JP2005208098A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve user-friendliness of automatic control, based on the information reading of radio tags of an image forming apparatus which uses radio tag forms. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus is equipped with a form feed means for feeding the form from a form placement position to an image creating means and discharging the form subjected to image production; a tag information reading means 70 for reading the information held in the radio tags of the forms fed for image production; a means 240 for inputting the set and release of the form limit for limiting the image production to the forms with the wireless tags; and when the form limit is set, an image production control means 131 for subjecting the forms not undergoing the reading of the wireless tag by the tag information reading means to stopping the image production during feeding the forms. When there is no reading of the wireless tags of a set number of pieces or when there is no reading of the radio tag in the set position, the image production is stopped. The forms PR 1 and PR 3 have a short-side length (b) and a long-side length (a) and have wireless tags Tx 11, Tx 13/Tx 31 and Tx 33 in the positions on both sides of the central position apart from the central position of the short side, by as much as a length (a-b)/2 in the direction to which the short side extends. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that forms a visible image on a sheet, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus that uses a sheet with a wireless tag for image formation. The present invention can be used for, for example, a printer, a copying machine, and a facsimile.

  Any printing device such as a printer, a copier or a facsimile installed in an office or public place used by an unspecified number of people can replenish the recording paper. Therefore, depending on the device, there is a possibility that an undesirable recording paper is set. If printing is performed in such a case, the device may be damaged. In a normal printing apparatus, it is difficult to automatically determine what type of recording paper is used. Using recording paper embedded with a micro RFID tag (Radio Frequency Identification Tag) using a micro IC chip, the printing device can determine whether the recording paper is dedicated, By creating a mechanism that can print only on recording paper, it is possible to avoid damage to the equipment due to loading of foreign recording paper. In addition, it is possible to trace later on which printing apparatus the recording paper was printed on.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-296653 uses a recording medium provided with an IC chip into which information such as a paper type and a paper size has been input as a printing paper of a printer, reads the information of the IC chip in the printer, and instructs the printer The type and size information of the recorded recording medium and the IC chip information are collated, and if they match, print control is executed. If they do not match, print control is stopped and a warning is output. The proposal is described.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-54075 discloses a printer that reads information on an IC chip in a printer using a printing paper in which a powdery paper quality ID chip is embedded, and automatically sets printing conditions of the printer based on the paper quality information of the IC chip. Has proposed.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-64598 proposes a printing paper in which a micro ID chip having a 128-bit ROM in which a paper quality ID is written is embedded in a central portion, a peripheral portion, or a corner portion.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-58856 discloses a forgery-preventing banknote in which an ultra-small IC chip is embedded at the paper making stage and a transmitting / receiving antenna is printed on paper as conductive ink.

  The image forming apparatus using the paper with the RFID tag can avoid the damage of the apparatus due to the loading of the extraneous recording paper, and can later track the printing apparatus on which the recording paper is printed. There is an advantage that it is possible, but this is premised on the reliability of reading RFID tags. On the other hand, since paper with RFID tags is more expensive than plain paper, for example, SOHO (Small Office, Home Office), where equipment users are practically limited to managers or full-time staff, carelessly use foreign recording paper. There are few opportunities to load the image forming apparatus, and there are cases where there is no benefit of using a sheet with an RFID tag and the economy is low. However, there may be a use environment where it is desired to prevent the loading of extraneous recording paper.

  An object of the present invention is to improve usability of automatic control based on reading information of a wireless tag of an image forming apparatus using a printing paper with a minute wireless tag.

(1) Image forming means for forming a visible image on paper;
Paper feeding means for feeding paper to the image forming means from a paper placement position and discharging the paper on which the image forming means has formed an image;
Tag information reading means (70) for reading information held in the wireless tag of the paper to be fed to the image forming means;
A means (240) for inputting the setting and release of the paper restriction for restricting the image formation to the paper with the wireless tag; and
When the sheet restriction is set, when the sheet on which the RFID tag is not read by the tag information reading unit is sent to the image forming unit by the sheet feeding unit, the image formation by the image forming unit is stopped. , Image forming control means (131);
An image forming apparatus comprising:

  In order to facilitate understanding, the reference numerals of corresponding elements in the examples shown in the drawings and described later are shown in parentheses for reference. The same applies to the following.

  According to this, it is possible to select and set from the operation unit whether or not to execute the print stop for the detection of the information of the wireless tag. It is possible to flexibly respond to user circumstances.

  (2) When the sheet restriction is set, the image forming control unit stops image forming by the image forming unit when the tag information reading unit has not read the set number of wireless tags. The image forming apparatus according to (1) above. According to this, it is possible to reliably read the wireless tag by setting the number of wireless tags detected per sheet as the set number that can cope with damage and fraud of the paper.

  (3) The image forming apparatus according to (2), further including: an input unit that sets a number of wireless tags to be referred to on a sheet fed to the image forming unit. According to this, it is possible to set the number of readings that can cope with breakage or fraud of recording paper. It is possible to flexibly respond to user circumstances.

