JP2007168282A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve an image forming apparatus specifying an output person without affecting output printed matter. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus for printing an image on a recording medium which is conveyed from a paper feeding unit via a conveying section according to a user's demand for printing is equipped with a specific information acquisition means for acquiring a specific information including user information which specifies the user who has issued the demand for printing. The paper feeding unit or conveying section is equipped with an invisible information writing means for writing the specific information in the recording medium on which the image is to be printed in the state of invisibility. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of printing invisible information.

  In recent years, OA, HA, etc. have been developed and the efficiency of social activities is progressing. Particularly, a network system in which a plurality of PCs (Personal Computers) are connected to one network for efficiency is used in many situations. For example, in a company, a printer that connects a plurality of PCs and an image forming apparatus online, receives print data via a network, and forms and outputs an image or document on a predetermined sheet based on the received print data Is popular. According to such a printer, it is possible to transmit print data to the printer from a PC installed at a location away from the printer and output the print data.

  According to such a system, since the PC and the printer are separated from each other, forgetting to take out the output paper frequently occurs even when print data is output. There is a problem in that there is a risk of information leakage due to such output printed matter being left. Further, since the JAM paper is left unattended, problems such as an increase in downtime of the image forming apparatus have occurred.

Therefore, an image forming system that limits the users who can use the image forming apparatus using an ID card or a password, and controls the operation of the image forming apparatus based on the input user information when the ID card or password is input. Has been developed (see Patent Document 1). According to this system, since there is an additional means for adding information for identifying the user to the output paper, the printed material is who the printed material is, and who is taking the printed material from the information printed on the output paper. You can identify whether you forgot.
JP 2000-10441 A

  However, in the conventional image forming apparatus, there is a problem that unnecessary information remains in the output printed matter because the user who has forgotten to print the personal information or the like is specified on the output printed matter. Furthermore, even when a printed matter output by another person is copied, there is a problem that the personal information of the user that is output first is copied.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it realizes an image forming apparatus that can specify an output person without affecting an output printed matter.

  In order to solve the above problem, an invention according to claim 1 is an image forming apparatus for printing an image on a recording medium conveyed from a paper feeding unit via a conveyance unit in response to a print request from a user. Specific information acquisition means for acquiring specific information including user information for specifying a user who has made the print request, and the specific information is invisible on a recording medium provided in the paper feeding unit or the conveyance unit and on which the image is printed. And invisible information writing means for writing in a state.

  The invention described in claim 2 is the invention described in claim 1, wherein the invisible information writing means writes the specific information using invisible ink.

The invention according to claim 3 further comprises encoding means for encoding the specific information acquired by the specific information acquisition means in the invention according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the invisible information writing means is Encoding information writing means for writing the specific information encoded by the encoding means to the recording medium in an invisible state;
It is characterized by that.

  According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to third aspects, the specific information includes print date / time information of the image.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect of the invention, the time measuring unit that measures the leaving time of the output printed matter based on the print date / time information included in the specific information, and the time measuring unit It further comprises an idle time display means for displaying the measured idle time.

  The invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the reading unit reads the specific information written on the recording medium, and the specific information read by the reading unit. And a specific information display means for displaying.

The invention according to claim 7 is the invention according to claim 6,
A determination unit for determining a user who has made a print request for an image printed on the recording medium based on the specific information read by the reading unit;
The display means includes
The user information of the user determined by the determination means is displayed.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the invisible information writing means for acquiring the user information of the user who made the print request and writing the specific information including the user information on the recording medium in an invisible state is the paper feeding unit or the transport By providing it in the section, even when JAM occurs, it becomes possible to specify the user who printed the printed matter.

  According to the second aspect of the invention, it is possible to obtain the same effect as the first aspect of the invention, and since the specific information is written with invisible ink, it becomes visible when irradiated with infrared rays or ultraviolet rays. The image printed on the recording medium is not affected.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the same effect as in the first or second aspect can be obtained, and because the specific information is encoded, the user cannot be specified by itself. It becomes possible to avoid leakage of personal information. In addition, by using invisible ink and outputting it in an invisible state, when copying the printed matter, it is possible to avoid copying the transmission source data at the same time, and similarly, it is possible to prevent leakage of personal information.

