JP6536905B2 - Image forming apparatus and image forming system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an image forming system.

  Since paper money, securities, etc. may be illegally reproduced, a tracking pattern may be embedded in the printed matter in order to make the printed matter traceable.

  An image forming apparatus prints an identification information pattern using magnetic toner and embeds tracking information in a printed matter (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 2010-197818

  However, as described above, the identification information pattern by the magnetic toner is read by the magnetic sensor, and the read identification information pattern is embedded in another print by using the printing apparatus capable of using the magnetic toner, whereby the illegal print is It will be generated. Therefore, it is difficult to accurately specify whether the printed matter in which the identification information pattern is embedded is valid.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides an image forming apparatus and an image forming system capable of accurately specifying whether a document in which predetermined magnetic additional data is embedded is valid or not. The purpose is to get.

An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a magnetic sensor disposed on a conveyance path of printing paper and reading a magnetic code pattern printed on the printing paper, and magnetic image data of the magnetic code pattern read by the magnetic sensor. A magnetic image data acquisition unit for acquiring the magnetic image data, a decoding unit for decoding the magnetic image data acquired by the magnetic image data acquisition unit into magnetic additional data, and a data storage unit for storing the magnetic additional data in a predetermined storage device And a controller for printing on the printing paper an additional magnetic code pattern obtained by developing in a specific developing device and encoding additional magnetic additional data, data associating the magnetic additional data and the additional magnetic additional data with each other A coupling unit, and for the reference magnetic additional data, And a determining data matching unit that determines whether air additional data match. Then, the data storage unit associates the magnetic additional data and the additional magnetic additional data with each other to store the magnetic additional data and the additional magnetic additional data in a predetermined storage device, and the magnetic sensor performs the transport. The additional magnetic code pattern is placed on the printing paper when the magnetic additional data is determined to match the reference magnetic additional data by the data collating unit, which is disposed upstream of the registration sensor in the path. If it is determined that the magnetic additional data does not match the reference magnetic additional data by the data collating unit without printing, the additional magnetic code pattern is printed on the printing paper.

  An image forming system according to the present invention includes a server connected to a network and an image forming apparatus connected to the network. The image forming apparatus acquires a magnetic image data of the magnetic code pattern read by the magnetic sensor and a magnetic sensor which is disposed on a transport path of the printing sheet and reads the magnetic code pattern printed on the printing sheet. A magnetic image data acquisition unit; a decoding unit that decodes the magnetic image data acquired by the magnetic image data acquisition unit into magnetically attached data; and transmitting the magnetically added data to the server; and predetermined storage of the magnetically added data A data storage unit to be stored in the apparatus, a controller for printing an additional magnetic code pattern obtained by encoding additional magnetic additional data by developing with a specific developing apparatus, the magnetic additional data, and the additional magnetic additional data And a data coupling unit that associates the additional data with each other. The server receives the magnetic additional data, determines whether the received additional magnetic data matches the reference magnetic additional data, and transmits a determination result to the image forming apparatus. Prepare. The data storage unit associates the magnetic additional data and the additional magnetic additional data with each other, and stores the magnetic additional data and the additional magnetic additional data in a predetermined storage device. The magnetic sensor is disposed upstream of the resist sensor in the transport path, and the controller determines that the additional magnetic data matches the reference additional magnetic data by the data collating unit. If the code pattern is not printed on the printing paper, and it is determined by the data collating unit that the magnetically additional data does not match the reference magnetically additional data, the additional magnetic code pattern is printed on the printing paper.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to accurately specify whether or not a document in which predetermined magnetic additional data is embedded is valid.

  The above or other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a part of a mechanical internal configuration of an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a part of an electrical configuration of the image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a side view showing a part of the mechanical internal configuration of the image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a part of an electrical configuration of the image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

Embodiment 1

  FIG. 1 is a side view showing a part of a mechanical internal configuration of an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is an apparatus having a printing function of an electrophotographic system, such as a printer, a facsimile machine, a copier, a multifunction machine, and the like.

  The image forming apparatus of this embodiment has a tandem type color developing device. This color developing device has photosensitive drums 1a to 1d, exposure devices 2a to 2d, and developing units 3a to 3d. The photosensitive drums 1a to 1c are photosensitive members for non-magnetic toners of three colors of cyan, magenta, and yellow. The photosensitive drum 1d is a photosensitive member for magnetic toner.

