JP4082984B2 - Image processing device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus such as a digital copying machine composed of a scanner device and a printer device, and is preferably connected to a communication path such as a network and has functions of image communication and a printer in addition to the function of the copying machine. Specifically, in order to process image data input to the multifunction device, it is temporarily stored in a storage device mounted on the device, and processing of the stored image data is performed. The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus in which image data is erased from a storage device for completed ones.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, digital copying machines have been commercialized in which an image of a document is electronically scanned and read by a scanner device, and image data output from the scanner device is recorded and output from a printer device. Recently, it has evolved into a digital multi-function peripheral equipped with a device having a communication function (fax function, printer function, etc.) for communicating with external devices and transmitting and receiving image data. In addition, a storage device that temporarily stores image data to be processed as a digital multi-function peripheral is also installed, and has been improved so that a large amount of image data and a plurality of jobs can be processed efficiently.
[0003]
On the other hand, there are various types of storage devices for storing image data, such as those composed of semiconductor memory and hard disk devices composed of magnetic storage media. These storage devices have different environments for storing image data in terms of storage capacity, cost, writing speed, reading speed, volatility, and non-volatility.
[0004]
In particular, in a magnetic storage device such as a hard disk device, each area is managed by dividing a disk (storage medium) into small units by management data called FAT (FILE ALLOCATION TABLE). Then, when data is stored in each area of the disk (storage medium), the FAT data is updated, and when the data stored in each area is read as necessary, the FAT data is used as a basis. Or reading.
[0005]
Currently, this hard disk device is installed in a digital multi-function peripheral as an auxiliary storage device for semiconductor memory in terms of storage capacity, price (part cost), data transfer speed, etc., and a certain amount of job data is stored on the semiconductor memory. While processing, the newly input job data is temporarily stored, and read out on the semiconductor memory and processed when the processing order comes. This configuration is provided to the market as a processing system that can efficiently process a large amount of job data without stagnation as a system (digital multi-function peripheral) that processes image data.
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-9-284572
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when highly confidential document data is processed by such a digital multi-function peripheral, there is a problem in terms of security. For example, job data (image data) temporarily stored in each area of the hard disk device is updated when the FAT data is no longer needed, and new image data is stored based on the FAT data. Unless new image data is overwritten in the area where unnecessary image data is stored or image data is forcibly erased as an unnecessary data area, the job data itself remains as data. It is.
[0008]
Therefore, as disclosed in Patent Document 1 and the like, the image data area stored in the hard disk device is forcibly erased or generated by random numbers when the processing is completed in the digital multifunction peripheral. It has been considered that the irregular pattern image is overwritten so that it cannot be reproduced as image data.
[0009]
However, strictly speaking, because the storage device is based on a magnetic storage medium, new image data or image data that has been stored previously can be obtained only by overwriting or erasing a specific pattern. Is not completely unreadable.
[0010]
Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and its purpose is to erase the image data stored in the memory in the area where the image data is stored according to the security level. For repeated erasure processing And providing an image processing apparatus capable of achieving sufficient security of image data.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
To achieve the above object, an image processing apparatus according to the present invention stores, as (1), image data input means for inputting image data and image data input from the image data input means. With magnetic storage media Image data storage means and output image data stored in the image data storage means Copier processing mode, printer processing mode, network scanner processing mode, and facsimile machine processing mode Image data processing means having a plurality of different processing modes, and image data stored in the image data storage means When processing is complete and no longer needed An image data erasing unit for erasing, based on which one of the plurality of different processing modes is a processing mode in which image data to be erased is output. The number of deletions can be arbitrarily set according to the security level required for the processing mode, and the number of deletions set during the deletion process based on the set number of deletions can be changed halfway. As described above, the image data erasing unit includes an erasing number control unit for controlling the number of erasing operations. In this way, by repeatedly erasing the stored image data to be erased a number of times according to the processing mode, the stored image data is surely erased according to the security level, and the security of the image data is increased. Can be improved. Also, when erasing the stored image data to be erased, the number of erasure operations can be changed in the middle, thereby increasing or decreasing the number of erasures of the stored image data according to the security level. As a result, the security level of the image data can be improved. Further, by erasing more than necessary, it is possible to prevent the processing efficiency of the apparatus from being lowered.
