JP3362998B2 - Card printing system - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to a card printing apparatus having an IC card lead and a card printing system. 2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, for example, the following method has been used to issue an employee ID card for certifying an identity using a card printing device that prints images and character information on a cash card-sized card. Has been adopted. In other words, as a method of activating the apparatus, a method of starting the apparatus by inputting a password from a host or a method of using a switch using a key as a main switch so as to prevent unauthorized issuance of a card or the like is used. A company emblem or seal imprint printed on an employee ID card or the like is stored in advance in a storage area of the apparatus as print data, or a card on which a company emblem or seal imprint is printed in advance is prepared. Perform the prescribed printing. When the print format of the image or character information is changed, the print format information is installed in the card printing apparatus. When the maintenance staff switches the operation mode from the normal issuing operation mode to the maintenance mode in order to confirm the operation of the apparatus, for example, when starting up the apparatus, the main switch is turned on while simultaneously pressing some buttons on the console panel, or the DIP is performed. This is done by switching with a switch or the like. [0006] However, in the case of using a password, it is necessary for an operator to remember the password or to crack the password when activating the apparatus. In the case of a switch using a key, the key may be duplicated. [0007] When a company emblem, seal, or the like is provided as print data, it is necessary to install the data in the apparatus for each print format. Further, in the case of using a card printed in advance, if a plurality of types of employee IDs are created, print data of a different format is required by the number of cards, and cards of different designs are required. In order to change the print format of the image or character information, it is necessary to install the print format information in a card printing apparatus. The operation of selecting the print format places a burden on the operator. In switching to the maintenance mode,
In the method of turning on the main switch while simultaneously pressing some buttons on the console panel at startup, when the operator accidentally turns on the main switch while pressing the button carelessly, the operator enters the maintenance mode unintentionally and confusion for the operator May be caused. In addition, the method of switching the DIP switch also has a problem that the operator may be confused if the user forgets to return the DIP switch at the end of the maintenance and inspection. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances.
And a person image (such as a face image for identification) and I
Imprint information and other information stored on the C card can be printed on
To prevent unauthorized use of the print media.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a card printing system adapted to do so . [0011] In order to achieve the above object,
In addition, the card printing system of the present invention provides password information
IC car for activation with unique information area in which is stored
Password, or password information or maintenance data is stored.
Read stored data from IC card for maintenance
Photographing means for photographing a person; photographed person
Input means for inputting information about the control to the control means;
The IC card read from the IC card by
The authenticity of the IC card is determined based on the password information.
Authenticity determining means for determining;
If the IC card is determined to be valid, the IC
Whether the card is a startup IC card or a maintenance IC card
Determine whether the mode is normal or maintenance mode
A mode determining unit; and a printing unit. here,
The printing means may be the normal mode by the mode determining means.
The person obtained by the photographing means when the mode is determined
Object image information and read from the activation IC card
Imprint information and before being input to the control means by the input means
The composite image information obtained by synthesizing the information
A first print mode for printing on a body, and the mode determining means
Is incorrect if the maintenance mode is determined by
Second mark for printing data on print media to prevent use
And a printing mode. According to the present invention, with such a structure, a password or a key is used at the time of startup, as in the related art. Instead, since the card printing apparatus is started using a dedicated IC card, it is difficult to duplicate the IC card, so that the integrity of the apparatus can be improved. Further, as described above, according to the present invention, a print format is stored in an IC card, and a dedicated IC card corresponding to the type of a card to be printed is prepared, and the printing process is performed using the IC card. Accordingly, it is possible to greatly reduce an operator's work load such as installation of various data. Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a card issuing system according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a card printing apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 3 is an example of an imprint registered as user data on an IC card according to the present invention, FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the card printing apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a card printed by the card printing apparatus according to the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, a card issuing system including a card printing device for issuing a cash card size employee ID card will be described. The card issuing system includes a main body of a card printing device 10, an IC card reader 12 for reading an IC card 14, which is a feature of the present invention, a TV camera 18 for supplying an image signal of a person, and the like.
