JP4525555B2 - Paper distribution management device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a paper distribution management device that distributes and manages paper, and more particularly to a paper distribution management device that distributes and manages paper with an IC tag added thereto.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, paper on which an image has been formed by an image forming apparatus such as a laser printer or an ink jet printer is distributed and discharged to one of a plurality of bins by a multi-bin unit connected to the image forming apparatus. . (For example, refer to Patent Document 1.)
As a result, the user can sort his / her printed paper into a predetermined bin, so that his / her printed paper can be easily acquired without being mixed with paper printed by other users.
JP 2001-242760 A

The multi-bin unit connected to the image forming apparatus operates under the control of the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus and the multi-bin unit are connected by a communication line, and communication is performed by a predetermined communication method. To do.
Therefore, there is a problem that a processing load for controlling the multi-bin unit is applied to the image forming apparatus.
Also, the image forming apparatus and the multi-bin unit must be connected via a communication line, and communication using a predetermined communication method must be performed. For example, the image forming apparatus and the multi-bin unit of different companies cannot be connected. In addition, even in the same company, if the image forming apparatuses are different, the same multi-bin unit may not be used.

In addition, in the conventional multi-bin unit, any user can acquire the paper that has been sorted and discharged into the bin. For example, important printed matter can be acquired by other users. There is a risk that a security problem will occur.
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of appropriately distributing and managing sheets without directly communicating with an image forming apparatus. Moreover, the objective is to provide the technique which can improve the security in the handling of paper.

In order to achieve the above object, a paper distribution management apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of storage units for storing paper and paper management information stored in an IC tag attached to the paper to be carried in. A paper IC tag reader for reading, a distribution destination determination unit for determining a storage unit as a distribution destination of the paper based on the read paper management information, and a conveyance unit for conveying the paper to the storage unit of the distribution destination Have. Here, the IC tag is an IC chip with an antenna incorporated, and is called an RFID tag, an IC label, an IC tag, an IC card, a wireless IC tag, a non-contact IC tag, or the like. Including.
According to such a configuration, it is possible to read the paper management information from the IC tag attached to the paper, determine the accommodation means as the paper distribution destination based on the paper management information, and transport the paper. Accordingly, the sheet can be appropriately conveyed to the storage unit without directly communicating with the image forming apparatus.

In the paper distribution management device, the storage unit can form an unlocked state in which the paper to be stored can be acquired from the outside, and a locked state in which the paper to be stored cannot be acquired from the outside. If lock designation information that specifies the lock state of the storage means that is the paper distribution destination is included, and the lock designation information is included in the read paper management information, the distribution destination storage means is set to the locked state. You may make it further have a lock control means.
According to such a configuration, the housing unit can be locked without performing direct communication with the image forming apparatus, and it is possible to appropriately prevent the sheet from being acquired from the outside.

Further, a user IC tag reader means for reading the user information stored in the IC tag given to the user is further provided, and it is determined whether or not the read user information is a pre-registered paper obtainable person. An acquisition authentication means for determining is further provided, and the lock control means is configured to change the accommodation means from the locked state to the unlocked state based on the fact that the acquisition authentication means determines that the user is registered in advance. Also good.
According to such a configuration, only a person who can acquire paper registered in advance can acquire the paper with the accommodation unit unlocked.

In addition, the sheet management information includes sheet acquirable person information indicating a user who can acquire the sheet, and the sheet acquirable person information is stored in association with the accommodating unit identification information indicating the distribution destination accommodating unit. A paper management storage means for determining whether or not the read user information is registered in the paper management storage means, and the lock control means is registered in advance by the acquisition authentication means. Based on the determination, the storage unit indicated by the storage unit identification information corresponding to the paper obtainable person information may be changed from the locked state to the unlocked state.
According to such a configuration, a user included as a paper acquirable user in the paper management information can put the storage unit in which the paper is stored into an unlocked state.