[0012]
Similarly, the image processing apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that, as (2), in addition to the feature (1), the image data storage means is a storage device provided with a magnetic storage medium. Thus, by configuring the image data storage means with the magnetic storage medium, the image data stored in the magnetic storage device is surely erased, and the security level of the image data can be improved.
[0013]
Similarly, in the image processing apparatus according to the present invention, as (3), in addition to the feature (1), the erasure count control means is based on the image data erasure means. Repeated Erasure count setting means for arbitrarily setting the erasure count of image data for each of the plurality of different processing modes; By this setting means Based on the set number of deletions Image data that is no longer needed Erasing frequency changing means for changing the erasing frequency set during the erasing process halfway. As described above, by allowing the image data erasing unit to arbitrarily set the number of times of erasing the image data, an optimum number of times of erasing can be set in accordance with the installation environment (difference in handling levels of various document images at the installation site). While the security level can be improved by setting, the erasing operation is not repeated more than necessary, and the processing efficiency of image data in the image processing apparatus is not reduced. In addition, when erasing the stored image data to be erased, the number of times of erasing can be changed during the process, so that the number of times of erasing the stored image data is increased or decreased according to the security level. As a result, the security level of image data can be improved.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of an image processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a digital multi-function peripheral which is an embodiment of an image processing apparatus according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the digital multi-function peripheral according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an image reading unit 2, an operation unit 4, an image forming unit 6, a device control unit 8, a communication unit 10, a hard disk 12, and a management unit 14. I have.
[0015]
The image reading unit 2 includes a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) reading device 2a, for example, and functions as image data input means for inputting image data.
[0016]
The operation unit 4 includes an input unit 4a including various input keys and a display unit 4b including a display unit such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), and inputs operation and conditions of the apparatus. Or display conditions.
[0017]
The image forming unit 6 includes a volatile memory 6a and a printing unit 6b such as an LSU (Laser Scanning Unit), and outputs image data stored in the image data storage unit. Acts as a data processing means.
[0018]
The device control unit 8 and the management unit 14 function as image data erasing means in the prior art for erasing image data stored in the image data storage means by a program set as an option. Further, the device control unit 8 and the management unit 14 erase the image data to be erased by the image data erasing means by the program set as an option. processing This function serves as an erase count control means in the present embodiment for performing the above operations a plurality of times.
[0019]
The communication unit 10 controls communication with an external network.
[0020]
The hard disk 12 functions as an image data storage unit that stores image data input from each input unit (input path: each mode mounted as a digital multifunction peripheral, for example, a scanner, a fax machine, a network, etc.). The image data storage means can be configured as a storage device including a magnetic storage medium.
[0021]
The management unit 14 performs management of the entire device and management of data that is no longer needed.
[0022]
When using the digital multifunction peripheral according to this embodiment as a copying machine, Depending on the copier processing mode The original image data read by the image reading unit 2 is output from the image forming unit 6 as a copy.
[0023]
The image reading unit 2 is provided with a CCD 2a and can electronically read an image of a document set at a reading position. Then, the read image data of the original is completed as an output image on the volatile memory 6 a and temporarily stored in the hard disk 12. When there are a plurality of documents, the reading and storing operations are repeated.
[0024]
Then, instructed from the operation unit 4 Copier Based on the processing mode, the image data stored in the hard disk 12 is sequentially read out at an appropriate timing and sent to the volatile memory 6a. Then, the image data is transferred from the memory 6a to the printing unit 6b in accordance with the writing timing to the printing unit 6b.
[0025]
Similarly, when printing a plurality of read image data, the output image is similarly stored in the hard disk 12 in units of pages and sent from the hard disk 12 to the volatile memory 6a according to the output mode. The data is transferred to the printing unit 6b in accordance with the write timing to the repeated printing unit 6b.
