JP2009116257A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus in which stored image data is protected and an appropriate security measure is applied by limiting persons who are allowed to use the apparatus and identifying an operator of a storage unit. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus 1 is provided with: an operation panel 20 to which inputting of a command or information regarding an image forming action is possible; a biometric authentication unit 30 which is installed to the operation panel 20 and with which acquirement of biometric information for the user is possible; the storage unit 41 for storing the biometric information acquired by the biometric authentication unit 30; and an identifying means 42 for comparing and identifying the biometric information stored beforehand to the storage unit 41 and the biometric information acquired by the biometric authentication unit 30. Thus, whether the person attempting to use the image forming apparatus 1 is a person registered to the apparatus or a third outside party can be identified and it is possible to make the unregistered third party unable to use the image forming apparatus 1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus represented by a copying machine or a printer.

  In recent years, image forming apparatuses represented by copiers and printers have shifted from an analog method to a digital method, and a full-color printing compatible model is also spreading. Research and development of an image processing technique that can obtain a higher quality image is also progressing and is applied to image forming apparatuses every day. With such digitization, colorization, and high image quality, the amount of electronic data required for one-time image processing tends to increase.

  For this reason, a large-capacity data storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a memory has been introduced into the image forming apparatus. This data storage device has a function of storing image data with a high image quality and a large amount of information for a long period of time. As a result, the user can easily output the same high-quality image data by changing the date, and the work efficiency can be greatly improved.

An example of an image forming apparatus provided with such a data storage device can be found in Patent Document 1. The image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1 includes a personal folder in a data storage device, and can store image data of each individual user.
JP 2007-166507 A (page 4-5, FIG. 1)

  When the image forming apparatus includes the data storage device as described above, when the same image data is output again, the reading time can be shortened by calling the image data stored in the data storage device. The effect increases when the quantity is large. However, the image data stored in the data storage device may be easily stolen by an outside party operating the image forming apparatus. Therefore, important information may be leaked to the outside, and it is necessary to increase the security of the image data stored in the data storage device of the image forming apparatus.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and protects stored image data by limiting who can use the apparatus or identifying who operates the storage device. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of providing a suitable security measure.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an operation panel capable of inputting commands and information relating to an image forming operation, and a biometric authentication apparatus provided on the operation panel and capable of acquiring biometric information of a user. A storage device for storing the biometric information acquired by the biometric authentication device, and an identification unit that compares and identifies the biometric information stored in advance in the storage device and the biometric information acquired by the biometric authentication device. did.

  In the image forming apparatus having the above-described configuration, the biometric authentication device may be positioned away from the user side with a driving start button provided on the operation panel with respect to the user's standing position toward the operation panel. Thus, it is arranged near the operation start button.

  In the image forming apparatus having the above-described configuration, the biometric authentication apparatus includes a line type sensor.

  According to the configuration of the present invention, an operation panel capable of inputting commands and information related to an image forming operation, a biometric authentication device provided on the operation panel and capable of acquiring biometric information of a user, and the biometric authentication The image forming apparatus includes a storage device that stores biometric information acquired by the device, and an identification unit that compares and identifies the biometric information stored in advance in the storage device and the biometric information acquired by the biometric authentication device. It is possible to identify whether the person who intends to use the device is a person registered in the device or an outside third party. As a result, it is possible to permit the registrant to use the image forming apparatus and prevent it from being used by unregistered third parties. In this way, it is possible to protect the stored image data by limiting who can use the device or identifying the person who operates the storage device. An applied image forming apparatus can be obtained.

  Further, the biometric authentication device is located away from the user side with respect to the standing position of the user facing the operation panel, with the operation start button provided on the operation panel, and in the vicinity of the operation start button. Since it has been arranged, the operation start button can be easily pushed by placing an index finger or the like on the biometric authentication device and moving the finger to the near side after authentication is obtained. As a result, even if an operation for authentication is required before the operation start button is pressed, the image forming apparatus can be operated without feeling stress. Therefore, even if a suitable security measure is taken, an image forming apparatus that can be used without being forced to deteriorate operability can be obtained.

