JP2004320080A - Image recording sheet and system for same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image recording sheet which can properly hold security of a copying object and which has proper facility of use, and to provide an image recording system. <P>SOLUTION: A microscopic memory chip 2 is embedded in a sheet 1. Information of an image recorded on the sheet 1 is stored together with a password in the memory chip 2. Further, a ground pattern for copy checking is printed on the sheet 1. When normal copy is taken from this sheet, image information stored in the memory chip 2 is read and copied by a special purpose copying machine. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine and a printer, and more particularly, to maintaining security of a copy.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Due to the spread of copiers and printers and their higher performance, illegal outflow of documents due to forgery or copying of certificates is becoming a social problem.
For this reason, in order to maintain security of a copy, there is a method of embedding information with access restriction in a document and permitting or prohibiting copying of the document (for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).
[0003]
Also, in order to maintain security of the copy, a copy check pattern which is devised so as to be as inconspicuous as possible is printed on the manuscript, and a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern which appears when the manuscript is copied is also commercially available. (Non-Patent Document 1).
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2003-37694 A [Patent Document 2]
JP-A-8-132773 [Non-Patent Document 1]
COPY GUARD TOOL (http://www.casio.co.jp/ppr/products/copyguard/main.html)
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Among the conventional techniques, as described in Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2, a method of embedding information with access restriction in a manuscript and permitting or not permitting copying based on the information is a dedicated method. This method is effective only for a copying machine, and there is a problem in that when the original is copied using a device other than a dedicated copying machine, the copy cannot be restricted.
[0006]
Further, when a document is created by the apparatus described in Non-Patent Document 1, even if the user wants to copy and distribute the document, the user cannot make a copy. For this reason, an original manuscript must always be obtained and copied, and there is a problem that usability is poor.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a paper for image recording and an image recording system which can satisfactorily maintain security of a copy, which is not sufficient by the conventional techniques, and is easy to use.
[0007]
Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention
According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image recording sheet in which information can be stored and storage means for holding the stored information in a readable manner is integrated. And a copy check pattern that is hardly visible to the user but is clearly printed on copy paper when copied, and the arbitrary An image recording sheet in which image information and security information are stored.
[0008]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image recording sheet in which information can be stored and storage means for holding the stored information in a readable manner is integrated. The image recording paper is characterized in that, when the paper is copied, a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern, which is clearly printed on the copy paper, is printed.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a means for determining whether or not a document to be copied has storage means capable of reading information, and a method for determining whether the storage means is provided by the determination means. Means for reading the information stored in the storage means, and temporary storage means for classifying the read information into security information and image information. When the copy start signal is input, it is determined whether or not security information has been input. Discriminating and inputting, when compared with the security information of the information read from the storage means, and when the input security information and the read security information match, a copy permission signal Means for outputting the image information on a sheet based on the image information of the read information based on the output copy permission signal. Means for performing a process for recording an image recording system, which comprises a.
[0009]
The image recording system according to claim 3, further comprising means for copying an image itself printed on a document to be copied when the copy permission signal is not output. It is.
The invention according to claim 5 is the image recording system according to claim 3, further comprising display means for displaying that copying is not permitted when the copy permission signal is not output.
[0010]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the security information stored in the storage means includes a password and the number of permitted copies, and the stored information is read from the storage means and included in the read information. Each time image information to be recorded is recorded on a sheet, the permitted number of copies is reduced, and when the permitted number of copies becomes zero, a process of recording the stored image information on the sheet cannot be performed. The image recording system according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein
[0011]
In the case of copying the image recording paper according to the first aspect, if a normal copying machine is used for copying, a copy check pattern is printed on the copy paper in addition to the original image. Therefore, unauthorized copying can be prevented.
On the other hand, when making a formal copy, a dedicated copying machine may be used. By inputting security information and copying using a dedicated copier, the image information read from the storage means is recorded on copy paper, so that the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern printed on the original is copied on the copy paper. Will not be printed.
[0012]
The image recording sheet according to claim 2 can be used as a sheet before image information is printed, similarly to a normal sheet, and when an image is recorded on the sheet, the image is recorded. Image security can be ensured.
According to the third to fifth aspects of the present invention, a regular copy can be made from the image recording paper by a dedicated copying machine.
Furthermore, by storing the permitted number of copies in the storage means in advance as in claim 6, it is possible to limit the number of copies that can be made from the paper, and to manage the number of copies of confidential documents and certificates. Easier to remove.