[0026]
Next, when using the digital multifunction peripheral according to the present embodiment as a printer, Depending on printer processing mode Image data received by the communication unit 10 is output from the image forming unit 6 via the memory 6a or the like.
[0027]
The communication unit 10 is connected to a network by a communication cable or the like, and receives image data from a device such as a personal computer connected on the network. The image data received by the communication unit 10 is sent to the memory 6a page by page as image data to be output and temporarily stored in the hard disk 12. Then, it is sent again from the hard disk 12 to the volatile memory 6a and transferred to the printing unit 6b in the same manner as when used as a copying machine.
[0028]
In addition, when using the digital multifunction peripheral according to the present embodiment as a network scanner, Depending on network scanner processing mode The image data of the original read by the image reading unit 2 can be transmitted from the communication unit 10 to an arbitrary personal computer via the network. Also here, the image of the original is electronically read by the CCD 2 a provided in the image reading unit 2. Then, the read image data of the document is completed as an output image on the volatile memory 6 a and temporarily stored in the hard disk 12. Then, the data is sent again from the hard disk 12 to the volatile memory 6a, and is transmitted from the communication unit 10 to the target transmission destination after establishing communication with the transmission destination instructed via the operation unit 4. Furthermore, the communication unit 10 is connected to a telephone line other than the network, and when the digital multifunction peripheral according to the present embodiment is used as a facsimile machine, Depending on the facsimile machine processing mode A similar operation is performed, and transmission and reception of a document image with an external communication device is possible.
[0029]
Here, the digital multifunction peripheral having the hard disk 12 is described as a storage device for temporarily storing image data. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the stored image data is retained even if it is removed from the main body. The present invention can be similarly applied to a case where a non-volatile memory that can be used, a memory with a backup function, and other storage devices (mediums) using a magnetic storage medium are provided.
[0030]
Each component of the digital multi-function peripheral according to the present embodiment is controlled by the device control unit 8 to monitor an operation instruction from the input unit 4a such as a tablet and a key group provided in the operation unit 4, and display Information to be notified to the user, such as information related to the state of the digital multi-function peripheral, is accurately guided and displayed via the unit 4b. The management unit 14 manages information about each component managed by the device control unit 8, and the device control unit 8 controls the operation of the entire digital multi-function peripheral based on the information.
[0031]
Next, based on FIG. 2, the structure of the operation part 4 comprised from the input part 4a and the display part 4b is demonstrated in detail. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation unit 4 in detail.
[0032]
The operation unit (operation panel) 4 includes the input unit 4a and the display unit 4b as described with reference to FIG. The display unit 4b is configured by a dot matrix type liquid crystal panel, and can display in detail information to be notified to the user as a digital multifunction peripheral according to the present embodiment. Further, a transparent touch panel is provided on the screen of the liquid crystal panel, and when the touch panel is operated in accordance with information displayed on the liquid crystal panel, a part of the input unit 4a is inputted as instruction information to the system. Also works.
[0033]
In addition, the input unit 4a has a key group (right side in FIG. 2) arranged adjacent to the liquid crystal panel, a start key 16 for instructing a copy start, and a clear for interrupting a process being executed. All key 17, clear key 18 for clearing the contents of the designated mode, numeric keypad 22 for instructing the number of copies, switching keys 23a, 23b, 23c for "printer", "fax / image transmission", and "copy" modes A user setting key 24 and the like are included.
[0034]
Next, a security system installed in the digital multifunction peripheral according to the present embodiment will be described. As a simple processing flow, image data to be processed as a device is temporarily stored in the hard disk 12. Thereafter, the image data is erased (invalidated) from the hard disk 12 when the processing of the stored image data is completed and becomes unnecessary. At this time, the stored image data is erased (invalidated) by repeating the erasure process a number of times corresponding to the security level for each processing mode.
