JP2004352429A - Document handling device and its program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a document handling device and its program capable of preventing anyone from bringing away another person's sheet(s) by mistake in case many users share one complex machine. <P>SOLUTION: The document handling device is structured so that sheet sensors 30 and 31 are installed on ejecting trays 8 and 14 of a complex machine 2, and is equipped with biometric sensors 25-27, and upon entering the biometric data, the sheet is carried out. The biometric data is converted by this document handling device into a user ID etc. using a conversion table 40, and a sheet carryout list 44 is prepared. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
Field of application of the invention
The present invention relates to a processing device such as a facsimile machine, a copier, a printer document, and a program thereof.
[0002]
[Prior art]
[0003]
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-23422 Patent Document 1 describes personal authentication using biometrics data. It is also conceivable to apply the authentication based on the biometric data to a document processing device such as a facsimile machine, a copier, or a printer.
[0004]
By the way, the document processing apparatus is commonly used by a plurality of users. In such a case, the paper printed by the first user and the paper printed by the next user are mixed, and the paper printed by another person is erroneously taken out. Sometimes. As the document processing apparatus combines functions such as copying, facsimile, and printer, such a problem becomes more serious.
[0005]
[Problems of the Invention]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to prevent loss of a printed sheet by enabling management of the state of taking out the printed sheet (claims 1 to 6).
An additional object of the present invention is to make it possible to more reliably manage the state of taking out printed paper.
An additional object of the present invention is to make it possible to easily recognize which print paper of which job has been taken out by which user.
An additional object of the invention according to claim 4 is to make it possible to manage the situation of taking out manuscript paper.
[0006]
Configuration of the Invention
The document processing apparatus according to the present invention is a document processing apparatus having a hard copy function, wherein a sensor for detecting take-out of printed paper is provided on a discharge tray, a means for inputting user biometrics data, Means for converting the metric data into information for specifying the user, and converting the biometric data input when the print paper is taken out of the discharge tray into information for specifying the user, and storing the information as the paper takeout result (Claim 1). In this specification, printing means that the document processing apparatus functions as a print server for the client, and does not mean that the print data is printed.In the process of operating as a copy, facsimile, printer, or the like, the image is printed on paper. This means that the hard copy was made.
[0007]
Preferably, there is provided an alarm means for alarming when it is detected that the paper is taken out of the discharge tray without inputting biometrics data (claim 2).
[0008]
Preferably, the print result is stored and displayed on the display unit of the document processing device so as to be comparable with the paper take-out result (claim 3).
[0009]
Preferably, the original discharge tray is also provided with a sensor that monitors the taking out of the original, converts the user's biometric data input when the original is set or taken out into information for specifying the user, and obtains the original taking out results. The information is stored together with the information specifying the user (claim 4).
[0010]
A program for a document processing apparatus having a hard copy function according to the present invention is a program for a document processing apparatus having a hard copy function. An instruction for converting the obtained biometrics data into information for specifying a user and storing the converted information as a paper takeout result is provided (claim 5).
[0011]
Preferably, an instruction is provided for monitoring that a sheet is taken out of the discharge tray without inputting biometrics data (claim 6).
[0012]
Function and Effect of the Invention
In the document processing apparatus and the program thereof according to the present invention, the status of taking out printed paper from the discharge tray is monitored, and at the time of taking out the printed paper, the user inputs biometrics data and specifies the user. The information is converted into information and stored as the paper takeout result. For this reason, when a trouble such as no printed paper occurs, it is possible to narrow down the users who brought out the paper printed by another person, and prevent the printed paper from being taken out by another user and lost. Further, according to the present invention, when taking out the printed paper, it is only necessary to input biometrics data, and there is no need to input a user ID, a password, etc., so that the present invention is simple (claims 1, 5).
[0013]
Preferably, an alarm is issued when a sheet is taken out of the discharge tray without inputting the biometric data, so that the biometric data is input reliably.
[0014]
Preferably, the print result is stored and displayed so as to be comparable with the sheet takeout result. In this way, it is possible to easily confirm who has taken out which printed paper.
[0015]
If a sensor for monitoring the taking out of a document is also provided in the document discharging tray in addition to the printed paper discharging tray, it is possible to prevent another person's document from being taken out by mistake.
