JP2015039239A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform output restriction that can support various formation formats and output formats of documents.SOLUTION: In a mode to form N images (N is an integer of 2 or more) on one surface of one sheet, or in a mode to form N images on both surfaces of one sheet, when at least one of the N images includes inhibition information indicating the inhibition of image formation and other images do not include the inhibition information indicating the inhibition of image formation, an image forming apparatus does not form the image including the inhibition information and forms the images not including the inhibition information on one surface or both surfaces of one sheet.

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for reading and outputting a document.

  There are apparatuses such as a copying machine that generates image data by reading a document and performs a printing process according to the image data, and a facsimile machine that transmits acquired image data to another apparatus. At this time, when the original is printed on both sides, it is necessary to perform a reading operation on each side. In addition, for confidential information, information such as a predetermined background pattern is printed on a sheet in addition to the contents of the original, so that when it is read, the original is confidential information to the copying apparatus or the like. This makes it possible to discriminate and thereby prohibit printing (copying) of a document.

JP 2007-053706 A

  An object of the present invention is to perform output restriction that can correspond to the original document formation mode and the output mode by adding information of an output mode other than the local mode to the self-region.

In order to solve the above problems, according to one aspect of the present invention, related document information representing an output mode of a document placed in a region other than its own region is recorded in each of a plurality of regions in which a plurality of documents are placed. Provided recording material. In a preferred embodiment, the plurality of regions include a first region and a second region that are different from each other in at least one of size and shape. In another preferred aspect, the plurality of regions include a region where a character document is disposed and a region where an image document is disposed. In still another preferred embodiment, each region is specified by two-dimensional coordinates on the recording material at the apex of the region.
Another configuration of the present invention is as follows.
In the first configuration of the present invention, for each of the first document and the second document, an acquisition unit that acquires information representing an output mode of the document, and a first region of the recording material in the acquisition unit An output mode related to the acquired second original is output together with the first original, and an output mode related to the first original acquired by the acquiring unit is applied to the second area of the recording material. Output means for outputting together with the document.
In the second configuration of the present invention, the first original and the first output mode information are read from the first area of the recording material, and the second original and the second output are read from the second area of the recording material. Reading means for reading the mode information, and outputting an image of the first document read by the reading means in accordance with the second output mode information read by the reading means, and reading by the reading means And an image output unit that outputs the image of the second original document that has been read in accordance with the first output mode information read by the reading unit.
According to a third configuration of the present invention, in the above second configuration, the reading unit has a reversing unit that reverses the reading surface of the recording material, and the first region is formed on one surface of the recording material. Formed, the second area is formed on the other surface of the recording material, and the reversing unit is configured such that the first output mode information read from the first area relates to the second area. When the output of the original is prohibited, the recording material is not reversed.
According to a fourth configuration of the present invention, an acquisition unit that acquires output mode information that defines an output mode of a plurality of documents, and region information that represents a plurality of regions in which the plurality of documents are arranged on a recording material, Based on the output mode information and area information acquired by the acquisition unit, for each area, generation means for generating related document information representing the output mode of the document formed in each area other than its own area, and for each area On the other hand, the image forming apparatus includes an output unit that outputs each document according to the area information and outputs each related document information generated by the generation unit.
According to a fifth configuration of the present invention, in the fourth configuration, the related document information further includes an output mode of a document formed in its own area.
According to a sixth configuration of the present invention, in the fourth configuration, the output mode information represents permission or prohibition of copying of each document.
According to a seventh configuration of the present invention, in the first configuration, the area information represents an allocation area formed on one surface of the recording material.
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the sixth aspect, the output mode information does not include information indicating that copying is permitted for a document that should be permitted to be copied.
A ninth configuration of the present invention is characterized in that, in the first configuration, the generation unit generates the related document information by combining output mode information related to the plurality of documents according to the region information. To do.
According to a tenth configuration of the present invention, a plurality of originals recorded on a recording material and a plurality of originals recorded on a plurality of regions on the recording material on which the plurality of originals are arranged are arranged in an area other than the own area. A plurality of original images read by the reading unit according to an output mode corresponding to the related original information read by the reading unit; And an image output means.
According to an eleventh configuration of the present invention, in the tenth configuration, the recording material has one or more surfaces, and the image output means is a document in which the read related document information is formed in one area. Is output, the document formed in the area formed in the same plane as the one area is not output.
According to a twelfth configuration of the present invention, in the first configuration, the recording material has two or more surfaces, and the image output means is a document in which the read related document information is formed in one area. Is output, the image of the document formed on the surface other than the surface is not output.
According to a thirteenth configuration of the present invention, in the tenth configuration, the recording material has one or more surfaces, and the reading unit includes a scanning unit that scans the recording material surface in a predetermined direction. And when the related document information indicating that the output of the document is prohibited is read in one allocation area formed in one surface during the scanning of the scanning unit, the reading unit scans the one surface. It is characterized by canceling.
According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the tenth aspect, the recording material has two or more surfaces, and the reading unit scans the recording material in a predetermined direction; Conveying means for conveying a recording material, and when reading related document information for prohibiting output of a document formed on one surface of the recording material during scanning of the scanning unit, the reading means Is characterized in that the document is discharged using the conveying means.
According to a fifteenth configuration of the present invention, in the above tenth configuration, the reading unit includes a determination unit that determines the identity of the content of the output restriction represented by the related document information read in a plurality of areas. In addition, the output unit executes the output of the original according to the output mode when the identity is confirmed by the determination unit.
According to a sixteenth configuration of the present invention, there is provided an acquisition means for acquiring output mode information defining an output mode of a plurality of originals and area information representing a plurality of areas where the plurality of originals are arranged on a recording material; Based on the output mode information and area information acquired by the acquisition unit, for each area, generation means for generating related document information representing the output mode of the document formed in each area other than its own area, and for each area On the other hand, there is a program that outputs each document according to the area information and functions as an output unit that outputs each related document information generated by the generation unit.
According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer including a plurality of originals recorded on a recording material and areas other than the self area recorded respectively on a plurality of areas where the plurality of originals are arranged on the recording material. A plurality of originals read by the reading unit according to an output mode corresponding to the related original information read by the reading unit; This is a program that functions as image output means for outputting an image.

