JP4243124B2 - Printing apparatus and printing control method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a printing system suitable for protecting confidential information of a printing paper including confidential information and reusing a printing paper that has been used on one side.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, from the standpoint of environmental protection, resource saving, and cost reduction, effective use of printing paper by performing new printing on the other side of printing paper that has already been printed on one side, that is, unused side Opportunities are increasing. However, if confidential information is included in the print result printed on the used side, the confidential information may be leaked. There is a problem that it is necessary to check whether it is included and remove used printing paper containing confidential information.
[0003]
In order to solve such problems, for example, in Patent Document 1, when printing print data, a mark indicating the degree of confidentiality of the print data is printed in advance, and the paper is reused as a used print paper. When used, read the mark indicating the level of confidentiality and compare it with the level of confidentiality of the new print data to be printed, determine whether to print on the print paper, or whether it is equivalent to the level of confidentiality of the print data A printing system has been proposed in which printing paper is fed from a paper feed tray in which used printing paper with a low confidentiality is stored.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-361983
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the conventional printing system, it is necessary to repeatedly compare the print data and the confidentiality of the print paper until a print paper suitable for the confidentiality of the print data is detected. there were.
[0006]
In addition, when printing paper is fed from a paper feed tray that contains used printing paper that is equal to or less sensitive than the confidentiality of the print data, there are many types of confidentiality with different confidentiality ranges. When it exists, there is a problem that the paper feed trays are required for the types of secret levels.
[0007]
The problem to be solved by the present invention is to select the most suitable used printing paper that meets the degree of confidentiality of print data in a short time when printing paper containing confidential information is reused as used printing paper. Another object of the present invention is to propose a printing system capable of improving the reuse rate of used printing paper while protecting confidential information.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a new paper feeding unit in which unprinted paper is set, a used paper feeding unit in which used printing paper is set, and the used paper feeding unit. A printing apparatus that receives and prints print data and security level information indicating a degree of confidentiality of the print data from an upper level apparatus.
A plurality of registered sheet storage units for sequentially storing used printing sheets whose printed matter attributes have been detected by the attribute detection unit;
Printing that stores the printed matter attribute for each used printing sheet detected by the attribute detection unit as a sheet registration table in association with the stacking order of the used printing sheets stacked in the plurality of registered sheet storage units. A paper secret level storage means;
Security level information for referring to the paper registration table to check whether a used print paper having a print attribute that matches the security level information of the print data exists in any of the plurality of registered paper storage units. Processing means,
If the confidential level information processing unit confirms that a used print sheet suitable for the confidential level information of the print data exists in any one of the plurality of registered sheet storage units, the suitable used print sheet Printing paper selection information indicating the paper is notified to the printing paper selection means for selecting the printing paper to be fed according to the printing paper selection information;
The printing paper selecting means, when another used printing paper is stacked on the selected used printing paper in the registered paper storage unit, The selected used printing paper is fed to the printing unit, and the stacking order of the used printing paper in each registered paper storage unit in the paper registration table is moved to the registered paper storage unit. Update the data,
When the selected used printing paper that conforms to the security level information of the printing data does not exist in the registered paper storage unit, the new paper feeding unit feeds the printing paper to the printing unit..
  Also,The security level information processing means has a table indicating a sequence of a plurality of predetermined security levels..
  Also,The security level information processing means selects a print paper having the highest security level among used print papers corresponding to the security level of the print data in the paper registration table based on the table indicating the order of the security levels. Features to choose.
  Also,When there are a plurality of used printing papers having the highest security level, the security level information processing means selects the used printing paper having the shortest time to be selected.
  Also,When the security level information processing unit receives a print job for printing a plurality of pages from the host device, the security level information processing unit searches the printing paper security level storage unit and uses the used printing paper in the plurality of registered paper storage units. Select used printing paper with the highest possible security level to match the security level for the number of pages in the print job,
Printing paper selection information indicating the order in which the time until selecting a used printing paper suitable for the paper with the highest possible security level is selected is selected as the printing paper to be fed based on the printing paper selection information. The selection means is notified.
