JP2007105966A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To adequately manage manuscript image information by preventing an IC tag of an image recording medium from being broken when a visual image is formed on the image recording medium by an image forming apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: When a print processing operation is carried out (S31), it is checked whether or not an IC tag is attached to a printing paper sheet (S32). When the IC tag is attached thereto, a process of writing prescribed information in the IC tag by utilizing wireless communication is carried out (S33). Immediately after that, a process of reading the information written in the step S33 from the IC tag is carried out (S34). It is checked whether or not the information is adequately read (S35). When the written information is matched with the read information, it is judged that the IC tag is normal (S36). The printing paper sheet is discharged to a paper discharge tray 15 (S37), and then the series of the processes are completed. When it is not, it is judged that the IC tag is abnormal (S38). The printing paper sheet is discharged to a confirmation-necessary paper discharge tray to be kept (S39), and then the series of the processes are completed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having information writing / reading means for writing information to / reading information from an IC tag attached to an image recording medium, for example, image formation such as a laser beam printer or an ink jet printer. Relates to the device.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been proposed a print sheet for the purpose of easily managing image data and easily searching for data. In the print sheet according to this proposal, a storage body for storing subject image data is integrally formed on a sheet-like body that carries a subject image. An IC doug (IC chip) having an information transmission / reception function by wireless communication, an information storage function, and an information processing function is used as the memory (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP2003-296677

  By the way, a print sheet having the above-described configuration as a print sheet is used in an image forming apparatus such as a laser beam printer that prints out a visible image of document image information through various processes such as charging, exposure, development, transfer, and fixing. When the IC tag is used, there is a possibility that the IC tag is destroyed by heating and pressurizing the printing paper in the fixing step. As described above, when an IC tag attached in advance to a printing paper is destroyed, even if an attempt is made to manage document image information by writing necessary information into the IC tag at the time of printing processing, proper management is performed. The problem that it becomes impossible to perform occurs.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to appropriately manage document image information by preventing the IC tag provided on the image recording medium from being destroyed when a visible image is formed on the image recording medium by the image forming apparatus. There is in doing so.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes information writing / reading means for writing information to / reading information from an IC tag attached to an image recording medium, and the IC tag by the information writing / reading means. Verification means for verifying whether the written information matches the information read from the IC tag.

  In a preferred embodiment according to the present invention, the image forming apparatus is a laser beam printer.

  In an embodiment different from the above, the image recording medium is printing paper, and the IC tag is attached to the image recording medium in advance.

  In another embodiment different from the above, when the verification means does not match the information written to the IC tag by the information writing / reading means and the information read from the IC tag, It is determined that a defect has occurred in the IC tag.

  In another embodiment different from the above, the IC tag may have the developer image formed by the developer formed in the image forming unit transferred by the transfer unit and fixed by the fixing unit. It can be attached to an image recording medium.

  In another embodiment, the IC tag is supplied from an IC tag supply mechanism that is supported by a carriage that can reciprocate in a direction substantially orthogonal to the moving direction of the image recording medium.

  In another embodiment different from the above, the information writing / reading means is adapted to write information to the IC tag / read information from the IC tag by wireless communication. An electromagnetic shield is provided between the read / write means and the IC tag after the information is written / read.

  In another embodiment, the image forming apparatus is an ink jet printer.

  In another embodiment, the IC tag is supplied from an IC tag supply mechanism that is supported together with the print head by a carriage that can reciprocate in a direction substantially orthogonal to the moving direction of the image recording medium. The

  Furthermore, in an embodiment different from the above, an electromagnetic shield member is provided upstream of the carriage in the conveyance direction of the image recording medium.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to appropriately manage document image information by preventing destruction of an IC tag provided on an image recording medium when a visible image is formed on the image recording medium by the image forming apparatus. Can be.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing an internal configuration of a laser beam printer (hereinafter simply referred to as “printer”) which is a kind of electrophotographic apparatus (image forming apparatus) according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The internal configuration of the printer is the same as that of an existing printer. As shown in FIG. 1, the printer includes a laser scanner unit 1 including a laser beam generator, a polygon mirror, a plurality of lenses, a plurality of reflection mirrors, and the like. The printer also includes an image forming system 3 including a photosensitive drum, a photosensitive drum driving mechanism, a charger, a toner tank, an ozone toner filter, a toner supply mechanism, and a photosensitive member cleaning blade. The printer also includes a transfer system 5 including a transfer belt, a primary transfer roller, a secondary transfer roller, a transfer belt cleaning blade, a transfer cleaner backup roller, and the like. The printer also includes a paper feed cassette 13 at the bottom of the printer main body 11, a paper feed roller and a gate roller located on the downstream side in the transport direction of the paper feed cassette 13, a paper discharge tray 15 at the top of the printer main body 11, and the paper discharge. A printing paper transport system 7 including a discharge roller 21 and the like positioned on the upstream side in the transport direction of the tray 15 is also provided.

