JP2012011661A - Supply article managing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a supply management device capable of supplying supplies in accordance with each contract form while maintaining physical compatibility, and capable of preventing unauthorized diversion.
A mode information storage unit for storing first mode information, a supply information reading unit for reading supply product identification information and a second mode information from a storage medium, and a remaining unit for detecting the remaining amount of the supply unit An amount detecting means, an information storage means for storing the second mode information and the second remaining amount as one supply history in association with the identification information, and the supply information reading means when a supply is mounted. The first mode information read by the user and the comparison result of the second mode information, the first remaining amount detected by the remaining amount detection means when the supply is mounted, and the identification information of the information storage means And a misuse diversion detecting means for detecting improper diversion of the supply based on the comparison result of the second remaining amount stored in correspondence with the supply amount management device.
[Selection] Figure 7

Description

  The present invention relates to a supply management apparatus that detects unauthorized use of supplies provided to an image forming apparatus.

  There is known a stencil printing apparatus capable of printing at a lower cost than a general copying machine as the number of printed image data increases. In the stencil printing apparatus, a film drawn from a master roll (plate) is punched by the heat of a thermal head in accordance with the read image data, wound around a drum, and an ink roller from the inside of the drum is connected to the plate cylinder, screen and master roll. Ink is extruded along the original pattern to transfer the original pattern onto the recording paper.

  In such a stencil printing apparatus, since ink packs and master rolls are consumables, these consumables are supplied from the manufacturer to the user (hereinafter, the supplied article is referred to as a supply). In order to maintain a proper combination of supplies and stencil printing equipment guaranteed by the manufacturer, the ink pack and master roll must have their own property information (in the case of an ink pack, the master roll, such as its composition, viscosity and capacity). For example, a medium describing film thickness, sensitivity characteristics, length, etc.) is fixed. This medium is, for example, a one-dimensional barcode, a two-dimensional code code (hereinafter simply referred to as “barcode” or the like), an RFID tag, an IC tag, or the like. The medium is affixed or embedded in the master roll core, and the characteristic information is read by the stencil printing apparatus when the ink pack or the master roll is mounted on the stencil printing apparatus.

  A stencil printing device is a combination of a supply and a stencil printing device based on characteristic information so that, for example, supplies for the wrong model or specification are not installed, or the wrong color drum is not installed during color separation. It is determined whether or not is appropriate. In addition, the stencil printing machine uses the characteristic information for various printing control and plate making control, such as press roller printing pressure control, plate making energy setting control, and control method for printing exceeding the master printing durability. ing.

  Here, techniques for identifying a master roll have been proposed (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). Patent Document 1 discloses a stencil printing apparatus that uses a coil and a capacitor having a specific resonance frequency, which are attached to a core material, as identification means for a master roll. Patent Document 2 discloses a stencil printing apparatus in which a master roll and an ink storage container are provided with a resonance circuit, and the master roll and the ink storage container are identified based on the resonance circuit to prevent erroneous setting of both. Yes.

  By the way, in such a stencil printing apparatus, a user may conclude a maintenance contract with a service company or a manufacturer of the stencil printing apparatus in order to provide supplies. In maintenance contracts, management of the main body of an image forming apparatus such as a stencil printing apparatus and management of its supplies are often separate.

That is, the user can conclude a maintenance contract only for managing the image forming apparatus main body with a service company or the like. A user who has concluded a maintenance contract for only the image forming apparatus places an order for the supplies separately from the dealer or the maintenance center for the consumed amount or the necessary supplement. In this case, the user often takes a contract form of paying for the supplied supplies. (Hereinafter, such contract forms are referred to as “individual contracts”, “individual contract forms”, etc.)
On the other hand, when the user enters into a maintenance contract that requests the service company or manufacturer to comprehensively manage the image forming apparatus and supply management, the user can set the pay-as-you-go to the monthly fee for two floors. In addition, the fee is paid (hereinafter, such a contract form is referred to as “a pay-as-you-go contract” or “a pay-as-you-go contract form”).

  For individual contracts, the cost of the contract is cheaper, and the user pays the legitimate price for the supplies.In the pay-as-you-go contract, the contract price is higher for comprehensive management. Provided.

  In the case of pay-as-you-go contracts such as the latter, the nature of the contract eliminates the need for users to purchase commercially available supplies, so pay-as-you-go supplies are compatible with supplies in the former individual contract. It is often designed not to have. In other words, in the case of a pay-as-you-go contract, the supplied supplies are physically changed, such as the part number or part number being changed, or the base diameter or master roll diameter of the ink pack being changed. ing.

  When the supply is physically differentiated in this way, the service company or manufacturer can reliably supply the supply, but an increase in cost for the differentiation is inevitable.

Therefore, the physical supply is physically shared, and contract form information is included in the characteristic information held in the barcode or RFID tag attached to the supply, thereby separating the contract form (for example, In the case of a pay-as-you-go contract, it is considered that the image forming apparatus accepts only supplies supplied by a service company or manufacturer.
However, there is a concern that the barcode labels and RFID tags of supplies supplied for pay-as-you-go contracts may be misappropriated by replacing (replacing) with barcode labels and RFID tags of supplies supplied for individual contracts. Yes, the above measures alone will cause inconvenience. If misappropriated, there is a significant imbalance between users who have contracted for individual supplies and paid for genuine supplies, and users who have paid for the individual contract and misappropriated supplies. Become a thing. Service companies and manufacturers also suffer from economic disadvantages.

  The present invention has been made in view of the current situation as described above, and can supply supplies in accordance with each contract form while maintaining physical compatibility, and can prevent unauthorized use. An object is to provide a supply management device.

  In view of the above problems, the present invention provides image data acquisition means for acquiring image data, and image forming means for forming a visible image by executing a predetermined printing process on the image data and the recording medium using supplies. , A mode information storage unit that stores first mode information indicating a mode of maintenance contract of the supply management device, identification information of supplies supplied to the supply management device, and Supply information reading means for reading the second mode information of the supply management apparatus permitted to mount the supply from a storage medium included in the supply, and a remaining amount for detecting the remaining amount of the mounted supply In correspondence with the identification information read by the quantity detection means and the supply information reading means, the second mode information and the remaining amount detection means Information storage means for storing the second remaining amount that has been taken out as one supply history, the first aspect information read by the supply information reading means when the supply is mounted, and the aspect information The comparison result of the second mode information stored in the storage unit, the first remaining amount detected by the remaining amount detection unit when the supply item is mounted, and the supply item in the information storage unit And a misuse diversion detecting unit for detecting improper diversion of the supplies based on a comparison result of the second remaining amount stored in association with the identification information read by the information reading unit.

  It is possible to provide a supply management apparatus that can supply supplies in accordance with each contract form while maintaining physical compatibility, and can prevent unauthorized use.

It is an example of the figure explaining typical misappropriation of supplies. It is an example of the schematic block diagram of a stencil printing apparatus. It is an example of the figure explaining the basic composition of the stencil printing apparatus regarding management of supply. It is an example of the hardware block diagram of a stencil printing apparatus. It is an example of a diagram expressing a more specific arrangement of a master RFID tag and a master RFID tag reader in a plotter of a stencil printing apparatus. It is an example of the figure explaining the method of supply amount detection. It is an example of the flowchart figure which shows the control procedure of a stencil printing apparatus. It is an example of the perspective view of the ink pack in the printing drum of a stencil printing apparatus. It is an example of the flowchart figure which shows the detection procedure of the misappropriation of a stencil printing apparatus. It is an example of the figure which illustrates typically the relation between an element and electrostatic capacity. It is a figure which shows an example of supply history information. It is an example of the flowchart figure which shows the procedure in which a stencil printing apparatus detects unauthorized use. It is an example of the figure which shows the example of a screen displayed on an operation panel when improper diversion is detected. It is an example of the schematic block diagram of a stencil printing apparatus. It is an example of the flowchart figure which shows the detection procedure of the misappropriation of a stencil printing apparatus. It is an example of the flowchart figure which shows the detection procedure of the misappropriation of a stencil printing apparatus. 1 is an example of a schematic configuration diagram of an inkjet image forming apparatus capable of full-color printing. It is a figure which shows an example of the restriction | limiting procedure of the head operation | movement which employ | adopted the concept of the m out of n system.

