JP4457565B2 - Printer apparatus and control method thereof - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer apparatus that performs printing using a dedicated paper having a tag in which predetermined information is recorded for information leakage prevention, confidentiality preservation, document management, and the like, and more particularly to a plain paper. The present invention relates to a printer apparatus and a control method therefor that can surely prevent inadvertent document disclosure and confidential leakage due to erroneous printing of document content on dedicated paper with a broken tag.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Recently, a printer apparatus has been proposed in which printing is performed using a dedicated paper with a tag on which predetermined information is recorded in order to prevent information leakage, confidentiality, document management, and the like.
[0003]
Here, as the tag,
1) IC chip tag using an IC chip that operates by obtaining a power source by receiving an electromagnetic field applied from the outside with an antenna
2) As shown in Patent Document 1 or Patent Document 2, a magnetostrictive vibration tag using natural vibration due to a magnetostrictive vibration effect generated in a magnetostrictive vibration piece by a magnetic field applied from the outside.
3) A large Barkhausen effect tag using an intrinsic pulse generated by magnetization reversal of a magnetic piece by a large Barkhausen effect by an alternating magnetic field given from the outside as shown in Patent Document 3 or Patent Document 4
Etc. are known.
[0004]
When a document that requires confidentiality is printed using the dedicated paper with the tag attached, the contents of the printed document are read from the tag attached to the printed special paper. The confidentiality of the print document is managed by referring to the storage management information of the server and the like, and inadvertent copying of the print document is prevented by storing and managing the tag information in association with the server. be able to.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-143618
[Patent Document 2]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-208004
[Patent Document 3]
JP-A-6-84029
[Patent Document 2]
JP-A-6-243302
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, when printing documents etc. that require confidentiality using the dedicated paper with the above tag,
1) For example, when plain paper to which a tag is not added intentionally or accidentally is stored at the top of the paper feed tray that is fed first from the paper feed tray
2) When a special paper with a tag is stored at the top of the paper feed tray, but the tag cannot be confirmed due to a broken tag.
3) When tag information cannot be read from the tag due to some trouble
May cause a document that requires confidentiality to be printed on plain paper or special paper with a broken tag, leading to inadvertent document disclosure and confidential leakage of documents that require confidentiality. There was a problem that document management was not possible.
[0006]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention provides a printer apparatus capable of reliably preventing inadvertent document disclosure and confidential leakage due to accidental printing of document content on plain paper or special paper with a broken tag. An object is to provide a control method.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 In a printer device that prints predetermined information on a paper in a printing section, Stacked on a paper feed tray for feeding paper to the printing unit Given to the paper Tag information from the tag A tag detection sensor for detecting Tag information reading means provided in a paper transport path for transporting paper from the paper feed tray to the printing unit and reading tag information from the tag; The tag is detected by the tag detection sensor. information Is not detected, the printing section prohibits printing of the information on the paper. If the same tag information as the tag information read by the tag information reading means exists in the tag information detected by the tag detection sensor, the printing unit prints the information on the paper. Permitted control means It is characterized by comprising.
[0008]
The invention of claim 2 is the invention of claim 1, wherein Tag detection sensor Tag information of a tag attached to a paper fed first among papers stacked on a paper feed tray that supplies paper to the printing unit is selectively detected. .
[0009]
Also, According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the information processing apparatus further comprises tag information management means for storing and managing the information printed on the paper by the printing unit and the tag information read by the tag information reading means. It is characterized by .
[0010]
Also, According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, when printing of the information on the paper in the printing unit is prohibited, the information processing apparatus further comprises a notification means for notifying a user that the printing is prohibited. Characterized by .
[0011]
Also, According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect of the invention, the notifying unit prints the message that the printing of the information on the paper is prohibited on the paper by the printing unit and outputs the message. Is characterized by .
[0012]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the control method of a printer device for printing predetermined information on a sheet by a printing unit, a tag attached to the sheet stacked on a sheet feed tray for supplying the sheet to the printing unit The tag information is detected by a tag detection sensor, the tag information is read from the tag by a tag information reading unit on a paper conveyance path for conveying the paper from the paper feed tray to the printing unit, and the tag information is detected by the tag detection sensor. Is not detected, the printing unit prohibits printing of the information on the paper, and the same tag information as the tag information read by the tag information reading means in the tag information detected by the tag detection sensor When the information exists, the printing unit is allowed to print the information on the paper. .
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of a printer apparatus and a control method thereof according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0017]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a printer apparatus according to the present invention.
[0018]
In FIG. 1, the printer apparatus sequentially feeds sheets 100 accumulated in a sheet feed tray 10 from the uppermost sheet to a printing unit 20 by a sheet feeding roller 11. The desired document content is printed on the fed paper 100 and discharged to the paper discharge tray 30. The transport rollers 12a and 12b are used to feed the paper 100 fed from the paper feed tray 10 by the paper feed roller 11. Those that perform an operation of conveying to the printing unit 20 through the conveyance path, and paper discharge rollers 13a and 13b that perform an operation of discharging the paper 100 on which the desired document content is printed to the paper discharge tray 30 by the printing unit 20. It is.
