JP6455267B2 - Printing device, control device, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, a control apparatus, and a program.

  Patent Document 1 describes a technique for detecting double feeding of printing paper. In this technique, a plurality of RFID (Radio Frequency IDentifier) elements are embedded in printing paper. The image forming apparatus includes a reading unit that reads identification information from an RFID element on the upstream side of the image forming unit in the conveyance direction of the printing paper. When the number of pieces of identification information read by the reading unit exceeds a specific number, the image forming apparatus determines that double feeding of the printing paper has occurred, and executes processing such as stopping printing paper conveyance.

JP 2008-65188 A

  It is an object of the present invention to grasp that a confidential document sheet and a non-confidential document sheet are conveyed in an overlapped state.

The invention according to claim 1 detects a storage unit that stacks and stores sheets, a transport unit that takes out and transports sheets from the storage unit, and detects that a plurality of sheets are transported in an overlapped state by the transport unit. An image is printed on the first detection unit, the second detection unit detecting a sheet conveyed by the conveyance unit and having a specific electromagnetic characteristic, and the sheet conveyed by the conveyance unit When the number of sheets conveyed in the overlapped state detected by the printing unit and the first detection unit is different from the number of sheets having the specific electromagnetic characteristic detected by the second detection unit And executing a predetermined process different from the case where the number of sheets conveyed by the conveyance unit and the number of sheets having the specific electromagnetic specification coincide with each other. To provide a printing apparatus and a control unit for performing control.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus according to the first aspect, the first detection unit is provided upstream of the second detection unit in the sheet conveyance direction, and is conveyed in a state where a plurality of sheets are overlapped. And detecting the passage of the rear end of the sheet, and the second detection unit detects that a predetermined time has elapsed after the passage of the rear end of the sheet is detected by the first detection unit. For example, the sheet having the specific electromagnetic characteristic is detected.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the control unit, as the predetermined processing, cancels printing, outputs an alarm, and notifies a predetermined notification destination. Control for executing at least one of the changes of the image to be printed is performed.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a storage unit that stacks and stores sheets, a transport unit that takes out and transports sheets from the storage unit, and detects that a plurality of sheets are transported by the transport unit in a stacked state. An image is printed on the first detection unit, the second detection unit detecting a sheet conveyed by the conveyance unit and having a specific electromagnetic characteristic, and the sheet conveyed by the conveyance unit A control unit that controls a printing apparatus including a printing unit, wherein the number of sheets conveyed in an overlapped state detected by the first detection unit, and the specific detection detected by the second detection unit When the number of sheets having electromagnetic characteristics is different, the number of sheets conveyed by the conveyance unit matches the number of sheets having the specific electromagnetic specification; Providing a controller having a control unit for performing control to perform different predetermined process.
The invention according to claim 5 detects that a storage unit that stacks and stores sheets, a transport unit that takes out and transports sheets from the storage unit, and that the transport unit transports a plurality of sheets in an overlapped state. An image is printed on the first detection unit, the second detection unit detecting a sheet conveyed by the conveyance unit and having a specific electromagnetic characteristic, and the sheet conveyed by the conveyance unit And a computer that controls the printing apparatus including the printing unit, the number of sheets conveyed in the overlapping state detected by the first detection unit, and the specific electromagnetic detection detected by the second detection unit. When the number of sheets having characteristics differs from the number of sheets conveyed by the conveyance unit and the number of sheets having the specific electromagnetic specification Providing program for functioning as a control unit that performs control to perform a predetermined process consisting.

According to the first, fourth, and fifth aspects of the present invention, it is possible to grasp that the confidential document sheet and the non-confidential document sheet are conveyed in an overlapped state.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the number of sensors is different from that in the case where the sensor for detecting that the plurality of sheets are conveyed in a state of being overlapped and the sensor for detecting the passage of the rear end of the sheets are separate. Can be reduced.
According to the invention of claim 3, it is possible to take a variety of information leakage countermeasures.

