JPH08244315A - Image forming apparatus and image forming method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide an image forming apparatus by which secrecy of data can be kept and the kind of a paper for printing data can be selected. CONSTITUTION: A password recognizing means 31c for recognizing a password attached to code data of an image input from a host computor 10 and a password inputting means for inputting the password from the outside are provided. It was not until an arbitrary password is input by the password inputting means that image data attached with a password corresponding to it is started to be printed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a laser beam printer connected to a plurality of hosts via a network, and an image forming method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming apparatus connected to a plurality of hosts via a network is so constructed as to successively print out image data sent from the hosts in the order of acceptance or in the order of priority. .

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a data processing configuration of a conventional image forming apparatus.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes a CPU, and this CPU
Reference numeral 101 is a ROM 10 storing a control program
2, and a RAM 103 used as a register or the like, and receives coded image information (code data) from an external device 104 such as a host computer via an external interface 104a, and receives the code data from the image processing unit. To 105.

The image processing unit 105 stores the received code data in the RAM 106, analyzes the code data, and reads out the data from the character font stored in the ROM 107 as necessary, thereby converting the code data. It is converted into dot image video data and stored in the frame memory 108.

When one page of video data is stored in the frame memory 108, the CPU 101 sends a print command to the engine controller in the printer engine 109 via the video interface 109a, and the main / sub controller from the engine controller sends the print command. The video data stored in the frame memory 108 is sequentially sent to the engine coat roller in synchronization with the scan synchronization signal.

The engine coat roller in the printer engine 109 receives the video data and, at the same time, prints by each printing means (conveyance drive motor, scanner unit, image transfer unit, fixing unit, etc.) configured in the printer engine 109. The operation control is started, and the video data is sequentially printed on the recording paper and output onto the paper discharge tray.

[0008]

However, the conventional image forming apparatus described above has the following problems.

(1) When data is printed and output, the confidentiality of the data cannot be maintained because it is output on the common paper discharge tray regardless of the confidentiality of the data.

(2) Regardless of the confidentiality of the data, the printouts are sequentially performed in the order received or in the priority order, so that highly confidential data is mixed and output with other data.

(3) When it is desired to specify the paper type for a certain data, the data to be printed at that time cannot be specified, so that the desired data may not be output to the intended paper type.

(4) When a paper type is specified for a certain data, the data to be printed at that time cannot be specified, so that another data may be printed out on the paper.

In view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus and an image forming method capable of maintaining data confidentiality and selecting a paper type of print data.

[0014]

In order to achieve the above object, the image forming apparatus of the first invention comprises an image processing means for analyzing code data of an inputted image and forming image data of the image, An image forming apparatus having image data storage means for storing image data of an image and printing means for reading out the image data of the image in the image data storage means and printing it on a recording medium. Image data to which a password corresponding to the password is added only when an arbitrary password is input by the password input means. The printing of is started.

In the image forming method of the second invention, the password input and set from the outside is determined, the password is collated with the password added to the code data of the image, and the password corresponding to the input and set password is set. Printing is started only for image data to which is added.

[0016]

According to the image forming apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention, the printing of the image data to which the corresponding password is added is started only when an arbitrary password is input by the password input means. Therefore, even in a system having an image forming apparatus connected to a plurality of hosts via a network, for example, if a password is added when the image data is sent from the host and the corresponding password is not input in the image forming apparatus, acceptance Regardless of the order or priority order, the print output will be in the standby state.

In the image forming method of the second invention, the password input and set from the outside is judged, the password is collated with the password added to the code data of the image, and the password corresponding to the input and set password is set. Since the printing is started only for the image data to which is added, even in a system having image forming apparatuses connected to a plurality of hosts via a network,
Add a password when sending image data from the host,
As long as you do not enter the corresponding password in the image forming apparatus, regardless of the order of acceptance or priority order,
The print output is in the standby state.