[0019]
By the way, in the printer device of this embodiment, in order to prevent inadvertent document disclosure and confidential leakage of documents printed by this printer device, the paper 100 accommodated in the paper feed tray 10 is preliminarily specified. When the desired document content is printed in the printing unit 20, the tag information of the tag attached to the dedicated paper is used. The document is stored and managed in accordance with the document content, and the document content and the tag information are used to prevent inadvertent document disclosure of the document and to prevent confidential leakage due to inadvertent copying or the like.
[0020]
That is, a document printed normally by the printing unit 20 can be guaranteed that the document is a legitimate confidential document from the correspondence between the document content and the tag information, and the document can be copied to another sheet. The tag information reading means provided in the copier (copier) or image scanner reads the tag information and recognizes that the document with the tag information is a confidential document. It is possible to prevent leakage of secrets due to the like.
[0021]
After the tag information has been read, the copier or scanner accesses the database via the Internet, and there is a verification process to confirm that this document is registered as a confidential document, but the tag is attached. If this means confidential document designation, it is only necessary to detect the presence of the tag and stop the operation of the copier or the scanner. In this case, access to the database is unnecessary. That is, by recording the correspondence between the document content and the tag information, it is possible to obtain an unauthorized event history indicating what kind of information has been illegally taken out or illegally copied.
[0022]
In the printer apparatus of this embodiment, in order to prevent inadvertent document disclosure and confidential leakage of documents using the tag information, the paper stored in the paper feed tray 10 is stored in the paper feed tray 10. A sensor A is provided for detecting whether or not 100 is a dedicated paper with a tag attached, and a sheet conveyed from the sheet feed tray 10 to the printing unit 20 on a sheet conveyance path from the sheet feed tray 10 to the printing unit 20. A tag information reader B that reads tag information from 100 tags is provided.
[0023]
Here, the sensor A may be configured to selectively detect whether the uppermost sheet of the sheets 100 accumulated in the sheet feed tray 10 is a dedicated sheet with a tag attached thereto, If at least one of the sheets 100 stored in the sheet feeding tray 10 has a dedicated sheet with a tag, it may be detected that the dedicated sheet exists.
[0024]
Note that the sensor A does not necessarily have to read the tag information. For example, when the tag information is predetermined information, it is not necessary to read the tag information bothering if only the presence of the tag is detected. In addition, when a magnetic material (tag) is provided on the paper so as not to pass through the gate that detects the magnetic material, it is only necessary that the magnetic material be provided on the paper, and there is no need to express information as tag information. Absent.
[0025]
In addition, the tag that can be employed in the printer device of this embodiment includes, for example, a tag directly attached to the paper 100 or a tag inserted into the paper 100.
[0026]
As a type of the tag, an IC chip 101 that operates by obtaining power by receiving an electromagnetic field given from the outside by the antenna 102 as shown in FIG. An IC chip tag constituted by punching, and a magnetostrictive vibrating piece that generates natural vibrations due to a magnetostrictive vibration effect caused by a magnetic field applied from the outside as shown in FIG. A magnetostrictive vibration tag constituted by: a magnetic piece 104 that generates an intrinsic pulse due to magnetization reversal by a large Barkhausen effect by an alternating magnetic field applied from the outside as shown in FIG. A large Barkhausen effect tag or the like constituted by the above can be used. Here, the magnetic piece 104 can be formed using an amorphous magnetic wire.
[0027]
In addition, as the tag, a sheet with a predetermined magnetic mark on the paper 100, a tag with an optical mark that can be detected only with light of a specific wavelength, and the like can be used.
[0028]
Here, for example, when the paper 100 stored in the paper feed tray 10 is an IC chip tag as shown in FIG. 2A, the sensor A supplies power to the IC chip 101 with respect to the paper feed tray 10. When tag information is transmitted from any of the IC chips 101, it is detected that there is a dedicated paper with a tag attached to the paper feed tray 10.
[0029]
When the paper 100 stored in the paper feed tray 10 is a magnetostrictive vibration tag as shown in FIG. 2B, the magnetostrictive vibration piece 103 is provided by applying a predetermined magnetic field to the paper feed tray 10. The sensor A detects the presence of the dedicated paper with the tag attached to the paper feed tray 10 based on the output of the detection coil.
[0030]
When the paper 100 stored in the paper feed tray 10 is a large Barkhausen effect tag as shown in FIG. 2C, a magnetic field is generated by applying a predetermined alternating magnetic field to the paper feed tray 10. The unique pulse generated by the magnetization reversal of the piece 104 is detected by the detection coil, and the sensor A detects based on the output of the detection coil that there is a dedicated paper with a tag attached to the paper feed tray 10.
[0031]
The tag information reader B has a different configuration depending on the type of tag attached to the paper 100. For example, when the tag attached to the paper 100 is an IC chip tag, the tag information transmitted from the IC chip 102 is used. In the case of a well-known IC chip tag reader or magnetostriction vibration tag that reads the tag information, the known magnetostriction vibration tag reader that reads tag information from the natural vibration frequency generated in the magnetostriction vibration piece 103 or from the magnetic piece 104 in the case of a large Barkhausen effect tag. A well-known large Barkhausen effect tag reader that reads tag information from the pulse interval of the generated unique pulse can be used.
