JPH082791A - Image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To keep security of many users by judging a storing step capable of outputting paper for whether provided or not, enabling only a user of input ting an ID code to perform locking/unlocking by a locking means when it is judged that the outputtable storing step is provided, and setting the occupied right of using the storing step. CONSTITUTION:In an image forming system provided with a mail box 9 having a plurality of bins #1 to #9 controlled by a command from a host computer through serial communication between itself and a laser printer 1, a lock mechanism locking/unlocking a door of each bin is provided. In this lock mechanism, whether a paper outputtable bin is provided or not is judged by a CPU of the mail box 9, and when judged the bin provided(YES), locking/unlocking by the lock mechanism can be performed by only a user inputting an ID code, thus to set the occupied right of using the bin. The lock mechanism can be unlocked by inputting an ID code or pass-word from ten keys in an operating display part.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming system including various networks using a plurality of host computers, a workstation, a personal computer system and a printer, and more particularly to a mail box having a plurality of storage stages in the printer. The present invention relates to a provided image forming system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An image forming system constructed to connect an individual management sheet discharge device, a so-called mail box, to an image forming apparatus and to send and receive various information by separating an individual and a common sheet storage stage. It is becoming used. As examples of this, for example, the techniques described in JP-A Nos. 2-186429 and 4-48323 are known.

The former known technique is a network type printing system in which a plurality of hosts are used, and in order to maintain confidentiality of printed documents, the network type is shared by a plurality of hosts and has a plurality of discharge trays. In the printing system, some output trays are key-locked,
It is configured to be unlocked by the ID code transmitted from the host.

The latter known technique is for a specific person whose print data is predetermined in order to prevent the print data printed out by the printing apparatus from being seen by anyone other than a specific user. A means for determining whether or not, and a sheet discharging means for sorting the printed sheets according to the determination result of this determining means into those of a specific person and those not, and discharging the sheets.
A stacker that can take out the paper only when the paper on which the print data of the specific person is printed is stored, the password is input, and the password is determined to belong to the specific person is provided.

[0005]

By the way, even if it is intended that the confidentiality can be sufficiently guaranteed as described above,
In the former known technique, the lock is unlocked by inputting it from the host computer, so the lock is unlocked when the user is still in front of the input device of the host computer. Therefore, when the mailbox is located far away from the host, the host computer may be taken by another user while the user goes to get it.

In the latter known technique, since a password is set in advance, a user who has no password cannot use the confidentiality keeping function, and many users who have no password set. Is not easy to use, and there was a problem in usability in network systems with advanced sharing of devices.

The present invention has been made in view of the actual situation of the prior art as described above, and an object thereof is an image forming system excellent in usability capable of uniformly maintaining confidentiality for many users. To provide.

[0008]

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a plurality of host computers, a printer, and a plurality of commands controlled by commands from the host computer via serial communication between the printer. In an image forming system provided with a mail box having a storage step, a locking means for locking a door provided in each of the storage steps, a determination means for determining whether there is a storage step capable of outputting a sheet, and When it is determined by the determination means that there is a storage stage that can be output, a control means that enables only the user who inputs the ID code to lock and unlock the lock stage and sets the exclusive use right of the storage stage. And a configuration including.

In this case, the control means inputs an ID code from the ten-key pad of the operation unit provided in the mailbox, and when the ID code is confirmed by this input, I
It is advisable to unlock the door corresponding to the D code so that the door can be opened. Also, when a sheet is taken out from the storage tray to which the exclusive use right is set, the exclusive use right of the storage tray is changed. It is better to cancel the setting.

Further, a password creating means for creating a password for unlocking the mailbox is further provided, and when the ID code is input, the password for unlocking the corresponding storage tray is provided to the host computer side. Notify and when the user enters the password,
The control means can also unlock the storage stage. It should be noted that the password can be entered either by the input means of the host computer or the ten-key pad of the operation section of the mailbox, and the password creation means can set the exclusive use right of the storage stage. When unlocked, it is preferable to set so that the password for unlocking is invalidated.

