JP2007168371A - Image forming device, checking method, and image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device which can evaluate whether the content of digital data to be printed is surely print-output or not even when the printing output is performed in a pre-printed paper pre-printed with a form or the like, and to provide the checking method, and an image forming system. <P>SOLUTION: Printing data to a printing demand which is received by either one of a communication interface 101-A or a data reading section 101-B is stored in a storage section 104, and a process for print-outputting the printing data by using an ink 108 for which a fluorescent agent is mixed is performed by a print-outputting section 107. A print-output recording paper is carried to a recording paper reading section 109 through a carrying path 120, and the printed content is read by the recording paper reading section 109. The analysis of the read printing data is performed by a reading analyzing section 105, and the printing state is checked by comparing the printing data which has been analyzed by the reading data analyzing section 105 with the printing data which is stored in the storage section 104 by a judging section 106. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, a confirmation method, and an image forming system for evaluating the validity of print contents, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus and a confirmation method for confirming that generated print data is reliably printed on a print medium. And an image forming system.

  In general, when printing digital data created by a host device such as a client computer or a processing server, the digital data is transferred to a printing device connected to the host device, and the printing device prints out the digital data. It is realized by processing.

  The contents of the digital data created by the host device are displayed on the display, and the contents are confirmed by the creator. The creator issues a print instruction to the printing apparatus after confirming that the created content is the desired content. The created digital data is converted into a format in which a print request is issued by a host device in accordance with a print instruction, and transferred to a printing device via a connected communication line. In the printing apparatus, the digital data sent together with the content of the received print request is converted into a print output format and print output processing is performed.

  At this time, a failure such as a loss of a part of the digital data may occur during these printing processes, and the print output result may differ from the content of the digital data created by the host device. In such a case, the reliability with respect to the printing result is lowered and may become a serious problem in some cases.

  In particular, for billing estimates, securities, and banknotes, absolute reliability is required for the printed results. These print media have a large influence depending on the contents to be printed. For example, even when the face value written on the securities differs by one digit, the value is completely changed.

  In general, there is a parity bit string as a technique for evaluating the legitimacy of data for each predetermined bit string and assigning the evaluation contents to the bit string for transmission. With this parity bit string, it is possible to evaluate whether data is missing during data transfer.

Furthermore, in the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 1, a printer that can verify that the print content is the content that should be printed is disclosed. This printer can be applied even when the printer is not a thermal transfer method such as a thermal method, dot impact method, puddle jet method, or electrophotographic method. In addition, although the recording remains on the ink ribbon in the thermal transfer method, printing is performed by the printer itself. Immediately after that, the print contents can be confirmed.
JP 09-254501

  However, in the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 1, a CCD (Charge Coupled Devices) sensor that captures the printing surface of the recording paper on which the image data is printed is provided in the transport unit that transports the recording paper to the position of the print head. This is realized by recognizing the contents of the print surface imaged by the CCD sensor and collating the print contents with the print data, but all the information drawn on the recording paper is read. Therefore, when the image data to be printed does not show all the depicted information, there is a problem that the contents to be originally printed cannot be verified.

  Accordingly, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus capable of evaluating whether the content of digital data to be printed is reliably printed out even if it is a printed output on preprinted paper in a form preprinted. It is an object to provide a confirmation method and an image forming system.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is a storage unit that stores print data requested for printing in an image forming apparatus that performs printing processing on preprinted paper on which a predetermined form has been printed in advance. Print means for printing on the preprinted paper using a printing material that can be visually read and selectively read by ultraviolet irradiation, and print data on which the print data is printed by the printing means. Reading means for selectively reading the print data by irradiating the print paper with ultraviolet rays, and the validity of the print result by comparing the print data read by the reading means with the print data stored in the storage means And confirmation means for confirming.

  The invention of claim 2 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 1, the printing material is a toner or ink mixed with a fluorescent agent that emits light when irradiated with ultraviolet rays of a predetermined wavelength.

  The invention of claim 3 is the invention of claim 1 or 2, wherein the storage means stores print data including character data, and the reading means reads character information printed by the printing means, The confirmation means confirms the validity of the print result by comparing the character information read by the reading means with the character data stored in the storage means.

  The invention of claim 4 further comprises a notifying means for notifying the fact that the validity of the print result is not confirmed by the confirmation means in any of the inventions of claims 1 to 3. Features.