[0032]
Based on the output of the sensor A and the output of the tag information reader B, the control unit 40 is fed from the paper feed tray 10 to print the document content requested from the print instruction terminal 90 to the control unit 40 via the network 80. The print unit 20 is instructed whether to print on the paper 100.
[0033]
That is, in the printer apparatus according to this embodiment, when it is detected that there is a dedicated paper to which a tag is attached by the sensor A and the tag information is normally read from the paper 100 by the tag information reader B, the print instruction terminal The printing unit 20 permits printing of the document content requested from 90 on the paper 100.
[0034]
Then, the tag information read from the paper 100 by the tag information reader B is stored in the server 50 corresponding to the permitted document content.
[0035]
However, if it is not detected by the sensor A that the dedicated paper to which the tag is attached exists, or if the tag information cannot be normally read from the paper 100 by the tag information reader B due to some trouble, the control unit 40 Under the control, the printing unit 20 prohibits printing of the document content sheet 100 requested from the print instruction terminal 90.
[0036]
That is, when it is not detected by the sensor A that the dedicated paper with the tag is present, the plain paper is stored in the uppermost stage of the paper feed tray 10 or there is the dedicated paper with the tag attached. However, the control unit 40 determines that the tag information cannot be obtained from the tag because the tag is broken, and the control unit 40 prints the document content for the paper 100 requested from the print instruction terminal 90. 20 prohibits printing.
[0037]
Also, depending on the sensor A, it is detected that there is a dedicated paper with a tag attached to the paper feed tray 10, but the tag information cannot be normally read from the paper 100 by the tag information reader B due to some trouble. Similarly, the control unit 40 prohibits the printing unit 20 from printing the document content requested by the print instruction terminal 90 on the paper 100.
[0038]
In this case, the control unit 40 displays the reason for prohibition of printing on the display 60 to notify the user of the reason for prohibition of printing, and controls the sound generator 70 to determine the reason for prohibition of printing. By displaying on the display 60, the user is notified of the reason for prohibition of printing by voice.
[0039]
According to such a configuration, when the plain paper without the tag attached is mistakenly stored in the paper feed tray 10, or the dedicated paper with the tag attached is received, but the tag is broken, etc. If the tag information cannot be read from the tag for this reason, or if the tag information cannot be normally read from the paper 100 by the tag information reader B due to some trouble, the document content requested from the print instruction terminal 90 Since printing by the printing unit 20 on the paper 100 is prohibited, inadvertent document disclosure and confidential leakage can be surely prevented.
[0040]
Here, when the dedicated paper to which the tag is attached to the paper feed tray 10 is not detected by the sensor A, the control unit 40 discharges the paper fed from the paper feed tray 10 as a blank paper, or performs control. The message indicating the reason for prohibition of printing is sent from the unit 40 to the printing unit 20, and the printing unit 40 prints the message indicating the reason for prohibition of printing on the paper 100 fed from the paper feed tray, and then the discharge tray. It can control to discharge to 30.
[0041]
Similarly, the control unit 40 detects that there is a dedicated paper with a tag attached to the paper feed tray 10 depending on the sensor A. However, the tag information reader B normally reads the tag information from the paper 100 due to some trouble. Even if it cannot be performed, the paper fed from the paper feed tray 10 is discharged as white paper, or a message indicating the reason for prohibiting printing is sent from the control unit 40 to the printing unit 20. The message indicating the reason for prohibition of printing can be controlled to be printed on the paper 100 fed from the paper feed tray and discharged to the paper discharge tray 30.
[0042]
With this configuration, the user of the printer apparatus can know the reason for prohibition of printing by looking at a message printed on the paper discharged to the paper discharge tray, and work efficiency can be improved.
[0043]
If the printing unit 20 prohibits the printing unit 20 from printing the document content sheet 100 requested by the printing instruction terminal 90, the control unit 40 sends an e-mail to the printing instruction terminal 90 via the network 80. Can be configured to send in.
[0044]
With this configuration, the user of the print instruction terminal 90 can know the reason for prohibiting printing without visiting the printer device, thereby further improving work efficiency.
[0045]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the printer apparatus shown in FIG.
[0046]
In the flowchart shown in FIG. 3, when the tag A is detected by the sensor A to detect the presence of the dedicated paper and the tag information is normally read from the paper 100 by the tag information reader B, the print instruction terminal 90 requests it. The printing unit 20 permits printing of the document content on the paper 100, but if the sensor A does not detect that there is a dedicated paper with a tag attached, or if there is some trouble, the tag information reader B normally removes the paper 100 from the paper 100. If the tag information cannot be read, the control of the control unit 40 prohibits the printing unit 20 from printing the document content requested by the print instruction terminal 90 in the printing unit 20, and displays the print prohibition on the display 60 and the audio. The generation device 70 is used to notify the user, and this To print a message indicating the reason for the cement banned from the paper feed tray on the fed sheet 100 shows a process of discharging the paper discharge tray 30.
[0047]
That is, the control unit 40 first checks whether there is a document content print instruction from the print instruction terminal 90 (step 201). Here, the print instruction from the print instruction terminal 90 includes event information including information on the print instructor xxx, the print instruction date and time ttt, and the print target document name yyyy.
[0048]
If it is determined that there is no print instruction from the print instruction terminal 90 (NO in step 201), the process returns to step 201 and waits for a print instruction from the print instruction terminal 90.
