JP2018030330A - Image formation apparatus and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image formation apparatus and program which are user-friendly, socially-convenient and can execute physically irreversible processing to a sheet.SOLUTION: An image formation apparatus includes: a character string detection unit which detects a character string contained in an image read from a document and indicating the expiration date or period; an invalidation determination unit which determines whether or not the current date is invalid on the basis of the character string detected by the character string detection unit; and a first processing unit which executes the first physically irreversible processing to the document when the invalidation determination unit determines the current date as invalid.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

  The present disclosure relates to an image forming apparatus and a program capable of executing a physically irreversible process on a sheet.

  There is known an image forming apparatus capable of executing physically irreversible processing (printing and cutting a stamp image) on a sheet. For example, an image forming apparatus that cuts misprinted paper (Patent Document 1), an image forming apparatus that prints a stamp image on a scanned document (Patent Document 2), and a scanned document that is cut from the viewpoint of confidentiality or copyright. Image forming apparatuses (Patent Document 3 and Patent Document 4) are known.

JP 2003-292233 A Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2015-046792 JP 2014-072833 A JP 2008-060678 A

  A technique for executing physically irreversible processing (stamp image printing and cutting) on a sheet is desired to be user-friendly and highly convenient to society.

  In view of the circumstances as described above, an object of the present disclosure is an image forming apparatus capable of performing physically irreversible processing on paper, which is user-friendly and has high social convenience. To provide a program.

An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes:
A character string detection unit for detecting a character string indicating an expiration date or a period included in an image read from an original;
Based on the character string detected by the character string detection unit, an invalidity determination unit that determines whether the current date and time are invalid,
And a first processing unit that executes a first physically irreversible process on the document when the invalidity determination unit determines that the current date and time are invalid.

  According to this embodiment, when the image forming apparatus determines that the current date and time are invalid, the image forming apparatus performs the first physically irreversible process on the document to be read without outputting the read image. Thus, invalid documents cannot be used.

  The first processing unit forms a first image on the document as the first physically irreversible process.

  According to this embodiment, when the image forming apparatus determines that the current date is invalid, the image forming apparatus forms the first image on the original to be read without outputting the read image, thereby invalidating the original. Is unusable.

The image forming apparatus
A process determination unit that determines whether or not the first physically irreversible process is being performed on the document;
If it is determined that the first physically irreversible process is being performed on the document, the document further includes a second processing unit that performs a second physically irreversible process. .

  According to this embodiment, the user places the original on the paper feed tray and inputs an original reading and output command even though the first physically irreversible processing is already performed on the original. Suppose that In this case, the image forming apparatus performs a second physically irreversible process on the original document to be read without outputting the read image. As a result, invalid manuscripts are made more and more unusable.

  The processing determination unit determines that the first image is formed on the document by recognizing an image of a specific pattern formed at the first position of the document.

  According to the present embodiment, since the process determination unit recognizes an image of a specific pattern formed at the first position, there is a low possibility that the image originally included in the document is detected as the first image.

  The first physically irreversible process is different from the second physically irreversible process.

As an example,
The second processing unit forms a second image different from the first image as the second physically irreversible process.

  According to this embodiment, by forming different first and second images, the user can easily recognize that the document is invalid.

  The second processing unit forms the second image at a second position different from the first position of the document as the second physically irreversible process.

  According to this embodiment, by forming the first image and the second image at different positions, it is possible to prevent the first image and the second image from overlapping and becoming difficult to visually recognize.

As another example,
The second processing unit cuts the document as the second physically irreversible process.

  According to this embodiment, it is assumed that the user places a document on the paper feed tray and inputs a document reading and output command even though the first image is already formed on the document. In that case, the image forming apparatus cuts the document itself to be read without outputting the read image. As a result, invalid manuscripts are made more and more unusable.

  The first processing unit cuts the document as the first physically irreversible process.

