JP2008048354A - Image forming apparatus and control program thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve security of an image forming apparatus thereby making it possible to perform user-friendly printing of confidential documents. <P>SOLUTION: A control unit 120 controls to: read user authentication data from a user authentication data holding unit 91 mounted on a feeder 90 inserted in a feeder insertion opening; perform user authentication processing of the feeder based on the user authentication data; feed paper from the feeder 90 inserted in the feeder insertion opening to an image forming unit 20; and from an image according to print data of the authenticated user on the fed paper by the image forming unit 20. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copying machine, a facsimile machine, or a multifunction peripheral and a control program thereof, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus to which a feeder can be attached and detached and a control program thereof.

  Conventionally, as a printer security system that can be easily operated and output efficiently, for example, as described in Patent Document 1, fingerprint and handwritten character image data is registered in advance, and image data is By adding a number to make an ID, the computer instructs the number, and on the printer side, the image data such as fingerprints and handwritten characters is input to make the ID data so that it can be easily operated on the printer operation unit. It has been proposed that the security can be improved because the ID is image data.

  Also, for example, in a multi-function machine equipped with a plurality of functions including the printer function described in Patent Document 2, in order to reduce the time that the user waits in front of the multi-function machine when a mailbox print instruction is issued The print data for which a mailbox print instruction has been issued from the client PC is stored in the hard disk, while the RFID controller transmits an electromagnetic wave signal to the memory card carried by the user who entered the detection area and reads the user's identification information After the user authentication based on the read recognition information, if the mailbox printing operation “Yes” is set in the personal information table of the user, it is determined whether the print data exists on the hard disk. The print data is printed out.

  In addition, as an image forming apparatus capable of printing confidential documents with excellent operability, for example, as disclosed in Patent Document 3, in an image forming apparatus connected to a network, confidential data is protected. As a security system, a data storage unit for storing data, an encryption unit for encrypting the stored data, an ID recognition unit for performing ID authentication at the time of output, and a decryption unit for decrypting the encrypted data And an ID data input unit that receives RFID tag data, which is a wireless tag attached to a print sheet, for ID authentication, and prints only on a specific sheet using the received data as an ID. Those having functions have been proposed.

  Further, for example, in the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 4, the security of the image forming apparatus is improved by fingerprint authentication and the operability at the time of user authentication is improved. That is, in the user terminal, output data to be printed out is stored in a security key in which user authentication information is registered. When the user connects this security key to the image forming apparatus and presses the start key, the image forming apparatus The user's fingerprint information is input as authentication information by the authentication information input unit provided along with the start key, and the authentication information input and the authentication information registered in the security key are collated to perform user authentication. When the user is authenticated, the output data is read from the security key and printed out.

JP 2002-127545 A JP-A-2005-244656 JP 2002-230510 A JP 2004-355244 A

  However, in the printer security system described in Patent Document 1 described above, registering image data as user information in the MFP requires a large amount of memory. Moreover, since the output starts just by approaching the printer, it cannot be said that the security is high. When a plurality of RFIDs approach each other, or a user who has an RFID approaching after the first recognized RFID may accidentally take out the output.

  Further, like an MFP equipped with a plurality of functions including the printer function described in Patent Document 2, the RFID controller transmits an electromagnetic wave signal to a memory card carried by the user who entered the detection area. If the user's recognition information is read and user authentication is performed based on the read recognition information, the output starts just by approaching the printer, so it cannot be said that the security is high. In addition, when a plurality of RFIDs are approaching, or a user who has an RFID approaching after the first recognized RFID may accidentally take out the output.

  In addition, as in the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 3, when an authentication process is performed using an RFID attached to a printing paper, the printing paper that owns the RFID is expensive and very special. . In some cases, it is difficult for the user to attach RFID to printing paper (for example, an OHP sheet) that the user wants to print.

  Furthermore, performing fingerprint authentication as in the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 4 requires a large amount of memory in order to register fingerprint information.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to improve security of an image forming apparatus and to perform confidential document printing with excellent operability in view of the above-described conventional problems. Another object of the present invention is to shorten the output waiting time of the printed matter that the user wants to output in front of the image forming apparatus. Furthermore, it is to reduce erroneous operations by humans in the paper feed cassette, paper feed size, and paper feed direction.

