JPH0591316A - Color copying device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily identify and manage a copying machine which outputs a picture. CONSTITUTION:When the add-on mode is requested in a step S1, a picture for add-on mode setting is displayed, and the add-on mode is set by depression of the ON key on the picture (step S2), and 'hidden code' is set (step S3). When a copy key is depressed at this time (step S4), it is checked whether an add-on board is normally set to the copying machine main body or not (step S5), and the copying operation is started if the add-on board is normally connected. If the add-on board is not normally connected, the copy operation is inhibited (step S11). When the add-on board is normally connected, an add-on on character generating part develops character patterns stored in a font ROM in a step S7.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a color copying apparatus for synthesizing an output image with a specific code or pattern.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as the image quality of color copiers has increased, in situations where forgery prevention by the copier is required, it is added to the output image that the output image is not an original but a copy. Techniques have been proposed by the applicant. One of them is a method of combining a specific code or pattern with an output image. in this way,
By adding a means for storing the pattern and a means for combining the pattern with the image, and combining the output image with a specific pattern in a color tone or density that is inconspicuous to the human eye, I try to understand that it is a copy.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional color copying machine, if the means for storing the pattern and the means for synthesizing the pattern with the image are replaced with the means for which the pattern is not inputted at all, the output is made. There is a problem that a specific pattern is not formed on the image, and forgery by a copying machine can be easily performed. In addition, since the stored patterns are fixed, the administrator such as the service person of the copying machine sets an arbitrary pattern that is different for each copying machine, so that the machine that outputs the image can be controlled. There is a problem that it is not possible to meet the demand for being able to identify.

[0004]

The present invention has been made for the purpose of solving the above-mentioned problems. As one means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the following structure is provided. That is, in a color copying apparatus having an image processing means for performing a predetermined image processing on an input image, setting means for arbitrarily setting a pattern and pattern data for generating pattern data indicating the pattern set by the setting means. Generating means, means for synthesizing the input image and the pattern, image forming means for forming a synthesized image on a recording medium, and the pattern data generating means when not added to the color copying apparatus. A control means for controlling the image formation by the image forming means. Preferably, the control means includes means for issuing a predetermined alarm when image formation by the image forming means is prohibited.

[0005]

With the above construction, the addition of pattern data serves to easily identify the copying machine that has output an image.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. <First Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a digital color copying machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a sectional structural view of the digital color copying machine according to the present embodiment. Is. As shown in FIG. 2, the digital color copying machine is roughly divided into a reader unit 201 and a printer unit 203.

[Structure of Reader Unit] In the block diagram of the digital color copying apparatus shown in FIG. 1, the image sensor 100 is composed of, for example, a CCD or the like, and the read image information is converted into R, G, B electric signals. It is converted and output to the A / D conversion unit 101 as an analog image signal. This A
The / D conversion unit 101 converts the analog image signal into a digital image signal and outputs the digital image signal to the color masking unit 102.

The undercolor removing unit 103 removes the gray component from the three-color signal and replaces it with a black signal. Gradation correction unit 1
Reference numeral 04 executes gradation processing (gamma, brightness, contrast, density conversion, etc.). Also, the image modulator 105
An area generation circuit (not shown) is built in the, and various image processings are performed based on the area generation circuit. Further, the scaling unit 107 performs scaling processing.

The add-on board 116 is connected to the main body of the copying machine by the connector 117, and the image data bus 12
1, signal line 119, CPU bus 118 is connector 117
Connected through. The signal line 119 is always kept in the active state by the add-on charactor generation unit 109, and becomes in the positive state when the add-on board 116 is removed from the copying machine. Further, the add-on character generator 109 generates an image signal based on the pattern stored in the font ROM 110.
This pattern is used as a code to indicate that the output image is a copy image rather than the original image.

The image synthesizing unit 106 synthesizes the image signal from the original document and the image signal from the add-on character generating unit 109. This synthesis is performed, for example, so that the image from the add-on character generation circuit 109 is output with a constant density and color tone. In this combination, effective forgery prevention can be performed by selecting a color tone and a density which are not noticeable to human eyes but can be reliably read by a CCD or the like, for example, pale yellow.

An interface (I / F) 108 is an interface section with a printer section 203 (see FIG. 2), which serves as an image forming section. It communicates with the unit 203. In addition, the CP connected to the system bus 111
The U 112 controls the entire copying machine based on the control program stored in the ROM 114 and using the RAM 113 as a work area (work area). The operation unit 115 uses the copy conditions for the image read by the image sensor 100 (copy mode (density, number of sheets, magnification, etc.)).
Are configured so that they can be set in combination.

[Printer Configuration] In FIG. 2, a polygon scanner 301 is a scanner for scanning the photosensitive drum 318 with a laser beam, and an image forming section 302 is a magenta (M) image forming section in the first stage. .. With the same configuration as the image forming unit 302, three image forming units are provided for each color of cyan (C), yellow (Y), and black (K).
An image is formed at 03, 304, and 305.