  As is clear from the description of FIG. 1, the printing paper transport system 7 includes a transfer system 5 and a fixing system described later so that double-sided printing can be performed on each printing paper supplied from the paper feed cassette 13. 9, the front and back sides of the printing paper after the visible image is printed on one side of the printing paper are reversed and conveyed to the transfer system 5 and the fixing system 9 again. The printer further includes a fixing system 9 including a heating roller 17 and a pressing roller 19 disposed on the downstream side in the transport direction of the transfer system 5 in the printing paper transport system 7.

  Furthermore, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the printer has a wireless communication function at an appropriate location between the fixing system 9 and the paper discharge roller 21 in the printing paper transport system 7 as shown in FIG. The reader / writer 23 is also provided. The reader / writer 23 is connected through a signal transmission line (not shown) to a control unit (not shown) that puts each part of the printer under control, and based on commands from the control unit (not shown) The information writing operation to the IC tag of the printing paper / the information reading operation from the IC tag is executed.

  As is apparent from the above description, in the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention, the IC tag (that is, the function of transmitting / receiving information by wireless communication, the function of storing information, and the information processing function) is previously provided on the printing paper. IC chip provided with an appropriate portion is employed.

  In the above configuration, in the printing paper transport system 7, each printing paper with an IC tag discharged from the paper feeding cassette 13 by the paper feeding roller is guided to the transfer system 5 by the gate roller, and the image forming system in the transfer system 5. 3 is transferred to the visible image (of the original) formed in step 3. Next, the printing paper (with the IC tag) that has received the transfer of the visible image is fixed by heating and pressing the visible image in the fixing system 9 by the cooperation of the heating roller 17 and the pressing roller 19, Thereafter, it is transported to a position where the reader / writer 23 faces. At the position, the reader / writer 23 writes predetermined information to the IC tag by wireless transmission (guided radio wave).

  When the writing of this information to the IC tag is completed, the reader / writer 23 immediately starts reading the written information from the IC tag. Information read by the reader / writer 23 is transmitted to a control unit (not shown) through the signal transmission line (not shown), and predetermined information processing is performed in the control unit (not shown). If the IC tag is not destroyed because the printing paper is heated and pressurized in the fixing system 9, the information written by the reader / writer 23 is normally stored in the IC tag. It is. Therefore, the reader / writer 23 reads the same information that has been written from the IC tag. On the other hand, if the IC tag is destroyed due to the heating and pressurization of the printing paper in the fixing system 9, the reader / writer 23 may not have been able to normally write the information. / Writer 23 cannot read the information to be written.

  The result of reading the information from the IC tag by the reader / writer 23 is notified to a control unit (not shown). On the basis of the notification content, the control unit (not shown) provides a normal paper discharge tray (15) for printing paper having an IC tag that has successfully read the information written by the reader / writer 23. To discharge. On the other hand, for a print sheet having an IC tag for which the above information could not be read, the control unit (not shown) is assumed to be a broken IC tag, and the normal discharge tray (15) The paper is discharged to another, for example, a confirmation required discharge tray (cautionary discharge tray).

  Note that printing paper on which so-called double-sided printing is performed passes through a transport path that is different from the normal transport path and branches from the downstream side of the fixing system 9 in the transport direction and merges on the upstream side of the gate roller in the transport direction. Then, the image forming system 3 is again faced with the front and back sides reversed.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of each unit in the printer shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 2, when a series of print processing operations (charging, exposure, development, and fixing) relating to an original image by the printer shown in FIG. 1 is executed (step S31), an IC is printed on the printing paper used for the print processing. Check if the tag is affixed. This check (whether an IC tag is attached) can be performed by performing wireless communication through the reader / writer 23. That is, if the IC tag is attached to the printing paper, the IC tag should respond to the reader / writer 23 when the IC tag is turned on by the induced radio wave from the reader / writer 23. Therefore, by checking whether or not there is a response from the IC tag, the control unit (not shown) can grasp whether or not the IC tag is stuck on the printing paper (step S32).

