JP2007199132A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of preventing outputted matter from being maliciously or taken away by mistake. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus includes a first reader for reading a medium ID stored in a non-contact IC chip provided on a transfer medium from a medium ID detection region; a medium ID detecting means for detecting and outputting the medium ID that is not readable by the first reader from the medium ID detection region; a second reader for reading a user ID stored in a non-contact IC chip carried by the user in a user detection region; and an crime-prevention output means for performing crime-prevention output so as to operate a crime-prevention apparatus based on the output from the second reader, indicating that the user ID has become incapable of reading, and the output from the medium ID detecting means, indicating that the prescribed medium ID is not readable. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus that prevents unauthorized take-out of output materials.

  Conventionally, an output (printed material) output from an image forming apparatus such as a copier, a printer, or a multifunction peripheral can be easily viewed by anyone around it, and can be freely taken away. It is possible to say that security is weak.

  On the other hand, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-120475 discloses a technique for specifying a printed sheet itself by inserting a chip for RFID (Radio Frequency-Identification) inside the sheet. Yes.

In addition, in the technique described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-208291, a technique is disclosed in which a user is associated with an output product using an RFID and a person who has taken the output product is identified.
JP 2002-120475 A JP 2003-208291 A

  However, in the above technique, there is a problem that the person who took away the output cannot be identified if the person who took away the output does not wear the RFID for user recognition. If you accidentally take away someone else's output, you might be wearing a user-recognized RFID, but if you are maliciously taking away someone else's output, wear the user-recognized RFID. It is difficult to think of it as being attached, and in the end, it has not led to a solution for weak security. Further, when a plurality of output products are accumulated in the output tray, there arises a problem that it cannot be specified which output product has been taken away.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image forming apparatus that prevents the removal of an output product based on malicious intentions.

  The present invention employs the following means in order to achieve the above object. That is, in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the first reader that reads the medium ID stored in the non-contact IC chip provided in the transfer medium from the medium ID detection area, and the first reader is in the medium ID detection area. A medium ID detecting means for detecting and outputting a medium ID that can no longer be read; a second reader for reading a user ID stored in a non-contact IC chip possessed by the user in the user detection area; Crime prevention that performs crime prevention output for operating the crime prevention device based on the output from the reader that the user ID cannot be read and the output that the predetermined medium ID cannot be read from the medium ID detection means Output means.

  As a result, the presence or absence of the printing paper is determined using the printing paper provided with the non-contact IC chip for storing the medium ID, and the non-contact IC chip for storing the user ID is carried by the user to detect this. Thus, an unauthorized user who does not carry a non-contact IC chip storing a user ID can prevent the printing paper from being taken away by a simple mechanism.

Also, a sensor for detecting a user who has entered the user detection area, and a warning output means for outputting a message to the effect that the second reader cannot read the user ID even though the sensor detects the user The crime prevention output means may be configured to perform crime prevention output based on the output from the warning output means. In this case, the crime prevention output unit may further perform a crime prevention output based on an output indicating that the predetermined medium ID cannot be read from the medium ID detection unit.
By providing a sensor having a user detection area in substantially the same range as the second reader, an unauthorized user who does not carry a non-contact IC chip can be detected before the printing paper is taken away, so that the crime prevention effect can be enhanced. .
In addition, when printing on the transfer medium, a writer is provided that records a user ID that identifies a user who has performed printing on the transfer medium on a non-contact IC chip included in the transfer medium. When the missing medium ID is detected, the user ID recorded in the medium ID that cannot be read is output, and the security output means is recorded in the user ID read by the second reader and the medium ID. It is good also as a structure which compares a user ID and performs crime prevention output when it is a different user ID.
By comparing the user ID of the invading user with the user ID corresponding to the removed print paper, it is possible to prevent take-out by an unauthorized user or incorrect take-out.

  Further, the writer may acquire a medium ID that cannot be read from the medium ID detection unit, and store the acquired medium ID in a non-contact IC chip possessed by the user in the user detection area.

  As a result, the non-contact IC chip carried by the user who has taken out stores the medium ID corresponding to the removed printing paper, and can be used as evidence of the removal, thereby increasing the crime prevention effect. .

In addition, the writer records information indicating that a more important document has been printed on the non-contact IC chip, and the security output means only applies to the transfer medium on which information indicating that the important document has been printed. It is good also as a structure which performs the crime prevention output for operating a crime prevention apparatus.
By performing the crime prevention output based on the attribute indicating the importance of the print data, it is possible to prevent an excessive crime prevention process for the printing paper having a low importance.