[0018]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a data processing configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

This image forming apparatus is composed of, for example, a laser beam printer or the like, and is connected to the host computer 10 on the network via the external interface 20 and the video controller 30 via the video interface 40. And a printer engine 50 connected to each other.

The host computer 10 has a password setting section 10a and has a function of adding a password to the code data and transmitting the code data when transmitting the code data to the video controller 20.

The video controller 30 converts the code data sent from the host computer 10 into dot image video data and outputs it to the printer engine 50. The CPU 31 controls the entire operation.
And an image processing section 32 for converting code data into dot image video data, and a frame memory 33 for storing the video data.
2 is a RAM 32a for storing the received code data
And the ROM 32b storing character fonts are connected.

The CPU 31 controls the control program (see FIG. 4).
(Including the flow shown in FIG.
It has a RAM 31b used as a register and the like, and a password recognition unit 31c for discriminating and analyzing the password sent from the host computer 10, and is connected to the host computer 10 via the external interface 20.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of the printer engine 50 shown in FIG.

The printer engine 50 is connected to the video controller 30 via the video interface 40.
The engine controller (DC controller) 51 connected to the. The engine controller 51 is
The scanner unit 52, the image transfer unit 53, the fixing unit 54, the paper feeding solenoid 55, the conveyance driving motor 56, the paper feeding sensors 57, and the paper presence / absence sensor 58 are controlled to be driven.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the schematic arrangement of the image forming apparatus of this embodiment.

In the figure, 60 is a laser beam printer body, 5
3 is the image transfer unit, 54 is the fixing unit, 61
Is a password input setting section, 62 is a multi-purpose tray (MP tray) sheet feeding port, 63 is a cassette sheet feeding port, and 64 is
Is a paper feed roller, 65 is a conveyance roller, 66 is a paper feed sensor,
67 is a paper discharge roller, and 68 is a paper discharge tray.

The recording paper fed is driven by driving the feeding roller 64 and the feeding roller 65, and the feeding timing is detected by the feeding sensor 66. The image transfer unit 53 forms an image on the conveyed recording paper until transfer, and the fixing unit 54 applies heat and pressure to the recording paper after the transfer process to fix the image. The recording paper that has passed through the fixing unit 54 is discharged to a paper discharge tray 68 by a paper discharge roller 67.

Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment configured as above will be described with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG.

First, when the CPU 31 receives the code data from the host computer 10 via the external interface 20, the password recognizing unit 31c discriminates and analyzes the password sent together with the code data and sends the code data. It is stored in the RAM 31b together with the discrimination address number, and the code data is sent to the image processing section 32 and stored in the RAM 32a in accordance with the discrimination address number of the code data.

In step S101, the CPU 31 waits for a password to be input to the password input setting section 61, and does not analyze the code data until the password is input. When the password is input, the password is stored in the data A area in step S102.

In step S103, the password from the host computer 10 stored in the RAM 31b is compared with the password in the data A area, and the code data with the corresponding password is searched.

Then, in step S104, the data A
If the address number of the image data with the same password as is obtained and determined, the process proceeds to step S105, the code data of the image data is analyzed, and if necessary, R
Data is read from the character font stored in the OM 32b, the code data is converted into dot image video data, and the dot image video data is stored in the frame memory 33.

In step S106, the frame memory 33
When one page of video data is stored in, the CPU 31 sends a print start command to the engine controller 51 via the video interface 40 in step S107, in synchronization with the main / sub-scanning synchronization signal from the engine controller 51. The video data is sequentially sent to the engine coat roller 51. Upon receiving the video data, the engine controller 51 immediately receives the scanner unit 52, the image transfer unit 53, the fixing unit 54, and the paper feeding solenoid 5.
5, the printing operation control of the conveyance drive motor 56, the paper feed sensor 57, the paper presence sensor 58, etc. is started.

According to this embodiment, even in a system having an image forming apparatus connected to a plurality of host computers via a network, a password is added when the image data is sent from the host computer, and the password of the image forming apparatus is added. Unless a corresponding password is entered in the input setting means 61, the print output is in a standby state regardless of the order of acceptance or the priority order. As a result, the confidentiality of the data can be maintained, and the predetermined print data can be surely printed on the intended paper type.