  As a result of the check, if an IC tag is attached to the printing paper (Yes in step S32), the control unit (not shown) controls the reader / writer 23 to transmit predetermined information by wireless communication. A process of writing to the IC tag is executed (step S33). When this information writing process is completed, the control unit (not shown) immediately executes the process of reading the information written in step S33 from the IC tag through the reader / writer 23 (step S34).

  Next, in step S34, it is checked whether or not the information has been normally read from the IC tag. This check is performed by determining whether the information written in the IC tag in step S33 matches the information read from the IC tag in step S34 (step S35). If the information written to the IC tag matches the information read from the IC tag as a result of this check, the information has been successfully read (Yes in step S35). It is determined that the tag is operating normally (step S36). Then, the printing paper having the IC tag attached thereto is discharged to a normal paper discharge tray, that is, the paper discharge tray 15 (step S37), and a series of processing operations ends.

  On the other hand, if the information written in step S33 and the information read in step S34 do not match, the information has not been read normally (No in step S35). It is determined that it is not operating (step S38). Then, the printing paper with the IC tag attached is discharged to a normal discharge tray, that is, a required discharge tray (not shown) different from the discharge tray 15 and stored (step S39). A series of processing operations are completed.

  If the IC tag is not attached to the printing paper (No in step S32), the process immediately proceeds to the processing operation shown in step S37.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the main part of the internal configuration of the printer according to a modification of the embodiment of the present invention.

  In the printer according to this modification, as shown in FIG. 3, an IC tag pasting device 47 and a reader / writer 49 are arranged at appropriate positions between the fixing system 43 and the paper discharge roller 45 in the printing paper transport system 41. Are different from the printer shown in FIG. Note that an electromagnetic shield is provided on the front side in the transport direction of the paper discharge roller 45 in order to prohibit wireless communication between the reader / writer 49 and the IC tag of the print paper discharged to the paper discharge tray 53. A partition wall 51 is provided. If there is no room for installing the partition wall 51 in the space inside the printer, the outer peripheral surface of the paper discharge roller 45 is covered with a metal foil or a metal mesh so that the paper discharge roller 45 can be connected to the partition wall 51 and the partition wall 51. A similar function as an electromagnetic shield can be provided.

  The IC tag affixing device 47 peels off each IC tag supplied from the tape 55 that is affixed in a state where, for example, a large number of IC tags are aligned in a row under the control of a control unit (not shown), The IC tag is transported by the printing paper transporting system 41 and stuck on each printing paper after the visible image is fixed by heating and pressing in the fixing system 43. Similarly to the IC tag sticking device 47, the reader / writer 49 also wirelessly communicates with each IC tag stuck on each print sheet by the IC tag sticking device 47 under the control of a control unit (not shown). In addition to writing predetermined information, the information is read from the IC tag after writing. Then, it is determined whether or not the IC tag is operating normally by checking whether or not they match.

  In this modification, an IC tag is attached by the IC tag attaching device 47 to the printing paper after passing through the image forming system, the transfer system, and the fixing system from the paper feed cassette by the printing paper conveyance system (41). . Therefore, unlike the case of using printing paper with an IC tag attached in advance, when the printing paper is heated and pressurized in the fixing system (43), the IC tag is also heated and pressurized, so that the IC tag is Since there is no risk of destruction, the IC tag operates normally, so that information can be written to and read from the IC tag by the reader / writer (49) without any trouble.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a part of a printer according to a further modification of the modification shown in FIG. 3 and an example of printing paper on which an original image is printed out by the printer.

  In the printer according to this modification, the IC tag sticking device 57 is supported by the IC tag sticking device support mechanism 59 so as to be able to reciprocate in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the printing paper 61, for example. The IC tag pasting device 57 is placed at an appropriate position on the printing paper 61 corresponding to each of a plurality of printed photographic images (A, B, C) under the control of a control unit (not shown). Operates to stick. The reader / writer (49) is provided with each IC tag attached to each photographic image (A, B, C) on the printing paper 61 by the IC tag attaching device 57 under the control of a control unit (not shown). A process of writing corresponding information (for example, identification information for identifying each photographic image A, B, and C) and a process of reading information written in each IC tag 62 are executed. To do.

  As a result, for a plurality of pieces of image information to be printed (photo images A, B, C), for example, even when a different number of prints is imposed for each photo image (A, B, C), Individual management of each piece of image information (photo images A, B, C) can be easily performed. In addition, the information stored in the IC tag 62 can also be easily searched through the reader / writer (49) for searching for the image information (photo images A, B, C).