According to the first configuration of the present invention, information relating to the output mode of the document output to the other area is output to one area of the recording material.
According to the second configuration of the present invention, based on the output mode information read from one area of the recording material, the image of the document relating to the other area is output.
According to the third configuration of the present invention, when the result of the reading process on one side of the recording material is a predetermined one, the reading process on the back side is omitted.
According to the fourth and seventeenth aspects of the present invention, for each area of the recording material, associated original information representing the output mode of the original formed in an area other than the own area is output together with the original.
According to the fifth configuration of the present invention, in addition to the output form information of the document formed in the other area, the output mode of the document formed in the own area is designated.
According to the sixth configuration of the present invention, permission or prohibition of copying of each document is designated.
According to the seventh configuration of the present invention, the allocation area in one surface is designated.
According to the eighth configuration of the present invention, at least the area for which copying is prohibited is explicitly specified.
According to the ninth configuration of the present invention, related document information is generated by combining output mode information relating to each document.
According to the tenth, sixteenth and eighteenth aspects of the present invention, the document is output according to the output mode corresponding to the related document information of the read document.
According to the eleventh or twelfth configuration of the present invention, output processing relating to other areas is omitted according to an area where an output-prohibited document is present.
According to the thirteenth or fourteenth configuration of the present invention, if an output prohibited area is specified during reading scanning, the subsequent processing is omitted.
According to the fifteenth configuration of the present invention, the validity of the related document information is verified.

1 is a functional block diagram of an image forming apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows typically the structure of the specific code attached | subjected corresponding to each original. It is a figure which shows typically the structure of the specific code attached | subjected corresponding to each original. It is a figure which shows the process which attaches a specific code to an original and prints it out. It is a figure which shows the process which copies the original document on which the specific code was printed. It is a figure which shows the process which copies the original document on which the specific code was printed. It is a figure which shows typically the structure of the specific code which concerns on the other Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows typically the structure of the specific code which concerns on the other Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the original document based on the other Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows typically the structure of the specific code which concerns on the other Example of this invention.

