JP5487155B2 - Paper post-processing apparatus and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet post-processing apparatus including a plurality of box units from which a sheet on which an image is printed by an image forming apparatus is discharged, and an image forming apparatus including the same.

  The paper post-processing device is a device that performs various post-processing (sorting, stapler, punching, etc.) on the paper on which an image is printed by the image forming device, and is used as an option of the image forming device.

  In a conventional paper post-processing apparatus, there is a mailbox sorter device having a configuration in which paper output from a printer can be discharged into an arbitrary one of a plurality of bins and a lock mechanism for locking each bin for security. It has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  According to this sorter device, when the AND condition between the lock release command generated by pressing the lock release switch and the lock release signal given from the bin other than the sorter device is satisfied, the lock mechanism is It can be released.

JP-A-9-25049

  In a sheet post-processing apparatus having a plurality of box units from which printed sheets, which are sheets on which images are printed by an image forming apparatus, are configured, a configuration in which printed sheets can be taken out from each box unit by password authentication. Think. To enhance security, if different passwords are assigned to each of the multiple box parts, the number of ejected sheets will be too large to fit in one box part, and if it is ejected to two or more box parts, the password will be Memorization is a burden.

  According to the present invention, when two or more box portions are selected and discharged from the printed paper discharged from the image forming apparatus, the password memorization is performed while ensuring the security of the printed paper discharged to each box portion. An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet post-processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus including the same.

  A sheet post-processing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention that achieves the above object is a discharge destination of a printed sheet that is a sheet on which an image is printed by an image forming apparatus, and a user takes out the discharged printed sheet. A plurality of box portions each including a possible take-out portion, and a take-out prevention member that prevents the printed paper from being taken out from the take-out portion, and a predetermined amount of printed paper in each of the plurality of box portions A selection unit that detects that the printing paper has arrived and a box unit that is a discharge destination of printed paper are selected from the plurality of box units, and the selection is performed while a plurality of printed papers are being discharged to the selected box unit. A selection unit that selects, from the plurality of box units, a box unit that discharges remaining printed sheets when the detection unit detects that the printed sheet in the printed box unit has reached the predetermined amount; Among the plurality of box units, a storage unit that stores take-out permission information assigned to a box unit from which printed paper is discharged, a receiving unit that receives take-out permission information input from the outside, and a storage unit that stores If it is determined that the take-out permission information and the take-out permission information received by the accepting unit match, the take-out part with respect to the take-out prevention member of the box part to which the take-out permission information is assigned A switching unit that controls switching from a state in which the printed paper is prevented from being taken out from the take-out unit to a state in which the printed paper can be taken out from the take-out unit, and two or more box units among the plurality of box units are When the selected printed sheet is ejected, different take-out permission information is assigned to each box part other than the box part selected first, An allocation unit for storing in a storage unit, and when the two or more box units among the plurality of box units are selected by the selection unit and printed paper is discharged, the switching unit is (1) When it is determined that the password, which is the extraction permission information stored in the storage unit, matches the password, which is the extraction permission information received by the reception unit, for the box unit selected first , Executing the switching control of the first selected box portion with respect to the take-out prevention member, and (2) for the box portions other than the first selected box portion, the nth (n is an integer of 2 or more) ) Assigned to the box unit selected in (2), the removal permission information stored in the storage unit, and the box unit selected by the reception unit and discharged to the (n-1) th selected box unit. When it is determined that the take-out permission information printed on the sheet matches, the switching control for the take-out prevention member of the nth selected box portion is executed.

  In the paper post-processing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention, when two or more box parts are selected and discharged when the printed paper is discharged to the box part, the first selected box part is taken out. The switching control for the blocking member is executed using the extraction permission information including the password. For the box portions other than the first selected box portion, the switching control for the removal prevention member of the nth (n is an integer of 2 or more) selected box portion is the (n-1) th selected box. This is executed using the removal permission information printed on the paper discharged to the copy.

  For the box part selected first, it is permitted to take out the printed paper from the box part by authentication of the password (an example of extraction permission information), so the printed paper discharged to the box part selected first Security can be ensured. For the box parts other than the box part selected at the beginning, different take-out permission information is assigned to each box part, and it is permitted to take out printed paper from those box parts by authentication of the take-out permission information. It is possible to secure the security of the printed paper discharged.

  Further, the take-out permission information assigned to the box part other than the box part selected first is printed on the sheet discharged to the (n−1) th selected box part. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the burden of memorizing the password for the person who instructed the printing, and it is possible to prevent the extraction permission information from leaking to persons other than the person who instructed the printing.

  As described above, according to the paper post-processing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention, when two or more box portions are selected and discharged from the printed paper discharged from the image forming apparatus, the paper is discharged to each box portion. It is possible to reduce the burden of memorizing the password while ensuring the security of the printed paper.

  An image forming apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention described later and an image forming apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention have the same operational effects as the paper post-processing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention described above.

  The predetermined amount of printed paper in the selected box portion means, for example, the amount of printed paper in which the selected box portion is full or the amount of printed paper that is almost full.

  In the above configuration, the assigning unit assigns the password as permission information to the nth selected box unit, stores the password in the storage unit, and assigns the password to the nth selected box unit. A password print command unit that causes the image forming apparatus to print the password on a sheet of paper and to eject the password to the (n-1) th selected box unit.

