JPH07115537A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To contrive the device such that copy inhibit information is hardly decoded to be hardly used illegally and the user to which recording/transmission/ reading is allowed depending on the importance of an original is set. CONSTITUTION:When a user ID is received (S1) and an original having copy inhibit information is placed on an original placing plate (S2) and a copy start command is received, the original is scanned (S3). When the ID is received, a detector detecting the copy inhibit information reads the inhibit information on the original (S5). The read inhibit information and the ID are compared (S6) to discriminate the presence of a right of copy (S7). When the right of copy is in existence in the information, the copying is conducted and the processing is terminated (S8). When the user ID is not received, after the copy start command is received, the entry of the ID is urged (S9) and then a succeeding copy start command is awaited. The user enters its ID for that waiting time. When the ID having no right of copy is received, information of copy inhibited is displayed (S10) and a succeeding copy start command is awaited. The user enters its ID with the right of copy for that time or the user replaces the original with other original.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a recording / transmission / reading prohibition function, and in particular, copy prohibition information (code / pattern / color etc.) on a document and a user identification code. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus in which a combination of recording / transmission / readability can be arbitrarily set by both (hereinafter referred to as user ID).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an image forming apparatus which applies image processing by applying digital technology has been able to reproduce a document image such as a color document with high accuracy. Further, as for the image forming apparatus, as typified by a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, and the like, technological development of basic functions for reproducing and recording a document image read by an optical reading device from a document set on a platen is active. Has been done in. Further, in response to diversifying needs, the read image information is transmitted to another image forming apparatus via a network such as a LAN,
In addition, a composite having a function of reproducing and recording image information sent from another image forming apparatus through a network is also in progress.

In such a multifunctional image forming apparatus, generally, any user interface can be used freely without any restrictions, that is, user convenience in which priority is given to user convenience. It is the current situation. Therefore, new problems such as leakage and misuse of confidential company information and personal information documents through unwanted recording media such as paper, digitized information, and electronic transmission are presented. Came to As a countermeasure against this, a function to add copy prohibition code information or specific pattern to the document, or to let the user input ID information, read this information and verify it, and decide whether or not copying is possible. Something has been proposed.

[0004]

However, various measures have been proposed for preventing the leakage of important information from the image forming apparatus due to a copy, but these problems also occur. For example, in the method proposed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 54-32232, a specific pattern for prohibiting copying is formed on the surface of a document, and when the specific pattern is detected, the copying function is stopped. With this method, there is a problem that copying cannot be performed even when copying from a document having a specific pattern of copy inhibition is required, that is, once the specific pattern is given to the document, copying cannot be performed again.

Further, in the partial pattern system in which copying is prohibited such as a bar code, it is possible to easily release the copying prohibition when a cut and paste operation is performed, which means that it cannot be put to practical use and a huge amount of information on the bar code. Cannot be fully utilized.
Further, in the technique proposed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 102561/1993, when the image forming apparatus detects the copy prohibition, the copying operation is temporarily suspended, and in this state, an encryption code or an encryption code card is input. Enables copying. In this method, a person who operates with the intention of copying from a copy-prohibited manuscript and the right to do so has the trouble of interrupting the copying operation and not only the input of the code etc. in order to continue the copying work. There is the annoyance that the operation of “copy prohibition cancellation” is required.

Furthermore, in recent years, the conflict of important information is prevented, and copying is effective for promoting common understanding by improving the flow of information between departments / hierarchies (employees and people) by sharing / sharing information. In order to satisfy the matters to be met, there is an increasing demand for setting a plurality of copying permission / prohibition for each important information for each department and / or hierarchy (work system or person). Note that leakage of important information is not limited to obtaining a hard copy directly from a manuscript or sending a facsimile to obtain a hard copy, but the manuscript information is converted into an electrical signal, so-called electronic information, and stored in a storage medium. There is also a problem that the same must be noted for the method of doing.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that makes it difficult to break copy prohibition information and makes it difficult to be illegally used, and has a function of setting a user who can record / transmit / read according to the importance of a document. To provide. Another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus having a function capable of changing the importance of a document for each deadline and setting a user capable of recording / transmitting / reading according to the changed importance. Especially. Still another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus having a function of automatically canceling the recording / transmission / reading restrictions on a document whose copy inhibition period has expired.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention as set forth in claim 1 relates to a plurality of types of originals for which copying should be restricted, and the originals of each type An image forming apparatus for controlling whether or not to form an image by means of a detection means for detecting a predetermined characteristic of a document, an identification means for identifying the type of the document based on the characteristic detected by the detection means, and an operation. Based on the input means for inputting the information of the operator and the type of the original identified by the identifying means when the type of the original is one whose duplication should be restricted and the operator code input by the input means. And a determination means for determining whether or not image formation is possible. According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus for controlling whether or not an image can be formed by a document of each type for a plurality of types of documents for which copying is to be restricted. Detecting means for detecting the characteristics of the document, identifying means for identifying the type of the original document based on the characteristics detected by the detecting means, and based on the type of the original document identified by the identifying means and date and time information at the time of operation. And a determination unit that determines whether or not image formation is possible. Further, the invention described in claim 3 is an image forming apparatus for controlling whether or not an image can be formed by a document for each of a plurality of types of documents having additional information for limiting copying. A detection unit for detecting the characteristic of the material of the original document; an identification unit for identifying the type of the original document based on the characteristic detected by the detection unit; a reading unit for reading additional information of the original document; and an operator's code information. Input means for inputting, and a judging means for judging whether or not an image can be formed based on the type of document identified by the identifying means, the additional information read by the reading means, and the operator code input from the input means. It is in a different configuration.

[0009]

According to the invention described in claim 1, the recording / transmission / reading prohibition information existing on the document is input as I.
By determining whether or not copying / transmission / reading is possible based on the combination of both the D information and the D information, and controlling the image forming operation based on the result, it is possible to set an operator who can make a copy for each type of document whose copy should be restricted. Copying can be prevented according to the importance of the manuscript. According to the second aspect of the present invention, the validity period is determined for each type of the original by determining the possibility of image formation based on the type of the original and the date and time information at the time of operation, and the importance degree is determined according to the operation time. Can be changed. When the expiration date of the copy prohibition expires, the copy restriction is automatically released. According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to finely set the operator who can make a copy for each document by determining whether or not the image can be formed based on the read additional information and the input operator code.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The present embodiment is applied to an electrophotographic apparatus as an image forming apparatus.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 shows a main structure of an electrophotographic apparatus provided with a sensor for detecting copy prohibition information on a document. The electrophotographic apparatus includes a charger 9 on the outer periphery of the photoconductor 8,
A developing device 10, a transfer device 12, a cleaning device 15, and a static eliminator 16 are arranged. In this electrophotographic apparatus, as the photoconductor 8 rotates in the direction of the arrow, the photoconductor 8 is uniformly charged by the charger 9 and then irradiated with light at the exposed portion to form an electrostatic latent image. . At the exposure location, the original placing table 2 placed on the upper surface of the apparatus was placed.
An optical image of the original 1 including copy prohibition information is made incident. For this purpose, for example, an optical reading device having a known focusing optical system is provided.

The optical reading device illuminates the original 1 through the original placing table 2 by the original illuminating device 3, reflects the light reflected from the original 1 by the first mirror 4 in a predetermined direction, and through the lens 5 a half mirror. The photoconductor 8 is exposed by being reflected at 6. On the other hand, a copy prohibition information detector 7 is provided on the optical axis passing through the half mirror 6 to detect the copy prohibition information added to the original 1. Based on the detected copy prohibition information, control for copy prohibition described later is executed.
The electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor 8 is developed by the developing device 10 into a toner image, which is transferred by the transfer device 12 to the paper supplied by the paper supply device 11. After that, the transferred sheet conveyed by the conveying device 13 is thermally fixed by the fixing device 14 and discharged. On the other hand, the photoconductor 8 is cleaned by the cleaning device 15 and used again.