<Example>
1. Configuration FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of an image forming apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a control unit 10, a document reading unit 11, an image forming unit 12, a printing unit 13, a communication unit 14, a storage unit 15, an input unit 16, a display unit 17, and a bus 18. Composed.
The functions of the image forming apparatus 1 can be broadly classified as follows: (a) a plurality of originals are read, information on the output of other originals (hereinafter referred to as a specific code) is generated for each original, and this is embedded in the original. A function for generating a simple document (code-added document generation function), and (b) a function for reading a document in which a specific code is embedded and outputting the document in a mode corresponding to the specific code (code-added document processing function). . Details of the specific code will be described later.
In the following, “original” is information formed (printed) on a sheet-like recording material (paper) using a predetermined method, and is a concept including not only character information but also image information. It is recognized as a collection of contents. The number of originals in the case of “plurality of originals” is a different concept from the number of sheets or pages on which originals are printed.

  The control unit 10 is a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and the document reading unit 11, the image forming unit 12, the printing unit 13, the communication unit 14, the storage unit 15, the input unit 16, and the display via the bus 18. Signals are exchanged with the unit 17, and these units are controlled.

  The document reading unit 11 is a so-called scanner, and reads a document and outputs its image data. The document reading unit 11 includes an optical system (light source, imaging lens) drive system (line sensor) and a paper transport mechanism (not shown). The light source is, for example, a fluorescent lamp, and irradiates light onto a sheet (that is, a document) on which a visible image is formed. The imaging lens forms an image of reflected light from the object to be picked up at the position of the line sensor. The line sensor scans the paper according to a predetermined scanning direction, receives the imaged light, generates an image signal corresponding to the light, and outputs the image signal. For example, the line sensor includes an image sensor that can image in three colors of R (red), G (green), and B (blue), and generates image signals of these three colors. Then, the document reading unit 11 performs processing such as A / D conversion and shading correction on the image signal, and generates one piece of image information corresponding to one side of the sheet. The size and gradation of the image information generated by the document reading unit 11 is arbitrary. For example, an A4 size (210 mm × 297 mm) is read with an input resolution of 600 dots per inch (pixels), and each dot is an 8-bit scale. It is assumed that the data indicates a tone (256 gradations). When the reading process for one side (for example, the front side) of the paper is completed, the paper transport mechanism scans the other side (the back side) of the paper. The drive mechanism is composed of a conveyor belt that conveys the sheet. In this way, the document reading unit 11 can read both sides of the sheet in accordance with an instruction from the control unit.

  Further, the document reading unit 11 extracts a read document when a predetermined specific code is attached as image information (background pattern). Specifically, the image analysis process is performed on the bitmap data acquired by the scan process, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image data added to the document is determined, and the specific code corresponding to the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern data is specified. The identified code is supplied to the control unit 10.

  The image forming unit 12 includes an image processing processor, and generates image data according to document data and a specific code supplied from the control unit 10 under the control of the control unit 10. The generated image data is output to the printing unit 13 or the communication unit 14.

By controlling the document reading unit 11 and the image forming unit 12, the control unit 10 realizes a coded document generation function and a coded document processing function. More specifically, the control unit 10 includes a code generation unit 101 and an output mode determination unit 102.
The code generation unit 101 includes image information of a document read by the document reading unit 11, output mode information defining an output mode of a plurality of documents input from an input unit 16 described later, and the plurality of pieces on a sheet. Based on area information for specifying a plurality of areas in which the document is arranged, related document information (hereinafter referred to as a specific code) corresponding to each document is generated. Then, the generated specific code is encoded by a predetermined method to generate bitmap data and output it to the image forming unit (code-added document generation function). For example, this bitmap data is image data of a predetermined size and is drawn over the entire area at a predetermined interval. In other words, image data in which the specific code is “embedded” in the document is output. The method of embedding the specific code in the original is arbitrary, but it should be such that the reader is not inconvenient for reading the original and that the specific code is not missed when the original is scanned. Is preferred.

  When a predetermined code is extracted by the document reading unit 11, the output mode determination unit 102 determines an output mode corresponding to this code and outputs it to the image forming unit 12, the printing unit 13, or the communication unit 14 (code). Document processing function).

  The printing unit 13 includes an image forming unit (not shown), and performs printing processing on a sheet according to the image data generated by the image forming unit 12 under the control of the control unit 10. The image forming unit is provided for each color toner of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K), for example, each of which includes a photosensitive drum, a charging unit, an exposure unit, a developing unit, It has a transfer part (both not shown). The photosensitive drum is a drum-shaped member that rotates around a shaft at a predetermined speed, and is charged to a predetermined potential by a charging unit. The exposure unit irradiates the charged photosensitive drum with laser light to form an electrostatic latent image. The developing unit develops a toner image by attaching toner to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum. The transfer unit transfers the toner images of the respective colors developed on the photosensitive drum to a sheet conveyed from the sheet feeding tray in accordance with the image formation. When the toner image on the sheet is fixed, the document is discharged out of the apparatus. When the image data supplied from the image forming unit 12 is obtained by embedding a specific code in a sheet, a document (text, image, chart, etc.) and a background pattern reflecting the specific code are printed on the sheet. .

