Image forming device

Abstract

To provide an image forming apparatus that allows checking of details printed with invisible toner.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus comprises: an image forming unit that performs printing on a print medium by using at least any one developer of developers including at least invisible toner; a determination unit that determines whether the image information included in the print job includes invisible information being information printed with the invisible toner; and a print control unit that, when the determination unit determines that the image information includes the invisible information, visualizes information on the invisible information and causes the image forming unit to print the information as inserting paper at least before the image information is printed on the print medium or after the image information is printed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus. [Background technology]

[0002] There is a known technology for printing predetermined information with invisible toner, such as IR toner, which is normally not visible to the naked eye, in order to show that the printed matter is genuine. As a means for distinguishing the printed matter printed with invisible toner from other printed matters, a technology for inserting slip sheets or sorting the printed matter has been disclosed.

[0003] For example, a technique has been disclosed in which two sheets of slip paper are printed to be used as a divider (eg, Patent Document 1). Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, with conventional technology, although it is possible to distinguish printed matter printed with invisible toner by using an interleaf sheet, there is a problem in that it is not possible to confirm what has been printed with invisible toner.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above, and has an object to provide an image forming apparatus that allows the contents printed with invisible toner to be confirmed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, the present invention is characterized by comprising an image forming unit that prints on a printing medium using at least any developer containing at least an invisible toner, a determination unit that determines whether or not image information included in a print job includes invisible information that is information printed with the invisible toner, and a print control unit that, when the determination unit determines that the image information includes the invisible information, visualizes information related to the invisible information and causes the image forming unit to print it as a slip sheet at least either before the image information is printed on a printing medium or after the image information is printed. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, the content printed with invisible toner can be confirmed. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a control device of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional block configuration of a control device of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of printing processing in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which an interleaf sheet is transported in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the following embodiment, and the components in the following embodiment include those that a person skilled in the art can easily conceive, those that are substantially the same, and those that are within the scope of what is called equivalent. Furthermore, various omissions, substitutions, modifications, and combinations of the components can be made without departing from the scope of the gist of the following embodiment.

[0010] (Overall configuration of image forming apparatus) 1 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, the overall configuration of which will be described with reference to FIG.

[0011] 1 is a device that forms a print by transferring toner, which is a developer, onto printing paper P (an example of a printing medium). The image forming device 1 is a tandem type device that can form a full-color image by superimposing, for example, four colors (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black), and can form an image of invisible toner such as IR toner by superimposing it as necessary.

[0012] 1, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a control device 10, an optical scanning device 20, four photoconductor drums 30a-30e, four cleaning units 31a-31e, four charging devices 32a-32e, four developing rollers 33a-33e, and four toner cartridges 34a-34e. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a transfer belt 40, a transfer roller 42, a density detector 45, four home position sensors 46a-46e, a fixing roller 50, a paper feed roller 54, a pair of registration rollers 56, a paper discharge roller 58, a paper feed tray 60, a paper discharge tray 70, and a communication control device 80.

[0013] The photoconductor drum 30a, cleaning unit 31a, charging device 32a, developing roller 33a, and toner cartridge 34a are used as a set, and constitute an image forming station for forming an image of invisible toner.

[0014] The photoconductor drum 30b, cleaning unit 31b, charging device 32b, developing roller 33b, and toner cartridge 34b are used as a set, and constitute an image forming station that forms a black image with black (K) toner.

[0015] The photoconductor drum 30c, cleaning unit 31c, charging device 32c, developing roller 33c, and toner cartridge 34c are used as a set, and constitute an image forming station that forms a cyan image with cyan (C) toner.

[0016] The photoconductor drum 30d, cleaning unit 31d, charging device 32d, developing roller 33d, and toner cartridge 34d are used as a set, and constitute an image forming station that forms a magenta image with magenta (M) toner.

[0017] The photoconductor drum 30e, cleaning unit 31e, charging device 32e, developing roller 33e, and toner cartridge 34e are used as a set, and constitute an image forming station that forms a yellow image with yellow (Y) toner.

[0018] The photosensitive drums 30a to 30e may be simply referred to as "photosensitive drum 30" when referring to any photosensitive drum or when collectively referring to the cleaning units 31a to 31e. The charging devices 32a to 32e may be simply referred to as "charging device 32" when referring to any charging device or when collectively referring to the charging devices. The developing rollers 33a to 33e may be simply referred to as "developing roller 33" when referring to any developing roller or when collectively referring to the developing rollers. The toner cartridges 34a to 34e may be simply referred to as "toner cartridge 34" when referring to any toner cartridge or when collectively referring to the home position sensors 46a to 46e. The home position sensors 46a to 46e may be simply referred to as "home position sensor 46".