It is composed of a personal computer 16 connected to this. The card printing apparatus 10 mainly includes an operation panel 21, a control unit 20 including a microcomputer, an image data processing unit 22, and a printer unit 24. The card printing system according to the present embodiment
The employee ID card 31 to be more issued, as shown in FIG. 5, the name is information for the identification, birthday, and the character information 34 of the expiration date, the information 32 of the face image is printed. The card printing apparatus 10 prints characters and face images on a card (card-shaped printing medium) using, for example, a sublimation-type thermal transfer recording method in the printer unit 24. The character information to be printed, for example, an operator the name, personal information birthday etc. are entered from the personal computer to control the card printing apparatus 10 (control means) 16 of the keyboard (input means). The face image, for example, TV camera (shooting
Face of the person is photographed as digital data by an image unit) 18. Here, the obtained character and face image data are transferred to the card printing apparatus 10 after being confirmed to be correct information. The transferred data is, for example,
The data is developed into a print format by the card printing device 10 and printed on a card (print medium) . In addition, the above "identity confirmation
Information (name, birthday, etc.) is stored in the camera 18
May be paraphrased as information about the person photographed in. Hereinafter, mainly the system configuration of FIG . 1 and FIG.
The operation of the card printing system of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. After the main power is turned on to activate the card printing apparatus 10 , the program is activated ( step S9). When the IC card 42 as shown in FIG. 6 is inserted into the IC card reader 12 built in the printing apparatus 10 , the apparatus 10 detects this IC card ( step S10). This IC card is shown in FIG.
14 is supported. This IC card contains the device 10
Is recorded as a password for activating (see 61 in FIG. 10 described later). This password
De data is taken to read by the IC card reader 12
You. The read password data is stored in the device 10.
Is comparison with lifting one password (not shown) (step
Flop S11). If these passwords match ( step
Flop S12 of Jesus) the IC card is recognized as legitimate
You. Only then is initialization performed (step S1).
3), device 10 ing and ready for use. But the device
If 10 and password for password and IC card are matched (NO in step S12), the device 10 is not activated, the IC card abnormality message (FIG.
(Not shown) and eject the IC card recognized as abnormal. Then, the system waits for a normal card to be inserted again ( step S14). Therefore, employee ID, etc. (Fig.
5 of 31, etc.), if the device creating what troubled been illegally duplicated, in the method according to the above process steps, device 1
0 confidentiality can be improved. [0025] After the initialization (step S13), and from the type of card, or the normal mode or the maintenance mode is Ru is determined (scan
Steps S15 and S17). In the normal mode Oh lever (step
Step S15) , normal card printing , for example, as shown in FIG.
Printing of the employee ID card 31 as shown (step S19,
S23) is performed. In maintenance mode Oh lever (step S
No of 15; Yes of step S17) , regular card printing is not performed , and maintenance operation of the equipment (maintenance mode described later)
Printing operation) divided by line in. [0026] When the normal mode, the indicia <br/> printing is performed as follows. The IC card, together with the password per Lud over data for starting the apparatus 10, the print format or image data (print image, etc.) is also recorded (Figure 10
(See the storage contents of the image area 67). Printing apparatus 10, the IC card reader 12 built, Rutotomoni preparative read password data for starting up the apparatus 10, the image data is also Ru preparative read. Image data thus taken to read,
The print data is combined with the print data transferred from the host (the personal computer 16) ( step S19), and is printed on a card- shaped print medium (eg
It is printed on 31) in FIG. 5 ( step S23). This I
The image data that is recorded on the C card, for example (25 see FIG. 3) President indicia imprint such (36 see FIG. 5) or emblem or logo, and the like. [0027] When the above-mentioned maintenance mode, printing operation is performed in the following manner. That is, if the data indicating that is for maintenance launched device 10 by the maintenance card that is recorded (54 in FIG. 8), the apparatus 10 activates the maintenance mode is selected (step S17), Various maintenance and inspection operations can be performed. At this time, if the operation by the operator in order to mark <br/> printing the card-like printing medium, been compromised
To prevent Rukoto, as shown in FIG. 9 "sample" or
The card-shaped print medium such as "test" not shown
There de <br/> over data words demonstrates that it is not legitimate (character) is appended to the print data to the card-like printing medium (step S21). Then, the data such as “sample” and “test” are added to the card- shaped print medium.