  The communication unit 14 is a network interface and transmits the image data generated by the image forming unit 12 to another apparatus.

  The storage unit 15 is a storage device such as a RAM, a ROM, and a hard disk, and is used as a work area of the control unit 10. The storage unit 15 stores a program for operating the image forming apparatus 1 and is read by the document reading unit 11. The received image data, information input from the input unit 16, pattern data referred to when extracting a specific code, and the like are stored.

The input unit 16 includes input devices such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a touch panel so that the user can input various information such as copying of the image forming apparatus and information such as conditions and parameters related to copying. It has become. Specifically, the user uses the input unit 15 to input output mode information that defines the output mode of a plurality of documents and region information that represents a plurality of regions in which the plurality of documents are arranged on a recording material on a sheet. Can be entered via.
The output mode information is information given to each document, and is information indicating whether output of the document (for example, copying or transmission of scanned data to another apparatus) is permitted or prohibited. For example, when the user copies 10 original documents, the confidential information is included only in the third original document, and it is desired to prevent others from copying this information. -Information indicating that copying is permitted for the tenth document and copying is prohibited for the third document is input.
The area information is, for example, information on whether to perform single-sided printing or double-sided printing when copying a document, and information (assignment designation) indicating how a document is allocated to one side. is there.

  The display unit 17 is a liquid crystal display or the like, and performs guide display for allowing the user to input various information and commands from the input unit 16.

Next, the configuration of the specific code will be described.
FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of the specific code assigned to each document. In this example, an instruction to copy a four-page document from the input unit, and “double-sided printing” and “number of assignments = 1” (that is, a form in which one document is printed on one sheet) are included as area information. Further, it is indicated that, as the output mode information, “copying is permitted for the first, second, and fourth originals and that copying is prohibited for the third original is input.
As shown in the figure, when output mode information and area information are input, 101 indicates information indicating “double-sided / single-sided” from the left, the number of assignments N (a document for N pages on one sheet) For each area, a specific code representing information indicating the location (allocation area) of the image forming area and the output mode (Y / N) of the document assigned to the location. Generate for each sheet. Here, in the notation {F (B) -Ri: Y}, "F (B) -Ri" is a surface (
This indicates the i-th area in one surface (F) or the opposite surface (B)), and “Y” (“N”) indicates that the original is permitted to copy (prohibited). Represents that. In addition, the information of the own area among the image forming areas is arranged on the leftmost side, so that the own area and one or more other areas can be distinguished.

As shown in the figure, for the original printed on the first page, “double-sided”, “1” (= paper on the paper) indicating that the four original groups are to be copied by double-sided printing. That one document is assigned to one side) ”, that the document printed in its own area (F-R1) (= first document) is copyable (Y), and is in another area. A specific code indicating that copying is permitted (Y) is generated for the document printed on the opposite surface (B-R1), and is embedded in the document and printed on the first surface of the sheet. Similarly, the specific code shown in the figure is also generated for the second page of the document, embedded in the document, and printed on the back side of the paper. Note that the above “front” and “back” are relative concepts used for the sake of convenience, and do not necessarily have the characteristics provided in advance in the paper.
The third and fourth pages of the document reflect the information that the third page of the document is prohibited from being copied, and in the specific code of the third page of the document, its own area is prohibited from copying and the area on the opposite side. Includes information indicating that copying is permitted, and in the specific code of the document on page 4, information indicating that its own area is permitted to copy and the opposite area is prohibited to copy. Printed with the original.