  According to the invention described in claim 4, it goes without saying that the same effect as the invention described in any one of claims 1 to 3 can be obtained, and the specific information includes image print date / time information. In addition to the user who outputs the printed material left out of the specific information, it is possible to check the print date and time of the printed material.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to obtain the same effect as that of the fourth aspect of the present invention. It is possible to know how much the printed matter is left, pay attention to a user with poor manners, and improve so that the work can proceed smoothly.

  According to the invention described in claims 6 and 7, it is possible to obtain the same effect as that of the invention described in claims 1 to 5; the invisible information written is read and a print request is made based on the specific information. Since the user information of the user who has been left is displayed, it is possible to identify the user who has printed the printed matter, and to prevent information leakage due to being left for a long time. In addition, it is possible to specify a user who frequently leaves a printed matter or a user who leaves a print even though a JAM has occurred, and by warning the user, the efficiency of the system can be improved.

  Hereinafter, this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  First, FIG. 1 shows a main configuration of the image forming apparatus 1. As illustrated, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a control unit 2, a storage unit 3, a communication unit 4, a display unit 5, an input unit 6, an invisible information reading unit 7, a time measuring unit 8, a paper discharge unit 9, and image formation. The unit 10 includes an image data storage unit 11, a user information specifying unit 12, a print information printing unit 13, and the like.

  The control unit 2 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 21, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 22, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 23, and the like. The CPU 21 is a central processing unit that executes processing based on a predetermined program in accordance with an input instruction and transfers instructions and data to each functional unit.

  Specifically, the CPU 21 reads a program stored in the ROM 22 in accordance with an input signal input from the input unit 6 or transmission data transmitted from the PC via the communication unit 4, and performs processing according to the program. Execute. For example, when the invisible information reading unit 7 reads specific information printed on a printed material in an invisible state, the read user information is received.

  And according to the program stored in ROM22, the process which reads the data which correspond to the said user information from registration user information DB of the memory | storage part 3 is performed. In addition to reading the matching user information, the print information of the printed matter is also read. The specific information is information including user information for specifying the output user, and is printed in an encoded state.

  The ROM 22 stores programs for realizing various functions related to the operation of the image forming apparatus 1. These programs are programs that do not need to be rewritten or programs that must not be rewritten.

  The RAM 23 develops various programs executed by the CPU 21 in a program storage area. The RAM 23 temporarily stores data such as processing results generated when various programs are executed in the work area.

  The storage unit 3 includes a recording medium in which programs, data, and the like are stored in advance, and the recording medium is configured by a magnetic or optical recording medium or a semiconductor memory. This recording medium is fixedly attached to the storage unit 3 or detachably mounted, and stores a system program, various processing programs corresponding to the system, data processed by the various processing programs, and the like. . The storage unit 3 of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment stores a print information DB 31 and a registered user information DB 32.

  The print information DB 31 stores the name of the user who transmitted the print job to the image forming apparatus 1, the print file name of the print data included in the print job, the print instruction date and time, and the like. Based on this data, it is possible to grasp when the neglected printed matter is printed.

  The registered user information DB 32 is specific information for identifying each user using a PC connected to the image forming apparatus 1 via a communication network. User information that can specify each user, for example, an employee number or a PC IP address information and the like are stored. Further, the number of times the output printed matter is left may be recorded. Furthermore, a black list that lists users who are frequently left behind may be updated and stored.

  The communication unit 4 is an interface for connecting the image forming apparatus 1 to a communication network (not shown), and performs control for communicating with a PC via the communication network. When printing a document created on a PC, data is transmitted to the communication unit 4 via a communication network and printed out. Therefore, the communication unit 4 is a receiving unit that receives image data and user information that is a transmission source.

  The display unit 5 is configured by an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like, and displays image data on the display screen in accordance with a display control signal input from the control unit 2. In addition, a pressure-sensitive (resistive film pressure type) touch panel in which transparent electrodes are arranged in a grid pattern may be mounted on the LCD display screen. The XY coordinates are detected by a voltage value, and the detected position signal is output to the control unit 2 as an operation signal. Note that the touch panel is not limited to a pressure-sensitive type, and may be another electrostatic type, an optical type, or the like.

