JPH0774942A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To surely prevent the generation of an illegal copy by preparing a traceable information code including a machine sort production number at the time of judging the existence of a copy inhibited original, reading out information on recording paper, judging whether the read information coincides with the prepared information code or not, and at the time of judging discrepancy, changing the picture concerned and outputting the changed picture. CONSTITUTION:Picture data read out by a CCD image sensor 101 are sent to a picture processing part 102, gamma correction, color conversion, gradation processing, etc., are applied to the read picture data and the processed data are transferred to an internal memory which is not shown in an image preparing part 105. At the time of inputting picture data from the sensor 101, a copy inhibited original judging part 103 judges whether the input data are a copy inhibited original or not, and at the time of judging the existence of the inhibited original, outputs an inhibition signal to an information code preparing part 104 and an information code reading part 106. Then the preparing part 104 prepares an information code consisting of the machine sort production number of a device body, a preparing drawing, time, and the number of sheets and transfers the code to an image preparing part 105 and a judging/changing part 107. Then the information code is synthesized with the picture data recorded in a memory and the synthetic data are recorded in recording paper.

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 function of determining whether or not an input original is a copy prohibited original such as banknotes and securities. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of recording tracking information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, due to improvements in image processing technology and image forming technology, it has become possible to perform image formation so finely that copy bills copied by a color copying machine and actual bills cannot be easily distinguished. For this reason, a device has been developed that judges copy-prohibited manuscripts such as banknotes and securities, and prohibits illegal copying in the case of copy-prohibited manuscripts. An image forming apparatus is also provided.

In such an image forming apparatus, as a method for determining a copy-inhibited original, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-8357.
A method using a pattern matching method is generally used as shown in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 1- “Image Recording Apparatus”. In this apparatus, it is determined whether the original is a copy-inhibited original based on the input image data and the pattern data registered in advance.

Further, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-302267, "Image forming apparatus", when it is determined that a copy-prohibited document is used, which image forming apparatus is used on the recording paper instead of prohibiting copy There is provided a device that prints a mark (traceable information code) for identifying whether it was created.

By analyzing the illegally copied product on which the traceable information code is printed by a dedicated information code analyzing device, the device having been illegally copied can be specified.

[0006]

However, according to the above-mentioned conventional technique, the traceable information code is printed on the recording paper to identify the device in which the illegal copying has been made. If the information code is not formed on the recording paper actually output due to the cause, there is a problem that a copy of the copy-inhibited document may be output.

By printing the information code,
Although it is possible to identify the device that has been illegally copied, a dedicated device for analyzing the information code is required, so if there is no dedicated device, it may not be possible to quickly perform the tracking work. There was a problem.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and it is possible to reliably prevent illegal copying when the information code is not formed on the recording paper even though it is determined as the copy prohibited original. This is the first purpose.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and a second object of the present invention is to enable a tracking operation to be performed quickly.

[0010]

In order to achieve the first object of the present invention, an image reading means for reading image data from a document and an image for recording the image data read by the image reading means on a recording paper are provided. The recording means, the copy-prohibited original determination means for determining whether the original is a copy-prohibited original based on the image data read by the image reading means, and the copy-prohibited original determination by the copy-prohibited original determination means. When it is determined that the information code is generated, a traceable information code including the model serial number of the apparatus body, an information code recording means for recording the information code on the recording paper, and a recording on the recording paper Information code reading means for reading the stored information code, and information generated by the information code generating means by the information code read by the information code reading means Image forming apparatus including an information code determining means for determining whether or not it matches the image code and an image changing means for changing the image on the recording paper when the information code determining means determines that the information does not match. Is provided.

In order to achieve the second object, the present invention comprises image reading means for reading image data from a document and image recording means for recording the image data read by the image reading means on a recording paper. In the image forming apparatus having the above, a designation means for designating the reading of the information code for tracking and an information code from the image data read by the image reading means when the designation of the reading of the information code is designated. And an information code analyzing unit for analyzing the content of the information code, wherein the image recording unit is configured to display the information code analyzed by the information code analyzing unit when the reading of the information code is designated by the designating unit. An image forming apparatus for recording contents on recording paper is provided.

