JP2007318548A - Image-forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image-forming device capable of keeping a secret even if performing reprinting after a paper jam occurs. <P>SOLUTION: An image is read from a secret document (SP3). When the read is completed (SP4), the image is printed (SP5). When it is detected that paper jam occurs and then is resolved (SP6-SP8), it is discriminated that the document is secret (SP9), information for indicating the reprinting is printed with an original image (SP10), and an HDD stores information for indicating in which image the paper jam has occurred (SP11). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus that prints confidential documents.

  Necessary to prevent leakage of information when copying important documents in a meeting or confidential documents such as documents belonging to trade secrets with an image forming device such as a digital multifunction peripheral. There is. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 4 (A), when the confidential document 10 specified as “secret” is copied, for each copy of the copied document, for example, as shown in FIG. 4 (B), There has been proposed an image forming apparatus that prints a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern 12 as indicated by a dotted line as a security management number so that a user can read it.

  The copy-forgery-inhibited pattern 12 appears only as a pattern in the original confidential document 10, but when copied, a predetermined number or the like is raised, and the copied pattern has the same restraining effect as the anti-counterfeit paper. Can be given.

  When the confidential document 10 is read, the device recognizes the character “secret” to determine that it is the confidential document 10. When the confidential document 10 is copied, the number of copies is determined in advance, and the number of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern 12 to be printed is changed every time the confidential document 10 is copied. It becomes possible to specify whether it is a thing.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-247822 (Patent Document 1) confirms that a confidential number is added to image data for printing and an image confirmation copy for confirming the completion of a document is executed in combination. In the print document for use, it is described that the character image data indicating the invalid image output is combined and printed so that the same image cannot be obtained in the confirmation print document and the official print document. Yes.
JP 2004-247822 A (summary, FIG. 2)

  However, the conventional proposed method does not consider the case where the fed paper is jammed. For example, if a paper jam occurs when a confidential document is copied, the paper jam is removed and then reprinted. An image similar to a confidential document is printed on the excluded paper, and a printed paper document that is jammed and a reprinted printed document exist. When a jammed printed document is discarded as normal waste, information leakage occurs.

  In addition, even if a paper jam occurs and the same document is reprinted, it does not leave information indicating which page was reprinted. It is in a state where it cannot be done.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of maintaining confidentiality even if the same image is reprinted after a paper jam occurs.

  The present invention relates to an image forming means for forming an image on a paper, a paper jam detecting means for detecting that the paper has jammed, and a paper in the middle of forming an image having confidential information by the image forming means. In response to detection of a paper jam by the jam detection unit, the image forming unit forms information indicating that the image is reprinted when the same image is formed again.

  Preferably, the image forming apparatus includes a determining unit that determines whether an image formed on the sheet has confidential information. Specifically, the determining unit specifically includes information included in the document on which the image is formed, or before image formation. Whether or not confidential information is present is determined based on information set in advance.

  More preferably, the information indicating reprinting is a number indicating reprinting.

  Preferably, the paper jam detecting unit detects a paper jam when the image is transferred to the paper by the image forming unit and discharged after fixing.

  Preferably, the control unit includes a storage unit, and the control unit stores the image at the time of paper jam in the storage unit when reprinting is performed, and further includes a display unit and an instruction unit. In response to the instruction from the means, the image when the paper jam is stored in the storage means is displayed on the display means.

  According to the present invention, when a paper jam occurs during the formation of an image having confidential information and the same image is formed again, information indicating that the image is reprinted is formed. Therefore, it is possible to notify the user that there is a document in which a paper jam has occurred and the same image is formed, and the user tries to keep confidentiality by taking action to discard the paper jammed document. be able to.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a digital multi-function peripheral 1 as an example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and also shows a connection relationship between devices. In FIG. 1, a digital multi-function peripheral 1 includes a control unit 2 that operates as a control unit, and further includes a reading unit 3 that operates as a reading unit that is connected to the control unit 2 and is controlled, and an operation unit 4 that operates as an instruction unit. A display unit 6 that operates as a display unit, a communication unit 7, an HDD (Hard Disk) 9 that operates as a storage unit, and a print / paper processing unit 15. The printing / paper processing unit 15 includes a printing unit 8 that operates as an image forming unit, a paper jam detection unit 5 that operates as a paper jam detection unit, a paper feed cassette 13, and a discharge unit 14.