Printing Ru done (step S23). For more <br/> that this Uslu, also trying to sign <br/> printing to unauthorized card-like print media in the maintenance IC card, it can not be legitimate card printing,
Unauthorized use of the device 10 can be prevented. The IC card used in this case will be described in detail below. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of an IC card for starting a card printing apparatus according to the present invention,
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a use-specific IC card according to the present invention.
FIG. 9 shows an example of a maintenance IC card of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a card printed in a maintenance mode for the card printing apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 10 is a view showing an example of a memory map of an IC card for starting the card printing apparatus of the present invention. 6 and 7, IC cards 42 and 44 are provided for each application, for example, for issuing an employee certificate (a), for issuing an entry / exit permit (b), and for issuing an in-house deposit cash card (c). IC card to be inserted at startup by recording print format information on an IC card according to the type
Depending on the card, a print format can be selected. FIG. 9 shows a maintenance card 54 used for maintenance and inspection. In FIG. 10, an example of a memory map of an IC card can be divided into a unique information area 61, a management information area 63, a character area 65, and an image area 67. Password information for starting the card printing apparatus is stored in the management information area 6.
3 stores information such as version management, the character area 65 stores character information such as a company name, and the image area 67 stores image information such as a seal image. According to the present invention, replication of the IC card is difficult, is used other than those carrying the normal IC card
From being eliminated, improvement in security has been achieved
A card printing system can be provided. According to the present invention, the print data transferred from the host and the card to be printed can be shared.
Further, it is possible to cope with a plurality of types of cards simply by changing image data such as company emblems and seals stored in the IC card. Further, the operator can change the print format only by receiving the supply of the IC card.
By selecting the C card, the print format can be switched. The maintenance IC card can automatically switch the operation mode to the normal operation maintenance mode for the IC card used by the user, thereby preventing the mode switching due to human error. In addition, the card printed in the maintenance mode is printed with a word such as “sample” or “test” that clearly indicates that it is not a regular card, so that unauthorized use can be prevented.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a card issuing system according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a card printing apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is an example of an imprint registered as user data in an IC card according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the card printing apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 5 is a view showing an example of a card printed by the card printing apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of an IC card for starting a card printing apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a use-specific IC card of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a maintenance IC card of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a view showing an example of a card printed in a maintenance mode for the card printing apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a memory map of an IC card for starting a card printing apparatus according to the present invention. [Description of Signs] 10: Card printing device, 12: IC card reader 14: IC card, 16: Personal computer 18: TV camera, 25: Imprint 31: IC card

Continuation of the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41J 5/00-5/52 B42D 15/10 G06K 17/00 G06K 19/00

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] [Claim 1] Unique information in which password information is stored
Startup IC card with area or password information
From the maintenance IC card that stores the maintenance data
Reading means for reading stored data; photographing means for photographing a person; input for inputting information about the photographed person to the control means
Means; read from the IC card by the reading means
The password of the IC card based on the password information.
Authenticity judging means for judging whether the IC card is valid by the authenticity judging means
Is determined, the IC card is activated by the IC card.
Normal mode depending on whether the card is a maintenance mode or an IC card for maintenance.
Mode discriminating means for discriminating between a normal mode and a maintenance mode.
If separated, the person image information obtained by the photographing means and the
Imprint information read from the activation IC card and the input
Information about the person input to the control means by force means
Of printing composite image information on a print medium
Print mode, and the maintenance
To prevent unauthorized use when the mode is determined.
Select the second print mode for printing data on print media
Card printing, comprising a printing means capable of printing
Printing system.