JPH06262821A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily specify the concrete origin and to prevent forgery by providing a means adding data capable of specifying at least output machinery to an output image by a transparent substance. CONSTITUTION:Before respective image signals are outputted by the signals from a selector and a control CPU, at least the data signal capable of specifying output machinery is outputted. This data signal is modulated in pulse width in the same way as the image signals to be converted to a laser ON/OFF signal which is, in turn, subjected to the exposure process due to a laser exposure system 21. At first, a photosensitive drum 22 is rotated in a predetermined direction and the start point of the formation of an image reaches the vicinity of a charger 23 and the transparent toner image corresponding to the data signal is formed in the charging process, an exposure process and a developing process. Next, an yellow toner image, a magenta toner image, a cyan toner image and a black toner image are successively overlapped each other and voltage is applied to a transfer device 26 to transfer the images to the recording medium such as paper or an OHP sheet from a paper feed cassette 28. Further, the recording medium is thermally fixed by a fixing device 29 to be discharged.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image generating apparatus, and more specifically, it adds information that can identify at least an output device based on a transparent substance on an output image, and once a counterfeit such as a bill is found, the information is added. The present invention relates to an image generation apparatus capable of preventing forgery by specifying an output device by information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the progress of color copying technology by electrophotography, recently, it has become possible to obtain a high fidelity color copy comparable to the original original in terms of color and quality.

On the other hand, if a banknote or the like is forged using such a color copy, it becomes difficult to distinguish the genuine article from the copy, and this copy may be illegally used. Therefore, in order to prevent forgery using a color copy, there is a need for a technique capable of easily identifying a forged banknote or the like by copying.

For example, JP-B-61-18234 discloses that a toner for forming a color copy contains a fluorescent dye which produces an emission spectrum in the visible light portion by the stimulation of ultraviolet rays.
There is described a method for identifying counterfeit banknotes, etc., in which, when identifying a banknote or the like, an object to be inspected is irradiated with ultraviolet rays and whether or not the object is a color copy can be identified.

[0005]

However, the method described in the above publication can identify a counterfeit bill or the like using a color copy, but since the toner forming the image contains a fluorescent dye, Even if a counterfeit bill or the like is found by this method, no information other than that it is a color copy formed from the original manuscript cannot be obtained, and it is impossible to specify the specific source. It is difficult to certify whether or not. Therefore, it can be said that the effect of preventing forgery by the above method is small.

[0006] Further, there is known a technique capable of identifying a yellow dot on the output image that is inconspicuous to the human eye to identify an output machine, but it is said that the yellow dot is inconspicuous to the human eye. However, it is not completely invisible, but it has the drawback of affecting the output image.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and an object thereof is to add information for preventing fraudulent acts on an output image by an inconspicuous transparent substance that is hard to be seen by human eyes. An object of the present invention is to provide an image generation device that performs

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the image generating apparatus of the present invention is provided with a means for adding information capable of specifying at least an output device on an output image by a transparent substance. To do.

Further, the image generating apparatus of the present invention is characterized in that the output of the image is stopped by detecting the detachment of the information adding means by the transparent substance.

Further, the image generating apparatus of the present invention is characterized in that the reattachment of the information adding means made of the transparent substance, which is once removed, requires the collating means.

Further, the image generating apparatus of the present invention forms an electrostatic latent image of information to be added on an output image on a photosensitive drum according to an electrophotographic method, and uses a transparent toner made of a transparent substance to form the electrostatic latent image. It is characterized in that after development, the transparent toner image is transferred and fixed onto a recording medium together with the toner image of the output image, information by a transparent substance is added to the output image.

Further, the image producing apparatus of the present invention forms an electrostatic latent image of an output image on a photosensitive drum according to an electrophotographic method, develops it with toner to visualize it, and thereafter, develops the visualized image. By applying a transparent substance on the output image formed by transferring and fixing the image on a recording medium, at least information for specifying the output device is added.

Further, the transparent substance is a thermosensitive coloring material which is colorless at the time of application and is colored by heating.