[0049]
If it is determined in step 201 that there is a print instruction from the print instruction terminal 90 (YES in step 201), the control unit 40 includes event information included in the print instruction, that is, a set of data {xxxx, ttt , Yyyy} are stored in the memory, and at the same time, the document content data to be printed is stored in the memory.
[0050]
Next, the tag of the paper 100 stored in the paper feed tray 10 is detected by the sensor A (step 202). Then, based on the detection output of the sensor A, it is determined whether there is a tag in the paper feed tray 10, that is, whether there is a dedicated paper to which the tag is attached (step 203). If it is determined that there is a tag in the paper feed tray 10 (YES in step 203), then tag information is read from the tag of the paper 100 conveyed from the paper feed tray 10 by the tag information reader B (step). 204).
[0051]
Then, it is determined whether the tag information is normally read from the paper 100 by the tag information reader B (step 205). If it is determined that the tag information has been normally read from the paper 100 (YES in step 205), the document data to be printed is sent to the printing unit 20, and the document data for the conveyed paper 100 is handled. The document content to be printed is instructed (step 206).
[0052]
At the same time, the tag information read by the tag information reader B and the document content instructed to be printed are associated with each other and stored in the server 50 (step 207).
[0053]
Then, when the printing of the document content in the printer unit 20 is completed, an instruction to discharge the printed paper from the printer unit 20 to the paper discharge tray 30 is given (step 208), and this process is ended.
[0054]
If it is determined in step 203 that no tag exists in the paper feed tray 10, that is, there is no dedicated paper to which a tag is attached (NO in step 203), or tag information is read from the paper 100 in step 205. If it is determined that the document cannot be read normally (NO in step 205), printing is prohibited by stopping sending the data of the document content to the printing unit 20, and instead, the reason for the prohibition A message as shown in FIG. 4A or FIG. 4B formed by applying the above-mentioned data set {xxxx, ttttt, yyyy} to a desired position of the fixed phrase indicating is sent to the printing unit 20, and this message, that is, An instruction to print the print prohibition reason information is given (step 209).
[0055]
At the same time, the print prohibition is notified using the display 60 or the sound generator 70 (step 210).
[0056]
Thereafter, when the printing of the print prohibition reason information in the printer unit 20 is finished, an instruction to discharge the printed paper from the printer unit 20 to the paper discharge tray 30 is given (step 208), and this process is ended.
[0057]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing another example of the operation of the printer apparatus shown in FIG.
[0058]
In the flowchart shown in FIG. 5, in the flowchart shown in FIG. 3, when it is not detected that there is a dedicated paper to which a tag is attached by the sensor A, or because of some trouble, the tag information reader B normally removes the paper 100 from the paper 100. When the tag information cannot be read, the control unit 40 controls the print prohibition reason to be transmitted to the print instructor by e-mail. Other processing is the same as the processing of the flowchart shown in FIG.
[0059]
That is, in FIG. 5, if it is determined in step 203 that no tag is present in the paper feed tray 10, that is, there is no dedicated paper to which a tag is attached (NO in step 203), or paper in step 205. If it is determined that the tag information cannot be normally read from 100 (NO in step 205), printing is prohibited by stopping sending the data of the document content to the printing unit 20, instead. Then, a message as shown in FIG. 4 (a) or (b) formed by applying the information {xxxx, ttttt, yyyy} to the desired position of the fixed phrase indicating the reason for the prohibition is sent to the printing unit 20. This message, i.e., printing of print prohibition reason information is instructed (step 209).
[0060]
Then, the control unit 40 transmits the print prohibition reason information to the print instructor by e-mail (step 301). Other processing is the same as the processing of the flowchart shown in FIG.
[0061]
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the printer apparatus according to the present invention.
[0062]
In FIG. 6, parts having the same functions as those of the printer apparatus shown in FIG.
[0063]
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the paper feed tray 10 is provided with a tag information reader C that selectively reads tag information from the uppermost paper 100 accumulated in the paper feed tray 10, and the paper feed tray 10. A tag information reader B that reads tag information from a tag of the paper 100 conveyed from the paper feed tray 10 to the printing unit 20 is provided on a paper conveyance path from 10 to the printing unit 20.
[0064]
In the printer device of this embodiment, the tag information read from the uppermost sheet 100 of the paper feed tray 10 by the tag information reader C and the tag information read from the sheet 100 by the tag information reader B are compared, If the two match, the printing unit 20 is allowed to print the document content requested by the print instruction terminal 90 on the paper 100.
[0065]
Tag information read from the paper 100 by the tag information reader B is stored in the server 50 in correspondence with the permitted document content.
[0066]
However, if the tag information cannot be read normally from the uppermost sheet 100 of the paper feed tray 10 by the tag information reader C, or the tag information cannot be normally read from the sheet 100 by the tag information reader B. If the tag information read by the tag information reader C does not match the tag information read by the tag information reader B, the document content sheet 100 requested from the print instruction terminal 90 is controlled by the control unit 40. Printing in the printing unit 20 is prohibited.