[0013]
By the way, as the storage means integrated with the paper, for example, the world's smallest non-contact IC chip developed by Hitachi, Ltd. can be used. This IC chip has a size of 0.4 × 0.4 mm square and a thickness of 0.06 mm, and includes a high-frequency circuit and a 128-bit ROM. With such an IC chip or a storage means having a size equivalent to this, the IC chip (storage means) can be made together with the paper when making the paper, whereby the integration into the paper can be achieved. At this time, it is also possible to control how many storage means are embedded (embedded) per unit area, and to control the storage capacity of image information and the like according to the paper size.
[0014]
In addition, since the price per IC chip becomes extremely low due to mass production, embedding the IC chip in paper is not unrealistic at all.
[0015]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an illustrative view showing one example of an image recording sheet according to an embodiment of the present invention. The paper 1 has a size of, for example, A4 (Japanese Industrial Standard A, No. 4), and a memory chip 2 as a storage unit is embedded near each of the four corners. The memory chip 2 has a size of, for example, 0.4 mm square and a thickness of about 0.06 mm, and can be embedded in the paper 1 during the making process when the paper 1 is made. is there. From the appearance and feel of the paper 1, the existence of the memory chip 2 is hardly known, and there is no uncomfortable use due to the embedded memory chip.
[0016]
In this embodiment, an example in which the memory chips 2 are embedded near the four corners of the paper 1 is shown. However, according to the storage capacity and performance of the memory chips 2, the number of embedded chips may be at least one. The location may be an arbitrary position on the sheet 1.
An arbitrary image (for example, a landscape image such as a mountain, a cloud, and a tulip in this embodiment) is printed on the surface of the sheet 1, and a large “copy check tint block 3” is formed in the center of the surface area of the sheet 1. "COPY" is printed. The copy-forgery-inhibited pattern 3 is printed so as to be superimposed on the landscape image. However, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern is printed on the paper 1 and is not obstructed by the presence of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern. The copy-forgery-inhibited pattern 3 can be realized by the technique described in Non-Patent Document 1 described above.
[0017]
The copy-forgery-inhibited pattern 3 may be a single large pattern as shown in the drawing, or may be, for example, a pattern in which a large number of characters “COPY” are scattered and arranged on the entire surface of the paper 1.
The copy-forgery-inhibited pattern 3 is hardly visible on the paper 1, that is, the image recording paper 1 according to this embodiment, and when an arbitrary image such as a landscape image is printed on the surface of the paper 1, the printed copy is printed. It does not obscure any image.
[0018]
However, when the paper 1 is set in a normal copying machine and the scenery image is copied, the image recorded on the copy paper includes the landscape image 3 and the tint block 3 so as to overlap the landscape image. It appears clearly and is printed.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the memory chip 2. The memory chip 2 includes an antenna 21, a write / read control unit 22, and a memory area 23. A signal received by the ultra-small antenna 21 is processed by a write / read control unit 22, and information included in the signal is written and stored in a memory area 23. The information stored in the memory area 23 is read by the write / read control unit 22 and transmitted through the antenna 21.
[0019]
The memory chip 2 is a so-called IC chip, is extremely miniaturized, and can write and read information without contact.
The memory chip 2 stores a password as security information and information of an arbitrary image (in this case, a landscape image). The same scenery image information is not necessarily stored in the four memory chips 2, but it is preferable that the scenery image information of each corresponding area when the sheet 1 is divided into four is stored. Further, the number of permitted copies may be stored as security information in addition to the password. For example, if it is determined in advance that ten copies can be made from this sheet 1, "10" is stored as the permitted number of copies. The stored permitted number of copies is decremented by the number of copies each time the sheet 1 is copied. Then, when it becomes 0, copying is disabled.
[0020]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. The copier is provided with a contact glass 11 for setting a document, and a moving frame 14 having a document illumination lamp 12 and a reflecting mirror 13 is disposed below the contact glass 11. The moving frame 14 is movable rightward in the figure along the lower surface of the contact glass 11 and illuminates and scans a document set on the contact glass 11. The reflected light from the scanned original is reflected by the reflecting mirrors 13, 15 and 16, guided to the lens 17, and formed on the CCD 18 through the lens 17. In the CCD 18, an optical signal corresponding to the original image is converted into an electric signal. The converted electric signal is provided to the control / processing unit 19.
[0021]
The configuration for reading such a document image is conventionally known.
