be processed. In FIG. 7, image forming apparatuses are connected to a network via an I / O port 507 to transmit and receive mechanical configuration information and operation status of each image forming apparatus, or control commands such as remote output commands and setting commands. The communication means uses a TCP / IP communication protocol which is widely used as an Internet protocol.
[0045]
FIG. 8 is a display example of a timing chart showing image signals for one page in the selector 504. In FIG. 8B, / FGATE indicates the effective period of one page of image data in the sub-scanning direction. In FIG. 8A, / LSYNC is a main scanning synchronization signal for each line, and the image signal becomes valid at a predetermined clock after this signal rises. / LGATE in FIG. 8E is a signal indicating that the image signal in the main scanning direction is valid. These signals are synchronized with the pixel clock VCLK in FIG. 8C, and data of one pixel in FIG. 8D is sent for one cycle of VCLK. The image processing unit (IPU) 407 has separate generation mechanisms for / FGATE, / LSYNC, / LGATE, and VCLK for each of image input and output, and various image input / output combinations can be realized. . In this embodiment, the writing density on the transfer paper is 400 dpi, and the maximum number of pixels is 4800 pixels in the main scanning and 6800 pixels in the sub-scanning. It is also assumed that the closer the image data is to 255, the whiter the image becomes. As shown in FIG. 5, the printing function is performed in the subsequent stage of the image memory 506 (print synthesizing unit 511), and printing is added for each transfer sheet.
[0046]
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of display contents of the liquid crystal touch panel 201. To store images in the copy server, the user presses a “copy server” key 209 in FIG. At this time, the liquid crystal touch panel 201 shifts to FIG. The display area 900 displays the image information stored in the HD 513, such as the user ID, the document name, the number of pages, the time, etc., for each line of one document. A document name is given each time image data is stored. The number of pages is the number of stored document images. The storage time indicates the time when the image data was stored. The information set here is held in the nonvolatile memory NV-RAM 512 shown in FIG. 5, and the image information is kept held even when the power is turned off. Although only three pieces of image information are displayed in the display area 900 in FIG. 9, when the image information cannot be displayed on one screen, the information is displayed by pressing a “Previous” key 903 and a “Back” key 904. No image information can be displayed.
[0047]
When each piece of image information displayed in the display area 900 is pressed, the image information display portion turns black. This is called a selected state. A plurality of pieces of image information can be specified as a selected state. When a document is selected and a “delete from list” key 901 is pressed, the selected document is deleted. When a document is selected and a “print condition” key 902 is pressed, the display on the touch panel is as shown in FIG. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of display contents of the system initial setting password screen 1001 according to the embodiment of the present invention. Here, printing conditions are set, and a “start” key 204 is pressed to print out a stored image corresponding to the selected document in accordance with the designated printing conditions.
[0048]
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of display contents of the system initial setting password screen 1001. When the “initial setting” key 207 in FIG. 2 is pressed, the screen shifts to a system initial setting password screen 1001 shown in FIG. Here, when an administrator password is input to the administrator password input unit 1002 at the center of the screen using the numeric keypad 202 in FIG. 2, the screen shifts to a system initial setting screen 1100 in FIG.
[0049]
FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of display contents of the system initial setting screen 1100. In FIG. 11, a “user code management” key, an “initialization access code setting” key, and the like are shown on a system initial setting screen 1100. In addition, a “storage document number management” key 1101 and a “print setting” key 1102 are displayed. It is shown. To read a document from the document table 102 in FIG. 1 and accumulate it, the user presses a “document read” key 301 in FIG. At this time, the touch panel is as shown in FIG. Among them, the mode at the time of accumulation can be changed by pressing an arbitrary key in the touch panel.
[0050]
FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the display contents of the system initial setting / number of stored documents management screen 1200. FIG. 12 is displayed by pressing the “managed number of stored documents” key 1101 shown in FIG. On this screen, a stored document can be selected, the number of times of printing for each stored document can be limited, and user settings can be made. To set the print count limit for each stored document, the user can press the number of printable copies field of the document line whose print count is to be limited, highlight that area, and enter a number from the numeric keypad here. . Further, in order to perform the setting for each user for the selected document, the user-specific setting screen 1300 shown in FIG. 13 (see FIG. Will be described later).
