JP2010008642A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus that has raised information security for printed matter in an installation environment where many and unspecified users exist. <P>SOLUTION: A shielding cover 14 performs opening/closing operation according to an instruction from a control section. A sheet member stacking hold member 23 normally receives a sheet member P, and moves downward to connect the paths of an ejection sheet member stacking section 9 and sheet member disposal section 10 in receiving an instruction to discard the sheet member. In this condition, control is exerted so that the shielding cover 14 is securely closed to block access from the outside of the apparatus. If a detecting section 22 detects the presence of the sheet member P after the completion of printing on the sheet member P, the allowance of the opening operation of the shielding cover 14, and the actual opening operation, the control section of the image forming apparatus determines that the sheet member P has been forgotten to be taken, and then discards the sheet member P. Since the ejected-sheet member stacking section 9 is substantially sealed by the shielding cover 14, the apparatus excels in information security. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, a printer, or a complex machine thereof, and more specifically, an image forming apparatus that improves information security on printed matter in an installation environment where an unspecified number of users exist. About.

  In recent years, information security requirements for devices handling information have become very high. Especially for image forming devices such as copying and printers, it is easy for third parties to obtain the output information, and information leaks due to forgetting to take out the output information (that is, printed matter) or by mistakenly obtaining the printed matter by another printer. High risk.

  As a method of avoiding information leakage due to forgetting to take a printing part, Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose a method of automatically discarding a printed matter when it is not removed within a certain time.

Japanese Patent No. 2861930 Japanese Patent No. 3927828

  However, in the conventional technique, the time until the printed material is automatically discarded is exactly the same as that of a conventional general image forming apparatus, and the printed material can be obtained by a third party. There is no change. In other words, the installation place of the image forming apparatus needs to be a place where only a limited number of users are present. For example, it is difficult to say that the safety is sufficient for installing the image forming apparatus in a public facility where an unspecified number of users exist.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image forming apparatus with improved information security on printed matter in an installation environment where an unspecified number of users exist.

  An image forming apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a sheet member stacking unit, an image forming unit that forms an image on the sheet member, and a discharge sheet material stacking unit that stacks the image-formed sheet member. In the image forming apparatus having a plurality of sheet member conveying units that move the sheet member between the respective parts and a sheet member discarding unit, the discharge sheet member stacking unit places the discharge sheet member stacking unit in a space outside the device. On the other hand, it has at least one openable and closable shielding lid that can have a substantially sealed structure.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus of the first aspect, the discharge sheet member discarding unit is disposed below the discharge sheet member stacking unit in the direction of gravity.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect, the discharge sheet member stacking section has an angle of 45 degrees to 90 degrees with respect to the normal direction and the gravity direction of the sheet members stacked on the section. It is arrange | positioned so that it may make.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the shielding lid of the discharge sheet member stacking portion has a transmission portion.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the discharged sheet member stacking portion is adjacent to the sheet member discarding portion.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the sheet member discarding unit includes an access restricting unit that allows access only to a predetermined specific worker. Features.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the sheet member discarding section includes a sheet member destruction section.

  According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the discharged sheet member stacking portion is provided with a sheet member stacking holding member that holds the weight of the sheet member, and the sheet The member stacking and holding member is openable and closable, and has a function of switching the opening and closing of a path connecting the discharge sheet member stacking unit and the sheet member discarding unit.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the seventh or eighth aspect, the sheet member breaking portion is disposed below in the direction of gravity of the sheet member stacking holding member.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus of the ninth aspect, the opening operation of the shielding portion of the discharge sheet member stacking portion and the opening operation of the switching portion are in an exclusive relationship.

  According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to tenth aspects, the discharge sheet member stacking portion is provided with a detection member that detects the presence or absence of a sheet member. .

  According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to eleventh aspects, the discharged sheet member stacking section is provided with at least one sheet member conveyance structure.

  According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to twelfth aspects, the image forming apparatus includes a printer information reading unit or a printer information input unit.

  According to the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the thirteenth aspect, the printing member information is read or input even if the detection member has passed a predetermined time (Td) set in advance by the image forming apparatus administrator. If there is no print data, the print data is discarded.