  According to this configuration, with respect to the box portions other than the box portion selected first, permission to take out the printed paper from the box portion is permitted by the password authentication as in the case of the box portion selected first. The password assigned to the nth selected box portion other than the first selected box portion is printed on the paper ejected to the (n−1) th selected box portion. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the need for memorizing the password assigned to the box part other than the box part selected first to the person who instructed the printing.

  In the above configuration, the allocating unit requests the image forming apparatus for image data of a printed sheet last discharged to the (n−1) th selected box unit, and is sent from the image forming apparatus. Further, the image data of the printed sheet is assigned to the n-th selected box part as take-out permission information and stored in the storage part.

  According to this configuration, the image data of the printed sheet discharged last among the printed sheets discharged to the (n−1) th selected box portion is used as the extraction permission information. Accordingly, the printed paper can be discharged to the (n−1) th selected box portion until the printed paper is full.

  An image forming apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention includes a paper post-processing device including the password print command unit, and prints an image on a paper and prints the printed paper on which the image is printed. An apparatus main body for transporting to the apparatus, and an operation unit capable of inputting a password, and the password assigned to the nth selected box unit is transmitted by the apparatus main body according to a command of the password print command unit. Printing on a sheet of paper, ejecting it to the (n-1) th selected box unit, and the accepting unit is a password assigned to the nth selected box unit, input to the operation unit Is accepted as take-out permission information.

  The image forming apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention has the same effects as those of the sheet post-processing apparatus including the password print command unit.

  An image forming apparatus according to still another aspect of the present invention includes: the allocating unit that requests the image forming apparatus for image data of a printed sheet that has been finally discharged to the (n−1) th selected box unit. A sheet post-processing device, a document reading unit that reads a document and outputs image data of the document, prints an image on a sheet, and conveys a printed sheet, which is a sheet on which the image is printed, to the sheet post-processing device And the accepting unit takes out the image data of the printed sheet that has been finally discharged to the (n-1) th selected box unit, which has been read by the document reading unit. Accept as permission information.

  According to the image forming apparatus according to still another aspect of the present invention, an image of a printed sheet used for authentication for taking out the printed sheet discharged to the nth selected box unit (that is, the nth− The image of the printed paper that has been finally discharged to the first selected box portion is read by a document reading portion provided in the image forming apparatus. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the need to install a device for reading an image of a printed paper used for authentication for taking out the printed paper in the paper post-processing device.

  According to the present invention, when two or more box portions are selected and discharged from the printed paper discharged from the image forming apparatus, the password is secured while ensuring the security of the printed paper discharged to each box portion. The burden of memorizing can be reduced.

1 is a diagram schematically illustrating an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a door portion of a second box portion is opened upward in the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. It is a top view of one box part which comprises a paper post-processing part. It is sectional drawing which cut | disconnected FIG. 4 along the AA line. It is the figure which cut | disconnected FIG. 4 along the AA line, and is sectional drawing which shows the state which unlocked | locked the door part. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 4 and showing a state where printed paper is discharged to a box portion. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a sheet post-processing unit illustrated in FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows an example of the data memorize | stored in the memory | storage part. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining processing for printing an image on a sheet using the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment and discharging the printed sheet to a box unit (part 1). FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining processing for printing an image on a sheet using the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment and discharging the printed sheet to a box unit (part 2). It is a figure which shows an example of the paper on which the password was printed. It is a figure which shows an example of the bundle of the printed paper discharged | emitted by the box part.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of an image forming apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 1 can be applied to, for example, a digital multi-function peripheral having a copy, printer, scanner, and facsimile function. The image forming apparatus 1 includes an apparatus main body 100, a document reading unit 200 disposed on the apparatus main body 100, a document feeding unit 300 disposed on the document reading unit 200, and an operation disposed on the upper front surface of the apparatus main body 100. Unit 400 and a sheet post-processing unit 500 disposed on the sheet carry-out side of the apparatus main body 100, for example, on the left side. In FIG. 1, the outline of the internal structure is shown except for the paper post-processing unit 500, and the external appearance of the paper post-processing unit 500 is shown.

  The document feeder 300 functions as an automatic document feeder, and includes a document placement unit 301, a paper feed roller 303, a document transport unit 305, and a document discharge unit 307. The paper feed roller 303 feeds the originals set on the original placement unit 301 one by one. The document transport unit 305 transports the fed document to the document reading unit 200. The document is read by the document reading unit 200 and discharged to the document discharge unit 307.

  The document reading unit 200 includes a carriage 201 on which an exposure lamp and the like are mounted, a document table 203 made of a transparent member such as glass, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) sensor (not shown), and a document reading slit 205. When reading a document placed on the document table 203, the document is read by the CCD sensor while moving the carriage 201 in the longitudinal direction of the document table 203. On the other hand, when reading a document fed from the document feeding unit 300, the carriage 201 is moved to a position facing the document reading slit 205, and the document fed from the document feeding unit 300 is scanned. Reading is performed by the CCD sensor through the reading slit 205. The CCD sensor outputs the read original as image data.

