JPH1142827A - Printer equipped with secrecy keeping function - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer equipped with secrecy keeping function not bringing about an increase in cost and capable of taking out a printing document within a short time, in a printing device capable of double-side printing. SOLUTION: In a printing device for printing a document according to received printing data, an internal tray 12 housing a printing document printed at the time of a printing document or secret document mode completed in printing only on its single surface at the time of double-side printing is provided and a secrete document printing processing part 3 sets whether a mode is the secret document mode to a secret document mode memory part 6 by the command from an operation part 4 or a host device and, when the mode is set to the secret document mode, a paper discharge part 11 feeds the printing document to the internal tray 12 by the control of the secrete document printing processing part 3 to house the same in the tray 12 and, when a taking-out command is issued by the operation part, a paper feed part 9 takes out the printing document from the internal tray 12 by the control of the secret document printing processing part 3 to pass the same through a printing part 8 without performing printing and the printing document is discharged to a paper discharge tray 10 by the paper discharge part 11.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing device (printer) used as an output device of a host device such as a personal computer, and more particularly to a printing device with a security function that does not require a printed document to be output.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 12 shows a configuration of a conventional printing apparatus which is generally used as an output device of a host device such as a personal computer and capable of performing both-side printing. In a printing apparatus having a configuration as shown in FIG. 12, a command and print data from a host device are given to a command processing unit 2a via an external device connection unit 1, and the command processing unit 2a extracts the command and executes command processing. Then, the print data is stored in the print data storage unit 5. The stored print data is automatically printed by the print unit 8 according to a print command given from the host device after the storage is completed, or when one or all pieces of print data are received from the host device. If the printing is in the double-sided printing mode, after the first one-sided printing is completed, one printed document is sent to the internal tray 12 by the paper output unit 11 and stored therein. . Then, when the print data of the next page is received, one document on which only one side is printed is sent out from the internal tray 12, and the print data is printed on a blank side of the document. However, irrespective of single-sided printing or double-sided printing, print data received from the host device is immediately printed and output immediately, so that there is a security problem that a confidential document is exposed to the public.
In order to solve such a problem, in the printing apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-221089, a password is set in the printing apparatus in advance, and when print data is sent from the host apparatus, Is stored in the storage means, and when a number corresponding to the password is input, printing is performed in accordance with the print data stored in the storage means and output.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In the above-described prior art disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-221089, there is a problem that the cost increases to secure the storage capacity of the storage unit, and the printing of the print document starts after the removal instruction is given. , For documents with many pages,
There is also a problem that it takes a long time to finish the output. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems of the related art, and to provide a printing apparatus capable of performing double-sided printing, which does not cause an increase in cost and which does not have to be waited when taking out a printed document. To provide.

[0004]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, in a printing apparatus which prints a document in accordance with print data received from a host apparatus, printing on only one side is completed during double-sided printing. Internal storage means for temporarily storing a printed document that has been printed or for storing a confidential print document printed in the confidential document mode, and printing for transporting the confidential print document printed in the confidential document mode to the internal storage means Document transport means and document take-out means for taking out the confidential print document stored in the internal storage means are provided. According to the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mode setting means for setting the confidential document mode in accordance with an instruction from the operation unit or the host device. According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the information processing apparatus according to the first aspect, further comprising information extraction means for extracting information indicating whether the document is a confidential document added to a print command received from the host apparatus. The mode setting means is configured to set the confidential document mode when information indicating the fact is extracted. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an authentication code setting means for setting an authentication code instructed from an operation unit or a host device, wherein the authentication code set by the authentication code setting means at the time of taking out a print document. The document retrieval means is configured to retrieve a confidential print document associated with the authentication code when the code is instructed.