  According to a fifth aspect of the invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the storage unit stores and holds the print data until the validity of the print result is confirmed by the confirmation unit. And

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, when the validity of the print result is confirmed by the confirmation unit, the print data stored in the storage unit is deleted. A data deletion means is further provided.

  Further, the invention of claim 7 is a confirmation method for confirming the content of a printing process performed on preprinted paper on which a predetermined form has been printed in advance, storing print data requested for printing in a storage means, Print data stored in the storage means is printed on the preprint paper using a printing material that is visible and selectively readable by ultraviolet irradiation, and the print data is printed by the print means By irradiating the paper with ultraviolet rays, the print data is selectively read by the reading means, and the print data read by the reading means is compared with the print data stored in the storage means, thereby validating the print result. It is characterized by confirming.

  The invention according to claim 8 is a printing apparatus that performs a printing process on preprinted paper on which a predetermined form has been printed in advance, and the preprinted paper that is connected to the printing apparatus via a conveyance path and is conveyed on the conveyance path. In the image forming system in which the confirmation device for confirming the validity of the print data printed on the printer is also connected via a communication line, the printing device stores the print data requested to be printed, and the storage device. And printing means for printing on the preprinted paper using a printing material that is visible and selectively readable by ultraviolet irradiation, and the confirmation device is transported on the transport path By reading the preprinted paper obtained by irradiating the preprinted paper with ultraviolet rays, the print data printed with the printing material on the preprinted paper is read. A copy means, an acquisition means for acquiring the print data stored in the storage means from the printing device, and the validity of the print content by comparing the print data read by the reading means with the print data acquired by the acquisition means And confirmation means for confirming the characteristics.

  According to the present invention, the printing data received from the host device by the printing apparatus is printed using a printing material that is visible and selectively readable by ultraviolet irradiation, and the printed output is irradiated with ultraviolet rays. Since the print data is read and compared with the received print data, the validity of the print contents is evaluated, so print processing using preprinted paper on which image data such as form data has been printed in advance as the print medium In this case, it is possible to confirm whether or not the print data created by the host device has been printed reliably.

  Furthermore, there is an effect that the reliability of the printing result is improved.

  Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus, a confirmation method, and an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  In the following embodiments, the configuration is such that the processing is realized in the multifunction peripheral or the printing apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a network configuration in which the reading apparatus and the printing apparatus are connected via a communication line. It may be realized by.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an ink ejection state during image formation in the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

  FIG. 1 shows a state of ink ejection in image formation of the image forming apparatus. As the transport roll 11 rotates, the recording paper 13 is transported on the transport path, and a printing material that is visible and selectively readable by ultraviolet irradiation is jetted onto the recording paper 13. The recording paper at this time may be in a state in which form information is printed using normal ink. In this case, overlay printing is possible. In the following, an ink mixed with a fluorescent agent is shown as an example of a printing material that is visible and can be selectively read by ultraviolet irradiation.

  Then, the recording sheet printed with the ink mixed with the fluorescent agent is fixed on the recording sheet by the fixing unit 14.

  The recording paper printed with the ink is conveyed to a reading device via a paper conveyance path, and data printed with toner or ink mixed with a fluorescent agent that emits light when irradiated with ultraviolet rays of a predetermined wavelength is read.

  A detailed apparatus configuration of the image forming apparatus at this time is shown in FIG.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a device configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

  2, the image forming apparatus 100 includes a communication interface (101-A), a data reading unit (101-B), a control unit 102, a print control unit 103, a storage unit 104, a read data analysis unit 105, and a determination unit. 106, a print output unit 107, ink 108, and a recording paper reading unit 109. The print data is confirmed by reading print data from the recording paper printed by the print output unit 107 by the reading unit 109.

  The communication interface 101 is an interface for connecting to a host device such as a client computer, and performs data communication through a LAN cable, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable, or the like. Data from the host device is processed by the control unit 102 via the communication interface 101.

  The data reading unit (101-B) reads print data stored in a recording medium such as a tape or a CD-ROM.

  That is, a print request can be received from a higher-level device via the communication interface 101 and can be received using a recording medium.

  The control unit 102 indicates main control in the image forming apparatus 100, and prints out print data requested to be printed and performs processing for confirming the printed contents. Print data received from either the communication interface (101-A) or the data reading unit (101-B) is controlled.