[0067]
According to such a configuration, when the plain paper without the tag attached is mistakenly stored in the paper feed tray 10, or the dedicated paper with the tag attached is received, but the tag is broken, etc. For this reason, when tag information cannot be read from this tag, or when tag information reader B cannot read tag information from paper 100 due to some trouble, or tag information readers C and B are normal. However, if a reading error occurs in either of the tag information readers C and B and the two do not match, the printing unit 20 for the document content sheet 100 requested from the print instruction terminal 90 is detected. Thus, inadvertent document disclosure and confidential leakage can be surely prevented.
[0068]
Here, if printing by the printing unit 20 on the paper 100 of the document content instructed from the print instruction terminal 90 is prohibited, the control unit 40 should discharge the paper fed from the paper feed tray 10 as blank paper. Alternatively, a message indicating the reason for prohibiting printing is sent from the control unit 40 to the printing unit 20, and the printing unit 40 prints the message indicating the reason for prohibiting printing on the paper 100 fed from the paper feed tray. The paper can be controlled to be discharged to the paper discharge tray 30.
[0069]
With this configuration, the user of the printer apparatus can know the reason for prohibition of printing by looking at a message printed on the paper discharged to the paper discharge tray, and work efficiency can be improved.
[0070]
If the printing unit 20 prohibits the printing unit 20 from printing the document content sheet 100 requested by the printing instruction terminal 90, the control unit 40 sends an e-mail to the printing instruction terminal 90 via the network 80. Can be configured to send in.
[0071]
With this configuration, the user of the print instruction terminal 90 can know the reason for prohibiting printing without visiting the printer device, thereby further improving work efficiency.
[0072]
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the printer apparatus shown in FIG.
[0073]
In FIG. 7, the control unit 40 first checks whether there is a document content print instruction from the print instruction terminal 90 (step 401). If it is determined that there is no print instruction from the print instruction terminal 90 (NO in step 401), the process returns to step 401 and waits for a print instruction from the print instruction terminal 90.
[0074]
If it is determined in step 401 that there is a print instruction from the print instruction terminal 90 (YES in step 401), the control unit 40 sets the data set {xxxx, ttt, yyyy} included in the print instruction and prints. Data of the target document content is stored in the memory.
[0075]
Next, tag information is selectively read from the uppermost paper 100 of the paper feed tray 10 by the tag information reader C (step 402). Based on the read output of the tag information reader C, it is determined whether the tag information has been read normally from the uppermost paper 100 of the paper feed tray 10 (step 403). If it is determined that the tag information is normally read from the uppermost sheet 100 of the sheet feeding tray 10 (YES in step 403), the sheet 100 conveyed from the sheet feeding tray 10 by the tag information reader B is next. The tag information is read from the tag (step 404).
[0076]
Then, it is determined whether the tag information is normally read from the paper 100 by the tag information reader B (step 505). If it is determined that the tag information is normally read from the paper 100 (YES in step 505), then the tag information read by the tag information reader B matches the tag information read by the tag information reader C. It is determined whether or not to perform (step 406).
[0077]
If it is determined that the tag information read by the tag information reader B matches the tag information read by the tag information reader C (YES in step 406), the document data to be printed is sent to the printing unit 20, An instruction is issued to print the document content corresponding to the document data on the conveyed paper 100 (step 407).
[0078]
At the same time, the tag information read by the tag information reader B and the document content instructed to be printed are associated with each other and stored in the server 50 (step 408).
[0079]
When the printing of the document content in the printer unit 20 is completed, an instruction to discharge the printed paper from the printer unit 20 to the paper discharge tray 30 is given (step 409), and this process is ended.
[0080]
If it is determined in step 403 that the tag information has not been correctly read from the uppermost sheet 100 of the paper feed tray 10 (NO in step 403), or the tag information is normally read from the sheet 100 in step 405. If it is determined that the tag information read by the tag information reader B in step 406 does not match the tag information read by the tag information reader C (NO in step 406). ) Prohibits printing by stopping sending the data of the document content to the printing unit 20, and instead, the set of data {xxxx, A message as shown in FIG. 4A or FIG. 4B formed by applying tttt, yyyy}. Feeding the printing section 20, the message, i.e., instructs the printing of the print prohibition reason information (step 410).
[0081]
At the same time, the control unit 40 transmits the print prohibition reason information to the print instructor by e-mail (step 411).
[0082]
Thereafter, when the printing of the print prohibition reason information in the printer unit 20 is finished, an instruction to discharge the printed paper from the printer unit 20 to the paper discharge tray 30 is given (step 409), and this processing is ended.
[0083]
In addition, you may comprise so that this print prohibition may be notified using the display 60 or the audio | voice generator 70 here.
[0084]
FIGS. 8 and 9 show the uppermost sheet 100 of the paper feed tray 10 when a magnetostrictive vibration tag using the magnetostrictive vibration piece 103 as shown in FIG. 1 shows an example of a method for selectively reading tag information from a tag.
[0085]
When a magnetostrictive vibration tag using the magnetostrictive vibrating piece 103 is used as a tag to be applied to the paper 100, a predetermined magnetic field is applied to the magnetostrictive vibrating piece 103 by an exciting coil, and thereby the frequency of the natural vibration generated in the magnetostrictive vibrating piece 103 is set. By detecting with the detection coil, predetermined tag information is read from the frequency of natural vibration generated in the magnetostrictive vibrating piece 103.