In the image forming section 302, the photosensitive drum 3
18 forms a latent image by exposure to laser light, and a developing device 31
3 develops toner on the photosensitive drum 318. A sleeve 314 in the developing device 313 is a sleeve that applies a developing bias to perform toner development, and is a primary charger 315.
Charges the photosensitive drum 318 to a desired potential. Further, the cleaner 317 cleans the surface of the photosensitive drum 318 after the transfer, the auxiliary charger 316 discharges the surface of the photosensitive drum 318 cleaned by the cleaner 317, and the primary charger 315 performs good charging. To get it. Then, the pre-exposure lamp 330 is connected to the photosensitive drum 318.
The transfer charger 31 is a lamp for erasing the residual charge on the upper side.
9 discharges from the back surface of the transfer belt 316 to transfer the toner image on the photosensitive drum 318 to the transfer member.

The cassettes 309 and 310 are cassettes for accommodating the transfer members, and the sheet feeding unit 308 supplies the transfer members from the cassettes 309 and 310. The attraction charger 311 attracts the transfer member fed by the feeding unit 308 to the transfer belt 306, and transfers the transfer belt roller 312.
Is used to rotate the transfer belt 306, and at the same time, forms a pair with the suction charging device 311 to suction and charge the transfer member on the transfer belt 306.

Further, the discharging charger 324 is a discharging charger for facilitating separation of the transfer member from the transfer belt 306, and the peeling charger 325 is used as the transfer member for the transfer belt 3.
Image disturbance due to peeling discharge when separated from 06 is prevented. The pre-fixing chargers 326 and 327 compensate for the amount of toner adsorbed on the transfer member after separation and prevent image disturbance. Then, the transfer belt charge-eliminating chargers 322 and 323 charge the transfer belt 306 to electrostatically initialize the transfer belt 306, and the belt cleaner 328 is a cleaner that removes dirt on the transfer belt 306.

The fixing device 307 separates from the transfer belt 306 and heat-fixes the toner image on the transfer member charged by the pre-fixing charging devices 326 and 327 on the transfer member. The paper leading edge sensor 329 is a sensor that detects the leading edge of the transfer member fed onto the transfer belt by the paper feeding unit 308, and the detection signal from the paper leading edge sensor 329 is the printer unit 203.
From the reader unit 201 to the printer unit 203, and is used as a sub-scanning synchronization signal when sending a video signal from the reader unit 201 to the printer unit 203.

[Description of Copy Operation] Next, the copy operation in this copying machine will be described. Here, the procedure for mounting the add-on board 116 on the main body of the copying machine and using the forgery prevention function in the add-on mode will be described. FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing a copy operation procedure in the copying machine according to the present embodiment. In step S1 shown in the figure, when a request for the add-on mode, that is, when the operator performs a specific operation on the operation section 115 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a liquid crystal display section (touch panel display) on the operation section is displayed. ), An add-on mode setting screen as shown in FIG. 3 is displayed (step S1). If there is no request for the add-on mode setting, other processing, for example, the status display waiting for copy start is performed.

When the add-on mode is used, the ON key 401 on the screen shown in FIG. 3 is pressed to turn on the add-on mode (step S2), and the "hidden code" is set on the screen shown in FIG. 4 ( Step S3). Note that FIG.
In the screen shown in, the code string is only numbers, but it is possible to have various code systems (for example, alphanumeric characters, kana, kanji, etc.) by changing the means for entering the code. The input code string is stored in a storage unit (not shown) which is a part of the RAM 113. This input data is retained by the backup function even after the power of the copying machine main body is turned off. It

When it is set to use the add-on mode, when the copy key (not shown) on the operation unit 115 is pressed (step S4), the add-on board 1 is first set.
Check whether 16 is normally attached to the main body of the copying machine (step S5). If the connection of the add-on board 116 is normal, that is, the determination in step S6 is YE.
If it is S, the copy operation is directly started. However, if it is determined that the connection of the add-on board 116 is not normal (NO in step S6), an alarm message or error message as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the display unit (step S10). ), The copy operation is prohibited (step S11).

Next, if the connection of the add-on board 116 is normal, in step S7, the add-on character generation unit 109 is registered in advance and stored in the storage unit (here,
The character pattern stored in the font ROM 110 is developed based on the code data stored in the RAM 113). Then, in the following step S8,
It is determined whether or not the OFF key is pressed, that is, the add-on mode is released. Specifically, OFF on the screen shown in FIG.
The key 400 is pressed to cancel the add-on mode (step S9).

However, if the cancellation is not instructed in step S8, the process returns to step S3 and waits for a new "hidden code" input. As described above, according to the present embodiment, in the copying machine that combines the output image with the hidden code as the specific pattern indicating that the output image is not the original but the copy, the copying machine is operated by the operation. By allowing you to enter and set your own hidden code for each, a serviceman or other administrator can perform that operation and easily identify and identify the copier that has output the image from the output image. There is an effect that can be done.