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
With reference to FIG. 1, typical misappropriation of supplies will be described first. In FIG. 1A, an operator (user) / owner / manager (hereinafter simply referred to as “user”) has an individual contract with a service company or manufacturer for a maintenance contract for an image forming apparatus. Accordingly, the user periodically pays only for the maintenance of the main body of the image forming apparatus, but pays only for the amount of supplies purchased.

  In FIG. 1B, the user has a comprehensive pay-as-you-go contract for the maintenance contract for the image forming apparatus and the supplies with the service company or manufacturer. Therefore, the user periodically pays for the maintenance of the image forming apparatus and the supplies, and even if the supplies are consumed, a separate charge is hardly generated.

  Comparing these two contract modes, the individual contract tends to be cheaper because the management of supplies is not included. However, since the user of the individual contract pays for the supplies separately, he / she pays a legitimate price.

  On the other hand, there may be a situation in which the user of the individual contract acquires the supply of the pay-as-you-go contract by intention or negligence and attaches it to the image forming apparatus. In this case, although the user of the individual contract pays only an inexpensive contract fee, the user can obtain the supplies at a low cost, resulting in an unfair feeling among contractors.

  Therefore, the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment detects that the user of the individual contract uses the supply product of the pay-as-you-go contract as unauthorized diversion.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 2 shows an example of a schematic configuration diagram of the stencil printing apparatus 100 of the present embodiment. Note that the stencil printing apparatus 100 is a form of an image forming apparatus. The stencil printing apparatus 100 is the same as the supply management apparatus 1 in the claims.

  The stencil printing apparatus 100 is equipped with supplies such as ink packs and master rolls for printing. The supply product can be read and written by the stencil printing apparatus 100 in a non-contact manner, and has a supply information holding unit 2 that holds a series of supply information related to the supply product such as an identification code of the supply product and a contract form to be provided. The stencil printing machine 100 has a supply information reading unit 3 that reads the supply information held by the supply information holding unit 2.

  Further, the stencil printing apparatus 100 includes a remaining supply amount detecting unit 4, a supply history holding unit 5, and a warning unit 6. The supply remaining amount detecting means 4 (a photo sensor 11 and a capacitor 12 to be described later associated with the stencil printing apparatus) detects the amount or remaining amount of the supplies that are already mounted on the stencil printing apparatus 100. The supply history holding means 5 (flash ROM 218 to be described later) stores at least the supply ID of the supplies mounted on the stencil printing apparatus 100 and the amount or remaining amount of the supplies already consumed. The control means 7 (CPU 216 of the stencil printing apparatus 100) stores the sample history in the supply history holding means 5 at an appropriate timing. The supply history holding means 5 stores contract form data indicating a contract state to which the stencil printing apparatus 100 is applied.

  The warning means 6 (touch panel 115 to be described later) is configured so that when a supply mounted on the stencil printing apparatus 100 is mounted on a stencil printing apparatus 100 different from the contract form that should be provided, the stencil printing apparatus 100 is concerned. An operation such as displaying a warning message on the touch panel 115 is performed.

  The stencil printing apparatus 100 reads supply information about the supplies mounted on the stencil printing apparatus 100 by the supply information reading unit 3, reads information such as the supply ID and contract form of the supply from the supply information, and contracts. The contract status determined from the form data is compared to check for unauthorized use.

  On the other hand, the stencil printing apparatus 100 detects the consumed amount or remaining amount of the supply by the supply remaining amount detecting unit 4 and the detected consumption / remaining amount is held by the supply history holding unit 5. By comparing and referring to the supply history information related to the supply, the unnatural behavior such as extreme increase / decrease or no change is monitored.

  As a result, the control means 7 checks whether or not the illegal diversion is found, and if the illegal diversion is found, the warning means 6 warns the user of the stencil printing apparatus 100 and the control means 7 supplies the illegally used supply. In order to suppress the use of the product, control is performed so as to limit the plate making / printing operation of the stencil printing apparatus 100.

  The control unit 7 includes an unauthorized use detection unit 21, a plate making locking unit 22, a printing locking unit 23, and a profile creation unit 24 that are realized by executing a program or a circuit. These functions will be described later.

  FIG. 3 is an example of a diagram illustrating a basic configuration of the stencil printing apparatus 100 relating to supply management. The stencil printing apparatus 100 includes a printing drum 101 around which a master 107 is wound around an outer peripheral surface, a press roller 102 serving as a printing pressure unit, a plotter 103 serving as a plate making device, and a plate discharging unit 104. Prepare.

The stencil printing apparatus 100 records the image of the wound master 107 by pressing the recording paper 106 fed from the paper feeding means 105 arranged on the right side of the apparatus main body against the printing drum 101 by the press roller 102. Transfer to paper 106. In the case of single-sided printing, the recording paper 106 on which the image has been transferred is transported by the transporting unit 108 to the paper discharge unit 109 disposed on the left side of the apparatus main body. Switching to the paper feeding means 122 side, the recording paper on which one-sided printing has been completed is guided to the re-feeding means 122 side, and printing is performed on the back surface by feeding again from the paper feeding side. Such a printing configuration is known.
A color scanner 110 serving as an image reading unit is arranged on the upper part of the apparatus main body, reads a document image, and acquires image data used for plate making.

  An operation panel 111 serving as an operation unit of the stencil printing apparatus 100 is disposed on the upper front of the apparatus main body. The operation panel 111 is provided with a printing / plate making switching key 113, a start key 114, a touch panel 115, an initial setting / printer setting key 116, a printing position adjustment key 117, a printing speed setting key 118, and the like. The operation panel 111 has an LCD touch panel 115, and various guidance information and various operation screens are appropriately displayed on the screen. When the operation screen is operated by a user of the apparatus, switches displayed on the screens are displayed. The control unit 7 and the stencil printing apparatus 100 accept the contents corresponding to the above and are set as the printing conditions.

  The control means 7 will be described. The control means 7 in the apparatus main body controls each part of the stencil printing apparatus 100. FIG. 4 shows an example of a hardware configuration diagram of the stencil printing apparatus 100. The control means 7 is largely divided into an ACU 200 (Application Control Unit) and an ECU 300 (Engine Control Unit) serving as a mounting board.

  Various interfaces are connected to the ACU 200. An operation panel 111 of the stencil printing apparatus 100 is connected to the operation panel I / F 205. The interface (SD I / F 206, USB I / F 209) is connected to an SD memory card 201 or a USB memory 203, which is a portable large-capacity storage medium. A hard disk (hereinafter referred to as “HDD”) 207 serving as a large capacity storage device is connected to the HDD I / F 208. A LAN card (NIC 202) is connected to the network interface card (NIC I / F 212). An electronic paper 400 that is a non-powered image display device is connected to the I / O interface 221. A wireless LAN NIC is connected to the wireless LAN I / F 214. A FAX module is connected to the FAX I / F 222. ECU 300 is connected to ECU I / F 215.

  In addition, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) 220 of the ACU 200 is connected to a CPU 216 serving as a central processing circuit, a RAM 217 serving as a storage unit, and a ROM 218.