[0035]
In the following description, the image data of a document is read and described as a copy operation for outputting as a recorded material from a printer. However, when the digital multi-function peripheral according to the present embodiment is used as a printer or image data read as a scanner. The same processing is performed when used as a transmission device such as a facsimile or network scanner for transmitting.
[0036]
FIGS. 3 to 13 are cut out screens displayed on the liquid crystal panel (display unit 4b) in FIG. 2, and “image data erasure processing for erasing image data temporarily stored in the hard disk 12”. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing display transition status of the display unit 4b in each processing step in which “function” is enabled and image data that is no longer needed on the hard disk 12 is deleted (disabled) according to the security level. FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a series of processing procedures for erasing image data on the hard disk 12 from when the power is turned on to when the apparatus warms up and waits in a state where it can operate as a multifunction device. 15 is a flowchart showing a series of processing procedures for performing a copying operation in the digital copying machine according to the present embodiment and then erasing the image data on the hard disk 12.
[0037]
FIG. 3 is a display screen in a situation where the “image data erasing processing function” installed in the digital multifunction peripheral is not yet effective. As the digital multifunction peripheral according to the present embodiment, the “image data erasing processing function” is Although it is functionally pre-installed in the apparatus, this function is set not to operate initially.
[0038]
Then, the operation of the “image data erasing processing function” can be performed by performing the input setting of the product key because of the necessity of security for the document data or the like at the installation destination. Note that the pre-installed function is selectively enabled with a product key and can be used thereafter, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-309099, which discloses the prior invention related to our application. That's right.
[0039]
FIG. 4 shows a state where the “image data erasing processing function” is operable at the lower left of the display screen so that the user can recognize that the “image data erasing processing function” is enabled by inputting the product key. It is a figure of the state which displayed the icon showing something.
[0040]
When the “image data erasing processing function” is not in operation (when the apparatus is on standby), if the lower left icon part is pressed (touched) with the finger on the display screen (FIG. 4), the display screen is The transition is as shown in FIG. In this case, the version information of this function related to the security kit is displayed in a window in the approximate center of the display screen.
[0041]
The “image data erasing processing function” is treated as an option on the digital multi-function peripheral as a “data security kit”, and is displayed as a “data security kit” while being displayed as a window. As a result, the contents, version, operation status, and the like of the “data security kit” and “image data erasure processing function” can be confirmed.
[0042]
Further, when the “image data erasing processing function” is operated by ending a job, clearing a job, or the like (when erasing data on the hard disk 12), as shown in FIG. In the center, a window is displayed indicating that data is currently being deleted. Further, in this window, the current job data erasure process conditions (default count: once) are displayed, and the erasure process conditions (default count: once) are determined by the user. “Up key”, “down key”, and “cancel key” for arbitrarily changing based on are displayed.
[0043]
At this time, when the icon part at the lower right of the display screen is pressed (touched) with a finger, the display screen transitions to FIG. Here, in the approximate center of the display screen, the image data erasing process on the hard disk 12 by the “image data erasing processing function” is being performed, and the progress status is displayed as a level. Thereby, the operation status of the image data erasing process by the “image data erasing process function” can be confirmed. At this time, when the image data on the hard disk 12 is erased by the “image data erasure processing function”, the image data is displayed at a glance by displaying it in a form different from the normal display such as blinking an icon. It is effective to make it clear that the erasing process is in operation.
[0044]
Also in this window, as in the window of FIG. 6, the current job data erasure process condition (default count: 1 time) is displayed and the erasure process condition (default count: 1 time) is displayed. "Up key", "Down key", and "Cancel" keys are displayed for arbitrarily changing the) based on the judgment of the user. Then, by operating the “up key” and “down key”, the number of invalidation processing (erasing processing) for image data that is set in advance and becomes unnecessary can be changed in the middle. Further, by operating the “cancel key”, it is possible to interrupt the invalidation processing (erasing processing) currently being performed.