  In addition, since the biometric authentication device includes a line-type sensor, biometric information can be acquired by sliding a finger on the sensor unit. Thus, when it is desired to start the operation of the image forming apparatus, the finger can be pushed by sliding the finger slid by the sensor unit of the biometric authentication apparatus to the position of the operation start button as it is. Therefore, the operability can be further improved, and an image forming apparatus with suitable security measures can be obtained.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  First, an image output operation of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described while explaining an outline of the structure with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical sectional front view of the image forming apparatus, and FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the image forming apparatus. In FIG. 1, a solid line arrow indicates a sheet conveyance path and a conveyance direction, and a one-dot chain line arrow indicates a laser beam L.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a paper feed cassette 3, which is a paper feed unit, is disposed below the inside of the main body 2 of the image forming apparatus 1. The paper feed cassette 3 stores and accommodates paper P such as cut paper before printing. The sheets P are separated and sent one by one toward the upper left of the sheet cassette 3 in FIG. The paper feed cassette 3 can be pulled out horizontally from the front side of the main body 2.

  A first paper transport unit 4 is provided inside the main body 2 and to the left of the paper feed cassette 3. The first paper transport unit 4 is formed substantially vertically along the left side surface of the main body 2. The first paper transport unit 4 receives the paper P sent out from the paper feed cassette 3 and transports it to the transfer unit 11 vertically upward along the left side surface of the main body 2.

  A manual paper feed unit 5 is provided above the paper feed cassette 3 at a location on the right side which is the side opposite to the left side of the main body 2 where the first paper transport unit 4 is formed. Yes. In the manual sheet feeder 5, paper P of a size that is not contained in the paper cassette 3, thick paper, and OHP sheets that are to be fed one by one are placed.

  A second paper transport unit 6 is provided on the left side of the manual paper feed unit 5. The second paper transport unit 6 is located immediately above the paper feed cassette 3, extends substantially horizontally from the manual paper feed unit 5 to the first paper transport unit 4, and joins the first paper transport unit 4. Then, the second paper transport unit 6 receives the paper P or the like sent from the manual paper feed unit 5 and transports it to the first paper transport unit 4 substantially horizontally.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an image reading unit 7 is provided above the main body 2 of the image forming apparatus 1, and a document presser 8 is provided above the image reading unit 7. When a user copies an original, an image such as a character, a figure, or a pattern is drawn on a platen glass (not shown) provided on the upper surface of the image reading unit 7 that appears when the original retainer 8 is lifted upward. Place the originals one by one. Then, the document is pressed against the platen glass surface by the document presser 8, and the image drawn on the document is read by the image reading unit 7.

  The reading of the document image, that is, the start of printing is executed by using the operation panel 20 (see FIG. 2) provided on the front side of the image reading unit 7 at the upper part of the main body 2. A user of the image forming apparatus 1 can input and set printing conditions such as the paper size to be used, enlargement / reduction, and presence / absence of double-sided printing from the operation panel 20.

  Information on the image data of the original is sent to the exposure device 9 (see FIG. 1) disposed above the second paper transport unit 6 and in the center of the main body 2. The exposure apparatus 9 irradiates the image forming unit 10 with laser light L controlled based on the image data.

  An image forming unit 10 and a transfer unit 11 are provided above the first paper transport unit 4 and on the left side of the exposure device 9. In the image forming unit 10, an electrostatic latent image of a document image is formed by the laser light L emitted by the exposure device 9, and a toner image is developed from the electrostatic latent image. The toner is supplied to the image forming unit 10 from a toner container 12 provided above the exposure device 9. The toner image formed by the image forming unit 10 is transferred by the transfer unit 11 to the pre-printing paper P sent in synchronization by the first paper transport unit 4.

  A fixing device 13 is provided above the transfer unit 11. The paper P carrying the unfixed toner image in the transfer unit 11 is sent to the fixing device 13 where the toner image is heated and pressed by a heat roller and a pressure roller to be fixed.