  Note that the security device that operates based on the security output can be, for example, an imaging device that captures an image within the user detection area, or a warning sounding device that emits a warning sound.

By determining the presence or absence of printing paper using printing paper provided with a non-contact IC chip that stores the medium ID, and by bringing the user with a non-contact IC chip that stores the user ID and detecting this, It is possible to prevent the unauthorized user who does not carry the non-contact IC chip storing the user ID from taking away the printing paper with a simple mechanism.
In addition, by providing a sensor having a user detection area in substantially the same range as the second reader, it is possible to detect an unauthorized user who does not carry a non-contact IC chip before the printing paper is taken away, thereby improving the crime prevention effect. Can do.
Further, by comparing the user ID of the invading user with the user ID corresponding to the removed print paper, it is possible to prevent take-out by an unauthorized user or incorrect take-out.

The non-contact IC chip carried by the user who has taken out stores the medium ID corresponding to the removed printing paper, so that it can be used as evidence of removal, that is, the crime prevention effect is enhanced.
Furthermore, by performing the crime prevention output based on the attribute indicating the importance of the print data, it is possible to prevent an excessive crime prevention process for the printing paper having a low importance.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings for understanding of the present invention. The following embodiment is an example embodying the present invention, and does not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention corresponds to, for example, a printer alone or a multi-function machine equipped with a printer, a copy, a fax, and the like.

  As an example, the operation of the image forming apparatus when copying using a multifunction machine will be briefly described.

When a user prints a document on a transfer medium such as printing paper using a multifunction machine, the document is placed on the document table 103 or the table 105 shown in FIG. 1 and is placed on an operation panel provided near the document table. A print instruction is issued to the user. When the instruction is given, printing is performed by the operation of each driving unit described below.
That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment includes a main body 101 and a platen cover 102 attached above the main body 101. A document table 103 is provided on the upper surface of the main body 101, and the document table 103 is opened and closed by a platen cover 102. The platen cover 102 is provided with an automatic document feeder 104, a placing table 105, and a sheet discharging table 109.

  The automatic document feeder 104 includes a document conveyance path 108 formed inside the platen cover 102, a pickup roller 106 and a conveyance roller 107 provided inside the platen cover 102, and the like. The document conveyance path 108 is a document conveyance path that leads from the placement table 105 to the sheet discharge table 109 via a reading position P where reading is performed by the reading unit 110 provided in the main body 101.

  The automatic document feeder 104 pulls out each document placed on the table 105 to the inside of the transport path 108 by the pickup roller 107, and discharges the document pulled out by the transport roller 106 and the like through the reading position P. The paper is discharged onto the table 109. When the document passes the reading position P, the document is read by the reading unit 110.

  The reading unit 110 is provided below the document table 103. The reading unit 110 includes a light source 111 that illuminates the document table 103 in the main scanning direction, mirrors 112, 113, and 114 that guide light from the document table, and an image sensor 115 that images light guided by the mirror. Has been.

  When the automatic document feeder 104 conveys a document, the light source 111 moves to a position where the reading position P can be irradiated and emits light. Light from the light source 111 is reflected by a document that passes through the document table 103 and passes through the reading position P, and is guided to the image sensor 115 by mirrors 112, 113, and 114. The image sensor 115 captures received light to generate image data of the original.

  The reading unit 110 can read not only the document conveyed by the automatic document feeder 104 but also the document placed on the document table 103. When reading a document placed on the document table 103, the reading unit 110 moves the light source 111 in the sub-scanning direction while emitting light, and irradiates the entire document table 103. In order to guide the reflected light from the document table 103 to the image sensor 115, the mirror 112 moves together with the light source 111, and in order to make the optical path length from the light source 111 to the image sensor 115 constant, the mirrors 113 and 114 The mirror 112 moves at half the speed.

  The image sensor 115 reads the image data of the document placed on the document table 103 based on the light guided to the mirrors 112, 113, 114 in the same way as the document conveyed to the automatic document feeder 104. Generate.

  A printing unit 120 that prints image data is provided below the reading unit 110 of the main body 101. Image data that can be printed by the printing unit 120 is generated by the image sensor 115 as described above, or transmitted from a terminal such as a personal computer connected to the image forming apparatus 100 and a network such as a LAN. .

  As a printing method performed by the printing unit 120, for example, an electrophotographic method is used. That is, the photosensitive drum 121 is uniformly charged by the charger 122, and then the photosensitive drum 121 is irradiated by the laser 123 to form a latent image on the photosensitive drum 121, and toner is attached to the latent image by the developing device 124. Printing is performed by forming a visual image and transferring the visible image onto a sheet by the transfer roller 125.