  The apparatus main body 100 includes a sheet storage unit 101, an image forming unit 103, and a fixing unit 105. The sheet storage unit 101 is disposed at the lowermost part of the apparatus main body 100 and includes a sheet tray 107 that can store a bundle of sheets. In the bundle of sheets stored in the sheet tray 107, the uppermost sheet is sent out toward the sheet transport unit 111 by driving the pickup roller 109. The sheet is conveyed to the image forming unit 103 through the sheet conveying unit 111.

  The image forming unit 103 forms a toner image on the conveyed paper based on the image data. The image forming unit 103 includes a charge eliminating unit 112, a photosensitive drum 113, a charging unit 114, an exposure unit 115, a transfer drum 116, developing units 117C, 117M, 117Y, 117BK, and a transfer unit 119.

  The neutralization unit 112 is a device that neutralizes residual charges from the surface of the photosensitive drum 113. The charging unit 114 is a device that charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 113 after charge removal. The exposure unit 115 generates modulated light corresponding to image data (image data output from the document reading unit 200, image data transmitted from a personal computer, image data received by facsimile, etc.), and is uniformly charged. The apparatus forms an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 113 by irradiating the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 113.

  The developing units 117C, 117M, 117Y, and 117BK have cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (BK) colors on the photosensitive drum 113 on which the electrostatic latent image is formed. An apparatus for forming a toner image. If there is no need to distinguish between the developing portions of the respective colors, they are referred to as developing portions 117. On the transfer drum 116, the toner images of the respective colors formed on the photosensitive drum 113 are transferred and superimposed. The transfer unit 119 is a device that transfers the toner image on the transfer drum 116 to a sheet. The toner for each color of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black is supplied from a toner supply container or a toner cartridge (not shown).

  The sheet on which the toner image is transferred is sent to the fixing unit 105. In the fixing unit 105, heat and pressure are applied to the toner image and the paper, and the toner image is fixed on the paper. Thereby, the printing of the image on the paper is completed. When post-processing is performed on the printed paper, the printed paper is sent from the paper discharge port 121 of the apparatus main body 100 to the paper post-processing unit 500. On the other hand, when no post-processing is performed, the printed paper is discharged to the paper discharge tray 123.

  The paper post-processing unit 500 is an example of a paper post-processing device, and functions as a box unit from which printed paper, which is a paper on which an image is printed by the image forming apparatus 1, functions as ten box units 10-1 to 10-1. 10-10 (an example of a plurality of box portions). If it is not necessary to distinguish between these box portions, they are referred to as a box portion 10.

  In FIG. 1, a part of the paper transport unit 503 and the paper carry-in port 501 are shown as an internal structure. The paper transport unit 503 sequentially transports the printed paper carried in from the paper discharge port 121 to the paper carry-in port 501 and discharges the printed paper to the box unit 10 selected by the selection unit 21 (FIG. 8) described later. To do.

  Each box part 10 has a door part 11. The door part 11 can be opened upward. FIG. 2 is a view showing a state in which the door portion 11 of the second box portion 10-2 is opened upward in the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. The door part 11 can be opened 90 degrees by the fulcrums of hinges 12a and 12b attached to both ends of the door part 11. By opening the door part 11 upward, the outlet part 13 of the box part 10 appears. The printed paper discharged to the box part 10 can be taken out from the take-out part 13.

  The operation unit 400 will be described with reference to FIG. The operation unit 400 includes an operation key unit 401 and a display unit 403. The display unit 403 has a touch panel function, and displays a screen including soft keys. The user operates the soft keys while viewing the screen to make settings necessary for executing functions such as copying.

  The operation key unit 401 includes operation keys including hard keys. Specifically, the operation key unit 401 includes a help key 405, a start key 407, a numeric key 409, a function switching key 411, and the like. A help key 405 is a key for displaying a help screen on the display unit 403. The help screen is a screen on which operation methods related to functions such as a scanner, a facsimile, a printer, and a copy are displayed.

  A start key 407 is a key for starting operations such as copying and facsimile transmission. A numeric keypad 409 is a key for inputting numbers such as the number of copies and a facsimile number.

  The function switching key 411 includes a copy key, a transmission key, and the like, and is a key for switching between a copy function, a transmission function, and the like. When the copy key is operated, an initial copy screen is displayed on the display unit 403. When the transmission key is operated, an initial screen for facsimile transmission and mail transmission is displayed on the display unit 403.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. The image forming apparatus 1 has a configuration in which an apparatus main body 100, a document reading unit 200, a document feeding unit 300, an operation unit 400, a sheet post-processing unit 500, a control unit 600, and a communication unit 700 are connected to each other via a bus. Since the apparatus main body 100, the document reading unit 200, and the document feeding unit 300 have already been described, description thereof will be omitted.

  The control unit 600 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like. The CPU executes control necessary for operating the image forming apparatus 1 on the above-described components of the image forming apparatus 1 such as the apparatus main body 100. The ROM stores software necessary for controlling the operation of the image forming apparatus 1. The RAM is used for temporary storage of data generated during execution of software, storage of application software, and the like.