[0011]

With this configuration, when the user occupies the use of the bin of the mail box and wants to output the sheet in a confidential state, first, the ID code is input from the host computer. Before that, the host computer side confirms with the mailbox whether or not there is a bin that can be used by the judgment means, and if there is no bin that can be used when inputting the ID code, the host computer side will inform that fact. It is displayed on the display device. This display may be made even after the ID code is input. I
When the D code is input, the control means sets the storage stage to be used by the user who inputs the ID code, operates the locking means to lock the storage stage, and makes it available only to the user. , Set the exclusive use right for the storage stage. As a result, the paper for which the user has given a print instruction from the host computer side is output to the storage tray in which the exclusive use right has been set.

In order to take out the paper from the storage tray to which the exclusive use right is set, the ID code is input from the ten-key pad of the operation unit provided in the mailbox, and the control means releases the lock by the lock means, Make it possible to remove paper from the storage bin. When all the sheets are taken out in this way, the exclusive use right for the storage stage is released so that another user can use the sheet. Thus, when the device is to be used again, if the ID code is entered again following the above procedure, the exclusive use right is similarly set in any of the storage stages, and the confidentiality can be maintained.

Such an ID code may be known to a third party, and if the third party inputs the ID code, the paper can be taken out from the storage tray. In order to prevent this, when the ID code is input, the password creating means creates a password for unlocking the corresponding storage tray and sends it to the host computer side where the ID code has been input, and displays it on the display device. Display it. As a result, the user who inputs the ID card can unlock the storage tray and take out the paper by inputting the password for unlocking from the operation unit of the mailbox or the host computer side.

The password is invalidated when the setting of the exclusive use right of the storage tray is canceled,
Abuse can be prevented.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention in which a mail box (personal discharge device) is attached to a printer (image forming device), and FIG. 2 shows a printer in the image forming system. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a mechanical configuration, and FIG. 3 is a system block diagram showing a connection relationship of printers.

[Schematic Configuration] First, the mechanical configuration of the printer will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 2, the printer includes a laser printer main body (LP main body) 1, an upper paper feeding cassette 2 and a lower paper feeding cassette 3, a large-volume paper discharging unit (LCOT) 8 having upper and lower paper discharging units, and an envelope. And a rear paper ejection tray 5 for ejecting strong paper. Further, the lower side is provided with a double-sided unit 6 for printing a screen and a large-volume sheet feeding unit (LCIT) 7 is attached. Figure 2
1 is a mail box provided with 10 bins (# 1 to # 10) in place of the large-volume delivery unit 8 of FIG.
Also referred to as "B". ) 9 are mounted side by side on the table 9a on the side (left side) of the laser printer main body 1, and the system in which this laser printer is incorporated is an optional double-sided unit 6, mass-feeding unit 7, mass-ejection Various system configurations can be obtained by selecting the unit 8 and the mailbox 9. An operation display panel 11 described later is provided on the upper portion of the laser printer main body 1, and similarly, on the upper portion of the laser printer main body 1, a font cartridge having a built-in RAM or ROM storing font data of different character types. 12 and 13 are provided.

[Laser Printer (Image Forming Means)] Inside the laser printer body 1, two upper and lower paper feed rollers 19 and 2 are provided.
0, 2 pairs of paper feed rollers 21, 22, a pair of registration rollers 23, a conveyor belt 24, a delivery roller 25, a rear paper discharge roller 26, an upper conveyor roller 27, a lower conveyor roller 28, and a number of guide plates. A paper transport path is formed and constitutes a transport system.

An OPC photosensitive drum 29 is rotatably provided on the upper side of the conveying path between the registration roller 23 and the conveying belt 24, a transfer charger 30 is arranged on the lower side, and the conveying belt 24 and the sending roller 25 are arranged on the lower side. A fixing device 31 is provided between the fixing device 31 and a pair of paper path changing claws 32 and 33 provided between the delivery roller 25 and the rear paper discharge roller 26 downstream of the fixing device 31. Around the photosensitive drum 29, a charging charger (main charger) 3 is further provided.
4, a developing unit 35, a cleaning unit 36, and a charge eliminating LED 37 are provided. The developing unit 35 is attached to the drawer 18 together with the developing motor 38, the toner cartridge 39, and the cleaning unit 36, and these units configure an image forming system.

Each part of the writing system is arranged above the image forming system. The writing system includes a polygon mirror (rotating polygon mirror) 44 that reflects and scans laser light from a semiconductor laser (not shown), an fθ lens 45, a first mirror 47, a second mirror 46, and a dustproof glass 48. And a laser writing unit 40 including the above. The laser writing unit 40 itself is known and will not be described here.