[0019] The control device 10 is a control device that comprehensively controls each device provided in the image forming device 1. The control device 10 has a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory) in which a program executed by the CPU and various data used when executing the program are stored, a RAM (Random Access Memory) which is a working memory, and an AD conversion circuit that converts analog data to digital data. The control device 10 controls each device in response to a request from the upper device 2, and sends image data from the upper device 2 to the optical scanning device 20. A print job including image data received by the control device 10 from the upper device 2 may include print setting parameters indicating that at least a part of the information of the image data is printed with invisible toner. Here, information printed with invisible toner among the image data (print data) is referred to as invisible information. The upper device 2 is an information processing device such as a PC (Personal Computer) or a workstation that transmits a print job including image data to be printed to the control device 10 via a communication control device 80.

[0020] The optical scanning device 20 is an optical device that irradiates the surface of the corresponding charged photoconductor drum 30 with a laser modulated for each toner based on image data (cyan image data, magenta image data, yellow image data, black image data, invisible information). As a result, the charge on the surface of each photoconductor drum 30 disappears only in the portion irradiated with the light, and a latent image corresponding to the image data is formed on the surface of each photoconductor drum 30. The latent image formed on the surface of each photoconductor drum 30 moves toward the corresponding developing roller 33 as the photoconductor drum 30 rotates.

[0021] The photoconductor drum 30 is an example of a latent image carrier, and is a drum-shaped member having a photosensitive layer formed on its surface. That is, the surface of the photoconductor drum 30 is a surface to be scanned. The photoconductor drums 30a to 30e are arranged side by side, for example, with their rotation axes parallel to each other, and rotate in the same direction (for example, the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 1).

[0022] In the following description, in an XYZ three-dimensional orthogonal coordinate system, the direction parallel to the central axis of each photoconductor drum 30 is the Y-axis direction, and the direction along the arrangement direction of each photoconductor drum 30 is the X-axis direction.

[0023] The cleaning unit 31 is a unit that removes toner (residual toner) remaining on the surface of the corresponding photoconductor drum 30. The surface of the photoconductor drum 30 from which the residual toner has been removed returns to a position facing the corresponding charging device 32 again.

[0024] The charging devices 32 are devices that uniformly charge the surfaces of the corresponding photoconductor drums 30 .

[0025] The developing roller 33 is a roller on whose surface toner from the corresponding toner cartridge 34 is applied thinly and uniformly as it rotates. When the toner on the surface of the developing roller 33 comes into contact with the surface of the corresponding photoconductor drum 30, it adheres to the portion of the surface that is irradiated with light. In other words, the developing roller 33 causes the toner to adhere to the latent image formed on the surface of the corresponding photoconductor drum 30, making it visible, and forms a toner image.

[0026] The toner cartridge 34a is a cartridge that supplies invisible toner to the developing roller 33a. The toner cartridge 34b is a cartridge that supplies black toner to the developing roller 33b. The toner cartridge 34c is a cartridge that supplies cyan toner to the developing roller 33c. The toner cartridge 34d is a cartridge that supplies magenta toner to the developing roller 33d. The toner cartridge 34e is a cartridge that supplies yellow toner to the developing roller 33e.

[0027] The transfer belt 40 is an endless belt that is stretched around a belt rotation mechanism and rotates in a fixed direction. The outer surface of the transfer belt 40 contacts the surface of each photoconductor drum 30 at a position opposite to the optical scanning device 20, and the toner images of each photoconductor drum 30 are transferred in a sequential, overlapping manner, and the toner images are transferred. The outer surface of the transfer belt 40 contacts a transfer roller 42.

[0028] The transfer roller 42 is a roller that comes into contact with the outer surface of the transfer belt 40 via the printing paper P, and transfers the toner image formed on the transfer belt 40 to the printing paper P.

[0029] The concentration detector 45 is a sensor that detects the toner concentration of the toner image on the transfer belt 40 and is positioned on the -X side of the transfer belt 40 (upstream of the fixing roller 50 in the direction of travel of the transfer belt 40 and downstream of the five photosensitive drums 30).