  The communication unit 700 includes a facsimile communication unit 701 and a network I / F unit 703. The facsimile communication unit 701 includes an NCU (Network Control Unit) that controls connection of a telephone line with a destination facsimile and a modulation / demodulation circuit that modulates / demodulates a signal for facsimile communication. The facsimile communication unit 701 is connected to the telephone line 705.

  A network I / F unit 703 is connected to a LAN (Local Area Network) 707. A network I / F unit 703 is a communication interface circuit for executing communication with a terminal device such as a personal computer connected to the LAN 707.

  The sheet post-processing unit 500 will be described in detail. FIG. 4 is a plan view of one box portion 10. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 4 taken along line AA. The front surface of the box portion 10 is an outlet portion 13. When the door part 11 is opened, the take-out part 13 is exposed, and the user can take out the printed paper discharged to the box part 10. When the door part 11 is closed, the outlet part 13 is covered with the door part 11.

  Of the back surface of the door portion 11, a protruding piece 14 protruding from the back surface is fixed to the side surface 10 a side of the box portion 10. Next to the door part 11, a solenoid 15 having a plunger 15a is arranged. A through hole 10c through which the plunger 15a is passed is formed on one side surface 10a of the box portion 10. The distal end portion of the plunger 15 a is allowed to pass through a hole portion (not shown) formed in the protruding piece 14. 4 and 5, the tip of the plunger 15 a is in a state of being passed through a hole formed in the projecting piece 14. This is a state where the door portion 11 is locked (in other words, a state where the door portion 11 is prevented from being opened). The door portion 11 and the solenoid 15 constitute a take-out preventing member that prevents the printed paper from being taken out from the take-out portion 13. Instead of the door part 11, a shutter for closing the outlet part 13 can also be used.

  FIG. 6 is a view showing a state in which the distal end portion of the plunger 15a has come out of the hole portion of the protruding piece 14 by retracting the plunger 15a shown in FIG. This is a state in which the door 11 can be opened.

  Referring to FIG. 4, the printed paper conveyed by paper conveyance unit 503 (FIG. 1) is discharged to box unit 10 through opening 10 d formed on one side surface 10 a of box unit 10. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 4 and shows a state where the printed paper 16 is discharged to the box portion 10.

  The detection unit 17 will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, a light projecting portion 17 a is attached to the other side surface 10 b side of the upper portion of the back surface 10 e of the box portion 10. A light receiving portion 17 b is attached to the other side surface 10 b side of the box portion 10 in the upper portion of the back surface of the door portion 11. The light projecting unit 17a and the light receiving unit 17b constitute a detection unit 17. The light projecting part 17 a may be attached to the back surface of the door part 11, and the light receiving part 17 b may be attached to the back face 10 e of the box part 10.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the height H at which the light projecting unit 17a and the light receiving unit 17b are arranged reaches a predetermined amount (for example, a full amount or a nearly full amount) of the printed paper 16 in the box unit 10. In this case, the height of the printed paper 16 accumulated in the box portion 10 is set.

  When the printed paper 16 in the box unit 10 does not reach the predetermined amount, the light emitted from the light projecting unit 17a is received by the light receiving unit 17b. Accordingly, the detection unit 17 sends a signal indicating that the printed paper 16 in the box unit 10 is not a predetermined amount to the selection unit 21 described later. On the other hand, when the printed paper 16 is deposited on the box unit 10 and the printed paper 16 of the box unit 10 reaches a predetermined amount, the light emitted from the light projecting unit 17a cannot be received by the light receiving unit 17b. Become. Accordingly, the detection unit 17 sends a signal indicating that the printed paper 16 in the box unit 10 has reached a predetermined amount to the selection unit 21.

  As described above, the detection unit 17 has a function of detecting that the printed paper 16 has reached a predetermined amount for each of the ten box units 10. The detection that the printed paper 16 has reached the full amount or the detection that has reached an almost full amount can be realized by adjusting the height H at which the light projecting unit 17a and the light receiving unit 17b are arranged. .

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the sheet post-processing unit 500 shown in FIG. The paper post-processing unit 500 includes a paper post-processing control unit 20, a paper transport unit 503, box units 10-1 to 10-10, detection units 17-1 to 17-10, and solenoids 15-1 to 15-10.

  Corresponding to each of the ten box sections 10-1 to 10-10, detection sections 17-1 to 17-10 for detecting that the printed paper has reached a predetermined amount, and a solenoid 15- for locking the door section 11. 1-15-10 are provided. If it is not necessary to distinguish the detection units 17-1 to 17-10, they are referred to as detection units 17. The detection unit 17 is as described above. If it is not necessary to distinguish the solenoids 15-1 to 15-10, they are described as solenoids 15. The solenoid 15 is as described above.

  The paper post-processing control unit 20 is connected to the control unit 600 (FIG. 3) via a bus and controls the paper post-processing unit 500. The sheet post-processing control unit 20 includes a selection unit 21, a storage unit 22, a switching unit 23, an allocation unit 24, a reception unit 25, and a password print command unit 26. These functions are realized by a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like constituting the paper post-processing control unit 20.

  The selection unit 21 selects the box unit 10 as a discharge destination of the printed paper from the ten box units 10, and the selected box unit 10 is selected while a plurality of printed papers are being discharged to the selected box unit 10. When the detection unit 17 detects that the printed sheet has reached a predetermined amount (for example, full or nearly full), the box unit 10 that discharges the remaining printed sheets is removed from the ten box units 10. select.