Next, the copying operation will be described with reference to the flow shown in FIG. When the user ID is input (S1), a document with copy prohibition information is placed on the document table (S2), and this device receives a copy start instruction, the device includes a mirror / lens / half mirror including a document illumination device. The document scanning device scans the document (S3). Then, it is determined whether the user ID has been input (S4). When the ID is input, the detector for detecting the copy prohibition information receives the transmitted light from the half mirror and reads the prohibition information on the document (S5). The prohibition information read here and the user ID are compared (S6), and it is determined whether or not there is a right to copy (S7). If there is, a copy operation is performed and the process ends (S8). On the other hand, when there is no user ID input, after the copy start instruction, the user ID input is prompted (S9) and the next copy start instruction is awaited. During this time, the user inputs the ID. If the user ID does not have the copy right, a message that the copy is prohibited or the copy right is not displayed is displayed or a warning is given (S10), and the next copy start instruction is awaited. During this time, the user inputs the authorized ID or exchanges it for another original. User I
The screen prompting D input or displaying that copying is prohibited may be returned to the normal screen after a certain time has elapsed.

Next, detection of copy prohibition information will be described. The present embodiment is characterized in that the background color of the document background is used for the copy prohibition information. Figure 3 is the user ID
FIG. 4 is a block diagram including an input section, FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a sensor output section, FIG. 5 is a coordinate for color judgment, and FIG. 8-1 is a detector in a copy-prohibited document having a red background color and a black image. 7 shows the output of the detector 7, and FIG. 8-2 shows the output of the detector 7 in the copy-inhibited document having a black image in the green background color.
Here, an optical color sensor incorporating an RGB color filter having a plurality of detection areas in one chip is used as the detector 7.

In FIG. 4, incident light passes through each filter of ultraviolet / infrared cut, and an optical image made into a visible light component enters each of RGB filters. In each filter, the light image is decomposed into RGB components, and a photocurrent is generated according to each incident light amount component. This minute photocurrent (μA) is logarithmically amplified by an operational amplifier and then input as a voltage output to the adjustment / comparison operation unit (a). The RGB outputs are converted into hue signals [R / G] and [B / G] in real time by the subtraction amplification circuit section (b). This processing may be converted into [RG] and [BG] by a differential amplifier circuit, or XYZ, L * a * B *.
It may be converted into a color space such as.

When the RGB signals are converted into the hue signals in the subtraction amplifier circuit section, the original document corresponds to the image information as shown in FIG.
An output like 1 is obtained. For example, sampling is 5
It is performed every 0 msec, and the average of the data excluding the maximum and minimum is output to the color separation / determination unit (c). Since the R / G / B components may differ depending on the type of original illumination light source, the post-stage amplifier (a-
It is better to change the amplification factor of 1, 2, 3,). For example,
A white light source such as a fluorescent lamp has a large B component and a low amplification factor, and a halogen lamp has a low B component and thus a high amplification factor.

In the color separation / determination unit (c), it is determined which segment the data output from the subtraction amplification circuit unit corresponds to in the color determination coordinates of FIG. It is sent to (d). Note that it is desirable to make this determination for each predetermined area and output the color signals in accordance with a predetermined priority order when the color signals in the respective areas are different. By doing so, it is possible to disable an illegal operation unless the ground color of the entire area is changed.

The copy approval / disapproval judging section (d) is provided with a storage means for storing in advance whether or not copying is possible corresponding to each combination of the type of the original and the operator code, and based on the stored contents of the storage means. Whether or not image formation is possible is determined, or whether or not image formation is possible is determined by referring to the operation date and time and the information added to the document. 5 and FIG. 6, the angle corresponding to the hue is divided into 180 regions at intervals of 2 °, it is determined which segment the data is included in, and a value of 1 to 180 or 0 is determined. Is output for 8 bits. Area 0 is an achromatic area and has a radial distance threshold corresponding to saturation in each segment. In the example shown in FIG. 5, a diameter of 0.23 is simply given. Further, if the threshold value is not reached even though it enters a certain reference color area (area 0), it is determined as an achromatic color.

As copy prohibition information, four colors (red / blue / green /
When setting the ground color of (white), the four segments 0 to 180 shown in FIG. 5 may be used as they are, but various errors, that is, variations in the background color, variations in the sensor, variations in detection, etc. Allocate in consideration. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, each segment 0 to 180 of color determination coordinates
, 1 to 16 are green, 75 to 95 are red, and 142 to
It is also possible to allocate 162 to blue and area 0 to white. In this example, as shown in FIG. 9, the area 0 is white and has a diameter of 0.45. By setting in this way, for example, even if the original output of “8” is output as “6” due to some variation, it is recognized as copy prohibition information.

Further, a document with copy prohibition information having various colors is obtained as follows. The user can obtain a manuscript with copy prohibition information by copying the original onto color paper (including white). As another example, there is also a method of directly creating the original on the paper of the required background color, or in the case of a color copying machine, by specifying the background color and copying the original, the original is printed on the specified background color. A manuscript with copy prohibition information in which an image exists can be obtained.

Next, the position of the copy inhibition information detector will be described. Generally, a document density measuring sensor (A / E sensor) for controlling image forming parameters performs detection at a position where a focus portion is removed in order to obtain a light output corresponding to an average document density in a certain width direction area. ing. Further, in the system for detecting the document color as in the present embodiment, it is necessary to determine the sensor position so as to uniformly illuminate a sufficiently wide range from the light receiving detection surface, that is, to prevent uneven brightness between color components. is there. In the present embodiment, the position of the sensor light receiving / detecting surface is located 10 mm upstream from the position corresponding to the photoconductor surface, the detection width on the original is set to 50 mm, and the irradiation width to the detection surface is set to 8 mm.

Next, a method of inputting the user ID will be described. For the user ID, a numerical value is input using the ten-key pad shown in FIG. Further, when setting the department and hierarchy (work system) of the user ID, for example, a numerical value is assigned to the department / hierarchy in four digits as the user ID number. As a specific example, the XX department is in the 1000s, the officer in charge is 1001, the manager is 1010,
The section manager is 1050 and the general employee is 1100. FIG. 7 shows an example of copying permission / prohibition setting based on the combination of the copying prohibition information and the user ID.
D shows an example of 3 divisions / 4 levels (work system). Here, ◯ indicates that copying is possible, and X indicates that copying is prohibited.

The department / hierarchy ID is 1000 for the personnel department.
The number of officers in charge is 1001, the manager is 1010, and the section manager is 1
050 and 1100 for general employees. Sales departments and technical departments are similarly assigned numbers, and sales executives
1. Sales manager 2010, sales manager 2050, general sales employee 2100, technical officer 3001, engineering manager 3010, technology manager 3050, general technical employee 310
It is set to 0. By setting like this,
For example, personnel information (red background color manuscripts) can be copied only by the manager or above who belongs to the Human Resources Department, and only the officer in charge of the sales / technical department can copy the information. Fine-tuned settings (management) are possible. Here, when the user ID is recognized as an unregistered color (copy prohibition information number), all the copies are allowed.
It is obvious that the color as the copy prohibition information and the number of departments / hierarchies are not limited to the above example, and it is possible to use only one color, for example. A method of inputting a combination of copy prohibition information and a copyable ID into the copy permission / inhibition determination section will be described.