[0086]
In the configuration shown in FIG. 8, a predetermined magnetic field is simultaneously applied to a plurality of sheets 100 accommodated in the sheet feed tray 10 by an excitation coil 801 provided at one end of the sheet feed tray 10.
[0087]
As a result, natural vibrations are generated in the magnetostrictive vibrating pieces 103 of the tags attached to the plurality of sheets 100, respectively. This natural vibration is detected by a detection coil 802 provided at one end of the paper feed tray 10.
[0088]
FIG. 9A is a waveform diagram showing an example of the output of the detection coil 802 when a predetermined magnetic field is simultaneously applied to the plurality of sheets 100 accommodated in the sheet feed tray 10 by the excitation coil 801. .
[0089]
In FIG. 9A, natural vibrations with frequencies f1, f2, f3, f4,... Fn are generated in the magnetostrictive vibrating piece 103 of the tag attached to the plurality of sheets 100 accommodated in the sheet feeding tray 10. Shows the case. That is, frequencies f1, f2, f3, f4,... Fn give tag information of tags attached to the plurality of sheets 100 accommodated in the sheet feed tray 10.
[0090]
Here, in the configuration shown in FIG. 8, in order to selectively read the tag information from the uppermost sheet 100 of the sheet feeding tray 10, the uppermost sheet 100 of the sheet feeding tray 10 is selectively contacted. A finger 804 is provided.
[0091]
That is, as shown in FIG. 9A, the frequencies f1, f2, f3, f4,... Fn are the detection coil 802 as the tag information of the tags attached to the plurality of sheets 100 accommodated in the sheet feeding tray 10. When the finger 804 is selectively brought into contact with the uppermost sheet 100 of the paper feed tray 10 in the state detected by the above, the finger 804 causes the uniqueness occurring in the uppermost sheet 100 of the paper feed tray 10. The vibration is selectively suppressed, and the frequency of the natural vibration is shifted to the low frequency side as shown in FIG. In the waveform diagram shown in FIG. 9B, the natural vibration frequency f3 is shifted to the low frequency side.
[0092]
Therefore, the shifted frequency f3 is read as tag information of tags attached to the plurality of sheets 100 accommodated in the sheet feeding tray 10.
[0093]
In the above configuration, the magnetostrictive vibrating piece 103 that generates vibrations of different frequencies is assigned to one sheet of paper, but a plurality of magnetostrictive vibrations that generate vibrations of a plurality of frequencies to one sheet of paper. You may comprise so that the piece 103 may be allocated.
[0094]
Further, when a magnetostrictive vibration tag using the magnetostrictive vibration piece 103 is used, in order to selectively read tag information from the uppermost paper 100 of the paper feed tray 10, a finger 804 as shown in FIG. 10A, a contact 506 made of a piezoelectric element that is mechanically vibrated by a predetermined current source 805 is provided on the uppermost sheet 100 of the sheet feeding tray 10, as shown in FIG. A configuration that makes selective contact, a configuration that uses a sound source 807 that selectively vibrates the uppermost paper 100 of the paper feed tray 10 as shown in FIG.
[0095]
Also in this case, the natural vibration frequency generated in the uppermost sheet 100 of the paper feed tray 10 is selectively shifted to the low frequency side or the high frequency side, and a plurality of sheets accommodated in the paper feed tray 10 are shifted from this shifted frequency. It is possible to selectively read tag information of a tag attached to the paper 100.
[0096]
FIG. 11 shows a case where a large Barkhausen effect tag using a magnetic piece 104 as shown in FIG. 2C is used as a tag to be given to the paper 100, and is selected from the uppermost paper 100 of the paper feed tray 10. An example of a method for reading tag information is shown.
[0097]
In the configuration shown in FIG. 11A, in order to selectively read tag information from the large Barkhausen effect tag applied to the uppermost sheet 100 of the sheet feed tray 10, the uppermost section of the sheet feed tray 10 is used. An excitation coil 901 and a detection coil 902 that selectively apply an alternating magnetic field to the paper 100 are provided, and the magnetic piece 104 has a large Barkhausen effect when the magnetic piece 104 of the paper 100 passes the position where the excitation coil 901 is disposed. By detecting the unique pulse generated by the magnetization reversal by the detection coil 902, the tag information is selectively read from the uppermost paper 100 of the paper feed tray 10.
[0098]
In order to apply an alternating magnetic field to the magnetic piece 104, in addition to the configuration using the exciting coil 901 shown in FIG. 11A, an N pole as shown in FIGS. 11B and 11C, A roller 903 in which S poles are alternately embedded may be used. In this case, the individual roller 903 is provided in place of the paper feed roller 11 shown in FIG.
[0099]
Even with such a configuration, an alternating magnetic field can be applied to the magnetic piece 104 constituting the large Barkhausen effect tag applied to the uppermost paper 100 of the paper feed tray 10. By detecting the unique pulse generated by the magnetization reversal due to the large Barkhausen effect in the magnetic piece 104 when passing through the position where the roller 903 is disposed, the detection coil 902 detects the specific pulse from the uppermost sheet 100 of the sheet feed tray 10. The tag information can be read.