  The storage unit 22 stores data such as take-out permission information assigned to the box unit 10 from which the printed paper is discharged among the ten box units 10. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of data stored in the storage unit 22. The first box part 10-1 is for user A, the second box part 10-2 is for user B, the third box part 10-3 is for user C, the fourth box part 10-4 is for user D, The box portions 10-5 are assigned to the user E in advance. The 6th to 10th box portions 10-6 to 10-10 have a predetermined amount of printed paper during discharge of the printed paper in any of the 1st to 5th box portions 10-1 to 10-5. In this case, the box unit 10 discharges the remaining printed sheets.

  The password generated by the assigning unit 24 is stored in the password field. The password is an example of extraction permission information. When each user operates a personal computer or the like to instruct execution of a print job, a password is generated by the assigning unit 24, and the generated password is stored in the password column. When the user opens the door part 11 of the box part 10 assigned to himself / herself, if the password is entered and the entered password matches the password stored in the password field, the door part 11 is unlocked. The door 11 can be opened.

  For the 6th to 10th box sections 10-6 to 10-10, data indicating that the box section 10 is in use (for example, “1”) is stored. Data indicating unused (for example, “0”) is stored. In any of the first to fifth box sections 10-1 to 10-5, the printed sheet in the box section 10 reaches a predetermined amount while the printed sheet is being discharged. When the box unit 10 for discharging the paper is selected, data indicating that the selected box unit 10 is in use is stored.

  The accepting unit 25 accepts take-out permission information input from outside the paper post-processing apparatus 500.

  When two or more box units 10 out of the ten box units 10 are selected by the selection unit 21 and the printed paper is discharged, the allocating unit 24 assigns to the box units 10 other than the box unit 10 selected first. Different passwords (an example of retrieval permission information) are assigned to each of the passwords, and stored in the storage unit 22 in association with the password field of the data shown in FIG.

  When the switching unit 23 determines that the extraction permission information stored in the storage unit 22 matches the extraction permission information received by the reception unit 25 for the box unit 10 from which the printed paper is discharged, A state (door portion) that prevents the printed sheet from being taken out from the outlet portion 13 with respect to the removal prevention member (specifically, the door portion 11 and the solenoid 15) of the box portion 10 to which the removal permission information is assigned. The control is switched from the state in which the door 11 is locked) to the state in which the printed paper can be taken out from the outlet 13 (the state in which the door 11 is unlocked).

  When two or more box units 10 out of the ten box units 10 are selected by the selection unit 21 and the printed paper is discharged, the switching unit 23: (1) For the box unit 10 selected first, When it is determined that the password that is the extraction permission information stored in the storage unit 22 and the password that is the extraction permission information received by the reception unit 25 match, the first selected box unit 10 The switching control for the take-out prevention member is executed, and (2) the box units 10 other than the first selected box unit 10 are assigned to the nth (n is an integer of 2 or more) selected box unit 10 The take-out permission information stored in the storage unit 22 and the take-out printed on the sheet discharged to the (n−1) -th selected box unit 10 received by the reception unit 25. When it is determined that the permission information matches, the switching control for the removal prevention member of the nth selected box unit 10 is executed.

  When the assigning unit 24 assigns the password as the permission information to the nth selected box unit 10 and stores it in the storage unit 22, the password print command unit 26 selects the nth selected box unit. The password assigned to 10 is printed on a sheet by the image forming apparatus 1 and discharged to the (n−1) th selected box unit 10.

  The paper transport unit 503 includes a transport path switching mechanism 504. The transport path switching mechanism 504 is a mechanism that switches the path of the transport path through which the printed paper is transported in the paper post-processing unit 500. The selection unit 21 controls the conveyance path switching mechanism 504 so that the printed paper is conveyed to the selected box unit 10 among the first box unit 10-1 to the tenth box unit 10-10.

  Next, a process of printing an image on a sheet using the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment and discharging the printed sheet to the box unit 10 will be described by taking a print command of the user A as an example. 10 and 11 are flowcharts for explaining this.

  User A operates a personal computer registered as a user and issues a command to print an image (step S1). As a result, the print command of the user A and the image data to be printed are sent from the personal computer of the user A to the control unit 600 of the image forming apparatus 1 via the LAN 707 (FIG. 3). The control unit 600 controls the apparatus main body 100 to cause the apparatus main body 100 to start printing.

  User A's print command is also sent to the selection unit 21. The selection unit 21 refers to the data shown in FIG. 9 stored in the storage unit 22 and selects the first box unit 10-1 assigned in advance to the user A (step S2). The selection unit 21 controls the transport path switching mechanism 504 so that the printed paper is discharged to the first box unit 10-1.

  The assigning unit 24 generates a password for taking out the printed paper discharged to the first box unit 10-1 by executing the printing command in step S1, and as the password assigned to the first box unit 10-1. Then, it is stored in the storage unit 22 (step S3). In other words, in the data shown in FIG. 9, the password is stored in the storage unit 22 in association with the password field of the first box portion. Instead of generating the password by the assigning unit 24, the user A may determine the password and send the password to the assigning unit 24 by operating the personal computer.