In addition, the paper distribution management device according to another embodiment of the present invention can form an unlocked state in which the paper to be stored can be acquired from the outside and a locked state in which the paper to be stored cannot be acquired from the outside. A storage means, a paper IC tag reader means for reading paper management information stored in an IC tag attached to a paper carried in for storage, and a storage means serving as a paper distribution destination for the read paper management information. When the lock designation information for designating the lock state is included, the lock control means for locking the accommodation unit and the conveyance unit for conveying the sheet to the accommodation unit at the distribution destination are included.
According to such a configuration, the housing unit can be locked without performing direct communication with the image forming apparatus, and it is possible to appropriately prevent the sheet from being acquired from the outside.

An image forming distribution management system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an image forming apparatus that forms an image, and a paper distribution management apparatus that distributes and manages sheets on which images are formed by the image forming apparatus. An image forming distribution management system, in which an image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet, and an IC tag writer that writes sheet management information to an IC tag attached to the sheet on which the image is formed. The paper distribution management device includes a plurality of storage means for storing paper, a paper IC tag reader means for reading paper management information stored in the IC tag attached to the paper carried from the image forming apparatus, and a reading device. A distribution destination determination unit that determines a storage unit that is a distribution destination of the paper based on the paper management information, and a transfer unit that transfers the paper to the storage unit of the distribution destination.
According to such a configuration, it is possible to read the paper management information from the IC tag attached to the paper, determine the accommodation means as the paper distribution destination based on the paper management information, and transport the paper. Accordingly, the sheet can be appropriately conveyed to the storage unit without directly communicating with the image forming apparatus.

A paper distribution management method according to an embodiment of the present invention is a paper distribution management method by a paper distribution management device including a plurality of storage units for storing paper, and is carried in by an IC tag reader unit. The paper IC tag reader step for reading the paper management information stored in the IC tag attached to the paper to be read and the distribution determining means determine the accommodation means that is the distribution destination of the paper based on the read paper management information A sorting destination determination step to be performed, and a transporting step of transporting the paper to the sorting destination storage unit by the transport unit.
According to this method, it is possible to read the paper management information from the IC tag attached to the paper, determine the accommodation means as the paper distribution destination based on the paper management information, and transport the paper. Accordingly, the sheet can be appropriately conveyed to the storage unit without directly communicating with the image forming apparatus.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The embodiments described below do not limit the invention according to the claims, and all the combinations of features described in the embodiments are not necessarily essential to the solution means of the invention. Absent.

The configuration of the image forming distribution management system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 1 is a functional configuration diagram of an image forming distribution management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The image forming distribution management system 1 includes a host device 2, a laser printer 3 as an example of an image forming apparatus, and a multi-bin unit 4 as an example of a paper distribution management apparatus.
The host device 2 outputs print data to the laser printer 3 based on a user instruction. The laser printer 3 forms an image on a sheet based on the print data. The multi-bin unit 4 sorts the paper after image formation conveyed from the laser printer 3.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of print data according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The print data 6 is data generated by the host device 2 and includes a job start part (JS part) 6a indicating the start of the print data 6, a job language data part 6b, a printer language data part 6c, and print data. 6 end of job 6 (JE part) 6d.
The job language data portion 6b is a portion described according to the job language, and includes a host device name, job ID, a command indicating a printer language (for example, ESC / PAGE, PostScript, etc.) described in the printer language data portion 6c, and the like. It is.

In the present embodiment, the job language data portion 6b includes paper management information for managing paper. As the paper management information, for example, an ID (user ID: paper obtainable person information) of a user (user) who has instructed printing as an example of a person who can obtain a sheet, and a sheet on which an image is formed. Is conveyed to the standard paper discharge tray 65 or conveyed to the multi-bin unit 4, and bins of the multi-bin unit 4 (any one of 90a to 90j that should store sheets printed by the job) 5 (see FIG. 5), and a lock flag indicating whether or not the bin to which the paper is to be allocated is in a locked state in which the paper cannot be acquired from the outside. The sheet management information is stored by the host device 2 in accordance with a user designation. Note that it is not always necessary to include all of the paper management information, and for example, the bin number may not be included. Here, when the lock flag is on, it means that the bin is locked, and when it is off, it means that the bin is not locked. Corresponds to the specified information.
The printer language data portion 6c is a portion described according to the printer language, and includes printing image data indicating the image content to be printed.