  The paper on which the visible image is printed is placed on a paper feed tray such as the manual feed tray 131 and the paper feed cassettes 132, 133, and 134.

  When performing printing, the printing unit 120 pulls out one sheet of printing paper from any one of the paper feed trays using the pickup roller 135, and transfers the drawn printing paper to the photosensitive drum 121 by the transport roller 137 or the registration roller 138. Feed between rollers 125.

  When the visible image is transferred to the printing paper fed between the photosensitive drum 121 and the transfer roller 125, the printing unit 120 sends the printing paper to the fixing device 127 by the conveyor belt 126 in order to fix the visible image. The fixing device 127 includes a heating roller 128 with a built-in heater and a pressure roller 129 pressed against the heating roller 128 with a predetermined pressure. When the printing paper passes between the heating roller 128 and the pressure roller 129, the visible image is fixed on the paper by heat and pressing force on the printing paper. The printing unit 120 discharges the printing paper that has passed through the fixing device 127 to the paper discharge tray 130.

  The basic copy processing in the image forming apparatus 100 has been described above.

  The image forming apparatus 100 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 201, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 202, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 203, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), as shown in the schematic configuration diagram of FIG. 204 and a driver 205 corresponding to each drive unit in the printing process are connected via an internal bus 206. The CPU 201 uses, for example, the RAM 202 as a work area, executes a program stored in the ROM 203, the HDD 204, and the like, and exchanges data and commands with the driver 205 based on the execution result, as shown in FIG. The operation of each driving unit is controlled.

  Next, details of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present invention will be described.

FIG. 3 is a schematic functional block diagram of the image forming apparatus 100. A writer 301 for recording information on a non-contact IC chip (RFID chip) and a non-contact IC chip in the medium ID detection area 310 are read out. One reader 302, medium ID detection means 303, storage means 304 managed by the medium ID detection means, and second information that reads information on a non-contact IC chip possessed by a user in the user detection area 309 From a reader 305, a sensor 306 for detecting a user in the user detection area 309, a warning output means 307 for obtaining information from the second reader 305 and sensor 306, a warning output means 307, and a medium ID detection means 303 And a security output means 308 for acquiring information. Details of processing of each means will be described later.
FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of a non-contact IC chip in which the first reader 302 and the second reader 305 read information or the writer 301 writes information. The non-contact IC chip 401 includes an antenna 402, a transmission / reception circuit 403, a CPU 404, a ROM 405 storing a program for controlling the reader or writer, and a RAM RAM 406 used as a work area when the CPU executes the program. .

  When the non-contact IC chip 401 that communicates with the reader 302, 305 or the writer 301 enters the communicable area of the reader 302, 305 or the writer 301, the non-contact IC chip 401 is guided by electromagnetic waves from the reader 302, 305 or the writer 301. Operates with power. That is, the non-contact IC chip 401 communicates with the readers 302 and 305 or the writer 301 by inducing power through the antenna 402 by the electromagnetic wave and causing the CPU 404 to operate a program stored in the ROM 405 by the power. During the communication, for example, a command transmitted from the reader 302, 305 or the writer 301 is received via the antenna 402 and the transmission / reception circuit 403. Then, based on the command, information is recorded in the RAM 406 or information is read from the RAM 406 and the ROM 405, and the information is transmitted to the readers 302 and 305 or the writer 301.

  Two types of non-contact IC chip 401 are used here. One is a non-contact IC chip inserted into a printing paper as a transfer medium, and at least a medium ID capable of uniquely specifying the printing paper is recorded on the non-contact IC chip. The other is a non-contact IC chip worn by a user who uses the image forming apparatus 100, and the non-contact IC chip stores a user ID that can uniquely identify the user possessed. . Also, the possession of the non-contact IC chip by the user is realized by carrying a card-type non-contact IC chip (non-contact IC card) such as a portable terminal used by the user or an employee's chapter.

(Embodiment 1)
Next, details of the processing of the image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described.

  First, when print data and a print command are transmitted to the image processing apparatus 100 from a personal computer or the like connected via a network, the image processing apparatus 100 displays the user ID of the printed user and the attributes of the print data. Are simultaneously acquired (FIG. 7A: S701). The attribute here can be an index indicating the importance of the printed print data.