  Also,The security level information processing unit deletes the selected printed matter attribute of the used used printing paper from the printing paper security level storage unit, and the use that occurs when the used printing paper is selected by the printing paper selection unit. The data in the print paper security level storage means is updated based on the movement of the used print paper.
  Also,The printing unit prints print data on the print paper selected and fed by the paper selection means, and further prints a security level mark printing means for printing a security level mark indicating a security level of the print data. It is characterized by providing.
[0009]
  Also,New paper feeding unit in which unprinted paper is set, used paper feeding unit in which used printing paper is set, and printed matter of each used printing paper sent from the used paper feeding unit A print control method for a printing apparatus that includes attribute detection means for detecting an attribute, and receives and prints print data and security level information indicating a degree of confidentiality of the print data from a higher-level apparatus;
Sequentially storing used printing paper whose printed matter attributes have been detected by the attribute detecting means;
Storing a printed matter attribute for each used printing sheet detected by the attribute detecting unit as a sheet registration table in association with the stacking order of the used printing sheets stacked in the plurality of registered sheet storage units. When,
Referring to the paper registration table to check whether a used print paper having a print attribute that matches the security level information of the print data exists in any of the plurality of registered paper storage units;
When it is confirmed that a used print sheet that conforms to the confidential level information of the print data exists in any of the plurality of registered sheet storage units, a step of selecting the adapted used print sheet;
When another used printing paper is stacked on the selected used printing paper in the registered paper storage unit, the stacked used printing paper is transferred to another registered paper storage unit. And moving the selected used printing paper to the printing unit and updating the stacking order data of the used printing paper in each registered paper storage unit in the paper registration table;
When the selected used printing paper that conforms to the confidential level information of the print data does not exist in the registered paper storage unit, feeding from the new paper feeding unit to the printing unit;
And a printing control method.
[0010]
Less thanAs a result, the most suitable used printing paper suitable for the degree of confidentiality of the print data is selected in a short time, and the reuse rate of the used printing paper is improved while protecting the confidential information.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Below, when printing paper containing confidential information is reused as used printing paper, the most suitable used printing paper that meets the degree of confidentiality of the print data is selected in a short time while protecting the confidential information. An embodiment of a printing system capable of improving the reuse rate of used printing paper will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0012]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration and functions of an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, arrows indicated by solid lines indicate the flow of information, and arrows indicated by dotted lines indicate the flow of printing paper. The printing system of the present invention performs printing on a printing sheet based on print control information such as a print instruction and the upper apparatus 101 that transmits print data, print control information such as a print instruction transmitted from the upper apparatus 101, and print data. It is comprised by the printing apparatus 102 to perform. The printing apparatus 102 is, for example, a laser beam printer or an ink jet printer, and may be a printer of another printing method. The host apparatus 101 and the printing apparatus 102 may be connected directly or via a network such as a LAN. There may be.
[0013]
In such a configuration, the upper level apparatus 101 instructs the print apparatus 102 together with the print control information and the print data, the print data confidential level information 104 indicating the degree of confidentiality of the print data to be printed. Instruction means 103 is provided.
[0014]
The confidential level is information indicating the degree (range) of confidentiality of print data. FIG. 2 shows an example of the confidential range. Here, the upper case alphabet indicates a confidential level and the lower case alphabet indicates an individual. The confidential range 201 is a confidential level E and represents that confidential information is not included. The confidential range 202 is a confidential level D, which represents that confidential information needs to be protected within a certain company, and corresponds to so-called confidentiality. The confidential ranges 203 and 204 are the confidential levels C1 and C2, and indicate that it is necessary to protect the confidentiality within a range such as a branch office of a certain company. The confidential ranges 205 and 206 are the confidential levels B1 and B2, and indicate that it is necessary to protect the confidentiality within a range such as a certain branch of a certain company.
[0015]
Further, as shown in the confidential range 207, a confidential level B3 may be used if it is necessary to protect the confidentiality within a range across a certain part of a certain branch of a certain company. Confidentiality ranges 208, 209, 210, 211, and 212 are confidentiality levels A1, A2, A3, A4, and A5, and it is necessary to protect confidentiality within a certain range of a certain part of a certain branch of a certain company. Show. In this way, the range of the confidential level and the number thereof can be arbitrarily determined by the user, and a certain range may cross or overlap another range.