A printed circuit board (hereinafter referred to as "PCB") rack 5 containing a print engine board 51 and two controller boards 52 is provided on the upper part of the writing system.
3, a PCB pack fan 54 for cooling the PCB, and a main fan 55 for cooling the inside of the laser printer body 1 are further provided. A main motor 57 for rotating and driving the photosensitive drum 29, each roller, and the like, and a power supply unit 58 are provided below the sheet conveyance path.
Also, a high voltage power supply unit 59 for applying a high voltage to each charger is arranged.

Upper paper feed cassette 2 and lower paper feed cassette 3
Are detachably attached to the laser printer main body 1, respectively, and the rear paper ejection tray 5 is stored as shown in the drawing when not in use, and when in use, the rear paper ejection tray 5 is rotated in the direction of the arrow with the shaft 5a as a fulcrum to move backward. It can be extended. A registration sensor 60 is arranged in front of the registration roller 23 in the sheet conveying direction, and a fixing outlet sensor 61 is arranged at the sheet exit of the fixing device 31.

In the table 10, a reversing conveyance path 65,
Standby transport path 66, paper path changing claw 67, three sets of transport rollers with clutch 68, 69, 70, double-sided entrance sensor 7
1, a double-sided exit sensor 72, a double-sided unit (DPX) 6 including a double-sided drive motor 73, and the like, and a paper feed roller 74 for feeding paper from a large-volume paper feed unit (LCIT) 7; A roller 75, a paper feed roller 76 shared with the duplex unit 6, an LCIT drive motor 77, etc. are also incorporated. In addition, the large-volume paper feeding unit 7
Although not shown in the drawing, a mechanism for raising and lowering the stored sheets, a drive motor for driving the mechanism, and the like are incorporated.

The large-volume sheet discharging unit (LCOT) 8 includes a conveying roller 80, a sheet path changing claw 81, and an upper sheet discharging roller 8.
2, lower-stage discharge roller 83, upper-stage discharge tray 84, lower-stage discharge tray 85, and two-stage discharge tray 8 (not shown)
A mechanism for moving each of the rollers 4, 85 in the width direction to shift the sheet discharge position, a drive motor (job separation motor) for the same, and various sensors and switches are provided.

The control system of this laser printer system will be described in detail later, but image data and the like from a host such as a computer, a workstation, and a word processor (not shown) are input to the print engine PCB 51 via the controller PCB 52 and processed. After selecting the paper feed path and the paper discharge path, the print operation is started by the print start request signal. When the print sequence is started, one of the paper feed rollers 19, 20, and 74 is driven at a predetermined timing, and the upper paper feed cassette 2, the lower paper feed cassette 3, or the LCIT 7 is selected. Start feeding the paper and feed roller 2
The sheet is fed by any one of 1, 22, and 75, and is temporarily stopped while being abutted against the registration roller 23. When the print sequence is started, one of the paper feed rollers 19, 20, and 74 is driven at a predetermined timing to start paper feeding from a tray selected from the paper feed trays 2, 3, and 7, and the registration roller is started. It is stopped in the state of hitting 23.

On the other hand, the photosensitive drum 29 rotates in the direction shown by the arrow in FIG. 1, and the surface charged by the charger 34, the surface charged by the laser writing unit 40, and the image data by the laser writing unit 40 are converted into image data. A correspondingly modulated laser beam is irradiated while performing main scanning in the drum axis direction to be exposed to form a latent image. The latent image is developed by toner in the developing unit 35, and is transferred by operating the transfer charger 30 to the sheet fed by the registration roller 23 at a predetermined timing.

The transferred sheet is peeled off from the photosensitive drum 29, conveyed to the fixing device 31 by the conveying belt 24, heated and fixed by the fixing device 31, and then sent out by the sending roller 25 to the paper discharging portion. At that time, the paper path changing claw 32,
Select the paper path according to the rotation position of 33, 81,
The large-volume sheet discharge unit 8 discharges the sheets to either the upper sheet discharge tray 84, the lower sheet discharge tray 85, or the rear sheet discharge tray 5. Normally, one of the trays of the large-volume paper discharge unit 8 is selected and the printed paper is discharged face down, but in special cases such as when using strong paper such as envelopes and postcards. Then, the rear discharge tray 5 is selected. However, when the rear paper ejection tray 5 is rotated in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1 and the rear paper ejection roller 26 is not ready to eject paper, the rear paper ejection tray 5 cannot be selected.