The ten-key "*" on the operation panel is the enter key for the copy prohibition information number, and is shown in FIG.
Represents the applicable segment. “#” On the ten-key pad is an enter key for inputting the user ID number. The procedure for registering the column of copy prohibition information “red (personnel information)” in the matrix of FIG. 7 is specifically shown. First, enter the number 75 to 95 of copy prohibition information “red (personnel information)”, and then Enter the required number of user ID numbers that can be copied. When entering the copy prohibition information number in the range,
Use "*" and "*".

"75""*""*""95""*"
"1""0""0""1""#""1""0""1"
"0""#""1""0""5""0""#""2"
"0""0""1""#""3""0""0""1"
"#" Next, the column of copy prohibition information "white (general information of all departments)"
"0""*""1""0""0""1""#""1"
"0""1""0""#""1""0""5""0"
"#""1""1""0""0""#""2""0"
"0""1""#""2""0""1""0""#"
"2""0""5""0""#""2""1""0"
"0""#""3""0""0""1""#""3"
"0""1""0""#""3""0""5""0"
"#""3""1""0""0""#"

Hereinafter, copy prohibition "green (technical information)" and "blue (business information)" are registered in the same procedure. Here, the user ID input section (e) and the copy prohibition information / user ID combination input section (f) are numeric keys. The number of copy prohibition information and the number of user ID can be deleted and confirmed easily by the following procedure. For example, when erasing the user ID number 1100 of the copy prohibition information numbers 75 to 95 "red (personnel information)", "0" is input after the user ID number of the copy prohibition information number to be deleted is input once. Procedure: "75""**""95""*""1""1"
"0""0""#""0""#" For example, when confirming the user IDs of copy prohibition information numbers 75 to 95 "red (personnel information)", enter the copy prohibition information number to be confirmed. Enter “#”. Procedure: "75""**""95""*""#" (display the registered user ID numbers in ascending order)

If the user wants to add an ID number, the procedure is the same as that for new registration, and if he wants to change it,
You can delete the ID number and then register another number. From the viewpoint of information management, it is desirable that only the system administrator can provide the means for combination registration, change / confirmation, etc. For example, a code for entering a special mode such as registration / change / confirmation can be set. The color separation / determination means (c) converts the RGB signals from the optical color sensor into hue signals and determines whether or not the color signals belong to pre-registered colors.
The RGB outputs may be converted into L * a * b * or YMCK color specification signals, and based on these color specification signals, it may be determined whether the color of the document belongs to a color registered in advance.

Further, the copy permission / inhibition determining means (d) is an identification code (user ID) of a copyable operator registered in advance for the type of document determined to belong by the color separation / determination means (c). The copy operator's identification code (user ID) input from the input means is compared to determine whether copying is possible. The code information indicating the type of the original document identified by the identification means and the copy input from the input means. It is also possible to provide an arithmetic means for performing arithmetic operation with the operator's identification code information, and determine whether or not image formation is possible based on the arithmetic result of the arithmetic means. For example, a predetermined code number is set according to the type of the document, such as 200 for a pink color sheet document, 100 for a yellow color sheet document, and 0 for other color sheet documents. In addition to giving, the user ID of the officer in charge is 200 or more, the user ID of the manager is 150 to 199 or less, the user ID of the section manager is 100 to 149 or less, and the user ID of general employees is 99 or less. Thus, the number of the user ID is given to each layer to which each copy operator belongs.

The copy permission / inhibition determining means (d) calculates the code number of the type of the original discriminated by the color separation / determining means (c) and the user ID number of the copying operator input from the inputting means. However, copying can be performed only when the number of the user ID of the copying operator is larger than the code number of the document type. In this case, the copy permission / inhibition determination means (d) has a simple structure, and the importance of the confidential information can be known at a glance only by the type (color) of the original, and the original that can be copied to the copy operator. Whether or not each operator and the third
Person can easily discriminate.

(Second Embodiment) In the description of the second embodiment, the description of the same parts as those of the first embodiment will be omitted. The confidential level of confidential information decreases with the passage of time from the date of issue, and there are many cases where copying can be done without any problems. In the second embodiment, whether or not copying is possible is determined according to the timing of the copying operation for each type of original, and the restriction of copying confidential information whose confidentiality level is low is automatically released. Therefore, a known clock means is provided for detecting the timing of the copying operation. The copy permission / inhibition decision means (d) decides whether or not the copy is possible on the basis of the code number of the type of the original discriminated by the color separation / determination means (c) and the time information from the clock means. . In this case, the types of manuscripts are assigned for each year in which confidential information is issued.

For example, the confidential information issued in 1991 is a pink color sheet, the confidential information issued in 1992 is a yellow color sheet, and the confidential information issued in 1993 is a blue color sheet. Allocate.
Assuming that the period for restricting copying of confidential information is three years, the copy permission / inhibition determination means (d) determines that the color separation / determination means (c) determines that the original type is issued and the current time of the clock means. Is calculated, and copying is prohibited for manuscripts that are less than 3 years old.

Next, the copying operation will be described with reference to the flow shown in FIG. A document having copy inhibition information is placed on the document table (S11), and when the apparatus receives a copy start instruction, the document scanning device scans the document (S12). The operation date and time is read (S13), and the type of document (color background) is identified (S13).
14). The issuing year corresponding to the identified original is read (S15), and the elapsed period (operation date / time-issue year) is calculated (S16). The calculated elapsed period is determined by a predetermined deadline, for example, 3 years (S17). If it exceeds 3 years, the copying operation is performed (S21). On the other hand, if it is three years or less, it is determined whether an ID has been input (S18), and if there is no ID input, a display prompting ID input is displayed on the operation screen (S22), and the process returns to step S12. When the ID is input, the ID is collated with the duplicatable person corresponding to the type of original document (S19). As a result of the collation, it is determined whether or not copying is possible (S20), and if copying is permitted, a copying operation is performed (S21). When the copying is prohibited, the copy prohibition is displayed on the operation screen (S23), and the step S
Return to 12.

In the case of confidential information for which copying is to be prohibited permanently, copying can be prohibited for about 1000 years by using, for example, a red color sheet original document issued in 3000. Further, in the case of confidential information in which copying is not restricted, for example, a manuscript which is a color sheet of another color (for example, white) that is issued in 1000 may be used. In this way, it is possible to automatically remove the restrictions on copying confidential information whose confidentiality level has become low, and at first glance you can find out what restricts copying of confidential information only by the type of document (color). It is possible for each operator and a third person to easily determine whether or not the original can be copied by the operator.

Further, in the above embodiment, the types of originals are assigned to each year of issuing confidential information, but the types of originals may be assigned to each year when the restriction of copying confidential information is lifted. For example, the ones that release copy restrictions in 1992 are pink color sheets, those that release restrictions in 1993 are yellow color sheets, and those that release restrictions in 1994 are blue color sheets. Assign Then, the copy permission / inhibition determination means (d) compares the year in which the limitation of copying of the type of the original determined to belong by the color separation / determination means (c) is released with the current year of the clock means to determine the copy limitation. Copying is prohibited for documents that have not been released. In this case, it is possible to arbitrarily set a period for restricting copying of confidential information for each confidential information.

In the flow of this embodiment, steps S15 to 17 in the flow of FIG. 20 are replaced with step S1 of FIG.
It is replaced with 5A to 17A. That is, the restriction release year corresponding to the type of document is read (S15A), and the operation date and time is subtracted from the restriction release year to calculate the remaining period (S16A). It is determined whether there is a calculated remaining period (S17A). When there is no remaining period, copy operation is performed. If there is a remaining period, the input ID is collated.