[0016]
The security level information processing means 105 that has received the print data security level information 104 together with the print control information and the print data has a table 301 indicating the range of security levels as shown in FIG. The range of the confidential level of the print data can be recognized from the information 104. The table 301 indicating the range of the security level is arranged, for example, in the order from the narrowest security range, that is, from the highest security level, and each security level range is represented by the included security level or individual.
[0017]
This table can be arbitrarily determined, added and deleted by the user. The security level information processing unit 105 recognizes a print sheet corresponding to the security level of the print data using the table 301 indicating the range of the security level. The print paper suitable for the print data security level is a print paper of a security level equivalent to or including the security level of the print data. For example, the security level indicated by the print data security level information 104 is “A3”. In this case, the confidential levels of the printing paper that can be used are “A3”, “A2”, “B1”, “C1”, “D”, and “E” in descending order of the confidentiality level.
[0018]
On the other hand, when the used printing paper 111 is set in the paper feeding unit 109, the used printing paper 111 is sequentially conveyed to the printing paper security level mark detection unit 112. The printing paper security level mark detection unit 112 is constituted by, for example, a mark reading sensor and detects a security level mark printed on the used surface of the used printing paper 111 that has been conveyed, and determines the security level of each printing paper. The printing paper security level storage unit 115 is notified as printing paper security level information 114 for each printing paper. The used printing paper 111 that has detected the security level mark is transported again to the paper feeding unit 109 and is sequentially stored in a dedicated tray (registered paper storage tray A).
[0019]
At this time, the orientation of the unused surface of the used printing paper 111 is detected in advance, and stored in the tray so that the unused surface faces downward. If the used printing paper 111 contains a printing paper with both sides used, the printing paper is not notified to the printing paper security level storage unit 115 without printing sheet security level information 114 of the printing paper. The paper is sorted by the sorting unit 113 and discharged to the paper discharge unit 118.
[0020]
The printing paper security level storage means 115 is composed of, for example, a hard disk and its control circuit, and has a function of sequentially storing the printing paper security level information 114 notified from the printing paper security level mark detection means 112 for each page. Yes. FIG. 4 shows an example of data in the printing paper security level storage unit 118. When the printing paper security level storage unit 115 is notified of the printing paper security level information 114, the number of pages of the security level of each registered paper storage tray A that has already been stored is updated by one, and a new notification is made. The recorded security level is stored as the security level of page 1.
[0021]
Therefore, in the case of the data shown in FIG. 4, the security level of the printing paper notified first is “E”, and the security level of the printing paper notified last is “D”. In this way, the confidential level of the printing paper is stored in the same order as the used printing paper 111 stacked on the registered paper storage tray A.
[0022]
When the security level information processing unit 105 recognizes a print sheet corresponding to the security level of the print data, it reads the data in the print sheet security level storage unit 115 to check whether there is a print sheet, and selects and determines a sheet to be used. At this time, the printing paper having the highest security level is selected from the printing papers corresponding to the security level of the print data. This is because printing paper with a low security level can be used in other print jobs with a security level, so selecting the printing paper with the highest security level can improve the reuse rate of printing paper. .
[0023]
For example, when the security level indicated by the print data security level information 104 is “A3” and the print paper security level storage means 115 is the data shown in FIG. 4, the print paper can be used with the security level “A3”. It is the printing paper with the highest security level. Printing paper such as security level “D” and security level “B1” can be used in terms of security, but these papers can also be used at security levels such as security levels “A1” and “A5”. On the other hand, since the printing paper with the security level “A3” can only be used with the printing data with the security level “A3”, the printing paper with the higher security level “A3” is used. The reuse rate can be improved.