[0045]
Next, FIG. 8 shows that the “image data erasure processing function” acts on the hard disk 12 due to the difference in security level with respect to the document data or the like at the installation site, and erases (invalidates) the image data stored on the hard disk 12. ) When the number of times is arbitrarily set, an operation instruction for starting the “image data erasing processing function” is performed to forcibly erase (invalidate) the image data stored on the hard disk 12. It is a detailed setting display screen.
[0046]
By using this setting screen to set the number of deletions appropriate for the security level at the installation site in advance, the image data will be deleted repeatedly when the image data is no longer needed. It can be maintained, and a decrease in the processing level for image data as a device due to an improvement in the security level can be suppressed to a necessary minimum. The number of times of erasure can be freely changed during the erasing process by the user operating the “up key”, “down key”, and “cancel key” displayed on the windows of FIGS. I can do it. (Use scene: The erasing process starts when the copy job for one original is completed. However, when the user wants to perform a copy job for a new second original, the user determines the security level of the first original. If it is determined to be important, the number of erasures is increased after confirming the set number of erasures, and if the degree of importance is determined to be low, the number of erasures is determined. In addition, if it is not necessary, the erasing process itself is canceled and the copying operation for the next original is started.)
[0047]
Further, the image data stored on the hard disk 12 can be erased (invalidated) at an arbitrary timing, which is effective when important document data is processed.
[0048]
Hereinafter, the operation will be briefly described for each mode.
(All data area erase mode)
When the “delete all data area” key portion displayed on the upper left of the security setting display screen in FIG. 8 is pressed, all image data written (remaining) on the hard disk 12 at that time is erased ( To disable. At this time, for confirmation, a confirmation window is temporarily displayed in the approximate center of the display screen (FIG. 9), and if there is an operation instruction of “erase”, the erasure processing of the image data on the hard disk 12 is started. At this point, the display screen changes to FIG. 10 and the data on the hard disk 12 is erased. processing The progress status is displayed as a level on the window screen.
[0049]
In addition, in the right side of the “Erase all data area” key in FIG. The “number of times” key is displayed. The set number of times is also displayed next to the “number of all data area deletion” key. (The default setting value is “1”.)
[0050]
When this “all data area erase count” key portion is pressed, the display screen changes to the “all data area erase count” setting screen of FIG. 11 and the “up” and “down” key portions are operated. An erasure count is arbitrarily set.
[0051]
(Automatic data erasing mode at power-on)
When the “automatic erasing at power-on” key part displayed in the middle of the security setting display screen in FIG. 8 is pressed, a check “re” is entered in the key part, and each time the digital multifunction device is turned on. An automatic data erasing mode for erasing data on the hard disk 12 can be set.
[0052]
In addition, on the right side of the “automatic erasing at power-on” key, the “power-on” is set so that the number of times of repeated execution at the stage of selecting “automatic erasing at power-on” can be set between 1 and 7, for example. The “Auto Erase Count at Time of Input” key is displayed. The set number of times is also displayed next to the “automatic erasing count at power-on” key. (In the default setting state, the automatic erasing mode at power-on is not set and the number of times is “0”. However, when the left-side automatic erasing mode is selected, the number of times is “1”. Is set.)
[0053]
When the “automatic erasing count at power-on” key portion is pressed, the “all data area erasing count” setting screen shown in FIG. 11 is displayed, and the “up” and “down” key portions are operated to arbitrarily erase. Set the number of times.
[0054]
(Automatic data deletion mode at the end of job in each processing mode)
When the “automatic data erasure count setting for each mode” key portion displayed in the lower part of the security setting display screen in FIG. 8 is pressed, every time a job for processing in various processing modes installed in the digital multi-function peripheral is completed. In addition, the data regarding the completed job is deleted from the hard disk 12. Erase process Can be set for each mode.