  According to this embodiment, when the image forming apparatus determines that the current date and time are invalid, the invalid original cannot be used by cutting the original to be read without outputting the read image. .

The character string detection unit detects a character string indicating the expiration date or period by optical character recognition,
The invalidity determination unit determines whether the current date and time are invalid based on the character string indicating the expiration date or period detected by the character string detection unit and the current date and time.

The image forming apparatus
When the invalidity determination unit determines that the current date and time are not invalid, the invalidity determination unit further includes an output unit that outputs an image read from the document.

A program according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is:
The computer of the image forming device
A character string detection unit for detecting a character string indicating an expiration date or a period included in an image read from an original;
Based on the character string detected by the character string detection unit, an invalidity determination unit that determines whether the current date and time are invalid,
If the invalidity determination unit determines that the current date and time are invalid, the original is caused to function as a first processing unit that executes a first physically irreversible process.

  According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus and a program that are user-friendly and that are socially convenient and capable of executing physically irreversible processing on paper.

  Note that the effects described here are not necessarily limited, and may be any of the effects described in the present disclosure.

1 schematically shows a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to first to fourth embodiments. 1 shows a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus. 1 shows a functional configuration of a first image forming apparatus. 2 shows an operation flow of the image forming apparatus. 2 shows a functional configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment. 2 shows an operation flow of the image forming apparatus. 3 shows a functional configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a third embodiment. 2 shows an operation flow of the image forming apparatus. The functional structure of the image forming apparatus which concerns on 4th Embodiment is shown. 2 shows an operation flow of the image forming apparatus.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

I. Outline and common configuration of each embodiment Outline of Each Embodiment An outline of each embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. In each embodiment, as a document to be read by the image forming apparatus, a paper (original) on which a character string indicating an expiration date or a period, such as a coupon ticket, a ticket, various certificates, or the like is described. The image forming apparatus determines whether or not the current date and time is invalid (that is, the current date and time is after the expiration date or validity period) based on the character string indicating the expiration date or period described in the image read from the document. to decide. If the image forming apparatus determines that the current date and time are not invalid, the image forming apparatus outputs an image read from the document (image formation or the like). On the other hand, when the image forming apparatus determines that the current date and time are invalid, the image forming apparatus performs physically irreversible processing on the document itself to be read without outputting the read image (image formation or the like). A typical example of “physically irreversible processing” is formation of a stamp image or cutting by a shredder. By executing physically irreversible processing on the document itself to be read, the invalid document cannot be used. In each embodiment, processing is executed as follows as physically irreversible processing.

First Embodiment: A stamp image is formed on a document determined to be invalid.
Second Embodiment: A document determined to be invalid is cut with a shredder.
Third Embodiment: When a stamp image is already formed on a document determined to be invalid, another stamp image is formed on the document.
Fourth Embodiment: When a stamp image has already been formed on a document determined to be invalid, the document is cut with a shredder.

2. Overview of Image Forming Apparatus FIG. 1 schematically shows an image forming apparatus according to first to fourth embodiments.

  An information processing apparatus according to each embodiment of the present invention is an image forming apparatus (for example, MFP, Multifunction Peripheral), and is hereinafter referred to as an MFP. The MFP 1 includes an image reading unit 12, a path switching mechanism 10, an image forming unit 16 (output unit), a shredder 19, and a plurality of conveyance rollers (not illustrated) that convey a document to be read and a sheet on which an image is to be formed. ). A dotted line in FIG. 1 indicates a sheet conveyance path.

  A document to be read placed on a paper feed tray is conveyed to the image reading unit 12. The image reading unit 12 includes reading sensors 12A and 12B above and below the conveyance path, respectively. Each reading sensor 12A, 12B reads an image from the front and back surfaces of the conveyed document. The document is conveyed to the path switching mechanism 10.

  The path switching mechanism 10 controls the transport destination of the document transported from the image reading unit 12 according to specific conditions (described later with reference to a flowchart) based on the control of the control unit 11 (described later). Switch to either the unit 16 or the shredder 19.