  The print control unit 103 is instructed to perform print output processing of the print data and is stored in the storage unit 104. When it is confirmed that the print content printed out by the determination unit 106 is the same as the print data requested to be printed, the print data stored in the storage unit 104 is deleted.

  The control unit 102 includes a print control unit 103, a read data analysis unit 105, and a determination unit 106. The print control unit 103 converts print data for a received print request into a print format, and outputs a print output unit. The output processing to 107 is controlled. A process of forming a queue and performing print output by the FIFO method is performed.

  The storage unit 104 is configured by a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), or the like, and stores print data received via the communication interface 101 according to a storage instruction from the control unit 102. The stored print data is deleted by the control unit 102. The print data is stored until it is determined by the determination unit 106 that the print data is the same.

  The storage unit 104 stores various control programs and setting information for realizing the functions of the image forming apparatus 100.

  The read data analysis unit 105 performs a process of analyzing the print data read by the recording paper reading unit 109. It is also possible to determine whether the read print data is formed in a bitmap format or created as character information. The analyzed print data is transferred to the determination unit 106.

  The determination unit 106 determines the identity by acquiring the print data stored in the storage unit 104 and comparing it with the print data analyzed by the read data analysis unit 105. If the read print data is the same as the acquired print data, it is determined that the print data requested for printing has been reliably printed on the recording medium, and the contents to that effect are displayed on the U / I 110. If the read print data is different from the acquired print data, it is determined that a part or all of the print data requested for printing is missing and printed, and the contents to that effect are displayed on the U / I 110. .

  Of course, it is also possible not to display the contents under the control of the control unit 102. For example, when the print data is the same, the contents may be displayed (error display) only when the print data is different without displaying anything.

  In addition to performing error display, voice notification may be performed.

  The print output unit 107 includes a print engine, and prints out print data that is print-controlled by the print control unit 103. On the recording medium to be printed out, the form is preliminarily printed with normal ink, and the print data requested for printing is overlay printed using ink mixed with a fluorescent agent.

  The printed recording paper is conveyed through a conveyance path 120 to which the printing output unit 107 and the recording paper reading unit 109 are connected.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the ink 108 is an ink mixed with a fluorescent agent, and is a printing material that prints out print data by the print output unit 107.

  The recording paper reading unit 109 is a reading unit constituted by a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), an OCR (Optical Character Reader), and the like. By irradiating the recording paper conveyed through the recording medium with ultraviolet rays, the printed data is read using a printing material that is visible such as a fluorescent agent and selectively readable by ultraviolet irradiation. The CCD can read the data printed as bitmap format image data, and the OCR can read the printed data as character information.

  Both the CCD and the OCR may be provided, and the print data may be read from the recording medium with each other.

  In addition, the recording paper that has been read is discharged to a discharge tray. At this time, the configuration may be such that the tray to be ejected is changed depending on whether the data read by the control unit 102 is the same as the print data requested to be printed or not. In this case, the determination result of the identity is received from the control unit 102, and the tray to be ejected is divided according to the determination result.

  The U / I 110 includes a display unit configured by a display display that can be operated by a user, and an operation unit configured by a pointing device, a keyboard, and the like. On the display unit of the U / I 109, the determination result of the print data identity by the determination unit 106 is displayed. Also, information related to printout is displayed.

  The conveyance path 120 is a path for conveying the recording sheet on which the print data is printed by the print output unit 107 to the recording sheet reading unit 109, and the recording sheet printed with the ink mixed with the fluorescent agent is conveyed. In addition to the configuration provided inside the image forming apparatus 100, the transport path 120 once discharges the recording paper that has been printed out to the outside of the image forming apparatus 100, and again by the switchback method, the image forming apparatus 100. You may comprise so that the recording paper may be taken in inside.

  With such an apparatus configuration, printed data can be confirmed even when printing is performed on a recording medium on which form information is printed in advance.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing in the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

  In FIG. 3, the process is started when a print request is received from a higher-level apparatus via a communication line, or when a portable storage medium such as a tape is installed in the image forming apparatus. Data is stored in the storage unit (201).

  The stored print data is printed out using ink in which a fluorescent agent is mixed with the recording paper on which the form has been printed in advance (202), and the recording paper on which the print data is printed is conveyed to the reading unit via the conveyance path. (203).

