Image forming apparatus

Abstract

To provide an image forming apparatus that prevents writing information in a non-target RFID tag by mistake.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus of an embodiment has placement parts, a wireless tag communication unit, and electric conductors. A sheet provided with a wireless tag can be placed on the placement parts. The wireless tag communication unit can write information in the wireless tag provided in the sheet. The electric conductors are provided on the placement parts and hinder the communication between the wireless tag communication unit and the wireless tag.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to an image forming apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] There is an image forming apparatus that writes information to a wireless tag and forms an image on a sheet with a wireless tag using RFID (Radio Frequency IDentifier) technology. When a wireless tag to be written (hereinafter referred to as "target tag") passes through a conveyance path, the image forming apparatus radiates radio waves from an antenna to the target tag to write information to the target tag.

[0003] Generally, when a plurality of sheets are placed on a placement portion where sheets can be placed, such as a tray or a paper feed cassette, the wireless tags overlap. The overlapping wireless tags become difficult to receive radio waves due to the overlap. Therefore, the image forming apparatus cannot communicate with the overlapping wireless tags. On the other hand, the image forming apparatus can communicate with non-overlapping wireless tags such as those passing through the conveyance path. Utilizing this property, there is a technique for determining whether a tag is a target tag based on the intensity (RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indication)) of a radio wave signal transmitted from the wireless tag and writing information to the target tag.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, for example, when there is only one sheet remaining on the tray, the wireless tags attached to that sheet do not overlap. Therefore, the image forming apparatus receives radio waves not only from the wireless tags of the sheets being conveyed but also from the wireless tags attached to the sheets remaining on the tray. In this case, it becomes difficult for the image forming apparatus to distinguish between the wireless tags attached to the sheets being conveyed and the wireless tags attached to the sheets remaining on the tray. As a result, the image forming apparatus may erroneously write information to wireless tags other than the target tags.

[0006] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that suppresses erroneously writing information to non-target wireless tags.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0007] The image forming apparatus according to the embodiment has a placement unit, a wireless tag communication unit, and a conductor. The placement unit can place a sheet provided with a wireless tag. The wireless tag communication unit can write information to the wireless tag provided on the sheet. The conductor is provided on the placement unit and inhibits communication between the wireless tag communication unit and the wireless tag.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Fig. 1

Fig. 2

Fig. 3

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Fig. 4B

Fig. 4C

Fig. 4D

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Fig. 8

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] In the image forming apparatus of the embodiment, writing information to a non-target wireless tag by mistake is suppressed. Hereinafter, the image forming apparatus of the embodiment will be described in detail.

[0010] Fig. 1 is an external view showing an overall configuration example of an image forming apparatus 100 according to the embodiment. The image forming apparatus 100 is, for example, a multifunction machine. The image forming apparatus 100 includes a display 110, a control panel 120, a printer unit 130, a sheet storage unit 140, and an image reading unit 200. Note that the printer unit 130 of the image forming apparatus 100 may be an electrophotographic apparatus that fixes a toner image, or may be an inkjet apparatus.

[0011] The image forming apparatus 100 forms an image on a sheet using a developer such as toner. The sheet is, for example, paper or label paper. The sheet may be a sheet with a wireless tag attached. The sheet may be any material as long as the image forming apparatus 100 can form an image on its surface. Note that a sheet with a wireless tag attached may mean that a wireless tag is attached to the surface of the sheet, or that a wireless tag is embedded inside the sheet. The wireless tag in the present embodiment is a wireless tag using RFID (Radio Frequency IDentifier) technology, and is also referred to as an RF tag.

[0012] The display 110 is an image display device such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display. The display 110 displays various information related to the image forming apparatus 100.

[0013] The control panel 120 has a plurality of buttons. The control panel 120 receives the operations of the user. The control panel 120 outputs a signal corresponding to the operation performed by the user to the control unit of the image forming apparatus 100. Note that the display 110 and the control panel 120 may be configured as an integrated touch panel.

