JP2006054520A - Electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic apparatus which inhibits incorrect carrying out of information by storing a picture in an internal memory when the apparatus is utilized, and recording a date and time when the foregoing operation is performed and contents of the operation, and an operator together. <P>SOLUTION: The electronic apparatus includes a copying machine and a printer which have functions of printing a read original image or distributing to a personal computer via a network. The electronic apparatus includes a storage means 68 including an HDD for storing the picture in the interior. Further, when it has an operator specifying means which can specify the operator in the operation, if the movement of the picture image is performed by the operation, the picture image is stored in an internal storage device 66, and the information and incidental information including an operation date and time, operating contents which can specify the operator, are also stored. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device including a control device such as a digital copying machine and a printer, and is suitable for an electronic device capable of printing a read original image and distributing it to a personal computer via a network.

In recent digital copying machines and printers, it is known that image information can be easily distributed to a personal computer (PC) or the like, or can be written to a portable medium such as a secure digital (SD) memory card (for example, (See Patent Documents 1 to 6).
Under such circumstances, it has become necessary to take defensive measures against threats such as illegally taking out images such as confidential documents. For unauthorized use of a device, it is common to assign a password or the like necessary for using the device to each operator so that image printing or distribution by an outsider cannot be performed.
JP 2000-172720 A JP 09-172529 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-187757 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-190921 JP-A-11-143907 JP-A-11-150559

However, it is a conceivable situation that confidential information is illegally taken out even by a person in the department, and a preventive measure is necessary.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to store the image in the internal storage device when using the device, and to record the date, content, and operator of the operation together, thereby preventing unauthorized take-out of information. To provide electronic equipment.

In order to solve the above-described problem, the invention according to claim 1 is an electronic device capable of printing a read original image or distributing it to a personal computer via a network. Storage means for performing the operation, and an operator specifying means for specifying an operator who has operated the operation means. When moving an image image by the operation means, the image means and the operator specifying means are stored in the storage means. The operator information specified by the above and the incidental information including at least the operation date and operation contents are stored.
The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the movement of the image image is printing of a document image.
The invention described in claim 3 is characterized in that the movement of the image image is movement of a document image to a personal computer via a network.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the movement of the image image is a movement of a document image to a destination facsimile machine via a facsimile line.
The invention described in claim 5 is characterized in that the movement of the image image is writing of an original image to an external storage medium.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the document image is an image read by a scanner, an image obtained by imaging a printer language transmitted from a printer driver, or an image stored in an external storage unit. Features.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the electronic device according to the first aspect, when moving the image image by the operation unit, the storage unit stores the operator information and the incidental information. It is characterized by providing a notification means.
The invention according to claim 8 is characterized in that the notifying means is a voice or text message on an operation panel.
The invention according to claim 9 is characterized in that a time zone and a day of the week in which the accumulation operation of the image image by the accumulation means becomes effective can be programmed.
The invention according to claim 10 further comprises a determination unit that determines whether the image image can be stored in the storage unit, and when the determination unit determines that the image image cannot be stored in the storage unit, The image is not moved.

  According to the present invention, when the device is used, the image is stored in the internal storage device, and the date and time of the operation, the contents, and the operator are recorded together, thereby preventing unauthorized take-out of information. It becomes possible.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing an image processing apparatus according to the present invention. The reading unit 20 is a unit for scanning a document placed on the pressure plate.
The reading unit 20 includes a contact glass 6 on which an original is placed and an optical scanning system. The optical scanning system includes an exposure lamp 21, a first mirror 22, a lens 23, a CCD image sensor 24, and the like. .
The exposure lamp 21 and the first mirror 22 are fixed on a first carriage (not shown), and the second mirror 25 and the third mirror 26 are fixed on a first carriage (not shown). When reading a document image, the first carriage and the second carriage are mechanically scanned at a relative speed of 2: 1 so that the optical path length does not change.
This optical scanning system is driven by a scanner drive motor (not shown). The document image is read by the CCD image sensor 24, converted into an electrical signal, and processed.
In an automatic document feeder A for automatically reading a sheet document, a document placed on a document table B is fed to a position of a document reading sensor F by a feeding roller C. The document passes over the document reading sensor F as it is at a constant speed. At this time, the image of the document is read by the document reading sensor F.

