JPH0473777A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To correctly carry out copying control by code classifications by inhibiting an image formation when interruption input is carried out and having new code input. CONSTITUTION:This image forming device is provided with an input means 150 inputting a code for coping with a user, image forming mode setting means 150 and 200, a register instructing means 150, the storage means 250 storing the image forming mode set by the image forming mode setting means 150 and 200, corresponding to the code inputted by the input means 150, in response to the resister instruction of the register instructing means 150, an interruption input means 11 inputting an interrupting action instruction, and an image formation propriety control means 200 detecting whether the code inputted by the input means 150 and a code stored in the storage means 250 are in coincidence or not, permitting the image formation when the coincidence is detected, then, inhibiting it when the interruption input by the interruption input means is carried out, and having the new code input. When the interruption input is carried out, the image formation is inhibited and the new code input is waited.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] C. Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and in particular, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.
Image formation in which a password (code) is assigned, and if the code input to the image forming device matches the code written in the memory, both image formation is enabled, and if they do not match, image formation is disabled (prohibited). Regarding equipment.

[Conventional technology]

Currently, key counters or key card systems are used to centrally manage image forming apparatuses (eg, copying machines) and to restrict users.

Both the key counter and the key card enable copying by being attached to the copying machine, and are further equipped with an integration counter that counts the number of copies made at that time.

One of the purposes is to save costs. For example, by having a key counter and key card for each department, the number of copies made for each department can be checked, which makes costs clear and, in turn, controls unnecessary copying. It's about doing. Another purpose is that by having the key counter and key card in the possession of a dedicated operator, they are always used in the correct manner, making it possible to maintain copy quality.

However, both the key counter and the key card are expensive. For example, a key counter includes an electromagnetic counter and a switch, and also requires a counter to receive the key counter. When it comes to digital cards, for example, magnetic cards are used, so writing and reading devices and memory devices are required.

Apart from the above-mentioned background, in recent years, with the increasing functionality of copying machines,
For the purpose of memorizing copying conditions, etc., and facilitating maintenance, for example, the location of failures and the number of times they have occurred are memorized.
An increasing number of copying machines are equipped with a storage device used as a so-called data logger that can be read later.

Due to the above-mentioned background, various simple management devices using storage devices have been developed. In the case of such a simple management device, it is generally possible to key in a code to enable the copying machine and to store usage status such as the number of copies for each code.

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the management device based on code input, even if the interrupt mode is set in the usage-permitted state, the usage is still permitted3. After the operator turns the copying machine into operation, when another operator uses it in interrupt mode, the number of copies is counted on the previous operator's machine, and the number of copies is counted accurately. Copy management was sometimes not possible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can accurately manage the number of copies for each code even when it is temporarily used in an interrupt mode by an operator with a different code number from the previous user.

[Means to solve the problem]

The image forming apparatus of the present invention includes input means (+50) for inputting a user-compatible code; image forming mode setting means (1);
50, 200): Registration instruction means (+50); In response to the registration instruction from the registration instruction means (+50), the input means (+
storage means (250) for storing the image forming mode set by the image forming mode setting means (+5 (1,200)) in association with the code input in step 50; interrupt input means (I+) for inputting interrupt operation instructions; ; and input means (
150) detects whether the input code matches the code stored in the storage means (250), and if a match is detected, image formation is permitted, and then the interrupt input means (11)
An image formation enable/disable control means (200) is provided which prohibits image formation when there is an interrupt input by the code and waits for a new code input.

Note that symbols in parentheses indicate corresponding elements in the embodiments described later.

[Effect]

According to this, the image formation permission control means (20jl) permits image formation if the input code is a predetermined code. After that, if there is an interrupt input, image formation is prohibited and a new code input is waited. Therefore, before interrupt input and after interrupt input.

