JP2010197566A - Image forming apparatus, image forming system and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve such the problem that during formation of an image on a paper sheet using an image forming apparatus in which taking-out of a confidential document is restricted, when transportation failure of the paper sheet occurs and the image forming apparatus is stopped, the stopping state of the image forming apparatus is released only by a preliminarily determined person, and the image forming apparatus can not be used thereafter. <P>SOLUTION: A door for accessing a transportation path for the paper sheet provided to the image forming apparatus is fixed in the closed state so that unspecified persons can not access the paper sheet even when paper jamming occurs in the image forming apparatus, in the state where security printing is carried out. On the other hand, counting by a timer is started (step S503). Authentication for specifying a user is carried out (step S506). Even when processing for releasing the locking of the closed state of the door (step S507) is not performed, when the counting by the timer is finished (step S505), the locking of the closed state of the door is released (step S507). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an image forming system, and a program.

  In Patent Document 1, when a jam occurs in a printing apparatus that performs confidential printing, the details of the abnormality are notified to the host that instructed printing, and the user inputs a user name and password, If it is recognized that the door is unlocked, a configuration is described in which the door is unlocked and jamming is possible.

  In Patent Document 2, in the printing of confidential documents, a lock mechanism is operated when a jam occurs in the paper conveyance path after the print data transfer is performed, and the jam occurs in the paper conveyance path before the print data transfer. A configuration for releasing the lock mechanism when it occurs is described.

JP 2000-10442 A JP 2003-335017 A

  The present invention is predetermined when a recording material conveyance failure occurs during image formation on a recording material using an image forming apparatus capable of restricting retrieval of confidential documents, and the image forming apparatus stops. It is an object to solve the problem that the image forming apparatus cannot be released from the stopped state unless it is a person, and the image forming apparatus cannot be used thereafter.

  The invention according to claim 1 is arranged to take out the recording material in which the recording material on which an image is formed is transported, and to take out the recording material jammed in the route, and is capable of fixing a closed state. When the closed state is fixed, a predetermined period is set when the recording material is jammed in the path, and the door that is released from the closed state when the information specifying the user is input. An image forming apparatus comprising: release means for releasing the closed state of the door after elapse of time; and image forming means for forming an image on the recording material.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, when the recording material is jammed in the path, a notification unit that notifies a predetermined target by a predetermined method is provided. It is characterized by.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, an image is formed on the recording material by the image forming unit on the condition that the predetermined method and the predetermined target are set. It is characterized by comprising permission means for permitting.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the recording material on which an image is formed is transported, and the recording material jammed in the path is disposed, and the closed state can be fixed. When the closed state is fixed, when the recording material is clogged in the path, the door that is released from the closed state when the information for identifying the user is input and the route is predetermined. An image forming system comprising: release means for releasing the closed state of the door after a lapse of time; and image forming means for forming an image on the recording material.

  The invention according to claim 5 is a program that is read and executed by a computer, and is fixed in a state where a door for taking out the recording material from a conveyance path of the recording material on which an image is formed is closed, and the conveyance In the state where the recording material is jammed in the path, when receiving the information specified by the user, the fixed state of the closed state of the door is released, and the information for specifying the user is not received, The program is characterized in that the door is unlocked after a predetermined period of time has elapsed.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, during the formation of an image on a recording material using an image forming apparatus capable of restricting the retrieval of confidential documents, a recording material conveyance failure occurred and the image forming apparatus stopped. In this case, there is provided an image forming apparatus that solves the problem that the stopped state of the image forming apparatus cannot be released unless a predetermined person is used, and the subsequent use of the image forming apparatus cannot be used.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the occurrence of the recording material clogging in the image forming apparatus is notified to a predetermined target by a predetermined method.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a situation in which the notification that the recording material is jammed is not performed.

  According to the invention described in claim 4, during the formation of the image on the recording material using the image forming apparatus capable of restricting the extraction of the confidential document, the recording material conveyance failure occurs and the image forming apparatus is stopped. In this case, there is provided an image forming system that can solve the problem that the image forming apparatus cannot be released and the subsequent use of the image forming apparatus cannot be canceled unless it is a predetermined person.

  According to the invention described in claim 5, during the formation of the image on the recording material using the image forming apparatus capable of restricting the extraction of the confidential document, the recording material conveyance failure occurred and the image forming apparatus stopped. In this case, a program is provided that solves the problem that the image forming apparatus cannot be released from the stopped state unless it is a predetermined person, and the image forming apparatus cannot be used thereafter.

