JP2006086781A - Digital composite machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the protection and maintainability of device information in a digital composite machine. <P>SOLUTION: In the digital composite machine having at least two of functions of a printer, a copier, a facsimile, etc., a controller for controlling a digital composite machine body is made attachable and detachable. Moreover, the digital composite machine includes a connecting unit to which a communication terminal device such as a portable telephone etc. is connected. The function of the digital composite machine is validated, and a maintenance mode function is validated by the connection of the communication terminal device to the connecting unit. Further, the digital composite machine includes an authentication means for performing authentication from the device side information and the body controller side information of the digital composite machine body by the connection of the communication terminal device. When authentication is performed by the authentication means, the function of the digital composite machine is validated, and when the device side information and the body controller side information do not coincide, the authentication is made possible by rewriting the body control side information to the device side information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a digital multi-function peripheral, for example, a digital multi-function peripheral having a multi-function such as a facsimile, a digital copier, an image scanner, a printer, and a digital copier that cooperate with a communication terminal device.

Digital multi-function peripherals equipped with various functions such as facsimiles, copiers, and printers have become widespread.
Patent Documents 1 and 2 below have proposed such digital multi-function peripheral technologies.

  In Patent Document 1, in order to provide a digital multi-function peripheral having a user interface that is easily and safely used by a user, user information is acquired from a portable device, and based on the user information from the portable device. A technique for acquiring user setting information from a server and performing setting for each user has been proposed.

  Further, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561, the multifunction machine 10 is configured to store software stored in the server 20 with the object of obtaining and executing software suitable for the image forming apparatus after the operation of the image forming apparatus. A technique is proposed in which a desired software component is selected from a list of software components, the selected software component and authentication information are acquired from a server, and the processing operation of the software component is controlled based on the acquired authentication information. ing.

JP2002-202870 JP 2002-152458 A

However, the technology described in Patent Document 1 does not control the multifunction peripheral based on the user information from the portable device, and the device information set for each user is not sufficiently protected.
In addition, although the function use of the device is authenticated, the device body itself is not authenticated.

A first object of the present invention is to improve protection of device information in a digital multi-function peripheral.
A second object is to improve maintainability in the digital multi-function peripheral.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a digital multi-function peripheral having at least two of the functions of a printer, a copy, a facsimile, etc., and a main body control device for controlling the main body of the digital multi-function peripheral can be attached and detached. Thus, the first object is achieved.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the digital multi-functional peripheral according to the first aspect, the removed main body control device can be mounted on another digital multi-functional peripheral, thereby achieving the first and second objects. Achieve.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the digital multi-function peripheral according to the first or second aspect, the digital multi-function peripheral includes a connection unit to which a communication terminal device such as a mobile phone is connected, and the connection of the communication terminal device to the connection unit Thus, the function of the digital multi-function peripheral is validated.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the digital multi-function peripheral according to the first or second aspect, a connection unit to which a communication terminal device such as a mobile phone is connected is provided, and the connection of the communication terminal device to the connection unit This enables the maintenance mode function of the digital multi-function peripheral to be valid.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the digital multi-function peripheral according to the fourth aspect, the maintenance mode function of the digital multi-function peripheral is canceled when the communication terminal device is removed from the connection section.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the digital multi-function peripheral according to the fourth aspect, the maintenance mode function of the digital multi-function peripheral is canceled when there is no access within a predetermined time from the connection of the communication terminal device.
According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, in the digital multi-function peripheral according to the third or fourth aspect, authentication is performed from the device-side information and the main-unit control-unit-side information of the digital multi-function peripheral by connecting the communication terminal device. An authentication unit is provided, and when the authentication unit authenticates, the function of the digital multi-function peripheral is validated.
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the digital multi-function peripheral according to the seventh aspect, when the device side information and the main body control device side information do not match, the rewriting that rewrites the main body control device side information to the device side information. Means are provided.
According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the digital multi-function peripheral according to the seventh aspect, after authentication by the authentication unit, the authentication is valid even if the connected communication terminal device is removed. To do.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a digital multi-function peripheral having at least two functions among the functions of a printer, a copy, a facsimile, etc., and a control device for controlling the main body of the digital multi-function peripheral can be attached and detached. Therefore, protection of device information in the digital multi-function peripheral can be improved.
According to the second to ninth aspects of the present invention, the digital multifunction peripheral according to the first aspect, wherein the removed main body control device can be attached to another digital multifunction peripheral. The device information can be protected and maintainability can be improved.