  According to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the thirteenth aspect, the discharged sheet is removed even after the detection member has passed a predetermined time (Tc) set in advance by an image forming apparatus administrator. If not, the discharged sheet is sent to the sheet member discarding unit.

  A sixteenth aspect of the present invention is the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to fifteenth aspects, further comprising an operator presence / absence detecting unit facing the reading unit for the printer information or the input unit for the printer information. And

  The present invention is excellent in information safety because the sheet discharge portion is substantially sealed by the shielding lid.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows the whole of an image forming apparatus which is one of the objects of implementation of the present invention, and FIG. 1 (A) shows an image forming apparatus using a general electrostatic imaging technique. The laser beam emitted from the apparatus 1 exposes the photosensitive member in the process cartridge 2 to draw a latent image, and develops it in the developing unit. On the other hand, the sheet member P stored in the sheet member stacking unit 6 is separated and fed by the sheet feeding unit 5, sent to the leading edge position correction unit 4, and sent to the image transfer unit 3. The previously developed image is transferred to the sheet member P by the transfer unit 3 and sent to the image fixing unit 7. The image is fixed on the sheet member P by the image fixing unit 7, and is discharged to the discharged sheet stacking unit 9 through the discharge conveyance unit 8. The discharge sheet stacking unit 9 is provided with a shielding lid 14 that can be freely opened and closed, and has a substantially sealed structure with the outside of the apparatus at the closed position. FIG. 1B shows a case of an image forming apparatus by general ink ejection, and is the same as FIG. 1A until the sheet member P is sent to the leading end correction unit. The sheet member P is transported by the paper transport unit 13, an image is formed on the surface of the sheet material P by the ink ejected from at least one ink ejection unit 12, and sent to the discharge transport unit 8. It is the same as 1 (A).

  The shielding lid 14 is controlled to be opened / closed by an image forming apparatus controller (not shown), and is opened / closed by a power source (not shown). That is, unless the image forming apparatus is determined to be in a satisfactory state, the shielding lid 14 is in a closed state, and the discharge sheet member cannot be accessed from outside the apparatus, thereby preventing the printer information from leaking. It is possible.

  Note that the image forming process in the image forming unit of the present apparatus may be a general one and will not be described.

  FIG. 2A shows a configuration example in the case where the electrostatic imaging method is used and the shielding lid 14 is on the upper surface of the apparatus for comparison. 1 and FIG. 2 is common in that the sheet member discarding unit 10 is disposed below the discharged sheet stacking unit 9. With this configuration, since the gravity acting on the sheet member P can be used for transporting the sheet member P from the stacking unit 9 to the discarding unit 10, the transport can be performed with a minimum configuration. In the configuration of FIG. 1, the discharged sheet stacking unit 9 is further configured such that the normal direction of the sheet member P stacked thereon is substantially orthogonal to the direction of gravity. As a result, the sheet member P is easily moved from the discharged sheet stacking portion 9 by gravity applied to itself. If it is an angle of 45 degrees or more, it can be easily transported by adding a simple auxiliary transport member. In the configuration of FIG. 2, as shown in FIG. 2B, the discharge sheet member stacking unit 9 requires a conveyance structure 25 in order to send the sheet member P to the discarding unit 10.

  FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. Here, a form of a copier having an image reading unit 17 on the upper surface of the apparatus is shown. However, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to either a printer or a copy, and can also be used in these multifunction devices.

  The shielding lid 14 is provided with a transmission part 15 so that it can be confirmed whether or not the sheet member is discharged from the outside of the apparatus. Therefore, it is possible to avoid an operation such as printing by the printer again.

  The sheet member P discarded by the discarding unit 10 can be collected by pulling out the collecting unit 21 of FIG. Here, the recovery unit 21 is provided with a lock mechanism (not shown) so that only a predetermined specific operator can release the lock. Thereby, it is possible to prevent information leakage due to a third party opening the collection unit 21.