  Other objects of the present invention and specific advantages obtained by the present invention will become more apparent from the description of embodiments described below.

  The present invention is an image forming apparatus that has a feeder insertion slot into which a feeder is detachably inserted, and forms an image on a sheet fed from the feeder inserted into the feeder insertion slot. An image forming unit for forming a sheet, a sheet feeding unit for feeding paper to the image forming unit, a control unit for controlling these operations, and an authentication data holding unit for holding user authentication data provided in the feeder The control unit reads user authentication data from an authentication data holding unit provided in a feeder inserted into the feeder insertion port, performs user authentication processing of the feeder, and performs the feeder difference. Paper is fed from the feeder inserted into the slot to the image forming unit, and an image based on the print data of the authenticated user is formed on the paper fed by the image forming unit. And performing control to.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the control unit includes, for example, user authentication data read from an authentication data holding unit provided in a feeder inserted into the feeder insertion port and user authentication given from a printer driver. Based on the data, the feeder user authentication process is performed.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the control unit is input from user operation data read from an authentication data holding unit provided in a feeder inserted into the feeder insertion port and an operation unit, for example. The user authentication processing of the feeder is performed based on the user authentication data.

  4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is supplied with user print data from a printer driver, for example. .

  In the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the authentication data holding unit holds, for example, user print data together with user authentication data, and the control unit receives user authentication from the authentication data holding unit. The user's print data is read together with the data for use.

  Furthermore, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes an image reading unit that reads a document, and the control unit uses the image of the document read by the image reading unit as print data.

  The present invention is a control program for an image forming apparatus that has a feeder insertion slot into which a feeder is detachably inserted, and forms an image on a sheet fed from a feeder inserted into the feeder insertion slot. The user authentication data is read from the authentication data holding unit provided in the feeder inserted into the feeder insertion port, the user authentication processing of the feeder is performed based on the user authentication data, and the feeder insertion port Causing the computer of the image forming apparatus to perform control for feeding a sheet from the inserted feeder to the image forming unit and forming an image based on the print data of the authenticated user on the sheet fed by the image forming unit. It is characterized by.

  In the control program of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, for example, user authentication data read from an authentication data holding unit provided in a feeder inserted into the feeder insertion port and user authentication data given from a printer driver Based on the above, the user authentication processing of the feeder is performed.

  In the image forming apparatus control program according to the present invention, for example, user authentication data read from an authentication data holding unit provided in a feeder inserted into the feeder insertion port and a user input from an operation unit The feeder user authentication process is performed based on the authentication data.

  In the present invention, user authentication data is read from an authentication data holding unit provided in a feeder inserted into the feeder insertion port, and user authentication processing of the feeder is performed based on the user authentication data. An image forming apparatus that performs control to feed a sheet from a feeder inserted into a slot to an image forming unit and form an image based on print data of an authenticated user on the sheet fed by the image forming unit. Security can be improved and confidential documents can be printed with excellent operability. In addition, the user can manage his / her own paper by himself / herself and can shorten the output waiting time of the printed matter he / she wants to output. Furthermore, it is possible to reduce erroneous operations by humans in the paper feed cassette, paper feed size, and paper feed direction.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to the following examples, and can be arbitrarily changed without departing from the gist of the present invention.

  In the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, for example, a printing system 10 in which a client 1 instructed by a user and an image forming apparatus (printing machine) 2 are connected to each other via a network 3 such as a LAN. Applies to Note that the image forming apparatus 2 may be directly connected to the client 1 via a USB interface or a parallel interface without via the network 3.

  The client 1 is composed of, for example, a so-called personal computer, and as shown in FIG. 2, a CPU 111 for controlling the entire apparatus and various arithmetic processes, a ROM 112 for storing programs and data, and a program and data temporarily as a work area. RAM 113 for storing various data, a hard disk 114 as an external storage device for storing various programs and data, a display unit 115 such as a liquid crystal display for displaying various information, and a keyboard and mouse for inputting various instructions An input unit 116 including a network interface 117 such as a LAN card for connecting to the network 3 is connected to each other via a bus 118.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the image forming apparatus 2 is installed at a main body 21 having an image forming unit 20, a document reading unit 30 installed above the main body 21, and a lower part of the main body 21. The copying machine includes the sheet feeding unit 40 and the operation display unit 50 installed in the front portion of the main body unit 21. The image forming apparatus 2 is provided with a feeder insertion port 22 into which a feeder 90 is detachably mounted on one side of the main body 21, and a paper discharge tray 24 is disposed on the other side. A mounted paper discharge port 25 is provided.