It is necessary to enter a code, and it is possible to determine the difference between the user before and after the interrupt. Therefore, after the operator enters the code and is permitted to form an image, -
When used by another operator in interrupt mode, it is now possible to check the number of copies, etc. for each code of the previous operator and the next operator, allowing accurate copy management for each code. obtain.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the drawings.

〔Example〕

FIG. 8 shows a copying machine implementing the present invention as an example.

The main body of the copying machine +00 is an electrostatic transfer type copying device that fixes the original, and includes an optical system 101 and an image forming system 120. Paper feed system 130
, a paper refeed system 140, and the like.

The optical system 110 includes a contact crow II+ and an exposure lamp 112 . First mirror 113.
.

Second mirror 1132. 3rd mirror +13. , 4th mirror IH4, 5th mirror +135. The image forming system 120 includes a lens 114, a dustproof glass 115, and the like, and the image forming system 120 includes a photosensitive drum 12+, a charger 122 disposed around the photosensitive drum 12+, and an eraser I23. Developing device 124. Pre-transfer charger 1269 Separation charger I279 Separation claw 128. Cleaning m1 static elimination charger (hereinafter referred to as FCC) +
29, cleaner +2A, and photosensitive drum 1
21, a conveyor belt 12B, a fixing device +2C, etc.

The paper feed system 130 has five stages, including a manual paper feed tray + 31. , 1st
Paper feed tray! 31. ．． 2nd paper feed tray +312. 3rd paper feed tray +3
13゜Fourth paper feed tray + 314 and call rollers 1321, 1322, 1323 provided on each paper feed tray (however, the manual paper feed tray] 31o is shared with the first paper feed tray] 31.),
1324. Paper feed roller 133, +33□, 1333.
1334, and reverse roller 134. .

+342.1343. +344, a registration roller 135°, a guide mylar 136, and various guides and intermediate rollers.

The paper refeeding system 140 has a switching claw 141. 42° reversing guy 11439 reversing roller 144. Gate claw 145
．． Intermediate 1-Sea 146. Tip side section 147. Vapor stopper I48. Call Koro 149. It consists of a paper feed roller 14^, a reverse rotation roller 14B, a paper discharge roller 14C, etc.

When a document is set on the contact glass 111 and a start instruction is given, the paper feed clutch is turned on and the call roller of the paper feed tray selected at that time feeds the recording paper to the paper feed roller. Since the paper feed rollers rotate in the opposite direction, double feeding is prevented and only the topmost sheet of recording paper reaches registration roller 1.
Sent towards 35th.

During this time, the optical system 110 scans the document on the contact glass 111, and reflects light from the document illuminated by the exposure lamp +12 to the first mirror 113. , second mirror +132. Third
Mirror +133. Lens 114. 4th mirror +13. ,
Fifth mirror 113. and is guided to the photosensitive surface of the photosensitive drum +21 via the dustproof glass +15.

The photosensitive drum 121 is rotating clockwise in the drawing.
The photosensitive surface is uniformly charged by an N charger 22 before receiving the reflected light of the original from the optical system 110, and a latent image area is formed by neutralization by an eraser 23. Therefore, when this latent image area is irradiated with light reflected from the original, photoconduction occurs depending on the strength of the light, and an electrostatic latent image is formed.

Kono Shizuka 1! The latent image is a developer! 24 to form a toner image with toner attached thereto according to the density of the document. This toner image is transferred to the recording paper fed out from the registration roller 135, but in order to facilitate the transfer, PTL
125, electricity is removed before transfer.

The recording paper fed out by the registration roller 135 is brought into close contact with the photosensitive surface of the photosensitive drum 21 by a guide mylar 136, and the toner image is transferred directly above the transfer charger +26. Immediately after this, the recording paper is separated from the photosensitive surface by the separation charger 127, but if the separation is insufficient at this time, the separation claw! They are forcibly separated by 28.