[0024]
Further, when there are a plurality of print sheets having the highest security level that can be used, the print sheet having the shortest time to be selected is selected, and the time until the print result is discharged is minimized. For example, if the security level indicated by the print data security level information 104 is “A3” and the print paper security level storage means 115 is the data shown in FIG. 4, the security level “A3” on page 6 is selected. It is the printing paper with the shortest time. This is because the printing paper of the security level “A3” on page 10 is lower than the printing paper of page 6 in the registered paper storage tray 1, and it takes time to select the paper. As described above, the confidential level information processing unit 105 selects and determines “registered paper storage tray A-page 6” as the printing paper to be used.
[0025]
The printing paper determined as described above is notified to the paper feeding unit 109 as printing paper selection information 117. The print paper selection information 117 is information indicating a print paper to be fed, such as “registered paper storage tray A-page 6”.
[0026]
The printing paper selection unit 110 in the paper feeding unit 109 notified of the printing paper selection information 117 has a function of selecting a printing paper, and selects and feeds the printing paper according to the printing paper selection information 117. For example, when the printing paper selection information 117 such as “registered paper storage tray A-page 6” is notified, five of the printing paper stacked in the registered paper storage tray A are sequentially registered one by one. The sheet is moved to the storage tray B and stacked. When the sixth printing sheet comes to the top of the tray 1, the sheet is fed.
[0027]
Then, the security level information processing unit 105 updates the data in the printing paper security level storage unit 115 as shown in FIG. Delete the confidential level data of the selected printing paper and update the storage tray and stacking order by selecting the printing paper, thereby the data in the printing paper security level storage means 115 and the actual printing paper storage tray and stacking order are updated. Match.
[0028]
The printing paper selected and fed by the printing paper selection unit 110 is conveyed to the printing unit 107. The printing unit 107 to which the printing paper is transported prints print data on the printing paper. At this time, the security level mark printing unit 108 may print a security level mark indicating the security level of the print data. When printing is completed, the paper is conveyed to the paper discharge unit 118, and the printing paper is discharged to complete a series of printing operations.
[0029]
  Printing paper security level storage means 115But,For example, in the case of the data shown in FIG. 5, when the print job is executed from the host device, similarly, the confidential level information processing unit 105 recognizes the printing paper corresponding to the confidential level of the printing data and prints the presence / absence of the printing paper. The data in the paper security level storage means 115 is read and confirmed, and the paper to be used is selected and determined. At this time, among the printing papers stored in the registered paper storage tray A or the registered paper storage tray B, the time required for selection is the highest among the printing papers that match the security level of the print data. Select the shortest print paper.
[0030]
For example, when the security level indicated by the print data security level information 104 is “A5”, the print paper of the security level “A5” having the highest security level is “registered paper storage tray A-page 5” and “registered”. Spent paper storage tray B-page 2 ". At this time, in order to select and feed the “A5” print paper in the registered paper storage tray A, it is necessary to move the four print papers stacked on it, whereas the registered paper storage tray In order to select and feed the “A5” printing paper of B, it is only necessary to move one printing paper stacked thereon, which is convenient in terms of printing paper selection time. Notifies “registered paper storage tray B-page 2” as print paper selection information 117. The printing paper selection means 110 notified of the printing paper selection information 117 moves the printing paper in the registered paper storage tray B to one registered paper storage tray A, and displays “registered paper storage tray B-page 2”. Select printing paper.
[0031]
Similarly to the above, the security level information processing unit 105 updates the printing paper storage tray and stacking order by deleting the security level data of the selected printing paper and selecting the printing paper in the printing paper security level storage unit 115. To do.
[0032]
Even when a print job for printing a plurality of pages is executed by the host apparatus 101, the security level information processing unit 105 searches the printing paper security level storage unit 115 and selects the printing paper stored in each tray. Select as many print papers as possible for the number of pages in the print job to meet the confidentiality level. At this time, the printing paper selection information 117 is instructed in the order in which the time until the printing paper is selected is the shortest. For example, when a two-page print job in which the print data security level information 104 is the security level “A2” is executed when the print paper security level storage unit 115 is the data shown in FIG. Printing papers with a high security level are “registered paper storage tray A-page 8” with a security level “A2” and “registered paper storage tray B-page 4” with a security level “B1”. As the selection information 117, the security level “B1” paper in the registered paper storage tray B is instructed first, and then the security level “A2” paper in the registered paper storage tray A is instructed.