  The exposure devices 2a to 2d are devices that scan and irradiate laser light onto the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d to form electrostatic latent images. The laser beam is scanned in a direction (main scanning direction) perpendicular to the rotation direction (sub-scanning direction) of the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d. The exposure devices 2a to 2d have a laser diode as a light source of laser light and a laser scanning unit including an optical element (a lens, a mirror, a polygon mirror, etc.) for guiding the laser light to the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d.

  Further, around the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d, a charger such as a scorotron, a cleaning device, a static eliminator, and the like are disposed. The cleaning device removes the residual toner on the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d after the primary transfer, and the static eliminator neutralizes the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d after the primary transfer.

  The developing devices 3a to 3c are provided with toner cartridges respectively filled with nonmagnetic toners of three colors of cyan, magenta and yellow, and nonmagnetic toners transported from toner hoppers in the toner cartridges as photosensitive drums 1a to 1c. The nonmagnetic toner is adhered to the electrostatic latent images on the photosensitive drums 1a to 1c to form a nonmagnetic toner image.

  The developing device 3d has a toner cartridge filled with magnetic toner, and a developing device for adhering the magnetic toner conveyed from the toner hopper in the toner cartridge to the photosensitive drum 1d, and the magnetic toner is used as a photosensitive drum The toner is attached to the electrostatic latent image on 1 d to form a magnetic toner image.

  Development of the magenta component of the image to be printed is performed by the photosensitive drum 1a, the exposure device 2a and the developing unit 3a, and development of the cyan component of the image to be printed is performed by the photosensitive drum 1b, the exposure device 2b and the developing unit 3b The yellow component of the image to be printed is developed by the photosensitive drum 1c, the exposure device 2c, and the developing unit 3c. Further, development of the magnetic code pattern is performed by the photosensitive drum 1d, the exposure device 2d and the developing unit 3d. For example, the magnetic code pattern is a one-dimensional bar code disposed along the sub-scanning direction (the document conveyance direction).

  The intermediate transfer belt 4 is an annular image bearing member (intermediate transfer member) which contacts the photosensitive drums 1 a to 1 d and primarily transfers the toner images on the photosensitive drums 1 a to 1 d. The intermediate transfer belt 4 is stretched around the drive roller 5 and revolves in the direction from the contact position with the photosensitive drum 1 d to the contact position with the photosensitive drum 1 a by the driving force from the drive roller 5.

  The transfer roller 6 brings the sheet conveyed as described later into contact with the intermediate transfer belt 4 and secondarily transfers the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 4 onto the sheet. The sheet to which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing unit 9, and the toner image is fixed to the sheet.

  The roller 7 has a cleaning brush and brings the cleaning brush into contact with the intermediate transfer belt 4 to remove the toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 4 after the transfer of the toner image onto the sheet or after the calibration.

  The sensor 8 applies a light beam to the intermediate transfer belt 4 and detects the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 4 or the reflected light from the toner pattern on the surface. For example, at the time of calibration of toner gradation, the sensor 8 irradiates a light beam to a predetermined area of the intermediate transfer belt 4 (a region to which a toner patch for calibration is transferred), and detects reflected light of the light beam. An electrical signal corresponding to the light amount is output.

  Further, the image forming apparatus according to this embodiment includes a plurality of sheet feeding cassettes 11 and 12.

  The sheet feeding cassettes 11 and 12 accommodate the sheets 101 and 102, and lift the sheets 101 and 102 upward by the lift plates 21 and 24 to contact the pickup rollers 22 and 25. The sheets 101 and 102 placed on the sheet feeding cassettes 11 and 12 are picked up on the sheet feeding rollers 23 and 26 by the pickup rollers 22 and 25 one by one from the upper side. The sheet feeding rollers 23 and 26 are rollers that convey the sheets 101 and 102 fed from the sheet feeding cassettes 11 and 12 by the pickup rollers 22 and 25 one by one onto the conveyance path.

  The conveyance roller 27 is a conveyance roller on a conveyance path common to the sheets 101 and 102 conveyed from the sheet feeding cassettes 11 and 12.

  The registration roller 28 temporarily stops the sheet being conveyed, and conveys the sheet to the transfer position by the intermediate transfer belt 4 and the transfer roller 6 at the secondary sheet feeding timing. The secondary sheet feeding timing is designated by a controller 41 described later such that the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 4 is transferred to a designated position on the sheet.

  The resist sensor 29 is a sensor disposed near the resist roller 28 and optically detecting that the sheet has reached the resist roller 28.

  The magnetic sensor 31 is disposed on the conveyance path (common conveyance path) of the printing sheets 101 and 102 and reads the magnetic code pattern printed on the printing sheets 101 and 102. The magnetic code pattern has, for example, the shape of a one-dimensional bar code along the sub-scanning direction (the transport direction of the printing paper 101, 102).