  The allocating unit 24 sends the password generated in step S3 to the personal computer of user A via the LAN 707. As a result, this password is displayed on the screen of user A's personal computer (step 4). The assigning unit 24 may display the password generated in step S3 on the display unit 403 without sending it to the user A's personal computer.

  Printing is executed in the image forming apparatus 1 (step 5), and the printed paper is discharged to the first box section 10-1. The selection unit 21 determines whether a signal indicating that the printed paper in the first box unit 10-1 has reached a predetermined amount is output from the detection unit 17-1 in the first box unit (step S6).

  When the selection unit 21 does not determine that a signal indicating that the printed paper in the first box unit 10-1 has reached a predetermined amount is output from the detection unit 17-1 (No in step S6), the selection unit 17-1 21 determines whether printing has been completed (step S7). When the printing is completed, the control unit 600 notifies the selection unit 21 of the completion of printing. When this notification is given, the selection unit 21 determines that printing has been completed. When this notification has not been given, the selection unit 21 determines that printing has not been completed.

  If the selection unit 21 does not determine that printing has been completed (No in step S7), the process returns to step S5. On the other hand, when the selection unit 21 determines that the printing is completed (Yes in step S7), the user A operates the numeric keypad 409 shown in FIG. 1 to operate the password displayed on the personal computer screen in step S4. It inputs into the part 400 (step S8). This is an example in which the extraction permission information is input by an external operation. As another example of inputting the password (extraction permission information) by an external operation, an operation unit that can input the password (extraction permission information) may be provided in the paper post-processing unit 500.

  The control unit 600 sends the password input to the operation unit 400 to the reception unit 25, and the password is received by the reception unit 25.

  The switching unit 23 refers to the data shown in FIG. 9 stored in the storage unit 22, and the password input to the operation unit 400 and received by the receiving unit 25 is assigned to the first box unit 10-1. It is determined whether or not the password matches the current password (step S9).

  When the switching unit 23 determines that the passwords match (Yes in step S9), the switching unit 23 sends a signal for retracting the plunger 15a of the solenoid 15-1 of the first box unit to the solenoid of the first box unit. Send to 15-1. Thereby, the lock of the door portion 11 of the first box portion 10-1 is released (step S10). In other words, the removal prevention member (the door portion 11 and the solenoid 15-1) of the box portion 10-1 for taking out the printed paper. ) Is switched from a state in which the printed paper is prevented from being taken out from the take-out portion 13 to a state in which the printed paper can be taken out from the take-out portion 13. Therefore, the printed paper can be taken out from the first box portion 10-1.

  If the switching unit 23 does not determine that the passwords match (No in step S9), the lock of the door 11 of the first box unit 10-1 is maintained (step S11). Accordingly, the printed paper in the first box portion 10-1 cannot be taken out.

  On the other hand, when the selection unit 21 determines that a signal indicating that the printed paper in the first box unit 10-1 has reached a predetermined amount is output from the detection unit 17-1 (Yes in step S6). The selection unit 21 newly selects the box unit 10 for discharging the remaining printed sheets (step S12 shown in FIG. 11). More specifically, the selection unit 21 refers to the data shown in FIG. 9 stored in the storage unit 22, and among the 6th to 10th box units 10-6 to 10-10, an unused box unit. 10 (for example, the 7th box portion 10-7) is selected. In the data shown in FIG. 9, the selection unit 21 stores the user A in the storage unit 22 in association with the user column of the selected box unit 10 (here, the seventh box unit 10-7).

  The assigning unit 24 generates a password for taking out the printed paper discharged to the seventh box unit 10-7 (the box unit 10 selected in step S12), and as the password assigned to the seventh box unit 10-7. Then, it is stored in the storage unit 22 (step S13). In other words, in the data shown in FIG. 9, the password is stored in the storage unit 22 in association with the password field of the seventh box portion.

  The password print command unit 26 sends the password generated in step S13 to the control unit 600 and issues a password print command. As a result, the control unit 600 controls the apparatus main body 100 to print the password on a sheet (step S14) and convey it to the sheet post-processing unit 500. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of the paper 18 on which the password is printed in step S14. The paper 18 on which the password is printed is discharged to the first box unit 10-1. The paper 18 on which the password is printed is the last paper ejected to the first box section 10-1.

  The selection unit 21 controls the conveyance path switching mechanism 504 to switch the conveyance path in the sheet post-processing unit 500 so that the printed sheet is discharged to the seventh box unit 10-7 (step S15).

  Printing is continued in the image forming apparatus 1 (step 16), and the remaining printed sheets are discharged to the box unit 10 selected in step S12. Here, it is discharged to the seventh box portion 10-7. The selection unit 21 determines whether a signal indicating that the printed paper in the seventh box unit 10-7 has reached a predetermined amount is output from the detection unit 17-7 (step S17).

  When the selection unit 21 determines that a signal indicating that the printed paper in the seventh box unit 10-7 has reached a predetermined amount is output from the detection unit 17-7 (Yes in step S17), step S12 is performed. Return to.

  When the selection unit 21 does not determine that a signal indicating that the printed sheet in the seventh box unit 10-7 has reached a predetermined amount has been output from the detection unit 17-7 (No in step S17), the selection unit 21 determines whether printing has been completed (step S18). This determination is the same as in step S7.