  (4) When the sheet restriction is set, the image forming control unit stops image forming by the image forming unit when the tag information reading unit does not read the wireless tag at the set position. The image forming apparatus according to (1) above. According to this, the wireless tag can be reliably read by setting the position of the wireless tag detected per sheet of paper as the set position that can cope with damage and fraud of the paper.

  (5) The image forming apparatus according to (4), further including: an input unit that sets a position of a wireless tag to be referred to on a sheet fed to the image forming unit. According to this, it is possible to set a reading position that can cope with breakage or fraud of recording paper. It is possible to flexibly respond to user circumstances.

  (6) The wireless tag-added paper (PR1, PR3) has a short side length b and a long side length a, and a central position of the short side by a length of (ab) / 2 in the direction in which the short side extends. The image forming apparatus according to any one of (1) to (5), further including: wireless tags (Tx11, Tx13 / Tx31, Tx33) at positions on both sides of the central position away from the center. According to this, in the paper feed mode in the direction in which the long side extends, the paper is fed upside down with the tag information reading unit set to read one of the two wireless tags (Tx11) on both sides of the center position of the short side. In this case, since the other of the two wireless tags (Tx13) is read, the wireless tag can be reliably read regardless of whether the paper is turned upside down.

  (7) The wireless tag-attached sheets (PR1, PR3) are opposed to two sets (Tx11, Tx13), (Tx31, Tx33) each having a set of wireless tags at both sides of the central position of the short side. The image forming apparatus according to (6), wherein the image forming apparatus has at each edge of two short sides. According to this, the wireless tag can be read by the tag information reading means regardless of the feeding of which of the two opposing short sides is the head.

  (8) The RFID-tagged paper (PR1, PR3) is further moved to a position on both sides of the central position, which is away from the central position of the long side by a length of (ab) / 2 in the direction in which the long side extends. The image forming apparatus according to (6) or (7) above, further including a wireless tag (Ty11, Ty13 / Ty31, Ty33). According to this, in the paper feed mode in the direction in which the short side extends, the tag information reading unit is set to read one of the two wireless tags (Ty11) on both sides of the center position of the long side, and the paper is fed upside down. In this case, since the other (Ty13) of the two wireless tags is read, the wireless tag can be reliably read regardless of whether the paper is turned over.

  (9) The wireless tag-attached sheets (PR1, PR3) are formed by combining two sets (Ty11, Ty13) (Ty31, Ty33) each having two sets of wireless tags located on both sides of the long side. The image forming apparatus according to (8) above. According to this, the wireless tag can be read by the tag information reading means regardless of the feed that has the two opposite long sides at the top.

  (10) The wireless tag-added sheet (PR3) is further provided at positions on both sides of the central position, which are separated from the central position by the length of (ab) in the direction in which the long side extends. The image forming apparatus according to (8) or (9) above. According to this, tag information set to read one of the two wireless tags (Tx11) on both sides of the center position of the short side when the paper is fed in the direction in which the long side extends in the side end reference instead of the center reference. Similarly, when the paper is fed in the direction in which the short side extends with the side edge reference, the reading means is located at the positions on both sides of the central position, which are separated from the central position of the long side by the length of (ab). One of the wireless tags (Ty14) can be read.

  (11) The wireless tag-added paper (PR2, PR4) has a short side length B = a and a long side length A = 2b, and is shortened by a length of (ab) / 2 in the direction in which the short side extends. The image forming apparatus according to any one of (1) to (5), wherein the wireless tags (Tx11, Tx13) are provided at positions on both sides of the central position that are separated from the central position of the side. According to this, in the paper feed mode in the direction in which the long side extends, the paper is fed upside down with the tag information reading unit set to read one of the two wireless tags (Tx11) on both sides of the center position of the short side. In this case, since the other of the two wireless tags (Tx13) is read, the wireless tag can be reliably read regardless of whether the paper is turned upside down.

  (12) The wireless tag-attached sheets (PR2, PR4) are formed by combining two sets (Tx11, Tx13) (Tx31, Tx33) each having two sets of wireless tags located on both sides of the short side. The image forming apparatus according to (11) above. According to this, the wireless tag can be read by the tag information reading means regardless of the feeding of which of the two opposing short sides is the head.

  (13) The wireless tag-added paper (PR4) is further provided at a position on both sides of the central position, which is away from the central position by a length of (ab) in the direction in which the short side extends, Tx14 / Tx30, Tx34); The image forming apparatus according to (11) or (12) above. According to this, in the paper feeding mode in the direction in which the long side of the paper (PR3) having the short side length a and the long side length b is extended, one of the two wireless tags (Tx11) on both sides at the center position of the short side is set to be read. In the tag information reading means, in the paper feed mode in which the long side of the paper (PR4) with the short side length B = a and the long side length A = 2b extends, the short side length direction from the center position of the short side (a− b) The wireless tag (Tx10) at the separated position can be read.

  Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows the appearance of a multi-function full-color digital copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. This full-color copying machine is roughly constituted by units of an automatic document feeder (ADF) 400, an operation board 610, a color scanner 300, a color printer 100, and a paper feed table 200. A LAN (Local Area Network) connected to the personal computer PC is connected to the system controller 630 (FIG. 4) in the apparatus. The system controller 630 (FIG. 4) of this copying machine can be connected to a communication network (Internet), and can exchange data by communicating with the management server of the management center via the communication network. The facsimile controller FCU (FIG. 4) in the machine can perform facsimile communication via the exchange PBX and the public communication network PN.