Further, in the above embodiment, one manuscript type is assigned for each year of issuing confidential information, but a plurality of manuscript types are assigned for each issuing year according to the importance of the confidential information. In this way, whether or not copying is possible may be determined depending on the timing of the copying operation. For example, 19
Personnel information issued in 1991 is red, business information is blue, technical information is green color sheet, personnel information issued in 1992 is red, business information is orange, technical information is yellow-green color sheet, etc. Assign the type of manuscript to. In this case, a user ID that can be copied is registered in advance for each type of original of each color as shown in the table of FIG. 7 of the first embodiment every time when the copying operation is performed. Then, the copy permission / inhibition determination means (d) is a user input by the input device and the type of the original document determined by the color separation / determination means (c) based on the table corresponding to the information of the operation year from the clock means. Whether or not copying is possible is determined based on the ID. Personnel information in red can always be copied only by a specific user, and other sales information and technical information can be copied with the passage of time from the year of issue. It is possible to set the extent to which the restriction of copying is lifted according to the timing of each copying operation according to the importance of the. Note that the flow of this embodiment is the same as steps S16 and S17 in the flow of FIG.
It is replaced with B. That is, the table of duplicatable persons corresponding to the operation date and time is read (S16B), and input I
By collating with D, it is determined whether or not copying is possible.

Further, instead of the table of FIG. 7, a code number is given to each manuscript in accordance with the importance of confidential information, and every time a predetermined time elapses from the issue number, a uniform number or manuscript type is given. During the copying operation, the copy permission / inhibition determining means (d) uses the code number of each original type and the user I input by the inputting means so as to subtract the predetermined number.
Whether or not copying is possible may be determined based on the result of the calculation based on the D number. By doing so, it is possible to automatically release the copy restriction according to the importance of the confidential information without setting the table of FIG. 7 in advance at each time of the copy operation.

In the flow of this embodiment, steps S15 to 20 in the flow of FIG. 20 are replaced with step S1 of FIG.
It is replaced with 5C to 20C. That is, the code number and the issuing year corresponding to the type of document are read (15
C), the remaining period is calculated by the following formula (S16C). Remaining period = code number-k (operation year-issued year) Here, k: constant It is determined whether or not there is a calculated remaining period, and if there is not, a copying operation is performed. When there is a remaining period, it is judged whether the ID is input (S18C), and when there is no ID input, a display for prompting the ID input is displayed on the operation screen (S22). When the ID is input, the code number is subtracted from the input ID number to obtain the limiting variable (19C). It is determined whether or not the obtained limiting variable is 0 or less (S20C), and when it is 0 or less, the copy impossible is displayed on the operation screen (S23). On the other hand, when the limit variable exceeds 0, the copying operation is performed. In the above description, the time of the copying operation is in the unit of year, but it is obvious that other time and date can be used.

(Third Embodiment) FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate a conventional technique with reference to a state transition diagram. FIG. 13 prohibits copying by using a conventional bar code, and symbols .about. Indicate routes to respective nodes. The symbol (H) in the node represents a bar code confidentiality level (document confidentiality level), "H" other than (H) means confidential, and "L" means general. Therefore, if a confidential document is detected, it cannot be included in the copying operation by any method. A general document can be copied to a general document and can be copied () when creating a copy-prohibited document. However, a route by an illegal operation of pasting a barcode of a general document on a barcode of a confidential document is allowed, and the confidential document can be copied.

The state transition diagram of FIG. 14 represents the above situation. In the figure, the operators in each route are shown, the confidential document copy permitter is represented by H, the general document copy permitter is represented by L, and the x indicates that copying is not possible. Therefore, the copy permitted by the confidential document copying authorized person and the copy prohibited by the general document authorized person. This will be described in more detail with reference to FIG.
This is an example in which a prohibited copy document can be copied by pasting it on the barcode 20 of. Whether the user ID is a general person or a person in another department, the prohibition of copying can be released by simply pasting a specific bar code. As described above, in the conventional copy prohibition method, the copy prohibition information provided at the specific location is used, so that the protection is easily released. In order to solve such a problem, in the third embodiment of the present invention, two types of copy prohibition information are added to a copy prohibited document.

FIG. 18 shows a matrix of bar code and copy prohibition information according to the color of the paper. A bar code is used as the first information, and a specific pattern applied to the entire original as the second information, for example, color paper colored red.
In this case, the general document 1 is processed in the same process as in FIG.
8 bar code 20 bar code 21 bar code 21
Even if it is pasted on the label, one of the barcodes is for general use in detecting the copy prohibited information, but since the color of the document itself is red, it can be recognized by the other as copy prohibited information. Can be banned. FIG. 16 illustrates this situation. A user with a general user ID, that is, an ordinary user, can copy only a manuscript whose bar code assigned to the manuscript is general (in this case, 9999), that is, a manuscript whose paper background color is white. On the other hand, a person whose user ID can copy confidential information, for example, the officer 1001 in charge of FIG.
In 2001 and 3001, a general document and a confidential document can be copied, but a document (altered document) in other cases is prohibited. This is to prevent the number of documents with confidential contents from being carelessly increased, and is intended to reduce the chance of leakage of confidential information. A state transition diagram summarizing the above is shown in FIG.

FIG. 19 is a truth matrix of the present invention. The bar code and its paper color correspond to the department. Barcodes corresponding to red / blue / green or personnel / sales / techniques are confidential information, and ID for each copy
Has given permission to copy. Various well-known bar code readers can be used, and for example, a reflection type photo sensor provided in the document illuminating device 3 can be used. This bar code reader can be shared with a line sensor when the copy information prohibition detector 7 is used, and when an image reading device that reads image information as an electric signal is used, the bar code reader can be used. The line sensor can be shared.

Next, the copying operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flow chart of FIG. A document having copy prohibition information is placed on the document table (S31), and when the apparatus receives a copy start instruction, the document scanning device scans the document (S32). The type (color background) of the original is identified (S33), and the additional information (bar code) of the original is read (S34). A table of copy-enabled persons corresponding to the identified type of document and additional information is read (S35). Subsequently, the ID input is judged (S36),
When there is no ID input, a display prompting ID input is displayed on the operation screen (S40), and the process returns to step S32. When the ID is input, the ID is collated with the person who can be copied in the table (S37). As a result of the collation, it is determined whether or not copying is possible (S38), and if copying is permitted, a copying operation is performed (S39). When copying is prohibited, the operation screen indicates that copying is not possible (S41), and step S3
Return to 2.

In order to achieve the following objects, the constitution of the invention related to the present invention will be explained. (1) For the purpose of being able to set the degree of importance according to the operator who can make a copy and the time limit for each original, this purpose is achieved by the following configuration. That is, an image forming apparatus that controls whether or not an image can be formed by a document for each of a plurality of types of documents that have additional information for restricting copying is a detecting unit that detects the characteristics of the material of the document. An identifying means for identifying the type of the original based on the characteristics detected by the detecting means, a reading means for reading additional information of the original, an input means for inputting operator code information, and the identifying means. The image forming apparatus further includes a determination unit that determines whether or not an image can be formed based on the identified type of the original document, the additional information read by the reading unit, and the operator code input from the input unit. Here, the additional information of the original is information for verifying the type of the original, and the judging means verifies the type of the original identified by the identifying means based on the additional information read by the reading means, and the original is confirmed to be authentic. If not, it is configured to determine that image formation is impossible.

Next, the copying operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flow chart of FIG. A document having copy inhibition information is placed on the document table (S51), and when the apparatus receives a copy start instruction, the document scanning device scans the document (S52). The type (color background) of the document is identified (S53), and the additional information (bar code) of the document is read (S54). It is determined whether the type of document and the additional information match (S55). When the type of the original and the additional information do not match, the copy impossible is displayed on the operation screen (S61). When the type of the original and the additional information match, the ID input is judged (S56), and when the ID is not input, a display prompting the ID input is displayed on the operation screen (S56).
60) and the procedure returns to step S52. If the ID has been input, the ID is collated with the duplicatable person in the table corresponding to the type of original document (S57). As a result of the collation, it is determined whether or not the person is a duplicator (S58), and if duplication is permitted, a copying operation is performed (S59). If copying is prohibited, the operation screen indicates that copying is impossible (S61), and the process returns to step S52.