[0033]
In this case, three print sheets move to select the security level “B1” paper on the registered paper storage tray B side, and to select the security level “A2” paper on the registered paper storage tray A side. Since 3 + 7 = 10 print sheets are moved, the target two print sheets can be selected by moving a total of 13 print sheets, while the confidential level “A2” on the registered sheet storage tray A side is selected. If the paper is first designated and then the security level “B1” paper in the registered paper storage tray B is designated, 7 printing papers are selected for selecting the security level “A2” paper on the registered paper storage tray A side. Movement occurs, and 7 + 3 = 10 printing sheets are moved to select the confidential level “B1” sheet on the registered sheet storage tray B side. Therefore, it is necessary to move a total of 17 printing sheets. , Paper selection This is because it takes time by.
[0034]
FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional view showing the internal structure of the printing apparatus constituting the printing system. Here, an embodiment of a printing apparatus will be described taking a laser beam printer as an example. However, the printing apparatus is not limited to a laser beam printer, and may be a printer of another printing method as described above. The mechanism of the printing apparatus is as follows.
[0035]
Reference numeral 601 denotes a new paper feed tray for storing new printing paper that can be used on both sides, and reference numeral 602 denotes a used paper feed tray for storing single-sided used printing paper. Reference numerals 603 and 604 are trays for storing printing paper, and store single-sided used printing paper that has detected the security level of the printing paper. Reference numerals 605 and 606 denote printing surface detection sensors that detect whether or not each printing surface of the fed printing paper has been used. Reference numerals 607 and 608 denote security level mark readers that detect a security level mark printed on the fed printing paper. An optical unit 609 irradiates the photosensitive drum 611 uniformly charged by the charger 610 with the laser beam 612. Reference numeral 613 denotes a developing machine that develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 611 with toner. A transfer belt 614 transfers a toner image on the photosensitive drum 611 to a printing sheet. A cleaner 615 removes toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 611. Reference numeral 616 denotes a fixing device that fixes the toner image transferred to the printing paper by thermocompression bonding. Reference numeral 617 denotes a paper discharge tray for storing printing paper that has been printed. Reference numeral 618 denotes a double-sided used paper discharge tray for discharging double-sided used paper mixed in the single-sided used printing paper. Numerals 619 to 630 are paper conveyance paths, and in particular, portions 628, 629, and 630 are switchback mechanisms having a function of reversing the front and back sides of the printing paper. Reference numerals 631, 632, and 633 denote paper transport path branching mechanisms that branch the print paper transport path. A print control unit 634 controls the entire printing apparatus such as print control and paper transport control based on print control information, and generates print data.
[0036]
FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the print control unit 634 provided in the printing apparatus constituting the printing system. The configuration of the print control unit 634 is as follows. A CPU 702 executes a control program to control the entire printer apparatus. Reference numeral 703 denotes a ROM that stores a part of a control program related to printing, various data necessary for executing the control program, and the like. A RAM 704 stores a control program and various data necessary for executing the control program, or temporarily stores print data for development processing. Reference numeral 705 denotes a host interface control unit which is connected to a host device and communicates with the host device. A disk control unit 706 controls a disk device 707 such as a magnetic disk or an optical disk. The disk device 707 stores a control program, various data and font data required when executing the control program, and confidential level data detected from the printing paper. A printer interface control unit 708 is connected to a paper feed tray, a paper discharge tray, a paper transport unit, a printing unit, a printing surface detection sensor, a security level mark reader, and the like to perform operation control and communication. A system bus 701 is connected to the CPU 702 in the print control unit 634 and other units, and transfers data.
[0037]
In the configuration of the printing apparatus shown in FIG. 6 and the print control unit shown in FIG. 7, when the confidential level of the printing paper set in the used paper feeding tray 602 is stored and stored in the registered paper storage tray A 603 This operation will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. It should be noted that in the part where the printing surface detection sensors 605 and 606 are installed, the upper surface of the printing paper is A surface and the lower surface of the printing paper is B surface.