  FIG. 2 shows an outline of the mechanism unit of the copying machine shown in FIG. The printer 100 of the copying machine has an intermediate transfer belt 10 that is an endless belt in the center. The intermediate transfer belt 10 is wound around three support rollers 14 to 16 and is driven to rotate clockwise. To the left of the second support roller 15 is an intermediate transfer body cleaning device 17 that removes residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 10 after image transfer.

  The intermediate transfer belt 10 between the first support roller 14 and the second support roller 15 has black (K), yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) along the moving direction. Each color image forming unit, which is an image forming process device, constitutes a full-color image forming apparatus 20. Each color image forming unit is individually unitized for replacement and is detachably attached to the printer body. Each color image forming unit includes a photoconductor drum 40, and an image forming-related device 18 including a charger for charging the photoconductor drum, a developing device for developing a latent image, a cleaning device, and other peripheral devices.

  Above the image forming device 20 is a laser exposure device 21 that irradiates each photosensitive drum of each color image forming unit with laser light for image formation. This is also an image forming process device and is unitized for replacement.

  Below the intermediate transfer belt 10 which is an image forming process device and unitized for replacement, there is a secondary transfer device 22 which is an image forming process device and unitized for replacement. The secondary transfer device 22 is arranged so that a secondary transfer belt 24 that is an endless belt is stretched between two rollers 23, and the intermediate transfer belt 10 is pushed up and pressed against the third support roller 16. is there. The secondary transfer belt 24 transfers the image on the intermediate transfer belt 10 onto a sheet. Next to the secondary transfer device 22, there is a fixing device 25 for fixing the transferred image on the paper, and the paper on which the toner image has been transferred is fed into the fixing device 25.

  The fixing device 25 is also an image forming process device and is unitized for replacement. The fixing device 25 is obtained by pressing a heating and pressure roller 27 against a fixing belt 26 that is an endless belt. Below the secondary transfer device 22 and the fixing device 25, there is a sheet reversing device 28 that sends out the paper immediately after the image is formed on the front surface and reverses the front and back in order to record the image on the back surface. The sheet reversing device 28 is also an image forming process device and is unitized for replacement.

  When the start switch is pressed, if there is a document in the automatic document feeder (ADF) 400, it is transported onto the contact glass 32, and the scanner 300 is driven to move the first carriage 33 and the second carriage 34 together. , Read scan driving. Information stored in the wireless tag of the document conveyed to the contact glass 32 is read by the wireless reader / writer module 30. When there is no document in the ADF, the scanner 300 is immediately driven to read the manually placed document on the contact glass 32, and the first carriage 33 and the second carriage 34 are read and scanned. Then, light is emitted from the light source on the first carriage 33 to the contact glass, and the reflected light from the document surface is reflected by the first mirror on the first carriage 33 toward the second carriage 34, and on the second carriage 34. The image is reflected on the mirror 36 and imaged on the CCD 36 as a reading sensor through the imaging lens 35. Based on the image signal obtained by the CCD 36, K, Y, M, and C color recording data are generated.

  Further, when the start switch is pressed, the rotational drive of the intermediate transfer belt 10 is started, the image forming preparation of each image forming unit of the image forming apparatus 20 is started, and the image forming of each color image forming unit is started. The sequence is started, and an exposure laser modulated based on each color recording data is projected to each color image forming unit, and each color toner image is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 10 as a single image by each color image forming process. Is done. When the leading edge of the toner image enters the secondary transfer device 22, the sheet is sent to the secondary transfer device 22 at a timing so that the leading edge enters the secondary transfer device 22 at the same time. The upper toner image is transferred to the paper. The sheet on which the toner image has moved is sent to the fixing device 25 where the toner image is fixed on the sheet.

  The paper discharged after receiving the fixing process by the fixing device 25 is guided to the discharge roller 56 by the switching claw 55 and stacked on the paper discharge tray 57. Alternatively, it is guided to the sheet reversing device 28 by the switching claw 55, reversed there and led again to the transfer position, and the image is recorded also on the back surface, and then discharged onto the discharge tray 57 by the discharge roller 56. On the other hand, the residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 10 after image transfer is removed by the intermediate transfer body cleaning device 17 to prepare for image formation again.

  Note that the above-described sheet is selectively rotated by driving one of the sheet feeding rollers 42 of the sheet feeding table 200, the sheet is fed out from one of the sheet feeding cassettes 44 provided in the paper bank 43 in multiple stages, and one sheet is separated by the separation roller 45. The paper is separated into the paper feed path 46, transported by the transport roller 47, guided to the paper feed path 48 in the printer 100, abutted against the registration roller 49 and stopped, and then transferred to the secondary transfer device 22 at the aforementioned timing. Sent out. Paper can also be fed by inserting paper on the manual feed tray 51. When the user is inserting paper onto the manual feed tray 51, the printer 100 drives the paper feed roller 50 to separate one sheet on the manual feed tray 51 and pulls it into the manual feed path 53. Stop at 49.