After the recording paper is separated, residual toner is removed from the photosensitive surface of the photosensitive drum +21 by a cleaner 12A, and the recording paper is sent to the fixing device 12C by a conveyance bell h12B.

The fixing device 12C includes a fixing roller 12C1 and a pressure roller 12c2, and heats the recording paper onto which the toner image has been transferred while applying pressure (approximately 185° C.) to fix the toner image.

The recording paper on which the toner image has been fixed is delivered to a paper refeed system 140. The paper refeeding system 140 guides the recording paper to the paper ejection roller 14c by the action of the switching claw 141 when copying the first side in duplex mode, but guides the recording paper to the reversing guide 143 when copying the first side in duplex mode. Guide.

After that, when the rear end of the recording paper passes through the switching claw 14], the switching claw 141 is switched, the contact roller 142 is brought into contact, and the recording paper is sent to the reversing roller 144. send to

There are four gate claws 145, and when the gate claws open according to the size of the recording paper, the recording paper is ejected to the intermediate tray 146. The recording paper that has fallen onto the intermediate tray 146 is brought together by a leading edge shifting roller 147 until it comes into contact with a paper stopper 48, and its leading edge is aligned and stocked.

When copying the second side of the recording paper stocked in the intermediate tray 146 is started in the duplex mode, the uppermost one of the recording papers is sent to the registration rollers 135 by the paper feed roller 14A and the reversing roller 14B by the calling roller 149.

Note that when detecting the toner concentration of the developing device +24, prior to forming a toner image of the document, a toner image of a standard pattern is formed on the front side of the contact glass II+,
A P sensor PSN provided downstream of the developing device 124 detects the density.
Read by.

FIG. 9 shows the operation and display board 15 provided in this copying machine.
0 appearance is shown. Ten (10) for setting the number of copies
) key 2, also clear key 3, start key 4 for copy start, mode clear key 5 to initialize various modes, enter key 6 pressed for recognition when entering numerical values in special mode, setting and canceling interrupt mode. Interrupt key 11 for performing various other modes (paper selection, paper selection, etc.)

It has a mode selection key group 7 for selecting (variable magnification, image density, etc.).

The display section 8 is composed of a liquid crystal display (LCD), and includes a fixed pattern (display) section 9 that displays the mode status such as the number of copies, and a character (dot) display section 10 that can display characters.
It has

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an outline of the electric circuit configuration of this embodiment. Microcomputer (FCP LJ)
) 200 includes a RAM 250 for data storage, and a ROM 260 that stores control programs and control data.
Decoder 280 for serial communication. An interface 290 to which various analog sensors such as a clock IC 240 and a P sensor for outputting current time data are connected; an interface 300 to which various sensors such as an interlock sensor are connected. Interfaces 210 and 220 to which various cross current loads such as motors and clutches are connected, and AD
An optical communication interface 230 to which the control CPU of F is connected is connected. In addition, AD (not shown)
The control CPU F is a microprocessor sensor that controls document feeding and ejection while communicating with this CPU 200, and this communication includes document setting/communication information given from the former to the latter. Each of the above-mentioned components is controlled by the CPU 200.

The power source of this device is a commercial power source, and the power supply unit 310
The voltage Vec for logic loads such as the CPU 200 and various sensors (including timer display) generated from the commercial power supply in
, low voltage V for light loads such as displays (excluding timer displays), etc.
L, motor and clutch.

A voltage VH1 for heavy loads such as heaters is supplied to each part. However, a backup power source 270 is connected to the RAM 250 and the clock IC 250 in case the commercial power source is cut off.

The decoder 280 is connected to the operation and display board 15o, various drivers of the optical unit, slave CPU, eraser clock, relay driver, etc.
U2QQ transmits data using a serial signal.

The relay driver 320 receives the C P obtained through the decoder.
In response to the instructions from U2O5, the solid state relay inserted in the supply line of the low voltage VL for light loads and the solid state relay inserted in the supply line of the low voltage VH for heavy loads of the power supply unit 310 are respectively connected. Independently energize/deenergize.