  The input unit 6 includes various keys such as a numeric keypad, a clear key, a menu key, and a start key, and outputs an operation signal corresponding to a key pressing operation to the control unit 2.

  The image forming unit 10 forms an image or / and document of print data on a recording medium P (hereinafter, paper) based on a print job received from a PC via a communication network. In this embodiment, when an image or / and document is formed on the paper P, user information is formed by invisible ink such as stealth ink (invisible information writing means).

  When writing user information on the paper P, it is desirable to encode the user information. For example, as a coding method, QR (Quick Response) code (QR code is a registered trademark of Denso Wave Co., Ltd.), PDF417 (PDF417 is a registered trademark of Symbol Technology Inc.), DataMatrix code (DataMatrix code is Data Matrix Co., Ltd.) ), Maxi code (Maxi code is a registered trademark of USP), and the like are applicable as appropriate. Further, it may be simply encoded into a one-dimensional barcode, or may be encoded into an ID number that can be specified for each user. Thereby, in order to acquire the user information which specifies a user, it is necessary to decode the encoded user information once, and leakage of a user's personal information can be prevented.

  The paper P on which user information is formed by the image forming unit 10 with the image or / and the document and invisible ink is discharged to the paper discharge unit 9. Invisible ink is ink that becomes visible when irradiated with ultraviolet rays or infrared rays, and may be invisible in a normal state.

  Further, it is assumed that the selection of whether or not to print invisible information is performed by an administrator and the setting can be changed. Therefore, the control unit 2 confirms the setting of the image forming apparatus 1 and, if there is a setting for adding invisible information, controls the operation of the image forming unit 10 to perform the invisible information printing operation with invisible ink. Let it run.

  The image data storage unit 11 stores image data and document data transmitted from the PC via the communication unit 4.

  The invisible information reading unit 7 reads the specific information formed on the paper P by the invisible ink in the image forming unit 10 by irradiating ultraviolet rays or infrared rays. The invisible information reading unit 7 may be installed in the image forming apparatus 1 as shown in the drawing, or may be provided as a separate body. A user who has found a neglected printed material operates the input unit 6 to transmit an instruction to read specific information formed in an invisible state on the printed material. The control unit 2 that has received this input signal reads the invisible information by controlling the operation of the invisible information reading unit 7 and displays the read data on the display unit 5. By this display, it is possible to specify when and by whom the printed matter is output.

  The user information identification unit 12 is a functional unit that identifies a user from identification information formed in an invisible state on a printed material. As described above, when the invisible information reading unit 7 reads the invisible information, the read data is transmitted to the control unit 2. When the control unit 2 receives the invisible information, the control unit 2 transmits the received data and the information stored in the registered user information DB of the storage unit 3 to the user information specifying unit 12, and specifies the user information according to the program stored in the ROM 22. By controlling the operation of the unit 12, user information corresponding to the invisible information is specified. Hereinafter, the specific information printed in the invisible state is referred to as invisible information.

  The print information printing unit 13 prints the user print information specified by the user information specifying unit 12. The print information about the user specified by the user information specifying unit 12 is displayed on the display unit 5, and when an instruction to print by a user input operation is transmitted, the control unit 2 performs the operation of the print information printing unit 13. By controlling, it prints on another sheet and outputs. An example of this print information is shown in FIG.

  When the user who has output the neglected printed matter is identified from the invisible information read by the invisible information reading unit 7, print information such as the name and the neglected time of the user who has output the printed matter is displayed as shown in FIG. The This standing time is information measured by the time measuring unit 8. The time measuring unit 8 stores all the times when the printing start instruction is transmitted and printing is started in the print information DB of the storage unit 3. Then, the specific information printed in an invisible state on the left printed material is read, and the user who has output the printed material is specified by the user information specifying unit 12, and at the same time, the print information of the printed material is read from the DB. Then, the time measuring unit 8 measures how long the printed matter has been left, and displays it on the display unit 5. The displayed information is not limited to the information shown in FIG. For example, the number of times of leaving at the present time may be displayed.