  As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 4, the image forming apparatus 2 includes a control unit 120 centered on a CPU that controls operation of the entire apparatus, and the control unit 120 includes the image forming unit 20, A document reading unit 30, a paper feed unit 40, an operation display unit 50, an image storage unit 60, an image processing unit 70, a network interface 75, a paper discharge unit 80, and the like are connected.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the control unit 120 includes a ROM (Read Only Memory) 121 that stores a control program for the image forming apparatus 2, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 122 that temporarily stores data, and various settings that can be updated. An EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM) 123 that stores data and the like, a microcomputer 124 that reads out and executes a control program from the ROM 121, and the like. The entire apparatus is controlled in accordance with detection signals from various sensors provided at various places.

  The image forming unit 20 performs predetermined image formation (printing) on the paper conveyed by the paper supply unit 40, and includes a printer controller, a laser scanning unit, a fixing roller, and the like (not shown).

  The document reading unit 30 reads a document and generates image data corresponding to the document, and a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) sensor that generates image data from an optically acquired document image and an exposure. The image data obtained by scanning a manuscript placed on the contact glass is output to the control unit 120.

  The paper feed unit 40 feeds paper to the image forming unit 20. One paper is fed from a paper feed tray (not shown) in the apparatus main body or a feeder 90 attached to the feeder insertion port 22. Each sheet is taken out and conveyed to the image forming unit 20 via the conveyance path.

  The operation display unit 50 inputs a predetermined instruction in response to a user operation. The operation display unit 50 includes a start key for inputting a print execution instruction and a numeric keypad for inputting the number of copies to be printed. A liquid crystal display (LCD) on which various operation buttons and the like for displaying operation guide information for inputting settings of various copying operations and the like is displayed.

  The image storage unit 60 is a memory that temporarily stores image data of a document read by the document reading unit 30 and image data transmitted from an external device via a not-shown abbreviated network I / F unit. .

  The image processing unit 70 performs various types of image processing on the print data. For example, the image processing unit 70 converts the print data into RGB data or CMYK data, or performs image processing for consolidating a plurality of document images on one sheet, that is, Enlargement / reduction processing for enlarging or reducing the image size of the document image, layout processing for arranging a plurality of document images on one sheet, and the like are performed.

  The paper discharge unit 80 conveys the image-formed paper on which the image is formed by the image forming unit 20 and discharges the paper from the paper discharge port 25 onto the paper discharge tray 24.

Here, the feeder 90 attached to the feeder insertion port 22 is provided with an authentication information holding unit 91 that holds authentication information used for user authentication.
For the authentication information holding unit 91, an RFID, a barcode, or other memory card capable of authenticating personal data is used.

  Information other than user information (such as print settings) may be registered in advance in the authentication information holding unit 91 provided in the feeder 90. The main body 21 may be provided with a plurality of feeder insertion ports 22 to which the feeder 90 is attached.

  In the printing system 10, the control unit 120 of the image forming apparatus 2 receives paper from the paper feeding unit 40 in accordance with control information sent from the client 1 and setting information input by operating the operation display unit 50. Is fed to the image forming unit 20, an image is formed on the fed paper by the image forming unit 20, and the paper on which the image is formed by the image forming unit 20 is conveyed by the paper discharge unit 80. To control paper ejection.

  The control unit 120 of the image forming apparatus 2 automatically recognizes the feeder 90 when the feeder 90 is inserted into the feeder insertion port 22, and the authentication information held in the authentication information holding unit 91. Based on the information, it is determined who the feeder 90 belongs to, and user authentication is performed. Further, the control unit 120 of the image forming apparatus 2 automatically recognizes the size of the paper stored in the feeder 90.

  In the printing system 10, for example, when the user A outputs data on the client 1 using a printer driver installed in the client 1, the image forming apparatus 2 is set by the client 1 at the time of printing, for example. Is set to perform user authentication, and data printing is executed according to the procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG.