Further, in the copying machine which prevents forgery by the input hidden code, when it is detected that the source of the hidden code for combining with the output image is separated from the main body of the copying machine, the copying operation by the copying machine is performed. By prohibiting it, it is possible to prevent the forgery prevention mechanism from being released due to the absence of the supply source such as when the hidden code supply source is replaced, and to take more effective safety measures against the forgery.

In the above embodiment, when the add-on mode is set to be used, the "hidden code" is input on the operation unit and the setting is made. However, the "hidden code" is copied in advance. It is stored in the ROM 114 of the main body of the machine, and based on these codes, the font ROM 11
The character pattern stored in 0 may be expanded.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, a font ROM
110 may be separated from the add-on board 116 and connected to the system bus 111, and the add-on charactor generation unit 109 may expand the charactor pattern stored in the font ROM 110 via the connector 117. By doing so, even if the add-on board 116 is replaced, the “hidden code” to be combined can always be the same.

Further, the "hidden code" may be set by the means described below. Since the copying machine here has the same configuration as the copying machine according to the above-described embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the same components as those of the block configuration of FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals, and their description will be given here. Is omitted.
In the copying machine shown in FIG. 8, the “hidden code” setting is performed by the display switch 150 provided on the add-on board 116.
It is configured to be performed by. In addition, I / O15
Reference numeral 1 controls the interface between the display switch 150 and the signal line 119.

In the copying machine here, when the add-on mode setting screen in the service mode (see FIG. 9) is entered, the current code set by the display switch 150 is displayed. Note that the code system in this case is only a numerical string due to the nature of the display switch. However, these are not limited to hexadecimal numbers and decimal numbers.

<Second Embodiment> A second embodiment according to the present invention will be described below. FIG. 10 is a system configuration diagram of a remote management system for a copying machine using a digital color copying machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The block structure and the sectional structure of the copying machine used in this system are the same as those of the digital color copying machine according to the first embodiment, and therefore their description is omitted here. In FIG. 10, digital color copying machines 500, 5
01 is a communication line 504 using a general telephone line or the like.
505, and communication modems 502, 503, 506, 5
The host computer 509, which is the main control unit of the management system, is connected via 07. The communication control device 508 controls a plurality of communication lines and controls the communication through these lines, and here, the communication control of the two communication lines is performed.

The host computer 509 controls the communication control device 508 by a dedicated communication management program, and manages the copying machines 500 and 501 connected to the communication control device 508 based on the result. .. This communication management program indicates the status of the copying machines 500, 501 via the communication lines 504, 505 at regular time intervals, for example,
Once a day, monitor at a certain fixed time, and register among those copying machines using the add-on mode (the same as the add-on mode described in the first embodiment). Query the "Hidden Code" column that is displayed.

Then, based on the result, it is judged whether the registered "hidden code" column is registered by the host computer 509 or set by the copying machine side, and image output is performed. The centralized identification and remote management of copying machines Even if the present invention is applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices,
It may be applied to an apparatus composed of one device.

[0030]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By merging pattern data set arbitrarily to the read image, there is an effect that the copying machine that has output the image can be easily identified. Further, when the set pattern data is not added, by prohibiting the copying operation, it is possible to prevent the forgery prevention mechanism from being released due to the absence of the pattern data.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a digital color copying machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a sectional structural view of a digital color copying machine according to the first embodiment,

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a screen display when using the add-on mode,

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a screen on which a code string is displayed when the “hidden code” is set,

[Fig. 5] Display example of an alarm message when it is determined that the connection of the add-on board is not normal,

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing a copy operation procedure in the copying machine according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a front RO in the copying machine according to the first embodiment.
Block diagram when the connection position of M is changed,

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a copying machine according to the first embodiment in which a display switch for setting a “hidden code” is installed.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an add-on mode setting screen in a service mode of a copying machine equipped with a display switch,

FIG. 10 is a system configuration diagram of a remote management system for a copying machine using a digital color copying machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 106 image composition unit 110 font ROM 112 CPU 116 add-on board 502, 503, 506, 507 communication modem

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A color copying apparatus comprising an image processing means for subjecting an input image to predetermined image processing, wherein setting means for arbitrarily setting a pattern and pattern data showing the pattern set by the setting means are generated. Pattern data generating means, means for combining the input image and the pattern, image forming means for forming a combined image on a recording medium, and the pattern data generating means are added to the color copying apparatus. And a control unit for controlling the image formation by the image forming unit when it is not present. 2. The color copying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control means includes means for issuing a predetermined alarm when image formation by the image forming means is prohibited. 3. The color copying apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising communication means for communicating with an external device, through which the pattern data can be set and monitored by the external device. Copying device.