[0012]

When the image forming apparatus of the present invention is determined to be a copy-inhibited document, a traceable information code including the model serial number of the apparatus main body is generated and the information code is recorded on a recording paper. Then, the information code recorded on the recording paper is read, it is determined whether the read information code matches the generated information code, and if not, the image on the recording paper is changed. Then, the desired information code is surely recorded on the recording paper.

Further, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, when the reading of the information code is designated, the information code is taken out from the image data read by the image reading means, and the content of the information code is analyzed and analyzed. By recording the content of the information code on the recording paper, the content of the information code is provided to the user.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of the image forming apparatus of this embodiment, in which a CCD image sensor 101 which is an image reading means for reading image data from a document and image data read by the CCD image sensor 101 are inputted. ，
An image processing unit 102 that performs image processing such as γ correction, color conversion, and gradation processing, and image data read by the CCD image sensor 101 are input to determine whether or not the read document is a copy-inhibited document. The forbidden manuscript determination unit 103 and the information code generation unit 104 for generating a traceable information code including the model manufacturing number of the apparatus body when the duplication prohibited manuscript determination unit 103 determines that the duplication prohibited manuscript.
And an image creating unit 105 that combines the image data that has been subjected to image processing by the image processing unit 102 and the information code created by the information code creating unit 104 and records it on recording paper; The information code reading unit 106 that reads the information code from the recording paper on which the information code is recorded, and determines whether the information code read by the information code reading unit 106 matches the information code generated by the information code generating unit 104. A determination / change unit 107 that changes the image on the recording paper when they do not match, an output unit 108 that outputs the recording paper from the image creating unit 105 to the outside of the apparatus, and a specifying unit that specifies reading of the tracking information code. When the operation display unit 109 and the information display unit 109 are specified to read the information code, the CCD image sensor 101 reads the information code. From the image data retrieval information code, information code analyzer 1 analyzes the contents of the information code
And 10.

The operation of the above configuration will be described. The image data read by the CCD image sensor 101 is sent to the image processing unit 102, subjected to γ correction, color conversion, gradation processing, etc., and transferred to an internal memory (not shown) of the image creating unit 105. On the other hand, when the image data is input from the CCD image sensor 101, the copy inhibition document determination unit 103 determines whether or not the copy inhibition document. A well-known technique such as a pattern matching method can be used to determine whether the document is a copy-inhibited document, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted.

When the copy-prohibited document determination unit 103 determines that the copy-prohibited document is a copy-prohibited document, it outputs a prohibition signal indicating that the copy-prohibited document is a copy-prohibited document to the information code creation unit 104 and the information code reader 106.

When the above-mentioned prohibition signal is input, the information code creating unit 104 creates an information code including the model manufacturing number of the apparatus main body, the creation date, the time, the number of created images, etc., and the image creating unit 105 and the judgment / change unit. Transfer to 107. In addition,
In this embodiment, the information code is generated as a bar code as shown in FIG.

The image creating section 105 includes an information code creating section 1
When the information code is input from 04, the information code is combined with the image data stored in the internal memory, and the combined image data is recorded on the recording paper. When no information code is input, only the image data in the internal memory is recorded on the recording paper.

When the information code reading unit 106 receives a prohibition signal from the copy-prohibited document determination unit 103, the image creation unit 1
Waiting for 05 to record the combined image data on the recording paper, the information code is read from the image created on the recording paper, and the read information code is output to the determination / change unit 107. If the information code cannot be read, the image data recorded at the position of the information code is used as the information code.

The judging / changing unit 107 includes the information code read by the information code reading unit 106 and the information code creating unit 1.
The information code generated in 04 is compared to determine whether the information code on the recording paper is a correct information code. If they match, a paper discharge permission signal is output to the image creating unit 105 and they do not match. In this case, an image data change instruction signal is output to the image creating unit 105.

The image forming unit 105 outputs the recording paper to the outside of the apparatus through the output unit 108 when the paper discharge permission signal is input, and changes the image on the recording paper to black solid when the change instruction signal is input. After that, the recording paper is output to the outside of the apparatus via the output unit 108.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of the above-mentioned processing. First, the image data of the original is read (S301), it is determined whether the read image data is a copy-inhibited original (S302), and if it is a copy-inhibited original, an information code is generated and the image in which the information code is read is read. It is combined with the data (S303). On the other hand, if the original is not a copy prohibited document, the process proceeds to S304. In other words, no information code is generated.