  Immediately before the timing when the leading edge of the paper reaches the registration roller 49, the wireless reader / writer module group 70 starts reading information from a wireless tag (RFID tag) attached to the paper.

  FIG. 3 shows several types of paper suitable for the printer 100 shown in FIG. The printer 100 shown in FIG. 2 has a center reference (center adjustment) for feeding the center of the paper so that it is aligned with the center line of the paper transport path, so that the A4 version shown in FIG. In the paper PR1, wireless tags Tx12 and Tx32 are embedded at the center of the short side of each edge of the opposing two short sides, and each of the wireless tags Tx12 and Tx32 in the direction x along the short side. Wireless tags Tx11 and Tx13 and Tx31 and Tx33 are embedded at a distance of (a−b) / 2 on both sides. a is the short side length of the A4 size paper, and b is the long side length. Another set of wireless tags Tx21, Tx22, Tx23 is also embedded at the center position in the long side direction y, similarly to the arrangement of one set of wireless tags on one short side.

  The wireless reader / writer module group 70 of the printer 100 shown in FIG. 2 performs registration when the A4 size paper PR1 shown in FIG. 3A is fed from the right to the left in the illustrated posture on the basis of the center. It is composed of three wireless reader / writer modules 71, 72, and 73 (FIG. 4) disposed immediately before the roller 49 at positions where information of the wireless tags Tx11, Tx12, and Tx13 can be read. These wireless reader / writer modules 71, 72, and 73 can read information of wireless tags (Tx11, Tx21, Tx31), (tx12, Tx22, Tx32) and (Tx13, Tx23, Tx33), respectively.

  The wireless reader / writer modules 71, 72, and 73 can read the wireless tag even when the paper PR1 is transported by 90 degrees in a posture rotated by 90 degrees. Wireless tags Ty12 and Ty32 are embedded at the center of the long side of each edge, and further, at a distance of (ab) / 2 on both sides of each of the wireless tags Ty12 and Ty32 in the direction x along the short side. The wireless tags Ty11, Ty13 and Ty31, Ty33 are embedded. Another set of wireless tags Ty21, Ty22 (same as Tx22) and Ty23 are also embedded at the center position in the short side direction x, similarly to the arrangement of one set of wireless tags of one long side.

  In the printer 100 shown in FIG. 2, the A4 size paper PR1 is longitudinally fed (direction along the long side: the long side is parallel to the carrying direction) and laterally fed (direction along the short side: the short side is parallel to the carrying direction). Although possible, A3 size paper can be fed vertically but not horizontally. The A3 size paper PR2 shown in FIG. 3B has a long side length A = 2b and a short side length B = a. This A3 size paper PR2 also has a wireless tag at the center of the short side of each edge of the two opposing short sides so that the wireless tag can be read by the three wireless reader / writer modules 71, 72 and 73. Tx12 and Tx32 are embedded, and further, wireless tags Tx11, Tx13 and Tx31, Tx33 are embedded at a distance of (ab) / 2 on both sides of each of the wireless tags Tx12 and Tx32 in the direction x along the short side. ing. Another set of wireless tags Tx21, Tx22, Tx23 is also embedded at the center position in the long side direction y, similarly to the arrangement of one set of wireless tags on one short side.

  The A4 size paper PR3 shown in FIG. 3C is provided with the above-described three wireless reader / writer modules 71, 72 and 73 in the same manner, but the paper transport mechanism places one side of the paper at the reference end line of the paper transport path. In addition to the wireless tag of the paper PR1, the long side extends in the direction of the long side (ab) in order to be compatible with the printer of the side reference (side end alignment) that is fed in accordance with The wireless tags (Ty10, Ty14), (Ty20, Ty24), and (Ty30, Ty34) are also embedded at positions on both sides of the central position that are separated from the central position. When this paper PR3 is used, wireless reader / writer modules 71, 72, and 73 that read information of the three short-side wireless tags Tx11, Tx12, and Tx13 when the paper is vertically fed based on the side edge reference instead of the center reference. Similarly, when the paper PR3 is laterally fed based on the side edge reference, one of the wireless tags Ty10 at positions on both sides of the central position that is separated from the central position of the long side by the length of (ab), and The information of Ty11 and Ty12 along with it can be read.

  The A3 size paper PR4 shown in FIG. 3D is provided with the above three wireless reader / writer modules 71, 72 and 73 in the same manner, but the paper transport mechanism places one side of the paper at the reference end line of the paper transport path. In addition to the wireless tag of the paper PR2, in addition to the wireless tag of the paper PR2, the short side is the length of (ab) in the direction in which the short side B extends so as to be compatible with a side-end reference (side-end alignment) printer. The wireless tags (Tx10, Tx14), (Tx20, Tx24), and (Tx30, Tx34) are also embedded in the positions on both sides of the central position that are apart from the central position of B. When this paper PR4 is used, wireless reader / writer modules 71, 72, and 73 that read information of the three short-side wireless tags Tx11, Tx12, and Tx13 when the A4 paper is vertically fed based on the side edge reference instead of the center reference. Similarly, when vertically feeding the paper PR4 on the side end reference, one of the wireless tags Tx10 at the positions on both sides of the central position apart from the central position of the long side by the length of (ab). And the information of Tx11 and Tx12 along with it can be read.