[0036]

As described in detail above, according to the image forming apparatus of the first invention, the image processing means for analyzing the code data of the input image to form the image data of the image, and the image processing device. Image data storing means for storing the image data of the image data and printing means for reading the image data of the image in the image data storing means and printing it on a recording medium. A password recognition means for recognizing the password and a password input means for inputting the password from the outside are provided, and only when an arbitrary password is input by the password input means, the image data to which the corresponding password is added cannot be displayed. Since printing is started, for example, image forming devices connected to multiple hosts via a network Even in a system having a printer, the print output is in a standby state regardless of the order of acceptance or the priority order unless a password is added when the image data is sent from the host and the corresponding password is not input in the image forming apparatus. . Therefore, the following effects can be obtained.

(1) Since the password is input when printing is performed on the common paper discharge tray, the confidentiality of the data can be maintained.

(2) Regardless of the order of reception or the order of priority, printout is performed by inputting a password, so that it is not mixed with other data output.
It is possible to keep the confidentiality of data.

(3) Even when it is desired to specify the paper type for certain data, the data to be printed can be specified, and the desired paper type can be printed.

(4) When a paper type is specified for a certain data, the data to be printed at that time can be specified, so that it is possible to prevent another data from being erroneously output on the paper. It will be possible.

According to the image forming method of the second invention, the password input and set from the outside is determined, the password is collated with the password added to the code data of the image, and the password is input and set. Since the printing is started only for the image data to which the password is added, the password must be set when sending the image data from the host, even in a system having image forming devices connected to multiple hosts via a network, for example. In addition, unless the corresponding password is input in the image forming apparatus, the print output is in the standby state regardless of the order of acceptance or the priority order. Therefore, the following effects can be obtained by the simple image forming method as in the first invention.

(1) Since the password is input when printing is performed on the common paper discharge tray, the confidentiality of the data can be maintained.

(2) Regardless of the order in which the password is accepted or the priority, the password is input to print out the data, so that the data is not mixed with other data output.
It is possible to keep the confidentiality of data.

(3) Even when it is desired to specify the paper type for certain data, the data to be printed can be specified, and the desired paper type can be printed.

(4) When a paper type is designated for a certain data, the data to be printed at that time can be designated, so that it is possible to prevent another data from being erroneously output on the paper. It will be possible.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a data processing configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of a printer engine 50 in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a data processing configuration of a conventional image forming apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 host computer 10a password setting unit 20 external interface 30 video controller 31 CPU 31a ROM 31b RAM 31c password recognition unit 32 image processing unit 32a RAM 32b ROM 33 frame memory 40 video interface 50 printer engine 51 engine controller 52 scanner unit 53 image transfer unit 54 Fixer Unit 55 Paper Feed Solenoid 56 Feed Drive Motor 57 Feed Sensors 58 Paper Presence Sensor 60 Laser Beam Printer Main Body 61 Password Input Setting Section 62 Multipurpose Tray 63 Cassette Feed Port 64 Feed Roller 65 Feed Roller 66 Feed Sensor 67 Paper ejection roller 68 Paper ejection tray

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued Front Page (72) Inventor Hidenobu Suzuki 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Takashi Nakahara 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Incorporated (72) Inventor Takashi Seiya 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An image processing means for analyzing code data of an input image to form image data of the image, an image data storage means for storing image data of the image, and an image in the image data storage means. An image forming apparatus having a printing means for reading the image data of the above and printing it on a recording medium, a password recognizing means for recognizing the password added to the code data of the image, and a password input means for inputting the password from the outside The image forming apparatus is characterized in that the printing of the image data to which the password corresponding thereto is started only when an arbitrary password is input by the password input means. 2. A password entered externally is determined, the password is compared with the password added to the code data of the image, and only the image data to which the password corresponding to the password entered is added. An image forming method characterized by starting printing.