  The acquisition of the user ID is obtained by causing the personal computer side to read, for example, a non-contact IC card in which the user ID is stored by a non-contact IC card reader connected to the personal computer. This is performed by transmitting the acquired user ID to the image processing apparatus 100. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a user ID input when logging in to a personal computer may be acquired. Further, the image forming apparatus 100 may acquire a user ID associated with the IP address by searching a predetermined database based on the IP address of the personal computer that has transmitted the print command.

  For example, when the user prints the print data, the user can select a stamp option on the print paper such as “important” or “confidential” indicating that the print data is an important document or a confidential document. The image forming apparatus 100 may make a determination based on the selection. The print data itself includes information indicating “important” or “confidential” in advance, and the image forming apparatus 100 may make a determination based on the information.

  When the user ID and attribute are received by the image forming apparatus 100, the writer 301 receives the non-contact IC chip included in the transfer medium (printing paper) to be printed when printing the print data. The recorded user ID and attribute are recorded (FIG. 7A: S702). Here, when the non-contact IC chip included in the printing paper stores in advance a medium ID that allows the non-contact IC chip to be uniquely identified, the first reader 302 reads the non-contact IC chip of the printing paper. Thus, the medium ID, user ID, and attribute are read out and transmitted to the medium ID detecting means 303. When the non-contact IC chip included in the printing paper does not store the medium ID in advance, the writer 301 records the medium ID managed by the image forming apparatus 100 on the non-contact IC chip at the time of printing.

  The medium ID detection unit 303 associates the medium ID, the user ID, and the attribute received from the first reader 302 and stores them in the storage unit 304 managed by the medium ID detection unit 303 (FIG. 7A: S703). An example of the medium ID management table stored in the storage unit 304 is shown in the medium ID management table 501 of FIG. The medium ID management table 501 includes a medium ID 502 that can uniquely specify a print sheet on which print data is printed, a print user ID 503 that is a user ID of a user who has instructed printing of the print data, and the importance of the print data. The attribute 504 to be shown is stored in association with each other.

  The first reader 302 includes a medium ID detection area 310 that is an area capable of detecting a non-contact IC chip provided on the printing paper, as indicated by a broken line in FIG. For example, it includes a paper discharge tray 130 on which printing paper of the image forming apparatus 100 is output. Accordingly, the medium ID of the printing paper output from the image forming apparatus 100 is always read by the first reader 302 on the paper discharge tray 130. That is, for example, when a certain printing paper is taken away from the paper discharge tray 130, the first reader 302 cannot obtain the medium ID of the removed printing paper, but only the other obtained medium ID is the medium ID. It is transmitted to the detection means 303. The medium ID detection unit 303 compares the medium ID 502 stored in the medium ID management table 501 stored at the time of output with the medium ID received from the first reader 302 and cannot be read by the first reader 302. By determining the medium ID, it is possible to detect the removed print paper (FIG. 7A: S704, NO).

  The above is the processing in which the print data is printed on the printing paper and output, and the medium ID detection unit 303 detects its presence.

  Now, a case where the user takes away the printing paper on the image forming apparatus 100 in such a state will be described with reference to FIG.

  An authorized user 601A who has issued a print data print command is always required to carry a non-contact IC chip 401 that stores a user ID that can uniquely identify the user. Under such conditions, when the authorized user 601A takes away the printing paper, it is necessary to enter the user detection area 309 (309A and 309B in FIG. 6) included in the image forming apparatus 100, which is indicated by a broken line in FIG. . The user detection area is an area where the second reader 305 can detect a non-contact IC chip possessed by the user, and is provided in an area where the user must always enter when the printing paper is taken away. The user detection area 309 also coincides with an area where a sensor 306 described later can recognize the user.

  When the authorized user 601A enters the user detection area 309A, the second reader 305 detects the non-contact IC chip 401 carried by the user. If it is detected, a message to that effect is sent from the second reader 305 to the security output means 308 at a predetermined interval. Next, when the authorized user 601 takes away the printing paper printed by himself / herself from the medium ID detection area 310 of the image forming apparatus 100, the medium ID detection unit 303 is removed via the first reader 302 by the above-described processing. (FIG. 7A: S704 NO).

  When the printing paper is taken away, the medium ID corresponding to the removed printing paper is transmitted from the medium ID detection unit 303 to the security output unit 308.