[0055]
When the “automatic erase count setting for each mode” key portion is pressed, the “automatic data erase count for each mode” setting screen in FIG. 12 is displayed, and the current setting status of the erase count for each processing mode is confirmed. Since it is possible to display the erase count setting screen shown in FIG. 13 by operating the key of the mode in which it is desired to change the erase count setting, for example, by arbitrarily operating the “up” and “down” key portions between 1 and 7 Is set to the number of times. Under each mode key, the number of times the automatic data deletion mode at the end of the job in each mode is repeatedly executed is also displayed. (The default setting value is “1”.)
[0056]
Note that only the automatic data erasing mode at the end of each job is performed when the operation of the security kit (“image data erasing process”) is permitted by the product key input setting described above. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be set to operate from the initial stage.
[0057]
As described above, after purchasing the “Data Security Kit” due to the need for security, an environment that can operate the “image data erasing function” is prepared, and the security level at the installation location and the installation location Frequency of “image data erasing function” according to the security level of various manuscript images handled in In other words, the number of deletion processes Is set. Further, it is possible to instruct start of erasure of data on the hard disk 12 as necessary. As described above, the user can freely operate the “up key”, “down key”, and “cancel key” displayed on the windows of FIGS. 6 and 7 during the erasing process. Can be changed.
[0058]
Finally, the flow of processing in the copy mode will be described as an example with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.
[0059]
In FIG. 14, when the power of the digital multi-function peripheral is turned on (ON), first, the device control unit 8 checks each device constituting the apparatus (S1). If there is no problem as a result of the check (S2 “Y”), warm-up is started so as to be in a predetermined operable state (S3). On the other hand, when an abnormality (deficiency) is confirmed (S2 “N”), error processing such as performing a window display for confirming the abnormality (deficiency) on the display screen and asking for confirmation is performed (S4). .
[0060]
Next, while warming up without any problem, it is checked whether the “automatic erasing mode at power-on” that initializes the hard disk 12 when the power is turned on is set (S5), and the mode is set. If so, the initialization of the hard disk 12 is started (S6), and the progress of the initialization work is displayed in a window on the display screen (S7). At this time, initialization by data erasure of the hard disk 12 is repeated by the number of times of erasure set in advance on the setting screens of FIGS. 8 and 11 (S8).
[0061]
When the above processing is completed, the display screen of the operation panel becomes the display state of the basic screen (FIG. 4), and upon completion of warm-up confirmation (S9), the job instruction standby state is entered (S10).
[0062]
In this state (standby), when the original is placed at the set position of the image reading unit 2 and the copy mode is set for the original, the copy start key 16 is turned on (S11). The image data is electronically scanned by the CCD 2a of the unit 2 and is generated as page data on the memory 6a as image data (S12). Then, the image data is temporarily accumulated from the memory onto the hard disk 12, and management information (FAT data, etc.) regarding the image data stored in the hard disk 12 is managed by the management unit 14 (S13).
[0063]
Next, the image data stored in the hard disk 12 is read again as print data on the memory 6a in accordance with the recording timing (S14), and is transferred to the LSU and printed out at the timing with the printer (S14). S15).
[0064]
Then, when it is confirmed that the image data has been printed out by the printer, the management data such as FAT data is updated as the processing is completed (S16), and when the series of print processing is completed, the series of print processing is performed. An image data erasing process on the hard disk 12 is executed for the storage area of the used image data (S17). At this time, initialization by data erasure of the hard disk 12 is repeated for the number of times of erasure in the copy mode preset on the setting screens of FIGS. 8, 12, and 13 (S18).
[0065]
When the initialization by erasing data on the hard disk 12 is repeated for the number of times set in advance in the setting screen of FIG. 12, the “down” key displayed on the window of FIG. 6 or 7 is operated. (S19), the set number of times is decreased by one for each operation (S20). When the “up” key is operated (S21), the set number of times is increased by one for each operation (S22). Further, when the “cancel” key is operated (S23), the current data erasure process is interrupted or the completion of the erasure process being performed halfway is completed, and the erasure process is completed and waiting. (S24).