The read image data is sequentially stored in an image memory after image processing such as MTF correction, filter processing, and compression. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the image reading sensor F is a close contact type equal magnification CCD device or the like.
The writing unit 27 includes a laser output unit 28, an imaging lens 29, and a mirror 30, and a polygon mirror (polygon mirror) that rotates at a constant high speed by a laser diode and a motor as a laser light source is provided inside the laser output unit 28. ) Is included. The laser beam output from the writing unit 27 is applied to the image forming photoconductor 15.
The procedure for printing an image formed on the photoconductor 15 is roughly as follows. That is, the transfer sheets stacked on the first tray 8, the second tray 9, and the third tray 10 are fed by the first sheet feeder 11, the second sheet feeder 12, and the third sheet feeder 13, respectively. It is transported to a position where it comes into contact with the photoconductor 15 by the vertical transport unit 14.
The image data on the memory is written on the photoconductor 15 by the laser from the writing unit 27 and passes through the developing unit 45 to form a toner image. Then, the toner image on the photoconductor 15 is transferred while the transfer paper is conveyed by the conveyance belt 16 at the same speed as the rotation of the photoconductor 15.
Thereafter, the image is fixed by the fixing unit 17 and is discharged to the finisher 46 by the paper discharge unit 18. The fixing unit 17 is configured to be fixed in a few seconds by a thin roller and a high power heater.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the flow of the transfer paper when images are formed on both sides of the transfer paper. When forming an image on both sides of the transfer paper, the transfer paper fed from each of the paper feed trays 8 to 10 is not guided to the finisher 46 side by switching the reverse path switching claw 42, The paper is conveyed to the paper entry conveyance path 33.
The switchback is reversed by the reversing unit 32, and both sides are aligned by the paper alignment jogger 43 and then sent to the duplex conveying unit 31 driven by the duplex conveying motor 44. The transfer sheet sent to the duplex conveying unit 31 is sent again to the vertical conveying unit 14 shown in FIG.
When the transfer paper is reversed and discharged, the transfer paper switchback reversed by the reversing unit 32 is sent to the reverse discharge conveyance path 34 without being sent to the duplex unit, and discharged. The transfer paper discharged from the main body is discharged to the finisher 46.
When the transfer paper discharged to the finisher 46 is stapled, it is once stacked on the staple stack tray 35. After all the transfer sheets are collected in the staple stack tray 35, the sheet bundle is bound by the stapler unit 36 and discharged to the upper discharge tray 37 or the lower discharge tray 38.
When the stapling operation is not performed, the transfer sheet passes through the straight discharge conveyance path 41 and is discharged to the discharge trays 37 and 38 in the same manner. By moving the paper discharge trays 37 and 38 up and down, the transfer paper from the staple tray or the straight paper discharge conveyance path can be selectively discharged to either one.
Further, an upper discharge tray paper detection means 39 and a lower discharge tray paper detection means 40 are provided for detecting whether printed transfer paper remains in the upper discharge tray 37 and the lower discharge tray 38. Yes.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing main parts of the control unit of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment shown in FIG. The main CPU 47 performs information input (key input) 49 to 52 of the operation unit 48, display output (liquid crystal display) 53, control of ADF A, various load control of the main motor 54, communication control with the finisher 46, and the like. Yes.
3 further shows a double-sided conveyance motor 44, a reverse path switching claw solenoid 55, a paper discharge destination switching claw solenoid 56, an alignment jogger drive motor 57, and a conveyance motor 58.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a control circuit for the image processing unit. The image signal read by the CCD image sensor 24 in the ADF is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 61.
The image signal converted into the digital signal is subjected to shading correction 62 and then subjected to MTF correction and γ correction in the image processing unit 63. The image signal that has passed through the scaling processing unit 72 is enlarged or reduced in accordance with the scaling ratio and flows to the image memory controller 65.
The image that has entered the memory controller 65 is subjected to a primary compression process and then written to the image page memory 66. The operation up to this point is processed without stopping until all the pages are written in the image page memory 66 when the document reading is started.
The image image (image data) written in the image page memory 66 is subjected to secondary compression 67 and then written in the HDD 68. This operation is configured to be performed without being synchronized with the operation of writing an image from the scanner (reading unit) 20 to the image page memory 66.
That is, after the image image enters the image page memory 66, it can be transferred to the HDD 68 at an arbitrary timing if the HDD 68 is in a drive ready state.
At this time, the image data written in the image page memory 66 is created in a general-purpose image format such as JPEG (JPEG) or TIFF (Tiff) for each page, and is also stored in the HDD 68. The stored image can be distributed to a folder or the like of the PC by an operation from the operation unit 48 (FIG. 3).
The above operation relates to the operation of reading an original from the scanner 20, but when a printer print request is made via a network, the operation is as follows. That is, the content of the page description language (PDL) transmitted via the network is analyzed by the CPU 47 and converted into bitmap image data.
The image data is written on the image page memory 66 and simultaneously stored in the HDD 68 after the secondary compression 67. As in the case of copying, the image in the image page memory 66 is thumbnailed in a format such as TIFF and then saved in the HDD 68.
When printing an image written in the image memory, image data is sent from the image memory to the memory controller 65, and then sent to the writing unit 27 via the writing γ correction unit 71.
The image data sent to the writing unit 27 creates a latent image on the photoreceptor 15 (FIG. 1) and develops it to obtain a copy image. If the image is not printed (if it is simply stored), the above printing operation is not performed.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining control of image processing.
If the operator operating the electronic device depresses the copy screen display button of the operation unit 48 (S1), the user is prompted to input a user code and password that are predetermined to identify the operator (S2). When the password set for the code is input, it is determined whether or not the passwords match (S3). If they match, the subsequent operations can be performed.
For example, in the case of printer printing, the user code and password are entered in the same way on the printer driver screen of the PC, and compared with the user code and password registered when the data is sent to the device. Printing is possible only when
Here, an operator specifying unit is configured by a determination unit that determines whether the input user code and password match the registered user code and password.
Next, taking the case of copying a paper document as an example, the actual operation will be described. Press the copy key to switch to the copy screen. If the user code and password are entered and they match the internal password information, copying is possible.
At this time, it is determined whether or not the current time is in the image recording time zone (S4). If not, normal copying is possible (S5). If it is a predetermined time zone (image recording time zone), it is determined whether or not the read image can be stored in the HDD 68, that is, whether or not the HDD capacity is available (S6).
If the HDD capacity is insufficient, a warning message indicating that there is no HDD space is displayed and copying is prohibited (S7). FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a warning message.
When the HDD capacity is available, the main CPU 47 displays a message such as “All copied images are recorded together with user information” on the operation unit 48 as notification means (S8). FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a message display when the HDD capacity is empty.