The figure which shows the hardware constitutions of this embodiment. The figure which shows the accommodating part 21, the conveyance part 22, the 1st detection part 26, and the 2nd detection part 27. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printing apparatus 200.

  As a recording medium used for creating a confidential document, a sheet containing a magnetic material (hereinafter referred to as a magnetic material-attached sheet) is known. The sheet is, for example, paper. By detecting the magnetic material using the electromagnetic characteristics of the magnetic material, the sheet with the magnetic material and the sheet without the magnetic material are discriminated. As an example of the usage form of the magnetic sheet, an example of printing a confidential document in a permitted area where handling of the confidential document is permitted will be described. Handling confidential documents includes acts such as storage, browsing, creation (including printing), and carrying of confidential documents. Although taking out of confidential documents from the authorized area is prohibited by regulations, confidential documents may be taken out of the authorized area against the regulations. In order to monitor the taking out of confidential documents from the permitted area, a detection device for detecting a magnetic substance is installed at the entrance / exit of the permitted area.

  When printing confidential documents in the permitted area, only printing on sheets with magnetic material is permitted by the rules. As a configuration for preventing printing on a sheet not having a magnetic material, the presence or absence of the magnetic material on the sheet is determined before printing is performed, and if the sheet is not having a magnetic material, printing is not performed on the sheet. Can be considered. However, when a sheet with a magnetic material and a sheet without a magnetic material are conveyed in a state of being overlapped, the magnetic material is detected, so printing is performed, and printing may be performed on a sheet without a magnetic material. There is. Therefore, in the present embodiment, there is provided a technique for preventing printing on a sheet not having a magnetic material because the sheet having a magnetic material and a sheet not having a magnetic material are conveyed in a state of being overlapped. The material of the sheet may be any material as long as printing is possible.

An example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described.
<Configuration>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the present embodiment. The printing apparatus 200 includes a control unit 11, a storage unit 12, a communication unit 13, a storage unit 21, a transport unit 22, a printing unit 23, an image processing unit 24, a UI (User Interface) unit 25, a first detection unit 26, and a second detection unit 26. A detection unit 27 is provided. Among these, the control unit 100 is configured by the control unit 11, the storage unit 12, and the communication unit 13. The control device 100 may be configured as an external device of the printing device 200, and the control device 100 and the printing device 200 may be connected by communication means. In this case, the UI unit 25 may be provided in the control device 100.

  The control unit 11 includes an arithmetic device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a storage device such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory) (all not shown). The ROM stores firmware that describes the startup procedure of hardware and an OS (Operating System). The RAM is used for storing data when the CPU executes an operation. The storage unit 12 includes, for example, a hard disk storage device, and stores an OS, application programs, and the like. The communication unit 13 is a communication I / F (Interface) for performing communication with an external device.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the storage unit 21, the transport unit 22, the first detection unit 26, and the second detection unit 27.
The storage unit 21 stores sheet-like recording media (hereinafter referred to as sheets) in a stacked state. The accommodating part 21 is formed in the box shape by which the upper part was open | released, for example.
The transport unit 22 takes out the sheet P stored in the storage unit 21 and transports the sheet P along the transport path 221. The conveyance unit 22 includes a conveyance path 221, a delivery roller 222, and a conveyance roller 223. The feeding roller 222 is pressed against the uppermost sheet P, and the feeding roller 222 rotates in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 11, whereby the sheet P is fed to the conveyance path 221. The fed sheet P is conveyed to the printing unit 23 by a conveyance roller 223 provided in the conveyance path 221.

  The sheet P is, for example, a sheet in which a magnetic wire is inserted (hereinafter, referred to as a magnetic sheet). The magnetic wire is a wire made of an amorphous magnetic material and thinner than the thickness of the sheet P, and causes periodic magnetization reversal when a vibrating magnetic field acts (large Barkhausen effect). A plurality of magnetic wires are irregularly or regularly arranged on the entire sheet P. In addition, the sheet | seat P with which a magnetic body is not mixed may be mixed in the sheet | seat P accommodated in the accommodating part 21. FIG. For example, a defective product (a sheet in which a magnetic material is not inserted at the time of manufacture or a sheet in which a magnetic material is unevenly distributed) is mixed, or a sheet that does not have a magnetic material is accidentally or intentionally mixed. There is a case. That is, the sheet P accommodated in the accommodating portion 21 can be a sheet with a magnetic material or a sheet without a magnetic material. The sheet with a magnetic body is a sheet for confidential documents, and the sheet without a magnetic body is a sheet not for confidential documents.