[0066]
In the above description, the automatic erasure function of image data at the stage where the processing of document image data in the copy mode is completed has been described. However, other processing functions for image data installed as a digital multi-function peripheral are also described. When the above process is completed and no longer needed, a preset number of data erasure processes are automatically performed.
[0067]
【The invention's effect】
The present invention repeatedly erases the image data to be erased stored in the image data storage means according to the security level, thereby securely erasing the stored image data. Can be improved.
[0068]
The present invention can arbitrarily set the number of times image data is erased by the erasing means for each image data processing mode, thereby improving the security level in accordance with the installation environment, but more than necessary. Therefore, the image data processing efficiency in the apparatus is not reduced.
[0069]
In the present invention, the erase count set by the erase count control means can be changed midway, so that when the stored image data is being erased, the number of erase operations is increased or decreased. Security can be improved. Further, by erasing more than necessary, it is possible to prevent the processing efficiency of the apparatus from being lowered.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a digital multi-function peripheral that is an embodiment of an image processing apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing in detail the configuration of an operation unit 4 of the image processing apparatus according to the present invention.
3 is an explanatory diagram of a screen displayed on the liquid crystal panel of FIG. 2 (normal state).
4 is an explanatory diagram of a screen displayed on the liquid crystal panel of FIG. 2 (a state in which an icon indicating that “image data erasing processing” is operable is displayed). FIG.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a screen (version information display screen) displayed on the liquid crystal panel of FIG. 2;
6 is an explanatory diagram of a screen displayed on the liquid crystal panel of FIG. 2 (“image data erasure processing” operation screen).
7 is an explanatory diagram of a screen displayed on the liquid crystal panel of FIG. 2 (“image data erasing process” operation status confirmation screen).
8 is an explanatory diagram of a screen displayed on the liquid crystal panel of FIG. 2 (security setting display screen).
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a screen displayed on the liquid crystal panel of FIG. 2 (erase confirmation screen).
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a screen displayed on the liquid crystal panel of FIG. 2 (data erasing work progress display screen).
11 is an explanatory diagram of a screen displayed on the liquid crystal panel of FIG. 2 (“all data area erasure count” setting screen).
12 is an explanatory diagram of a screen displayed on the liquid crystal panel of FIG. 2 (a screen for selecting the number of automatic erasures for each mode and selecting a mode for setting)
13 is an explanatory diagram of a screen displayed on the liquid crystal panel of FIG. 2 (a screen for setting the number of automatic erasures in the selected mode).
FIG. 14 is a flowchart (part 1) for explaining the flow of processing in a copy mode;
FIG. 15 is a flowchart (part 2) for explaining the flow of processing in the copy mode;
[Explanation of symbols]
2 Image reader
4 Operation part
4a Input section
4b Display section
6 Image forming unit
6a Volatile memory
6b Printing section
8 Device control unit
10 Communication Department
12 storage media
14 Management Department
16 Start key
17 All Clear Key
18 Clear key
22 Numeric keypad
23a, b, c Switching key for each mode
24 User setting keys

Claims (1)

Image data input means for inputting image data, image data storage means including a magnetic storage medium for storing image data input from the image data input means, and image data stored in the image data storage means Processing is completed for image data processing means having a plurality of different processing modes including a copier processing mode, a printer processing mode, a network scanner processing mode, and a facsimile processing mode to be output, and image data stored in the image data storage means And an image data erasing unit that erases the image data when it is no longer needed .
Based on which of the plurality of different processing modes the processing mode in which the image data to be erased is output is, the number of erasures according to the security level required for the processing mode Can be arbitrarily set, and the erasure for controlling the number of erasure processes by the image data erasure means so that the erasure number set during the erasure process based on the set number of erasures can be changed halfway. A number of times control means , and the number of times of erasure control means for arbitrarily setting the number of times of erasure of image data repeatedly performed by the image data erasing means for each of the plurality of different processing modes, and this setting The number of deletions set during the deletion process of unnecessary image data based on the number of deletions set by the means is changed halfway The image processing apparatus characterized by and a erase count changing means fit.

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