Next, another example of the specific code will be described. FIG. 3 shows a specific code generated when double-sided printing and an allocation number of 2 are designated in the case of copying a document group of four pages.
In this case, since four pages of originals are printed on one sheet (including the front and back sides), four data items relating to the image forming area are included. For example, for the first page of the document, in addition to the information “double-sided” and “2”, the own area (F-R1) is permitted to copy (Y), “other than the same side on which the own area is formed. The area (F-R2) is permitted to copy (Y), the area (B-R1) having the same allocation positional relationship as the own area on the surface opposite to the surface where the own area is formed is prohibited to copy, and the own area is formed. The area (B-R2) having an allocation position relationship different from that of the area on the surface opposite to the surface to be printed generates information indicating that copying is permitted (Y), and the first page document is printed in the area where the first page is printed. Printed in an embedded state.
Similarly, with respect to the second to fourth page documents, there are designated states (permitted / prohibited) regarding copying of each of the original document and other documents, and other documents for the area to which the original document is assigned. A specific code reflecting the positional relationship of the allocated areas is generated and embedded in the corresponding areas.
As described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, according to the present embodiment, based on the information indicating the prohibition / permission of copying for each of a plurality of documents and the information on the allocation area of these documents, For each area to which is assigned, a specific code corresponding to the area is printed together with the original to be assigned.

Next, referring to FIG. 4, an example of a flow of processing (code-added document generation function) in which the image forming apparatus 1 attaches a specific code to an original document (= document to be copied) and prints it out will be described.
A user sets a document on an automatic paper feeder or the like (not shown) of the image forming apparatus 1, and via the input unit 16, a print instruction, output mode information (copying permission / prohibition), and area information (number of assignments and (Both sides / single side) is input (S101). First, it is determined whether the printing is duplex printing or simplex printing (S102). If it is an instruction for single-sided printing (S102; N), it is subsequently determined whether or not it is an allocation instruction (S103). If it is not an allocation instruction (N = 1) (S103; N), a specific code is generated using the output mode information of the one original in addition to the information of “one side” and “1” (S105a). In the case of the layout instruction (S103; Y), in addition to the information of “one side” and “number of layouts N”, a specific code is generated using information (output mode information and area information) of all the documents allocated to the front surface ( S105b). On the other hand, if it is a double-sided printing instruction (S102; Y), it is determined whether an allocation instruction has been input (S104). If it is not an allocation instruction (S104; N), a specific code is generated using information relating to each of the front and back documents (S105c). In the case of an allocation instruction (S104; Y), a specific code is generated using information on all originals allocated on the front and back surfaces (S105d). If the original group cannot be printed on one sheet, similarly, specific data is generated for every original to be printed on the sheet for each sheet (S106).

In this way, when a specific code is generated for all documents for which a print instruction has been issued (S106), the specific code is converted into bitmap data (S107). For each layout area, a specific code corresponding to the original is combined with the read original data to generate new image data, and print processing is performed according to the image data (S108).
On the printed paper, the original is printed in a state where a specific code corresponding to each original (= each area where the original is formed) is embedded. When this original is read into the image forming apparatus 1 for the purpose of performing various outputs such as copying, as described below, a copy of this original is output in a form according to a specific code.

Next, referring to FIG. 5, an example of the flow of output processing (code-added document processing function) for a document in which a specific code is embedded according to the above-described method using the image forming apparatus 1 will be described.
Here, it is assumed that information on “1”, “double-sided”, and “copying permission / copying prohibition” as shown in FIG. 2 is included as a specific code for the document to be processed. When the user sets a document in which the specific code is embedded in the image forming apparatus 1 and inputs a copy instruction in order to copy, the reading side of the document is read. As a result, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern data is recognized and the content of the information represented by the specific code is specified (S201). The control unit 10 interprets the data item included in the specific code from the left side, and specifies information that “number of assignments = 1” and “double-sided”. Subsequently, it is specified from the leftmost data item that copying is permitted or permitted for the surface (the surface on which reading has been performed) (S202).
In this embodiment, since a plurality of copy-forgery-inhibited pattern data are embedded at a predetermined interval, when the reading of the original is completed, a plurality of the same specific codes are detected (= a plurality of times). The mode of processing is arbitrary. For example, the specific code detected for the second time may be discarded, or the identity of a plurality of specific codes is determined and only when the specific codes are determined to be the same, the specific code is adopted but not the same If there is even one thing, it is determined that the specific code may have been tampered with, the extracted specific code is discarded, and it is determined that no specific code has been extracted. Good.