  A branch portion 14 is provided above the fixing device 13. When double-sided printing is not performed, the paper P discharged from the fixing device 13 is transferred from the branching portion 14 to the in-body paper discharge portion 15 (see FIG. 2) which is a paper discharge space provided in the cylinder of the image forming apparatus 1. Discharged.

  The discharge port portion from which the paper P is discharged from the branch portion 14 toward the in-body paper discharge portion 15 functions as the switchback portion 16. When performing duplex printing, the switchback unit 16 switches the transport direction of the paper P discharged from the fixing device 13. Then, the paper P passes through the branching portion 14 and is sent downward through a double-sided printing paper conveyance path 17 provided on the left side of the fixing device 13 and on the left side of the transfer unit 11, and again the first paper conveyance unit. 4 is sent to the transfer section 11.

  Next, a detailed configuration of the operation panel 20 will be described with reference to FIG. 3 in addition to FIG. 1 and FIG. FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged external perspective view and a control block diagram around the operation panel.

  As described above, the operation panel 20 is arranged at the upper part of the main body 2 and on the front side of the image reading unit 7 (see FIG. 2). The operation panel 20 includes a touch panel 21, a numeric keypad 22, a reset button 23, a stop / clear button 24, an operation start button 25, and a biometric authentication device 30, as shown in FIG.

  The touch panel 21 is provided at a substantially central portion of the operation panel 20 in the left-right direction. Various operation keys, operation procedures, defects, and the like are displayed on the touch panel 21, and the displayed operation keys can be pressed. A numeric keypad 22 is disposed on the right side of the touch panel 21. The numeric keypad 22 is used when setting the number of copies and inputting other numerical values.

  The reset button 23 and the stop / clear button 24 are arranged near the right end of the operation panel 20. The reset button 23 is used when resetting each function. The stop / clear button 24 is used when copying is interrupted or when the number of copies is corrected.

  The operation start button 25 is arranged on the right side of the numeric keypad 22 and between the place where the reset button 23 and the stop / clear button 24 are arranged. By pressing the operation start button 25, the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 can be started based on the printing conditions input using the touch panel 21 or the numeric keypad 22.

  The biometric authentication device 30 is disposed in the immediate vicinity of the operation start button 25. The biometric authentication device 30 is positioned away from the user side across the operation start button 25 with respect to the user's standing position toward the operation panel 20, that is, the front side of the operation panel 20 in FIG. 25 on the back side. The biometric authentication device 30 is arranged such that the distance D from the center of the operation start button 25 toward the back side is within 100 mm, and the height H from the surface of the operation start button 25 to the surface of the sensor unit 31 is 15 mm or less. Desirable for operation.

  In addition, the biometric authentication device 30 includes a line-type fingerprint sensor, and the fingerprint sensor is disposed at a position on the inner bottom surface of the sensor unit 31 that is configured by a recess. The biometric authentication device 30 can detect a fingerprint by holding a finger over the sensor unit 31 and sliding it back and forth to acquire fingerprint data that is biometric information of the user. The sensor unit 31 is a recess having a shape and size sufficient for a person to move a finger.

  On the other hand, for the operation panel 20 having such a configuration, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a control device 40 that controls the entire device, a storage device 41, and an identification unit 42.

  The control device 40 receives an operation command from the operation start button 25 based on the printing conditions input from the operation panel 20, and in accordance with a preprogrammed procedure, the paper feed cassette 3 and the manual paper feed unit 5 Then, an operation command is sent to each component such as the image forming unit 10 and the fixing device 13.

  The storage device 41 stores programs and various conditions necessary for the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 and image data read by the image reading unit 7 in the past. Further, the storage device 41 can also store the user's biometric information acquired by the biometric authentication device 30. The storage device 41 extracts or stores stored information according to instructions from the control device 40.

  The identification unit 42 can compare and identify the biometric information stored in advance in the storage device 41 and the biometric information acquired by the biometric authentication device 30. The identification result is sent to the control device 40.