  The document conveyed from the path switching mechanism 10 is discharged through a paper discharge path. On the other hand, the image forming unit 16 forms (copies) an image read from the original by the image reading unit 12 on a sheet stored in a paper feed cassette (not shown). The image forming unit 16 includes an exposure device 16A, a developing device 16B, an intermediate transfer belt 16C, and the like. The image forming unit 16 forms an image on the charged photosensitive drum with a laser beam (exposure) by the exposure device 16A, and attaches toner (development) to the portion where the image of the photosensitive drum is formed by the developing device 16B. The toner on the drum is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt, the toner on the intermediate transfer belt 16C is transferred (transferred) to the paper, and the toner is fixed on the paper. In this way, the image forming unit 16 forms (copies) an image on a sheet. The paper on which the image is formed is discharged.

  Alternatively, the document is conveyed from the path switching mechanism 10 to the image forming unit 16. The image forming unit 16 forms a stamp image having a specific pattern at a specific position on the document. The document on which the stamp image is formed is discharged.

  Alternatively, the document is conveyed from the path switching mechanism 10 to the shredder 19. The shredder 19 cuts the document conveyed from the path switching mechanism 10.

3. FIG. 2 shows a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus.

  The MFP 1 includes a control unit 11. The control unit 11 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a dedicated hardware circuit, and the like, and controls overall operation of the MFP 1. A computer program that causes the MFP 1 to function as each functional unit (described later) is stored in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium such as a ROM.

  The control unit 11 is connected to an image reading unit 12, an image processing unit 14, an image memory 15, an image forming unit 16, an operation unit 17, a storage unit 18, a network communication unit 13, a path switching mechanism 10, and the like. The control unit 11 performs operation control of each of the above connected units and transmission / reception of signals or data to / from each unit.

  The control unit 11 operates for each function such as a scanner function, a print function, and a copy function function in accordance with a job execution instruction input from the user through the operation unit 17 or a network-connected personal computer (not shown). Controls the drive and processing of the mechanisms necessary to perform the control.

  The path switching mechanism 10 switches the transport destination of the document transported from the image reading unit 12 to any one of the paper discharge path, the image forming unit 16, and the shredder 19 based on the control of the control unit 11.

  The image processing unit 14 performs image processing on the image data of the image read by the image reading unit 12 as necessary. For example, the image processing unit 14 performs image processing such as shading correction in order to improve the quality after the image read by the image reading unit 12 is formed.

  The image memory 15 has an area for temporarily storing document image data obtained by reading by the image reading unit 12 and temporarily storing data to be printed by the image forming unit 16.

  The operation unit 17 includes a touch panel unit and operation key units that receive instructions from the user regarding various operations and processes that can be executed by the MFP 1. The touch panel unit includes a display unit 17a such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) provided with a touch panel.

  The network communication unit 13 is an interface for connecting to a network.

  The storage unit 18 is a large-capacity storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) that stores document images, stamp images, and the like read by the image reading unit 12.

II. First Embodiment Functional Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus FIG. 3 shows a functional configuration of the image forming apparatus.

  The control unit 11 of the MFP 1 loads the program recorded in the ROM, which is an example of a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium, into the RAM and executes the program, so that the character string detection unit 101 and the invalidity determination unit 102 are used. Function.

  The character string detection unit 101 acquires a document image from the image reading unit 12. The character string detection unit 101 searches for a character string indicating an expiration date or a period included in the document image.

  The invalidity determination unit 102 determines whether or not the current date and time are invalid from the character string indicating the expiration date or period and the system time of the MFP 1. The invalidity determination unit 102 controls the path switching mechanism 10 based on the determination result.