[0038]
When the printing paper is set in the used paper feeding tray 602, one printing paper is fed from the used paper feeding tray 602 (S801). The fed printing paper is conveyed via the conveyance path 619 to a portion where the printing surface detection sensors 605 and 606 are installed, and the usage status of both sides of the printing paper is detected (S802). If both sides of the printing paper have already been used, the printing paper is discharged to the double-sided used paper discharge tray 618 via the paper transport paths 621, 622, and 627 (S804). If one side of the printing paper is unused, the printing paper is transported to the site where the security level mark readers 607 and 608 are installed, and the security level of the printing paper is detected (S805). The detected security level information of the printing paper is notified to the CPU 702 via the printer interface unit 708, and further stored in the disk device 707 via the disk control unit 706 (S806).
[0039]
If both sides of the printing paper are unused, there is no security level on the printing paper and any print data can be printed. Therefore, the lowest security level may be notified and stored. The printing paper whose security level has been detected is stored in the registered paper storage tray A 603 via the paper conveyance paths 621, 623, and 624. At this time, the printing paper is stored in the registered paper storage tray A 603 so that the unused side of the printing paper faces downward. It is determined whether the A side is an unused side (S807). If the A side is an unused side, it is stored in the registered sheet storage tray A603 as it is (S809), and if the A side is not an unused side, that is, If the B side is an unused side, the switchback mechanism 628 reverses the direction of the front and back sides of the printing paper (S808) and stores it in the registered paper storage tray A 603 (S809). In this way, when printing is performed by feeding printing paper from the registered paper storage tray A 603, printing can be performed on an unused surface. By continuing the above operation until the used paper feed tray 602 runs out of paper (S810), storage of the confidential level of the print paper and storage in the registered paper storage tray A 603 are realized.
[0040]
Next, in the configuration of the printing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 6 and the print control unit illustrated in FIG. 7, an operation when receiving a print job from the host apparatus and printing on a print sheet corresponding to the confidential level of the print data is as follows. This will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
[0041]
When print data and print data security level information are received from the host device via the host interface control unit 705 (S901), the CPU 702 refers to the print data security range table to recognize the print data security range (S902). . The print data confidential range table is stored in the ROM 703, for example, and can be recognized by reading the data in the ROM 703. Further, the CPU 702 refers to the paper registration table (S904) and confirms whether or not the printing paper suitable for the confidential range of the print data is registered in the paper registration table. The paper registration table is stored in the disk device 707, for example, and can be recognized by reading out data in the disk device 707 via the disk control unit 706.
[0042]
If no print paper corresponding to the confidential range of the print data is registered in the paper registration table, the printer interface control unit 708 instructs the paper supply from the new paper feed tray 601 to start from the new paper feed tray 601. The printing paper is fed (S908), printing data is printed (S909), and the paper is discharged to the printing paper discharge tray 617. If the print paper corresponding to the confidential range of the print data is registered in the paper registration table, the optimum print paper is selected and instructed to the registered paper storage tray via the printer interface control unit 708 (S905).
[0043]
Here, the optimum printing paper is, for example, the printing paper with the highest security level among the printing papers suitable for the confidential range of the print data, or the time for selecting the paper among the printing papers suitable for the confidential range of the print data. It is a short print sheet or a print sheet that satisfies the combination of these.
[0044]
In the registered paper storage tray A 603 and the registered storage tray B 604, the printing paper instructed by the print control unit 634 is selected and fed (S905). At this time, if the instructed printing paper is stored in the registered paper storage tray A 603, the printing paper stacked on the printing paper is moved to the registered paper storage tray B 604 and instructed. When the printing paper is fed and the designated printing paper is stored in the registered paper storage tray B604, the printing paper stacked on the printing paper is moved to the registered paper storage tray A603. Feed the printing paper instructed.