Thereafter, when the original is set and copying is executed (S9), the read image is developed on the memory and printed as it is, but at the same time, the image is stored in the HDD 68. At the same time, the user code for specifying the operator, the date and time (operation date and time) at that time, and accompanying information indicating the copy operation (operation content) are also stored (S10). It is checked whether the document is a final document (S11).
Even when the HDD 68 becomes full during copying, copying is prohibited at that time. In the case of documents stored in the machine, they can be printed or sent to the outside, but on the screen where the operation is performed, the image is stored and the user code is stored together with the printing and transmission of the image as described above. Recording is performed.
Specifically, the present invention enables a follow-up survey by specifying the person who performed the acquisition operation and the date and time even when the image image is acquired illegally. In addition, it is possible to conduct a follow-up survey for illegal acquisition of paper manuscript images.
Further, it is possible to conduct a follow-up survey for illegal acquisition of printer data images. Furthermore, it enables tracking investigation of unauthorized acquisition of stored image data.
According to the present invention, an unauthorized operation is suppressed by notifying an operator who is attempting to obtain and transmit image data illegally that the image is handled and that the operator information is recorded. .
In addition, if it is possible to program the time zone, day of the week, etc. when the present invention becomes effective, it is known that there is less concern about unauthorized use depending on the time zone, such as during working hours, By not storing the image for the operation, it is possible to suppress a situation in which the image processing speed is reduced or the storage unit becomes insufficient in capacity early. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent the image operation from being intentionally full to prevent image recording.