When the security output means 308 obtains from the medium ID detection means 303 that the printing paper has been taken away, it determines whether or not the second reader 305 has detected the user (FIG. 7A: S705). Here, when the second reader 305 does not detect it, it can be determined that a user who does not carry a non-contact IC chip, that is, an unauthorized user has taken away the printing paper. A crime prevention output is performed on the device, and the crime prevention device that receives the crime prevention output operates (FIG. 6B). Examples of the security device mentioned here include an imaging device that captures the inside of the user detection area, a warning sounding device that emits a warning sound, and the like. Or what is necessary is just the apparatus for specifying the unauthorized user who carried away. The security device may be provided in the image forming apparatus 100, or may output to an external security device that is not provided in the image forming device.
If the second reader 305 detects the user ID (FIG. 6A), it is assumed that the authorized user has removed the print paper, and the process for the print paper is terminated (YES in S705).

  As described above, the presence or absence of the printing paper is determined using the printing paper provided with the non-contact IC chip for storing the medium ID, and the non-contact IC chip for storing the user ID is carried by the user. By detecting, it is possible to prevent the unauthorized user who does not carry the non-contact IC chip storing the user ID from taking away the printing paper with a simple mechanism.

(Embodiment 2)
By the way, in the above configuration, it can be said that the crime prevention effect is low because the crime prevention system operates only after the printing paper is taken away from the medium ID detection area 310. Moreover, even if it is a legitimate user carrying a non-contact IC chip, it can be said that it is appropriate to be treated as an unauthorized user when other users carry away printed paper.

  Therefore, in order to cope with such a case, the image forming apparatus 100 may include a sensor 306 that detects the presence of a user who has entered the user detection area 309. A process of the image forming apparatus 100 in the configuration will be described. In this configuration as well, the processes S701 to S703 described in the first embodiment are the same and are omitted. Also, other same processing is omitted.

  The sensor 306 only needs to be able to detect a user who has entered the user detection area 309 including a user who does not carry a non-contact IC chip, and corresponds to a human sensor, an object sensor, a temperature sensor, or the like. The range that can be detected by the sensor is preferably substantially the same as the range in which the second reader can detect a non-contact IC chip.

  Consider a case where the user enters the user detection area 309 after the above-described processing S701 to S703 is completed with such a configuration.

  In this case, as shown in the process 700 of FIG. 7B, the sensor 306 detects the intruding user (FIG. 7B: S710 YES). When the sensor 306 detects a user, the fact that it has been detected is transmitted to the alert output means 307. Next, the warning output means 307 confirms whether or not the second reader 305 detects the user with a non-contact IC chip carried by the user (FIG. 7B: S711).

  Here, when the user is not detected by the non-contact IC chip, it can be considered that an unauthorized user who does not carry the non-contact IC chip indicating the authorized user has entered the user detection area. Send. When receiving information that an unauthorized user has entered the detection area, the security output means 308 performs the security output (FIG. 7B: S714). For example, the warning sounding device is activated by a crime prevention output, so that a warning is issued before an unauthorized user takes away the printing paper, that is, unauthorized removal can be prevented.

  When the second reader 305 detects the user by the non-contact IC chip, the warning output unit 307 acquires the user ID acquired by the second reader 305 and the sensor 306 detects the user. And transmitted to the crime prevention output means 308 (FIG. 7B: S711 YES).

  The security output unit 308 that has received the user ID and the fact that the user has intruded appropriately confirms whether the medium ID detection unit 303 has taken away the printing paper (FIG. 7B: S712).

  Here, when the printing paper is not carried away, the user simply enters the user detection area, and no output relating to crime prevention is performed (FIG. 7B: S712 YES → S710).

  When the removal of the print sheet is detected by the medium ID detection unit 303, the security output unit 308 determines that the print user corresponding to the removed print sheet from the medium ID detection unit 303 also receives the medium ID detection unit 303. From the medium ID management table 501 (FIG. 7B: S712 NO). Then, it is determined whether or not the print user ID corresponding to the removed print paper matches the user ID detected by the second reader 305 (FIG. 7B: S713).

  Here, if they match, it can be determined that the user who transmitted the print command and print data has taken away the print paper corresponding to the print command, so no security output is performed (FIG. 7B: S713 YES).

  If they do not match, the user who is not the user who sent the print command and the print data can determine that the user has taken away the print paper corresponding to the print command, that is, it can be determined that the user is an unauthorized user or an incorrect takeout. (FIG. 7B: S713 NO → S714).

  As described above, by providing a sensor having a user detection area in substantially the same range as the second reader, an unauthorized user who does not carry a non-contact IC chip can be detected before the printing paper is taken away. Can be increased.