When double-sided printing is selected, the sheet printed on one side is sent to the double-sided unit 6 in the table 10 by the lower conveying roller 28. Then, after being first fed to the reversing conveyance path 65, the conveyance direction is reversed and conveyed to the waiting conveyance path 66 to stand by, and is fed to the main body 1 by the paper feed roller 76 at a predetermined timing, Similarly, the other side is printed, and then discharged to one of the discharge trays.

[System Configuration of Control System] The connection relationship of the control system of this embodiment is as shown in the system block diagram of FIG. In FIG. 1, a power supply unit 58 in the laser printer main body 1, a print engine PCB 51, a controller PCB 52, heaters and fans 54 and 55 of the fixing device 31, a double-sided unit 6 and a large-volume sheet feeding unit 7 in the table 10 are shown. DPX & LC to control
The IT / PCB 91 and the MB / PCB 93 for controlling the mail box (MB) unit 92 when the mail box 9 is attached are respectively connected to power lines 94A and 9A.
It is directly connected by 4B, 94C, 94D and 94E.

Further, connection lines 95A and 95B including a power supply line and a signal line are provided between the print engine PCB 51 and the print engine (PE) unit (including each mechanical portion of FIG. 1) 90 and between the controller PCB 52. The connection lines 95C and 95D including the power supply line and the signal line are connected between the standard discharge unit 4 and the standard discharge unit 4 and the large-size discharge unit (LCOT) 8 when connected. Connect by.

The print engine PCB 51 and DP
Two optical fiber cables 96A, 96B, 96C for transmission and reception are respectively provided between the X & LCIT PCB91, MB PCB93, and the operation display panel PCB94.
Signals are exchanged by optical communication between them. And the controller PCB52
Is connected to a host system such as a computer or a word processor by a connection cable 97, and data such as image data is input from the connection cable 97.

Power is also supplied to the operation display panel PCB94 from the power supply unit 58, the print engine PCB51, or the controller PCB52 via a power supply line (not shown). Print engine PCB51, controller PCB52, LCOT8, DPX & LCIT / PC
B91, MB / PCB93, and operation display panel / PC
Each of the B94s includes a micro computer that controls the control of each unit.

[Connection State of Loads, Sensors, etc. to Each PCB] Next, the print engine PCB in this embodiment
The connection between 51 and the other PCBs 52, 91, 93, 24 and the connection state of each PCB and its various loads and sensors will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the power supply unit 58 rectifies and steps down the voltage supplied from the commercial AC power supply 174,
The voltages of V _CC , V _LG1 , V _LG2, and V _DRV are output, and these output voltages are output to the print engine PCB 51, respectively.
Controller PCB52, DPX & LCIT PCB9
1 and MB / PCB 93 are powered. The output voltage of V _DRV is supplied to the print engine PCB 51 via an interlock switch (not shown). Further, a voltage switching circuit is provided in the power supply unit 58, and the main fan 55 and the PCB pack fan 5 are connected through this circuit.
4, during the print V _DRY, V _DRY in standby
It supplies a lower V _LG1 voltage to change the fan speed during printing and during standby.

The print engine PCB 51 and DP
The optical fiber cables 96A, 96B, 96 are connected between the X & LCIT.PCB 91, the MB.PCB 93, and the operation display panel PCB 94, respectively, as described above.
They are connected by C respectively. This connection is shown in Figure 4.
, Each serial interface port SIF of the communication control interface circuit (CCI) 150 in the print engine PCB 51, and the CPU in the PCB 91.
152, a CPU 157 in the PCB 93 and each serial interface port SIF of a CPU (not shown) in the operation display panel PCB 94 are connected to each other through an optical fiber.
This is done by connecting by an optical communication line via a cable.