It is a conceptual diagram which shows an example of the system using invention. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of an image forming apparatus using the invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an electronic function unit of the image forming apparatus in FIG. 2. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the procedure of the process in embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the procedure of the process in embodiment.

(System configuration)
An example of a system using the invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a system using the invention. FIG. 1 shows an image forming system 100. The image forming system 100 has a configuration in which personal computers 101, 102, and 103 that function as operation terminals and an image forming apparatus 104 are connected by a communication line 105.

  The personal computers 101, 102, and 103 are ordinary personal computers, and perform application software such as document creation software, software for performing communication using the communication line 105, and image formation using the image forming apparatus 104. Software (driver software for printing) is installed.

  The image forming apparatus 104 stores a sheet as a recording material therein, forms the content of image data sent from any personal computer on the sheet, and outputs the sheet on which the image is formed. It has a function. The image forming apparatus 104 has a function of performing security printing, which will be described later. The image forming apparatus 104 includes an operation unit 221 serving as an operation unit. The operation unit 221 is a touch panel display using a liquid crystal panel, and can perform various operations and display various information.

  The image forming apparatus 104 includes a discharge sheet storage device 209 that stores sheets discharged onto a sheet discharge surface 207, which will be described later, after the image forming process is performed. The discharged paper storage device 209 is provided with a door 210 that can be opened and closed. A door 214 that can be opened and closed is also provided on the side surface of the image forming apparatus 104. These configurations will be described later. A communication line 105 in FIG. 1 is a known network line such as a LAN.

(Configuration of image forming apparatus)
Details of the image forming apparatus 104 shown in FIG. 1 will be described. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a configuration of the image forming apparatus 104. The image forming apparatus 104 includes a paper storage device 201. The paper storage device 201 stores paper for forming an image. The paper in the paper storage device 201 is pulled out by a transport device (not shown) and transported along the transport path 202 toward the secondary transfer unit 203 by a function of the transport roll device 203 and the like.

  The secondary transfer unit 203 provides a pair of rolls, and sandwiches the paper and the transfer belt 204 between them, thereby transferring the unfixed toner image on the transfer belt 204 onto the paper conveyed through the conveyance path 202. A toner image on the transfer belt 204 is formed in the primary transfer unit 205. The primary transfer unit 205 includes four units. One of the four units includes a photosensitive drum, a cleaning device, a charging device, an exposure device, and a developing device, and primarily transfers a toner image of one of the basic colors of YMCK onto the transfer belt 204. A color toner image is formed on the transfer belt 204 by superimposing the toner images of each basic color of YMCK. This toner image is secondarily transferred by the secondary transfer unit 203 onto a sheet that is conveyed in the right direction in the drawing on the conveyance path 202.

  In the secondary transfer unit 203, the sheet on which the unfixed toner image has been transferred is conveyed rightward in the drawing and sent to the fixing device 206, where heat and pressure are applied. As a result, the toner image is fixed on the paper. The fixing device 206 includes a pair of rolls, a heater is built in one of the rolls, and heat and pressure are applied to the toner image on the paper by sandwiching the paper between the two rolls.

  The sheet on which the image has been fixed is discharged onto the sheet discharge surface 207. The paper discharge surface 207 is stored in a discharge paper storage device 209 that stores paper on which an image is formed. The discharged paper storage device 209 includes a door 210, and the door 210 can be locked in a closed state by a lock mechanism 211. The lock mechanism 211 includes a mechanism that locks using a driving force of a servo motor or an electromagnetic actuator. Reference numeral 210 'indicates a state in which the door 210 is opened. As indicated by reference numeral 210 ′, the sheet discharged onto the sheet discharge surface 207 can be seen and taken out outside when the door 210 is opened. Note that when the door 210 in the closed state is locked by the lock mechanism 211, the door 210 is not opened, and the sheet on the sheet discharge surface 207 cannot be seen and cannot be taken out.

  The image forming apparatus 104 includes a door 212. The door 212 can be locked in a closed state by a lock mechanism 213. Reference numeral 212 ′ indicates a state in which the door 212 is opened. In this state, it is possible to take out the paper that has jammed the paper from the door 212 portion of the transport path 202 to the outside of the image forming apparatus 104. In addition, it is possible to see a sheet in a range visible from the door 212 portion. Note that when the closed door 212 is locked by the lock mechanism 213, the door 212 does not open, and a hand cannot be put into the image forming apparatus 104 from the door 212 portion. Further, the sheet inside the image forming apparatus 104 cannot be seen from the door 212 portion.