Hereinafter, a digital multifunction peripheral according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a digital copying machine having a facsimile function and a copying machine function. Hereinafter, a digital copying machine that functions as a digital multifunction peripheral will be described.

This digital copying machine includes a copying machine main body 1, an automatic document feeder (hereinafter referred to as ADF) 100, a 3-bin sorter 200, and a paper feeding unit (hereinafter referred to as bank) 300.
The copying machine main body 1 includes a scanner, an image processing unit, a plotter, and the like. The scanner includes a contact glass 10 on which an original is placed and an optical scanning system. The optical scanning system includes an exposure lamp 11, The first mirror 12, the lens 15, the full color CCD 16, and the like are included.

It is equipped with an exposure lamp 11 and a first mirror 12, and is equipped with a first carriage that is driven by a stepping motor and moves at a constant speed when reading a document, and a second mirror 13 and a third mirror 14. A second carriage is driven by a stepping motor when reading a document and is driven at a speed half that of the first carriage.
An original (not shown) on the contact glass 10 is optically scanned by the first carriage and the second carriage, and the CCD 16 is passed through the exposure lamp 11, the first mirror 12, the second mirror 13, the third mirror 14, and the lens 15. It is imaged and photoelectrically converted.

  The image signal separated into red (R), green (G), and blue (B) colors by the CCD is AD converted by an AD converter and output to an image processing unit that performs image processing. The image processing unit performs various image processing (binarization, multi-value conversion, scaling, editing, etc.) on the image signal from the AD converter, and converts it into a digital signal.

  The writing unit includes a laser output unit 20, an fθ lens 21, and a mirror 22. The laser output unit 20 includes a laser diode that is a laser light source and a polygon motor.

The black image signal output from the image processing unit is converted into laser light having an intensity corresponding to this image signal, shaped into a fixed luminous flux by the collimating lens, aperture, and cylinder lens, and irradiated to the polygon motor for laser output. Output from unit 20.
The laser beam output from the laser output unit 20 is irradiated onto the photosensitive drum 30 via the fθ lens 21 and the mirror 22.
Further, the laser light that has passed through the fθ lens 21 is applied to a beam sensor that generates a main scanning synchronization detection signal PMSYNC arranged outside the image area.
The red image signal output from the image processing unit is buffered to match the writing position with the black image signal, and is sent to the LED writing unit 31 to be irradiated on the photosensitive drum 30.

The ADF 100 feeds documents one by one to the contact glass 10 of the copier body 1 and ejects them after copying. The documents are stacked on the document feed table 101, and the width direction is aligned by a side guide.
Documents on the document feeder 101 are separated one by one from the bottom document by the feed roller 102 and fed to the contact glass 10 of the copier body 1 by the transport belt 103.
After the reading on the contact glass 10 is finished, the original is discharged onto the discharge tray 105 by the conveyance belt 103 and the discharge roller 104.

  When reading a double-sided original, the double-sided original on the original feeder 101 is separated and fed one by one by a feed roller 102 and sent onto the contact glass 10 of the copying machine main body 1 by a conveyor belt 103. . After the reading of the surface of the original is completed, the original is conveyed by the conveying belt 103 and is fed onto the contact glass 10 after the original is reversed by the reversing claw 106. After the reading of the back side of the document is completed, the paper is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 105 by the conveyance belt 103 and the paper discharge roller 104.