  The reading unit reads the print data printed by the print output unit by irradiating the recording paper conveyed through the conveyance path with ultraviolet rays (204). The print data read by the reading process is temporarily stored in a storage device such as a cache, and the print data stored in the storage unit is acquired (205).

  A process of comparing the acquired print data with the print data stored in the cache or the like is performed (206), and it is determined whether the print data is the same (207). If they are the same (YES in 207), a process of deleting the print data stored in the storage unit is performed (208). With this process, the storage area of the storage unit is released.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the print data are not the same (NO in 207), an error is displayed on the display or the like (209).

  Of course, in addition to displaying an error, the user may be notified by sounding a warning sound or the like.

  Further, in the case of print data to be printed out on a plurality of recording papers, the above process is repeated for the number of the recording papers.

  Through such a processing flow, it is possible to confirm the print contents of the printed recording paper.

  With the above processing, the image forming apparatus of the present invention can print out print data on a recording sheet with ink mixed with a fluorescent agent, and the form is printed on the recording sheet in advance. Even in this case, it is possible to determine whether the print data requested to be printed has been reliably printed out.

  Therefore, by applying the present invention, the print data can be reliably printed out, and the effect of improving the reliability of the print output can be expected.

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and shown in the drawings, and can be implemented with appropriate modifications within a range not changing the gist thereof.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be applied to a system that provides a print output result that realizes high reliability, and in particular, digital data to be printed even when printed on preprinted paper on which form data is printed. Useful for ensuring the correctness of the content.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an ink ejection state during image formation in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. 1 is a diagram illustrating a device configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing in the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Image forming apparatus 101-A Communication interface 101-B Data reading part 102 Control part 103 Print control part 104 Storage part 105 Reading data analysis part 106 Judgment part 107 Print output part 108 Ink 109 Recording paper reading part 110 U / I
120 Transport path

Claims (8)

In an image forming apparatus that performs a printing process on preprinted paper on which a predetermined form is printed in advance,
Storage means for storing print data requested for printing;
Printing means for printing on the preprinted paper using a printing material that is visible to the print data stored in the storage means and can be selectively read by ultraviolet irradiation;
A reading unit that selectively reads the print data by irradiating ultraviolet rays onto the preprint paper on which the print data is printed by the printing unit;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a confirmation unit configured to confirm the validity of a print result by comparing the print data read by the reading unit with the print data stored in the storage unit. The printing material is
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is a toner or an ink mixed with a fluorescent agent that emits light when irradiated with ultraviolet rays having a predetermined wavelength. The storage means
Store print data including character data,
The reading means includes
Read the character information printed by the printing means,
The confirmation means includes
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the legitimacy of the print result is confirmed by comparing character information read by the reading unit with character data stored in the storage unit. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a notifying unit that notifies the fact that the validity of the print result is not confirmed by the confirmation unit. 5. The storage means
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print data is stored and held until the validity of the print result is confirmed by the confirmation unit. The print data deleting means for deleting the corresponding print data stored in the storage means when the validity of the print result is confirmed by the confirmation means. The image forming apparatus described. In a confirmation method for confirming the content of printing processing performed on preprinted paper on which a predetermined form is printed in advance,
Store the requested print data in the storage means,
Printing the print data stored in the storage means with the printing means on the preprinted paper using a printing material that is visible and selectively readable by ultraviolet irradiation,
The print data is selectively read by the reading means by irradiating ultraviolet rays onto the preprint paper on which the print data is printed by the printing means,
A verification method comprising: comparing the print data read by the reading unit with the print data stored in the storage unit to check the validity of the print result. A printing apparatus that performs printing processing on preprinted paper on which a predetermined form has been printed in advance, and the validity of print data that is connected to the printing apparatus via a conveyance path and printed on the preprinted paper conveyed on the conveyance path In an image forming system in which a confirmation device for confirming
The printing apparatus includes:
Storage means for storing print data requested for printing;
Printing means for printing on the preprinted paper using a printing material that is visible and selectively readable by ultraviolet irradiation, the printing data stored in the storage means,
The confirmation device is
Reading means for reading print data printed with the printing material on the preprint paper by irradiating the preprint paper obtained by being conveyed on the conveyance path with ultraviolet rays;
Obtaining means for obtaining print data stored in the storage means from the printing apparatus;
An image forming system comprising: a confirmation unit configured to confirm the validity of the print content by comparing the print data read by the reading unit with the print data acquired by the acquisition unit.

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