Next, a sheet to which an IC tag for image formation accommodated in the laser printer 3 is added will be described.
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an IC tag and a sheet to which the IC tag is added according to an embodiment of the present invention. 3A shows the IC tag 10, and FIG. 3B shows the paper P with the IC tag 10 added thereto.
As shown in FIG. 3A, the IC tag 10 includes an antenna unit 11 for transmitting and receiving data by radio waves, and an IC chip 12. The IC chip 12 includes a storage unit that stores data, a transmission unit that transmits data to the outside via the antenna unit 11, and a reception unit that receives data from the outside via the antenna 11.
For example, as shown in FIG. 3B, the IC tag 10 is added to a portion that becomes a margin around the document P.

Returning to FIG. 1, the laser printer 3 includes an external interface 31, a control unit 32, a printing mechanism unit 33 as an example of an image forming unit, and a reader / writer unit 34 as an example of an IC tag writer unit.
The external interface 31 mediates exchange of data with an external device. In the present embodiment, the external interface 31 can be connected to a cable 5, for example, a LAN cable, and exchanges data with the host device 2 connected via the cable 5.
The control unit 32 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like (not shown), and receives the print data 6 from the host device 2 via the external interface 31. Then, the print data 6 is analyzed, and the printing mechanism unit 33 and the reader / writer unit 34 are controlled based on the analysis result.

The printing mechanism unit 33 includes a photosensitive unit 35 that forms a toner image on the photosensitive member 50 (see FIG. 4), and an exposure that forms an electrostatic latent image for forming a toner image on the photosensitive member 50 by irradiating a laser beam. A unit 36, a transfer unit 37 that transfers a toner image formed on the photoreceptor 50 to a sheet, a fixing unit 38 that fixes the toner image transferred to the sheet, and a paper supply / discharge unit 39 that supplies and discharges the sheet. And have.
The reader / writer unit 34 stores paper management information included in the print data in the IC tag 10 attached to the paper. In this embodiment, only necessary data is written in the multi-bin unit 4 in the paper management information.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a laser printer and a multi-bin unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.
In the housing of the laser printer 3, a photoconductor unit 35, an exposure unit 36, a transfer unit 37, a fixing unit 38, a paper supply / discharge unit 39, a reader / writer unit 34, and the like are provided.

  The photoconductor unit 35 includes a photoconductor 50. The photosensitive member 50 is rotatable counterclockwise in the drawing. Around the photosensitive member 50, along the counterclockwise direction, a charging roller 51, a yellow developing unit 53Y, a cyan developing unit 53C, a magenta developing unit 53M, a black developing unit 53K, and a cleaning unit 52 are arranged. Are arranged in the order. The yellow developing unit 53Y, the cyan developing unit 53C, the magenta developing unit 53M, and the black developing unit 53K are configured to be able to contact and separate from the photoconductor 50, respectively.

In the photoconductor unit 35, the photoconductor 50 is charged by the charging roller 51 while rotating. Thereafter, the photoconductor 50 is irradiated with laser light from the exposure unit 36 controlled by the control unit 32. As a result, an electrostatic latent image for the image included in the print data is formed on the photoreceptor 50. Next, any one of the developing devices 53Y, 53C, 53M, and 53K is selectively brought into contact with the photosensitive member 50 by the control unit 32, and the electrostatic latent image is developed to form a toner image.
The toner image formed on the photoreceptor 50 is transferred onto the transfer belt 54 of the transfer unit 37.

  In the case of color image printing, by forming the electrostatic latent image and developing the electrostatic latent image for each color of yellow, cyan, magenta, and black, a toner image of each color is formed, and the transfer belt 54 is printed. A color toner image is formed by superimposing these color toner images. On the other hand, in the case of monochrome image printing, a monochrome toner image is formed and transferred onto the transfer belt 54 by performing the above-described electrostatic latent image formation and electrostatic latent image development only for black.