  Next, FIG. 3 shows the installation position of the invisible information writing unit in the image forming apparatus 1. The figure shows a sheet feeding unit among the units of the image forming apparatus 1. As shown in the drawing, the paper feed unit is composed of a transport roller 15, a paper feed roller 16, and a pickup roller 17. In addition, although not shown, a plurality of paper feed cassettes, a manual feed tray, and the like are provided. The paper feed cassette stores paper P identified in advance for each size and type for each paper feed cassette, and the paper feed rollers 16 feed the stored paper P one by one from the top. Transport toward (not shown). The manual tray can be loaded with various types of paper P each time according to the user's needs, and the paper P stacked by the paper feed roller 16 is fed one by one by the transport roller 15 from the top. Transport toward the part.

  In the figure, A is a paper feed completion position and B is a paper feed start position. In the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the invisible information writing unit is installed at the paper feed completion position A or the paper feed start position B. In the conventional image forming apparatus 1, even though the user identification information can be printed on a sheet, the printing unit is not installed in the paper feeding unit. Therefore, it is impossible to print the user identification information from the paper feeding unit to the printing unit, and it is impossible to specify the user when JAM occurs during that time. In this embodiment, since the invisible information writing unit 18 is provided in the paper feeding unit or the conveyance unit, these problems can be avoided.

  Next, FIG. 4 shows an example of the invisible information writing means 18 installed at the paper feed completion position A or the paper feed start position B, and the printed matter P2 printed thereby. The specific information printed by the invisible information writing means 18 is information about the user, and is managed by a user ID and a password. Further, the user ID and password are printed on the paper P2 in an encoded state. The invisible information reading unit 7 acquires user information by reading the invisible information 19 printed in an encoded state. In the figure, the invisible information is printed on the upper left corner of the printed material P2, but the present invention is not limited to this. As much as possible, it is preferable that the printed material P2 has one of the upper and lower ends and the left and right ends. Moreover, since it is invisible, it does not need to be the front of a printed matter, and the same effect can be acquired even if it prints on the back.

  Next, an image forming operation executed by the image forming apparatus 1 will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG.

  First, when the image forming operation is started, it is determined whether or not a paper feed request has been made by the user's operation of the input unit 6 (step S1). If it is determined in step S1 that a paper feed request has not been received (step S1; NO), the determination in step S1 is repeated again.

  If it is determined in step S1 that a paper feed request has been received (step S1; YES), paper feed is started (step S2). In step S2, when paper feeding is started, the control unit 2 determines whether or not an invisible information addition request has been made (step S3). The selection of whether to add invisible information is arbitrarily set by the administrator of the image forming system. Therefore, it is impossible for each user to set. If the administrator has set in advance to add invisible information, the control unit 2 determines that there has been a request for invisible information addition information.

  Therefore, if it is determined in step S3 that there is a request for adding invisible information (step S3; YES), the control unit 2 controls the operation of the image forming unit 10 to add invisible information to the paper P (step S4). . On the other hand, if it is determined in step S3 that there has been no invisible information addition request (step S3; NO), the process proceeds to the next operation without adding invisible information.

  After adding invisible information in step S4, or after determining in step S3 that there is no request for adding invisible information, the control unit 2 determines whether there is a request for printing image data (step S5). This image data includes document data. If it is determined in step S5 that there is no image data print request (step S5; NO), this determination is repeated again. Therefore, this determination is repeatedly executed until an image data print request is received.

  If it is determined in step S5 that an image data print request has been made (step S5; YES), the control unit 2 controls the operation of the image forming unit 10 to write image information on the paper P (step S6).

  In step S6, when image information is written on the paper P, the paper P is discharged from the paper discharge unit 9 by moving each part of the image forming apparatus 1 such as the transport roller 15 (step S7), and image formation is performed. End the operation.

  Next, the invisible information reading operation executed by the invisible information reading unit 7 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, it is determined whether or not the invisible information reading has been completed for the paper on which the invisible information is printed (step P1). If it is determined in step P1 that the invisible information reading is not completed (step P1; NO), this determination is repeated again until the reading is completed. If it is determined in step P1 that the invisible information reading is completed (step P1; YES), the read information is collated with the information stored in the database of the storage unit 3 (step P2).

  Information read by the invisible information reading unit 7 includes a user ID and a password. Therefore, by identifying the user information stored in the registered user information DB of the storage unit 3 with the read user ID or password, it is specified by which user the paper on which the invisible information is printed is output. be able to. Further, since the print information DB stores information such as the printing date and time, detailed information such as when the printed matter is output in the printed matter specifying the output user can be acquired.