  The first detector 26 detects double feeding of the sheet P. Double feeding means that a plurality of sheets P are conveyed in a stacked state. Specifically, the first detection unit 26 is, for example, a displacement sensor, and includes a light source 261 that irradiates the sheet P with light, a light receiving element 262 that receives scattered light reflected by the sheet P, and a detection circuit 263. Is provided. Since the position of the peak of the scattered light received by the light receiving element 262 changes according to the distance between the light source 261 and the sheet P, the detection circuit 263 sends out the sheet that has been sent out based on the amount of displacement of the peak of the received scattered light. The number of P is detected. The first detection unit 26 determines that double feeding has occurred when the number of detected sheets is two or more.

  Further, the first detection unit 26 detects the passage of the rear end of the sheet P. Specifically, the detection circuit 263 detects that the rear end of the sheet P has passed the position of the first detection unit 26 due to the change in the peak position of the received scattered light.

  The 2nd detection part 27 detects a sheet | seat with a magnetic body. Specifically, the second detection unit 27 includes an excitation coil 271, a power source 272, an antenna 273, and a detection circuit 274. The excitation coil 271 generates an oscillating magnetic field when supplied with AC power from the power source 272. When the oscillating magnetic field acts on the magnetic wire, periodic magnetization reversal occurs in the magnetic wire, and the magnetic wire generates an electrical pulse accompanying the magnetization reversal.

  The detection circuit 274 determines the presence / absence of a magnetic substance based on the pulse waveform received by the antenna 273. Specifically, a waveform of a pulse generated when an oscillating magnetic field is applied to a magnetic sheet is stored in the detection circuit 274 in advance. The detection circuit 274 compares the received pulse waveform with a previously stored waveform to determine the degree of coincidence between the two, and determines the presence or absence of a magnetic material based on the degree of coincidence. The degree of coincidence is represented, for example, by a correlation coefficient between the received pulse waveform and a previously stored waveform. When the calculated correlation coefficient reaches the threshold value, the detection circuit 274 determines that the sheet has a magnetic material and outputs a detection signal indicating that the magnetic material has been detected.

  The second detection unit 27 estimates the number of sheets with magnetic material. Specifically, the intensity of a pulse generated when an oscillating magnetic field is applied to one magnetic sheet is stored in the detection circuit 274 in advance. The intensity of the pulse is, for example, the maximum value of the pulse amplitude. The detection circuit 274 estimates the number of sheets with magnetic material by determining how many times the intensity of the received pulse is stored in advance. For example, if the intensity of the received pulse is about twice the intensity stored in advance, the number of sheets with magnetic material is estimated to be two.

Returning to the description of FIG.
The image processing unit 24 receives print data such as PDL (Page Description Language) data from the control device 100, converts the print data into raster data, and outputs the raster data to the printing unit 23.
The printing unit 23 prints an image based on the raster data output from the image processing unit 24 on the sheet P conveyed along the conveyance path 221. The printing method by the printing unit 23 may be any method such as an electrophotographic method or an inkjet method.

  The UI unit 25 includes a display unit and a reception unit (not shown). The display unit is, for example, a liquid crystal display device, and displays an operation screen for the user to operate the printing apparatus 200. The reception unit is, for example, a touch panel or a keyboard provided so as to cover the display surface of the display unit, receives an operation performed by the user, and outputs a signal representing the content of the operation to the control device 100. The control device 100 controls the printing device 200 according to the contents of this operation.