In the transfer unit 37, the transfer belt 54 is stretched around a plurality of rollers. The transfer unit 37 detects the reference position of the transfer belt 54 and the transfer roller 55 for transferring the toner image formed on the transfer belt 54 onto the paper fed by the paper supply / discharge unit 39. A synchronization sensor 56.
The paper supply / discharge unit 39 includes a manual feed tray 61, a paper cassette 62, an optional paper cassette 63a, an optional paper cassette 63b, a branching claw 64, a standard paper discharge tray 65, and a plurality of rollers for paper conveyance. The branching claw 64 distributes the paper transport destination to either the standard paper discharge tray 65 or the multi-bin unit 4. According to the paper supply / discharge unit 39, the paper prepared in the manual feed tray 61, the paper cassette 62, the optional paper cassette 63a, or the optional paper cassette 63b is fed along the transport path shown by the broken line in the drawing. It is conveyed to the multi-bin unit 4. In the present embodiment, the paper with the IC tag 10 added is prepared in the manual feed tray 61, the paper cassette 62, the optional paper cassette 63a, and the optional paper cassette 63b.

The paper is conveyed to the transfer roller 55 by the paper supply / discharge unit 39, and the toner image on the transfer belt 54 is transferred by the transfer roller 55. At this time, the sheet is detected by the sensor 57, and based on this, the control unit 32 transfers the toner image to a predetermined position on the sheet. The sheet on which the toner image has been transferred is further conveyed to the fixing unit 38 at the subsequent stage. For example, the fixing unit 38 applies heat and pressure to the paper on which the toner image is transferred, and fixes the toner image on the paper.
The sheet on which the toner image is fixed is conveyed by the paper supply / discharge unit 39 to the subsequent reader / writer unit 34. The sheet is conveyed above the reader / writer unit 34.

  In the reader / writer unit 34, what is present in the print data 6 among the user ID, the bin number, the job ID, and the lock flag is added to the IC tag 10 attached to the sheet by the control of the control unit 32. Write. The sheet that has passed through the reader / writer unit 34 is conveyed to the multi-bin unit 4 or the standard sheet discharge tray 65 according to the position of the branching claw 64 controlled by the control unit 32. In the present embodiment, the control unit 32 causes the printed paper to be transported to the multi-bin unit 4 or the standard paper discharge tray 65 based on the transport destination information included in the print data 6.

FIG. 5 is a detailed configuration diagram of a multi-bin unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The multi-bin unit 4 includes a plurality (ten in the present embodiment) of bins 90a to 90j as an example of a storage unit that can store paper therein. In the present embodiment, bin numbers are assigned in the order of bin 90a to bin 90j. That is, the bin 90a has a bin number “1”, and the bin 90j has a bin number “10”. Here, since the bins 90a to 90j have the same configuration, the bin 90a will be described as an example.
The bin 90a has a door 91a, and the door 91a is opened and closed as shown. The door 91a is urged by a spring or the like, and is normally configured to be in a closed state. The bin 90a is provided with a lock mechanism 92a that makes the door 91a unopenable.

With such a configuration, the bin 90a is brought into a locked state in which the door 91a cannot be opened by the lock mechanism 92a, so that the paper accommodated therein cannot be acquired from the outside, and the door is opened by the lock mechanism 92a. By making 91a unopenable, the door 91a is opened and the paper accommodated inside is unlocked so that it can be acquired from the outside.
Further, the bin 90a has an LED (Light Emitting Diode) 93a as an example of a light that is turned on to indicate that the user's paper that has come to obtain the paper is stored in the bin 90a.

The multi-bin unit 4 includes a transport unit 85 as an example of a transport unit for transporting a sheet carried from the outside (in the present embodiment, the laser printer 3) to any of the bins 90a to 90j. In FIG. 5, the alternate long and short dash line indicates the sheet conveyance path, and the sheet is conveyed from the bottom to the top.
The transport unit 85 includes a motor, a roller (not shown) that generates power for transporting the paper, a plurality of (9 in this embodiment) branching claws 86, a roller 87, and the like. The branching claw 86 operates according to the control of the sorting destination switching control unit 76 described later, and sorts the paper into either a predetermined bin or a subsequent bin.
Each roller 87 conveys the paper sorted by the branching claw 86 to one of the bins 90a to 90j.