  The printer 100 shown in FIG. 2 is suitable for the printer 100 because any of the paper PR1 to PR4 shown in FIG. Note that any of the sheets may be provided with an additional wireless tag at a position different from the above-described wireless tag.

  FIG. 4 shows a system configuration of image reading, image processing, image storage and image formation of the copying machine shown in FIG. A reading unit 11 that optically reads a document of the color document scanner 300 scans the document with a document illumination light source, and forms a document image on a CCD 36 of an SBU (sensor board unit). The original image, that is, the reflected light of light irradiation on the original is photoelectrically converted by the CCD 36 to generate R, G, B image signals, converted to RGB image data on the SBU, shading corrected, and output I / F (interface) 12, the image data is sent to an image data processor IPP (Image Processing Processor; hereinafter simply referred to as IPP) via an image data bus.

  The IPP performs separation generation (determination of whether an image is a character area or a photographic area: image area separation), background removal, scanner gamma conversion, filter, color correction, scaling, image processing, printer gamma conversion, and gradation processing. IPP is a programmable arithmetic processing means for performing image processing. Image data transferred from the scanner 300 to the IPP is corrected for signal deterioration (scanner signal deterioration) due to quantization into an optical system and a digital signal by the IPP, and is written in the frame memory 601.

  The system controller 630 has functions of a plurality of applications such as a scanner application, a facsimile application, a printer application, and a copy application, and controls the entire system. The operation panel control device 631 is a device that decodes the input of the operation board 610 and displays the settings of the system and the state contents thereof. The image data bus / control command bus is a bus through which image data and control commands are transferred in a time division manner.

  The CPU 605 of the system controller 630 controls the system controller 630. In the ROM 604, a control program for the system controller 630 is written. A RAM 603 is a working memory used by the CPU 605. The NVRAM 602 is a nonvolatile memory and stores information on the entire system.

  The external device communication control 606 controls communication with an external device (for example, the same type of copying machine, image scanner, personal computer, printer, facsimile, document server) that requests image reading, image storage, or image printing. Control of the physical I / F for connecting to. When the external device communication control 606 connected to the network receives data from the network, only the content of the communication data is sent to the system I / F 607 from an electrical signal. In the system I / F 607, the received data is logically converted in accordance with a prescribed protocol and sent to the CPU 605. The CPU 605 determines and processes the logically converted received data. When the CPU 605 transmits data to the network, the transmission data is transmitted to the system I / F 607 and the external device communication control 606 in the reverse order of reception, and is transmitted as an electric signal on the network.

  The system I / F 607 controls the transfer of document reading data, facsimile reception data, personal computer document data (printing commands), and image data for printing personal computer document data, which are processed in the system according to a command from the CPU 605. Image data) and transfer. The work memory 600 is a working memory for image development (conversion from document data to image data) used in the printer. The frame memory 601 is a working memory that temporarily stores image data of a read image and a written image that are printed immediately while power is continuously supplied.

  The HDDC 650 is used as an application database that stores system application programs and device activation information of image forming process devices of the printer 100, and an image database that stores image data of read images and written images, that is, image data and document data. Hard disk HDD and its controller. Image data and document data may be encoded or dot images. The FIFO buffer memory 609 performs data transfer rate conversion when writing an input image to the frame memory 601. In other words, temporary storage of data that absorbs the difference between the data sending / receiving timing of the transfer source and the transfer destination, the difference in the data amount of the transfer unit, the transfer speed difference, etc., and accepts the data at the transfer timing and speed of the transfer source, Data is sent out at the transfer timing and speed of the transfer destination. Similarly, the FIFO buffer memory 608 performs speed conversion when transferring the image data of the frame memory 601 as an output image.

  The memory controller 610 controls image input / output between the frame memory 601 and the HDDC 650 and the bus without the control of the CPU 605. In addition, in response to a command received by the input device 614 of the operation board 301, the frame memory 601 is used to edit, process, or combine images stored in the HDDC. The memory controller 610 reads the image information from the HDD of the HDDC 650 to the work memory 600 or the frame memory 601 and changes the image printing direction on the transfer paper, the image rotation, the image combination editing mainly by the image data address changing operation. Various image processing and editing can be performed by density conversion, image trimming, and composition of the image data, and writing of the image information thus processed to the HDD. The image reading unit 624 performs image reading scaling, and the image writing unit 623 performs printing scaling.

  The CPU 617 performs input / output control of the operation board 610. That is, input reading and display output of the operation board 610 are controlled. In the ROM 616, a control program for the operation board 610 is written. A RAM 618 is a working memory used by the CPU 617. Reference numeral 614 denotes an input device in which the user inputs system settings by operating the input keys and the input panel of the operation board 610. The display device 615 is provided on the operation board 610 and displays the setting contents and status of the system to the user, and includes an indicator lamp and a display panel 240 (FIG. 5).