A drum counter (nonvolatile memory NVRAM or E ² PRO) controlled by the CPU 142 is provided in the print engine PCB 51.
M) and a power control circuit for controlling the light emission power of the semiconductor laser 41, and the drive circuit of the semiconductor laser 41 having the laser diode LD and the monitoring photodiode PD performs video control directly and via the power control circuit. It is connected to the circuit 149. The video control circuit 149 controls the laser diode LD by the modulation signal VIDEO corresponding to the image data while controlling the emission brightness of the laser diode LD by the semiconductor laser drive circuit by the power control circuit to be constant using the feedback signal from the photodiode PD. Flashing is performed to control writing of print data to the photosensitive drum 29 by the laser writing unit 40 shown in FIG. The sync detection signal DETP obtained by waveform-shaping the detection signal of the photodetector that receives the reflected light from the polygon mirror 44 before writing is also input to the video control circuit 149 to regulate the write start magnetism.

Further, this print engine PCB51
Includes a job separation motor for moving each component in the large-volume discharge unit (LCOT) 8, that is, each discharge tray to the left and right, a sensor for detecting the left and right position of each discharge tray, and a paper path changing claw 81. A plunger for driving to select the upper and lower discharge trays, a lower exit switch, an upper exit switch, overflow sensors of upper and lower and lower discharge trays, etc. are connected.

The DPX & LCIT PCB 91 includes a double-sided conveying clutch 219, a double-sided drive motor 73, a double-sided entrance sensor 71, a double-sided exit sensor 72, and a plunger 67P for driving the paper path changing claw 67, which will be hereinafter referred to as LCI.
T paper feed clutch 220, drive motor 77, paper size sensor 221, paper stack vertical drive motor 222, cover open switch 223, upper limit switch 224, lower limit switch 225, paper end sensor 226, tray lowering switch 227. , And a double-sided cover open switch 228 are connected.

Further, the mail box PCB 93 has a carrying motor 230, a bin paper sensor 231, a bin overflow sensor 232, a mail box inlet sensor (feed-in sensor) 233, and plungers 235 # 1 to 235 # for selecting each bin. 9. A job separation motor 240 for moving each bin left and right, a left end switch 241 and a right end switch 242 for detecting the left and right positions of each bin are connected.

The controller PCB 52 is connected to the CPU 142 and the video control circuit 149 in the print engine PCB 51 by a large number of signal lines, and is also connected to the font cartridges 12 and 13 and the emulation card 14. Further, the voltage of V _CC is supplied to the operation display panel PCB94.

[Mail Box (MB) PCB] FIG. 5 is a system block diagram showing details of the MB / PCB 93. The MB / PCB 93 includes a CPU 157, an address latch circuit 161, a ROM 162 which is a program memory,
RAM163 which is a data memory, expansion I / O164,
A driver / receiver 165 and a communication control interface circuit 166 are provided.

The mail box 9 according to this embodiment has one
Approximately 9 bins, and the 10th bin is a general (common) paper ejection unit. The 9 bins # 1 to # 9 are provided with a lock plunger and a branch claw plunger as a selection plunger for each bin, respectively, and further, overflow sensors 232 # 1 to 232 # 9 and a bin paper empty sensor 23.
1 # 1 to 231 # 9 are provided. Also, this MB
The PCB 93 is provided with a door switch 234 and a card reader 235 that detect opening of a door provided for removal during paper jam, in addition to the above-described transport motor 230 and feed-in sensor 233. In addition, a display unit 20 for displaying jams, overflows of each bin, and the like.
0a and an operation display unit 200 including an operation unit 200b for releasing the bin lock, inputting an ID code, and other input operations are also connected. Note that the bin-out sensor 231 and the bin overflow sensor 232 in FIG.
In addition to the 1st to 9th bins (# 1 to # 9 bins), the shared 10th bin (# 10 bin) includes a no-paper sensor and a bin overflow sensor.

The interface circuit 166 of the MB / PCB 93 may be connected to the controller PCB 52 and the host computer, but considering the system configuration, it interfaces with the print engine and configures the mailbox 9 as a part of the laser printer 1. It is generally preferable to use the print engine because the print engine can cover everything from the input of the print paper to the discharge.

[Locking Structure of Mailbox] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an essential part showing an example of a locking mechanism of the mailbox. In this example, the locking mechanism 100 includes a solenoid 101.
And the plunger 102 of the solenoid 101, and the doors 111 provided on the front surfaces of the bins # 1 to 9 can be locked. An engaging hole 113 is formed at an end 112 of each door 111, and when the plunger 102 is fitted into and engaged with the engaging hole 113, the door 111 is closed.
Cannot be opened in the direction of the arrow. The solenoid 101 is of a type in which the plunger 102 projects in the power-off state, and FIG. 6A shows the power-off state.
FIG. 6B shows a state in which the power is turned on.