The transfer sheets stacked on the first tray 50, the second tray 310, the third tray 320, and the fourth tray 330 are transferred to the first sheet feeding device 51, the second sheet feeding device 311, the third sheet feeding device 321, and the like. The paper is fed by the fourth paper feeder 331 and conveyed by the bank vertical conveyance unit 340 and the main body vertical conveyance unit 60. When the leading edge of the transfer paper is detected by the registration sensor 52, it is conveyed by a predetermined time and then stopped by the registration roller 53.
This transfer sheet is sent to the photosensitive drum 30 in association with the leading edge of the image valid signal (FGATE), the image is transferred by the transfer charger, the transfer sheet is separated from the photoreceptor, and then conveyed by the conveying device 54. Fixing is performed by a fixing device 55 having a fixing roller and a pressure roller, and the paper is discharged onto a 3-bin sorter 200 by a paper discharge roller 56.

In the image formation on the photoconductor, an electrostatic latent image is formed by irradiating a laser beam with the charge charged on the photoconductor drum 30 by the first charging device, and the black developing device 32 forms the image on the photoconductor drum 30. An image is formed on.
Thereafter, the photosensitive drum 30 is charged again by the second charging device, an electrostatic latent image of the second color is formed by the LED array 31, and an image is formed on the photosensitive drum 30 by the second developing device 33. Yes.

When performing duplex printing using the duplex unit 40, the transfer sheet from the fixing 55 is guided to the duplex conveyance path 41 by the switching claw 57, passes through the feed roller 42 and the separation roller 43, and is collected on the duplex tray.
The transfer paper accumulated in the tray comes into contact with the feed roller 42 as the tray rises, and is fed to the main body vertical conveyance unit 60 as the feed roller 42 rotates, and is fed again to the registration roller 53 and then back. Is printed.

The 3-bin sorter 200 includes a first discharge tray 201, a second discharge tray 202, a third discharge tray 203, and a reverse tray 204, and is configured so that transfer paper can be reversed and output to each tray. Yes.
In the case of front side discharge, the transfer sheet discharged from the copying machine main body 1 is guided toward the discharge tray by the switching claw 207 and discharged to a preset tray. When discharging to the second discharge tray 202, the second tray switching claw 205 operates, and when discharging to the third discharge tray 203, the third tray switching claw 206 operates to guide the transfer paper.

In the case of reverse paper discharge, the paper is guided in the direction of the reverse tray 204 by the switching claw 207, and when the trailing edge of the transfer paper passes through the reverse detection sensor 208, the transport roller 209 is reversed and guided in the direction of the paper discharge tray. Paper is ejected to the set tray.
The first paper discharge tray 201 is equipped with a function for shifting the tray back and forth and a function for shifting up and down. The shift function is used when sorting transfer sheets, and the up / down function is used to stack a large amount of transfer sheets while ensuring sheet alignment.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the operation unit 420 of a digital copying machine (digital multifunction peripheral).
A liquid crystal display unit 421 is arranged in the center of the operation unit 420. On the right side of the liquid crystal display unit 421, various numeric keys 402, a clear / stop key 403, a start key 404, which are commonly used for copying and facsimile (FAX), Various keys such as a program key 405, a job recall key 406, a mode clear / preheat key 407, an interrupt key 408, and a pause / redial key 409, an abbreviated key 410, a reception key 411, etc. used exclusively for FAX are arranged. Yes.
The various numeric keys 402 may be used exclusively for copying, and when using FAX, the numeric keys of the communication terminal device 501 described later may be used.

On the left side of the liquid crystal display unit 421, a connection unit 500 for mounting (connecting) the communication terminal device 501 is disposed. By placing the communication terminal device 501 on the connection unit 500, the connection unit 500 is connected to the copying machine main body 1.
The connected communication terminal device 501 includes application software for realizing a FAX function, an authentication function, and the like in the digital copying machine according to the present embodiment. The application software may be stored in advance in the device, or may be stored by downloading through communication.