[0030] The home position sensor 46 is a sensor that detects the home position (original position) of the rotation of the corresponding photosensitive drum 30 .

[0031] The fixing roller 50 is a roller that applies heat and pressure to the recording paper to fix the toner onto the print paper P. The print paper P with the toner fixed thereon is sent to the paper discharge tray 70 via the paper discharge roller 58, and is stacked on the paper discharge tray 70 in order.

[0032] The paper feed roller 54 is disposed near the paper feed tray 60, and is a member that takes out the printing paper P one by one from the paper feed tray 60 and conveys it to the pair of registration rollers 56.

[0033] The registration roller pair 56 is a roller pair that sends the print paper P toward the gap between the transfer belt 40 and the transfer roller 42 at a predetermined timing. This causes the toner image on the transfer belt 40 to be transferred to the print paper P. The print paper P thus transferred is then sent to the fixing roller 50.

[0034] The paper discharge roller 58 is a roller that discharges the print paper P, onto which the toner image has been transferred and which has been sent from the fixing roller 50, onto a paper discharge tray .

[0035] The paper feed tray 60 is a tray for storing print paper P. The paper discharge tray 70 is a tray for stacking the print paper P onto which the toner image has been transferred and discharged from the paper discharge rollers 58.

[0036] The communication control device 80 is a device that controls two-way communication with a higher-level device 2 (e.g., a computer) via a network, etc. The communication control device 80 realizes communication that complies with, for example, the TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) / IP (Internet Protocol) standard or the USB (Universal Serial Bus) standard.

[0037] (Hardware configuration of image forming device) 2 is a diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of a control device of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. The hardware configuration of the control device 10 of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 2, the control device 10 includes a CPU 201, a ROM 202, a RAM 203, an external I / F 204, an optical scanning control circuit 211 (an example of an image forming unit), an image forming control circuit 212 (an example of an image forming unit), a paper feed drive circuit 213, and a paper discharge drive circuit 214, which are capable of data communication with each other via a bus line.

[0039] The CPU 201 is a computing device that loads various programs stored in a ROM 202 into a RAM 203 that is used as a work area, and realizes various functions.

[0040] The external I / F 204 is an interface for communicating with a host 250, which is an external device connected via a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or a WAN (Wide Area Network) constructed by a wired or wireless data transmission path, and corresponds to the communication control device 80 shown in Fig. 1. The host 250 is, for example, an information processing device that transmits a print job including image data (image information) to be printed to the control device 10, and corresponds to the higher-level device 2 shown in Fig. 1.

[0041] The optical scanning control circuit 211 is a control circuit that controls the laser irradiation operation of the optical scanning device 20 based on image data (print data) received by the external I / F 204 in accordance with a command from the CPU 201.

[0042] The image forming control circuit 212 is a control circuit that controls the operation of the photosensitive drum 30, transfer roller 42, etc. based on image data (print data) received by the external I / F 204 in accordance with instructions from the CPU 201, and forms (prints) an image on the printing paper P.

[0043] The paper feed drive corridor 213 is a drive circuit that controls the operation of the paper feed roller 54 in accordance with commands from the CPU 201, and feeds the print paper P from the paper feed tray 60 one sheet at a time.

[0044] The paper discharge drive circuit 214 is a drive circuit that controls the operation of the paper discharge rollers 58 in accordance with instructions from the CPU 201, and discharges the print paper P on which the toner image has been printed onto the paper discharge tray .

[0045] The hardware configuration of the control device 10 shown in Fig. 2 is an example, and other components may be included. For example, the control device 10 may have a non-volatile memory such as an NVRAM (Non-Volatile RAM), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) that performs image processing, or a Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) that performs input / output signal processing, in addition to the components shown in Fig. 2.

[0046] (Configuration and operation of functional blocks of the control unit of the image forming apparatus) 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of functional blocks of a control device of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. The configuration and operation of the functional blocks of the control device 10 of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 3, the control device 10 of the image forming apparatus 1 includes an acquisition unit 101, a determination unit 102, and a print control unit 103.

[0048] The acquisition unit 101 is a functional unit that acquires a print job from the higher-level device 2 (host 250) via the external I / F 204. The print job acquired by the acquisition unit 101 includes various print setting parameters (print setting information) in addition to image data (print data) to be used for image formation. The acquisition unit 101 is realized by executing a program by the CPU 201 shown in FIG. 2.