[0014] The printer unit 130 forms an image on a sheet based on the image information generated by the image reading unit 200 or the image information received via a communication path. The printer unit 130 forms an image by, for example, the following processing. The printer unit 130 forms an electrostatic latent image on a photoreceptor drum based on the image information. The printer unit 130 forms a visible image by attaching a developer to the electrostatic latent image. A specific example of the developer is toner. The printer unit 130 transfers the visible image onto the sheet. The printer unit 130 fixes the visible image onto the sheet by heating and pressurizing the sheet. Note that the sheet on which the image is formed may be a sheet stored in the sheet storage unit 140 or a sheet pointed by a finger. The sheet on which the image is formed is discharged to the sheet discharge unit 210.

[0015] The sheet storage unit 140 stores sheets used for image formation in the printer unit 130. In the present embodiment, four paper feed cassettes are provided in the sheet storage unit 140. The image reading unit 200 reads the image information to be read as the brightness and darkness of light. The image reading unit 200 records the read image information. The recorded image information may be transmitted to another information processing apparatus via a network. The recorded image information may be used by the printer unit 130 to form an image on a sheet.

[0016] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the embodiment. The image forming apparatus 100 includes a display 110, a control panel 120, a printer unit 130, a paper feeding unit 205, a storage device 151, a memory 152, a processor 153, a wireless tag communication unit 154, an external interface 155, and an image reading unit 200. Note that the display 110, the control panel 120, the printer unit 130, and the image reading unit 200 have been described above, and thus their descriptions are omitted. The paper feeding unit 205 is a mechanism that feeds sheets placed in the sheet storage unit 140 and a manual tray, which will be described later, to the printer unit 130. Hereinafter, the storage device 151, the memory 152, the processor 153, the wireless tag communication unit 154, and the external interface 155 will be described. Each functional unit is connected so as to be capable of data communication via a system bus 160.

[0017] The storage device 151 is, for example, a hard disk or an SSD (solid state drive), and stores various data. The various data are a print job received from an external communication device and a software program for controlling the operations of the respective functional units of the image forming apparatus 100. The print job may be a job related to double-sided printing or a job related to printing multiple sheets. The print job may include image information regarding an image to be printed on a sheet.

[0018] The memory 152 temporarily stores data used by the respective functional units included in the image forming apparatus 100. The memory 152 is, for example, a RAM (Random Access Memory). Note that the memory 152 may store digital data generated by the image reading unit 200. The memory 152 may temporarily store a print job being printed by the printer unit 130 or write information to be written to a wireless tag.

[0019] The processor 153 controls the operations of each functional unit of the image forming apparatus 100. The processor 153 loads the software program stored in the storage device 151 onto the memory 152 and executes the process by executing the software program. Here, a specific process of the processor 153 will be described with an example.

[0020] Based on a print job received via an external communication device or the control panel 120, the processor 153 controls the printing on a sheet with a wireless tag attached. When the processor 153 receives a print job related to a sheet with a wireless tag attached, it acquires, for example, from a write information server (not shown) the write information specified in the print job and the image information associated with the write information. The image information associated with the write information is information regarding the image to be formed on the sheet. Note that the image information does not necessarily have to be associated with the write information. In this case, the image information may be included in the print job. The processor 153 controls the paper feed unit 205. The paper feed unit 205 feeds a sheet with a wireless tag attached.

[0021] The processor 153 controls the printer unit 130. The printer unit 130 forms the image indicated by the image information on the sheet. The sheet on which the image is formed is discharged to the sheet discharge unit 210. The processor 153 controls the wireless tag communication unit 154. The wireless tag communication unit 154 includes an arithmetic unit and a storage device. The wireless tag communication unit 154 writes information to the wireless tag attached to the sheet. Also, the wireless tag communication unit 154 reads information from the wireless tag attached to the sheet. The information read by the wireless tag communication unit 154 from the wireless tag is, for example, identification information (e.g., UID: Unique Identifier (unique identifier)) that uniquely identifies the wireless tag.

[0022] The external interface 155 transmits and receives data to and from other devices. Here, the other devices are, for example, information processing devices such as personal computers, tablet computers, or smart devices. The external interface 155 operates as an input interface and receives data or instructions transmitted from other devices. The instructions transmitted from other devices are, for example, print jobs. The data transmitted from other devices is, for example, writing information and image information associated with the writing information. Further, the external interface 155 operates as an output interface and transmits data to other devices.