[0051]
FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of display contents of the user-specific setting screen 1300. By pressing the user setting shown in FIG. 12, the screen changes to a user-specific setting screen 1300 as shown in FIG. 13, and it is possible to set a limit on the number of copies that can be printed for a certain document for each user. it can. Items such as a user ID, a user name, the number of printable copies, the remaining number of prints, and the latest print date and time are displayed for each user on the user-specific setting screen 1300, and an area for the number of printable copies displayed for each user ID is selected. Then, the number of copies can be input from the numeric keypad.
[0052]
FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of display contents of the print setting screen 1400. By pressing a “print setting” key 1102 shown in FIG. 11, a transition is made to a print setting screen 1400 as shown in FIG. Here, information to be printed on the left side of the screen is displayed from the top as keys for printing a document name, printing a date, printing a management number, printing a user name, and the like, so that whether to print or not can be selected. Then, by selecting an information item on the left side and pressing a “Yes” key 1401 or a “No” key 1402, setting can be performed. According to this setting, the designated information items are printed on the printing paper of the stored document. The information set in the above operation is also held in the NV-RAM 512 which is a nonvolatile memory, and the image information is kept held even when the power is turned off.
[0053]
(Procedure of printing operation of image forming apparatus)
Next, a procedure of a printing operation of the above-described image forming apparatus will be described. FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a printing operation of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the flowchart of FIG. 15, first, the information stored in the NV-RAM 512 is acquired, and it is determined whether or not the number of times of the document (designated document) to be printed is limited (step S1501). . If the number of times is not limited (step S1501: No), printing is started (step S1505). If the number of times is limited (step S1501: Yes), it is determined from the NV-RAM 512 whether or not the document with the number of times is specified by the user (step S1502).
[0054]
If the designation is not user-specific (step S1502: NO), the number of prints set for all users is obtained from the NV-RAM 512 (step S1503), and it is determined whether printing is possible for all users (step S1504). ). If printing can be performed by all users (step S1504: YES), printing is started under the control of the system controller 603 (step S1505). If printing is not possible for all users (step S1504: NO), printing is stopped (step S1508).
[0055]
On the other hand, in the case of user-specific designation (step S1502: YES), the number of prints permitted for the user who is the current operator is checked (step S1506). Then, it is determined whether or not printing by the current user is possible (step S1507). If printing by the current user is not possible (the limit number has been reached) (step S1507: No), printing is stopped (step S1508). ). If printing by the current user is possible (the number of times has not reached the limit) (step S1507: YES), printing is started (step S1505).
[0056]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, not only the identification of the user with the identification code and the password, but also the information of the user who is permitted to print the image data to be printed, The user can set information on the permitted number of prints. This makes it possible to limit who can print when performing printing, and to limit the number of times that printing can be performed. Therefore, it is possible to limit the total number of sheets on which the image data is printed, and it is possible to prevent flooding of confidential documents and important documents.
[0057]
When printing a confidential document stored in the image forming apparatus, the information of the user such as the user ID of the printing, the date and time of printing, the number of copies, the number of remaining printable copies, and the confidential management number is stored in the image forming apparatus. It is also conceivable to store it in a storage device that can be added internally or externally. For example, a mechanism for storing a history as a log file in a storage device such as the HD 513 shown in FIG. 5 or a mechanism for storing the history as a database is prepared and stored as a print history of a confidential document. Also, if a function of sequentially deleting the past histories of the same printer is provided, a large area is not required when storing the history data, so a method of simply storing the history in the NV-RAM 512 or the like is also considered. it can. It is possible to manage confidential document printing by referring to the history data created as described above.
[0058]
The image forming method described in the present embodiment can be realized by executing a prepared program on a computer such as a personal computer or a workstation. This program is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a hard disk, a flexible disk, a CD-ROM, an MO, and a DVD, and is executed by being read from the recording medium by the computer. The program may be a transmission medium that can be distributed via a network such as the Internet.
[0059]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, in an image forming apparatus that reads image information, accumulates image data, and prints out the information, information on a user who permits printout of specific image data, and User registration means for setting and registering identification information for identifying the user; authentication means for performing authentication processing using the information of the user set and registered by the user registration means; and A print count setting unit for setting and registering at least one of the print counts for each user; a print control unit for referring to the print count set by the print count setting unit and permitting printing for the print count; The number of printable times for the image data to be printed, or the printing of the image data is allowed. Such as the user and the print number information to which the user is allowed to have can be set. This makes it possible to limit the number of people who can print when printing, and to limit the number of times that printing can be performed. Since it is possible to limit the total number of sheets to be printed, it is possible to prevent flooding of confidential documents and important documents.