  That is, in the printing system 10, when the printing process is executed, the control unit 120 of the image forming apparatus 2 determines whether or not the setting is made to print out after user authentication (step S1). If NO, that is, if it is not set to print out after user authentication, the print data sent from the client 1 is received and printed immediately (step S11), and the printing process is terminated.

  Further, the control unit 120 of the image forming apparatus 2 receives the print data sent from the client 1 when the determination result in the step S1 is YES, that is, the printout after the user authentication is set. And stored in the image storage unit 60 (step S2).

  Next, the control unit 120 of the image forming apparatus 2 receives user authentication data (step S3).

  The user authentication data may be transmitted by being added to the print data from a printer driver installed in the client 1 or may be input from the operation display unit 50 of the image forming apparatus 2.

  Next, the control unit 120 of the image forming apparatus 2 determines whether or not the feeder 90 is inserted into the feeder insertion port 22 of the image forming apparatus 2 (step S4), and when the determination result is NO. Determines whether or not a certain time has passed (step S5).

  If the determination result in step S5 is NO, the process returns to step S4 to repeat the determination process in steps S4 and S5. The determination result in step S5 is YES, that is, the feeder is inserted into the feeder insertion port 22. If a predetermined time has passed without 90 being inserted, the print data and user authentication data received in steps S2 and S3 are deleted (step S6), and the printing process is terminated without printing.

  When the determination result in step S4 is YES, that is, when the feeder 90 is inserted into the feeder insertion port 22, the control unit 120 of the image forming apparatus 2 is provided in the feeder 90 inserted into the feeder insertion port 22. The user authentication data is read from the authentication information holding unit 91 that has been registered (step S7).

  Next, the control unit 120 of the image forming apparatus 2 feeds the feeder 90 inserted into the feeder insertion port 22 based on the user authentication data received in step S3 and the user authentication data read in step S7. It is determined whether or not is that of user A (step S8).

  If the determination result in step S8 is NO, that is, if the feeder 90 inserted into the feeder insertion port 22 is not for the user A, the control unit 120 of the image forming apparatus 2 returns to step S4 and returns to the feeder. It is determined whether or not the feeder 90 is newly inserted into the insertion port 22.

  When the determination result in step S8 is YES, that is, when the feeder 90 inserted into the feeder insertion port 22 belongs to the user A, the control unit 120 of the image forming apparatus 2 has another print job. It is determined whether or not to perform (step S9).

  If the determination result in step S9 is NO, that is, if there is no other print job, the print data A stored in step S2 is printed (step S11), and the printing process is terminated.

  If the determination result in step S9 is YES, that is, if there is another print job, the print job of the print data A stored in step S2 is placed at the top (step S10), and the print data A is printed. (Step S11), and the printing process is terminated. As a result of the processing in step S10, the priority of output (job processing priority) is higher for the user who inserted the feeder 90.

  Here, in step S11, a sheet is fed from the feeder 90 inserted into the feeder insertion port 22 to the image forming unit 20, and an image based on the print data of the authenticated user is supplied by the image forming unit 20. Form on paper.

  That is, the control unit 120 of the image forming apparatus 2 reads the user authentication data from the authentication data holding unit 91 provided in the feeder 90 inserted into the feeder insertion port 22 in the step S7, and in the step S8. User authentication processing of the feeder is performed, paper is fed to the image forming unit 20 from the feeder 90 inserted into the feeder insertion port 22 in step S11, and an image based on print data of the authenticated user is displayed on the image. Control is performed to form a sheet fed by the forming unit 20.

  Even if the user authentication is not set in step S1, the image forming apparatus 2 side (or the client 1 side) may be set in advance so that it cannot output unless user authentication is performed by the feeder. Good. In addition, after printing data is output in step S11 (after a series of printing data is output in a plurality of cases), paper feeding from the feeder 90 is prohibited, or an alarm is issued when the paper in the feeder 90 runs out during printing. You may make it output. Data received by the image forming apparatus 2 is encrypted with a key based on personal information, and may be decrypted with personal information read from the feeder. Further, the data holding time of the main body may be set.