[0023] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of the image forming apparatus 100. Further, FIG. 3 shows an example of a placement portion and an arrangement example of conductors in the internal configuration. In FIG. 3, a manual tray 220 and conductors 300-1, 300-2, and 300-3 are newly shown. When the conductors 300-1, 300-2, and 300-3 are not distinguished from each other, they are expressed as the conductor 300. In the present embodiment, as the placement portion, the sheet storage portion 140, the manual tray 220, and the paper discharge portion 210 are taken as examples. The sheet storage portion 140 and the manual tray 220 are examples of a placement portion on which a sheet before image formation is placed. The paper discharge portion 210 is an example of a placement portion on which a sheet after image formation is placed.

[0024] The communication range of the wireless tag communication unit 154 extends to the sheet storage portion 140, the manual tray 220, and the paper discharge portion 210. Therefore, in the present embodiment, by providing a conductor on the placement portion, communication between the wireless tag attached to the sheet placed on the placement portion and the wireless tag communication unit 154 is inhibited. Specifically, when a sheet is placed on the conductor, the impedance of the wireless tag attached to the sheet decreases, making communication difficult. The conductor 300 is a material that easily conducts electricity, such as aluminum. Further, the conductor 300 shown in FIG. 3 is formed in a plate shape. In FIG. 3, the side surface of the plate-shaped conductor 300 is depicted.

[0025] The conductor 300-1 is provided in the uppermost sheet feeding cassette of the sheet accommodating portion 140. The conductor 300-1 inhibits communication between the wireless tag attached to the sheet placed in the uppermost sheet feeding cassette and the wireless tag communication unit 154. Even if only one sheet is placed in the uppermost sheet feeding cassette, the conductor 300-1 inhibits communication between the wireless tag attached to this sheet and the wireless tag communication unit 154. Although it is provided in the uppermost sheet feeding cassette as an example, conductors may be provided in other sheet feeding cassettes.

[0026] The conductor 300-2 is provided in the manual feed tray 220. The conductor 300-2 inhibits communication between the wireless tag attached to the sheet placed in the manual feed tray 220 and the wireless tag communication unit 154. Even if only one sheet is placed in the manual feed tray 220, the conductor 300-2 inhibits communication between the wireless tag attached to this sheet and the wireless tag communication unit 154.

[0027] The conductor 300-3 is provided in the paper discharge portion 210. The conductor 300-3 inhibits communication between the wireless tag attached to the sheet placed in the paper discharge portion 210 and the wireless tag communication unit 154. Even if only one sheet is placed in the paper discharge portion 210, the conductor 300-3 inhibits communication between the wireless tag attached to this sheet and the wireless tag communication unit 154. The sheet discharged to the paper discharge portion 210 is discharged by the paper discharge roller 156. Due to the discharging force and the like, the paper discharge position of the sheet may vary. Therefore, the conductor 300-3 is provided so as to cover the entire paper discharge portion 210.

[0028] In FIG. 3 described above, the direction toward the left is defined as the Y direction, and the direction from the front to the back is defined as the X direction.

[0029] FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D are diagrams showing installation examples of the conductor 300-2 in the manual feed tray 220. FIGS. 4A and 4B are views of the manual feed tray 220 seen from above. FIG. 4C is a view of the manual feed tray 220 seen in the depth direction from the front side in the Y direction. FIG. 4D is a view of the manual feed tray 220 seen in the front direction from the depth side in the X direction.

[0030] As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the size of the conductor 300-2 is such that it covers the entire sheet of the maximum sheet size on which the image forming apparatus 100 can form an image. Thus, regardless of the sheet size, the conductor 300-2 can inhibit communication. Note that the conductor 300-2 shown in FIG. 4B has a shape in which a portion of the region 310 is cut out. This is to prevent the sheet feeding roller for feeding the sheet from coming into contact with the conductor 300-2 when the sheet feeding roller is provided in the region 310.