2. Operation of Image Forming Apparatus FIG. 4 shows an operation flow of the image forming apparatus.

  As a premise, the user places a document to be read (scanned) on the paper feed tray of the MFP 1. In the present embodiment, a paper (original) on which a character string indicating an expiration date or a period, such as a coupon ticket, a ticket, various certificates, or the like, is assumed as an original.

  The MFP 1 detects a specific operation performed on the operation unit 17 by the user as a document reading (scanning) and output (printing) command. When the MFP 1 detects an original reading and output command, the MFP 1 conveys the original to the image reading unit 12. The image reading unit 12 reads an image (original image) from the front and back surfaces of the conveyed original. The image reading unit 12 supplies the read document image to the character string detection unit 101.

  The character string detection unit 101 acquires a document image from the image reading unit 12. The character string detection unit 101 searches for a character string indicating an expiration date or a period included in the document image by optical character recognition. The “character string indicating an expiration date or period” is typically a combination of a character string indicating that an expiration date or period exists and a character string indicating a date and time or a period. Specific examples of “a character string indicating that an expiration date or period exists” are “valid”, “invalid”, “expiration”, and the like. Specific examples of the “character string indicating date and time” are “what month and day”, “what hour and minute”, “how many days”, and the like. The “character string indicating date and time” has a distance from the “character string indicating that an expiration date or period exists” within a specific number of characters (that is, located nearby). Specific examples of the "character string indicating the expiration date or period" in which these are combined are: "expiration date: what day of the month", "what month what day what hour what minute", "what month what day to what For example, “effective for a day”, “invalid after a certain date of month”

  The character string detection unit 101 detects “a character string indicating that an expiration date or a period exists” in the document image (step S101, YES), and further, a “character string indicating a date and time or a period located in the vicinity thereof. Is detected (step S102). The character string detection unit 101 supplies the detected “character string indicating that an expiration date or period exists” and “character string indicating a date and time” to the invalidity determination unit 102.

  The invalidity determination unit 102 acquires the system time of the MFP 1 when acquiring “a character string indicating that an expiration date or period exists” and “a character string indicating a date and time” from the character string detection unit 101 (step S1). S103). The invalidity determination unit 102 determines that the current date / time is invalid (that is, the current date and time) from the combination of “a character string indicating that an expiration date or period exists” and “a character string indicating a date and time or a period” and the system time of the MFP 1. It is determined whether or not the date and time is after the expiration date or the validity period (step S104). If the invalidity determination unit 102 determines that the current date and time is invalid (step S105, YES), the invalidity determination unit 102 controls the path switching mechanism 10 to convey the document to the image forming unit 16 (step S106).

  The image forming unit 16 forms a stamp image having a specific pattern (for example, a design indicating that the original is invalid) at a specific position of the original conveyed from the path switching mechanism 10 (first physically). (Irreversible processing) (step S107). The document on which the stamp image is formed (printed) is discharged. At this time, the MFP 1 does not output (print or the like) the original image. Note that if the document image is not output (printed or the like), the MFP 1 performs a refund process as necessary.

  On the other hand, when the character string detection unit 101 does not detect “a character string indicating that an expiration date or period exists” in the document image (NO in step S101), the invalidity determination unit 102 does not invalidate the current date and time. Is determined (NO in step S105), the image reading unit 12 supplies the read document image to the image forming unit 16 (step S108). The image forming unit 16 forms a document image acquired from the image reading unit 12. (Step S109). The paper on which the original image is formed (printed) is discharged. Then, the document to be read is discharged from the path switching mechanism 10 via the paper discharge path.

III. Second Embodiment In the following embodiments, the same configurations and operations as the configurations and operations of the embodiments described above are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals, the description thereof will be omitted, and different configurations and operations will be omitted. The operation will be mainly described.

FIG. 5 shows a functional configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment. FIG. 6 shows an operation flow of the image forming apparatus.
Since the operation of MFP 1 indicated by steps S201 to S205, S208, and S209 of the second embodiment is the same as the operation of MFP 1 indicated by the operations of steps S101 to S105, S108, and S109 of the first embodiment, steps S206 and S207 are performed. Only explained.