[0045]
When the sheet is moved from the registered sheet storage tray A603 to the registered sheet storage tray B604, or when the sheet is moved from the registered sheet storage tray B604 to the registered sheet storage tray A603, printing is performed by the switchback mechanism 603. Turn the paper over. As a result, the unused side of the registered paper storage tray A603 is stacked with the unused side facing down, and the unused side of the registered paper storage tray B604 is stacked with the unused side facing up. When printing on paper, printing can be performed on an unused surface.
[0046]
On the other hand, the print control unit 634 updates the storage tray and stacking order by deleting the confidential level data of the selected printing paper and selecting the printing paper in the paper registration table (S907). Match the printing paper status of the actual registered paper storage tray. The printing paper fed from the registered paper storage tray A 603 or the registered paper storage tray B 604 is printed with the print data through the transport paths 619 and 620 (S909), and is further discharged through the paper transport paths 626 and 627. Paper is discharged to the tray 617.
[0047]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, when reusing a printing paper containing confidential information as a used printing paper, the most suitable used printing paper suitable for the degree of confidentiality of the print data is selected in a short time, and the confidential information is protected. The reuse rate of used printing paper can be improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration and functions of an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a confidential range.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a table indicating a range of confidential levels.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a paper registration table.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a paper registration table.
FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an internal structure of a printing apparatus constituting the printing system.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a print control unit provided in a printing apparatus constituting the printing system.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an operation when storing a confidential level of printing paper set in a used paper feeding tray and storing it in a registered paper storage tray.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an operation at the time of printing on a printing paper corresponding to a confidential level of print data.
[Explanation of symbols]
101: Host device, 102: Printing device,
103: Print data security level information instruction means,
104: Print data security level information, 105: Security level information processing means,
106 ... confidential level mark print data, 107 ... printing section,
108: Confidential level mark printing means 109 109 Paper feed unit
110 ... printing paper selection means, 111 ... used printing paper,
112: Printing paper confidential level mark detection means, 113: Printing paper sorting means,
114 ... printing paper security level information, 115 ... printing paper security level storage means,
116 Search / update of printing paper confidential level information, 117... Printing paper selection information,
118: Paper discharge unit,201 ... Confidential range of confidential level E,
202: Confidential range of confidential level D, 203 ... Confidential range of confidential level C1,
204: Confidential range of confidential level C2, 205 ... Confidential range of confidential level B1,
206: Confidential range of confidential level B2, 207 ... Confidential range of confidential level B3,
208: Confidential range of confidential level A1, 209 ... Confidential range of confidential level A2,
210: Confidential range of confidential level A3, 211 ... Confidential range of confidential level A4,
212 ... Confidential range of confidential level A5,
301: a table indicating a range of confidential levels; 401: a paper registration table;
501 ... Paper registration table, 601 ... New paper feed tray,
602: Used paper feed tray,
603 ... registered paper storage tray A, 604 ... registered paper storage tray B,
605 ... Printing surface detection sensor A, 606 ... Printing surface detection sensor B,
607 ... Confidential level mark reader A, 608 ... Confidential level mark reader B,
609: Optical unit, 610: Charger, 611: Photosensitive drum,
612 ... Laser beam, 613 ... Developer, 614 ... Transfer belt,
615 ... cleaner, 616 ... fixing unit, 617 ... printing paper discharge tray,
618 ... Double-sided used paper discharge tray, 619 ... Paper transport path A,
620 ... Paper transport path B, 621 ... Paper transport path C, 622 ... Paper transport path D,
623 ... Paper transport path E, 624 ... Paper transport path F, 625 ... Paper transport path G,
626 ... paper transport path H, 627 ... paper transport path I,
628 ... switchback mechanism A,
629 ... Switchback mechanism B, 630 ... Switchback mechanism C,
631 ... Transport path branching mechanism A, 632 ... Transport path branching mechanism B,
633 ... transport path branching mechanism C, 701 ... system bus, 702 ... CPU,
703... ROM, 704... RAM, 705.