<Operation>
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printing apparatus 200. In synchronization with the output of one page of raster data from the image processing unit 24 to the printing unit 23, the printing apparatus 200 executes processing according to this flowchart.
First, in step S <b> 01, the conveyance unit 22 sends out the sheet P from the storage unit 21.
Next, in step S02, the first detection unit 26 determines whether or not the rear end of the sheet P has passed. If the trailing edge of the sheet P has passed (step S02: YES), the processing of the printing apparatus 200 proceeds to step S03.

  Next, in step S03, the second detector 27 determines whether or not the magnetic material of the sheet P is present if a predetermined time has elapsed since the passage of the trailing edge of the sheet was detected by the first detector 26. judge. In order to suppress the influence of external noise to the minimum, it is optimal to perform detection at the timing when the central portion of the sheet P is positioned at the position of the excitation coil 271 of the second detection unit 27. The time required for the central portion of the sheet P to be located at the position of the exciting coil 271 after the passage of the rear end of the sheet P is detected by the first detection unit 26 is the position of the light source 261 of the first detection unit 26. It is obtained from the position of the excitation coil 271 of the second detection unit 27 and the conveyance speed by the conveyance unit 22. The second detector 27 determines the presence or absence of the magnetic material of the sheet P after the required time has elapsed since the passage of the trailing edge of the sheet P was detected by the first detector 26. If there is a magnetic body (step S03: YES), the process of the printing apparatus 200 proceeds to step S04. If there is no magnetic body (step S03: NO), the process of the printing apparatus 200 proceeds to step S09.

Next, in step S <b> 04, the second detection unit 27 obtains the number of sheets with magnetic material and outputs the number to the control unit 11.
Next, in step S05, the first detection unit 26 determines whether or not the sheet P is double-fed. If there is a double feed (step S05: YES), the process of the printing apparatus 200 proceeds to step S06, and if there is no double feed (step S05: NO), the process of the printing apparatus 200 proceeds to step S08.
Next, in step S <b> 06, the first detection unit 26 obtains the number of sheets P to be double fed and outputs the number to the control unit 11.

Next, in step S07, the control unit 11 compares the number of sheets with magnetic material with the number of double feeds. If the number of sheets with magnetic material matches the number of double feeds (step S07: YES), the processing of the printing apparatus 200 proceeds to step S08, and if they do not match (step S07: NO), the printing apparatus. The process of 200 proceeds to step S09.
Next, in step S08, the control unit 11 instructs the printing unit 23 to print an image based on the raster data output from the image processing unit 24. In this way, printing is performed on the magnetic material-attached sheet (sheet for confidential documents). Needless to say, printing is performed when a sheet with a magnetic material is conveyed without double feeding. Even when double feeding occurs, printing is performed if the number of sheets with magnetic material matches the number of double feeding. That is, in this embodiment, printing is performed when the number of conveyed sheets matches the number of sheets with magnetic material.

  On the other hand, in step S09, the control unit 11 executes a predetermined process. This process is related to the prevention of fraud, in other words, a process different from the case where the number of conveyed sheets matches the number of sheets with magnetic material. Here, the cancellation of printing will be described as an example of processing. The case where the number of sheets with magnetic material does not match the number of double feeds is when the sheets without magnetic material are mixed in the multiple fed sheets (all of the multiple fed sheets are magnetic). Including the case of a non-body seat). In this case, a sheet with a magnetic material is located on the side where printing is performed (for example, in the case of electrophotography, the side where the toner image is transferred), and a sheet without magnetic material is located on the side where printing is performed. In some cases, the control unit 11 stops printing regardless of which sheet is positioned on the printing side. More specifically, the double-fed sheets may be discharged out of the printing apparatus 200 through the printing unit 23 without printing, or the conveyance of the double-fed sheets may be stopped. . In this way, it is possible to prevent printing on a sheet without a magnetic material.