  The above-described wireless reader / writer module group 70 (71, 72, and 73) arranged immediately before the registration roller 49 shown in FIG. 2 is connected to the I / O 136 shown in FIG. The I / O 136 is connected to a process controller 131 in the printer 100 that controls an image forming sequence of an image forming process device. The process controller 131 activates the imaging process device or sets the operation based on the control program written in the RAM 132 and the imaging process device activation parameter and timing data, and controls the operation sequence.

  FIG. 5 shows an upper surface of the operation board 610. On the operation board 610, a copy button 202 for setting a copy mode for executing a copy function, a FAX button 204 for setting a FAX mode for executing a facsimile function, and a printer mode for executing a printer function are set. A printer button 206 is provided. The operation board 610 also has a numeric keypad 208 for inputting numerical values such as the number of copies in the copy mode, a start button 210 for instructing the start of copying, and is used to correct the number of copies or to stop the copying operation. A clear / stop button 212, an all clear button 214 for clearing all selected modes and various set conditions, and a magnification setting button 216 for setting a copying magnification are provided.

  Further, the operation board 610 includes a paper size button 218 for selecting and setting the size of the paper on which an image is to be formed, and automatic paper for automatically setting the paper size by detecting the size of the document placed on the platen. A selection button 220, a document size button 222 for setting a document size, and an automatic magnification selection button 224 for automatically setting a copy magnification based on the paper size set by the paper size button 218 and the detected document size. Is provided. In addition to these various setting buttons, an initial setting key 226 for displaying guidance information such as the contents of the set mode and operation procedures and inputting setting changes, a preheating button 228 for setting a preheating state, a printer An interrupt button 230 for instructing an interrupt during the operation of the unit is provided. In the approximate center of the operation board 610, there is a touch panel type that functions as a notification means for displaying various messages to the user in terms of the state of the apparatus, the operation procedure, and the user, and a function for reading the touch input of the user. A display panel 240 constituted by a liquid crystal display device (LCD) is provided. The display panel 240 displays an operation screen (input screen) for each function.

FIG. 6 shows an outline of the control operation of the system controller 630 (CPU 605 thereof). When the operation voltage is applied to the controller 630, the controller 630 clears the output port, initializes the RAM 603, etc. (2), and “waits!” On the display panel 240 in the display device 615 of the operation board 610. Is displayed and the red lamp of the print key is turned on (steps 1 and 2).
In the following, the word “step” is omitted in parentheses, and step no. Write numbers only.

  Next, the controller 630 reads the state of each part of the apparatus and performs abnormality detection (3). In the following, abnormalities and maintenance items are collectively expressed as abnormalities. If each unit status reading (3) has an abnormality or maintenance required (paper replenishment required, unit replacement, paper feed cassette switching, etc.), the abnormality display or maintenance required content is set and displayed (5) , 20).

  When the abnormality is repaired and the preparation loop is exited, the display of the abnormality is reset (6). If there is no abnormality or the like, the number of copies: 1, automatic density, automatic paper selection, and equal magnification are set as initial conditions for the copy process in the standard mode (7). Then, “copy can be made” is displayed on the display device 615, the green lamp is turned on instead of the red lamp display of the start key, and copying and print ready are set (8). Then, it is checked whether there is image data to be output in the image memory area of the HDD (9). If there is no image data, the print command from the host PC and the input of the operation board 610 are waited (10-13). Here, if there is a copy input, it is read and input corresponding processing (setting of copy conditions) is performed (13).

  When the pressing of the start key is detected in the “operation board reading” (11), the controller 630 proceeds to the “copy output process” (14) (12-14). When the document copy is finished, the controller 630 checks in steps 9 to 13. Upon receiving a print command from the host PC, the controller 630 proceeds to “P output process” (printer output process) (15) (10-15). When the print output is finished, the controller 630 checks in steps 9 to 13.

  When another print command is received while performing the above-mentioned “copy output process” (14) or “P output process” (15), the controller 630 displays the print command and print document data on the hard disk. Accumulate in HDD. Further, when the copy start key is pressed during the “P output process” (15), the ADF 400 and the scanner 300 are driven to store the document image data in the image memory area of the hard disk HDD. . When the current “copy output process” (14) or “P output process” (15) is completed, the stored data of the hard disk HDD is read in order from the earliest writing, and the “copy output process”. In step (14) or “P output processing” (15), printout is sequentially performed (9-16-14 / 15).

  While the “copy output process” (14) or “P output process” (15) is being executed, and when the process controller 131 finishes and waits, the process controller 131 reads the status (17), and an error occurs. Is recognized, this is notified to the controller 630.

  7A is executed when a key other than the start key is operated by the system controller 630 using the operation board 610 in the “operation board reading” (11) of FIG. A part of the contents of the “other key reading process” (13) is shown. When the initial setting key 226 of the operation board 610 is pressed while waiting for input, the first page of the setting menu (initial setting menu No. 0) is displayed on the display panel 240 of the operation board 610 (21, 22). Then, the operator input to the operation board 610 is read (23). The setting menu No. 0 is a “paper monitor setting” process designation, and when the operator touches it, an input screen of “paper monitor setting” is displayed on the display panel 240 of the operation board 610 (24, 25). This input screen is shown in FIG.