  FIG. 4 shows an enlarged path view of the discharged sheet stacking unit 9 and the sheet member discarding unit 10. The sheet member destruction unit 24 is provided on the path, and the discarded sheet member is sent to the destruction unit 10 in a state where the destruction unit 24 has changed the information to a state where information cannot be read. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the possibility of information leakage even when the lock configuration of the collection unit 21 does not function.

Next, operations of the shielding lid 14 and the sheet member stacking / holding member 23 will be described with reference to FIGS.
As described above, the shielding lid 14 performs an opening / closing operation in accordance with a command from the image forming apparatus control unit, and determines whether the printer can access the sheet member. The sheet member stacking and holding member 23 is normally located at the position shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B and plays a role of receiving the sheet member P. When a sheet member discard command is received from the image forming apparatus control unit, the sheet member stacking and holding member 23 is rotated downward by a power source (not shown) to connect the path between the discharged sheet member stacking unit 9 and the sheet member discarding unit 10. Here, when the sheet member stacking and holding member 23 is in the state shown in FIG. 5C, the physical configuration (not shown) or the control law is specified so that the shielding lid 14 is always closed. This is for the purpose of completely blocking access to the sheet member discarding unit 10 from the outside of the image forming apparatus and for the purpose of maintaining safety when the sheet member discarding unit 10 is provided.

  Here, control of the image forming apparatus will be described. As described above, whether or not to form an image on the sheet member P can be controlled by the same control as a general image forming apparatus, and whether or not the discharge of the sheet member P is completed can be detected. . The discharge sheet member stacking unit 9 is provided with a detection unit 22 that can detect whether there is a sheet member in the stacking unit. It should be noted that during the period from the print command to the completion of printing, the detection of the completion of the discharge of the general apparatus and the detection by the detection unit 22 are agreement.

  When the printing on the sheet member P is completed, the opening operation of the shielding lid 14 is approved, and the detection unit 22 detects the presence of the sheet member P after actually performing the opening operation, the image forming apparatus control unit Recognizing that P has been forgotten, the operation moves to discarding the sheet member P. In the illustrated example, an example of a contact type detection unit is shown, but a non-contact type detection unit may be used.

  FIG. 6 shows a state when the sheet member P is discarded in the discharged sheet member stacking unit 9. Here, a sheet member conveying structure 25 is provided in the stacking unit 9. Normally, the sheet member conveyance structure 25 is retracted to a position indicated by a broken line (it is difficult to see in the figure because the weakened position is shifted, but it is located on the right side in the figure), and a discard command is issued As shown in the drawing, it moves to the sheet member P side (the state drawn with the solid line of the sheet member conveying structure 25 in this figure is this state). And the function which conveys the sheet | seat member P to the direction of the discard part 10 by the conveyance roller of a front-end | tip is fulfilled. As a result, it is possible to prevent a discard error due to the cause that the sheet member P is stuck or caught when the discard operation is performed. In the case where the member stacking portion 9 is not in the direction of gravity as in the configuration shown in FIG. 6, it is inevitably necessary for conveying the sheet member.

Next, a method for determining whether the image forming apparatus opens the shielding lid 14 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 3, the image forming apparatus includes an input unit 16, an information display unit 19, and an authentication device 18. The printer transmits a print command from a remote location to the image forming apparatus and then moves to the vicinity of the apparatus. Then, the unique key information given to the individual or the transmitted print command is input to the input unit 16, or the authentication mechanism attached to the individual is brought into contact with or not in contact with the authentication device 18, thereby Ask for release. Although not shown here, a device that reads physical features may be used. By this operation, the image forming apparatus determines whether or not the shielding lid 14 may be opened and issues an operation command.

  FIG. 7 shows an operator presence / absence detection unit that faces a reading unit for printing information or an input unit for printing information. In the figure, reference numeral 26a denotes an example of a method for detecting presence / absence based on the weight of the operator, which uses a pressure sensor or the like. In the figure, 26b is an example of a non-contact detection unit.

FIG. 8 shows a series of flows including the above contents.
Print data sent from an arbitrary printer and received (step (hereinafter simply referred to as S) 1) is held in the apparatus in a state linked to the printer information, and has been moved to the image forming apparatus. It waits until an authentication operation is performed by the person (S2). Here, after performing personal authentication (S3) and determining whether the standby time is less than the predetermined time (Td) (S4), if the standby time exceeds the predetermined time Td, the data is discarded (S5).