[0005]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the confidential print document printed in the confidential document mode is stored in the internal storing means used for duplex printing.
Thereafter, the user can take out the printed document by giving a take-out instruction. According to the second aspect of the present invention, in the above, the user can set the secure document mode from the host device or the operation unit of the printing device. According to the third aspect of the present invention, in the above, the user can set the secure document mode for each print document from the host device. In the invention according to claim 4, the third aspect
It is possible to prevent a confidential document from being taken out by a person.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a printing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a printing apparatus according to this embodiment includes an external device connection unit 1 for receiving commands and print data from a host device such as a personal computer, and a command for processing various commands received by the external device connection unit 1. A processing unit 2, a confidential document print processing unit 3 belonging to the command processing unit 2 and performing a confidential document printing process, an operation unit 4 for performing an operation input, and a print data storage for temporarily storing print data received from a host device Unit 5, a confidential document mode storage unit 6 for storing whether or not a confidential document mode is set, a plurality of paper feed trays 7 for storing sheets for document printing, printing on sheets supplied according to print data , A paper supply unit 9 for supplying paper from the paper supply tray 7 to the printing unit 8, a plurality of paper discharge trays 10 for storing discharged print documents, A press document and a like inner tray 12 to be accommodated the discharge tray discharge unit 11 for feeding the like 10, confidential documents ended duplex printing of a document and printing on one side only printing has finished. The command processing unit 2 is a CPU
And a ROM with a built-in program, etc.
The print data storage unit 5 is provided in a RAM or an external storage device, and the confidential document mode storage unit 6 is provided in a RAM or the like. In FIG. 1, solid arrows indicate the flow of control information, dotted arrows indicate the flow of data, and half-dotted arrows indicate the flow of paper.

FIG. 2 shows an operation flow of the above embodiment.
Hereinafter, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the printing apparatus according to this embodiment, when the security of a print document is to be secured, the printing apparatus is set to the secure document mode in advance. Therefore, an instruction for setting the confidential document mode is issued from the operation unit 4 by, for example, a menu selection method (S1). Then, the confidential document print processing unit 3 in the command processing unit 2
Extracts the instruction (S3), and stores the confidential document mode storage unit 6.
Is set to indicate the confidential document mode (S5). On the other hand, when the external device connection unit 1 receives data from the host device (S2), the command processing unit 2 extracts the command if the data is a command, and if the data is print data, until the command data is completely received. The print data is stored in the print data storage unit 5 until the print data storage unit 5 becomes full, or until the print data storage unit 5 becomes full (S3 → S4 → S5 → S3). Then, if you have received all the print data or until the print break,
Alternatively, when the print data storage unit 5 becomes full or a print command is received from the host device (S
If YES in step 4), and if the print command is received, it is determined whether or not the print command is back side printing of duplex printing (S6).

If the result of the determination is that the printing is not the back side printing of double-sided printing (NO in S6), the command processing section 2 subsequently determines whether or not the paper feed tray is instructed (S7). If not instructed (NO in S7), a command is given to the paper feeding unit 9 to feed paper from a predetermined paper feeding tray 7 (S8). If a paper feed tray has been designated (YES in S7), paper is supplied from the designated paper feed tray 7 (S9). If it is determined in step S6 that the printing is the back side printing of the duplex printing (YES in step S6).
), Paper is supplied from the internal tray 12 (S10). Thus, the printing unit 8 performs printing on the supplied paper in accordance with the data stored in the print data storage unit 5 (S11), and further, the command processing unit 2 determines whether the printing at that time is front-side printing of double-sided printing. Is determined (S12). If the printing is not front side printing (NO in S12), the confidential document print processing unit 3 refers to the confidential document mode storage unit 6 and determines whether the confidential document mode is set (S13). If the determination is that the document mode is not the confidential document mode (NO in S13),
Subsequently, the command processing unit 2 determines whether or not the discharge tray is instructed (S14).
(NO at 14) A command is given to the paper discharge unit 11 to discharge the printed paper to a predetermined paper discharge tray 10 (S15). If the discharge tray is designated (YES in S14), the sheet is discharged to the designated discharge tray 10 (S18).

If it is determined in step S12 that the printing is front side printing (YES in S12),
13, if it is determined that the mode is the confidential document mode (YES in S13), a command is given to the paper discharge unit 11 and the internal tray 12
(S17). When one sheet is discharged in this way, the command processing section 2 determines whether or not there is more data from the host device (S16).
YES) Repeat from step S3, if not (N in S16)
O) Terminate this operation flow. As above,
When taking out a confidential document stored in the internal tray 12 in the confidential document mode, as shown in FIG.
A more secure document retrieval instruction is issued (S21). Then, the confidential document print processing unit 3 recognizes this instruction and gives a command to the paper feeding unit 9 to take out the printed confidential document from the internal tray 12, pass it through the printing unit 8 without performing printing, and discharge it. The paper is discharged to the paper discharge tray 10 by the paper unit 11 (S2
2).