  If the invalidity determination unit 102 determines that the current date and time are invalid (YES in step S205), the invalidity determination unit 102 controls the path switching mechanism 10 to cause the shredder 19 to convey the document (step S206). The shredder 19 cuts the document conveyed from the path switching mechanism 10 (first physically irreversible process) (step S207). The MFP 1 does not output (print, etc.) the document image.

IV. Third Embodiment Functional Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus FIG. 7 shows a functional configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the third embodiment.

  The control unit 11 of the MFP 1 loads a program recorded in a ROM, which is an example of a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium, into the RAM and executes it, thereby executing a character string detection unit 101, an invalidity determination unit 102, and It functions as the process determination unit 103.

  The process determining unit 103 determines whether a stamp image has already been formed on the document.

2. Operation of Image Forming Apparatus FIG. 8 shows an operation flow of the image forming apparatus.

  Since the operations of MFP 1 indicated by steps S301 to S305, S308, and S309 of the third embodiment are the same as the operations of MFP 1 indicated by the operations of steps S101 to S105, S108, and S109 of the first embodiment, steps S310 to S314 are performed. Only explained.

  If the invalidity determination unit 102 determines that the current date and time are invalid (step S305, YES), the invalidity determination unit 102 notifies the processing determination unit 103 of invalidity. Upon receiving an invalid notification from the invalidity determining unit 102, the process determining unit 103 acquires the document image read by the image reading unit 12. The process determining unit 103 detects an image of a specific pattern formed at a specific position (first position) included in the original image by pattern recognition, so that the stamp image (first image) has already been added to the original. ) Is formed (step S310). If the invalidity determination unit 102 determines that the stamp image is not formed on the original (NO in step S310), the invalidity determination unit 102 controls the path switching mechanism 10 to convey the original to the image forming unit 16 (step S311). The image forming unit 16 forms a stamp image having a specific pattern at a specific position (first position) of the document conveyed from the path switching mechanism 10 (first physically irreversible process) (step). S312).

  On the other hand, when the invalidity determination unit 102 determines that a stamp image has already been formed on the document (step S310, YES), the invalidity determination unit 102 controls the path switching mechanism 10 to convey the document to the image forming unit 16 (step S313). . “The stamp image has already been formed on the document” means that the process of step S312 has already been performed once. In other words, it means that the user has placed the document on the paper feed tray and has input a document reading and output command even though the stamp image (step S312) has already been formed on the document. Therefore, the image forming unit 16 forms a stamp image (second image) of another pattern at another position (second position) of the document conveyed from the path switching mechanism 10 (second physical). Irreversible processing) (step S314).

  For example, the first stamp image (step S312) includes an image including a message “document is invalid”, the second stamp image (step S314) includes an image “dispose of the document”, and the like. And By using different images, the user can easily recognize that the document is invalid. Further, by forming the stamp images at different positions, it is possible to prevent the stamp images from overlapping each other and becoming difficult to visually recognize. Further, when the stamp image includes a character string as described above, if the document image includes a character string such as “invalid”, the process determination unit 103 may recognize it as a stamp image. However, in the present embodiment, since the process determination unit 103 detects an image of a specific pattern formed at a specific position (step S310), there is a low risk of detecting a character string included in the document image as a stamp image. .

V. Fourth Embodiment FIG. 9 shows a functional configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a fourth embodiment. FIG. 10 shows an operation flow of the image forming apparatus.

  The operations of the MFP 1 indicated by steps S401 to S405, S408, and S409 of the fourth embodiment are the same as the operations of the MFP 1 indicated by the operations of steps S101 to S105, S108, and S109 of the first embodiment. The operations in steps S410 to S412 in the fourth embodiment are the same as the operations in steps S310 to S312 in the third embodiment. Therefore, only steps S313 and S314 will be described.