  The reading unit 3 reads a document such as a confidential document. The operation unit 4 includes a start switch for instructing reading of a document and a numeric keypad for setting the number of copies. The paper jam detection unit 5 is jammed in the process of being fed from the paper feed cassette 13 to the printing unit 8, or printed by the printing unit 8, and the image is transferred and fixed. It detects paper jams in the process of being discharged, and includes sensors and actuators. The display unit 6 displays the number of copies to be printed.

  The communication unit 7 is an interface with an external communication line when the digital multi-function peripheral 1 is used as a facsimile apparatus. The printing unit 8 transfers the image based on the read image information or the image information given from the outside to the sheet fed from the sheet feeding cassette 13, fixes it, and discharges it to the discharging unit 14. The HDD 9 stores information to be printed by the printing unit 8.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a printed matter reprinted when a paper jam occurs in the image forming apparatus of the embodiment of the present invention. It is.

  For example, when the user copies a plurality of copies of the confidential document 10 shown in FIG. 4A, the user operates the numeric keypad of the operation unit 4 to input the number of copies, and reads the confidential document 10 as a reading unit. Set to 3 and operate the start key of the operation unit 4. The control unit 2 determines whether or not the number of copies has been input at step (abbreviated as SP in the drawing) SP1 shown in FIG. 2, and if the number of copies has been input, the start key is operated at step SP2. If it is determined whether or not the start key has been operated, for example, in step SP3, the image of the confidential document 10 shown in FIG.

  In step SP4, it is determined whether or not reading of the image has been completed. If there are a plurality of confidential documents, the process returns from step SP4 to step SP3 to read all pages. When it is determined that the reading of the image has been completed, in step SP5, for example, “R”, which is an image read from the confidential document 10, is printed. If a paper jam is detected by the paper jam detection unit 5 and the detection signal is output to the control unit 2 during image printing in step SP5, it is determined in step SP6 that a paper jam has occurred, and a display is displayed in step SP7. A paper jam is notified by the unit 6. The user knows that a paper jam has occurred due to the notification, and a paper jam has occurred in either the paper feed path from the paper feed cassette 13 to the printing unit 8 or the paper discharge path from the printing unit 8 to the discharge unit 14. Eliminate used paper.

  In step SP8, when the control unit 2 determines that the paper jam has been cleared, in step SP9, the control unit 2 determines whether the document is a confidential document. Whether the document is a confidential document is determined by reading the “secret” symbol shown in FIG. 4A with the reading unit 3 and determining that the control unit 2 is a confidential document, or when reading the document. The user may input that the document is a confidential document from the operation unit 4 and the control unit 2 may determine it.

  If it is determined in step SP9 that the document is a confidential document, in step SP10, “re” is displayed as information indicating that the original image is reprinted together with the original image of the confidential document 10 as shown in FIG. Add and print. Information indicating reprinting is arbitrary, and may be a symbol or a number. For example, it is set so that ten copies of the confidential document 10 are copied, and a number of 1 to 10 is set to be printed on the end of the paper as a serial number for each printed matter every time it is copied. “1” of the serial numbers is printed on the first printed material, but when reprinting occurs due to a paper jam, the reprinted material can be distinguished from a paper jammed paper such as “1a”. May be printed by adding a symbol to the number. Further, for example, “2” may be printed on the reprinted printed matter, and numbers “3” to “11” may be printed thereafter. In this case, even though 10 copies are printed, “11” is printed as a number, so that it can be determined that there is a reprinted document.