The ACU 200 controls stencil printing / accumulation of the stencil printing apparatus 100, accumulates documents transferred via the scanner or the network as accumulated documents in the HDD 207, and stores accumulated documents accumulated in the scanner 110 or the HDD 207 via the network. After making the plate making data from the document data transferred in step (3), the data is transferred to the ECU 300. Management of supplies in this embodiment is mainly realized by this ACU 200.
The ECU 300 is connected to a CPU 321 serving as a central processing circuit, a RAM 322 and a ROM 323 serving as storage means, an ACU I / F 324 connected to an ECU interface 215 included in the ACU 200, a scan I / F 326 connected to the scanner 110, and a plotter 103. Each has a plotter I / F 328 and is connected to the ASIC 329.
The plotter 103 of the ECU 300 performs perforation by applying a thermal process to a master roll (heat-sensitive stencil film) 119 serving as a well-known stencil sheet based on the plate-making data created by the ACU 200. As a result, the ECU 300 creates a master that has been subjected to plate making, winds the master 107 that has been made pre-rolled around the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder that becomes the printing drum 101, and supplies ink from the ink pack 120 installed inside the drum. While the printing drum 101 is rotated, the recording paper (printing paper) 106 is fed so as to respond to it, thereby obtaining a printed product (printed material). In this way, the ECU 300 controls the entire series of operations of the digital stencil printing apparatus 100 from plate making to printing.

  The stencil printing apparatus 100 may be either a single-sided printing apparatus or a double-sided printing apparatus, but in the present embodiment, it is a double-sided printing apparatus. Further, it is assumed that the stencil printing apparatus 100 of the present embodiment has an individual contract.

  FIG. 5 represents a more specific arrangement of the master / RFID tag and the supply information reading means 3 (master / RFID tag / reader) in the plotter 103 of the stencil printing apparatus 100. In this embodiment, an RFID tag is employed as the supply information holding unit 2. This RFID tag holds, as supply information, an identification code (supply ID) uniquely assigned to each master roll 119 and a contract form to which the master roll 119 is to be provided. The master roll 119 of this embodiment is supposed to be provided to the stencil printing apparatus 100 with an individual contract.

  As described above, the RFID tag can include master specifications, plate making conditions, and the like as supply information. However, the description is omitted because it is not directly related to the present invention. The same applies to RFID tags, such as ink / RFID tags, attached to subsequent supplies.

  In this embodiment, an RFID tag is adopted as the supply information holding means 2, but a one-dimensional bar code, a two-dimensional code, or one using magnetism may be used. It is not limited.

  As shown, markers are formed on the master roll 119 in the master feed direction. A marker is a bit string having a period for supply amount detection (in this case, master amount detection), and when a continuous bit string of an arbitrary width is extracted from the bit string, the marker is uniquely positioned on the bit string. It has m sequence (longest code sequence) of spreading code (PN code) which is a kind of code.

Here, the m sequence of spreading codes (PN codes) will be briefly described. An m-sequence of spreading codes (PN codes) is a 2 ⁿ -1 bit string having periodicity that is created by giving n binary bit strings. The left part of FIG. 5 shows a method for generating an m-sequence (maximal sequence) PN code among spreading codes. The m sequence forms the longest (2 ⁿ -1) bit sequence among code sequences that can be generated by n stages of shift registers and delay elements. When k consecutive bits are selected from the generated bit string, a unique value is obtained on the bit string.
FIG. 5 shows the case of n = 5 for the sake of simplicity of explanation. In this case, the creator uses five stages of shift registers D1 to D5, and first sets all the shift registers to “1”. Next, a computer or the like takes exclusive OR of D1, D2, D3, D4, and D5 of the shift register, returns it to D1, and simultaneously shifts the whole to the right by 1 bit.

Since one bit protrudes from D5 for each shift, a periodic bit string of 2 ⁵ -1 = 31 bits can be obtained by extracting one bit for each shift and repeating the exclusive OR and the shift again 31 times.

  The bit string obtained in this way is replaced with the presence or absence (black / white) of the marker on the master. As shown on the right side of FIG. 5, a 31-bit bit string is formed in the master roll 119. The black part is “1”. For simplicity, it is assumed here that the marker is formed so that the start end of the bit string corresponds to the start end of the master in the sub-scanning direction, and the end of the bit string corresponds to the end of the master.

  The marker formed in this way is read by the supply remaining amount detecting means (photosensor 11) 4 in the number of bits when the stencil printing apparatus 100 performs the plate making operation and the master is fed.

  A supply amount detection method using this mechanism will be described with reference to FIG. After the marker formed as described above is read by the photosensor 11, the read marker data is analyzed by a marker analysis unit (not shown) of the control unit 7. The content of the analysis is to search to which part of the bit string (PN code bit string) the read marker data corresponds.

  If the number of shift registers is 5, the marker data that is continuous for 5 bits becomes different marker data regardless of which part is extracted. In other words, the marker analysis unit can specify the position on the master roll 119 by reading the marker data that is continuous for 5 bits. The number of bits read by the photosensor 11 is determined by the number of shift registers.

For example, the marker data “11001” is located at the beginning of the bit string, and “10100” and “10001” are located at the end of the bit string. Since the position on the bit string corresponds to the position on the master roll 119, the supply remaining amount detection means 4 determines the “master remaining amount 65 [%]”, “master remaining” based on the marker analysis result data, respectively. The master status is determined as “near end (master remaining amount 19 [%])”, “master end (master remaining amount 3 [%])”, or the like.
In this embodiment, the master near end is used when the master remaining amount is less than 20 [%], and the master end is used when the master remaining amount is less than 5 [%]. However, these numbers are merely examples, It is not limited to the embodiment.

The control unit 7 stores the remaining master amount in the supply history holding unit 5 as a supply history. The contents of storage will be described later. In addition, the supply history associated with the supply ID of the master roll 119 that has become the master end is deleted after a certain period of time.
Control of the stencil printing apparatus 100 having the above mechanism will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, the user sets the master roll 119 on the plotter 103 of the stencil printing apparatus 100 (ST1). The control means 7 detects the setting of the master roll 119 by turning on a hardware switch or a user operation.

  The control means 7 drives the RFID tag reader and requests supply information from the RFID tag (ST2). The RFID tag provides supply information to the RFID tag reader, and the control means 7 acquires supply information (ST3).

  The control means 7 extracts the set supply ID and contract form data of the master roll 119 from the read supply information (ST4).

  Further, the control means 7 refers to the contract form data of the stencil printing apparatus 100 itself held in the supply history holding means 5 of the stencil printing apparatus 100 (ST5). The contract form data of the stencil printing apparatus 100 itself is stored in the ROM 218 or the like.

  The unauthorized use detection means 21 compares the contract form data extracted from the supply information with the contract form data read from the ROM 218 (ST6).

  If they do not match (No in ST6), the unauthorized diversion detection means 21 determines that the contract form is incompatible, and displays that fact on the touch panel 115 of the stencil printing apparatus 100 (ST7). The plate making lock means 22 locks the plate making operation so as not to be performed (ST8). Locking of the plate making operation means, for example, that the plate making operation of the plotter in which the master roll 119 is stored cannot be physically performed, but the plate making operation using dummy data or the non-perforated plate making operation is prohibited. It may be. That is, any method may be used as long as a latent image to be output is not formed.

  In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the user has an individual contract with the service company or manufacturer for the stencil printing apparatus 100. For example, when the master roll 119 to be provided to the stencil printing apparatus 100 of a pay-as-you-go contract is set in the stencil printing apparatus 100 by mistake or intentionally, unauthorized use can be suppressed by locking.

  On the other hand, when a metered amount contract is made for the stencil printing apparatus 100, the master roll 119 to be provided to the stencil printing apparatus 100 of the individual contract is locked even if it is accidentally or intentionally set in the stencil printing apparatus 100. It is possible to suppress illegal diversion. However, since the master roll 119 to be provided to the stencil printing apparatus 100 of the individual contract is more expensive than the master roll 119 to be provided to the stencil printing apparatus 100 of the pay-as-you-go contract, it is not necessary to lock in this case.