[0049] The determination unit 102 is a functional unit that determines whether or not invisible information is included in the image data included in the print job acquired by the acquisition unit 101. For example, the determination unit 102 determines the presence or absence of invisible information in the image data by using, for example, print setting parameters included in the print job. The determination unit 102 is realized by executing a program by the CPU 201 shown in FIG.

[0050] The print control unit 103 is a functional unit that controls the optical scanning control circuit 211 and the image formation control circuit 212 to print the image data of the print job acquired by the acquisition unit 101 on the print paper P. When the determination unit 102 determines that the image data of the print job includes invisible information, the print control unit 103 visualizes information related to the invisible information before printing the image data including the invisible information, and prints the visualized information on the print paper P as a first interleaf. Next, the print control unit 103 prints the image data of the print job on the print paper P fed next to the first interleaf. Then, the print control unit 103 visualizes and prints information related to the invisible information on the print paper P fed next to the print paper P on which the image data has been printed, as a second interleaf. Here, the information on the invisible information printed on the first and second interleaf sheets may include, for example, the invisible information itself (the invisible information itself), reduced image data showing the invisible information, the invisible information (or information related thereto) converted into a two-dimensional code, the page number of the invisible information, or information indicating that the invisible information is printed on the printing paper P together with the interleaf sheets, and may include at least any of these pieces of information. Note that the information on the invisible information printed on the first and second interleaf sheets is not limited to being the same information, and different information may be printed. For example, information indicating that the invisible information is printed on the printing paper P between the interleaf sheets may be printed on the first interleaf sheet, and reduced image data showing the invisible information may be printed on the second interleaf sheet. The print control unit 103 is realized by the CPU 201 shown in FIG. 2 executing a program.

[0051] Note that the acquisition unit 101, the determination unit 102, and the print control unit 103 may be partly or entirely realized by an integrated circuit such as an FPGA or an ASIC, rather than a software program.

[0052] Moreover, each functional unit of the control device 10 shown in Fig. 3 is shown conceptually, and is not limited to such a configuration. For example, the multiple functional units illustrated as independent functional units in the control device 10 shown in Fig. 3 may be configured as one functional unit. On the other hand, the function of one functional unit in the control device 10 shown in Fig. 3 may be divided into multiple functions and configured as multiple functional units.

[0053] (Printing process flow of image forming device) Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of printing processing of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which an interleaf is conveyed in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. The flow of printing processing of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 4 and 5.

[0054] <Step S11> The acquisition unit 101 acquires a print job from the higher-level device 2 (host 250) via the external I / F 204. The determination unit 102 determines whether or not invisible information is included in the image data included in the print job acquired by the acquisition unit 101. That is, the determination unit 102 determines whether or not the print job is for printing information including invisible information. If invisible information is included in the image data included in the print job (step S11: Yes), the process proceeds to step S12, and if invisible information is not included in the image data (step S11: No), the process proceeds to step S16.

[0055] <Step S12> Before printing image data including invisible information, the print control unit 103 visualizes the information related to the invisible information and prints the visualized information as a first interleaf sheet on the print paper P. Fig. 5 shows a state in which the interleaf sheet PA1 as the first interleaf sheet is printed and then conveyed toward the paper discharge rollers 58. Then, the process proceeds to step S13.

[0056] <Step S13> Next, after printing the first interleaf, the print control unit 103 prints the image data of the print job on the print paper P fed by the paper feed drive corridor 213. Fig. 5 shows a state in which the image data is transferred to the print paper PF for printing by the transfer roller 42. Then, the process proceeds to step S14.

[0057] <Step S14> If the printing process of the image data including invisible information by the print control unit 103 is completed (step S14: Yes), the process proceeds to step S15, and if the printing process is not completed (step S14: No), the process returns to step S13. Here, it goes without saying that the printing process of the image data including invisible information is not necessarily completed with one sheet of printing paper P, and multiple sheets of printing paper P may be used.

[0058] <Step S15> The print control unit 103 visualizes and prints the information about the invisible information as a second interleaf sheet on the print sheet P fed next to the print sheet P on which the image data has been printed. Fig. 5 shows a state in which interleaf sheet PA2 as the second interleaf sheet is fed from the paper feed tray 60 by the paper feed roller 54. Then, the print process of the image forming apparatus 1 ends.