According to this structure, a combination of the type of the original and additional information, for example, red, blue, and white originals are added with predetermined code information such as 0, 1, and 2 in the bar code information. By setting it, it is possible to finely set the operator who can reproduce each original. Further, even if the material of the original document is processed into a different type of original document, the illegality can be detected by verifying the additional information, so that the illegal duplication can be prevented.
Further, the additional information is information indicating an operator code which permits copying, and the judging means verifies the operator code input by the input means based on the additional information read by the reading means,
When the operator code is not a permitted one, it is determined that image formation is not possible.

In the flow of this embodiment, step S55 is omitted in the flow of FIG. 25, and step S57 is executed.
Is replaced with step S57A shown in FIG. 26. That is, when the ID is input, the input I
D is compared with the additional information detected in step S54 (S
57A), based on the result, whether or not copying is possible is determined.
In the case where a plurality of operators are collectively assigned with a predetermined barcode without assigning the duplicatable (copyable) operators individually with the barcode, the barcode detected as the ID input in step S57A It suffices to perform a calculation with the information and judge whether copying is possible or not based on the calculation result (S58). With this configuration, it is possible to set an operator who can make a copy for each manuscript, and therefore it is possible to prevent duplication for each manuscript. Further, it is not necessary to set an operator who can duplicate each device in advance.

Further, the additional information is information indicating a device which permits copying, and the judging means is configured to judge whether or not the image formation by the device is possible based on the additional information read by the reading means. The flow of this embodiment is represented by replacing step S55 in the flow of FIG. 25 with step S55A shown in FIG. That is, it is determined whether the device number and the additional information match. According to this configuration, since it is possible to specify a duplicatable device for each manuscript according to its importance, it is possible to easily monitor unauthorized duplication of the manuscript.

Further, the additional information is information indicating a time limit during which copying is possible, and the judging means changes the operator code for enabling image formation based on the date and time information at the time of operation and the additional information read by the reading means. To be configured.
The flow of this embodiment is step S in the flow of FIG.
Step S55B, 57C, 57D shown in FIG.
Represented by replacing. Copy prohibition (possible) information in which a copyable ID is set in advance for each type of original is set according to the length of the remaining period, and the copyable deadline obtained as additional information (bar code) and the step The remaining time limit is calculated by calculating the operation date and time input in S57B (S5).
7C). A table of copy prohibition information (or duplicatable person) corresponding to the obtained remaining period is selected, the input ID is collated with this table (S57D), and whether or not copying is possible is determined based on the obtained result. . According to this configuration, since the degree of importance can be set for each original according to the deadline, the degree of importance can be changed according to the time of copying. The above may be combined.

(2) For the purpose of automatically canceling the copy protection by the expiration date set for each original, this purpose is achieved by the following configuration. That is,
An image forming apparatus for controlling whether or not an image can be formed by a document for each of a plurality of types of documents having additional information indicating a time limit during which copying is possible, a detection unit that detects a predetermined characteristic of the document, Identification means for identifying the type of the original on the basis of the characteristics detected by the detection means, reading means for reading the copyable time limit information from the original, type of the original from the identification means and reading by the reading means It comprises a judgment means for judging whether or not image formation is possible based on the time limit information and the date and time information at the time of operation.

The copying operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flow chart of FIG. When a document having copy prohibition information is placed on the document table (S71) and the apparatus receives a copy start instruction,
The document scanning device scans the document (S72). The type of document (color background) is identified (S73), and the expiration date (bar code)
Is read (S74). The operation date / time (clock) information is input (S75), and the operation date / time is subtracted from the expiration date to obtain the remaining period (S76). It is determined whether or not there is the calculated remaining period (S77), and when there is no remaining period, the copy disabled is displayed on the operation screen (S83). When there is a remaining period, ID input is judged (S78), and when there is no ID input, a display prompting ID input is displayed on the operation screen (S82), and step S
Return to 72. When the ID is input, the ID is collated with the duplicatable person in the table corresponding to the type of original document (S79), and when the duplication is not permitted, the duplication is displayed on the operation screen (S83). , And returns to step S72. If copying is permitted, a copying operation is performed (S8).
1).

For example, the expiration date until January 1, 1995 is read as a 8-digit data (199950101) by a bar code, and the date and time of copying is August 24, 1994.
If it is a day, the number of remaining days is (January 1, 1995-1
(August 24, 994). If the number of remaining days is 0 days or less, the process directly proceeds to step S81,
A copying operation is performed. According to this configuration, since the expiration date is set for each original, the copy protection can be automatically canceled according to the time of copying.

(3) Preventing re-copying of duplicates, setting the same duplication restrictions as the original, prohibiting re-duplication, updating importance and expiration date, etc. This object is achieved by the following configuration. That is, an image forming apparatus that restricts image formation by a document for each of a plurality of types of documents for which duplication should be restricted is detected by a detection unit that detects a predetermined characteristic of the document and this detection unit. Identifying means for identifying the type of the original based on the characteristics,
An input means for inputting operator information, and a type of the original document identified by the identifying means if the type of the original document should be copy-restricted, and the operator information input from the input device. Based on the determination, it is possible to determine whether or not image formation is possible, a paper tray that stores a predetermined sheet having the same characteristics as the original document whose duplication should be restricted, and the determination unit allows the image formation of the original document whose duplication should be restricted. When it is determined, the control means is configured to form an image on a predetermined sheet of the sheet tray.

The copying operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flow chart of FIG. When an original having copy prohibition information is placed on the original table (S91) and the apparatus receives a copy start instruction,
The document scanning device scans the document (S92). The type (color background) of the read document is identified (S93). Then ID
The input is judged (S94), and when there is no ID input, a display prompting the ID input is displayed on the operation screen (S99), and the process returns to step S92. When the ID is input, the ID is collated with the duplicable person corresponding to the type of the original document that has been identified (S
95) and, as a result, it is determined whether or not copying is possible (S96).
When copying is permitted, a predetermined paper tray is selected (S97) and a copying operation is performed (S98). When copying is prohibited, the operation screen indicates that copying is impossible (S10).
0), and returns to step S92. In step S97, a predetermined tray may be selected, or a tray that stores paper of a predetermined paper type may be selected. According to this configuration, since a predetermined sheet is used for the duplication, the re-duplication can be prevented.

Further, the control means is configured to select a tray in which sheets of the same type as the type of the original identified by the identification means are selected and to form an image on the sheet.
In the case of the present embodiment, in step S97 of FIG. 30, a tray containing the same paper type is selected using the table representing the paper types registered and stored for each tray in advance. According to this configuration, since the same sheet of paper as the original is used for duplication, it is possible to set the same duplication restriction as the original.

Further, the control means is configured to select a tray in which sheets of the same type as the types of originals for which copying is not permitted are stored and to form an image on the sheets. For example, if it is determined that red paper cannot be duplicated, the tray containing the red paper is selected. According to this configuration, since copying is performed using a sheet that cannot be re-reproduced, re-reproduction can be prohibited.

Further, the control means selects a tray containing paper of the same type as the type of the original corresponding to the time limit for copying based on the type of the original detected by the detecting means and the date and time information at the time of operation. , Is configured to form an image on the sheet. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 34B, the year of issue is determined in advance for each type of document, and the color of the paper at the time of copying is registered in advance in a table according to the number of years that have passed since the year of issue. For example, if the manuscript is orange (issued in 1993 and can be duplicated by a director or more), if you try to duplicate it in 1994, the step S
In 97, pink paper (issued in 1994, capable of being duplicated by the section manager or above) corresponding to the number of years elapsed from the original issuance year is selected and is duplicated. According to this configuration, since the copy is performed using the paper corresponding to the update of the importance and the expiration date, the re-replication can be restricted by the updated importance and the expiration date.