Further, data to be stored (code, counter, mode, etc.) is stored in RAM 250.

The operation and display board ISO inputs key human power into the control unit 15 and transfers the signal to the CPU 200 via the decoder 280. Further, the control signal from the CPU 200 is transferred to the control unit 15+ via the decoder 280, and further to the LC
Display is performed on the display section 8 via the D driver 152.

Next, guidance No. in this embodiment, which will be described later.

The display contents of the display section 8 (character display section] 0) of the operation display board 150 corresponding to the following will be described.

Guidance No. 1: Code Execution Guidance No. 2: Code Succeeding Guidance No. 3: Counter Check Guidance No. 4: Counter Clear Guidance No. 5: Code Overdeath Guidance No. 6+ Code Execution Guidance No. 7 Sono Code Sudeni Toukusareteimasen Guidance No. 8 Sono Code Tokusareteimasen Guidance No.
19 Code change starting point guidance No., 10° copy limit guidance No. 11 mode starting point starting point guidance No., 12° mode Toe opening Shimashita FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the control operation of the CPU 200. This is a copying machine that manages the number of copies using a pin code (hereinafter referred to as "copy"), which checks whether the input code matches the registered code and selects whether copying is possible or not (Step 11: (The word step is omitted in parentheses.) First, in the code acceptance input mode with copying disabled, enter guidance No.

9 is displayed on the guidance display section 8 and the manual input of the 10 key 2 is accepted (I2). When the enter key 6 (# key) is input, a check is made to see if the code that has been input matches the registered code, and if they match, the copy is allowed and a guidance number is issued.

Display 10. At this time, set the mode corresponding to the pre-stored code (standard mode if not stored) as the initial mode (standard mode for each operator) for that code (+3-15) If they do not match , return as is and maintain the code acceptance state.

In addition, in order to cancel the copy enabled state, press the moto clear key 5 and the clear key 3 at the same time, or when the timer that counts consecutive periods of no operation has expired, set the copy disabled state and enter the PIN code. mode and guidance No.

Display 9 (+6-20).

Further, the copy number counter provided in each code counts up the counter for that code when copying becomes possible with that code.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing code registration.

Enter key 6 and 10 key 2 “0” are pressed at the same time,
And if the number of registrations does not exceed the capacity, the code registration mode is set and guidance No. 1 is displayed (3
1-33.35.36). At this time, the number of registered items is also displayed. However, when the number of registered items exceeds the capacity, the capacity over display guidance No. 5 is displayed (31
~34). However, this guidance will only be displayed for a certain amount of time using a timer.

When the enter key 6 is OFF and the code registration mode is entered, press the IO key and clear key 3 while inputting the registration code, clear the input code with the clear key 3 and input it again, and enter the code with the 10 key 2. Do (3], 44-48)
. Then, when the enter key 6 is pressed, a code is input using the 10 key 2 in the code registration mode, and if that code is not already registered, the input code is stored as a registration code, the code number counter is added, and the code is registered. Release the mode (31, 32. 37-42). At this point, continuous input is possible unless you cancel the mode.

If no code is input using the 10 key 2, the code registration mode is canceled (3L42). Also, if the input code has already been registered, the registered guidance No.
, 7 is displayed and the code registration mode is canceled (39.4
3).

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the code release operation. When enter key 6 and ``1'' of 10 key 2 are pressed at the same time, code deletion mode is set and guidance No. 2 is displayed unless there is no registration at all (51~
54). At this time, the number of registered items is also displayed. but,
If there is no registration at all, the guidance number will display no registration code.

Display 6 (51-53.55). However, this guidance is displayed only for a certain period of time using a timer.