  A carry-in sensor 81 that detects the carry-in of the paper is provided in the vicinity of the opening through which the paper is carried from the outside of the multi-bin unit 4. Further, a paper reader unit 84 as an example of a paper IC tag reader means is provided in the subsequent stage of the paper transport path of the carry-in sensor 81. The paper reader unit 84 reads information from the IC tag 10 attached to the paper. In the present embodiment, the paper reader unit 84 reads the user ID, the bin number, the job ID, and the lock flag. Note that some sheets may not exist, and in this case, only the existing ones are read.

  Further, the multi-bin unit 4 is provided with a user reader unit 83 as an example of user IC tag reader means for reading the user ID of the user from an IC card 88 which is an example of an IC tag handed over to the user. In the present embodiment, the user reader unit 83 can read the user ID from the IC card 88 when the user holds the IC card 88 in the vicinity of the user reader unit 83.

FIG. 6 is a functional configuration diagram of a multi-bin unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.
In the multi-bin unit 4, a CPU 71, a ROM 72, a RAM 73, an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory) 74, a motor control unit 75, a distribution destination switching control unit 76, a lock mechanism control unit 77, An LED display control unit 78, reader interfaces (reader IFs) 79 and 80, and a carry-in sensor 81 are connected via a bus 82.

The ROM 72 stores basic programs such as a boot program necessary for the multi-bin unit 4.
The RAM 73 is used as an area for storing programs and data, or as a work area for storing data used for processing by the CPU 71.
The EEPROM 74 is a rewritable nonvolatile memory, and stores various information that needs to be stored even when the multi-bin unit 4 is not powered on. Specifically, the EEPROM 74 is an example of a paper management storage unit, and stores management information about paper stored in the bins 90a to 90j as a paper management database.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a paper management database according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The paper management database stores a user ID field 74a for storing a user ID (an example of paper obtainable person information) of a user who has instructed printing, and a bin number (an example of accommodation unit identification information) of a paper distribution destination bin. A bin number field 74b, a job ID field 74c for storing a corresponding print job ID, a lock flag field 74d for storing a lock flag indicating whether or not the bin is to be locked, and the number of sheets for the printing Can store a plurality of records having a number field 74e for storing.

  For example, according to the top record, the paper printed by the user ID “A0001” is stored in the bin with the bin number “5”, that is, the bin 90e, and the print job ID is “J0005”. It can be seen that the lock flag is “ON”, that is, the bin 90e is locked, and the number of printed sheets is ten.

Returning to FIG. 6, the motor control unit 75 is connected to a motor (not shown) of the drive unit 85 and controls the operation of the motor when the paper is conveyed.
The distribution destination switching control unit 76 is connected to all the branch claws 86 of the drive unit 85 and controls the position of the branch claw 86 to switch the paper distribution destination to one of the bins 90a to 90j.
The lock mechanism control unit 77 is connected to the lock mechanism units 92a to 92j, and controls each of the lock mechanism units 92a to 92j to make each of the doors 91a to 91j unopenable or open. Try not to make it impossible.
The LED display control unit 78 is connected to the LEDs 93a to 93j, and performs lighting control of the LEDs 93a to 93j.

The reader IF 79 is connected to the user reader unit 83 and passes information read from the IC card 88 by the user reader unit 83 to the CPU 71.
The reader IF 80 is connected to the paper reader unit 84 and passes information read from the IC tag 10 attached to the paper by the paper reader unit 84 to the CPU 71.
The carry-in sensor 81 detects the presence / absence of paper carried in from the outside, and notifies the CPU 71 of the detection result.
The CPU 71 executes various processes by reading the basic program in the ROM 72 into the RAM 73 and executing it. Further, the CPU 71 controls operations of the respective units 72 to 81.