  If they match (Yes in ST6), the user can print. When printing, the user sets an original on the scanner and presses the plate making key (ST9).

  The scanner 110 reads a set original (or a document stored in the HDD 207 or the like) and generates plate making data. The thermal head is driven by the generated plate making data, and a punched image is formed on the master. When the punched image is formed, the master is supplied from the master roll 119 to the plotter 103, so the photosensor 11 samples the marker formed on the mask (ST10).

The control means 7 analyzes the sampled marker data by the method described above (ST11), and further converts the marker analysis result into the master remaining amount. The unauthorized diversion detection means 21 determines the master state based on the master remaining amount (ST12).
Further, the unauthorized diversion detection unit 21 refers to the supply history stored in the supply history holding unit 5 (ST13). Specifically, the unauthorized diversion detection unit 21 reads the master remaining amount of the last supply history associated with the supply ID of the master roll 119 in the supply history holding unit 5.

  The improper diversion detection means 21 is between the master remaining amount calculated at the present time and the master remaining amount recorded in the latest effective (if it is “effective”, the supply history is a supply history that is not illegal diversion). Then, it is determined whether or not an event that seems to be abnormal is occurring (ST14). If there is no event that seems abnormal (Yes in ST14), the supply history holding means 5 writes the master remaining amount in the supply history in association with the supply ID (ST15).

  Next, the unauthorized diversion detection means 21 determines the degree of the master remaining amount (ST16). In the master end state, a warning to that effect is displayed on the touch panel 115 (ST19). Thereby, the stencil printing apparatus 100 can call a user's attention.

   When the master remaining amount is still present, the control means 7 displays the master remaining amount on the touch panel 115 (ST17). The warning means 6 also displays a warning to that effect. Then, the control means 7 executes a plate making operation (S18).

  In step S14, when the misappropriation detecting means 21 determines that an event that seems to be abnormal has occurred between the master remaining amount calculated at the present time and the master remaining amount that has been effectively recorded most recently (ST14). No), the improper diversion detection means 21 determines that there is a high possibility of improper diversion.

  For example, when a reverse phenomenon such as the current master remaining amount of 25 [%] and a current master remaining amount of 75 [%] is observed, the master remaining amount is small without replacing the master roll 119. There is a possibility that unauthorized use such as adding a master to the master roll 119 has been performed.

For this reason, the warning means 7 displays that effect on the touch panel 115 (ST7), and the plate making lock means 22 locks the plate making operation so that it cannot be performed (ST8).
In FIG. 7, it is not described at what timing the unlocking of the plate making operation is performed, but it may be performed at the timing when it is detected that the proper master roll 119 is mounted. If the valid master roll 119 is attached, the determination of ST6 becomes Yes, and can be performed immediately after that. Further, in this case, since a new master roll 119 is installed and the supply ID of the master roll 119 is also new, there is no comparison target, and the determination of ST14 is not Yes, not a retrograde phenomenon. Thus, for example, the lock can be released immediately after ST15 in FIG.

  Further, when the photo sensor 11 reads the marker data, an abnormal value due to a detection error or noise may occur. In the present embodiment, such an event can be performed by average value processing, majority logic, or the like. It is assumed that the sex is reduced to a negligible level.

Further, in the present embodiment, the supply amount is handled by the master remaining amount, but the same logic can be developed even if the supply amount is handled in a complementary relationship.
As described above, in the stencil printing apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, it is assumed that a malicious user peels off the RFID tag attached to the master roll 119 for individual contract and replaces it with the master roll 119 for pay-per-use contract. Even if it is set on the plotter 103, a warning is given after one plate is made even during plate making or at the latest, and the plate making operation is locked. For this reason, misappropriation can be suppressed.
Strictly speaking, if the plate-making operation is locked after plate-making, plate-making / printing for one plate can be performed, but the master roll 119 must be reset every time plate-making is performed. It is considered that there is a sufficient practical effect.
Further, the supply history associated with the supply ID of the master roll 119 that has become the master end is deleted after a certain period. That is, just because the master end is reached, the record is not deleted immediately, but is deleted after a predetermined period (for example, 1 to 2 months) has elapsed. This is because if the supply ID that has reached the master end is immediately deleted, the master can be added to the master roll 119 that has been used up and mounted on the stencil printing apparatus 100 again. That is, a malicious user can purchase a master roll 119 of a pay-as-you-go contract, rewind it to the master roll 119 of an individual contract that has been used up, and attach it to the stencil printing apparatus 100. In this case, since the contract form data of the stencil printing apparatus 100 and the master roll 119 match, it is not determined No in ST6. Further, since the supply history with the remaining amount near end is deleted, the retrograde phenomenon is not detected in ST14. Therefore, a malicious user can use the master role 119 as it is. In order to prevent such unauthorized use of the supply ID deleted from the supply history, the supply history remains stored for a while. Therefore, when the master roll 119 having the same supply ID is mounted, the plate making lock unit 22 locks the plate making operation.
[Second Embodiment]
In the first embodiment, the stencil printing apparatus 100 capable of suppressing the unauthorized use of the master roll 119 has been described, but in the present embodiment, the stencil printing apparatus 100 capable of suppressing the unauthorized use of the ink pack 120 will be described. It should be noted that, as in FIGS. 2 to 3 of the first embodiment, description of the configuration and function is omitted, and only the main part is described.

In the present embodiment, an example in which an RFID tag is employed as in the first embodiment is used as the ink pack 120 as the supply product and the supply information holding unit 2.
FIG. 8A is a diagram illustrating an example of a perspective view of the ink pack 120 in the printing drum 101 of the stencil printing apparatus 100. The RFID tag as the supply information holding unit 2 is arranged on the upper surface of the rectangular ink pack 120, and the RFID tag reader as the supply information reading unit 3 is arranged to face the upper surface of the ink pack 120.

  Similar to the first embodiment, the RFID tag holds, as supply information, an identification code (supply ID) uniquely assigned to each ink pack 120 and a contract form to which the ink pack 120 should be provided. ing. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the user has an individual contract as a maintenance contract for the stencil printing apparatus 100.

  FIG. 8B is a diagram showing a specific example of the supply remaining amount means. The ink pack 120 of the stencil printing apparatus 100 has a mechanism for detecting the remaining amount of ink by regarding the ink pack 120 as a parallel plate type capacitor 12 and measuring its capacitance. More specifically, the ink pack 120 has a configuration in which at least one or more small area electrodes (elements) for forming the parallel plate type capacitor 12 are two-dimensionally arranged. Each element and the electrode on the opposite surface form one capacitor 12, and based on the capacitance measured by the capacitor 12, not only the remaining amount of ink in the ink pack 120 but also the spatial distribution state of the ink (ink distribution profile). ) Can be detected.

  In FIG. 8B, since four elements in the vertical direction and five elements in the horizontal direction are arranged for obtaining the ink distribution profile, a total of 4 × 5 elements (E1,1 to E4,5 ) Is arranged. In such a configuration, the element where the ink is present detects a larger capacitance than the element where the ink is not present. Therefore, the ink remaining amount and the ink distribution profile can be obtained by detecting the capacitance of each element.

  In this embodiment, the capacitance detection method is adopted as the supply amount detection, but there are other methods such as a method for measuring the weight of the ink pack 120, a method using a liquid level sensor, an optical sensor, etc. It is not limited to this embodiment.

  FIG. 9 is an example of a flowchart showing a detection procedure for unauthorized use of the stencil printing apparatus 100 having the above-described mechanism. The basic procedure is the same as in FIG. 7 of the first embodiment. That is, “master roll” in FIG. 7 is appropriately replaced with “ink pack”, “master” is replaced with “ink”, and “plate making operation” is replaced with “printing operation”. Therefore, the basic control / processing flow has already been described, and the description thereof will be omitted.