As described above, the present invention includes an HDD for storing an image in an electronic apparatus including a copier / printer having a function of printing a read original image or distributing it to a personal computer via a network. An accumulation means and an operator specifying means that can specify an operator for operation are provided, and when an image image (image data) is moved by the operation, the image image is internally stored. Information that can be stored in the apparatus and that can specify the operator, operation date and time, and incidental information including the operation content are also stored together.
In this case, the movement of the image is the printing of the original image read by the scanner (the movement of the image onto paper), the movement to the personal computer via the network, or the movement to the destination facsimile machine via the facsimile line. , Including writing to another storage medium such as an SD card.
In addition, printing the printer language image sent from the printer driver (image transfer to paper), moving to a personal computer via a network, moving to a destination facsimile machine via a facsimile line In addition, writing to another storage medium such as an SD card is also included.
In addition, printing of images stored in external storage means such as HDD and SD card (moving images to paper), moving to a personal computer via a network, moving to a destination facsimile machine via a facsimile line In addition, writing to another storage medium such as an SD card is also included.

1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an image processing apparatus according to the present invention. Schematic explaining the flow of transfer paper when images are formed on both sides of the transfer paper. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main part of a control unit of the image processing apparatus according to the present invention in FIG. 1. The block diagram which shows the control circuit about an image process part. The flowchart explaining the control about image processing. Schematic showing a warning message. Schematic which shows the message display when there is space in HDD capacity.

Explanation of symbols

  47 main CPU, 68 storage means (HDD), 66 internal storage device (image page memory)

Claims (10)

In an electronic device that can print a scanned original image or distribute it to a personal computer via a network,
An operation unit; an accumulation unit that accumulates an image; and an operator identification unit that identifies an operator who has operated the operation unit. When the image is moved by the operation unit, the storage unit includes the image An electronic apparatus characterized in that an image, operator information specified by the operator specifying means, and incidental information including at least an operation date and time and operation contents are stored.   2. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the movement of the image image is printing of a document image.   2. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the movement of the image image is movement of a document image to a personal computer via a network.   2. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the movement of the image image is movement of a document image to a destination facsimile machine via a facsimile line.   2. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the movement of the image image is writing of an original image to an external storage medium.   6. The document image according to claim 2, wherein the document image is an image read by a scanner, an image obtained by imaging a printer language transmitted from a printer driver, or an image stored in an external storage unit. The electronic device as described in any one of.   The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a notification unit that notifies the storage unit that the operator information and incidental information are stored when the image is moved by the operation unit. The electronic device as described in any one of Claims 1 thru | or 6.   8. The electronic apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the notification means is a voice or character message on an operation panel.   2. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation of accumulating the image image by the accumulating means can be programmed for a valid time zone and day of the week. The storage means includes a determination means for determining whether or not the image image can be stored. When the determination means determines that the image image cannot be stored in the storage means, the image image is not moved. The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the electronic device is characterized.

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