In the present embodiment, the CPU 71 executes a basic program, thereby allowing the sheet reading processing unit 71a, a distribution control unit 71b as an example of a distribution destination determination unit, and an acquisition authentication unit 71c as an example of an acquisition authentication unit. And the lock control part 71d as an example of a lock control means, and the LED control part 71e are comprised.
When the paper reading processing unit 71a receives a notification that the paper has been carried in from the carry-in sensor 81, the paper reader unit 84 causes the user ID, bin number, job ID, and the like from the IC tag 10 added to the paper. The information present in the lock flag is read, and the read content is notified to the distribution control unit 71b and the lock mechanism unit 71d and registered in the paper management database.

  The distribution control unit 71b determines any of the bins 90a to 90j that are the distribution destinations of the loaded paper, and notifies the distribution destination switching control unit 76 of an instruction to distribute the paper to any of the bins 90a to 90j. To do. In the present embodiment, if the content notified by the paper reading processing unit 71a includes a bin number, an instruction to distribute the paper to the bin of the bin number is given. If not, the paper management database A bin that is not currently used is detected, an instruction for allocating paper to the bin is issued, and the bin number of the distribution destination is registered in the bin number column of the paper management database.

  The acquisition authentication unit 71c causes the user reader unit 83 to read the user ID from the ID card 88, and determines whether or not a record corresponding to the user ID exists in the paper management database. It is determined whether or not is a person who can acquire paper. When the user ID is present in the paper management database, the acquisition authentication unit 71c acquires the corresponding record and notifies the lock control unit 71d and the LED control unit 71e.

If the lock flag of the content notified by the paper reading processing unit 71a is ON, the lock control unit 71d locks the bin determined by the distribution control unit 71b so that the bin is locked. Give instructions. In addition, when the lock control unit 71d acquires a record from the acquisition authentication unit 71c, if the lock flag of the record is ON, the lock control unit 71d locks the bin with the corresponding bin number. An instruction is issued to the control unit 77.
When the LED control unit 71e acquires a record from the acquisition authentication unit 71c, the LED control unit 71e instructs the LED display control unit 78 to display the LED in the bin of the bin number of the record.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the paper distribution processing according to an embodiment of the present invention.
First, the carry-in sensor 81 detects whether or not a sheet is carried into the multi-bin unit 4 from the outside (step S10). If not detected, step S10 is repeatedly executed.
On the other hand, when it is detected that the paper is carried in, the CPU 71 notifies the CPU 71 of the fact, and the paper reading processing unit 71a receives information from the IC tag 10 attached to the carried-in paper by the paper reader unit 84. Is read (step S11).

Next, the paper reading processing unit 71a notifies the distribution control unit 71b and the lock mechanism unit 71d of the read contents and registers them in the paper management database (step S12).
The distribution control unit 71b determines one of the bins 90a to 90j that is the distribution destination of the loaded paper (step S13). In the present embodiment, if the content notified by the paper reading processing unit 71a includes a bin number, an instruction to distribute the paper to the bin of the bin number is given. If not, the paper management database , A currently unused bin is detected, and that bin is determined as a paper distribution destination.

Next, the lock control unit 71d detects whether or not the content notified by the paper reading processing unit 71a is set to lock, that is, whether or not the lock flag is ON (step S14), and the lock flag is ON. If so, the lock mechanism control unit 77 is instructed to lock the bin determined by the distribution control unit 71b (step S15). Accordingly, it is possible to appropriately prevent the bin that conveys the paper from being locked and acquiring the paper from the outside. If the lock flag is OFF (OFF), the process proceeds to the next process without doing anything.
Thereafter, the distribution control unit 71b notifies the distribution destination switching control unit 76 of an instruction to distribute the paper to the bin determined as the paper distribution destination, and the motor for causing the motor control unit 75 to convey the paper. An instruction to operate is notified (step S16). As a result, the paper is appropriately conveyed to the bin of the distribution destination.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a paper acquisition time process according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the paper acquisition time process is executed in parallel with the above paper distribution time process.
First, the acquisition authentication unit 71c detects whether or not the user's IC card 88 can be detected by the user reader unit 83, that is, whether or not there is a communicable IC card 88 (step S21), and cannot be detected. In that case, step S21 is repeatedly executed.
On the other hand, if it can be detected, the acquisition authentication unit 71c causes the user reader unit 83 to read the user ID from the IC card 88 (step S22).