  In step ST <b> 10, the remaining supply amount detection unit 4 detects the capacitance of the ink pack 120. Unlike the master remaining amount detection shown in the first embodiment, the remaining ink amount does not require an operation such as master feeding. In other words, the measurement can be performed statically at all times without being supplied with the master. Therefore, the measurement / history writing may be performed not only after the print key is pressed but also immediately after the ink pack 120 is set. It is not limited to the embodiment.

The control means 7 has a calculation table in which the capacitance and the ink remaining amount are associated. For example, when the total capacitance of the ink pack 120 detected by the supply remaining amount detecting means 4 is 3.2 [pF] The remaining amount of ink is determined by referring to the calculation table such that the remaining amount of ink is 6% based on the capacitance (ST12). Similarly to the first embodiment, the control means 7 determines the ink state (ink near end, ink empty) from the remaining ink amount.
In step ST <b> 11, the profile creating unit 24 acquires an ink distribution profile of the remaining ink amount by using the capacitance measurement result.
FIG. 10A is an example of a diagram schematically illustrating the relationship between elements and capacitance. As described above, the remaining supply amount detection unit 4 acquires the capacitance in units of individual electrodes (elements). In the figure, the unit of the numerical value is [pF], and the larger the numerical value, the more ink remains. In FIG. 10 (a), only the capacitance of the element near the ink outlet is slightly larger than the capacitance of the other elements. For this reason, it can be seen that the ink is consumed considerably and the ink remains only near the ink outlet.

  The reason for taking such an ink distribution profile is that the improper diversion detection means 21 is used as a supplementary material for determining whether or not an event that seems to be abnormal has occurred.

  That is, after calculating the remaining amount of ink (ST12), the unauthorized diversion detection unit 21 refers to the supply history stored in the stencil printing apparatus 100 (ST13), and is calculated at the present time for the same supply ID. It is determined whether or not an abnormal event is recognized between the ink remaining amount and the most recently recorded normal ink remaining amount (S14).

In order to misappropriate the ink pack 120, the ink pack 120 is replenished with ink rather than replacing the RFID tag. For example, when the ink pack 120 is detached from the stencil printing apparatus 100 and the installed ink pack 120 has the same supply ID, but the electrostatic capacity is increased, the ink pack 120 is filled with ink. May have been replenished. For example, if the previous total capacitance is 3.2 [pF] and the current total capacitance is 47.2 [pF] (equivalent to the remaining ink level 88 [%]), this means that the remaining ink level has increased. Therefore, it is appropriate to determine that it is clearly unnatural and likely to be misappropriated.
However, since an error always occurs in the measurement, the unauthorized diversion detection means 21 of the present embodiment further prevents erroneous determination by examining the ink distribution profile. For example, it is assumed that an ink distribution profile as shown in FIG. 10B is obtained for the ink pack 120 mounted after desorption. 10 (a) and 10 (b) are not the same as the previous ink distribution profile, and are clearly different from the ink distribution profiles that are expected to have consumed some ink thereafter. Even if the capacitance detected by each element includes an error, the ink distribution profile may not change significantly. Therefore, the unauthorized use detection means 21 can improve the probability (reliability) of unauthorized use by using the ink distribution profile, rather than determining unauthorized use only from the total capacitance.

  In the comparison of the ink distribution profiles, the improper diversion detection means 21 compares the capacitances of the same elements, for example, and the number of elements different by a predetermined value or more is a threshold value (for example, 50% of the number of elements) or more. In this case, it is determined that the ink distribution profile has changed.

  In the present embodiment, the plate making locking means 22 locks the printing operation against unauthorized use (ST8). The lock of the printing operation means that the printing operation of the printing drum in which the ink pack 120 is stored cannot be physically performed. In addition, although the printing drum itself rotates, the printing pressure may not be applied to transfer the image, and only the paper feeding may be performed. If an image to be originally printed is not formed, any method can be used. Good.

  Next, detection of improper use of the ink pack will be described in more detail based on the supply history.

   FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a supply history stored in the supply history holding unit 5. In FIG. 11, items to be recorded as history include “supply ID”, “supply type”, “contract form” to which the supply should be provided, “update date”, and valid / invalid of supply at the time of history recording. Determination, “remaining amount”, and other data necessary for managing the supply (“general data area”) are recorded. Other items may be recorded, or some of the items may be omitted. In the general-purpose data area, no data is recorded in the history of the master roll 119, but in the history of the ink pack 120, the remaining amount of each element expressed in 8 bits is registered. Thereby, the control means 7 can know the ink distribution profile of the ink pack 120.

  In FIG. 11, the master roll 119 and the ink pack 120 are managed in one table, but may be managed in separate tables.

  In the present embodiment, the timing at which the control means 7 records these supply histories in the supply history holding means 5 is the master roll 119 at the time of plate making or master end detection, and the ink pack 120 at the time of ink empty detection or ink At the time of pack exchange.

In addition, when a print job is input to the supply management device, at the end of the print job input to the supply management device, at the start or completion of plate making, at the start or completion of printing, an event of a fixed cycle timer When the stencil printing apparatus 100 receives an instruction from the operation panel 111 at the time of occurrence, at a specified date and time specified in advance, when the master roll 119 or the ink pack 120 is attached or detached, the stencil printing apparatus 100 issues an instruction command via the network. When received, the control means 7 may record the supply history.
It is assumed that the history C in FIG. 11 is a history recorded in the latest plate making / printing. At this point, 36% ink remains in the ink pack 120 of the individual contract. Thereafter, plate making and printing were further performed, and the ink was emptied (empty) as shown in the history D of FIG. When the user replaces the ink pack 120, the history E in FIG. 11 is recorded. In the history E, it can be seen from the supply ID that the ink pack 120 has been replaced and installed. However, as a result of the RFID tag attached to the ink pack 120 being read by the supply information reading means, the contract form is that of a pay-as-you-go contract. Suppose. As a result, the “determination” is “invalid”. In this case, the printing operation is locked.
Next, the user removes the RFID tag of the rejected ink pack 120, removes the RFID tag from the vacant individual contract ink pack 120, attaches it to the rejected ink pack 120, and again stencil printing It is assumed that the device 100 is mounted. If the supply information reading unit reads the RFID tag of the ink pack 120 as it is, the contract form is an individual form, and therefore the check of contract form incompatibility passes. The control means 7 detects the mounting of the ink pack and records it as a history F. Comparing the history D and the history E, it can be seen that the unauthorized use detection means 21 has the same supply ID by replacing the RFID tag.

  That is, when the unauthorized diversion detection unit 21 retrieves the same supply ID from the supply history holding unit 5 and reads the last history (ie, history D) for which “determination” is valid, the remaining ink amount is 6 [%. ]. Therefore, the remaining ink amount is increased from 6 [%] to 88 [%]. The profiles are also completely different.

  In this way, the improper diversion detection means 21 detects the reverse of the remaining amount of ink (an increase beyond the threshold) as an unnatural event, determines that there is a possibility of improper diversion, and invalidates the “determination”. In this case, the printing operation is locked. Such a mechanism can prevent unauthorized use of supplies.

  Further, the unauthorized diversion detection unit 21 detects improper diversion when the amount of change in the remaining amount of ink is not the reverse of the remaining amount of ink (or in addition to the reverse of the remaining amount of ink) and the amount of change in the remaining amount of ink is small. May be. The control means 7 monitors the print execution amount based on the number of print pages. Therefore, by registering the number of printed pages in the supply history, converting the increase in the number of printed pages into ink consumption, and comparing it with the amount of change in the remaining amount of ink read from the supply history holding means 5, The diversion detection means 21 can detect unauthorized diversion. Such a misuse detection method is effective for illegal use such as replenishing only the amount of ink consumed.

  As described above, it takes a period of one to two months from when the supply end point or empty supply history is recorded in the supply history holding means 5 until the supply history is deleted. In the meantime, the supply history is held.