(4) For the purpose of preventing re-copying of a copied product and setting the degree of importance according to the deadline for each document, this object is achieved by the following configuration. That is, an image forming apparatus that controls the possibility of forming an image with each type of a plurality of types of documents to which time limit information for limiting copying is added is detected by detecting a predetermined characteristic of the document. Means, identifying means for identifying the type of the original based on the characteristics detected by the detecting means, reading means for reading time limit information of the original, input means for inputting information indicating an operator, and the identifying means. Determination means for determining the possibility of image formation based on the type of original identified by the means, the time limit information read by the reading means, and the operator information input by the input means; When a paper tray that stores the same type of paper and the determination unit determines that image formation of a document whose copying should be restricted is possible, the time limit information read by the reading unit and the operation time Supplying a predetermined paper from the tray based on the date and time information, and a control means for forming an image on 該用 paper.

The copying operation of this embodiment is shown in the flow chart of FIG. In the embodiment of the tray selection, the copy restriction information of the original is obtained based on the original issue year corresponding to the color of the original, whereas in the present embodiment, the date and time when the original is directly read by reading the barcode They differ in that they obtain information on the period during which copying is restricted. Although it is possible to set the type (color) of the paper to be duplicated as in the table shown in FIG. 34B, it is not necessary to associate the color of the paper with the year of issue in the present embodiment. The degree of freedom in setting the paper color can be increased as in the table shown. Since the bar code is copied as it is, it is possible to convey the information for restricting copying to the copy as it is.

In the flow of FIG. 31, a document having copy prohibition information is placed on the document table (S111), and when the apparatus receives a copy start instruction, the document scanning apparatus scans the document (S112). Read operation date and time (clock) (S1
13) The type (color background) of the original is identified (S114).
Read the limited period (bar code) of the document (S11
5) Then, the operation date and time is subtracted from this limited period to obtain the remaining period (S116). It is determined whether or not there is the calculated remaining period (S117), and when there is no remaining period, the copying operation is performed (S122). If there is a remaining period, ID input is judged (S118), and if there is no ID input, a display prompting ID input is displayed on the operation screen (S123), and step S112.
Return to. When the ID is input, the ID is collated with the duplicatable person corresponding to the type of the original document (S11).
9) If the copy is not permitted, the copy prohibition is displayed on the operation screen (S124), and the process returns to step S112. When copying is permitted, a tray storing paper of the type (color background) of the original corresponding to the remaining period is selected in the table of FIG. 34A (S121), and the copying operation is performed (S1).
22). According to this configuration, since the copy is performed using the paper corresponding to the designated deadline for each original, the re-copy can be restricted according to the importance.

Further, the control means updates the deadline information based on the deadline information read by the reading means and the date and time information at the time of the operation, and selects the paper tray storing the paper corresponding to the updated deadline information. Is composed of. The copying operation of this embodiment is shown in the flow chart of FIG. The bar code includes information on the issue date and time (step S135) and the remaining period of the copy restriction time limit is obtained by subtracting the issue date and time from the operation date and time (step S136), and the paper of the tray selected corresponding to this remaining period ( The step S141) is different from the example shown in the flow of FIG. 31 in that the barcode of the copy date is assigned in advance. For example, a manuscript in orange color (reproducible by a director or more) that restricts copying from 1993 to 1996 has a barcode of an issue date (1994) and a copy restriction time limit (1996). If this manuscript is to be reproduced in 1994, the remaining time period is calculated based on the issue date and the copy restriction time limit (S136), and the yellow paper (corresponding to the remaining time period (2 years) (see FIG. 34A) is used. A tray in which the section manager and above can copy is selected (S141).
The duplication date / time (1994) bar code is attached to the yellow paper in advance at a different position for each issuing year. By attaching the barcode to this paper, the duplication date (19)
94) and a copy restriction time limit (1996), and a new copy date / time (1994) barcode is added. In this embodiment, since the bar code is copied as it is, the information for restricting copying can be transmitted as it is to the copy.

In step S135, if the latest one of the original issue date and the copy date and time is set as the original issue date, the duplicate can be processed in the same manner as this embodiment. In addition, if paper for each copy year is prepared in advance in the tray for each color of paper and the tray storing the paper corresponding to the remaining period and the operation date and time is selected in step S141, the paper in the tray is changed for each operation day. You don't have to prepare. Further, an operation date recording means may be provided in the paper conveyance path to add operation date information to the selected paper. Since the barcode is copied as it is, it is possible to convey the information for restricting copying to the copy as it is. According to this configuration, since copying is performed using the paper corresponding to the remaining expiration date of the designated time limit for each original, re-duplication can be limited by the importance corresponding to the type of paper.

Further, the deadline information is information indicating the type of the original document and the expiration date thereof, and the control unit controls the type of the original document read by the reading unit and the corresponding original document type based on the date and time information at the time of operation. Is updated, and a paper tray accommodating the paper corresponding to the updated original type is selected. The copying operation of this embodiment is shown in the flow chart of FIG. As shown in FIG. 34C, the manuscript of this embodiment is pre-attached with a bar code with the information about the color of the paper to be copied according to the remaining period until the information about the time limit for copying is released. In step S155, the time limit and the type of the original to be changed (color information of the paper) are read out, and the operation date and time is subtracted from the time limit to obtain the remaining period (S).
156). A color paper of the limited period corresponding to the remaining period is selected, and a tray storing this paper is selected (S16).
1). Since the bar code is copied as it is, it is possible to convey the information for restricting copying to the copy as it is. According to this structure, since the copy is performed using the paper that meets the designated re-reproduction condition for each document, the re-replication condition can be limited for each document.

(5) When it is intended to prevent re-copying of a duplicate, and to record the re-replication condition, operator and operation date and time in the duplicate, this purpose Is achieved by the following configuration. That is,
An image forming apparatus, which controls whether or not an image can be formed by a document of each type, for a plurality of types of documents having additional information for limiting duplication, includes a detection unit that detects characteristics of the document, and Identification means for identifying the type of the original on the basis of the characteristics detected by the detection means, reading means for reading additional information of the original, input means for inputting operator information and copying conditions, and the detection means Judgment means for judging whether or not image formation is possible based on the type of original, the additional information read by the reading means, and the operator information input from the input means, and the additional information read by the reading means by the input means. Updating means for updating based on the information inputted by the above, and when the judging means judges that copying is possible, the additional information updated by the updating means is added to the image of the original. Composed of a control means for performing image formation.

This embodiment is characterized in that the bar code information read from the original is updated and the updated bar code information is recorded in the duplicate. At this time, for example, information that is invariable even in a copy such as a copy restriction period is left as bar code information. To record the updated barcode on the duplicate, a known technique is used in which the image forming path of the barcode of the original is cut off and the latent image of the barcode is written by the LED writing head or the laser beam on the corresponding area on the photoconductor. be able to. In FIG. 36A, the barcode of the duplicate is recorded in place of the barcode indicating that copying is impossible. Figure 36B
Is for recording the information of the duplication operation with a barcode.
At this time, if the duplication operator is excluded from the duplication possibility information as shown in the figure, unnecessary duplication operations by the duplication possibility person can be prevented. FIG. 36C updates the issue date and time and the information of the duplicatable person according to the time elapsed until duplication, and by doing so, duplication restriction can be flexibly operated.