  Next, the acquisition authentication unit 71c determines whether or not the record corresponding to the read user ID exists in the paper management database, thereby determining whether or not the user of the user ID is a person who can acquire the paper. (Step S23). As a result, if it exists, the corresponding record is acquired from the paper management database and notified to the lock control unit 71d and the LED control unit 71e (step S24). On the other hand, if it does not exist, it means that there is no sheet that can be acquired by the user, and the process is terminated.

  When acquiring the record from the acquisition authentication unit 71c, the lock control unit 71d determines whether or not the lock flag of the record is turned on (step S25), and if the lock flag is turned on, the record An instruction is issued to the lock mechanism control unit 77 so that the bin with the bin number within is unlocked (step S26). As a result, the bin in which the paper is stored changes from the locked state to the unlocked state, and the user can open the door and acquire the paper stored in the inside. On the other hand, if the lock flag is not on, the bin is not in the locked state, and the process proceeds to the next step S27 without doing anything.

Next, the LED control unit 71e instructs the LED display control unit 78 to light any one of the LEDs 93a to 93j in the bin with the bin number of the record acquired from the acquisition authentication unit 71c (step S27). As a result, the user can easily grasp the bin in which the sheet to be acquired is stored, and can easily acquire the sheet from the bin.
As described above, in this embodiment, the paper management information is added to the IC tag 10 added to the paper in the laser printer 3, and the multi-bin unit 4 uses the paper management information of the IC tag 10 to determine the paper Since the sorting is performed, the paper can be properly sorted and managed without the multi-bin unit 4 communicating directly with the laser printer 3. Similarly, the bin for storing paper can be locked without communicating directly with the laser printer 3.

Although the present invention has been described based on the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be applied to various other modes.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the toner image on the photoconductor 50 is transferred to the transfer belt 54, but may be transferred to a transfer drum, a transfer sheet, or the like.
In the above embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to a laser printer has been described. However, the present invention is also applied to other image forming apparatuses such as an ink jet printer, a thermal transfer printer, and a laser copier. be able to.
In the above embodiment, the paper management information is written in the IC tag 10 previously attached to the paper in the laser printer 3, but the IC tag is added to the paper in the laser printer 3, and the paper is attached to the IC tag. Management information may be written.
In the above embodiment, the multi-bin unit 4 is connected to the laser printer 3 and used. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the multi-bin unit 4 is not connected to an image forming apparatus such as a laser printer and is independent. May be used.

It is a functional block diagram of the image formation distribution management system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining the structure of the print data which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining the paper to which the IC tag and IC tag which concern on one Embodiment of this invention were added. It is a block diagram of the laser printer and multibin unit which concern on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a detailed block diagram of the multi-bin unit which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a functional block diagram of the multi-bin unit which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining the paper management database which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart of the process at the time of paper distribution which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart of the process at the time of paper acquisition which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image formation distribution management system, 2 Host apparatus, 3 Laser printer, 4 Multibin unit, 5 Cable, 6 Print data, 10 IC tag, 31 External interface, 32 Control part, 33 Printing mechanism part, 34 Reader / writer part , 35 Photosensitive unit, 36 Exposure unit, 37 Transfer unit, 38 Fixing unit, 39 Feed / discharge unit, 71 CPU, 71a Paper reading processing unit, 71b Distribution control unit, 71c Acquisition authentication unit, 71d Lock control unit, 71e LED control unit, 72 RAM, 73 ROM, 74 EEPROM, 75 motor control unit, 76 distribution destination switching control unit, 77 lock mechanism control unit, 78 LED display control unit, 79 reader IF, 80 reader IF, 81 carry-in sensor, 82 bus, 83 user reader, 84 paper reader, 85 transport, 6 branch claw, 87 roller, 90A～90j bottles, 91A～91j door, 92A～92j locking mechanism, 93a~93j LED.