[0100]
Note that an IC chip tag using an IC chip 101 that operates by obtaining power by receiving an electromagnetic field applied from the outside with the antenna 102 as shown in FIG. In this case, an electromagnetic field is selectively applied to the antenna 102 of the IC chip tag attached to the uppermost paper 100 of the paper feed tray 10 so as to be selectively selected from the uppermost paper 100 of the paper feed tray 10. Tag information can be read.
[0101]
Further, in the case of using the magnetostrictive vibration tag using the magnetostrictive vibration piece 103 as shown in FIG. 2B, the sensor A shown in FIG. 1 has the finger 804 in the configuration shown in FIGS. A configuration in which no special paper with a tag is present in the paper feed tray 10 can be detected when the detection coil 802 detects even one natural vibration of the magnetostrictive vibration piece 103 with the detection coil 802.
[0102]
FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing still another embodiment of the printer apparatus according to the present invention.
[0103]
In FIG. 12, the same reference numerals as those used in FIG. 1 are assigned to the portions that perform the same functions as those of the printer apparatus shown in FIG.
[0104]
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 12, the paper feed tray 10 is provided with a tag information reader D that reads a plurality of tag information from all of the paper sheets 100 accumulated in the paper feed tray 10, and from the paper feed tray 10. A tag information reader B that reads tag information from a tag of the paper 100 conveyed from the paper feed tray 10 to the printing unit 20 is provided on the paper conveyance path to the printing unit 20.
[0105]
In the printer device according to this embodiment, the tag information reader B compares the tag information read from the paper 100 of the paper feed tray 10 by the tag information reader D with the tag information read by the tag information reader B. If the tag information read by the tag information reader D is present in the plurality of tag information read by the tag information reader D, the printing unit 20 is allowed to print on the paper 100 of the document content requested from the print instruction terminal 90. .
[0106]
Tag information read from the paper 100 by the tag information reader B is stored in the server 50 in correspondence with the permitted document content.
[0107]
However, when the tag information cannot be normally read from the paper 100 of the paper feed tray 10 by the tag information reader D, or when the tag information cannot be normally read from the paper 100 by the tag information reader B, or When the tag information read by the tag information reader B does not exist in the plurality of tag information read by the tag information reader D, the document content sheet 100 requested from the print instruction terminal 90 is controlled by the control unit 40. Printing in the printing unit 20 is prohibited.
[0108]
According to such a configuration, when a plain paper without a tag is mistakenly stored in the paper feed tray 10, or a dedicated paper with a tag is stored, the tag is broken, etc. For this reason, tag information cannot be read from the tag, or tag information reader B cannot read tag information from paper 100 due to some trouble, or tag information readers D and B are normal. If the tag information read by the tag information reader B does not exist in the plurality of tag information read by the tag information reader D, the document content requested by the print instruction terminal 90 is read. Printing on the paper 100 in the printing unit 20 is prohibited, thereby ensuring inadvertent document disclosure and security leakage. It is possible to prevent the.
[0109]
Here, if printing by the printing unit 20 on the paper 100 of the document content instructed from the print instruction terminal 90 is prohibited, the control unit 40 should discharge the paper fed from the paper feed tray 10 as blank paper. Alternatively, a message indicating the reason for prohibiting printing is sent from the control unit 40 to the printing unit 20, and the printing unit 40 prints the message indicating the reason for prohibiting printing on the paper 100 fed from the paper feed tray. The paper can be controlled to be discharged to the paper discharge tray 30.
[0110]
With this configuration, the user of the printer apparatus can know the reason for prohibition of printing by looking at a message printed on the paper discharged to the paper discharge tray, and work efficiency can be improved.
[0111]
If the printing unit 20 prohibits the printing unit 20 from printing the document content sheet 100 requested by the printing instruction terminal 90, the control unit 40 sends an e-mail to the printing instruction terminal 90 via the network 80. Can be configured to send in.
[0112]
With this configuration, the user of the print instruction terminal 90 can know the reason for prohibiting printing without visiting the printer device, thereby further improving work efficiency.
[0113]
FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the printer apparatus shown in FIG.
[0114]
In FIG. 12, the control unit 40 first checks whether there is a document content print instruction from the print instruction terminal 90 (step 501). If it is determined that there is no print instruction from the print instruction terminal 90 (NO in step 501), the process returns to step 501 and waits for a print instruction from the print instruction terminal 90.
[0115]
If it is determined in step 501 that there is a print instruction from the print instruction terminal 90 (YES in step 501), the control unit 40 sets the data set {xxxx, ttttt, yyyy} included in the print instruction and prints. Data of the target document content is stored in the memory.
[0116]
Next, tag information is read from all sheets 100 stored in the sheet feed tray 10 by the tag information reader D (step 502). As the tag information reader D that reads tag information from all the sheets 100 accommodated in the paper feed tray 10, for example, a magnetostrictive vibration tag using a magnetostrictive vibration piece 103 as shown in FIG. In this case, a configuration in which the finger 804 is not provided in the configurations shown in FIGS.
[0117]
Next, based on the read output of the tag information reader D, it is determined whether the tag information has been read normally from the paper 100 of the paper feed tray 10 (step 503). If it is determined that the tag information is normally read from the paper 100 in the paper feed tray 10 (YES in step 503), the tag information reader B then uses the tag of the paper 100 conveyed from the paper feed tray 10 to the tag 100. The tag information is read (step 504).