As described above, according to this embodiment, by setting the printing apparatus to the confidential document mode, the print document can be stored in the internal tray, and the print document can be taken out by the operation unit. So you can
It is possible to prevent a confidential document from being exposed to a third party, and to realize this, an internal tray for double-sided printing can be used, so that cost is not increased. Even when the number is large, it can be taken out in a short time. In the second embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 4, a command for setting and canceling the confidential document mode and a command for extracting the confidential document are provided as commands that the host device gives to the printing apparatus.
In the confidential document mode setting, as shown in FIG. 4A, the command data is set to 1, and when it is released, the command data is set to 0. Hereinafter, the operation of this embodiment will be described in accordance with the operation flow shown in FIG. In addition,
The overall configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. First, the external device connection unit 1 receives data from the host device (S31). Then, the command processing unit 2 determines whether or not the data is a command (S32). If the data is not a command, that is, if the data is print data (S32).
NO), the print data is stored in the print data storage unit 5 (S33).

On the other hand, if it is determined that the data is a command (YES in S32), the confidential document print processing unit 3 determines whether the command is a confidential document mode setting command (S34), that is, It is determined whether or not the command ID is 456 and the command data is 1 (see FIG. 4). If the command is a secure document mode setting command (YES in S34), the secure document mode is stored in the secure document mode storage unit 6. The information indicating the fact is set (S35). On the other hand, if it is determined that the command is not the secure document mode setting command (NO in S34), it is determined whether the command is the secure document mode release command (S36), that is, whether the command ID is 456 and the command data is 0 or not. (See FIG. 4). If the command is a secure document mode release command (YES in S36), information indicating that the secure document mode is set in the secure document mode storage unit 6 is released (erased). (S37). If it is determined that the command is not the confidential document mode release command (NO in S36), it is determined whether or not the command is a confidential document retrieval (discharge) command (S38).
If it is a confidential document retrieval command (YES in S38), if a confidential document is stored in the internal tray 12,
Then, a command is given to the paper discharge unit 11 to discharge the confidential document to the paper discharge tray 10 (S39). On the other hand, if it is determined that the received command is not a confidential document retrieval command (NO in S38), the received command is another command, and corresponding other command processing is performed (S40).

When step S35, S37, S39 or S40 has been completed, the command processing section 2 determines whether or not further data has been sent from the host device (S41). (YES at S41) Repeat from step S32. If it has not been sent (NO in S41), this operation flow ends. Thus, according to this embodiment, the setting and cancellation of the confidential document mode can be performed by an instruction from the host device. In addition, as shown in FIG.
Information indicating whether the mode is the confidential document mode may be added to the print command sent from the host device in print document units, and the confidential document mode may be set in print document units. In FIG. 6, P indicates a print command, 1 in the confidential document mode field indicates printing in the confidential document mode, and 0 indicates printing in a non-confidential document mode.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of a printing apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 7, in addition to the configuration of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the printing apparatus of this embodiment has an authentication code storage unit for storing an authentication code.
13, an authentication code received from the external device connection unit 1 or the operation unit 4, and an authentication code receiving unit 14 for setting the authentication code in the authentication code storage unit 13; An authentication code checking unit 15 is provided which compares the authentication code with the authentication code stored in the storage unit 13 and checks whether they match. As shown in FIG. 8, a confidential document mode setting command with an authentication code and a confidential document retrieval (discharge) command with an authentication code are added to the command received from the host device.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show the operation flow of this embodiment. The operation of this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 9 is an operation flow at the time of printing, and FIG. 10 is an operation flow at the time of removal. At the time of printing, an instruction such as a confidential document mode is issued from the operation unit 4 or the host device. An instruction is given (S51). Upon receiving this instruction (S52), the confidential document print processing unit 3 sets information indicating the confidential document mode in the confidential document mode storage unit 6,
The authentication code receiving unit 14 sets the specified authentication code in the authentication code storage unit 13 (S55). In the case of an instruction from the host device, a confidential document mode setting command with an authentication code as shown in FIG. 8 is issued from the host device (S5).
3) Upon receiving this command (S54), the confidential document print processing unit 3 sets information indicating the confidential document mode in the confidential document mode storage unit 6, and the authentication code receiving unit 14 sets the authentication code storage unit 13 The authentication code instructed is set (S55).