The copying operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flow chart of FIG. The document is placed on the document table (S171),
When the apparatus receives the copy start instruction, the document scanning apparatus scans the document (S172). The type (color background) of the document is identified (S173), and the additional information (bar code) of the document is read (S174). Then, it is determined whether the original does not require ID (S175), and when the ID is not required, a normal copying operation is performed (S181). In the case of a document requiring ID input, ID input is determined (S176), and when there is no ID input, a display prompting ID input is displayed on the operation screen (S182), and step S
Return to 172. If the ID is input, the ID is collated with the duplicatable person corresponding to the type of the original document (S177). As a result of the collation, it is determined whether or not copying is possible (S1
78) If the copying is permitted, the additional information is updated (S179). Then, the additional information is added and the copying operation is performed (S180). When copying is prohibited, "copy disabled" is displayed on the operation screen (S183) and step S172.
Return to. With this configuration, it is possible to process the additional information of the duplicate and record the duplicate information, and it is possible to set a condition for limiting re-duplication.

The unauthorized use prevention apparatus using the image forming apparatus having the above-mentioned structure is provided with an updating means having any one of the following functions. a. Update to additional information that prohibits copying. According to this configuration, it is possible to process the additional information of the duplicate and prohibit the duplicate. b. Update the operator information of the additional information. According to this configuration, it is possible to record the information of the copy person of the copy. c. The additional information is updated based on the additional information and the date and time information at the time of operation. With this configuration, it is possible to set the re-reproduction restriction condition for each deadline specified for each original.

(6) For the purpose of limiting unnecessary duplication by the same operator and recording the history of copying on the document, this object is achieved by the following configuration. That is, the image forming apparatus for controlling the image formation of the original having the additional information for limiting the duplication, the detecting means for detecting a predetermined characteristic of the original, and the type of the original based on the characteristic detected by the detecting means. Identifying means, a reading means for reading additional information of the document, an input means for inputting information of the operator and the number of copies, and a memory for storing the information of the operator input by the input means and the copy condition. Means, and when the type of the original identified by the identifying means is an original whose duplication should be restricted, the type of the original, the additional information read by the reading means, and the operator information input from the input means First judging means for judging whether or not image formation is possible based on the above, and when the first judging means judges that copying is possible, the operator information of the storage means and the copying condition are written on the document. Control means, the operator information and the copy condition written on the original by the first control means are read by the reading means and compared with the operator code and copy information in the storage means, and based on the comparison result. And a second judging means for judging the image formation of the document.

The copying operation of this embodiment is shown in the flow chart of FIG. The present embodiment is characterized in that information on a duplication operation is recorded in advance on a document before performing duplication. The operation information is recorded on the document by setting the document on the tray in advance and then recording it as a bar code on a predetermined portion of the document (step S19).
9-S201). Further, in this embodiment, in order to prevent an illegal operation, the duplication operation is performed after confirming that the operation information recorded on the document is correct (steps S207 to S20).
9). Since the duplicate is re-duplicated, the operation information is additionally recorded in the original document and recorded.

The copying operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flow chart of FIG. 37. An original is placed on the original table (S19).
1) When the apparatus receives a copy start instruction, the document scanning apparatus scans the document (S192). The type (color background) of the document is identified (S193), and the additional information (bar code) of the document is read (S194). Subsequently, it is determined whether the original does not require an ID (S195), and when the ID is not required, a normal copying operation is performed (S204). ID for manuscripts that require ID entry
The input is judged (S196), and when there is no ID input, a display prompting the ID input is displayed on the operation screen (S205), and the process returns to step S192. When the ID is input, the ID is collated with the duplicatable person corresponding to the type of the original document (S197). As a result of the collation, it is determined whether or not copying is possible (S198), and when copying is permitted, a display prompting to set the original on the manual feed tray is displayed (S19).
9) determine whether the start button has been pressed (S20)
0). When the start button is pressed, the additional information of the document is updated and recorded (S201), and a display prompting the document to be set on the platen is displayed (S202). When the start button is pressed, the additional information (bar code) of the document is read (S20
7) The authenticity of the additional information is determined (S208). If the additional information is correct, a copying operation is performed (S209). If the additional information is not correct, the process returns to step 199, and a display prompting the user to set the original on the manual feed tray is displayed again. According to this configuration, since the reproduced history is recorded on the original, it is possible to trace an illegal copy from the copy when it is copied again, and it is possible to change the copy restriction condition.

The control means is also configured to update the additional information for restricting the copy of the original. In this embodiment, the additional information on the original is invalidated (for example, filled),
Record the newly updated additional information. For example, as in the example shown in FIG. 39A, an operator who has not yet made a copy is updated as a copy-enabled person. Although the additional information on the manuscript has been filled in, it should be left as it is and new additional information should be written separately (for example, the order of the writing position or the revision number of the additional information). You may make it use the additional information of. With this configuration, it is possible to allow the operator designated by the additional information of the document to copy only once.

Further, the control means is configured to limit the number of copies under the copy condition of the document to a predetermined number based on the additional information. In the copying operation of this embodiment, the judgment of the number of copies (S220) shown in FIG. 38 and the warning display (S221) when the number of allowed copies is exceeded are inserted between steps S208 and S209 in the flow of FIG. Becomes If the number of copies is greater than the number allowed in advance on the original, a warning is issued in step S221 and the number of copies is changed to the allowable number or less. As shown in FIG. 39B, if the remaining number of sheets is set as a reproducible number based on the information on the allowable number of sheets on the original document and the number of sheets already duplicated, the duplication time should be divided into a plurality of times. You can According to this configuration, it is possible to permit only a predetermined number of duplications and then permit only one duplication that cannot be reproduced.

Although the embodiments of the present invention and the inventions related to the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to them, and these may be appropriately combined. When a color copying machine is used, white paper may be colorized for copying instead of the color paper. Further, the present invention can be applied to other embodiments such as the following examples, and various applications inferred from these are possible.

1. Although a separate color sensor was provided as a detector, the original size detection sensor can be used. For example, a color sensor is provided in the light receiving part of the reflection type original size detection sensor placed under the original table. It is a thing. Furthermore, it is not limited to the color sensor, and a CCD sensor may be used,
Further, it is also possible to use a line sensor in a document image reading device in a so-called digital copying machine, which reads a document image by converting it into an electric signal.

2. Copy prohibition information other than the background color of the original When using a detector with a high resolution such as a CCD sensor, the copy prohibition information should be a tint block or pattern applied to the entire surface of the original in addition to the background color of the original. You can Further, codes, patterns, and bar codes that encode numerical values and the like can be used, and by combining these with colors, it is possible to give more advanced copy prohibition information (which is difficult for a third party to decipher).

3. How to create a manuscript with copy prohibition information When using a code, pattern, or bar code for copy prohibition information, you may copy the original onto the paper on which they are printed in advance, or copy from the original onto them. Good. or,
These writing devices may be provided in the device body. Further, in a digital copying machine or the like, it is possible to write these information at the same time when copying from the original and exposing the photoconductor.

4. Position of the detector The sensor provided behind the half mirror is used for recognition, but it is also possible to adopt a method in which the sensor unit is movable in a normal reflection mirror. Further, the same effect can be obtained by providing the light source near the condenser lens or near the exposure lamp / reflector. 5. User ID input method It is also possible to use a magnetic card or IC card.

6. Input of copy prohibition information Although the coordinates for color judgment were stored in this device in advance,
Not limited to this, for example, an input mode of copy prohibition information is provided, and the user causes the apparatus to read the relevant document, that is, the apparatus scans the relevant document, and the output [R / G] [ It is also possible to give a copy prohibition information number to [B / G].

7. Input method of combination of user ID and copy prohibition information Register the matrix shown in Fig. 7 using a laptop computer, modify the matrix on the personal computer screen, and transfer to the copier through an external interface such as RS232C. A method such as installing data is also possible.