  When the collation operation with each database is executed in step P2, it is determined whether or not there is data that matches the read user information in each database in the storage unit 3 (step P3). If it is determined in step P3 that there is no coincidence data (step P3; NO), the invisible information reading operation is terminated.

  If it is determined in step P3 that there is matching data (step P3; YES), an elapsed time from the output of the printed matter to the present time is calculated (step P4). The calculation of the elapsed time is executed by the time measuring unit 8. At the same time when the user is specified from the user ID or password, and information about the printed matter is acquired from the print information DB, the control unit 2 transmits the information to the time measurement unit 8 to calculate the elapsed time after output.

  When the elapsed time is calculated in step P4, print information display is performed (step P5). This print information is, for example, the information shown in FIG. 2, and displays the name of the user who has left the printed material, the leaving time, etc. on the display unit 5. The print information may be displayed and the process may be terminated, or the print information printing unit 13 may print and output the print information. Whether or not to print out the print information can be freely selected by the user, and an instruction is given by operating the input unit 6.

  As described above, when a paper feed request is received, a paper feed operation is started, and it is determined whether there is a request to add invisible information. If there is a request to add invisible information, the invisible information is added to the paper before it is transported to print the image data. It becomes possible to specify whether it is a thing. Therefore, despite the occurrence of JMA, it is possible to reduce the number of users who are left unattended and to operate the system smoothly.

  Further, the invisible information printed on the paper can be printed without affecting the print image data by using a state in which the contents cannot be determined in a normal state, for example, using stealth ink. Therefore, by copying the printed material, it is possible to avoid the problem of simultaneously copying the transmission source data of the printed material, and it is possible to prevent leakage of personal information.

  Furthermore, by installing means for reading invisible information in the image forming apparatus, it is possible to easily specify a user for a neglected printed matter. In addition, since the invisible information includes not only user information but also print information such as a leaving time and the number of times of leaving, it is possible to identify a user who frequently leaves a printed matter or a user who is left in spite of occurrence of JAM. By giving a warning to the user, the efficiency of the system can be realized.

1 is a diagram illustrating a main part configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of print information display. It is a figure which shows the installation position of the invisible information writing means in an image forming apparatus. An example of the invisible information writing unit 18 installed in the image forming apparatus and a printed matter printed by the invisible information writing unit 18 are shown. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an image forming operation executed by the image forming apparatus. It is a figure which shows the invisible information reading operation | movement performed by an invisible information reading part.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2 Control part 21 CPU
22 ROM
23 RAM
3 storage unit 31 print information DB
32 Registered user information DB
4 communication unit 5 display unit 6 input unit 7 invisible information reading unit 8 time measurement unit 9 paper discharge unit 10 image forming unit 11 image data storage unit 12 user information specifying unit 13 print information printing unit 15 transport roller 16 paper feed roller 17 pickup Roller 18 Invisible information writing means 19 Invisible information P, P2 paper

Claims (7)

In an image forming apparatus that prints an image on a recording medium conveyed from a paper feeding unit via a conveyance unit in response to a print request from a user,
Specific information acquisition means for acquiring specific information including user information for specifying a user who has made the print request;
An invisible information writing unit that is provided in the sheet feeding unit or the conveyance unit and writes the specific information in an invisible state on a recording medium on which the image is printed;
An image forming apparatus comprising:   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the invisible information writing unit writes the specific information using invisible ink. Further comprising encoding means for encoding the specific information acquired by the specific information acquisition means;
The invisible information writing means is
Coding information writing means for writing the specific information encoded by the encoding means to the recording medium in an invisible state;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the specific information includes print date information of the image. A time measuring means for measuring the output standing time of the printed matter based on the print date information included in the specific information;
A leaving time display means for displaying a leaving time measured by the time measuring means;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: Reading means for reading specific information written on the recording medium;
Display means for displaying the specific information read by the reading means;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: A determination unit for determining a user who has made a print request for an image printed on the recording medium based on the specific information read by the reading unit;
The display means includes
The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein user information of the user determined by the determination unit is displayed.

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