When the enter key 6 is OFF and the code deletion mode is set, accept the 10 key 2 and clear key 3 while inputting the deletion code, clear the input code with the clear key 23 and input it again, and enter the code with the 10 key 2 ( 51.66-70
). When the enter key 6 is pressed, a code is input using the 10 key 2 in the code deletion mode, and if the code is registered and the clear key 3 is not pressed at the same time, the input code is selected from among the registered codes. Search and delete, decrement the code number counter, and release the code deletion mode (5], 52.56-62). At this point, continuous input is possible unless you cancel the mode.

When no code is input using the 10 key 2, the code deletion mode is canceled (58.62). Also, if the input code is not already registered, please enter guidance No. 8.
Display and cancel code deletion mode (59.63)
. If the clear key 3 is pressed at the same time, all registered codes are deleted, the code number counter is cleared, and the deletion mode is canceled (57.64.65).

FIG. 5 shows the clearing of the counter that counts the number of code copies. When enter key 6 and 10 key 2 "2" are pressed at the same time, counter clear mode is set and guidance No. 4 is displayed (8) -
83).

When the enter key 6 is OFF and the counter clear mode is in the counter clear mode, when the counter clear code is in the ON state, accept the 0 key 2 and the clear key 3, clear the manual code with the clear key 3, enter again to J, and press the 10 key 2. Enter the coat with (!
II, 92-96). Then, when the enter key 6 is pressed, a code is input at 10 gee 2 in the counter clear mode, and if that code is registered and the clear key 3 is not pressed at the same time, the input code is searched from among the registered input codes. to clear the counter of that code and release the count clear mode (81, 82.84-89)
. At this point, continuous input is possible unless the mode is canceled.

If the input code is not registered, guidance No. 8 indicating no registration is displayed and the counter clear mode is canceled (117.90). clear key 3 at the same time
If has been pressed, the counters of all registered codes are cleared and the counter clear mode is canceled (84.91).

FIG. 6 shows checking the contents of a counter that counts the number of copies for each code.

When the enter key 6 and 3'' of the 10 key 2 are pressed at the same time, the check mode of the counter is set and guidance N013 is displayed (101-104).

However, if there is no registration at all, guidance No. 6 for displaying no registration code will be displayed (+01-103,
105). However, this guidance is displayed only for a certain period of time using a timer.

When the enter key 6 is OFF and the counter check mode is active, the 10 key 2 and clear key 3 are accepted while the counter check code is being input, and the input code is cleared using the clear key 3 to be re-entered.

Enter the code with the 10 key 2 (11 to 101, 112)
6).

Also, when the + key or - key (keys in selection key group 7) is pressed, the previous and next codes and counters are displayed in the guidance N013 in the order in which the codes are lined up (117-
121). However, if the input code when that key is pressed is an unregistered code, the first registered code and counter are displayed (1111.122). When the enter key 6 is pressed, if a code is input using the 10 key 2 in the counter check mode and that code is registered, that input code is searched among the registered codes and the counter of that code is entered. Display and cancel counter check mode (101.102.106
~110).

If you do not cancel the mode here, continuous input is possible.

If no code is entered using the 10 key 2, cancel the check mode (107.110). Also, if the input code is not registered, select the guidance No. of no registration.
Display 8 and cancel counter check mode (+0
8. II+).

FIG. 7 shows the process of storing the initial mode corresponding to each code. This process is a process in which each mode input is accepted and accepted when one of the registered codes that is copyable is set as an operation code. If the mode 1ζ clear key 5 is pressed while the enter key 6 is pressed, a mode storage mode is set to store the initial mode (+3l-133).

Then, use each key to set the mode you want to store as the initial mode on the operation board. When the enter key 6 is pressed, if the mode storage mode is set, the mode displayed on the operation board is stored as the initial mode for that code, and the mode storage mode is canceled (131.
136.137).

If you wish to cancel the mode storage mode during the process, press the mode clear key 5 to cancel the mode (132.
134.135).