In this embodiment, an antenna 31 is incorporated in the moving frame 14, and the information stored in the memory chip 2 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) embedded in the sheet 1 can be read by the antenna 31. . That is, when the antenna 31 approaches the memory chip 2 embedded in the paper 1, the antenna 31 and the antenna 21 provided in the memory chip 2 cause, for example, electromagnetic coupling, and the information stored in the memory chip 2 can be read. It is a mechanism that can do it.
[0022]
The signal read by the antenna 31 is provided to the control / processing unit 19.
An operation unit 32 is connected to the control / processing unit 19. Further, a tint block generation unit 33 is connected to the control / processing unit 19.
The signal processed by the control / processing unit 19 is applied to an LSU (laser scanning unit) 34, which outputs a laser beam corresponding to an image from the LSU 34. The laser beam is reflected by a polygon mirror 35 and Is exposed.
[0023]
The surface of the photosensitive drum 36 is charged to a constant potential. Then, the surface is exposed to laser light to form an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image, which is visualized by toner, and the toner image is transferred to a sheet supplied from the sheet cassette 37. The image is printed on the paper. The configuration of such electrophotographic processing for image formation is conventionally known.
In this embodiment, an antenna 38 is provided near the paper transport path. When the memory chip 2 is embedded in the sheet conveyed through the sheet conveyance path 39, information can be written into the memory chip 2 or information can be read from the memory chip 2 using the antenna 38. is there. The antenna 38 is connected to the control / processing section 19.
[0024]
4 and 5 are flowcharts showing a control operation in the copying machine shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 4 shows a security document (a memory chip 2 is embedded in a sheet 1 as described in FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a control operation when copying an image (an original in which an arbitrary image and copy-forgery-inhibited pattern is printed on one surface and information is stored in the memory chip 2). FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the process in the case.
[0025]
First, a description will be given along the flow of FIG. 4 with reference to FIG.
The control / processing unit 19 determines whether or not the security mode has been input (step S1), whether or not a password has been input (step S2), and whether or not the start key has been input, by operating the operation unit 32. It is determined whether or not there is (Steps S3 and S11).
If the security mode has not been input, the password has not been input, and the start key has been pressed, the result of the determination in step S11 is YES, the document is read (step S12), and the normal mode copy processing is performed (step S13). In this case, as described with reference to FIG. 1, the original is an original on which the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern 3 is recorded. Therefore, when copy processing in the normal mode is performed, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern is also copied, and an illegal copy (copy in which the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern appears) is performed. Will be output.
[0026]
On the other hand, when the security mode is input, the password is input, and the start key is pressed, the original set on the contact glass 11 is optically read (step S4). It is determined whether or not a chip is embedded (step S5). In this determination, since the antenna 31 approaches the original when scanning the original, it is possible to detect whether or not the memory chip 2 is embedded in the original, and the control / processing unit 19 makes a determination based on the detection. If the memory chip 2 is not embedded in the document, the normal mode copy processing is performed (step S13).
[0027]
In the description of this control operation, since the document is a security document, the determination in step S5 is affirmed, and the information of the memory chip is read by the antenna 31 (step S6).
Then, the information read by the antenna 31 is given to the control / processing unit 19, and the control / processing unit 19 determines whether the password input from the operation unit 32 matches the password read from the document. Is determined (step S7). If the two passwords do not match, a message indicating that the document cannot be copied is displayed on the operation unit 32 (step S14).
[0028]
In addition to the display indicating that the original cannot be copied, or in place of the display indicating that the original cannot be copied, a copy process in the normal mode may be performed to output a copy in which the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern appears.
If it is determined in step S7 that the passwords match, it is further determined whether the number of permitted copies is 0 (step S8). If the information of the memory chip read by the antenna 31 includes the password, the permitted number of copies, and the document information, the process proceeds to step S9 only when the permitted number of copies is not zero.
[0029]
If the information stored in the memory chip does not include the permitted number of copies, the determination in step S8 is negative, and the process proceeds to step S9.
In step S9, a copy process based on the read image information is performed.
The copy processing based on the image information means that, when the read image information is, for example, compressed data, the compressed data is decompressed, printable image data is created, and the print data is given to the LSU. That is, an image is formed by print data. The formed image is printed on paper by an electrophotographic process.
[0030]
Then, the permitted number of copies is decremented by 1 (step S10).