  This is because, in a normal image forming apparatus, the supply history holding method is often the ring buffer type, and when the number of supply histories exceeds one round of the ring buffer, the old one is overwritten. Therefore, the retention period of the recorded supply history is not guaranteed. On the other hand, in the recording method using the ring buffer, it is possible to rewrite the supply history one after another and overwrite and delete the supply history that has become an endpoint or empty. A supply history is maintained.

However, even with such a method, since the supply history is deleted after the end of the holding period, it is not possible to completely prevent unauthorized diversion, but there is a practically sufficient effect as an improper diversion deterrent effect. it is conceivable that.
For example, as a measure to prevent unauthorized diversion, even if a malicious user replaces the RFID by writing the remaining supply amount to the RFID tag, the unauthorized diversion detection is performed from the difference between the actual remaining amount and the remaining amount stored in the RFID. The means 21 can detect unauthorized diversion.

  However, the RFID tag itself must use a read / write type, and the supply information reading means 3 for accessing the RFID tag must also be a read / write type, resulting in high costs.

  In addition, when an RFID tag for both reading and writing is adopted, it is possible for a malicious user to directly write an illegal value and craft it, but this cannot be prevented. Even if a device having a secure function is used, the operational complexity cannot be denied.

In this embodiment, the ink distribution profile is obtained in units of individual electrodes (elements). However, the ink distribution profile may be obtained in units of chunks in which several elements are combined, and is limited to this embodiment. is not.
In the present embodiment, the number of elements is 4 × 5, but is not limited to these numerical values. Further, the sample remaining amount detecting means 4 determines the presence or absence of ink from the absolute capacitance. However, for example, the portion located in the element E1,5 belongs to a so-called regular empty area where ink is not filled even in the unopened (full-filled) ink pack 120. The remaining amount of the sample may be detected based on a relative value (reference element).
Furthermore, although the present invention is applied to stencil printing inks, it can be similarly applied to ink jet inks, gel jet gel inks, thermal transfer waxes, electrophotographic toners, and the like.

[Third Embodiment]
Although the present embodiment relates to the stencil printing apparatus 100 that detects improper use of the master roll 119 in substantially the same manner as the first embodiment, the stencil printing apparatus 100 that can suppress even one plate-making / printing will be described. The hardware configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment.

   FIG. 12 is an example of a flowchart illustrating a procedure in which the stencil printing apparatus 100 detects unauthorized use. The difference from FIG. 7 in the first embodiment is that when the master roll 119 is set in the stencil printing apparatus 100 (ST1), the control means 7 sends out the master to the extent that the marker reading can be normally completed (ST7). The remaining amount detecting means 4 reads the marker (ST8), and after the marker reading is completed, the control means 7 performs an operation of rewinding the master again (ST9).

  That is, the stencil printing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment detects the supply amount before actually making the plate. In the first embodiment, since the marker is read at the time of master feeding at the time of plate making, even if the plate making operation is locked after plate making, a malicious user can perform plate making and printing for one plate.

  When improper use is detected, it is possible to stop the plate making operation immediately or switch to a dummy (no plate making) one, but if the user is not malicious and it is just a mistake in mounting, this wastes the master. Will end up.

In the present embodiment, by adopting the control as described above, it is possible to detect illegal misappropriation at an earlier stage than in the case of detecting during the plate making operation.
Further, as a matter of course, by using the marker reading at the time of the plate making shown in the first embodiment together, it is possible to perform the illegal diversion detection with more certainty and less errors.
It should be noted that it is also possible to permit plate making if no illegal diversion is detected after performing the master idle feed / rewind as described above before performing plate making and performing an illegal diversion check. However, in this case, the first print time (the time from the start of plate making to the end of printing of the first sheet) becomes long.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed on the operation panel 111 when unauthorized diversion is detected. Assume that the contract form of the stencil printing apparatus 100 is an individual contract, and the supplied supplies (master in the present embodiment) are for pay-as-you-go contracts. In this case, the unauthorized diversion detection means 21 detects the nonconformity of the contract form, and the warning means 6 displays a warning display as exemplified in FIG. 13A on the operation panel 111 of the stencil printing apparatus 100. .
In FIG. 13A, “Check the master roll. <A master roll different from the contract form of the printing press is set>” is displayed. The user can exchange the master role 119 with an individual contract by looking at such a screen.

  Also, if the first stencil printing machine 100 is an individual contract in an office or business office, but the second and third units have a pay-as-you-go contract, the second unit・ The supplies supplied for the third unit may be installed incorrectly. Alternatively, a case where the user forgets to change the first contract from an individual contract to a pay-as-you-go contract can be considered.

  Corresponding to such a case, as shown in FIG. 13B, a message that prompts the contract change can be displayed together with a warning. In FIG. 13B, in addition to the message of FIG. 13A, buttons “Contract Change Application Form <Print>” and “Contract Change Application Form <Web>” are displayed.

  That is, when the user selects the “contract change application form <print>” soft button in FIG. 13B, plate-making printing is performed based on the image data of the application form stored in the stencil printing apparatus 100. The user can fill in this and send it to the manufacturer or service company by FAX or the like, so that the manufacturer or service company can perform the procedure for changing the contract. Therefore, the convenience of changing the contract can be provided to the user.

  Alternatively, when the stencil printing apparatus 100 is connected to the Internet via the NIC, when the user selects the “contract change application <Web>” soft button in FIG. Is connected to the server of the Internet URL linked to the button. The operation panel 111 displays a screen based on the HTML file transmitted from the server. When the user operates the operation panel 111 to input necessary items, the server accepts the contract change procedure, and the manufacturer or the service company can perform the contract change procedure.

  On the other hand, a screen as shown in FIG. 13C may be displayed on a non-powered image display device mounted on the exterior of the stencil printing apparatus 100, so-called electronic paper 400. In FIG. 13C, the master remaining amount, the ink remaining amount, the master end expected date, and the ink empty expected date are displayed. As the master remaining amount and the ink remaining amount, values stored in the supply history holding means 5 and current values can be displayed. The expected master end date or the expected ink empty date is the date on which the control means 7 predicts that the master empty or ink empty will occur from the past master remaining amount or ink remaining amount stored in the supply history holding means 5.

  In FIG. 13C, information on supplies such as a list of supplies that can be used in the contract form of the stencil printing apparatus 100 and contact information is displayed. As a result, the user can know the supply IDs of the supplies that can be used in the stencil printing apparatus 100, and can also be cautioned not to install wrong supplies due to negligence.

  So far, the detection of improper diversion when the stencil printing apparatus 100 is an individual contract and a supply for a pay-as-you-go contract has been described has been described. There may be cases where contract supplies are installed. However, in this case, it is the user himself / herself who suffers the economic disadvantage, and it is difficult to say that it is illegal misappropriation, but if it does not matter on which side the illegal profit is generated, this is also illegal. Since it can be called diversion, it is determined that the contract form is incompatible, and in this case, the warning means 6 can display a warning.

However, there may be a situation where the user needs to operate the stencil printing apparatus 100 before the supplies run out, there is no spare stock, and the supplies are delivered. In such a case, even if the operation panel 111 displays a warning so that the stencil printing apparatus 100 of the pay-as-you-go contract can use individual contract supplies, the plate making lock means 22 does not perform the plate making operation lock or the printing operation lock. It is preferable not to apply.
[Fourth Embodiment]
In the present embodiment, detection of misappropriation of supplies in the stencil printing apparatus 100 capable of multicolor printing will be described.

  FIG. 14 shows an example of a schematic configuration diagram of the stencil printing apparatus 100. 14, the same parts as those in FIG. 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted. A stencil printing apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 14 is a double-sided multicolor stencil printing apparatus 100 in which plate-making / printing units capable of single-color double-sided plate-making printing shown in the first embodiment are arranged in one casing in tandem.