  In the first embodiment, the magnetic sensor 31 is disposed downstream of the fixing device 9 on the conveyance path.

  The magnetic sensor 31 is a magnetic head that detects a change in magnetic intensity in the measurement area, and detects a change in magnetic intensity as the magnetic code pattern passes.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a part of an electrical configuration of the image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus includes a controller 41, a printing device 42, an operation panel 43, and a storage device 44.

  The controller 41 includes a computer, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), etc., realizes various processing units with software and / or hardware, monitors and controls internal devices such as the printing apparatus 42, and performs various data processing. .

  The printing apparatus 42 is an internal device that prints the document image and the magnetic code pattern with a mechanical configuration as shown in FIG. 1.

  The operation panel 43 includes a display device such as a liquid crystal display for displaying an operation screen to the user, and an input device such as a touch panel that receives a user operation and a hard key.

  The storage device 44 is a non-volatile storage device such as a flash memory.

  Furthermore, the controller 41 operates as a print control unit 51, a magnetic image data acquisition unit 52, a decoding unit 53, and a data storage unit 54.

  The print control unit 51 controls sheet conveyance, toner development, and fixing in the printing apparatus 42 to execute printing. At this time, the print control unit 51 controls the above-described driving source (not shown) for driving the rollers and the like, a bias application circuit for applying a developing bias and a primary transfer bias, and the exposure devices 2a to 2d to Execute development, transfer and fixing, and feed, print and discharge.

  The magnetic image data acquisition unit 52 acquires magnetic image data of a magnetic code pattern magnetically read by the magnetic sensor 31. The magnetic image data has, for example, a value obtained by binarizing the magnetic intensity detected at each position of the measurement area of the magnetic sensor 31.

  The decoding unit 53 decodes the magnetic image data acquired by the magnetic image data acquisition unit 52 into magnetic additional data.

  The data storage unit 54 stores the magnetic additional data in a predetermined storage device 44.

  The controller 41 develops with a specific developing device 3 d, prints the magnetic code pattern on the printing paper with magnetic toner, develops with the other developing devices 3 a to 3 c, and superimposes the magnetic code pattern with nonmagnetic toner. The magnetic code pattern may be hidden.

  The storage device 44 is a non-volatile storage device such as a flash memory.

  Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment will be described.

  The printing control unit 51 feeds and conveys the printing paper 101, 102 using the printing device 42, transfers an image with nonmagnetic toner onto the printing paper 101, 102, and prints a magnetic code pattern with magnetic toner. Then, the image and the magnetic code pattern are fixed on the printing sheets 101 and 102. Thereafter, the print sheets 101 and 102 are conveyed and pass through the detection area of the magnetic sensor 31.

  At that time, the magnetic sensor 31 reads the magnetic code pattern printed on the printing paper 101, 102, and the magnetic image data acquisition unit 52 generates the magnetic image data of the magnetic code pattern based on the output signal from the magnetic sensor 31. The decoding unit 53 decodes the magnetic image data into magnetic additional data, and the data storage unit 54 associates the magnetic additional data with the above-described document image, document data file, etc. Store. For example, the data storage unit 54 manages the magnetically attached data in a database.

  Here, the magnetic code pattern printed by the printing device 42 is read by the magnetic sensor 31, but the magnetic code pattern printed in advance on the printing paper 101, 102 may be read by the magnetic sensor 31.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, the magnetic sensor 31 is disposed on the conveyance path of the printing paper, reads the magnetic code pattern printed on the printing paper, and the magnetic image data acquisition unit 52 Magnetic image data of the magnetic code pattern read by the magnetic sensor 31 is acquired. The decoding unit 53 decodes the magnetic image data acquired by the magnetic image data acquisition unit 52 into magnetic additional data, and the data storage unit 54 stores the magnetic additional data in a predetermined storage device 44.

  In this way, the magnetic additional data can be acquired and registered at the same time when printing and creating a normal document, and thereafter, based on the registered magnetic additional data, predetermined magnetic additional data is embedded. It is possible to accurately identify whether or not the manuscript is valid.

  In addition, since the magnetic additional data is acquired and registered at the time of printing and preparing the regular original, it is not necessary to register the magnetic additional data after preparing the regular original.

Second Embodiment

  FIG. 3 is a side view showing a part of the mechanical internal configuration of the image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. The image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 3 is an apparatus having a printing function of an electrophotographic method, such as a printer, a facsimile machine, a copier, a multifunction machine, and the like. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a part of an electrical configuration of the image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

  In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the magnetic sensor 31 is disposed upstream of the resist sensor 29 in the print sheet conveyance path, and the magnetic code pattern is printed on the print sheets 101 and 102 in advance. There is.