  If the selection unit 21 does not determine that printing has been completed (No in step S18), the process returns to step S16. When the selection unit 21 determines that the printing is completed (Yes in step S18), the process proceeds to step S8.

  The password for unlocking the door 11 of the seventh box part 10-7 (second selected box part 10) is the first box part 10-1 (first selected box part 10). 12 is printed on the paper 18 shown in FIG. Therefore, the user A first inputs the password displayed on the screen of the user A's personal computer into the operation unit 400. The input password is received by the receiving unit 25. When the switching unit 23 determines that the password received by the receiving unit 25 matches the password assigned to the first box unit 10-1, the door 11 of the first box unit 10-1 is locked. Is released (step S10).

  Then, the printed sheet and the sheet 18 shown in FIG. 12 are taken out from the first box unit 10-1, and the password printed on the sheet 18 is input to the operation unit 400. The input password is received by the receiving unit 25. When the switching unit 23 determines that the password received by the receiving unit 25 matches the password assigned to the seventh box unit 10-7, the door unit 11 of the seventh box unit 10-7 is locked. Is released (step S10). Thereby, the printed paper discharged to the seventh box portion 10-7 can be taken out.

  The main effects of this embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, when two or more box portions 10 are selected and discharged when the printed paper is discharged to the ten box portions 10, the door portion 11 of the box portion 10 selected first is discharged. Control for releasing the lock (switching control for the removal prevention member of the box unit 10) is executed using the removal permission information including the password. For the box parts 10 other than the box part 10 selected first, the control for releasing the lock of the door part 11 of the box part 10 selected nth (n is an integer of 2 or more) The process is executed using the password printed on the sheet discharged to the box unit 10 selected the second time.

  The first selected box unit 10 is permitted to take out the printed paper from the box unit 10 by password authentication, so the security of the printed paper discharged to the first selected box unit 10 is ensured. it can. Also for the box units 10 other than the box unit selected at the beginning, different passwords are assigned to each box unit 10 and permission to take out printed sheets from those box units 10 is obtained by password authentication. Security of discharged printed paper can be secured.

  Further, the password assigned to the box unit 10 other than the box unit selected first is printed on the paper discharged to the (n−1) th selected box unit 10. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the burden of memorizing the password for the person who instructed the printing, and it is possible to prevent the password from leaking to persons other than the person who instructed the printing.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when two or more box portions 10 are selected and discharged from the printed paper discharged from the image forming apparatus 1, the printed paper discharged to each box portion 10 It is possible to reduce the burden of memorizing a password that enables taking out printed sheets from the box unit 10 while ensuring security.

  In the present embodiment, the extraction permission information printed on the sheet discharged to the (n−1) th selected box unit 10 is used as a password. In this aspect, when the (n-1) th selected box unit 10 is full of printed paper, the paper 18 on which the password shown in FIG. 12 is printed is then selected as the (n-1) th. There is a possibility that it cannot be discharged into the box. Therefore, in the aspect in which the extraction permission information is a password printed on a sheet, the selection unit 21 selects the next box unit 10 when the printed sheet in the box unit 10 reaches an almost full amount. By adjusting the heights of the light projecting unit 17a and the light receiving unit 17b in FIG. 4, the detection unit 17 can detect that the printed paper in the box unit 10 has reached an almost full amount.

  A modification of this embodiment will be described. In the modification, the removal permission information printed on the paper discharged to the (n−1) th selected box unit 10 is changed to the printed paper discharged to the (n−1) th selected box unit 10. Of these, the image data of the printed paper discharged last is used.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a bundle of printed sheets discharged to the (n−1) th selected box unit 10. The lowest printed paper 16a is the printed paper discharged last. In the modification, an image data column is provided instead of the password column for the sixth box portion 10-6 to the tenth box portion 10-10 in the data shown in FIG. The allocation unit 24 shown in FIG. 8 requests the image forming apparatus 1 for the image data of the printed sheet that has been finally discharged to the (n−1) th selected box unit 10, and is sent from the image forming apparatus 1. Further, the image data of the printed sheet is assigned to the nth selected box unit 10 as the retrieval permission information and stored in the storage unit 22.

  In the modification, step S13 is changed as follows in the flowcharts shown in FIGS. The allocating unit 24 sends the image data of the printed paper 16a finally discharged to the first box unit 10-1 (the first selected box unit 10) to the allocating unit 24. To request. The allocating unit 24 uses the seventh box unit 10-7 (second selected box unit 10 as the second selected box unit 10) in the data shown in FIG. 9 as the retrieval permission information of the image data of the printed paper 16a sent from the control unit 600. ) Are stored in the storage unit 22 in association with the image data field.

  In the modified example, the step S14 is not necessary.