  Further, by comparing the user ID of the invading user with the user ID corresponding to the removed print paper, it is possible to prevent take-out or incorrect take-out by an unauthorized user.

  If the print user ID corresponding to the removed print paper does not match the user ID detected by the second reader 305, the medium ID taken out by the user is written in the non-contact IC chip carried by the user. The security output means 308 may transmit a command to that effect to the writer 301 (FIG. 8: S713 NO → S801). The writer 301 writes the medium ID on the non-contact IC chip carried by the user based on the command.

  As a result, the non-contact IC chip carried by the user who has taken out stores the medium ID corresponding to the removed printing paper, and can be used as evidence of the removal, thereby increasing the crime prevention effect. .

  The process of writing the medium ID into the non-contact IC chip carried by the user can also be applied in the first embodiment. In this case, although the crime prevention device does not operate, evidence of carrying away remains in the non-contact IC chip, and thus has the same effect.

  Further, in addition to the processing of the first or second embodiment, the security output may be determined (ON / OFF) based on the attribute of the print data. That is, when the printing paper is taken away, the crime prevention output unit 308 also acquires the attribute 504 corresponding to the removed printing paper from the medium ID management table 501 via the medium ID detection unit 303.

  In addition to the processing of the first embodiment or the second embodiment, the security output unit 308 determines whether to perform the security output based on the attribute 504 indicating the importance of the printed print data. is there. For example, when the attribute of the removed printing paper does not correspond to “important” or “confidential”, the crime prevention output is not performed. Of course, when it falls under “important” or “confidential”, the crime prevention output is performed as necessary.

  As described above, by performing the crime prevention output based on the attribute indicating the importance of the print data, it is possible to prevent an excessive crime prevention process for the printing paper with a low importance.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention is useful as an image forming apparatus that prevents an output product from being taken away or erroneously taken away based on malicious intent.

1 is a schematic side view of an image forming apparatus. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus. 1 is a schematic functional block diagram of an image forming apparatus. The schematic block diagram of a non-contact IC chip. The figure which shows an example of a medium ID management table. The image figure of the crime prevention device operation | movement with respect to the presence or absence of a non-contact IC chip carrying. 6 is a first flowchart showing processing of the image forming apparatus. 10 is a second flowchart showing processing of the image forming apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Image forming apparatus 130 Paper discharge tray 301 Lighter 302 First reader 303 Medium ID detection means 304 Storage means 305 Second reader 306 Sensor 307 Warning output means 308 Security output means 309 User detection area 310 Medium ID detection area

Claims (7)

A medium ID that can uniquely identify the transfer medium stored in the non-contact IC chip provided in the transfer medium is read from a medium ID detection area that is an area in which the non-contact IC chip provided in the transfer medium can be detected. With the first leader,
Medium ID detection means for detecting and outputting a medium ID that the first reader cannot read from within the medium ID detection area;
A second reader for reading a user ID for identifying the user stored in the non-contact IC chip possessed by the user in a user detection area which is an area capable of detecting the non-contact IC chip possessed by the user;
For operating the security device based on the output from the second reader that the user ID cannot be read and the output that the predetermined medium ID cannot be read from the medium ID detecting means. Security output means for performing security output;
An image forming apparatus comprising: further,
A sensor for detecting a user who has entered the user detection area;
A warning output means for outputting a message to the effect that the second reader cannot read the user ID even though the sensor detects the user,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the security output unit performs the security output based on an output from the warning output unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the crime prevention output unit further performs the crime prevention output based on an output indicating that the predetermined medium ID cannot be read from the medium ID detection unit. Furthermore, a writer that records a user ID that identifies a user who has performed printing on the transfer medium on a non-contact IC chip included in the transfer medium when printing on the transfer medium,
When the medium ID detection unit detects a medium ID that can no longer be read, the medium ID detection unit outputs a user ID recorded in the medium ID that cannot be read;
The security output means compares the user ID read by the second reader with the user ID recorded in the medium ID, and performs the security output when the user ID is different. The image forming apparatus described in 1.   The writer acquires a medium ID that can no longer be read from the medium ID detection unit, and stores the acquired medium ID in a non-contact IC chip possessed by a user in the user detection area. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The writer records information indicating that a more important document has been printed on the non-contact IC chip,
6. The crime prevention output means according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the crime prevention output means performs a crime prevention output for operating the crime prevention device only on a transfer medium on which information indicating that the important document has been printed is recorded. Image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the crime prevention device that operates based on the crime prevention output is an imaging device that images the inside of the user detection area or a warning sound ringing device that emits a warning sound.

Images