  In the second embodiment, the controller 41 develops an additional magnetic code pattern obtained by encoding additional magnetic additional data by developing with a specific developing device 3 d when predetermined conditions are satisfied, on the printing paper 101, 102. Print. The additional magnetic additional data has a unique value according to the condition.

  Further, in the second embodiment, the controller 41 further operates as a data combining unit 61 and a data comparing unit 62.

  The data coupling unit 61 associates the above-mentioned magnetic additional data and the additional magnetic additional data with each other. In the second embodiment, the data storage unit 54 associates the above-mentioned magnetic additional data and the additional magnetic additional data with each other, and stores the magnetic additional data and the additional magnetic additional data in the predetermined storage device 44.

  In addition, the data collating unit 62 determines whether or not the magnetically added data obtained by the decoding unit 53 matches the reference magnetically added data in the reference data 63. Then, when it is determined by the data collating unit 62 that the magnetically added data match the reference magnetically added data, the controller 41 does not print the additional magnetic code pattern on the printing paper 101, 102, and the data collating unit 62 If it is determined that the magnetically added data does not match the magnetically added data, the additionally magnetic code pattern is printed on the printing paper 101, 102.

  The controller 41 develops the additional magnetic code pattern with the specific developing device 3d, prints it on the printing paper 101, 102 with magnetic toner, develops with the other developing devices 3a to 3c, and adds magnetic with the nonmagnetic toner. The additional magnetic code pattern may be hidden by superimposing on the code pattern.

  In addition, the storage device 44 stores reference data 63. The reference data 63 includes reference magnetic additional data which is normal magnetic additional data.

  Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment will be described.

  The print control unit 51 uses the printing device 42 to feed and transport the print sheets 101 and 102 to the registration roller 28. At that time, the print sheets 101 and 102 are conveyed and pass through the measurement area of the magnetic sensor 31.

  At that time, the magnetic sensor 31 reads the magnetic code pattern printed on the printing paper 101, 102, and the magnetic image data acquisition unit 52 generates the magnetic image data of the magnetic code pattern based on the output signal from the magnetic sensor 31. The decoding unit 53 decodes the magnetic image data into magnetic additional data.

  Here, the magnetic code pattern pre-printed on the print sheets 101 and 102 is read by the magnetic sensor 31.

  Then, the data collating unit 62 determines, based on the reference data 63, whether or not the magnetically added data obtained by the decoding unit 53 matches the reference magnetically added data.

  If the data collating unit 62 determines that the magnetically added data matches the reference magnetically additional data, the print control unit 51 does not print the additional magnetic code pattern on the printing paper 101, 102, and the data collating unit 62 If it is determined that the magnetically added data does not match the magnetically added data, the additionally magnetic code pattern is printed on the printing paper 101, 102.

  That is, the print control unit 51 transfers an image made of nonmagnetic toner onto the print sheets 101 and 102 and fixes the image on the print sheets 101 and 102. Furthermore, when the magnetic additional data does not match the reference magnetic additional data by the data collating part 62, the print control part 51 transfers the additional magnetic code pattern of magnetic toner onto the printing paper 101, 102, and the image and the image The additional magnetic code pattern is fixed on the printing paper 101, 102.

  The data storage unit 54 stores the additional magnetic data and the additional additional magnetic data in the storage device 44 in association with each other when the data collating unit 62 determines that the additional magnetic data does not match the reference magnetic additional data. Do. At this time, a document image, a document data file, and the like may be stored in the storage device 44 in association with the magnetic additional data and the additional magnetic additional data.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, the controller 41 prints the additional magnetic code pattern on the printing paper when it is determined by the data collating unit 62 that the additional magnetic data match the reference additional magnetic data. If it is determined that the magnetic additional data does not match the reference magnetic additional data by the data collating unit 62, the additional magnetic code pattern is printed on the printing paper.

  As a result, when an illegal printing paper is used, the additional magnetic code pattern is printed on the printing paper, and thereafter it is determined that the printing paper is not valid based on the additional magnetic code pattern. Can.

Third Embodiment

  The image forming system according to the third embodiment includes a server connected to a network such as the Internet or a local area network, and an image forming apparatus connected to the network. In the third embodiment, the data collating unit 62 and the reference data 63 in the second embodiment are provided not in the image forming apparatus but in the server.