[0016]
【Example】
1 to 4 show an embodiment. In these figures, reference numeral 2 denotes a multifunction machine, which is a multifunction machine having four functions of copy, facsimile, print, and scanner. Reference numeral 4 denotes a multifunction machine main body, which includes a print unit, a connection unit with a public telephone network for G3 facsimile communication, a connection unit with a LAN, and the like. Reference numeral 6 denotes an operation reading unit which reads a document image and accepts a user's operation input. Reference numeral 8 denotes a print paper discharge tray, and the printed paper is discharged to the discharge tray 8. Reference numeral 10 denotes a document table provided with an FBS (flatbed scanner). Reference numeral 12 denotes an ADF (automatic document feeder), which feeds and reads documents from a document table one by one, and 14 denotes a document discharge tray. Reference numeral 16 denotes an operation panel on which a touch panel 18, a start key 20, and other keys 22 are arranged.
[0017]
The multifunction peripheral 2 is connected to a client 24 such as a personal computer via a LAN or the like, operates as a network printer or the like, and transmits and receives Internet facsimile via a mail server or a router. A biometric sensor 25 is provided so as to also serve as a main key of the operation panel 16, for example, to serve also as the touch panel 18 or the start key 20. In this way, when the user touches the touch panel 18 or the start key 20 with a finger, the biometrics data is read. In addition, for example, biometric sensors 26 and 27 are also provided on the discharge trays 8 and 14 so that biometric data can be input when a printed sheet or document is taken out. In the embodiment, a fingerprint sensor is used as a biometric sensor, and a fingerprint pattern of a fingertip is read by a CCD camera or the like. In addition, the biometric sensors 25 to 27 are sensors such as a pattern of a capillary of a fingertip and a pattern of a sweat gland, or a sensor for obtaining a distribution of pressure applied from a fingertip and a pattern of a temporal change thereof. In addition to this, a sensor that reads an image of an iris or a face may be used as the biometric sensor.
[0018]
The trays 8 and 14 are provided with paper sensors 30 and 31. These sensors 30 and 31 are, for example, a sensor for measuring the weight of the paper on the tray, or a sensor for detecting that a human hand has been inserted into the trays 8 and 14. It is a sensor that detects paper floating from the tray. Preferably, the sensors 30 and 31 are sensors for measuring the weight of the paper on the trays 8 and 14, for example, so as to detect whether the number of papers on the tray is large, small or zero. From the changes in the signals of the signals 30 and 31, it is possible to distinguish and detect two states, that is, all or some of the sheets on the trays 8 and 14 have been taken out. Reference numeral 32 denotes an alarm unit which, when detecting that paper has been taken out of the trays 8 and 14 without inputting biometrics data, issues an alarm such as "Please input biometrics data" by voice, etc. The user is prompted to input biometrics data from the sensors 25 to 27.
[0019]
Reference numeral 34 denotes an appropriate storage medium which stores a program for monitoring paper take-out, and causes the program memory 35 to store the program. Reference numeral 40 denotes a conversion table for converting the biometric data B1 to B3 input from the sensors 25 to 27 into information for specifying a user such as a user ID and a user name. Reference numeral 42 denotes a buffer for storing paper take-out signals S1 and S2 from the sensors 30 and 31, and a condition / branch unit 43 sets an alarm as an unauthorized take-out when a document is taken out without inputting biometrics data. The unit 32 is caused to make an alarm. When the biometrics data is input and the paper is taken out, the time at which the paper was taken out in the take-out list 44, the user name and user ID, the discrimination between all taken out or partially taken out, and the discharge tray 8 or the discharge tray Fourteen distinctions are noted. When there are a plurality of output trays for printed sheets, it is preferable to provide a sensor for detecting the take-out of the sheet for each tray, and to store in the take-out list 44 which discharge tray is taken out.
[0020]
The discharge list 46 stores the time at which the document and the printed paper are discharged to the discharge trays 8 and 14, information for identifying the user such as a user name and a user ID, the number of sheets of the document and the printed paper, and the like. When the user instructs printing from the client or transmits / receives an Internet facsimile, it is known from these data which manuscript and to whom the printed paper is. In other cases, when the biometrics data of the user is input every time the G3 facsimile is transmitted or copied, the original list and the printed paper of the original can be described in the discharge list 46. However, in the embodiment, copying or facsimile transmission is performed without inputting biometric data. However, input of biometric data may be required every time copying or facsimile transmission is performed. Since the biometrics sensor 25 is provided so as to also serve as a main key of the operation panel 16, it is easy to automatically read out the biometrics data every time copying or facsimile transmission is performed.
[0021]
FIG. 2 shows a configuration of the paper management program 50 in the embodiment. This program includes an instruction to create an emission list 46, an instruction to create a take-out list 44, and signals from the paper sensors 30, 31 and the input status of biometrics data. And a monitoring instruction for alarming at the time of unauthorized removal. Further, it is provided with an instruction to create a conversion table for converting biometric data into information specifying a user such as a user ID. The contents of these instructions are in accordance with the description of the configuration and operation of the MFP 2.