Therefore, when the solenoid 101 is de-energized, the plunger 102 projects and engages with the engagement hole 113 to lock the door 111, and energize the plunger 102.
Is retracted to release the engagement state with the engagement hole 113, and the door 111 is unlocked so that it can be opened. The reason why the solenoid 101 in which the plunger 102 protrudes when the power is turned off is used because it prevents a third party from using the mailbox bin when not in use (when the power is off). It goes without saying that any type of locking mechanism may be introduced if it is not present.

[ID Code Setting] FIG. 7 shows a control procedure when the user sets the ID code in the image forming system according to the embodiment.

When setting the ID code, first, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7, the host computer enters the ID code setting mode (step S1).
Check if there is a storable bottle in the mailbox. In this confirmation, first, it is checked whether or not all the bins have been set (step S2). If all bins are full and there are no empty bins, the setting is impossible (step S3) and the host computer is notified of that. . Step S2
If there is an empty bin in the check of, it is further checked whether or not the bin is in use (step S
4). If it is in use in this check, the setting cannot be made (step S3), and the host computer side is also notified accordingly. If there is an unused bin, the bin number that can be registered is notified to the host computer side because it can be set (step S5).

The host computer receives the transmission from the mailbox and checks whether there is a bin that can be set (step S6). If the bin cannot be set, it cannot be registered in the display device of the host computer. Is displayed (step S7). If it is configurable,
The ID code is input from the input device of the host computer (step S8).

By inputting this ID code, the ID code is confirmed on the mailbox side (step S9), the bottle to be used and the locking mechanism are set (step S10), and a password for unlocking is created (step S11). . Then, these data are stored in the memory (step S1
2) Send to the host computer side. On the host computer side, the ID code, password for unlocking, and bin # set in response to this are displayed on the display device (step S13).

In this way, a user who wants to occupy a bin sets a bin to be used, creates a password for unlocking the bin, notifies the user, and uses the bin only by the user. It can be so.

In this procedure, step S11
It is also possible to omit the above process and omit the display of the password in step S13. The process of step S11 is intended to make it more difficult for a third party to unlock, which further improves the confidentiality.

[Bin Lock Release] In order for the user to take out the sheet output to the bin which is given the right to use and is allowed to occupy the use, it is necessary to unlock the door.

The user goes to the installation position of the mailbox 9 and operates the operation unit 200 of the operation display unit 200 shown in FIG.
The bin number (#) and the ID code are input from the ten key of b, and if the password is set in step S11, the password is input (step S21). In the mail box 9, it is compared whether the input bin # and ID code or password are the same as the data stored in the memory (step S22). If this comparison agrees with the data, the bin lock is released (steps S23, 2
4) When the sheet output to the bin is removed, the data such as the ID code, bin # and password is erased from the memory to erase the user's right to occupy the bin (steps S25 and S26). Note that step S25
If the output sheets remain in the bin, the user is instructed to take out all the sheets mainly used (step S27), and this display is continued until the user removes the sheets (step S28). . If it is determined in step S23 that the input data is not correct in the comparison in step S22, an input error is displayed on the display unit 200a of the operation display unit 200 in step S29.
Wait for the next operation.

The removal of the sheet output in step S25 is a condition for disappearing the exclusive use right of the bin, but the exclusive right disappears when the bin lock is unlocked and the bin can be taken out. It goes without saying that it may be set to be performed.

With this configuration, when the user outputs from the host computer side using the mailbox, the exclusive right is given to one bin, and the exclusive right disappears when the output sheet is taken out from the bin. As a result, even a user whose exclusive use right has not been set in a predetermined bin in advance can output the confidential information, and can provide a wide range of users with the mailbox function.

[0056]

As is apparent from the above description, the present invention configured as described above has the following effects.

That is, if there is a locking means for locking the door provided on each of the storage stages, a determination means for determining whether or not there is a storage stage capable of outputting a sheet, and a storage stage capable of outputting by this determination means. 2. The invention according to claim 1, further comprising: a control unit which, when judged, enables only a user who inputs the ID code to lock and unlock by the locking unit and sets the exclusive use right of the storage stage. In this case, the exclusive use right can be set and output when necessary for users who have more than the number of storage trays for which the exclusive use right can be set, so that many users can maintain confidentiality equally. It is possible to provide an image forming system having excellent usability that can be achieved.