[0060]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the print control unit includes information on a user who performed printing, a print date and time, each time the image data is printed out. It has a feature to store information such as the number of copies and confidential control number, so when printing is performed by the image forming apparatus, the information of the user who performs the printing or the record such as the print date and time of the image data and the confidential control number are stored. Therefore, the printing status of the confidential data can be grasped.
[0061]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the print control unit prints the image data on the transfer paper each time the image data is printed out. It has the feature of printing with information such as user information, print date and time, number of copies, and confidential management number, so the confidential management number, user name, print date and time, etc. are recorded on the printed matter printed by the image forming apparatus. Is printed, so that the printing of the confidential data can specify, for example, when and by whom.
[0062]
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in an image forming method for reading image information, storing image data, and printing out, the information of a user who permits printout of specific image data and the user is identified. A user registration step of registering and setting identification information for performing authentication, an authentication step of performing an authentication process using the information of the user set and registered by the user registration step, a print count of the image data, and A print count setting step of registering at least one of the print count settings, and a print control step of referring to the print count set in the print count setting step and permitting printing for the print count. Included, the number of printable times for the image data to be printed, or the permission to print the image data. Etc. can be set user and the print number information to which the user is allowed to have. This makes it possible to limit the number of people who can print when printing, and to limit the number of times that printing can be performed. Since it is possible to limit the total number of printed documents, it is possible to prevent flooding of confidential documents and important documents.
[0063]
According to the invention described in claim 5, there is an effect that a program capable of causing a computer to execute the method described in claim 4 is obtained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view showing an image forming apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of display contents of an operation unit 200.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of display contents of a liquid crystal touch panel 201 provided in an operation unit 200.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a system configuration of the image forming apparatus.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing unit 407.
FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a system for operating a stored image.
FIG. 7 is a system configuration diagram illustrating an example of a network system including an image forming apparatus.
FIG. 8 is a timing chart showing an image signal for one page in the selector 504.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of display contents of a liquid crystal touch panel 201.
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of display contents of a system initial setting password screen 1001.
FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of display contents of a system initial setting screen 1100.
FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of display contents of a system initial setting / number-of-stored-documents management screen 1200.
FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of display contents of a user-specific setting screen 1300.
FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of display contents of a print setting screen 1400.
FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a printing operation of the image forming apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
507 I / O port
508 CPU
509 ROM
510 RAM
511 Print synthesis unit
512 NV-RAM
513 HD
600 copy app
601 copy server application
602 printer app
603 system controller
604 Operation unit controller
605 Peripheral controller
606 Image forming apparatus controller
607 Image reading device controller
608 memory unit
609 I / O controller
610 SCSI controller
701 First Image Forming Apparatus
702 Second image forming apparatus
703 Third image forming apparatus
704 First terminal device
705 Second terminal device
706 Third terminal device
707 LAN
900 display area

Claims (5)

In an image forming apparatus that reads image information, stores image data, and prints out,
User registration means for setting and registering information on a user who permits print output of specific image data, and identification information for specifying the user;
An authentication unit that performs an authentication process using the information of the user registered and set by the user registration unit;
A print count setting unit for setting and registering at least one of the print count of the image data and the print count of the user;
A print control unit that refers to the number of times of printing set by the number of times of printing setting unit and permits printing for the number of times of printing;
An image forming apparatus comprising: The print control unit includes:
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each time the image data is printed out, information of the user who has performed printing, information such as a printing date and time, the number of copies, and a security management number are stored. The print control unit includes:
Each time the image data is printed out, information such as the information of the user who performed printing on the transfer paper on which the image data is printed, the print date and time, the number of copies, and a confidential management number are added and printed. Item 2. The image forming apparatus according to Item 1. In an image forming method of reading image information, storing image data, and printing out,
A user registration step of registering information of a user who permits print output of specific image data and setting of identification information for identifying the user;
An authentication step of performing an authentication process using the information of the user set and registered in the user registration step,
A print count setting step of performing setting registration of at least one of the print count of the image data and the print count of the user;
A print control step of referring to the number of times of printing set in the number of times of printing setting step, and permitting printing for the number of times of printing;
An image forming method comprising: A program for causing a computer to execute the method according to claim 4.

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