Claims (5)

A plurality of storage means for storing a paper to be carried in and capable of forming an unlocked state in which the paper to be stored can be acquired from the outside and a locked state in which the paper to be stored cannot be acquired from the outside ;
Paper IC tag reader means for reading paper management information stored in an IC tag attached to the paper to be carried in;
A distribution destination determination unit that determines the storage unit to be a distribution destination of the paper based on the read paper management information;
Conveying means for conveying the paper to the accommodation means at the distribution destination ;
User IC tag reader means for reading user information stored in an IC tag given to a user;
Acquisition authentication means for determining whether the read user information is a pre-registered paper acquisition person,
The paper management information includes lock designation information for designating a lock state of the storage unit at a paper distribution destination,
When lock designation information is included in the read paper management information, it is determined that the accommodation unit at the distribution destination is in the locked state and the user is registered in advance by the acquisition authentication unit. Based on the above, a paper distribution management apparatus further comprising lock control means for changing the storage means from the locked state to the unlocked state . The paper management information includes paper obtainable person information indicating a user who can obtain the paper,
A sheet management storage unit that stores the sheet acquirable person information in association with storage unit identification information indicating the storage unit storage unit;
The acquisition authentication means determines whether or not the read user information is registered in the paper management storage means,
The lock control means unlocks the accommodation means indicated by the accommodation means identification information corresponding to the paper obtainable person information from the locked state based on the determination that the acquisition authentication means has registered in advance. The paper distribution management apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the paper distribution management apparatus is in a state. Storage means capable of forming an unlocked state in which the paper to be stored can be acquired from the outside and a locked state in which the paper to be stored cannot be acquired from the outside;
A paper IC tag reader means for reading paper management information stored in an IC tag attached to a paper carried in for storage;
When the read paper management information includes lock designation information for designating a locked state of the storage unit that is a paper distribution destination, a lock control unit that sets the storage unit to the locked state; and
Conveying means for conveying the paper to the accommodation means at the distribution destination;
User IC tag reader means for reading user information stored in an IC tag given to a user;
Acquisition authentication means for determining whether the read user information is a pre-registered paper acquisition person,
The paper management information includes lock designation information for designating a lock state of the storage unit at a paper distribution destination,
When lock designation information is included in the read paper management information, it is determined that the accommodation unit at the distribution destination is in the locked state and the user is registered in advance by the acquisition authentication unit. Based on the above, a paper distribution management apparatus further comprising lock control means for changing the storage means from the locked state to the unlocked state . An image forming distribution management system comprising: an image forming apparatus that forms an image; and a paper distribution management apparatus that distributes and manages paper on which an image has been formed by the image forming apparatus.
The image forming apparatus includes:
Image forming means for forming the image on paper;
IC tag writer means for writing paper management information to an IC tag attached to the paper on which the image is formed,
The paper distribution management device includes:
A plurality of storage means for storing paper;
A paper IC tag reader for reading paper management information stored in the IC tag attached to the paper carried from the image forming apparatus;
A distribution destination determination unit that determines the storage unit to be a distribution destination of the paper based on the read paper management information;
An image forming distribution management system comprising: a transport unit that transports the sheet to the storage unit at the distribution destination. A paper distribution management device comprising a plurality of storage means for storing paper and forming an unlocked state in which the paper to be stored can be acquired from outside and a locked state in which the paper to be stored cannot be acquired from outside The paper distribution management method by
A paper IC tag reader step for reading paper management information stored in the IC tag attached to the paper to be carried in by the IC tag reader means;
A distribution destination determination step of determining, by the distribution determination means, the storage means to be a distribution destination of the paper based on the read paper management information;
A transporting step of transporting the paper to the storage unit at the distribution destination by a transporting unit;
A user IC tag reader step for reading user information stored in an IC tag given to the user;
An acquisition authentication step of determining whether or not the read user information is a pre-registered paper acquisition person,
The paper management information includes lock designation information for designating a lock state of the storage unit at a paper distribution destination,
When lock designation information is included in the read paper management information, it is determined that the accommodation unit at the distribution destination is in the locked state and the user is registered in advance by the acquisition authentication unit. Based on the above, a paper distribution management method for changing the accommodation unit from the locked state to the unlocked state .

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