  The image forming apparatus 104 includes a door 214. The door 214 can be locked in a closed state by a lock mechanism 215. Reference numeral 214 'indicates a state in which the door 214 is opened. By opening the door 214, it is possible to take out the paper that has jammed the paper from the door 214 in the vicinity of the fixing device 206 to the outside of the image forming apparatus 104. In addition, it is possible to see the paper that is jammed in the range visible from the door 214 portion. Note that when the closed door 214 is locked by the lock mechanism 215, the door 214 is not opened, and a hand cannot be put into the image forming apparatus 104 from the door 214. Further, the inside of the image forming apparatus 104 cannot be seen from the door 214.

  The image forming apparatus 104 includes an electronic function unit 220. The electronic function unit 220 has a control function for controlling the operation of the image forming apparatus 104 and a communication function with a terminal via the communication line 105 (see FIG. 1). Details of the electronic function unit 220 will be described later. The image forming apparatus 104 shown in FIG. 2 includes the operation unit 221 described with reference to FIG.

(Configuration of electronic function unit)
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an outline of the electronic function unit 220 of FIG. The electronic function unit 220 includes a communication unit 222. The communication unit 222 communicates with other devices via the communication line 105 (see FIG. 1). For example, the communication unit 222 has a function of receiving image data transmitted from the personal computers 101 to 103 in FIG. 1 and a function of transmitting data to the personal computers 101 to 103.

  The electronic function unit 220 includes a lock mechanism control unit 223 and an image formation processing control unit 224. The lock mechanism control unit 223 controls the operations of the lock mechanisms 211, 213, and 215 in FIG. The image formation processing control unit 224 controls processing for forming an image on the paper stored in the paper storage device 201. Specifically, the control of the paper transport mechanism, the control of the primary and secondary transfer processes of the toner image, the control of the fixing device 206, and the like are performed in the image forming process control unit 224.

  The electronic function unit 220 includes a control computer 225. The control computer 225 controls the operation of the entire image forming apparatus 104 including the electronic function unit 220. The control computer 225 includes an image formation processing control function 226, a security print determination function 227, and an authentication determination function 228.

  The image formation processing control function 226 outputs various instruction signals related to image formation to the image formation processing control unit. The security printing determination function 227 determines whether the image data received by the communication unit 222 is security printing. The security printing is also referred to as confidential printing, and is a printing method in which only a predetermined person is allowed to access the printing result. Security printing is used, for example, for printing highly confidential information.

  The authentication determination function 228 has a function of verifying whether or not the password input to the operation unit 221 is a human operation having a qualification to access the contents of the security printing by checking the password recorded in advance. . In this example, an example in which a password is input to the operation unit 221 as an authentication determination method will be described. However, authentication using an IC card or a magnetic card, or biometric authentication using a fingerprint or an iris can be used.

(Example of operation: When there is no paper jam)
An example of an operation when a user having the authority to access confidential information operates the personal computer 101 in FIG. 1 to output a printed matter on which content including the confidential information is printed from the image forming apparatus 104 will be described. 4 and 5 are flowcharts illustrating an example of a processing procedure in the embodiment. A program for executing the procedure shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is stored in a memory area in the control computer 225 of FIG. 3 and executed by the control computer 225. These operation programs may be stored in an appropriate storage medium and provided to the control computer from there.

  When the personal computer 101 is operated and secure printing of contents including confidential information is instructed, the image data (image data) for which the security printing process is designated is transmitted via the communication line 105 to the personal computer 101. To the image forming apparatus 104. When the image forming apparatus 104 receives this image data, the processing shown in FIG. 4 is started.

  That is, when image data is received in the image forming apparatus 104 (step S401), it is determined whether or not the image data is security printing (step S402). This determination is made based on data for determining whether or not the security printing is sent accompanying the image data. In this example, since the designated image formation is security printing, the process proceeds from step S402 to step S403. If it is not secure printing, the process proceeds to step S407.

  In step S403, for the received image data, it is determined whether or not a notification method and a notification target (who is notified) are designated in advance when a paper jam occurs. Here, as the notification method, one or both of notification to a terminal connected to the line 105 and notification by displaying on the operation unit 221 can be selected. The content of the notification includes, for example, a display content such as “A paper jam has occurred in security printing (document name ***) with user name ***. Please notify ***.”