In the case of a conventional digital copying machine, a function switching key for switching functions (copy, FAX) is arranged, but in this embodiment, the function can be used when the communication terminal apparatus 501 is attached to the connection unit 500. It has been removed because it looks like.
The conventional area of the left dedicated fax section (initial setting key, guidance key, LCD density adjustment volume, fax dedicated display section (various LEDs during communication, memory full, etc. and LCD that displays the communication status)) Are all deleted. This is also because the fax function can be used when the communication terminal apparatus 501 is mounted on the copying machine main body 1, and the keys of the communication terminal apparatus 501 can substitute the conventional key and display unit.

Conventionally, a 400 × 256 dot liquid crystal display unit (LCD) has been arranged in the center of the operation unit 420, but in this embodiment, the liquid crystal display unit (LCD) 421 is replaced with a less expensive liquid crystal display unit (LCD) 421.
This is also reduced in size because the fax function can be used when the communication terminal device 501 is mounted on the copying machine main body 1, and the conventional display screen of the communication terminal device 501 can be substituted. In this way, the operation unit 420 of a simple digital copying machine can be configured.
Note that a touch panel is provided on the liquid crystal display unit 421.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a digital copying machine (digital multifunction peripheral).
The copying machine main body 1 includes an operation unit controller 700, a main controller 701, an image processing controller 702, an ADF controller 703, a sorter controller 704, a paper feed tray controller 705, a connection unit 500, a FAX controller 502, a network controller 503, and not shown. A device ID storage unit is provided.

  The operation unit controller 700 performs control of the copier body 1 arranged, liquid crystal display, various LED controls, and various key input controls.

A main controller 701 performs paper feeding, conveyance, fixing, duplexing, process control, and the like.
The main controller 701 includes a main controller ID that identifies the controller, information set for each user who uses the controller, for example, confidential information such as a FAX destination telephone number and address information, and the main controller 701. The main body ID of the copying machine main body 1 that is permitted to be used is stored.

The main body ID stored in the main controller 701 functions as main body control side information, and is used in device authentication for a combination with the main controller 701.
As will be described later, when the copy machine main body 1 to be used is changed, authentication is not performed because the use combination is different. However, the copy machine main body 1 is authenticated by being rewritten to the new copy machine main body ID. It has become.

The image processing controller 702 performs image control / scanner reading control.
The ADF controller 703 performs control of an ADF (automatic document feeder) 100, that is, controls for feeding documents one by one to the contact glass 10 of the copying machine main body 1 and discharging them after copying.

The sorter controller 704 performs 3-bin sorter control.
A paper feed tray controller 705 controls the paper feed unit (bank) 300.
The connection unit 500 is a connection unit for mounting the communication terminal device, and the communication terminal device 501 that performs communication with the outside such as a mobile phone is attached and detached.

A FAX controller 502 performs facsimile control such as FAX transmission / reception management and file management.
A network controller 503 performs network control such as a LAN.

The device ID storage unit stores a main body ID that identifies the copying machine main body 1 and an administrator ID.
The main body ID functions as device side information.
The administrator ID is an ID that identifies a user registered as an administrator. In the present embodiment, a main controller ID (main body control device side information) that identifies the administrator's main controller 701 is registered as the administrator ID.

In the present embodiment, the main controller 701 functions as a main body control device and is configured to be detachable (Claim 1).
Although the main body control device may be a part of the main controller 701, in the present embodiment, a case where the main controller 701 is simply configured as the main body control device will be described.
A plurality of main controllers 701 can be attached to and detached from a single copying machine main body 1, and different main controllers 701 having different main controller IDs can be used by different users.

  Since the main controller 701 is detachable, it can be attached to another digital copying machine. This will also change the performance of the equipment at will. Various combinations can be configured from low-speed to high-speed processing, small memory capacity to large capacity, single function to multiple composite functions.