  The user authentication data is read from the authentication data holding unit 91 provided in the feeder 90 inserted into the feeder insertion port 22, the user authentication processing of the feeder 90 is performed based on the user authentication data, and the feeder Control is performed to feed a sheet of paper from the feeder 90 inserted into the insertion port 22 to the image forming unit and form an image based on the print data A of the authenticated user A on the sheet fed by the image forming unit.

  In the printing system 10, the authentication information holding unit 91 provided in the feeder 90 holds the print data A together with the user authentication information, and the feeder insertion is performed according to the procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG. When the feeder 90 is inserted into the port 22, the print data A can be read from the authentication information holding unit 91 and printed.

  That is, in this case, when executing the printing process, the control unit 120 of the image forming apparatus 2 determines whether or not it is set to print out after user authentication (step S21), and the determination result is NO, that is, the user If it is not set to print out after the authentication, the print data A is read from the authentication information holding unit 91 provided in the feeder 90 inserted into the feeder insertion port 22 and printed immediately (step) S30), the printing process is terminated.

  Further, the control unit 120 of the image forming apparatus 2 determines that the determination result in the step S11 is YES, that is, the user inserts the feeder insertion port 22 of the image forming apparatus 2 when printing is performed after user authentication. It is determined whether or not the feeder 90 has been inserted (step S22). If the determination result is NO, it is determined whether or not a fixed time has elapsed (step S23).

  If the determination result in step S23 is NO, the process returns to step S22 to repeat the determination process in steps S22 and S23, and the determination result in step S23 is YES, that is, the feeder is inserted into the feeder insertion port 22. If a predetermined time elapses with 90 not inserted, the printing process is terminated without printing.

  When the determination result in step S22 is YES, that is, when the feeder 90 is inserted into the feeder insertion port 22, the control unit 120 of the image forming apparatus 2 is provided in the feeder 90 inserted into the feeder insertion port 22. The user authentication data is read from the authentication information holding unit 91 (step S24).

  Next, the control unit 120 of the image forming apparatus 2 reads user authentication data input from the operation display unit 50 of the image forming apparatus 2 (step S25).

  Next, the control unit 120 of the image forming apparatus 2 reads the user authentication data read from the authentication information holding unit 91 provided in the feeder 90 in step S24 and the user input from the operation display unit 50 in step S25. Based on the authentication data, it is determined whether or not the feeder 90 inserted into the feeder insertion port 22 belongs to the user A (step S26).

  If the determination result in step S26 is NO, that is, if the feeder 90 inserted into the feeder insertion port 22 is not of the user A, the control unit 120 of the image forming apparatus 2 returns to step S22 and returns to the feeder. It is determined whether or not a feeder 90 is newly attached to the insertion port 22.

  If the determination result in step S26 is YES, that is, if the feeder 90 inserted into the feeder insertion port 22 is that of the user A, the control unit 120 of the image forming apparatus 2 controls the feeder insertion port 22. The print data A is read from the authentication information holding unit 91 provided in the feeder 90 inserted into the image storage unit 60 and stored in the image storage unit 60 (step S27).

  Next, the control unit 120 of the image forming apparatus 2 determines whether another print job exists (step S28).

  If the determination result in step S28 is NO, that is, if no other print job exists, the print data A stored in step S27 is printed (step S30), and the printing process is terminated.

  If the determination result in step S28 is YES, that is, if another print job exists, the print job of the print data A stored in step S27 is placed at the top (step S29), and the print data A is printed. (Step S30), and the printing process is terminated.

  Here, in step S30, paper is fed from the feeder 90 inserted into the feeder insertion port 22 to the image forming unit 20, and an image based on print data of the authenticated user is supplied by the image forming unit 20. Form on paper.

  That is, the control unit 120 of the image forming apparatus 2 reads the user authentication data from the authentication data holding unit 91 provided in the feeder 90 inserted into the feeder insertion port 22 in step S24, and in step S26. User authentication processing of the feeder is performed, user data A is read from the authentication data holding unit 91 provided in the feeder 90 inserted into the feeder insertion port 22 in step S27, and the feeder insertion is performed in step 20 Control is performed to feed a sheet from the feeder 90 inserted into the opening 22 to the image forming unit 20 and form an image based on the print data of the authenticated user on the sheet fed by the image forming unit 20.