  If at least one of the notification method and the notification target is not designated in advance, the process proceeds from step S403 to step S404. In step S <b> 404, an error process is performed in which the personal computer 101 that has instructed the processing is notified that the image cannot be formed, and the fact is displayed on the display of the personal computer 101.

  In step S403, when both the notification method and the user name are designated in advance, the process proceeds to step S405, and a process of locking the door is performed. In the process in step S405, the operations of the lock mechanisms 211, 213, and 215 are controlled, and the closed state of the doors 210, 212, and 214 is locked (fixed). Then, related information is stored (step S406). This related information is the notification method and notification target information that are determined in step S403.

  Next, an image forming process based on the received data is performed (step S407). In this example, in step S407, the image forming process control unit 224 in FIG. 3 controls the primary transfer unit 205 and the like in FIG. 2 to form an image on the paper stored in the paper storage device 201. Is called.

  When the image forming process is started, the process proceeds to step S408, and it is determined whether or not the image forming process is completed (step S408). If the image forming process has not ended (that is, if the image forming process is in progress), the process proceeds to step S409, where it is determined whether a paper jam has occurred (step S409). Here, the paper jam is a state in which the paper is not normally conveyed and is jammed (stopped) by being caught or the like while it is output from the paper storage unit 201 in FIG. 2 and finally reaches the paper discharge surface. Say.

  If a paper jam has occurred, the process proceeds to step S410, and the process proceeds to a paper jam process (step S410), which is a process when a paper jam has occurred. If no paper jam has occurred, the process of step S408 is executed again. To do. The paper jam processing in step S410 will be described later.

  Returning to step S408, when the image forming process is completed, it is determined whether or not the image forming process is a process related to secure printing (step S411). If the image forming process is secure printing, the process proceeds to step S412. If not, the process ends (step S414).

  In step S412, it is determined whether authentication has been performed by inputting a password using the operation unit 221 (see FIG. 2) (step S412). In the case of this example, when the password determined when performing the security printing is input to the operation unit 221, the information identifying the user (the person who has the right to access the contents of the security printing is identified. Information) is regarded as being input, and authentication is OK, and the determination in step S412 is YES. If the authentication is OK, the door is unlocked and the doors 210, 212, and 214 can be manually opened (step S413), and the process ends (step S414). As a result, the door 210 can be opened, and the paper (printed material) on which the image discharged on the paper discharge surface 207 is formed can be obtained.

(Example of operation: When there is a paper jam)
If the determination in step S409 of FIG. 4 is YES (that is, there is a paper jam), the process of step S410 is executed. Hereinafter, an example of the process of step S410 will be described. FIG. 5 shows an example of a paper jam processing.

  When the paper jam process is started (step S501), it is determined whether or not the process is a process related to secure printing (step S502). If the process is secure printing, the process proceeds to step S503, and a timer is used. Counting starts. If it is not secure printing, the process proceeds to step S508.

  The count time of the timer can be set in advance. Here, for example, 15 minutes is set. When the timer count is started, the notification method set as the determination target in step S403 in FIG. 4 is used to notify the notification target set as the determination target in step S403. For example, if it is set to display on the operation unit 221, a paper jam has occurred on the operation unit 221 which is a touch panel display in “security printing (document name ***) by user name ***”. Please notify ****. ”Is displayed.

  When the notification process in step S504 is performed, it is determined whether or not the timer that started counting in step S503 has ended (step S505). For example, when the count of the timer in step S503 is set to 15 minutes, if the elapsed time from the process in step S503 exceeds 15 minutes, the determination in step S505 is YES, and the process from the process in step S503 is started. If the elapsed time is 15 minutes or less, the determination in step S505 is NO.

  If the count is completed, the process proceeds to step S507, and the closed state of the doors 210, 212, and 214 is released. If the count has not ended, the process advances to step S506 to determine whether authentication has been performed. The contents of this determination are the same as step S412 in FIG. In step S506, if authentication is performed, the process proceeds to step S507. If authentication is not performed, the process of step S505 is executed again.

  In step S507, after the doors 210, 212, and 214 are unlocked, the normal paper jam handling process is performed (step S508), and the paper jam process ends (step S509). The normal paper jam handling process in step S508 is a process of displaying information on the location where the paper is jammed on the display of the operation unit 221 (see FIG. 2) or displaying the contents of the process to be taken by the user.