  The stencil printing apparatus 100 of FIG. 14 can generate double-sided multicolor printing products by mounting ink packs (120A, 120B) of different shades on the respective printing drums (101A, 101B). It has become. A description will be given by attaching a symbol A to a member on the upstream side of the paper conveyance path and a symbol B to a member on the downstream side of the paper conveyance path.

  The stencil printing apparatus 100 records the image of the wound master 107 by pressing the recording paper 106 fed from the paper feeding means 105 arranged on the right side of the apparatus main body against the printing drum 101A by the press roller 102A. Transfer to paper 106. In the case of single-sided printing, the conveying means 108 conveys the recording paper 106 to which the image has been transferred to the printing drum 101B. The recording paper 106 is pressed against the printing drum 101B by the press roller 102B, and the wound image of the master 107 is transferred to the recording paper 106. The transport unit 108 transports the recording paper 106 to the paper discharge unit 109.

  In the case of duplex printing, after the image of the master 107 is transferred to the recording paper 106 by the printing drum 101A, the stencil printing apparatus 100 switches the switching member 121 to the refeeding means 122 side, and the recording after the printing on one side is completed. The paper is guided to the re-feeding means 122 side and fed again from the paper feeding side to perform printing on the back surface. The recording paper 106 with the images transferred on both sides is conveyed to the printing drum 101B by the conveying means 108, the recording paper 106 is pressed against the printing drum 101B by the press roller 102B, and the wound image of the master 107 is recorded on the recording paper 106. Is transcribed. The stencil printing apparatus 100 switches the switching member 121 to the refeeding means 122 side, guides the recording paper on which single-sided printing is completed to the refeeding means 122 side, and feeds the recording paper again from the paper feeding side. Print on the surface. Thereafter, the transport unit 108 transports the recording paper 106 to the paper discharge unit 109.

Also in the stencil printing apparatus 100 having such a configuration, the detection of illegal use of supplies described in the first to third embodiments can be applied. Basically, two sets of control applied to a single-color, double-side plate making / printing unit may be performed. That is, what is shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 9 or FIG.
However, in the case where some of the supplies supplied to the stencil printing apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 14 are determined to be misappropriated, there are some differences in how the functions are restricted.
FIG. 15 is an example of a flowchart showing an improper detection procedure of the stencil printing apparatus 100 of FIG. In the procedure of FIG. 15, when there is an unauthorized diversion in either the A side printing drum or the master roll 119 mounted on the B side printing drum (ST 1), the plate making lock means 22 has no abnormal plotter 103 A. , 103B are locked (ST2).

  Similarly, when the mounted ink pack 120 is illegally diverted (ST3), the printing lock unit 23 locks all printing operations including the printing drums 101A and 101B having no abnormality (ST4).

  As a matter of course, when both the master roll 119 and the ink pack 120 are misappropriated, the stencil printing apparatus 100 becomes substantially unusable.

  FIG. 16 is an example of a flowchart showing a detection procedure for misappropriation of the stencil printing apparatus 100 of FIG. 14 as another control procedure. The procedure of FIG. 16 shows a procedure for locking the A-side or B-side plate-making operation or printing operation in which unauthorized diversion is detected.

  When improper diversion is detected in the A-side master roll 119, the plate-making locking means 22 locks the plate-making operation only to the A-side plotter 103A in which an abnormality is found (ST3). Similarly, when unauthorized use is detected in the B-side master roll 119, the plate-making lock unit 22 locks the plate-making operation only to the B-side plotter 103B in which an abnormality is found (ST4).

  Similarly, when improper diversion is detected in the installed ink pack 120A, the printing lock unit 23 locks the printing operation only on the A-side printing drum 101A in which an abnormality is found (ST5). If unauthorized use is detected in the installed ink pack 120B, the printing lock unit 23 locks the printing operation only on the B-side printing drum 101B in which an abnormality is found (ST6).

Therefore, in the case of the control shown in FIG. 16, for example, since the master roll 119B or the ink pack 120B is misappropriated, even if the downstream plate-making operation or printing operation is locked, the A-side master roll 119A or ink If improper diversion is not detected in the pack 120A, the user can perform limited plate making / printing (for example, single-sided monochrome printing, duplex single-color printing, etc.). For this reason, a kind of degenerate operation state is permitted, and a situation in which the stencil printing apparatus 100 becomes completely unusable can be avoided.
As described above, the stencil printing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment can restrict the printing itself when improper diversion is detected for some supplies when monochrome double-sided plate-making printing is possible. Functions can also be restricted.

[Fifth Embodiment]
In the first to fourth embodiments, detection of unauthorized use of supplies of the stencil printing apparatus 100 has been described. However, the same detection method can be applied to other image forming apparatuses. In the present embodiment, detection of misappropriation of supplies mounted on the inkjet image forming apparatus 500 will be described.

FIG. 17 shows an example of a schematic configuration diagram of an inkjet image forming apparatus 500 capable of full color printing. The supplies of the image forming apparatus 500 are so-called YMCBk four-color inks of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, and are mounted in a form that is individually filled in the ink bottle 151.
The ink jet type image forming apparatus 500 may be of a so-called serial head type that forms an image by ejecting ink while the print head 150 moves in the main scanning direction. It may be a so-called full-line head type that is arranged over the entire area and does not require the reciprocating operation of the print head 150.
The recording paper 106 fed from the paper feeding means 105 is adsorbed by electrostatic force or suction wind even if it is transported to the transport belt 108 by transport rollers or the like. The print head 150 ejects ink droplets onto the recording paper 106 based on the image data transmitted from the scanner 110 or the PC. When single-sided printing and no option is set, the recording paper 106 is discharged to the paper discharge means 109 as it is. In the case of duplex printing, the image forming apparatus 100 switches the switching member 121 to the refeeding unit 122 side, guides the recording paper 106 on which single-sided printing is completed to the refeeding unit 122 side, and starts again from the feeding side. Printing on the back side by feeding paper.

  In the present embodiment, a parallel plate type electrostatic capacity detection method arranged in the ink bottle 151 can be applied as a method for the supply remaining amount detection means 4 to detect the remaining amount of the supplies. Therefore, the remaining amount detection of the ink bottle is basically handled in the same manner as in the case of the ink pack 120 of the stencil printing apparatus 100. Note that the inkjet image forming apparatus 500 does not require supplies corresponding to the master roll 119.

  The control procedure is the same as in FIG. 9, and the contract form determination (ST5), the ink distribution profile analysis (ST11), the ink remaining amount detection (ST12), and the like are the same as in the second embodiment.

In this embodiment, since there is a possibility that each of the four color ink bottles may be illegally used, this point is different from the previous embodiments. When unauthorized use is detected in any one of the YMCBk ink bottles, the simplest control of the present embodiment is a method in which the print lock unit 23 locks the ink jet head operation.
On the other hand, in the present embodiment, an example in which the concept of the m out of n system is applied when unauthorized use is detected will be described.

  FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of a head operation restriction procedure that employs the concept of the m out of n system. FIG. 18 shows the case of “3 out of 4 system”. 3 out of 4 The system uses images as a provisional measure unless 3 or more of YMCBk's 4 ink bottles are misappropriated (if 3 or more ink bottles are valid). This is a control procedure that enables the forming operation.

  The unauthorized diversion detection means 21 determines whether or not unauthorized diversion has been detected for each of the ink bottles (ST1 to ST4).

  And the control means 7 will increment an error counter, if unauthorized use is detected (ST5-ST8). The error counter is common to the four color ink bottles. As a result, the error counter is set with the number of ink bottles for which unauthorized diversion has been detected.