That is, the control unit 11 determines the number of sheets conveyed in the overlapped state detected by the first detection unit 26 and the number of sheets having a specific electromagnetic characteristic detected by the second detection unit 27. An example of a configuration for performing control for executing a predetermined process different from the case where the number of sheets conveyed by the conveyance unit 22 and the number of sheets having a specific electromagnetic specification match when they are different It is. A sheet with a magnetic material is an example of a sheet having specific electromagnetic characteristics.
The first detection unit 26 is provided on the upstream side of the second detection unit 27 in the sheet conveyance direction, and detects that a plurality of sheets are conveyed while being overlapped, and detects the passage of the trailing edge of the sheet. It is an example of a structure. The second detector 27 is configured to detect a sheet having specific electromagnetic characteristics when a predetermined time has elapsed after the passage of the trailing edge of the sheet is detected by the first detector 26. It is an example.
According to this embodiment, since the sheet for confidential documents and the sheet for non-confidential documents are conveyed in a state of being overlapped, printing on a sheet that is not for confidential documents is prevented.

<Modification>
The embodiment may be modified as follows. A plurality of modified examples may be combined.
<1>
In the embodiment, the example in which the first detection unit 26 is a displacement sensor having a function of detecting double feeding and a function of detecting the passage of the sheet rear end has been described. In addition, a sensor for detecting double feeding using ultrasonic waves or the like may be provided.

<2>
In the embodiment, an example of a sheet with a magnetic material is shown as a confidential document sheet, but a sheet including an RFID tag or the like may be used instead of the magnetic material. In this case, the second detection unit 27 obtains the number of sheets provided with the RFID tag based on the intensity of the radio wave received from the RFID tag. In short, the confidential document sheet may be a sheet having specific electromagnetic characteristics.

<3>
In the embodiment, an example is shown in which the number of sheets with magnetic material is estimated based on the amplitude of the received pulse, but the number of sheets may be estimated based on the area calculated by integrating the pulses.

<4>
In the embodiment, an example is shown in which printing is stopped when a sheet not having a magnetic material is mixed in a plurality of sheets that have been multi-fed, but processing other than printing may be performed. For example, an alarm such as a sound or light that notifies the occurrence of an abnormality may be output. Alternatively, a notification notifying the abnormality may be transmitted to the transmission source computer or the like that has transmitted the printing instruction to the printing apparatus 200. Alternatively, the image to be printed may be changed. For example, a warning message such as “This sheet cannot be used” may be printed on the double-fed sheet. Two or more of these processes may be executed. In short, it is only necessary to be configured so that it is understood that the confidential document sheet and the non-confidential document sheet are conveyed in an overlapped state.

  The following configuration may be applied as a countermeasure against intentional mixing of a sheet without a magnetic material. As a typical example of intentional mixing, an example in which a user who plans to take out a confidential document accommodates a sheet without a magnetic material in the accommodating unit 21 and transmits a printing instruction to the printing apparatus 200 is assumed. In this case, there is a possibility that the third party may not know even if the above-described processing (print stop, alarm output, print instruction notification to the transmission source, warning text print, etc.) is performed. is there. Therefore, a configuration in which an abnormality is directly notified to a third party can be considered. The third party is an administrator who manages the printing apparatus 200, for example. Specifically, a notification that informs the computer of the abnormality is transmitted. According to this configuration, the administrator knows that a sheet without a magnetic material has been mixed. At this time, information about the user may be transmitted. The information related to the user is, for example, an ID of a computer that is a transmission source of a print instruction, an authentication user ID input to the UI unit 25 of the printing apparatus 200, or the like. According to this configuration, a user who may be involved in an illegal act is specified.

  In the case of a configuration in which the double-fed sheets are discharged without printing, the conveyance path 221 may be branched so that the sheets are discharged to a location different from the sheet on which normal printing has been performed. In this case, a storage unit with a key for storing the multi-fed sheets may be provided at the end point of the conveyance path 221 so that the manager manages the key. According to this configuration, when an abnormality is notified to the administrator's computer, the administrator opens the storage unit, so that the administrator can recognize the mixing of the sheet without the magnetic material. Further, it is possible to prevent the evidence of fraud from being destroyed by the user involved in the fraud taking away the discharged sheet. In addition, when there is a false detection in the first detection unit 26 or the second detection unit 27, a sheet that does not have a magnetic material may not be discharged into the storage unit even though an abnormality is notified to the administrator's computer. However, according to this configuration, the erroneous detection is recognized by the administrator.