By adding the control based on the number of permitted copies, the number of copies that can be copied normally from the security document is the permitted number of copies, so that the number of permitted copies can be managed.
Next, a processing operation for creating a security document will be described with reference to FIG.
[0031]
When the operation starts, it is first determined whether or not the security mode has been input from the operation unit 32 (step S21). If the security mode has been input, the password and the number of permitted copies are further input from the operation unit 32. It is determined whether or not an input has been made (step S22). If the number of permitted copies is not stored, it is determined in step S22 whether only a password has been input.
If the determination in step S22 is affirmative, the control / processing unit 19 temporarily stores the input password and the permitted number of copies as write information (step S23).
[0032]
Then, it is determined whether or not there is a start key input from the operation unit 32 (step S24).
When the start key is input from the operation unit 32, the image of the original placed on the contact glass 11 is optically read (step S25), and the paper stored in the paper cassette 37 is fed out. At this time, the capacity of the memory chip embedded in the fed sheet is confirmed using the antenna 38 (step S26).
[0033]
As a result, it is determined whether or not the storage capacity of the memory chip is larger than the capacity of the optically read document image (step S27), and if the capacity of the document image is larger than the storage capacity of the memory chip. If it is larger, a message indicating that the document image cannot be stored in the memory chip is displayed on the operation unit 32 (step S33).
Since the image recording paper according to this embodiment has a memory chip of a predetermined storage capacity embedded according to the paper size, the determination in step S27 is usually affirmed, and the process proceeds to step S28. Then, in step S28, a process of writing the password, the permitted number of copies, and the read image information to the memory chip is performed. In the writing processing, processing such as signal compression is added as necessary.
[0034]
Further, the document image read in step S25 is printed on the sheet surface by a conventionally known electrophotographic process using the LSU 34, the polygon mirror 35, and the photosensitive drum 36 (step S29).
If the image recording paper is a paper on which a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern is not printed in advance, such as the paper specified in claim 2, and is a paper on which only a memory chip is embedded, in step S 30, The printing of the tint block is also performed. The copy-forgery-inhibited pattern printing is realized by giving the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern generated by the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern generation section 33 to the control / processing section 19, and printing the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern on the image read from the document. it can. Alternatively, this can be realized by performing a process of printing a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern on the sheet again after the document image is printed.
[0035]
If there is no security mode input or password input and the start key of the operation unit 32 is pressed (YES in step S31), the document image is read (step S32), and the printing process of the normal mode image is performed. (Step S34). The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an illustrative view showing a sheet for image recording according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a memory chip.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a control operation at the time of security original copy.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a control operation when creating a security document.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 image recording paper 2 memory chip (storage means)
3 Copy-forgery-inhibited pattern 19 Control / processing unit 31, 38 Antenna 32 Operation unit

Claims (6)

A sheet for image recording in which storage means capable of storing information and holding the stored information in a readable manner is integrated,
On this sheet, an arbitrary image and a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern, which is superimposed on the image and hard to see, but is clearly printed on the copy paper when printed, are printed,
An image recording sheet, wherein the storage unit stores information on the arbitrary image and security information. A sheet for image recording in which storage means capable of storing information and holding the stored information in a readable manner is integrated,
The paper for image recording, characterized in that the paper is printed with a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern, which is hard to see but is clearly printed on the copy paper when the paper is copied. . Means for determining whether or not a document to be copied is provided with storage means capable of reading information,
Means for reading information stored in the storage means when the determination means determines that the storage means is provided;
If the read information is divided into security information and image information and temporarily stored,
At the time of inputting the copy start signal, it is determined whether or not the security information has been input. When the input has been input, the security information is compared with the security information of the information read from the storage means, and the read security information is read. Means for outputting a copy permission signal when the received security information matches the security information,
Means for performing processing for recording the image information on a sheet based on the image information of the read information based on the output copy permission signal,
An image recording system comprising: 4. The image recording system according to claim 3, further comprising means for copying an image itself printed on a document to be copied when the copy permission signal is not output. 4. The image recording system according to claim 3, further comprising display means for displaying that copying is not permitted when the copy permission signal is not output. The security information stored in the storage unit includes a password and the number of permitted copies,
When the storage information is read from the storage unit and the image information included in the read information is recorded on a sheet, the number of permitted copies is reduced, and when the permitted number of copies becomes zero, The image recording system according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein a process for recording the stored image information on a sheet cannot be performed.

Images