Subsequently, printing is performed according to the print data received from the host device, and the printed confidential document is stored in the internal tray 12 (S56). Internal tray for confidential documents
In one method for taking out the confidential document from the confidential document 12, an instruction for taking out a confidential document accompanied by an authentication code is given from the operation unit 4 (S61). Then, the content of the instruction is given to the authentication code inspection unit 15 (S62). Alternatively, the host device issues a confidential document retrieval command accompanied by an authentication code as shown in FIG. 8 (S63), and the contents of the command are given to the authentication code inspection unit 15 (S64). Thus, the authentication code inspection unit 15 reads the stored authentication code from the authentication code storage unit 13 and compares the two authentication codes (S65). If they match (YES in S65), the confidential document in the internal tray 12 is discharged to the discharge tray 10 as described above (S6).
6). If they do not match (NO in S65), this operation flow is terminated without discharging the paper (S67). Note that a plurality of confidential documents having different authentication codes can be stored in the internal tray 12. In this case, the authentication code receiving unit 14
11A, an authentication code is associated with each stored confidential document and stored in a management table in the authentication code storage unit 13 as shown in FIG. At the time of removal, if the specified authentication code is, for example, C2, which is the second storage order, and if the paper supply order from the internal tray 12 is the storage order, first, the storage order is first. Internal tray for confidential documents
12 and stored in the inner tray 12 again according to the number shown in FIG.
The confidential document of C2 is taken out and discharged to the paper output tray 10. As a result, the contents of the management table after the one item has been extracted are as shown in FIG. According to this embodiment, since an authentication code matching the authentication code attached to the confidential document stored in the internal tray 12 cannot be taken out unless the authentication code is specified, more effective security can be realized.

[0016]

As described above, according to the present invention,
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the print document printed in the confidential document mode is stored in the internal storage unit used for double-sided printing, and thereafter, the user can take out the print document by giving a take-out instruction. Therefore, the security of the printed document can be realized at low cost, and the printed document can be taken out in a short time. According to the second aspect of the present invention, the user can set the secure document mode from the host device or the operation unit of the printing device.
The security of the printed document can be secured as needed.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the user can set the confidential document mode for each print document from the host device, the user can easily use only the documents requiring confidentiality. According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent a confidential document from being taken out by a third party, thereby realizing more effective confidentiality protection.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an operation flowchart of the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is another operation flowchart of the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are data configuration diagrams of commands received by a printing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an operation flowchart of a printing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is another data configuration diagram of a command received by the printing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a data configuration diagram of a command received by a printing apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an operation flowchart of a printing apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is another operation flowchart of the printing apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 11A and 11B are data configuration diagrams of a main part of a printing apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a configuration block diagram of a printing apparatus showing an example of a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 external device connection unit, 2 command processing unit, 3 confidential document print processing unit, 4 operation unit, 5 print data storage unit, 6
Secure document mode storage unit, 8 printing unit, 9 paper feeding unit, 10
Output tray, 11 Output unit, 12 Internal tray, 13 Authentication code storage unit, 14 Authentication code reception unit, 15 Authentication code inspection unit

Claims (4)

[Claims] A printing apparatus that prints a document in accordance with print data received from a host apparatus, temporarily stores a print document that has been printed on only one side during duplex printing,
An internal tray means for storing a confidential print document printed in the confidential document mode, a print document conveying means for conveying the confidential print document printed in the confidential document mode to the internal tray means, And a document take-out means for taking out a confidential print document. 2. A printing apparatus with a security function according to claim 1, further comprising mode setting means for setting a secure document mode in accordance with an instruction from an operation unit or a host device. 3. A printing apparatus with a security function according to claim 2, further comprising information extraction means for extracting information indicating whether or not the document is a confidential document added to a print command received from a host apparatus. A printing apparatus with a security function, wherein a mode setting means is configured to set a confidential document mode when information indicating a confidential document is extracted. 4. A printing apparatus with a security function according to claim 1, further comprising an authentication code setting means for setting an authentication code specified by an operation unit or a host device, and retrieving a print document. When the authentication code set by the authentication code setting means is instructed, the document retrieval means is configured to retrieve a confidential print document associated with the authentication code. Printing device.