[0031] As shown in FIGS. 4C and 4D, a recess for providing the conductor 300-2 is prepared in the manual tray 220, and the conductor 300-2 is fitted into this recess so that the conductor 300-2 is provided such that the sheet placement surface becomes flat.

[0032] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an installation example of the conductor 300-1 in the sheet storage unit 140. The size of the conductor 300-1 is such that it covers the entire sheet of the maximum sheet size on which the image forming apparatus 100 can form an image. Thus, regardless of the sheet size, the conductor 300-1 can inhibit communication. Note that a metal plate for feeding the sheet is provided in the sheet storage unit 140 as a sheet feeding cassette. The conductor 300-2 may be provided so as to cover the region where the metal plate is not present.

[0033] As described above, since the conductor 300 is sized to cover the entire sheet, it is always provided at a position that overlaps the wireless tag. Note that the size of the conductor does not necessarily have to be large enough to cover the entire sheet of the maximum sheet size. For example, there are users who only use A4-sized sheets and do not use A3-sized sheets. Thus, it is predetermined that sheets of a size smaller than the maximum sheet size may be used. Also, when the position of the wireless tag on the sheet is unknown, a conductor sized to cover the entire sheet of the sheet size to be used may be provided. That is, a conductor sized to match the sheet size used by the user may be provided. By doing so, it is not necessary to provide a conductor that is unnecessarily large, and the cost of the conductor can be reduced.

[0034] Note that when the position where the wireless tag is attached on the sheet is predetermined, the conductor 300 may be provided to cover the area where the wireless tag is attached instead of the entire sheet.

[0035] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example in which the conductor 300 is provided to cover the position where the wireless tag is attached instead of the entire sheet. For example, let the area 330 be the area where the wireless tag attached to the sheet is located. The conductor 300-1 may be provided to cover this area 330. Even in this case, the conductor 300-1 can inhibit communication with the wireless tag communication unit 154.

[0036] Next, the experimental results of measuring the RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indication) before and after providing the conductor 300 are introduced. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the RSSI before providing the conductor 300. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the RSSI after providing the conductor 300. Both FIGS. 7 and 8 show the RSSI when forming an image by transporting sheets one by one from the first to the fourth sheets with five sheets placed in the sheet storage unit 140. Also, only one sheet is placed in the manual feed tray 220.

[0037] In the graphs of FIGS. 7 and 8, the vertical axis represents RSSI, and the horizontal axis represents time. As shown in FIG. 7, it is shown that only signals from RFID are received from the wireless tags attached to the first to third sheets. However, when the fourth sheet is conveyed, the fifth sheet is the only one placed in the sheet storage unit 140. As a result, since radio waves from the wireless tag attached to the fifth sheet are also received, the wireless tag communication unit 154 cannot distinguish between the fourth and fifth sheets. Thereby, the wireless tag communication unit 154 may erroneously write write information to the wireless tag attached to the fifth sheet. Also, since signals are received from the sheet placed on the manual tray 220 at a substantially constant radio wave intensity, in this case as well, write information may be erroneously written to the wireless tag attached to the sheet placed on the manual tray 220.

[0038] On the other hand, by providing the conductor 300, as shown in FIG. 8, only the received signals from RFID were received from the wireless tags attached to the first to fourth sheets. Also, no signals were received from the wireless tag attached to the fifth sheet and the wireless tag attached to the sheet placed on the manual tray 220. Therefore, since the wireless tag communication unit 154 can still distinguish between the sheets, it is possible to suppress erroneously writing information to an unintended wireless tag.

[0039] In the above-described embodiment, the sheet storage unit 140, the manual tray 220, and the paper discharge unit 210 are cited as the placement units provided with the conductor 300, but a configuration in which the conductor 300 is not provided in all of these may be used.

[0040] As configurations not provided in all cases, specifically two configurations can be cited. The first configuration A is a configuration in which the conductor 300 is provided in the placement section where the sheet is placed before information is written to the wireless tag by the wireless tag communication unit 154, and is not provided in the placement section where the sheet is placed after information is written to the wireless tag by the wireless tag communication unit 154. In the present embodiment, the placement section where the sheet is placed before information is written to the wireless tag is the sheet storage section 140 or the manual feed tray 220. Also, the placement section where the sheet is placed after information is written to the wireless tag is the paper discharge section 210.