  In step SP <b> 11, the control unit 2 stores the image when the paper jam has occurred in the HDD 9 in order to indicate which image has been printed with the paper jammed. In step SP12, it is determined whether or not printing has been completed. If not, the process returns to step SP5 to print the second copy. The processing from step SP5 to step SP12 is repeated, and when the set number of copies is finished, the processing is finished.

  If it is determined in step SP6 that a paper jam has not occurred, it is determined in step SP12 whether or not printing has ended. If not, the process returns to step SP5 to continue printing.

  If it is determined in step SP9 that the copy is not from a confidential document, the original image is reprinted in step SP13, and the process proceeds to step SP12.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, when a paper jam occurs when the confidential document 10 is copied, the original image information read from the confidential document 10 is reprinted after the paper jam is resolved. Since the information shown is added for printing, it is easy to know that there is a document printed with the same image as the confidential document 10 due to a paper jam. If there is a document on which the same image as the confidential document is printed due to the paper jam, it is possible to maintain confidentiality by obligating the paper to be cut and discarded by a shredder or the like, so that information leakage can be prevented.

  In addition, when a paper jam occurs, the image at the time of the paper jam is stored in the HDD 9, so that when the copy of the confidential document 10 is available, the user designates the storage contents of the operation unit 4. Is operated to display an image when the paper stored in the HDD 9 is jammed on the display unit 6 to confirm that the printed document having the same image as that of the confidential document 10 is available due to the paper jam. be able to.

  Note that the above-mentioned paper jam includes, for example, a paper jam when a plurality of sheets are bound with staples by the finisher after image formation.

  In the above description, the digital multifunction peripheral 1 has been described as an example of the image forming apparatus. However, the present invention may be applied to a single device such as a copier, a printer, or a facsimile. In the case of application to a printer or a facsimile, the image information is added as confidential information and output to the printer or facsimile, and it is determined that the confidential information is added to the printer or facsimile. Then, information indicating reprinting when a paper jam occurs and the same image is formed again may be printed on the fed paper after clearing the paper jam.

  Furthermore, when the paper is jammed, information indicating reprinting may be printed only when the printing unit 8 transfers the paper and the paper is jammed after fixing and the same image is printed.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described with reference to drawings, this invention is not limited to the thing of embodiment shown in figure. Various modifications and variations can be made to the illustrated embodiment within the same range or equivalent range as the present invention.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a digital multi-function peripheral as an example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a printed matter that is reprinted when a paper jam occurs in the digital multi-function peripheral as an example of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the confidential document and the document which copied the confidential document.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Digital multifunction device, 2 Control part, 3 Reading part, 4 Operation part, 5 Paper jam detection part, 6 Display part, 7 Communication part, 8 Printing part, 9 HDD, 10 Confidential document, 13 Paper feed cassette, 14 Ejection part .

Claims (7)

Image forming means for forming an image on paper;
A paper jam detecting means for detecting that the paper has jammed, and
In the middle of forming an image having confidential information by the image forming means, the image is reprinted when the same image is formed again in response to detection of a paper jam by the paper jam detecting means. An image forming apparatus comprising control means for forming information indicating the above by the image forming means.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a determination unit that determines whether an image formed on the sheet has confidential information.   The image according to claim 2, wherein the determination unit determines whether or not the confidential information is included based on information included in a document on which an image is formed or information set in advance before image formation. Forming equipment.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information indicating reprinting is a number indicating reprinting.   5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the paper jam detecting unit detects a paper jam of the paper when the image is transferred to the paper by the image forming unit and discharged after fixing. 6. Including storage means;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the reprinting is performed, the control unit stores an image at the time of paper jam in the storage unit. Display means;
An instruction means,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the control unit causes the display unit to display an image when a paper jam is stored in the storage unit in response to an instruction from the instruction unit.

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