[0059] <Step S16> If the determination unit 102 determines that the image data of the print job does not include invisible information, the print control unit 103 performs normal printing of the image data on the print paper P. In other words, the print control unit 103 causes the image data of the print job to be printed on the print paper P without printing it as an interleaf sheet. Then, the print process of the image forming device 1 ends.

[0060] The print process of the image forming apparatus 1 is carried out through the above steps S11 to S16.

[0061] As described above, in the image forming apparatus 1 according to this embodiment, the optical scanning control circuit 211 and the image formation control circuit 212 print on the print paper P using at least one of developers including at least invisible toner, the determination unit 102 determines whether or not the image data included in the print job includes invisible information that is information printed with invisible toner, and when the determination unit 102 determines that the image data includes invisible information, the print control unit 103 visualizes information related to the invisible information at least either before the image data is printed on the print paper P or after the image data is printed, and causes the optical scanning control circuit 211 and the image formation control circuit 212 to print it as an inserting sheet. This makes it possible to check the content printed with invisible toner by checking the inserting sheet.

[0062] In addition, it has been described above that insert sheets (first insert sheet, second insert sheet) are printed before and after the printing paper P on which image data (print data) including invisible information is printed, but this is not limited to this, and only the first insert sheet may be printed before the printing paper P, or only the second insert sheet may be printed after the printing paper P.

[0063] In the above-mentioned embodiment, when at least one of the functional units of the control device 10 of the image forming apparatus 1 is realized by executing a program, the program is provided by being pre-installed in a ROM or the like. In the above-mentioned embodiment, the program executed by the control device 10 of the image forming apparatus 1 may be provided by being recorded in a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), a flexible disk (FD), a CD-R (Compact Disk-Recordable), or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) in an installable or executable format. In the above-mentioned embodiment, the program executed by the control device 10 of the image forming apparatus 1 may be provided by being stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and downloaded via the network. In the above-mentioned embodiment, the program executed by the control device 10 of the image forming apparatus 1 may be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet. In the above-mentioned embodiment, the program executed by the control device 10 of the image forming apparatus 1 includes at least one of the above-mentioned modules, and as actual hardware, the CPU reads the program from the above-mentioned storage device and executes it, so that the above-mentioned modules are loaded onto the main storage device and generated. [Explanation of symbols]

[0064] 1. Image forming device 2. Upper device 10 Control device 20 Optical scanning device 30, 30a to 30e Photoconductor drum 31, 31a~31e Cleaning unit 32, 32a to 32e Charging device 33, 33a to 33e developing roller 34, 34a~34e Toner cartridges 40 Transfer belt 42 Transfer roller 45 Concentration Detector 46, 46a~46e Home position sensor 50 Fuser roller 54 Paper feed roller 56 Registration roller pair 58 Paper ejection roller 60 Paper Tray 70 Output tray 80 Communication control device 101 Acquisition Department 102 Judgment section 103 Printing control unit 201 CPU 202 ROM 203 RAM 204 External I / F 211 Optical scanning control circuit 212 Image formation control circuit 213 Paper feed drive circuit 214 Paper ejection drive circuit 250 hosts P Print paper PA1, PA2 slip paper PF Printing Paper [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0065] [Patent Document 1] JP 2010-181639 A

Claims

1. an image forming unit that prints on a print medium using at least one developer including at least an invisible toner; a determination unit that determines whether or not image information included in a print job includes invisible information that is information printed with the invisible toner; a print control unit that, when the determination unit determines that the image information includes the invisible information, visualizes information related to the invisible information and causes the image forming unit to print the information as an inserting sheet at least either before the image information is printed on a print medium or after the image information is printed; An image forming apparatus comprising:

2. 2. The image forming apparatus of claim 1, wherein when the determination unit determines that the image information contains the invisible information, the printing control unit causes the image forming unit to print information regarding the invisible information on a first insert paper, print the image information on a printing medium, and print information regarding the invisible information on a second insert paper.

3. the print job includes print setting information used to print the image information, The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the determination unit determines whether or not the image information includes the invisible information based on the print setting information.

4. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein when the determination unit determines that the image information does not contain the invisible information, the print control unit causes the image forming unit to print the image information on a printing medium without printing it as the slip sheet.

5. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the information relating to the invisible information includes at least any one of the invisible information itself, reduced image data showing the invisible information, image data obtained by two-dimensionally coding the invisible information, the page number of the invisible information, or information indicating that the invisible information is printed on a printing medium together with an inserting sheet.

Images