  In the modification, the printed paper is taken out as follows. The removal permission information for releasing the lock of the door portion 11 of the seventh box portion 10-7 (second selected box portion 10) is the first box portion 10-1 (first selected box portion). 10) is an image of the printed paper 16a shown in FIG. Therefore, the user A first inputs the password displayed on the screen of the user A's personal computer to the operation unit 400 and unlocks the door 11 of the first box unit 10-1 (step S10). Then, an operation of taking out the printed paper including the printed paper 16a from the first box unit 10-1 and operating the operation unit 400 to cause the original reading unit 200 to read the image of the printed paper 16a that is finally discharged. do. The accepting unit 25 accepts the image data of the printed paper 16a that is finally discharged to the first box unit 10-1 read by the document reading unit 200 as take-out permission information. If the image data of the printed paper 16a received by the receiving unit 25 matches the image data assigned to the 7th box unit 10-7 shown in FIG. 9, the switching unit 23 is the 7th box unit 10-7. The door 11 is unlocked. Thereby, the printed paper discharged to the seventh box portion 10-7 can be taken out.

  According to the modification, the image data of the printed sheet that has been discharged last among the printed sheets discharged to the (n−1) th selected box unit 10 is used as the extraction permission information. Accordingly, the printed sheet can be discharged to the (n-1) th selected box unit 10 until the printed sheet is full.

  Further, according to the modification, an image of a printed sheet used for authentication for taking out the printed sheet discharged to the nth selected box unit 10 (that is, the n−1th selected box). The image reading unit 200 provided in the image forming apparatus 1 performs reading of the image of the printed paper that is finally discharged to the unit 10. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the need to install an apparatus for reading an image of a printed sheet used for authentication for taking out the printed sheet in the sheet post-processing unit 500.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 10, 10-1 to 10-10 Box part 11 Door part (component of extraction prevention member)
13 Take-out Portion 15, 15-1 to 15-10 Solenoid (component of take-out prevention member)
16, 16a Printed paper 17 Detection unit 21 Selection unit 22 Storage unit 23 Switching unit 24 Assignment unit 25 Reception unit 26 Password printing command unit 500 Paper post-processing unit (an example of a paper post-processing device)

Claims (5)

A discharge destination of printed paper, which is a paper on which an image has been printed by the image forming apparatus, and a take-out portion from which the user can take out the printed paper that has been discharged, A plurality of box portions having a removal preventing member for blocking
For each of the plurality of box units, a detection unit that detects that the printed paper has reached a predetermined amount;
A box part to which printed paper is to be discharged is selected from the plurality of box parts, and a plurality of printed papers are being discharged to the selected box part. When the detection unit detects that a fixed amount has been reached, a selection unit that selects a box unit for discharging the remaining printed paper from the plurality of box units;
A storage unit for storing take-out permission information assigned to the box unit from which the printed paper is discharged among the plurality of box units;
A reception unit that accepts the retrieval permission information input from the outside;
When it is determined that the extraction permission information stored in the storage unit and the extraction permission information received by the reception unit are the same, with respect to the extraction prevention member of the box unit to which the extraction permission information is assigned A switching unit that performs switching control from a state in which the printed paper is prevented from being taken out from the outlet unit to a state in which the printed paper can be taken out from the outlet unit;
When two or more box portions of the plurality of box portions are selected by the selection portion and printed paper is discharged, different take-out permission information is assigned to the box portions other than the box portion selected first. And an allocating unit for storing in the storage unit,
When two or more box portions of the plurality of box portions are selected by the selection portion and printed paper is discharged, the switching portion is (1) for the first selected box portion, the storage When it is determined that the password, which is the extraction permission information stored in the unit, matches the password, which is the extraction permission information received by the reception unit, the extraction of the first selected box unit The switching control for the blocking member is executed. (2) The box portions other than the first selected box portion are assigned to the nth (n is an integer of 2 or more) box portion selected. The removal permission information stored in the storage unit and the removal permission information printed on the sheet discharged to the (n-1) th selected box portion received by the reception unit. There If it is determined that they match, the sheet post-processing apparatus that performs the switching control with respect to the removal preventing member box unit selected in the n-th. The assigning unit assigns the password to the nth selected box part as the password retrieval permission information, and stores it in the storage unit;
A password printing command unit that causes a password assigned to the nth selected box unit to be printed on a sheet by the image forming apparatus and discharged to the n−1th selected box unit. Item 2. A sheet post-processing apparatus according to Item 1.   The allocating unit requests the image forming apparatus to request image data of a printed sheet that has been finally discharged to the (n−1) th selected box unit, and the printed unit sent from the image forming apparatus. 2. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet image data is assigned to the nth selected box unit as storage permission information and stored in the storage unit. A sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 2;
An apparatus main body for printing an image on a sheet and transporting a printed sheet, which is a sheet on which the image is printed, to the sheet post-processing apparatus;
An operation unit capable of inputting a password,
The password assigned to the nth selected box unit is printed on a sheet by the apparatus body in accordance with a command of the password print command unit, and discharged to the n−1th selected box unit. Let
The accepting unit is an image forming apparatus that accepts a password assigned to the nth selected box unit, which is input to the operation unit, as take-out permission information. A sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 3;
A document reading unit that reads a document and outputs image data of the document;
An apparatus main body that prints an image on a sheet and conveys a printed sheet, which is a sheet on which the image is printed, to the sheet post-processing apparatus,
The accepting unit is an image forming apparatus that accepts, as take-out permission information, image data of the printed sheet that has been finally discharged to the (n−1) th selected box unit that has been read by the document reading unit.

Images