If the document on the reading side is permitted to be copied (S202, Y), it is determined from the data on the left side of the data item relating to the image forming area of the specific code whether the copy on the opposite side is prohibited or permitted to be copied (S203). . If the opposite side is also permitted to be copied (S203, Y), the document side is reversed by the transport mechanism, the opposite side is read, and the paper is discharged (S205a). Since printing is performed according to the image data of the read original, the specific code is also embedded in the original to be printed. If the document on the opposite side is copy-prohibited (S203, N), the document on the reading side is printed, and the sheet is discharged without performing the reading process and the printing process on the opposite side (S205b).
On the other hand, when the reading side is copy-prohibited (S202, N), the copy on the opposite side is determined to be copy-prohibited / permitted as in the process of S203 (S204). If the document on the opposite side can be copied (S204, Y), the printing surface is not subjected to printing processing, the document surface is reversed, the reading processing and printing processing are performed on the opposite surface, and the paper is discharged. (S205c). If the document on the opposite side is also prohibited from being copied (S204, N), the document is discharged without performing the printing process for the document on the reading side and without performing the reading process and the printing process on the opposite side (S205d). ). As a result, the document is printed for the copy-permitted document, while nothing is printed for the copy-prohibited document.

  According to this operation example, when it is determined that the document is a copy-prohibited object on the surface opposite to the reading surface, the desired printing process is completed without performing the reading process on the opposite surface. Accordingly, the processing time is shortened as compared with the configuration in which the reading process is performed for each surface to determine whether printing is permitted / prohibited. In addition, since a specific code is attached to each area, even if reading is performed from a surface opposite to the above-described reading surface, information on all originals formed in the paper area is read. The document in the own area and the output mode of the document formed in other areas are correctly recognized. That is, regardless of the order in which the originals are read, the originals with the desired output restrictions are printed in the same way.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating another example of processing for outputting a document in which a specific code is embedded.
In this example, the specific code includes information on “double-sided”, “number of assignments = 4”, and “copying permission / copying prohibition” for each area. Further, it is assumed that the scanning is performed from the upper part to the lower part in parallel with the paper (that is, each layout area). The reading surface of the original is read, and the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern data is recognized and a specific code is extracted (S301). However, at least one layout area is scanned instead of reading all areas on one side of the paper at a time. It is determined whether or not (S302, Y). Here, the method of recognizing the reading area and the boundary of the area is arbitrary. For example, image data for identifying the area is printed for each area, and the image forming apparatus 1 detects the image data. The allocated area may be recognized. Alternatively, the size of the region is calculated from the value of the allocation number N, and it is determined that the region reading process is completed when the moving distance of the scanning unit matches the length of one side of the region. Alternatively, scanning processing and image data acquisition / analysis processing are performed in parallel, and while the same specific code is extracted during scanning, it is determined that the same area is being scanned, and different specific codes are extracted. If it is determined, it may be determined that the reading operation has moved to another area.

  Based on the specific code extracted in the area where at least one reading has been completed, it is determined whether or not a copy-prohibited document is included in the original relating to the area where the reading has been completed (S303). If a copy-prohibited document is included (S303, Y), the copying process of the paper is stopped (S304). That is, the sheet is discharged without performing the reading process and the printing process for the remaining area of the reading surface, and without performing the reading process and the printing process for the surface opposite to the reading surface.

  On the other hand, if the read area does not include a copy-prohibited document (S303, N), the reading process is continued and reading of the unread area is started (S305). When reading of the entire reading surface is completed (S306, Y), the sheet is reversed and reading of the surface opposite to the reading surface is started. The same processing as that of the first reading surface is performed on the surface opposite to the reading surface (S307). That is, the reading operation is continued until a copy-prohibited document is detected. If all areas of the sheet are permitted to be copied, the document is printed; otherwise, printing is not performed ( That is, the blank sheet state is discharged). According to this example, since the reading process and the printing process for the paper are stopped when the copy-prohibited document is specified, the output mode is determined after the entire surface of the paper is read to the end. Compared with the case where it does, the time required for the printing process (including the case where it is decided not to perform printing) is shortened.

<Other embodiments>
(Output mode)
In the above embodiment, copying permission or prohibition has been described as an example of an output mode, but the output mode of the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the image data of the read document is stored in a folder (so-called confidential box) provided for each user in the storage unit 15 or to other devices (such as a personal computer or a server device) via the communication unit 14. May be transmitted. In this case, based on the information added to the original document, it is possible to restrict the reuse of image data (such as processing editing and secondary distribution). That is, the apparatus according to the present invention is configured to include an image output unit that realizes all or part of the functions of the image forming unit 12, the communication unit 14, and the printing unit 13, and output mode information is output as the document output mode. This includes not only outputting (printing) the added original on a sheet or the like but also outputting an electronic image of the original to a display device.