(Superiority)
The technology exemplified above is provided in the image forming apparatus so that an unspecified number of people cannot access the paper even when a paper jam occurs in the image forming apparatus in a state where security printing is performed. Fix the door to access the paper transport path closed. On the other hand, when a paper jam occurs, the timer starts counting (step S503), authentication for specifying the user is performed (step S506), and the door is unlocked (step S506). Even if S507) is not performed, when the timer count ends (step S505), the door is unlocked (step S507).

  According to this operation, since the doors 210, 212, and 214 are locked in the closed state during the period when the timer is counted, the person who does not know the password during that period can perform the image forming apparatus 104. The paper jammed inside cannot be removed or viewed. Thereby, the confidentiality of the contents of the security printing is ensured while the timer is counted. On the other hand, after the timer count ends, the doors 210 and 212 are unlocked, so that a person who does not know the password can open the doors 210, 212 or 214 and take out the jammed paper. For this reason, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the image forming apparatus 104 cannot be used. By setting the access prohibition period to the jammed paper using a timer in this way, it is possible to ensure security and effectively use resources.

  Further, in the above example, the security printing cannot be performed unless the notification target and the notification method are specified when a paper jam occurs during the security printing. As a result, when paper jam occurs during security printing, nobody knows who performed the security printing, nor knows where to report the situation, preventing the occurrence of inconvenience that restricts the use of the subsequent devices. Is done.

(Example when operating as a system)
In the above example, the case where the process illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 is performed in the image forming apparatus 104 in FIG. 1 has been described. However, some or all of the processes illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 are performed on the personal computer side (terminal side), and control data for instructing control of the locked state of the door from the personal computer side is sent to the image forming apparatus 104 side. The operation of the image forming apparatus 104 may be controlled. 4 and 5 may be partly or entirely handled by a server (for example, a printer server) connected to the communication line 105. Such a configuration can be grasped as an example of use of the invention of the system.

(Other)
Examples of the notification method include a method using blinking of a blinking lamp, a method using notification sound, a method using e-mail, and a method combining these. The communication line 105 may be a wireless line. In addition to paper, the recording material may be made of resin such as OHP paper, or coated paper in which the surface of the paper is coated with resin or the like. The doors 212 and 214 may have a function used when replacing or inspecting parts in addition to a function of taking out jammed paper.

  The present invention is applicable to an image forming apparatus and a system including the image forming apparatus.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Image forming system, 101 ... Personal computer, 102 ... Personal computer, 103 ... Personal computer, 104 ... Image forming apparatus, 105 ... Communication line, 201 ... Paper storage apparatus, 202 ... Conveyance path, 203 ... Secondary transfer part, 204 ... transfer belt, 205 ... primary transfer unit, 206 ... fixing device, 207 ... paper discharge surface, 209 ... discharged paper storage device, 210 ... door, 211 ... lock mechanism, 212 ... door, 213 ... lock mechanism, 214 ... Door, 215 ... lock mechanism, 216 ... electronic function part, 221 ... operation part.

Claims (5)

A path through which a recording material on which an image is formed is conveyed;
It is arranged for taking out the recording material jammed in the path, and it is possible to fix the closed state, and when the closed state is fixed, the information is specified by the user and the closure is performed. A door whose state is fixed,
A release means for releasing the closed state of the door after a predetermined period when the recording material is jammed in the path;
An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit that forms an image on the recording material.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a notification unit configured to notify a predetermined target by a predetermined method when the recording material is jammed in the path.   3. The image according to claim 2, further comprising permission means for allowing the image forming means to form an image on the recording material on condition that the predetermined method and the predetermined target are set. Forming equipment. A path through which a recording material on which an image is formed is conveyed;
It is arranged to take out the recording material jammed in the path, and it is possible to fix the closed state, and when the closed state is fixed, the information specified by the user is input to input the information A door that is unlocked in a closed state;
A release means for releasing the closed state of the door after elapse of a predetermined period when the recording material is jammed in the path;
An image forming system comprising: an image forming unit that forms an image on the recording material. A program that is read and executed by a computer,
The door for taking out the recording material from the conveyance path of the recording material on which the image is formed is fixed in a closed state,
In a state where the recording material is jammed in the transport path,
When the information specified by the user is received, the closed state of the door is unlocked, and even if there is no reception of the information specified by the user, after the elapse of a predetermined period, A program for releasing a closed state.

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