8. Other operating methods I explained that user ID input is always required.
For general documents such as anyone who can copy,
It is also possible not to input the user ID. For example, in FIG. 7, the user's ID input is not required for the background white of the document. In this case, in the operation flow shown in FIG. 11, it is determined based on the detection result of the copy prohibition information whether or not the copy prohibition information does not require the user ID.
As an example. The user ID corresponding to the white copy prohibition information number 0 is set to 0000, and when it is recognized as white, 1 of Δ
To be able to move to. Alternatively, when the color is recognized as the color of the copy prohibition information number not registered in FIG. 7,
It may be possible to shift to 1 of Δ.

Further, in the first embodiment, the copy prohibition information is detected by the prescan of the scanning device, and the copy operation is started after judging whether copying is possible. However, the copy prohibition information is copied in parallel with the detection of the copy prohibition information. In the case of the electrophotographic apparatus, which starts the operation and stops the copying operation which has already started by judging whether the copying is possible or not, the electrophotographic apparatus is in time for substantially not performing the copying operation.
The operation shown in FIG. 12 can be performed, and a highly productive electrophotographic apparatus without a prescan can be provided.

The term "electrophotographic apparatus that can be used in time for substantially no copying" as used herein means, for example, that the time from exposure to development or from exposure to transfer is more than the time from detection / judgment. It is a long one, and it means an electrophotographic device that can substantially make no copies if the copying operation is stopped during this period.The method of stopping the copying operation at this time is as follows: The latent image is erased, development cannot be performed due to changes in the development bias (for example, nothing is developed, the entire surface is developed in black), or transfer is not possible at the transfer device (for example, high voltage application is blocked). Such a thing is desirable, and there is no way to force the user to do something to restore the electrophotographic device to its original state after the copying operation is stopped, such as an emergency stop of the entire device or intentional paper jam. Hope Properly not.

9. Although the ground color is used as the department information, various applications are possible. For example, the ground color may be set as the important level of information. For example, red: High (the confidential level is extremely high, only the officer in charge of each department can copy it), Green: Low (it is confidential information, and only the section manager or higher of each department can copy it),
White: Other (anyone can copy). In this embodiment,
Although the electrophotographic apparatus has been described as an application example, it is also applicable to other image forming apparatuses, for example, a facsimile or a reading apparatus for converting document information into an electric signal and storing the electric signal in a storage medium. It is obvious that the object of the present invention can be achieved by prohibiting, prohibiting transmission or access of read image data, or discarding the image data itself.

[0084]

As described above, the present invention has the following effects. (1) Since the combination of copy propriety can be arbitrarily set by both the copy prohibition information (code / pattern / color etc.) on the original and the user ID, even the copy prohibited original has the right to copy it. Copying is possible when a department and / or hierarchy (work system or person) requires copying. (2) It is also possible to set a plurality of permission / prohibition of copying for each important information for each department and / or hierarchy (work system or person). (3) Since the operation necessary for copying from the copy prohibited document is performed at the start of copying, the copy operation from the copy prohibited document becomes simple. (4) By setting copy prohibition information for general information other than important information, it is possible to eliminate the need to input a user ID when copying a document of general information.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a main configuration of an electrophotographic apparatus provided with a sensor that detects copy prohibition information on a document.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a copying operation.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram including a user ID input unit.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of sensor output processing.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing color determination coordinates.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a relationship between a hue signal and a segment corresponding to a color judgment coordinate.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a matrix of copy prohibition information.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a sensor output in a copy prohibited document.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing color determination coordinates when copy prohibition information is set to four colors.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a numeric keypad for inputting a user ID.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing another embodiment of the copying operation.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing another embodiment of the copying operation.

FIG. 13 is a state transition diagram for explaining copy prohibition using a conventional barcode.

FIG. 14 is a state transition diagram in which copying prohibition by a conventional bar code is made possible by illegal operation.

FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining the illegal operation shown in FIG.

FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining a situation in which a copy operation is prohibited for an unauthorized operation.

FIG. 17 is a state transition diagram showing the status of the copying operation of the third embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a diagram for explaining copy prohibition information created based on a barcode and paper color.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a truth value matrix.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a copy operation of the second embodiment.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing a copy operation of a modified example of the second embodiment.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing a copy operation of a modified example of the second embodiment.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing a copy operation of a modified example of the second embodiment.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing the copying operation of the third embodiment.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing a copying operation of another invention (1) related to the present invention.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing a copying operation of a modified example of another invention (1) related to the present invention.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing a copying operation of a modified example of another invention (1) related to the present invention.

FIG. 28 is a flowchart showing a copying operation of a modified example of another invention (1) related to the invention.

FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing a copying operation of another invention (2) related to the present invention.

FIG. 30 is a flowchart showing a copying operation of another invention (3) related to the present invention.

FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing a copying operation of a modified example of another invention (3) related to the invention.

FIG. 32 is a flowchart showing a copying operation of a modified example of another invention (3) related to the invention.

FIG. 33 is a flowchart showing a copying operation of another invention (4) related to the invention.

FIG. 34 is a diagram for explaining a copying operation of another invention (4) related to the present invention.

FIG. 35 is a flowchart showing a copy operation of another invention (5) related to the invention.

FIG. 36 is a diagram for explaining a copying operation of another invention (5) related to the invention.

FIG. 37 is a flowchart showing a copying operation of another invention (6) related to the present invention.

FIG. 38 is a flowchart showing a copy operation of a modified example of another invention (6) related to the invention.

FIG. 39 is a diagram for explaining a copying operation of another invention (6) related to the invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... manuscript, 2 ... manuscript table, 7 ... copy prohibition information detector,
a ... adjustment comparison operation part, b ... subtraction amplification circuit part, c ... color separation / judgment part, d ... copy permission judgment part, e ... user ID input part, f ... copy prohibition information and user ID combination input part,
g ... Copying operation control unit, h ... Operation screen display unit

Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Office reference number FI Technical indication location H04N 1/32 C 7232-5C 1/44 7232-5C 6605-2H G03G 21/00 550 (72) Inventor Tamura Toru 2274 Hongo, Ebina, Kanagawa Prefecture Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Atsushi Kitagawa, 2274 Hongo, Ebina City, Kanagawa Prefecture Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. (72) Hideo Shiraishi 2274 Hongo, Ebina City, Kanagawa Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus for controlling whether or not an image can be formed on each of a plurality of types of originals for which copying should be restricted, and a detection for detecting a predetermined characteristic of the originals. Means, identifying means for identifying the type of the original document based on the characteristics detected by the detecting means, input means for inputting information of an operator, and the type of the original document identified by the identifying means restricts duplication. An image forming apparatus comprising: a determination unit that determines whether or not an image can be formed based on the type of the document and the operator code input by the input unit when the document is a document to be printed. 2. An image forming apparatus for controlling whether or not an image can be formed on each of a plurality of types of originals for which copying should be restricted, the detection being for detecting a predetermined characteristic of the original. Means, identifying means for identifying the type of the original document based on the characteristics detected by the detecting means, and whether or not image formation is possible based on the type of the original document identified by the identifying means and the date and time information at the time of operation. An image forming apparatus comprising: a determination unit for determining. 3. An image forming apparatus for controlling whether or not an image can be formed by a document for each of a plurality of types of documents having additional information for restricting duplication, the characteristic of the material of the document being controlled. Detecting means for detecting, identifying means for identifying the type of the original on the basis of the characteristics detected by the detecting means, reading means for reading additional information of the original, input means for inputting code information of the operator, A determination unit that determines whether or not an image can be formed based on the type of the original document identified by the identification unit, the additional information read by the reading unit, and the operator code input from the input unit. Image forming apparatus.