  When the printer is authenticated (S3) by the apparatus, printing of the corresponding data is started (S6). When printing is completed, the shielding lid 14 is opened. Here, it is confirmed that the printer is in front of the apparatus (S7), and if it exists, the lid is opened (S8). If not, the printing is completed and the shielding plate 14 is in a closed state (S9), and when the specified time To is exceeded (S10), the printed matter is sent to the discarding unit (S11). If the printed matter is not removed even though the shielding lid 14 is opened, it is regarded as forgotten and discarded.

  Further, it is confirmed that the printer is in front of the apparatus (S7), and the shielding lid 14 is opened when it is determined that the printer exists (S8). Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the sheet material P is lost in the discharged sheet stacking unit 9. Seeing (S12), if it is lost, the shielding lid 14 is closed (S13). In S12, it is determined whether or not the elapsed time from the determination that the sheet has run out is less than a predetermined time (Tc) (S14). If not, the standby is continued (S15), and the determination in S14 is repeated. If it exceeds, the shielding lid 14 is closed (S16), the sheet material is discarded (S17), and the process returns to S2.

  As described above, in the present invention, the sheet member stacking unit, the image forming unit that forms an image on the sheet member, the discharge sheet material stacking unit that stacks the image formed sheet member, and the sheet member are each provided. The discharge sheet member stacking unit has at least one openable and closable shielding lid, and has an openable and closable cover for the outer space of the apparatus. Therefore, it has excellent information safety because it has a substantially sealed structure.

  The discharge sheet member discarding unit is disposed below the discharge sheet member stacking unit in the direction of gravity, and the normal direction and the gravity direction of the sheet member on which the discharge sheet member stacking unit is stacked Since the sheet member can be conveyed by gravity by being configured to form an angle of 45 degrees to 90 degrees, it can be excellent in low cost and space saving.

  Further, since the shielding lid of the discharge sheet member stacking portion has the transmission portion, it can be confirmed from the outside whether or not printing is performed, so that the usability is excellent. Since the discharge sheet member stacking unit is adjacent to the sheet member discarding unit, the sheet member can be moved to the discarding unit with a simple structure, and space saving and low cost are excellent.

  In addition, the sheet member discarding unit can be accessed only by a predetermined specific worker, so that information is not exploited from the discarded sheet member, and the information safety can be improved. .

  In addition, since the sheet member discarding unit includes the sheet member destruction unit, the sheet member is destroyed and discarded, so that the information safety can be further improved.

  Further, the discharge sheet member stacking portion is provided with a member for holding the weight of the sheet member, and the member can be freely opened and closed, and has an opening / closing switching function for a path connecting the discharge sheet member stacking portion and the sheet member discarding portion. By doing so, the sheet member can be moved to the discarding section with a simpler structure, and the space can be saved and the cost can be improved. Also, the sheet member breaking portion is disposed below the sheet member stacking and holding member, so that the sheet member can be moved to the discarding portion with a simpler structure, and the space can be saved and the cost can be improved.

  Furthermore, if the opening operation of the shielding portion of the discharge sheet member stacking portion and the opening operation of the switching portion are in an exclusive relationship, the sheet member discarding structure is not accidentally touched during a user operation, so that safety is improved. Can be excellent.

  The discharge sheet member stacking section may be provided with a sheet member presence / absence detection member to enable detection of the presence / absence of the discharge sheet member and avoid information leakage due to forgetting to remove the sheet member. Further, since the discharge sheet member stacking section is provided with at least one sheet member transport structure, the sheet member can be reliably transported from the discharge sheet member stacking section, and the printer information reading section or the printer information By providing this input unit, printing can be performed only when the printer is in the vicinity of the apparatus, which also contributes to information security.