  The input screen of “Paper Monitor Setting” has items “Paper Monitor” and “Cancel Paper Monitor” for selecting and specifying whether to enable or disable “Paper Monitor”. When “paper monitoring” is selected, in which the machine automatically performs image formation (copying / printing) or prohibition according to the tag information reading result, the “paper monitoring” designation button (double circle) is selected. Touch). In response to this, the operation board 610 displays the designation button as a display indicating that the designation has been made (the double circle inner circle is displayed in black), and the designation button for “release paper monitoring” indicates non-designation. (The inner circle of the double circle is displayed in white). Then, the inside of the input block representing the content of the “paper monitoring” item is switched from the shadow display to the actual display. In this input block, there are a button for specifying “position specification” or “number specification” and details of each specification item. When the “position designation” input button is touched and designated, the user further designates the position of the RFID tag on the paper for reading information. In the “position designation” column, a white arrow indicating the paper feeding direction and six circles for position display (Tx11 to Tx13, Tx21 to Tx23) are displayed. Touch the required circle inside to specify the position. The circle at the touched position switches the display to a black circle indicating that the operation board 610 has recognized the designation. When the “position designation” input button is touched, the operation board 610 changes the inner circle of the input button to a black circle representing designation, and the inner circle of the “number designation” input button is a white circle representing non-designation. To do.

  When the user touches the “Specify Number” input button, the operation board 610 displays the inner circle of the “Specify Number” input button as a black circle, and the inner circle of the “Position Specify” input button and its six items. The circle for position designation of is displayed as a white circle. When the user touches the “Specify Number” input button, “0” is written in the “Paper Feed Orthogonal Direction (x)” and “Paper Feed Direction (y)” boxes within that item, When the button is touched, the value of the number frame is increased, and when the down button is touched, the value is decreased, but the numerical range of “paper feed orthogonal direction (x)” is 0 to 3, “paper feed direction (y)”. Is limited to 0-2.

  When the user touches the “Setting” button, the operation board 610 gives the setting state data displayed on the display panel 240 at this time to the system controller 630. The system controller 630 updates and registers such information in the wireless tag monitoring register of the registration table of the nonvolatile memory 133b via the process controller 131 (26). Then, the display panel 240 displays “Please set the RFID tag paper supply and turn on the start key!”. When the user operates the start key 210, in response to this, the system controller 630 instructs the process controller 131 to perform “registration registration of the wireless tag”. In response to this, the process controller 131 starts feeding paper from the cassette determined for paper feeding, and the timing when the leading edge of the paper reaches the wireless reader / writer module group 70 (71, 72, and 73). Then, the module controller 70 is instructed to read the RFID tag information, and if the reading is successful, the process controller 131 updates and registers the ID (paper ID code) of the RFID tag in the RFID tag monitoring register of the registration table of the nonvolatile memory 133b (27). . If reading of the leading wireless tag fails, the wireless tag information reading instruction is given to the module group 70 at the timing when the center point in the paper feeding direction reaches the wireless reader / writer module group 70. When reading of the wireless tag at the center point fails, the wireless tag information reading instruction is given to the module group 70 at the timing when the tail end of the paper reaches the wireless reader / writer module group 70. If the reading fails, an error display is displayed on the display panel 240, and an announcement prompting the user to input a start instruction after confirming the sheet is displayed.

  When the process controller 131 registers the wireless tag ID (paper ID code) in the nonvolatile memory 133b after successfully reading the wireless tag, the system controller 630 returns the display on the display panel 240 to the initial setting menu screen. When the “clear” button on the “paper monitoring setting” input screen is touched, the operation board 610 returns to the display in which the previous input (touch) is canceled, and when the “return” button is touched, the operation board 610 changes the display of the display panel 240 to the display screen before displaying the “paper monitoring setting” input screen.

  FIG. 8 shows an outline of the control operation of the process controller 131. When the operating voltage is applied to the controller 131, the controller 131 clears the output port, initializes the RAM 132, etc. (31), and performs "reading of each part state" (32) in the printer. Here, when a copy condition or print condition is given from the system controller 630, it is saved in the RAM 132, and the mechanism or circuit in the printer is set to the given condition. If there is an abnormality or maintenance required (abnormality etc.) in the printer, it is notified to the system controller 630 and displayed on the operation board 610 (33, 34, 35). If there is no abnormality or no abnormality is detected, the ready is notified to the system controller 630 and the display of abnormality is deleted (36, 37), and the system controller 630 issues a print command (copy start / print start). Wait for arrival (38).

  When the print command arrives, the process controller 131 refers to the registration information of the wireless tag monitoring register in the registration table of the nonvolatile memory 133b, and when the data of the wireless tag monitoring register is “release paper monitoring”, the system controller 630 Control of the copy process or print process under the specified conditions is executed (39-41, 42), "reading of each part status" (48) in the printer is performed, and if there is no abnormality, a set number of copies or printing is performed. . The wireless tag information is not read.