  When the main controller 701 is mounted on the copying machine main body 1, the communication terminal device 501 has a main body ID (device side information) stored in the copying machine main body 1 and a main body ID (main body control device side) stored in the main controller 701. Information) is compared, and if they match, device authentication is performed. When this authentication is performed, the authentication result is supplied to the main controller 701, and various functions of the digital copying machine can be used.

  Accordingly, when the main controller 701 is installed in a digital multifunction machine main body other than the copier main body 1 originally mounted, the main body ID stored in the main controller 701 and the main body stored in the copier main body 1 are stored. Since the ID is different, authentication by use combination is not performed. For this reason, when the main controller 701 is first mounted in a different copying machine body 1, it cannot be activated. Or the guard is hung so that the function of the device cannot be used. This makes it possible to prevent copying.

For example, when a new copy machine main body 1 is used by replacement of the copy machine main body 1 or when a user of the main controller 701 uses a different copy machine main body 1 due to a change of department or the like, the new copy machine main body 1 is also main. The controller 701 needs to be usable.
As described above, when the main controller 701 is used in the new copying machine main body 1, it is necessary to mount the communication terminal device 501 and start it up. When receiving a main body ID rewrite instruction from the communication terminal device 501, the communication terminal device 501 acquires the main body ID from the copier main body 1 and the main body ID stored in the main controller 701. The ID is rewritten (rewrite means: claim 8).

By rewriting the main body ID, the main body ID of the new copying machine main body 1 coincides with the main body ID of the main controller 701 that has been mounted. Therefore, authentication is performed using the combination, and the result is supplied to the main controller 701.
When the authentication between the copying machine main body 1 and the main controller 701 mounted is completed, the main controller 701 holds the authentication result. Thereafter, even if the connection of the communication terminal device 501 is removed, the authentication result is valid and each function Can be used continuously (claim 9).
As described above, if the authentication confirmation with the device main body is completed, the function of the device can be used even if the communication terminal device 501 is not connected.

When the communication terminal device 501 is attached, the main controller 701 confirms the connection, and if it is connected, the function of the device can be used (claim 3).
However, not only the function of the device but also the maintenance mode function (maintenance mode, service mode) can be used. In the present embodiment, when the administrator ID stored in the device ID storage unit of the copying machine main body 1 matches the main controller ID stored in the main controller 701, it is recognized as being used by the administrator. Thus, the maintenance mode function can be used (maintenance mode enabled state).

  By enabling the maintenance mode function, the device control software stored in the communication terminal device 501 can be moved, or the control software can be transferred to the device body and registered. In addition, maintenance information can be acquired from the device main body (claim 4).

When the communication terminal device 501 is removed from the device main body, the main controller 701 detects that it is not connected, and cancels the maintenance mode function (claim 5).
Also, when the communication terminal device 501 is attached, the maintenance mode function is canceled as in the case where the communication terminal device 501 is left for an arbitrary period of time, ie, when there is no access (claim 6).

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow when the main controller 701 is activated.
In this flowchart, the case where the maintenance mode is permitted is not the above-described example on the condition that the administrator ID and the main controller ID match, but the case where the use of the maintenance mode is permitted on the condition that the communication terminal device 501 is connected will be described. .

The main controller 701 mounted on the device main body first checks whether authentication with the device has been confirmed at the time of activation (step 11).
If the authentication has not been confirmed yet (step 11; N), it is checked whether the communication terminal device 501 is connected (step 12).

Here, if the communication terminal device 501 is also not connected (step 12; N), it will be determined as unauthenticated and the process will be terminated because the device cannot be used.
If the communication terminal device 501 is connected (step 12; Y), the authentication confirmation setting is performed (step 13), and the authenticated flow is entered.

If authentication has already been confirmed at the time of activation (step 11; Y), it is next checked whether or not the communication terminal device 501 is connected (step 14).
If the communication terminal device is connected (step 14; Y), the maintenance mode function is validated (step 15).
Furthermore, execution of the main body control is permitted (step 16), and the functions of the device main body 1 can be used.