  Next, an operation start procedure using the biometric authentication device 30 of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described.

  When copying is performed by the image forming apparatus 1, the user inputs a printing condition using the touch panel 21 or the numeric keypad 22 of the operation panel 20, and then slides the finger back and forth on the biometric authentication device 30 to obtain fingerprint data. The driving start button 25 is pressed after the biological information is acquired. The biometric information acquired at this time is sent to the identification means 42.

  The identification unit 42 calls biometric information from the storage device 41 and identifies whether the user is a registrant whose biometric information is stored in the storage device 41 in advance.

  When the user is a registrant of the image forming apparatus 1, the control means 40 sends an operation command to each component in accordance with an operation command from the operation start button 25 to start a normal image forming operation.

  If the user is not a registrant of the image forming apparatus 1, the control means 40 displays a warning by characters or symbols on the touch panel 21 or gives a warning by alarm sound or voice without following the operation command by the operation start button 25. The image forming operation is stopped by making a notification or the like.

  As described above, the operation panel 20 capable of inputting commands and information relating to the image forming operation, the biometric authentication device 30 provided on the operation panel 20 and capable of acquiring the biometric information of the user, and the biometric authentication A storage device 41 that stores biometric information acquired by the device 30 and an identification unit 42 that compares and identifies the biometric information stored in advance in the storage device 41 and the biometric information acquired by the biometric authentication device 30 are provided. Therefore, it is possible to identify whether the person who intends to use the image forming apparatus 1 is a person registered in the apparatus or an outside party. As a result, the registrant can be allowed to use the image forming apparatus 1 and cannot be used by unregistered third parties. In this way, it is possible to protect the stored image data by limiting who can use the device or identifying the person who operates the storage device 41. Can be obtained.

  The biometric authentication device 30 is located away from the user side with the operation start button 25 provided on the operation panel 20 with respect to the user's standing position toward the operation panel 20, and the operation start button Since it is arranged in the vicinity of 25, the operation start button 25 can be easily pushed by moving an index finger or the like to the biometric authentication device 30 and moving the finger to the near side after authentication is obtained. Thus, even if an operation for authentication is necessary before the operation start button 25 is pressed, the image forming apparatus 1 can be operated without feeling stress. Therefore, even when a suitable security measure is taken, it is possible to obtain the image forming apparatus 1 that can be used without being forced to deteriorate operability.

  Furthermore, since the biometric authentication device 30 includes a line-type sensor, the biometric information can be acquired by sliding a finger on the sensor unit 31. Accordingly, when it is desired to start the operation of the image forming apparatus 1, it is possible to press the button by further sliding the finger slid by the sensor unit 31 of the biometric authentication device 30 to the position of the operation start button 25. Therefore, the operability can be further improved, and the image forming apparatus 1 with suitable security measures can be obtained.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the scope of the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the biometric authentication device 30 is provided with a line type sensor that acquires fingerprint data, but the type of sensor provided in the biometric authentication device 30 is not limited to this, You may use the sensor which acquires the vein data of a finger | toe as biometric information, and an area type sensor as a detection method.

  The present invention can be used in general image forming apparatuses.

1 is a schematic vertical sectional front view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged external perspective view and a control block diagram around an operation panel shown in FIG. 2.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2 Main body 20 Operation panel 25 Operation start button 30 Biometric authentication apparatus 31 Sensor part 40 Control apparatus 41 Memory | storage device 42 Identification means

Claims (3)

  An operation panel capable of inputting commands and information relating to an image forming operation, a biometric authentication apparatus provided on the operation panel and capable of acquiring biometric information of a user, and biometric information acquired by the biometric authentication apparatus are stored. An image forming apparatus comprising: a storage device configured to compare; and biometric information stored in advance in the storage device and biometric information acquired by the biometric authentication device.   The biometric authentication device is located away from the user side with an operation start button provided on the operation panel with respect to a user's standing position toward the operation panel, in the vicinity of the operation start button. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is disposed.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the biometric authentication apparatus includes a line type sensor.

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