  In the above-described embodiments, the image forming apparatus 1 having a function of adding information related to copy restriction and a function of reading a document with information related to copy restriction and performing output processing such as copying according to the information will be described as an example. However, the implementation mode of the function according to the present invention in the apparatus is not limited to this, and may be configured as an image forming apparatus and an image processing apparatus having the respective functions, for example. Alternatively, the image processing apparatus may be configured to have the entire function of the image forming apparatus. This image processing apparatus can also be grasped as an image reading apparatus.

(Structure aspect of related manuscript information (specific code))
In the above embodiment, the specific code is used as an example of the related manuscript information. However, the format and content of the related manuscript information according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described example. In short, the related document information only needs to include information for specifying a document area formed on a sheet and information indicating an output mode of the document. For example, as shown in FIG. 7A, option information may be included in addition to the data items shown in FIGS. The option information is, for example, an ID for identifying the user and the user's authority, as shown in FIG. 7B. Such an ID, for example, identifies whether the user is to impose output restrictions according to this specific code or is not to impose output restrictions, and is stored in the storage unit 15 in advance.
When such a specific code is extracted from the read document, the image forming apparatus 1 displays, for example, a request to input a user ID on the display unit, and the input ID is an ID registered in advance. The normal output (copy or the like) is performed without applying the output restriction according to the present invention.
Alternatively, this optional information is output in accordance with the output mode information of a specific code for some output modes (for example, transfer) for a predetermined user, but for other output modes (such as copying). It may also indicate that copying is always permitted without following the output mode information of the specific code.

  Moreover, as shown in FIG. 8, the output mode described in the specific code may not be one type but plural. In the example shown in the figure, copying (C) is permitted (Y) for the document related to the area F-R1, copying (Y) is permitted for the transfer (T), and copying is performed for the document related to the area B-R1. (C) indicates permission (Y) but transfer (T) is prohibited (N).

  When output mode information and region information are input in association with each document in advance, information on all documents (output mode information and region information) is combined with “double-sided / single-sided” information and allocation number N information. By doing so, the specific code may be generated. In addition, when “double-sided / single-sided” and N can be specified from the output mode information and area information of the document, the data items of “double-sided / single-sided” and “number of assignments” may be omitted.

(Image Forming Area Mode)
In the above-described embodiment, the layout method for equally dividing the recording area of the paper according to a predetermined rule is used as the image formation area setting method. However, the area formation method, size, and shape are not limited thereto. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, an area Ra where a text document is placed and an Rb where an image document is placed may be set. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the area method in this case can use {x, y} coordinates of the apex of the area with the left corner of the paper as the origin. Further, when performing the assignment, it is not always necessary to reduce the document size. For example, the present invention is applied in the same manner even when an original printed on an original A4 size paper is assigned to an A3 size paper with an assignment number 2 (in this case, the original size is the same size). Obviously you can. That is, in applying the present invention, there is no limitation not only in the area forming method but also in the paper size.

(Content of area information)
In the above-described embodiment, output restriction processing is performed for each sheet, and the output mode of a document on one sheet is not affected by the output mode of a document on another sheet. When output is performed across sheets, output restriction processing for documents on a plurality of sheets may be executed in a batch. Specifically, as the above-described area information, not only the original formed on the same sheet as the own area but also information on the original formed on other sheets (= the original relating to which allocation area of what number of sheets). Information indicating whether or not).

(Specific code embedding mode)
In the above embodiment, the specific code is embedded in all the originals. For example, for an original that does not impose an output restriction, for example, generation and embedding of a code that explicitly indicates that copying is permitted may be omitted. That is, the specific code may be embedded only in an area corresponding to a document whose output is prohibited. In this case, when the specific code is not detected in the read area, the image forming apparatus 1 determines that the output restriction is not imposed on the document relating to the area, and performs output such as copying. Alternatively, on the contrary, a specific code indicating that may be embedded only in the manuscript that permits output.