Next, an image is created on the recording paper (S30
4) Read the created information code on the recording paper (S3
05), it is determined whether the read information code and the generated information code match (S306). If they do not match, the image created on the recording paper is changed to a solid black image and output (S307, S308). On the other hand, if they match, the recording paper is output as it is (S308).

Next, the operation of reading the information code from the original, analyzing the content of the information code, and outputting it to the recording paper will be described. First, information code reading is designated via the operation display unit 109. Specifically, for example, it can be designated by inputting a preset program number using the program key 401 and the ten key 402 on the operation display unit 109 of FIG.

When the desired document is set and the start key is pressed after designating the information code reading, the image data read by the CCD image sensor 101 is transferred to the information code analyzing section 110. The information code analysis unit 110 is
An information code is extracted from the read image data, the content of the information code is analyzed, the analysis result is expanded into image data, and then recorded on recording paper via the image creating unit 105,
Output.

FIG. 5 shows an output example of the contents of the information code according to this embodiment. As shown in the figure, the model serial number, the creation date,
The time and the number of sheets created are output on recording paper.

As described above, in the present embodiment, when it is determined that the original is a copy-prohibited document, the information code is recorded on the recording paper, and then the information code on the recording paper is read to confirm whether or not it is correctly formed. Therefore, the information code can be surely recorded on the copy of the copy-prohibited document.

Further, in this embodiment, since the image forming apparatus can read / analyze the information code and output the content,
Tracking work can be done quickly.

[0030]

As described above, the image forming apparatus of the present invention generates a traceable information code including the model serial number of the apparatus main body when it is determined that the original is a copy-prohibited document, and the information is generated. Record the code on the chart paper. Then, the information code recorded on the recording paper is read, it is determined whether the read information code matches the generated information code, and if not, the image on the recording paper is changed. Therefore, even if it is determined that the document is a copy-prohibited document, illegal copying can be reliably prevented even if the information code is not formed on the recording paper.

Further, according to the present invention, when the reading of the information code is designated, the information code is taken out from the image data read by the image reading means, the contents of the information code are analyzed, and the contents of the analyzed information code are analyzed. Since the information is recorded on the recording paper, it is not necessary to use a dedicated device for analyzing the information code, and the image forming apparatus can quickly perform the tracking work.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an image forming apparatus of this embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a barcode which is an information code of the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an overall processing flow of this embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of designation of information code reading.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an output example of the contents of an information code.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 101 CCD image sensor 102 Image processing unit 103 Copy prohibition manuscript judgment unit 104 Information code generation unit 105 Image creation unit 106 Information code reading unit 107 Judgment / change unit 108 Output unit 109 Operation display unit 110 Information code analysis unit

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Kazuhisa Otsubo 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Within Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Haruhiko Fukuda 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Shares Company Ricoh

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An image reading unit for reading image data from a document, an image recording unit for recording the image data read by the image reading unit on a recording paper, and the image data read by the image reading unit, based on the image data read by the image reading unit. Copy-prohibited document determination means for determining whether the document is a copy-protected document,
An information code generating means for generating a traceable information code including a model serial number of the apparatus main body when the copy prohibited manuscript judging means judges that the manuscript is a copy prohibited manuscript;
Information code recording means for recording the information code on the recording paper, information code reading means for reading the information code recorded on the recording paper, and the information code read by the information code reading means is the information code generating means. And an image changing means for changing the image on the recording paper when the information code judging means judges that they do not match. An image forming apparatus characterized by the above. 2. An image forming apparatus having image reading means for reading image data from a document and image recording means for recording the image data read by the image reading means on a recording paper, and reading an information code for tracking. And an information code analyzing means for extracting the information code from the image data read by the image reading means and analyzing the content of the information code when the reading of the information code is designated by the specifying means. An image forming apparatus, characterized in that the image recording means records the content of the information code analyzed by the information code analyzing means on a recording sheet when the reading of the information code is designated by the designating means. apparatus.