An ID code is input from the numeric keypad of the operation unit provided in the mailbox, and when the input ID code is confirmed, the lock of the storage stage corresponding to the ID code is released to open the door. According to the second aspect of the invention, only the person who knows the ID code can unlock the storage stage, so that the confidentiality can be surely maintained.

According to the invention of claim 3, when the paper is taken out from the storage tray to which the exclusive use right is set, the setting of the exclusive use right for the storage tray is canceled. When a situation arises, the exclusive use right is released to allow other users to use, so that one user can share one storage tray and use it.
Usability can be improved.

The mailbox further comprises a password creating means for creating a password for unlocking, and when the ID code is input, the password for unlocking the corresponding storage tray is notified to the host computer side,
When the user inputs the password, the control means unlocks the storage rack. According to the invention of claim 4, the ID code may be known to a third party.
When the D code is entered, the mailbox will create a new password and notify the user who entered the ID code, so a third party will not be in a position to know this password, and therefore confidentiality Will be more reliable.

According to the invention as set forth in claim 5, the password is inputted from either the input means of the host computer or the ten-key pad of the operation section of the mailbox according to the mode of use by the user. It is convenient because the password can be entered to unlock it and the paper can be taken out, and the chances of the unlocking password being known to a third party are reduced, and the confidentiality is more reliably maintained.

According to the invention of claim 6, the password creating means is configured to invalidate the password for unlocking when the exclusive use right of the storage rack is released. The password is invalidated when the right setting is canceled, and a new password is created when the next exclusive use right is set. Therefore, the password is always updated when the exclusive use right is set. Therefore, confidentiality can be further enhanced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an internal structure of an image forming unit in an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus in which a sheet for personal management is attached to the image forming unit in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a system block diagram showing a connection relationship of a control system of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a print engine PCB according to the embodiment and another P.
It is a block diagram which shows the connection state between CB.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a connection state of each unit to the mailbox PCB according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a locking mechanism according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a control procedure in an ID code setting mode according to the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a control procedure in a bin lock release mode according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Laser Printer Main Body 9 Mail Box 51 Print Engine PCB 52 Controller PCB 58 Power Supply Unit 90 Print Engine (PE) Unit 91 DPX $ LCIT / PCB 92 Mail Box (MB) Unit 93 Mail Box (MB) PCB 94 Operation Display Panel PCB 100 Locking mechanism 101 Solenoid 102 Plunger 111 Door 112 End 113 Engagement hole 200 Operation display unit 200a Display unit 200b Operation unit 142, 152, 157 CPU

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Masaki Narita 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Stock company Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hiroshi Komai 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Stocks Company Ricoh

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An image forming system comprising a host computer, a printer, and a mailbox having a plurality of storage stages controlled by a command from the host computer via serial communication with the printer, Locking means for locking the door provided in each of the storage stages, determination means for determining whether or not there is a storage stage capable of outputting paper, and when it is determined by this determination means that there is a storage stage capable of outputting An image forming system comprising: a control unit that enables only the user who inputs the ID code to lock and unlock the lock unit and sets the exclusive use right of the storage stage. 2. The control means inputs an ID code from a numeric keypad of an operation unit provided in a mailbox, and when the ID code is confirmed by this input, unlocks the storage stage corresponding to the ID code. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the door can be opened. 3. The image according to claim 1, wherein the control unit cancels the setting of the exclusive use right for the storage tray when the paper is taken out from the storage tray for which the exclusive use right is set. Forming system. 4. The mailbox further comprises password creating means for creating a password for unlocking,
When a D code is input, a password for unlocking the corresponding storage tray is notified to the host computer side, and when the user inputs the password, the control means unlocks the storage tray. The image forming system according to claim 1, further comprising: 5. The image forming system according to claim 4, wherein the input of the password is performed by one of an input unit of a host computer and a ten-key pad of an operation unit of the mailbox. 6. The image forming system according to claim 4, wherein the password creating means invalidates the password for unlocking the lock when the exclusive use right of the storage tray is canceled.