(Processing when copying is prohibited)
In the above embodiment, the copy-prohibited document is not printed, and the corresponding area is discharged in a blank state. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an image indicating that the copy is prohibited in the corresponding area. May be printed, or the area may be filled with a predetermined color. This makes it possible for the user to recognize that there is a copy restriction on the copy target, not a printing error has occurred.

(Mode of output restriction)
The output restriction execution method based on the extracted specific code is not limited to the one shown in FIGS. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 6, when one allocation area is copy-prohibited, all of the paper is not printed, but all the other copies to be read on the paper are not printed. Printing processing may be performed for the permitted area. Alternatively, the printing process is not performed for all areas for the surface having the copy-prohibited area, but the reading process and the subsequent printing process may be performed again for the opposite surface regardless of the result of the reading surface.
Alternatively, in the case where the extracted specific code includes information on a document on another sheet, the output form of another sheet may be determined in accordance with the determined output form of one sheet. For example, when copying 40 originals with double-sided printing and an allocation number of 2 (that is, the required number of sheets is 10), the first to fifth sheets are permitted to be copied in any region. However, when it is specified that a document formed on a certain area of the sixth sheet is a copy-prohibited object, an unread area on the sixth sheet and a document to be formed on the seventh to tenth sheets Does not perform the printing process.

(How to read)
In the above embodiment, when both sides of a sheet are read and when both sides are printed, first, processing is performed on one side, then the sheet is reversed using the transport mechanism and set at a desired position, and then processing is performed on the side. I went (so-called mechanical reversal). The image forming apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to this, and may include two scanning units and simultaneously read both sides of a sheet. Even in this case, the reading process of the opposite surface may be controlled based on the information of the specific code extracted by the reading process of one surface. For example, if it is found that copying of a document related to one area is prohibited during scanning of one surface, the subsequent scanning related to the surface is stopped and the scanning related to the opposite surface of the paper is also stopped. To do.

(Specific code formation mode)
The form of the specific code, the printing mode, and the embedding method are not limited to the examples described above. For example, an image generated based on the specific code may be printed at a predetermined position (for example, the left corner of each area) instead of being printed at a predetermined interval. Also, the specific code may be printed as it is as a numerical value between lines of a text document, not as image data such as copy-forgery-inhibited pattern or dot data.

(Other)
The configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 is not limited to that shown in FIG. 1, and hardware and software can be implemented as long as the above-described code-added document generation function and code-added document processing function are realized. In the above-described embodiment, the program executed by the control unit 10 includes a magnetic recording medium (magnetic tape, magnetic disk (HDD (Hard Disk Drive), FD (Flexible Disk), etc.)), optical recording medium (optical disk (CD)). (Compact Disk), DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), etc.), magneto-optical recording medium, semiconductor memory (flash ROM, etc.), etc. Further, this program may be provided via a communication network such as the Internet.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus, 10 ... Control part, 11 ... Document reading part, 12 ... Image forming part, 13 ... Printing part, 14 ... Communication part, 15 ... Memory | storage part , 16 ... input unit, 17 ... display unit, 18 ... bus, 101 ... code generation unit, 102 ... output mode determination unit

Claims (7)

In a mode in which images of N sheets (N is an integer of 2 or more) are formed on one side of one sheet of paper or in a mode of forming images on both sides of one sheet of paper,
If at least one of the N images includes prohibition information indicating image formation prohibition and the other image does not include prohibition information indicating image formation prohibition, the image including the prohibition information is not imaged, An image forming apparatus that forms an image including no prohibition information on one or both sides of a sheet of paper. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an image allocation area including the prohibition information and an image allocation area not including the prohibition information are formed on the same surface. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an image allocation area including the prohibition information and an image allocation area not including the prohibition information are formed on different surfaces. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an image allocation area including the prohibition information is formed as a blank sheet. In a mode in which images of N sheets (N is an integer of 2 or more) are formed on one side of one sheet of paper or in a mode of forming images on both sides of one sheet of paper,
If at least one of the N images includes prohibition information indicating prohibition of image formation and another image does not include prohibition information indicating prohibition of image formation, a predetermined value is used instead of the image including the prohibition information. An image forming apparatus that forms an image and forms an image that does not include the prohibition information on one side or both sides of a sheet of paper. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein an image allocation area including the prohibition information and an image allocation area not including the prohibition information are formed on the same surface. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein an image allocation area including the prohibition information and an image allocation area not including the prohibition information are formed on different surfaces.

Images