  If the communication terminal device is not connected (step 14; N), the maintenance mode function cannot be used, execution of normal body control is permitted (step 16), and the device body function can be used. Become.

1 is a configuration diagram of a digital copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a front view showing the operation part concerning this embodiment. 1 is a block diagram of a digital copying machine according to an embodiment. It is the flowchart which showed the process at the time of starting of the main controller concerning this Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1 Copier body 10 Contact glass 11 Exposure lamp 11
12 1st mirror 13 2nd mirror 14 3rd mirror 15 Lens 16 Full color CCD
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 Laser output unit 21 f (theta) lens 22 Mirror 30 Photosensitive drum 31 LED writing unit 32 Black developing device 33 2nd developing device 40 Double-sided unit 41 Double-sided conveyance path 42 Feed roller 43 Separating roller 50 1st tray 51 1st paper feeder 60 Main body vertical conveyance unit 100 Automatic document feeder 101 Document feeder 102 Paper feed roller 103 Conveyor belt 104 Paper ejection roller 105 Paper ejection tray 106 Reverse claw 200 3 Bin sorter 201 First paper ejection tray 202 Second paper ejection tray 203 Third Discharge tray 204 Reversal dedicated tray 205 Second tray switching claw 206 Third tray switching claw 207 Switching claw 208 Reverse detection sensor 209 Conveyance roller 300 Paper feed unit 310 Second tray 311 Second paper feed device 320 Third tray 321 Third Paper feed Station 330 Fourth tray 331 Fourth paper feeder 340 Bank vertical transport unit 402 Various numeric keys 403 Clear / stop key 404 Start key 405 Program key 406 Job recall key 407 Mode clear / preheat key 408 Interrupt key 409 Pause / redial key 410 Shortening Key 411 Receive key 420 Operation unit 421 Liquid crystal display (LCD)
500 connection unit 501 communication terminal device 502 FAX controller 503 network controller 700 operation unit controller 701 main controller 702 image processing controller 703 ADF controller 704 sorter controller 705 paper feed tray controller

Claims (9)

A digital multi-function peripheral having at least two functions among printer, copy, facsimile and the like,
A digital multi-function peripheral characterized in that a main body control device for controlling the main body of the digital multi-function peripheral is detachable.
2. The digital multifunction peripheral according to claim 1, wherein the removed main body control device can be attached to another digital multifunction peripheral.
A connection unit to which a communication terminal device such as a mobile phone is connected;
3. The digital multi-function peripheral according to claim 1, wherein the function of the digital multi-function peripheral is validated by connecting a communication terminal device to the connection unit.
A connection unit to which a communication terminal device such as a mobile phone is connected;
3. The digital multi-function peripheral according to claim 1, wherein a maintenance mode function of the digital multi-function peripheral is validated by connecting a communication terminal device to the connection unit.
5. The digital multifunction peripheral according to claim 4, wherein the maintenance mode function of the digital multifunction peripheral is canceled when the communication terminal device is detached from the connection unit.
5. The digital multifunction peripheral according to claim 4, wherein the maintenance mode function of the digital multifunction peripheral is canceled when there is no access within a predetermined time from the connection of the communication terminal apparatus.
By connecting the communication terminal device, it comprises authentication means for performing authentication from the device side information of the digital MFP main body and the main body control device side information,
5. The digital multifunction peripheral according to claim 3, wherein when the authentication unit authenticates, the function of the digital multifunction peripheral is validated.
8. The digital multi-function peripheral according to claim 7, further comprising a rewriting unit that rewrites the main body control device side information to the device side information when the device side information and the main body control device side information do not match.
  8. The digital multi-function peripheral according to claim 7, wherein after being authenticated by the authenticating means, authentication is validated even if the connected communication terminal device is removed.

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