  If the registration information of the RFID tag monitoring register in the registration table of the non-volatile memory 133b is “paper monitoring”, the process controller 131 uses the registration information of the RFID tag monitoring register to check the paper size designated for paper feeding. Based on the above, the RFID tag information reading timing is calculated, and the RFID tag reading event at this timing (tag reading polling for the wireless reader / writer module group 70 (71 to 73)) is set as an event timer (in the process controller 131). (40). Then, the feeding of one sheet of the designated size is started, the event timer is started (41), and the image forming process is started (42). Each time the wireless tag information reading timing is reached, the event timer times out, and in response to this, the process controller 131 instructs the wireless reader / writer modules 71 to 73 to read the wireless tag and transfer the read information. In response to this, the wireless reader / writer modules 71 to 73 perform wireless tag reading, and transmit read information (including unsuccessful tag reading) to the process controller 131. The process controller 131 includes each timing and each module 71 to 73. The received read information is stored in the internal register addressed to 73. Then, when the reading information at the last timing of reading the RFID tag is stored in the internal register, the process controller 131 indicates that the reading information of the internal register is located at the position defined by the registration information of the RFID tag monitoring register of the nonvolatile memory 133b. This means that there is a certain number of wireless tags defined by the registration information, and the ID (paper ID code) of the read wireless tag is stored in the registration table of the nonvolatile memory 133b. If the ID matches the ID registered in the wireless tag monitoring register, printing (image forming process) is continued to form an image on one sheet (43 to 47).

  If a predetermined position or number of wireless tags cannot be read, or if the read ID is different from the ID registered in the wireless tag monitoring register, the process controller 131 stops the image formation there. Then, the paper is conveyed for paper discharge, and the paper on which no image has been formed is discharged out of the apparatus (45). Then, a paper error indicating that the paper is different from the designated one is displayed on the display panel 240 (35).

  When the proper ID is read and image formation on one sheet is completed, “reading of each part state” (48) in the printer is performed. If each unit is normal, it is checked whether the set number of sheets have been printed (49, 51). If not, the feeding of another sheet is started (41), and the image forming process is started. Start (42). When printing of the set number of sheets is completed, the process returns to each part state reading in step 32. If each part is normal (ready), that is, there is no abnormality or the like, a print command is issued from the system controller 630 in "each part state reading" (32). In the meantime, if there is a change such as input on the operation board 610 or opening / closing of the front cover of the printer, processing corresponding to the change is performed.

1 is a front view showing an appearance of a color copying machine having a composite function according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an outline of the mechanism of the copying machine shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a plan view of a sheet with an RFID tag suitable for use in an RFID tag sheet use mode in the copier shown in FIG. 1, wherein (a) and (c) are A4 size sheets, and (b) and (d) are A3 size paper is shown. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an outline of an image processing system of the copying machine shown in FIG. 1. It is an enlarged plan view of the operation board 610 shown in FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an outline of system control of the system controller 630 shown in FIG. 4. (A) is a flowchart showing an outline of sheet monitoring setting executed in the “other key reading process” (13) shown in FIG. FIG. 6B is a plan view showing an input screen for paper monitoring settings. 6 is a flowchart showing an outline of print control of the process controller 131 shown in FIG. 4.

Explanation of symbols

10: Intermediate transfer belt 14-16: Support roller 17: Intermediate transfer body cleaning device 18: Image forming device 20: Image forming device 21: Laser exposure device 22: Secondary transfer device 23: Roller 24: Secondary transfer belt 25 : Fixing device 26: fixing belt 27: pressure roller 28: sheet reversing device 30: reader / writer module 32: contact glass 33: first carriage 34: second carriage 35: imaging lens 36: CCD
40: photosensitive drum 42: paper feed roller 43: paper bank 44: paper feed cassette 45: separation roller 46: paper feed path 47: transport roller 48: paper feed path 49: registration roller 50: paper feed roller 51: manual feed tray 55: Switching claw 56: Discharge roller 57: Discharge tray 70: Reader / writer module group 71 to 73: Reader / writer module

Claims (6)

Image forming means for forming a visible image on paper;
Paper feeding means for feeding paper to the image forming means from a paper placement position and discharging the paper on which the image forming means has formed an image;
Tag information reading means for reading information held in a wireless tag of paper to be fed to the image forming means;
A means to input setting and release of paper restriction for restricting image formation to paper with a wireless tag; and
When the sheet restriction is set, when the sheet on which the RFID tag is not read by the tag information reading unit is sent to the image forming unit by the sheet feeding unit, the image formation by the image forming unit is stopped. , Image formation control means;
An image forming apparatus comprising:   The image forming control unit stops image forming by the image forming unit when the sheet restriction is set and the tag information reading unit does not read a set number of wireless tags; The image forming apparatus according to 1.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: an input unit that sets a number of wireless tags to be referred to on a sheet fed to the image forming unit.   The image forming control unit stops image forming by the image forming unit when there is no reading of a wireless tag at a set position by the tag information reading unit when the sheet restriction is set; The image forming apparatus according to 1.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: an input unit that sets a position of a wireless tag to be referred to on a sheet fed to the image forming unit. The wireless tag-attached paper has a short side length b and a long side length a, and is separated from the short side central position by a length of (ab) / 2 in the direction in which the short side extends. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a wireless tag at a position on both sides.

Images