  In addition, if there is no reading or input of the printer information after a predetermined time set in advance by the image forming apparatus administrator, the print data is discarded and the possibility of leakage of the print data is low and the information is safer. If the discharged sheet is not removed after a predetermined time set in advance by the image forming apparatus administrator, the printed sheet is sent to the sheet member discarding unit. The possibility of being stolen by a third party, making it more excellent in information security, and having an operator presence / absence detection unit that faces the printer information reader or printer information input unit. Even when the printer cancels the acquisition of the printed matter, information is not leaked, and the convenience of the subsequent user is not impaired, so that information safety and operability can be improved.

The figure which showed the whole image forming apparatus which is one of the implementation object of this invention The perspective view which shows schematic structure of the image forming apparatus which is a structure when a shielding lid exists in the apparatus upper surface when the electrostatic imaging method is used for the comparison 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. Path enlarged view of discharged sheet stacking section and sheet member discarding section The figure which shows operation | movement of a shielding lid and a sheet | seat member loading holding member The figure which shows the state at the time of sheet member discard in the discharge sheet member stacking part The figure which shows the presence or absence detection part of the operator who faces the reading part of printer information or the input part of printer information Flow chart of an embodiment of the present invention

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1: Exposure apparatus 2: Process cartridge 3: Image transfer part 4: Tip position correction | amendment part 5: Paper feed part 6: Sheet member stacking part 7: Image fixing part 8: Discharge conveyance part 9: Discharge sheet stacking part 10: Sheet member Discarding unit 12: Ink ejection unit 13: Paper transport unit 14: Shielding lid 15: Transmission unit 16: Input unit 17: Image reading unit 18: Authentication device 19: Information display unit 21: Collection unit 22: Detection unit 23: Sheet member Stack holding member 24: Sheet member destruction unit 25: Sheet member conveyance structure 26a: Pressure sensor or the like 26b: Non-contact detection unit P: Sheet member

Claims (16)

A stacking portion of sheet members;
An image forming unit for forming an image on a sheet member;
A discharge sheet material stacking section for stacking image-formed sheet members;
A plurality of sheet member conveying units for moving the sheet member between the respective parts;
In an image forming apparatus having a sheet member discarding unit,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the discharge sheet member stacking section includes at least one openable and closable shielding lid that can make the discharge sheet member stacking section substantially sealed with respect to a space outside the apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.
The image forming apparatus, wherein the discharge sheet member discarding unit is disposed below the discharge sheet member stacking unit in the direction of gravity. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2.
The image forming apparatus, wherein the discharge sheet member stacking portion is disposed such that a normal direction and a gravity direction of the sheet member stacked on the portion form an angle of 45 degrees to 90 degrees. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
An image forming apparatus, wherein the shielding lid of the discharge sheet member stacking portion has a transmission portion. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the discharge sheet member stacking unit is adjacent to the sheet member discarding unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet member discarding unit includes an access restriction unit that allows access to only a predetermined specific worker. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the sheet member discarding unit includes a sheet member destruction unit. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The discharge sheet member stacking unit is provided with a sheet member stacking and holding member that holds the weight of the sheet member, and the sheet member stacking and holding member is freely openable and closable, and includes the discharge sheet member stacking unit and the sheet member discarding unit. An image forming apparatus comprising an opening / closing switching function of a connecting path. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7 or 8,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the sheet member destruction portion is disposed below the sheet member stacking and holding member in a gravity direction. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9.
An image forming apparatus, wherein the opening operation of the shielding portion of the discharge sheet member stacking portion and the opening operation of the switching portion are in an exclusive relationship. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
An image forming apparatus, wherein the discharge sheet member stacking section is provided with a detection member for detecting the presence or absence of a sheet member. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the discharge sheet member stacking section is provided with at least one sheet member conveyance structure. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12,
An image forming apparatus comprising: a printer information reading unit or a printer information input unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13.
An image forming apparatus characterized in that the detection member discards the print data when the printer information is not read or input after a predetermined time (Td) set in advance by an image forming apparatus administrator. . The image forming apparatus according to claim 13.
The detection member sends the discharged sheet to the sheet member discarding unit when the discharged sheet is not removed after a predetermined time (Tc) set in advance by the image forming apparatus administrator. An image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 15,
An image forming apparatus comprising: an operator presence / absence detection unit facing the reading unit for printing information or the input unit for printing information.