  The server includes, for example, a computer that executes a server program and a storage device similar to the storage device 23, and includes a data collating unit 62 similar to that of the first embodiment that is realized by the computer. Also, reference data 63 is stored in the storage device of the server. Further, the image forming apparatus in the third embodiment includes components other than the data collating unit 62 in the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment. Then, in the third embodiment, the decoding unit 53 of the image forming apparatus decodes the magnetic image data acquired by the magnetic image data acquisition unit 52 into magnetic additional data, and transmits the magnetic additional data to the server, Data collating unit 62 receives the magnetic additional data, determines whether the received additional magnetic data matches the reference magnetic additional data in reference data 63, and transmits the determination result to the image forming apparatus Do.

  The other operations of the image forming apparatus in the third embodiment are the same as those in the second embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

  Note that various changes and modifications to the above-described embodiment will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject matter and without diminishing the intended advantages. That is, such changes and modifications are intended to be included in the scope of the claims.

  For example, in the second embodiment, the data collating unit 62 uses the reference data 63 stored in the storage unit 44. However, the data collating unit stores the reference data 63 in a server on the network. 62 may download reference data 63 from the server and use it.

  The present invention is applicable to, for example, an image forming apparatus that creates a regular document having a magnetic code pattern.

31 Magnetic sensor 52 Magnetic image data acquisition unit 53 Decoding unit 54 Data storage unit 61 Data combining unit 62 Data matching unit

Claims (4)

A magnetic sensor disposed on a print sheet conveyance path and reading a magnetic code pattern printed on the print sheet;
A magnetic image data acquisition unit that acquires magnetic image data of the magnetic code pattern read by the magnetic sensor;
A decoding unit that decodes the magnetic image data acquired by the magnetic image data acquisition unit into magnetic additional data;
A data storage unit for storing the magnetic additional data in a predetermined storage device;
A controller that prints on the printing paper an additional magnetic code pattern obtained by developing in a specific developing device and encoding additional magnetic additional data, and a data combining unit that correlates the magnetic additional data with the additional magnetic additional data When,
A data collating unit that determines whether or not the magnetically added data obtained by the decoding unit matches the reference magnetically added data;
Equipped with
The data storage unit associates the magnetic additional data and the additional magnetic additional data with each other, and stores the magnetic additional data and the additional magnetic additional data in a predetermined storage device.
The magnetic sensor is disposed upstream of the resist sensor in the transport path,
The controller does not print the additional magnetic code pattern on the printing paper when the data collating unit determines that the magnetic additional data matches the reference magnetic additional data, and the data collating unit does not print the additional magnetic code pattern. Printing the additional magnetic code pattern on the printing paper when it is determined that the magnetic additional data does not match the magnetic additional data;
An image forming apparatus characterized by The controller develops the additional magnetic code pattern with the specific developing device, prints it on the printing paper with magnetic toner, develops it with another developing device, and superimposes the additional magnetic code pattern with nonmagnetic toner. the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the hides the additional magnetic code pattern Te.   Develop with a specific developing device and print the magnetic code pattern on the printing paper with magnetic toner, develop with another developing device and overlap the magnetic code pattern with nonmagnetic toner to hide the magnetic code pattern The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a controller. With servers connected to the network,
An image forming apparatus connected to the network;
The image forming apparatus is
A magnetic sensor disposed on a print sheet conveyance path and reading a magnetic code pattern printed on the print sheet;
A magnetic image data acquisition unit that acquires magnetic image data of the magnetic code pattern read by the magnetic sensor;
A decoding unit that decodes the magnetic image data acquired by the magnetic image data acquisition unit into magnetic additional data and transmits the magnetic additional data to the server;
A data storage unit for storing the magnetic additional data in a predetermined storage device;
A controller that prints on the printing paper an additional magnetic code pattern obtained by developing with a specific developing device and encoding additional magnetic additional data;
A data coupling unit for correlating the magnetic additional data and the additional magnetic additional data;
The server receives the magnetic additional data, determines whether the received additional magnetic data matches the reference magnetic additional data, and transmits a determination result to the image forming apparatus. Equipped
The data storage unit associates the magnetic additional data and the additional magnetic additional data with each other, and stores the magnetic additional data and the additional magnetic additional data in a predetermined storage device.
The magnetic sensor is disposed upstream of the resist sensor in the transport path,
The controller does not print the additional magnetic code pattern on the printing paper when the data collating unit determines that the magnetic additional data matches the reference magnetic additional data, and the data collating unit does not print the additional magnetic code pattern. Printing the additional magnetic code pattern on the printing paper when it is determined that the magnetic additional data does not match the magnetic additional data;
An image forming system characterized by

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