[0022]
3 and 4 show the operation of the embodiment. The discharge list 46 describes the number of discharged sheets, the user name and user ID obtained from the biometrics data, and the discharge time. Whether the document is discharged or the printed paper is discharged is, for example, when there is no particular description, the printed paper is discharged, and when the document is discharged, the fact is described as a “platen”.
[0023]
The take-out list 44 describes which user took out the paper from the discharge tray or the platen at which time. Since it is difficult for the paper sensor to accurately count the number of papers, for example, whether all papers have been taken out or whether some papers have been taken out is described. Thus, for example, in the case of FIG. 3, it is assumed that the user E listed in the third column from the top notices that a part of the latter half of the FAX-received paper is missing. It is User C and User D that took out the paper on the discharge tray after User E, and if they were inquired, User C would probably have returned User E's paper. It is also assumed that the first half of the received facsimile document of user E is missing. Since the user A took the sheet out of the discharge tray before the user E, when the user A is inquired, the user A should be returned.
[0024]
When the multifunction peripheral 2 erroneously takes out a man's manuscript or a person's printed paper, the operations such as facsimile, print, and copy are often performed simultaneously for different users. For example, in the case of FIG. 3, the facsimile receiving operation of the user E and the copying operation of the user C are performed at the same time, and in many cases, sheets of another user are stacked and printed on the same discharge tray. In the embodiment, since the user takes out the document and the printed paper on the output tray and at what time, and at the same time, creates a list of when (for which user) and how many documents were output, Comparing these lists makes it easier to find the missing manuscript. The take-out list and the discharge list are displayed side by side on the display unit of the multifunction peripheral, for example, but may be displayed on the display unit of the client.
[0025]
In the flowchart of FIG. 4, in step 1, the generation of data to be printed, facsimile or copied is awaited. When the data is generated, the user ID, the time, the number of originals and the number of printed sheets are obtained and added to the output list. . As for the user ID and the like, in the case of copying or facsimile transmission, an input from a biometric sensor provided in the multifunction peripheral may be converted into a user ID or the like. In the case of printing, a user ID or the like in a print command from a client may be used. In the case of receiving an Internet facsimile, the destination may be a user ID or a user name (step 2). The paper sensor monitors the removal of the original or printed paper (step 3), and if biometrics data has not been input at the time of removal, an alarm is issued to prompt the input of the biometrics data (steps 4 and 5). The input biometrics data is converted into a user ID or the like (step 6), and the user ID and the like, the take-out time, the type of the original / print paper, and the whole take-out / partial take-out are added to the take-out list (step 7). As described above, it is possible to prevent a printed paper or a document of another person from being accidentally taken out.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a multifunction peripheral according to an embodiment; FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a program for managing originals and printed paper in the embodiment; FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an algorithm for managing originals and printed sheets in the embodiment.
2 Multifunction machine 4 Multifunction machine body 6 Operation reading section 8 Print paper discharge tray 10 Platen table 12 ADF (automatic document feeder)
14 Document ejection tray 16 Operation panel 18 Touch panel 20 Start key 22 Other keys 24 Clients 25 to 27 Biometric sensors 30, 31 Paper sensor 32 Alarm unit 34 Storage medium 35 Program memory 40 Conversion table 42 Buffer 43 Condition / branch unit 44 Take out List 46 Emission list 50 Paper management program

Claims (6)

In a document processing device with a hard copy function,
Providing a sensor on the ejection tray for detecting the take-out of the printed paper, providing a means for inputting biometric data of the user, and a means for converting the input biometric data to information specifying the user,
A document processing apparatus, wherein biometrics data input when a print sheet is taken out of a discharge tray is converted into information for specifying a user, and stored as a sheet takeout result. 2. The document processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an alarm unit that generates an alarm when detecting that the sheet is taken out of the discharge tray without inputting biometric data. 3. The document processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a print result is stored and displayed on a display unit of the document processing apparatus so as to be comparable with the paper takeout result. The document output tray is also equipped with a sensor that monitors the taking out of the document, converts the user's biometric data input when setting or taking out the document into information that identifies the user, and identifies the user's document taking result The document processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the information is stored together with the information to be processed. In a program for a document processing device having a hard copy function,
An instruction for receiving a detection signal for taking out the printed paper,
A document processing device for converting the biometric data input when the print paper is taken out of the discharge tray into information for specifying a user and storing the converted data as a paper takeout result; Program. 6. The program for a document processing apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising an instruction for monitoring removal of a sheet from an output tray without inputting biometric data.

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