  In the image forming apparatus 2, when the user A of the feeder 90 copies a document, the document is read by the document reading unit 30 and stored as print data A in the image storage unit 60 in step S27. The sheet is fed from the feeder 90 inserted into the feeder insertion port 22 in the step 20 to the image forming unit 20, and an image based on the print data A of the authenticated user is fed by the image forming unit 20. Can be formed on paper.

  In the printing system 10, the control unit 120 of the image forming apparatus 2 has the authentication data held in the authentication information holding unit 91 provided in the feeder 90 inserted into the feeder insertion port 22 of the image forming apparatus 2. Since the printing process is executed after the user authentication of the feeder 90 based on the above, the security of the image forming apparatus can be improved. Further, the user can manage his / her own paper by himself and can perform confidential document printing with excellent operability. In addition, since the user inserts the feeder 90 into the feeder insertion port 22 of the image forming apparatus 2 and executes the printing process, it is possible to shorten the output waiting time of the printed matter that the user wants to output. Furthermore, it is possible to reduce erroneous operations by humans in the paper feed cassette, paper feed size, and paper feed direction.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system to which the present invention is applied. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the client in the said printing system. FIG. 2 is a front view illustrating an appearance of an image forming apparatus in the printing system. 2 is a block diagram of a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control unit of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of printing processing executed by the image forming apparatus in the printing system. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of another printing process executed by the image forming apparatus in the printing system.

Explanation of symbols

1 client,
2 image forming apparatus,
3 network,
10 printing system,
20 Image forming unit,
21 body,
22 Feeder outlet,
24 Output tray,
25 Paper exit,
30 Document reading unit,
40 paper feeder,
50 operation display section,
60 image storage unit,
70 Image processing unit,
80 paper discharge section,
90 feeder,
91 authentication information holding unit,
111 CPU,
112 ROM,
113 RAM,
114 hard disk,
115 display,
116 input section,
117 network interface,
118 bus,
120 control unit,
121 ROM,
122 RAM,
123 EEPROM,
124 Microcomputer

Claims (9)

An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet fed from a feeder inserted into the feeder insertion port, the feeder having a feeder insertion port into which the feeder is detachably inserted,
An image forming unit for forming an image on paper;
A paper feeding unit for feeding paper to the image forming unit;
A control unit for controlling these operations;
An authentication data holding unit provided in the feeder and holding user authentication data;
The control unit reads user authentication data from an authentication data holding unit provided in a feeder inserted into the feeder insertion port, performs user authentication processing of the feeder, and is inserted into the feeder insertion port. An image forming apparatus that performs control to feed a sheet from a feeder to the image forming unit and form an image based on print data of an authenticated user on the sheet fed by the image forming unit. The control unit performs user authentication processing of the feeder based on user authentication data read from an authentication data holding unit provided in a feeder inserted into the feeder insertion port and user authentication data provided from a printer driver. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: The control unit performs user authentication of the feeder based on user authentication data read from an authentication data holding unit provided in a feeder inserted into the feeder insertion port and user authentication data input from an operation unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein processing is performed. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is provided with user print data from a printer driver. The authentication data holding unit holds user print data together with user authentication data.
4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit reads the user print data together with the user authentication data. It has an image reading unit that reads the document,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit uses the image of the document read by the image reading unit as print data. A control program for an image forming apparatus, which has a feeder insertion port into which a feeder is detachably inserted, and forms an image on a sheet fed from a feeder inserted into the feeder insertion port,
Read user authentication data from the authentication data holding unit provided in the feeder inserted into the feeder insertion port,
Based on the user authentication data, perform the user authentication process of the feeder,
Paper is fed from the feeder inserted into the feeder insertion port to the image forming unit,
An image forming apparatus control program for causing a computer of the image forming apparatus to perform control to form an image based on print data of an authenticated user on a sheet fed by the image forming unit. The image forming apparatus performs user authentication processing of the feeder based on user authentication data read from an authentication data holding unit provided in a feeder inserted into the feeder insertion port and user authentication data provided from a printer driver. 8. A control program for an image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said control program is executed by said computer. Based on the user authentication data read from the authentication data holding unit provided in the feeder inserted in the feeder insertion port and the user authentication data input from the operation unit, the user authentication processing of the feeder is performed as the image formation. 8. The image forming apparatus control program according to claim 7, which is executed by a computer of the apparatus.

Images