The control means 7 operates as follows based on the value set in the error counter.
When the error counter = 0, the print lock unit 23 does not limit the ink jet image forming apparatus 500. When the error counter ≧ 2, the print lock unit 23 locks the head operation (ST10). Error counter Is 2 or less, the ink bottle that is not illegally diverted is 2 or less, and the condition that the ink bottle that is not illegally diverted is 3 or more is not satisfied.
When the error counter = 1, the unauthorized diversion detection unit 21 reads the supply history from the supply history holding unit 5 (ST11), and determines whether the error continuation continues for a predetermined period or more (ST12). . This prescribed period can be, for example, 1 to 2 months.

If the error continuation continues for a predetermined period or longer, the print lock unit 23 locks the head operation (ST10). Locking the head operation refers to prohibiting the ejection of ink droplets, ejecting dummy image data, etc., but any method may be used as long as an image to be originally output is not formed. .
If the error continuation is less than the specified period, the print lock unit 23 does not lock the head operation (ST13). Therefore, the image forming apparatus 500 is in the provisional continuous mode until the specified period elapses, and the user can continue to use the inkjet image forming apparatus 500. Since “determination” and “update date” are registered in the supply history information as shown in FIG. 11, the control means 7 can easily calculate the period during which “determination” is invalid.

  According to such a procedure, for example, when one of the four color inks is empty and there is no spare inventory, the user can use only the empty ink bottle for the metered amount contract as an emergency measure.

However, since it is unnatural that the error state continues beyond the delivery period of regular supplies that can normally be assumed, when an image forming operation or event by a fixed cycle timer occurs after exceeding the specified period, The unauthorized diversion detection unit 21 determines that improper diversion is being performed, and the print lock unit 23 locks the head operation.
18 shows an example of a 3 out of 4 system, it may be a 2 out of 4 system, and only a specific ink bottle, for example, Bk, is to be monitored for illegal use, or conversely, Bk. The other three colors can be monitored for unauthorized use. By doing so, it is possible to detect unauthorized use of a user who uses only a specific ink bottle.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Supply management apparatus 2 Supply information holding means 3 Supply information reading means 4 Supply remaining amount detection means 5 Supply history holding means 6 Warning means 21 Unauthorized use detection means 22 Plate making lock means 23 Print lock means 24 Profile creation means 100 Stencil printing apparatus

JP 2001-341290 A JP 2002-321433 A

Claims (16)

Image data acquisition means for acquiring image data;
In a supply management apparatus comprising: an image forming unit that forms a visible image by executing a predetermined printing process based on the image data on a recording medium using a supply;
A mode information storage unit that stores first mode information indicating a mode of maintenance contract of the supply management device;
Supply information reading means for reading out the identification information of the supply supplied to the supply management device and the second mode information of the supply management device permitted to mount the supply from the storage medium of the supply When,
A remaining amount detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of the mounted supplies;
An information storage for storing the second mode information and the second remaining amount detected by the remaining amount detecting unit as one supply history in association with the identification information read by the supply information reading unit. Means,
A comparison result between the second aspect information read by the supply information reading unit when the supply item is mounted and the first aspect information stored in the aspect information storage unit, and the supply item The second remaining amount stored in the information storage unit in association with the first remaining amount detected by the remaining amount detection unit when the battery is mounted and the identification information read by the supply information reading unit. An unauthorized diversion detection means for detecting improper diversion of the supply product according to the amount comparison result;
Supply management device having. As the printing process, based on the image data, a stencil printing process for applying a thermal perforation process to a plate-making member supplied in a package unit is adopted, and a latent image forming unit that forms a latent image on the plate-making member;
A printing drum loaded with a plate-making member on which a latent image is formed;
An ink containing means for containing ink supplied to the plate-making member;
An image forming unit that presses the printing drum while rotating the printing drum to form a visible image on the recording medium;
The remaining amount detecting means is
A bit string of a predetermined length is read from the package in which an m-sequence bit string of a spread code is arranged in the sub-scanning direction as the supply product, and the remaining amount or consumption of the package is detected based on the read bit string.
The supply management apparatus according to claim 1. As the printing process, based on the image data, a stencil printing process for applying a thermal perforation process to a plate-making member supplied in a package unit is adopted, and a latent image forming unit that forms a latent image on the plate-making member;
A printing drum loaded with a plate-making member on which a latent image is formed;
An ink containing means for containing ink supplied to the plate-making member;
An image forming unit that presses the printing drum while rotating the printing drum to form a visible image on the recording medium;
The remaining amount detecting means is
Measure the capacitance of the capacitor of the ink storage means that is the supply, and detect the remaining amount or consumption of ink based on the capacitance,
The supply management apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that As the printing process, an ink jet printing process for ejecting ink droplets is adopted, and an ink ejection head for ejecting ink;
An ink containing means for containing ink to be supplied to the ink discharge head;
Image forming means for causing the ink discharge head to discharge ink to the recording medium based on the image data, and
The remaining amount detecting means is
Measure the capacitance of the capacitor of the ink storage means that is the supply, and detect the remaining amount or consumption of ink based on the capacitance,
The supply management apparatus according to claim 1. One electrode of the capacitor has a plurality of small area electrodes arranged two-dimensionally,
Profile creating means for creating an ink distribution profile indicating the distribution of ink in the ink containing means based on the capacitance detected by each small area electrode;
The supply management apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, characterized by comprising: In the information storage means, in addition to the identification information, the second mode information, and the second remaining amount,
The supply management apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the date and time when the supply history is recorded is stored in the information storage means. In the information storage means, in addition to the identification information, the second mode information, and the second remaining amount,
The date and time when the supply history was recorded in the information storage means,
The supply management apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the ink distribution profile is stored. Registration of supply history in the information storage means
When a print job is submitted to the supply management device,
At the end of a print job submitted to the supply management device,
At the beginning or completion of plate making,
At the start or completion of printing,
When a fixed-cycle timer event occurs,
Specific date and time specified in advance,
When the first remaining amount is less than a predetermined amount,
When removing and supplying the supplies,
When the supply management device receives an instruction from the operation panel,
When the supply management device receives an instruction command via the network,
The supply management apparatus according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the triggers is used as a trigger. One supply history recorded in the information storage means in association with the identification information is:
9. The supply management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein after the first remaining amount becomes empty, the supply management device is deleted after a predetermined period. The unauthorized diversion detection means may be configured so that the first aspect information and the second aspect information match.
If the first remaining amount is greater than the second remaining amount by a threshold or more, or
When the change amount of the first remaining amount with respect to the second remaining amount is small with respect to the print execution amount,
If it falls under at least one of the above, it is detected that the supply has been misappropriated,
10. The supply management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein The remaining amount detecting means sends out the plate-making member in an amount necessary for reading a bit string of a predetermined length, and after reading, returns the plate-making member sent out,
The unauthorized diversion detection means detects an improper flow rate of the supply before starting plate making.
The supply management apparatus according to claim 2. When the unauthorized use detection means detects unauthorized use of the supplies,
An operation prohibiting means for prohibiting the operation of the latent image forming means or the image forming means;
The supply management apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the supply management apparatus comprises: When the unauthorized use detection means detects unauthorized use of the supplies,
An operation prohibiting means for prohibiting the operation of the image forming means;
The supply management apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: When the unauthorized use detection means detects unauthorized use of the supplies,
Output a warning message,
The supply management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein A plurality of latent image forming means;
A plurality of the printing drums;
A plurality of ink containing means;
Using a plurality of the supplies, single-sided multicolor printing or double-sided monochrome printing is possible,
When the illegal misappropriation detecting means detects one or more misappropriation of a plurality of supplies,
The operation prohibiting means prohibits the operation of the latent image forming means or the image forming means only for the printing process using the misappropriated supplies.
The supply management apparatus according to claim 12, wherein: The unauthorized diversion detection means counts the number of the misappropriated supplies out of the m supply items, and indicates that the misappropriate diversion is made when n or more (0 <n ≦ m) determined in advance. To detect,
16. The supply management apparatus according to claim 15, wherein

Images