  If the invalidity determination unit 102 determines that a stamp image has already been formed on the document (step S410, YES), it controls the path switching mechanism 10 to convey the document to the shredder 19 (step S413). “The stamp image has already been formed on the document” means that the process of step S412 has already been performed once. In other words, it means that the user has placed the document on the paper feed tray and has input a document reading and output command even though the stamp image (step S412) has already been formed on the document. Therefore, the shredder 19 cuts the document conveyed from the path switching mechanism 10 (second physically irreversible process) (step S414).

VI. Summary According to each embodiment, when the image forming apparatus determines that the current date and time are invalid, the first physically irreversible process (first operation) is performed on the original document to be read without outputting the read image. In the first, third and fourth embodiments, stamp image formation is performed, and in the second embodiment, cutting by a shredder is performed. In this way, an invalid original cannot be used by executing a physically irreversible process on the original to be read.

  Also, even though a stamp image (first physically irreversible process) has already been formed on the original, the user places the original on the paper feed tray and inputs an original reading and output command. Suppose that In this case, the image forming apparatus outputs a second physically irreversible process (formation of another stamp image in the third embodiment; In this embodiment, cutting by a shredder is performed. As described above, by executing a physically irreversible process on the original document to be read, the invalid original document is made more and more unusable.

  According to each embodiment, it is possible to prevent an invalid original (that is, the current date and time after an expiration date or validity period) from being output (printed or the like) and being used illegally. For example, it is possible to prevent the voucher, ticket, various certificates, etc. that have expired or expired from being output (printed, etc.) and used illegally.

  As mentioned above, although each embodiment of this art was described, this art is not limited only to the above-mentioned embodiment, and it cannot be overemphasized that various changes can be added within the range which does not deviate from the gist of this art.

1 MFP
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Control part 12 ... Image reading part 10 ... Path | route switching mechanism 16 ... Image formation part 19 ... Shredder 101 ... Character string detection part 102 ... Invalid judgment part 103 ...・ Processing judgment part

Claims (12)

A character string detection unit for detecting a character string indicating an expiration date or a period included in an image read from an original;
Based on the character string detected by the character string detection unit, an invalidity determination unit that determines whether the current date and time are invalid,
An image forming apparatus comprising: a first processing unit that executes a first physically irreversible process on the document when the invalidity determination unit determines that the current date and time are invalid. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
The first processing section forms a first image on the document as the first physically irreversible process. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2,
A process determination unit that determines whether or not the first physically irreversible process is being performed on the document;
If it is determined that the first physically irreversible process is being performed on the document, the document further includes a second processing unit that performs a second physically irreversible process. Image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein
The image forming apparatus that determines that the first image is formed on the document by recognizing an image of a specific pattern formed at a first position of the document. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein:
The first physically irreversible process and the second physically irreversible process are different image forming apparatuses. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein
The second processing section forms a second image different from the first image as the second physically irreversible process. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6,
The second processing section forms the second image at a second position different from the first position of the document as the second physically irreversible process. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein
The second processing unit is an image forming apparatus that cuts the document as the second physically irreversible process. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
The image forming apparatus that cuts the document as the first physically irreversible process. An image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
The character string detection unit detects a character string indicating the expiration date or period by optical character recognition,
The invalidity determination unit determines whether the current date and time are invalid based on the character string indicating the expiration date or period detected by the character string detection unit and the current date and time. . An image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10,
An image forming apparatus, further comprising: an output unit that outputs an image read from the original when the invalidity determination unit determines that the current date and time are not invalid. The computer of the image forming device
A character string detection unit for detecting a character string indicating an expiration date or a period included in an image read from an original;
Based on the character string detected by the character string detection unit, an invalidity determination unit that determines whether the current date and time are invalid,
When the invalidity determination unit determines that the current date and time are invalid, the program causes the original to function as a first processing unit that executes a first physically irreversible process.

Images