[0041] The second configuration B is a configuration in which the conductor 300 is provided in the placement section where the sheet provided with a wireless tag with unknown identification information that can be uniquely identified by the wireless tag communication unit 154 is placed, and is not provided in the placement section where the sheet provided with a wireless tag with known identification information is placed.

[0042] When writing the write information, the wireless tag communication unit 154 acquires the identification information from the wireless tag. Therefore, the wireless tag communication unit 154 can realize configurations A and B by storing the identification information of the wireless tag that has performed the writing in its own storage device. In this case, the "placement section where the sheet provided with an unknown wireless tag is placed" in configuration B is the sheet storage section 140 or the manual feed tray 220. Also, the "placement section where the sheet provided with a wireless tag with known identification information is placed" in configuration B is the paper discharge section 210.

[0043] Assume that the wireless tag communication unit 154 receives signals from the wireless tag attached to the sheet being conveyed without the write information written thereto and from the wireless tag that has performed the writing, respectively. In this case, the wireless tag communication unit 154 performs the writing by designating the identification information that is not stored, that is, the unknown identification information, instead of the stored identification information (known identification information). Thereby, since the wireless tag that has already been written can be excluded, it is possible to suppress erroneously writing information to the non-target wireless tag.

[0044] As described above, although there are variations in the paper discharge position of the sheets discharged to the paper discharge unit 210, for example, by providing a positioning mechanism, it is also possible to discharge the sheets without variations. In this case, when two or more sheets are discharged, communication becomes difficult due to the overlapping of the wireless tags. Therefore, when discharging the sheets without variations, the wireless tag communication unit 154 only needs to store the identification information of the wireless tag attached to the first sheet.

[0045] According to the embodiment described above, by providing a conductor on the placement unit, communication with an unintended wireless tag is inhibited, so that it is possible to suppress erroneously writing information to an unintended wireless tag.

[0046] Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0047] 100... Image forming apparatus, 110... Display, 120... Control panel, 130... Printer unit, 131... Image forming unit, 132... Fixing unit, 140... Sheet storage unit, 205... Paper feeding unit, 151... Storage device, 152... Memory, 153... Processor, 154... Wireless tag communication unit, 155... External interface, 210... Paper discharge unit, 220... Manual feed tray, 300, 300-1, 300-2, 300-3... Conductor

Claims

1. A placement section on which a sheet provided with a wireless tag can be placed, A wireless tag communication section capable of writing information to the wireless tag provided on the sheet, A conductor provided in the placement section that inhibits communication between the wireless tag communication section and the wireless tag, Comprising, The placement section has a recess for providing the conductor, The conductor is provided by being disposed in the recess so that the sheet placement surface of the placement section becomes flat. An image forming apparatus.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conductor is provided at a position overlapping the wireless tag.

3. A placement section on which a sheet provided with a wireless tag can be placed, A wireless tag communication section capable of writing information to the wireless tag provided on the sheet, A conductor provided in the placement section that inhibits communication between the wireless tag communication section and the wireless tag, comprising, The conductor is provided in the placement section on which the sheet is placed before information is written to the wireless tag by the wireless tag communication section, and is not provided in the placement section on which the sheet is placed after information is written to the wireless tag by the wireless tag communication section. An image forming apparatus.

4. A placement section on which a sheet provided with a wireless tag can be placed, A wireless tag communication section capable of writing information to the wireless tag provided on the sheet, A conductor provided in the placement section that inhibits communication between the wireless tag communication section and the wireless tag, comprising, The conductor is provided in the placement section on which the sheet provided with the wireless tag whose identification information that can uniquely identify the wireless tag by the wireless tag communication section is unknown is placed, and is not provided in the placement section on which the sheet provided with the wireless tag whose identification information is known is placed. An image forming apparatus.

5. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the placement section is for placing a sheet before an image is formed or for placing a sheet after an image is formed.

Images