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the main part of the internal configuration of an inkjet printer (hereinafter referred to as “printer”) according to another embodiment of the present invention.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the IC tag pasting device 69 is placed on the carriage together with the print head 67 between the paper feed roller 65 and the paper discharge roller 73 in the print paper transport system 77. The reader / writer 71 is arranged downstream of the print head 67 in the transport direction. An electromagnetic shield member 79 formed in a bowl shape, for example, is provided between the paper feed roller 65 and the paper feed cassette 63 disposed on the upstream side in the transport direction. Instead of providing the electromagnetic shield member 79, the outer peripheral surface of the paper feed roller 65 is covered with, for example, a metal foil or a metal mesh, so that the paper feed roller 65 performs the same function as the electromagnetic shield member 71. You can also.

  In the present embodiment, as is clear from the above description, printing paper not previously attached with an IC tag is set in the paper feed cassette 63.

  In the above configuration, a plurality of (two in FIG. 6), for example, print sheets supplied from the sheet feed cassette 63 to the print sheet conveyance system 77 through the sheet feed roller 65 are printed by the print head 67 as shown in FIG. A photographic image is printed. At the same time, the IC tag 81 is pasted by the IC tag pasting device 69 so as to correspond to each photo image on the printing paper after the photo image printing process is performed. Next, the reader / writer 71 writes information to the IC tags 81 and reads information from the IC tags 81, and the control unit (not shown) reads the written information and the information. Match / mismatch with the information is checked.

  The printing paper that has passed through the reader / writer 71 is discharged to a paper discharge tray 75 by a paper discharge roller 73.

  Since the printer according to this embodiment does not have a fixing system like a laser beam printer, the printing process is performed in the print head 67 and the printing paper after the IC tag 81 is attached is the fixing system. By heating and pressurizing, there is no problem that the IC tag 81 itself is destroyed or the information stored in the IC tag 81 is destroyed.

  Also in the present embodiment, substantially the same effect as in the modification shown in FIG. 4 can be obtained.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention and modifications thereof have been described above, but these are examples for explaining the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is limited to these embodiments and modifications thereof. It is not meant to be limited only. The present invention can be implemented in various other forms.

1 is a side sectional view showing an internal configuration of a laser beam printer which is a kind of electrophotographic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of each unit in the printer shown in FIG. 1. Explanatory drawing which shows the principal part of the internal structure of the laser beam printer which concerns on the modification of one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a part of a printer according to a further modification of the modification described in FIG. 3 and an example of printing paper on which a document image is printed out by the printer. Explanatory drawing which shows the principal part of the internal structure of the inkjet printer which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a print sheet that has been printed by the ink jet printer illustrated in FIG. 5.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Laser scanner unit 3 Image formation system 5 Transfer system 7 Printing paper conveyance system 9 Fixing system 11 Printer main body 13 Paper feed cassette 15 Paper discharge tray 1
17 Heating Roller 19 Pressing Roller 21 Paper Discharge Roller 23 Reader / Writer

Claims (10)

Information writing / reading means for writing information to / reading information from an IC tag attached to an image recording medium;
Verification means for verifying whether the information written to the IC tag by the information writing / reading means matches the information read from the IC tag;
An image forming apparatus comprising: The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is a laser beam printer. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
An image forming apparatus in which the image recording medium is printing paper and the IC tag is attached to the image recording medium in advance. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
Image formation in which the verification unit determines that a defect has occurred in the IC tag when the information written to the IC tag by the information writing / reading unit and the information read from the IC tag do not match apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
Image formation in which the IC tag is attached to the image recording medium after the visible image made of the developer formed in the image forming unit is transferred in the transfer unit and fixed in the fixing unit. apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
An image forming apparatus in which the IC tag is supplied from an IC tag supply mechanism that is supported by a carriage that can reciprocate in a direction substantially orthogonal to the moving direction of the image recording medium. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
The information writing / reading means is adapted to write information to the IC tag / read information from the IC tag by wireless communication, and the information writing / reading means and the information writing / reading. An image forming apparatus in which an electromagnetic shield is provided between the IC tag after passing through. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is an ink jet printer. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
An image forming apparatus in which the IC tag is supplied from an IC tag supply mechanism that is supported together with a print head by a carriage that can reciprocate in a direction substantially orthogonal to the moving direction of the image recording medium. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9.
An image forming apparatus provided with an electromagnetic shield member upstream of the carriage in the conveyance direction of the image recording medium.

Images