[0118]
Then, it is determined whether the tag information is normally read from the paper 100 by the tag information reader B (step 505). If it is determined that the tag information is normally read from the paper 100 (YES in step 505), then the tag information read by the tag information reader B matches the tag information read by the tag information reader D. In other words, it is determined whether the tag information read by the tag information reader B exists in the tag information read by the tag information reader D (step 506).
[0119]
If it is determined that the tag information read by the tag information reader B exists in the tag information read by the tag information reader D (YES in step 506), the document data to be printed is sent to the printing unit 20. An instruction is issued to print the document content corresponding to the document data on the fed and conveyed paper 100 (step 507).
[0120]
At the same time, the tag information read by the tag information reader B and the document content instructed to be printed are associated with each other and stored in the server 50 (step 508).
[0121]
When the printing of the document content in the printer unit 20 is completed, an instruction to discharge the printed paper from the printer unit 20 to the paper discharge tray 30 is given (step 509), and this process is ended.
[0122]
If it is determined in step 503 that the tag information cannot be normally read from the uppermost paper 100 of the paper feed tray 10 (NO in step 503), or the tag information is normally read from the paper 100 in step 505. If the tag information read by the tag information reader B is determined not to be present in the tag information read by the tag information reader D (step 506). NO) stops sending the data of the document content to the printing unit 20, thereby prohibiting the printing, and instead, the set of the data { xxxx, ttttt, yyyy} and formed as shown in FIG. 4 (a) or (b). Sends a di to the printing unit 20, the message, i.e., instructs the printing of the print prohibition reason information (step 510).
[0123]
At the same time, the control unit 40 transmits the print prohibition reason information to the print instructor by e-mail (step 511).
[0124]
Thereafter, when the printing of the print prohibition reason information in the printer unit 20 is finished, an instruction to discharge the printed paper from the printer unit 20 to the paper discharge tray 30 is given (step 509), and this processing is ended.
[0125]
In addition, you may comprise so that this print prohibition may be notified using the display 60 or the audio | voice generator 70 here.
[0126]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the tag attached to the paper is detected by the tag detection sensor, and when the tag is not detected by the tag detection sensor, printing of information on the paper in the printing unit is prohibited. With this configuration, it is possible to reliably prevent inadvertent document disclosure and confidential leakage due to erroneous printing of document content on plain paper or special paper with a broken tag.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a printer apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a view showing an example of a tag employed in the printer apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the printer apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a print example of print prohibition reason information in the printer apparatus according to the present invention.
5 is a flowchart showing another example of the operation of the printer apparatus shown in FIG.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of a printer apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the printer apparatus illustrated in FIG.
8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a tag information reader that selectively reads tag information from the uppermost sheet of the paper feed tray illustrated in FIG. 6;
9 is a diagram showing a read waveform and its operation by the tag information reader shown in FIG. 8. FIG.
10 is a diagram illustrating another example of a tag information reader that selectively reads tag information from the uppermost sheet of the paper feed tray illustrated in FIG. 6;
11 is a diagram illustrating still another example of a tag information reader that selectively reads tag information from the uppermost sheet of the paper feed tray illustrated in FIG. 6;
FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing still another embodiment of a printer apparatus according to the present invention.
13 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the printer apparatus shown in FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Paper tray
20 Printing department
30 Output tray
40 Control unit
50 servers
60 display
70 Sound generator
80 network
90 Printing instruction terminal
A sensor
B, C, D Tag information reader

Claims (6)

In a printer device that prints predetermined information on a paper in a printing section,
A tag detection sensor for detecting tag information from tags attached to the paper stacked on a paper feed tray for supplying paper to the printing unit ;
Tag information reading means provided in a paper transport path for transporting paper from the paper feed tray to the printing unit and reading tag information from the tag;
When the tag information is not detected by the tag detection sensor, printing of the information on the paper by the printing unit is prohibited, and the tag information reading unit reads the tag information detected by the tag detection sensor. And a control unit that permits the printing unit to print the information on the sheet when the same tag information as the tag information is present . The tag detection sensor is
2. The tag information of a tag attached to a paper fed first in the paper stacked on a paper feed tray that supplies paper to the printing unit is selectively detected. The printer device described. Tag information management means for storing and managing information printed on paper by the printing unit and tag information read by the tag information reading means in association with each other
The printer apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising: Notification means for notifying the user that printing is prohibited when printing of the information on the paper in the printing unit is prohibited
Further printer apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by comprising. The notification means includes
5. The printer apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the notification is performed by printing a message to the effect that printing of the information on the sheet is prohibited on the sheet by the printing unit and outputting the message . In a control method of a printer device that prints predetermined information on a sheet by a printing unit,
Tag information is detected by a tag detection sensor from a tag attached to the paper stacked on a paper feed tray that supplies paper to the printing unit;
Read tag information from the tag by tag information reading means on a paper transport path for transporting paper from the paper feed tray to the printing unit,
If the tag information is not detected by the tag detection sensor, printing of the information in the printing unit on the paper is prohibited,
If the tag information detected by the tag detection sensor includes the same tag information as the tag information read by the tag information reading means, the printing unit permits printing of the information on the paper.
A control method for a printer apparatus .

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