FIG. 1 shows an interrupt key acceptance process (interrupt process). If the interrupt key is pressed and the current is not interrupt moto,
An interrupt mode is set and interrupt processing (144) is performed (141-144). In this interrupt processing (+44),
It stores (saved) the operation mode before the interrupt and performs processing for the interrupt, such as resetting the mode to the standard mode. If you are not in the code input mode (when the need input has already been made and copying is possible), the code that has already been input is memorized (saved) and set to code input mode, making it impossible to copy (145 to 147 ).

If the interrupt mode is in effect when the interrupt key is pressed, the interrupt mode is reset and interrupt cancellation processing is performed (14
8~]49). In the interrupt release process, processing such as restoring the mode saved at the time of the interrupt is performed.

After that, copying is disabled as the code input mode (+
50), If the code is stored in the memory buffer code that stores (saved) the code at the time of an interrupt, it is determined that the state before the interrupt was that the code was input and could be copied, and the code is stored. Recovers the code that has been written, cancels the code input mode, and allows copying (151-1)
53).

As described above, the number of copies is managed using the code number by incrementing the copy counter corresponding to the code input at the time of copying. A counter for management is provided for each registration code.
Even if the interrupt key is pressed, it is necessary to input a code after pressing the interrupt key, and the number of copies is counted for each code number.

FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram of a storage area necessary for managing the number of copies. Here, the code registration capacity is 100
For each case, 3 bytes are reserved for storing a 6-digit code, 3 bytes for storing a 6-digit counter, and 3 bytes for storing an initial mode for each code. In the same way, counters/modes are also sorted. The counters/modes will be arranged in the same order as the codes.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, the image formation permission control means (
200) permits image formation if the input code is a predetermined code.

After that, if there is an interrupt input, image formation is prohibited and a new code input is waited. Therefore, it is necessary to input the code before and after the interrupt is input, and it is possible to determine the difference between the users before and after the interrupt. Therefore, after an operator has entered a code and is permitted to form an image, when another operator uses the machine in interrupt mode, the number of copies etc. is counted according to the code of the previous operator and the subsequent operator. This makes it possible to perform accurate copy management for each code.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the interrupt processing of the CPU 2O5 shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the code check operation of CPU ZOO. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the code registration operation of the CPU 200. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the code deletion operation of the CPU 200. FIG. 5 is a flowchart=1. which shows the counter clearing operation of CPU2O5. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the counter check operation of the CPU 200. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the mode storage operation of the CPU 200. FIG. 8 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of a copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a plan view schematically showing the operation and display board 150 provided in the copying machine shown in FIG. FIG. 10 is a block diagram schematically showing the electric circuit configuration of the copying machine shown in FIG. 8. FIG. 11 is a plan view showing a storage area (memory map) for a password code in the RAM 250 shown in FIG. 10. 100: Copying machine main body 11O: Optical system 120: Image forming system 130' Paper feeding system 140: Paper refeeding system 150: Operation & display board (
Input means, registration instruction means) 151: Control unit +5
2: L CD driver 8: L CD 11: Interrupt key (interrupt input means) 200, microcomputer (image formation availability control means) 210: ilIl negative flow interface 220: AC load interface 230: Ifinterface 240 total IC for ADF 250: RAM (storage means) 260: ROM 270 Bank-up power supply 280 Serial communication decoder 290, analog interface 300 Digital interface 310: Power supply unit diagram (RAM, storage area for PIN code)

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] Input means for inputting a code corresponding to the user; Image formation mode setting means; Registration instruction means; Forming an image in correspondence with the code input by the input means in response to a registration instruction from the registration instruction means. Storage means for storing the image forming mode set by the mode setting means; Interrupt input means for inputting interrupt operation instructions; and detecting whether the code input by the input means matches the code stored in the storage means. , an image forming device that permits image forming when a match is detected, prohibits image forming when there is an interrupt input to the interrupt input device, and waits for a new code to be input.