706 ... disk control unit, 707 ... disk device,
708: Printer interface control unit

Claims (8)

New paper feeding unit in which unprinted paper is set, used paper feeding unit in which used printing paper is set, and printed matter of each used printing paper sent from the used paper feeding unit An attribute detection unit that detects an attribute, and receives and prints print data and security level information indicating a degree of confidentiality of the print data from a higher- level device;
A plurality of registered sheet storage units for sequentially storing used printing sheets whose printed matter attributes have been detected by the attribute detection unit;
Printing that stores the printed matter attribute for each used printing sheet detected by the attribute detection unit as a sheet registration table in association with the stacking order of the used printing sheets stacked in the plurality of registered sheet storage units. A paper secret level storage means;
Security level information for referring to the paper registration table to check whether a used print paper having a print attribute that matches the security level information of the print data exists in any of the plurality of registered paper storage units. Processing means,
If the confidential level information processing unit confirms that a used print sheet suitable for the confidential level information of the print data exists in any one of the plurality of registered sheet storage units, the suitable used print sheet Printing paper selection information indicating the paper is notified to the printing paper selection means for selecting the printing paper to be fed according to the printing paper selection information;
The printing paper selecting means, when another used printing paper is stacked on the selected used printing paper in the registered paper storage unit, The selected used printing paper is fed to the printing unit, and the stacking order of the used printing paper in each registered paper storage unit in the paper registration table is moved to the registered paper storage unit. Update the data,
A printing apparatus that feeds paper from the new paper feeding unit to the printing unit when selected used printing paper that conforms to the security level information of the print data does not exist in the registered paper storage unit . The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the security level information processing unit includes a table indicating a sequence of a plurality of security levels determined in advance . The security level information processing means selects a print paper having the highest security level among used print papers corresponding to the security level of the print data in the paper registration table based on the table indicating the order of the security levels. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the printing apparatus is selected . The secret level information processing means, when there are a plurality of used print sheets having the highest secret level, selects the used print sheet having the shortest time to be selected. Item 4. The printing apparatus according to Item 3. When the security level information processing unit receives a print job for printing a plurality of pages from the host device, the security level information processing unit searches the printing paper security level storage unit and uses the used printing paper in the plurality of registered paper storage units. Select used print paper with the highest possible security level that matches the security level for the number of pages in the print job,
Printing paper selection information indicating the order in which the time until selecting a used printing paper suitable for the paper with the highest possible security level is selected is selected as the printing paper to be fed based on the printing paper selection information. The selection means is notified. 1 The printing apparatus as described. The security level information processing unit deletes the selected printed matter attribute of the used used printing paper from the printing paper security level storage unit, and the use that occurs when the used printing paper is selected by the printing paper selection unit. The printing paper confidential based on the movement of the used printing paper The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data in the level storage unit is updated. The printing unit prints print data on the print paper selected and fed by the paper selection means, and further prints a security level mark printing means for printing a security level mark indicating a security level of the print data. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a printing apparatus. New paper feeding unit in which unprinted paper is set, used paper feeding unit in which used printing paper is set, and printed matter of each used printing paper sent from the used paper feeding unit A print control method for a printing apparatus that includes attribute detection means for detecting an attribute, and receives and prints print data and security level information indicating a degree of confidentiality of the print data from a higher-level apparatus;
Sequentially storing used printing paper whose printed matter attributes have been detected by the attribute detecting unit;
Storing a printed matter attribute for each used printing sheet detected by the attribute detecting unit as a sheet registration table in association with the stacking order of the used printing sheets stacked in the plurality of registered sheet storage units. When,
Referring to the paper registration table to check whether a used print paper having a print attribute that matches the security level information of the print data exists in any of the plurality of registered paper storage units;
When it is confirmed that a used print sheet that conforms to the confidential level information of the print data exists in any of the plurality of registered sheet storage units, a step of selecting the adapted used print sheet;
When another used printing paper is stacked on the selected used printing paper in the registered paper storage unit, the stacked used printing paper is transferred to another registered paper storage unit. And moving the selected used printing paper to the printing unit and updating the stacking order data of the used printing paper in each registered paper storage unit in the paper registration table;
When the selected used printing paper that conforms to the confidential level information of the print data does not exist in the registered paper storage unit, feeding from the new paper feeding unit to the printing unit;
A printing control method for a printing apparatus, comprising:

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