<5>
The processes of steps S05 and S06 in the flowchart of FIG. 3 may be executed between steps S02 and S03.
The process of step S02 in the flowchart of FIG. 3 may be omitted.

<6>
In the embodiment, the example in which the control unit 11 of the printing apparatus 200 realizes the above function by executing an application program has been described. However, all or part of the above function is implemented in the printing apparatus 200 by a hardware circuit. It may be. The program may be provided by being recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as an optical recording medium or a semiconductor memory, and the program may be read from the recording medium and installed in the printing apparatus 200. In addition, this program may be provided through a telecommunication line.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Control apparatus, 11 ... Control part, 12 ... Memory | storage part, 13 ... Communication part, 200 ... Printing apparatus, 21 ... Accommodating part, 22 ... Conveyance part, 221 ... Conveyance path, 222 ... Delivery roller, 223 ... Conveyance roller, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 23 ... Printing part, 24 ... Image processing part, 25 ... UI part, 26 ... 1st detection part, 261 ... Light source, 262 ... Light receiving element, 263 ... Detection circuit, 27 ... 2nd detection part, 271 ... Excitation coil, 272 ... Power supply, 273 ... Antenna, 274 ... Detection circuit

Claims (5)

A storage section for stacking and storing sheets;
A transport unit for taking out and transporting the sheet from the storage unit;
A first detection unit that detects that a plurality of sheets are conveyed in a state of being overlapped by the conveyance unit;
A second detection unit that detects a sheet conveyed by the conveyance unit and having a specific electromagnetic characteristic;
A printing unit for printing an image on the sheet conveyed by the conveyance unit;
When the number of sheets conveyed in the overlapped state detected by the first detection unit is different from the number of sheets having the specific electromagnetic characteristic detected by the second detection unit, the conveyance And a control unit that performs control for executing a predetermined process different from the case where the number of sheets conveyed by the unit coincides with the number of sheets having the specific electromagnetic specification. . The first detection unit is provided on the upstream side in the sheet conveyance direction from the second detection unit, and detects that a plurality of sheets are conveyed in an overlapped state, and detects the passage of the rear end of the sheet,
The second detection unit detects the sheet having the specific electromagnetic characteristic when a predetermined time has elapsed since the passage of the trailing edge of the sheet was detected by the first detection unit. The printing apparatus according to 1. The control unit performs control for executing at least one of printing stop, alarm output, notification to a predetermined notification destination, and change of an image to be printed as the predetermined process. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. A storage unit that stacks and stores sheets, a transport unit that takes out and transports sheets from the storage unit, a first detection unit that detects that a plurality of sheets are stacked by the transport unit, and A printing apparatus comprising: a second detection unit that detects a sheet conveyed by the conveyance unit and having a specific electromagnetic characteristic; and a printing unit that prints an image on the sheet conveyed by the conveyance unit. A control device for controlling
When the number of sheets conveyed in the overlapped state detected by the first detection unit is different from the number of sheets having the specific electromagnetic characteristic detected by the second detection unit, the conveyance A control device including a control unit that performs control for executing a predetermined process different from the case where the number of sheets conveyed by the unit coincides with the number of sheets having the specific electromagnetic specification. A storage unit that stacks and stores sheets, a transport unit that takes out and transports sheets from the storage unit, a first detection unit that detects that a plurality of sheets are stacked by the transport unit, and A printing apparatus comprising: a second detection unit that detects a sheet conveyed by the conveyance unit and having a specific electromagnetic characteristic; and a printing unit that prints an image on the sheet conveyed by the conveyance unit. Control the computer,
When the number of sheets conveyed in the overlapped state detected by the first detection unit is different from the number of sheets having the specific electromagnetic characteristic detected by the second detection unit, the conveyance A program for functioning as a control means for performing control for executing a predetermined process different from the case where the number of sheets conveyed by the section coincides with the number of sheets having the specific electromagnetic specification .

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