Further, the thermosensitive color-developing material is characterized in that it is an electron-donating dye precursor which is colorless at the time of coating and which reacts with a developer by heating to develop a color.

[0015]

According to the image generating apparatus of the present invention, at least the information for identifying the output device by the transparent substance is added to the output image. This makes it possible to identify that the output image is a copy obtained from the original document and at the same time specify the output device. Therefore, once a counterfeit such as a banknote is found in any place, the output device is specified by the information added to the counter, which makes it easy to specify the specific source, etc., and has the effect of preventing forgery. .

Further, the image generating apparatus of the present invention cannot be used because the output of the image is stopped when the information adding means made of the transparent material is removed. Further, once the information adding means is detached, the reattachment requires a predetermined collation, and without this collation, the reattachment is not completed and cannot be used. By having such a removal preventing means for the information adding means, it is possible to more surely prevent fraudulent acts.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the arrangement of an embodiment of the image generating apparatus of the present invention.

This image generating apparatus has a document reading section A and an image forming section B.

In the document reading section A, 11 is a document table,
12 is an exposure lamp, 13 is a reflection mirror, 14 is a main lens, and 15 is a color CCD sensor.

In the image forming section B, 21 is a laser exposure system, 22 is a photosensitive drum, 23 is a charger, 24Y is a yellow developing device containing yellow toner, 24M is a magenta developing device containing magenta toner, and 24C is Cyan developing device for storing cyan toner, 24K for black developing device for storing black toner, 24T for transparent toner developing device, 25 for cleaning device, 26 for transfer device, 27 for separator, 28 for paper feed cassette, 29 for 29 It is a fixing device.

The formation of a color image in the superposition method is performed by "charging step", "exposure step", and
By repeating the "developing step", a color toner image is formed on the photoconductor drum, and this color toner image is transferred onto a recording medium.

In the embodiments described below, development is performed in the order of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black after development with transparent toner, but the order of development with each color toner is not limited to this. .

When the entire surface of the document P on the document table 11 is exposed and scanned by the exposure lamp 12, the reflected light image is formed on the color CCD sensor 15 via the reflection mirror 13 and the main lens 14.

The CCD color sensor 15 reads the reflected light image, which is the image information of the document P, line by line at a predetermined pitch and converts it into an electrical signal that is color-separated into R, G, and B. This electrical signal is supplied to the A / D converter for each R, G, B, converted into a digital image signal of 24 bits (8 bits each) for R, G, B and supplied to a signal processing circuit (not shown). To be done.

In the signal processing circuit, the digital image signal is subjected to various kinds of signal processing such as color correction processing and UCR (undercolor removal) processing to obtain yellow (Y), magenta (M),
It is converted into four image signals of cyan (C) and black (K). Next, a predetermined color correction process is performed, and the corrected image signal (Y'.M'.C'.K ') is sent to the selector.

The document P in the document reading section A is
The exposure scanning of 4 will be performed four times, but the selector
The number of exposure scans currently being executed is determined by a scan code signal from a control CPU (not shown), and a yellow signal (Y ') for the first time and a magenta signal (M') for the second time. A cyan signal (C ') is selected for the third time and a black signal (K') is selected for the fourth time and output.

The output image signals (Y'.M'.C ')
K ') is supplied to a pulse width modulation circuit, pulse width modulated, and converted into a laser ON / OFF signal. Further, this is supplied to the laser driver circuit and used for the exposure process by the laser exposure system 21.

On the other hand, the selector selects the image signals (Y ', M', C ', K') according to the signal from the control CPU.
Output a specific information signal before outputting. This information is at least information that can identify the output device,
This information signal is pulse-width modulated like the image signal, converted into a laser ON / OFF signal, and provided for the exposure process by the laser exposure system 21.

First, the photosensitive drum 22 rotates in a predetermined direction, and the starting point of image formation reaches the vicinity of the charger 23. From here, the "charging step by the charger 23", "electrostatic latent image formation (exposure step) corresponding to the information signal", and "transparent toner developing step" are sequentially performed. A polyester resin or the like is also suitable as the material of the transparent toner used.

Thus, a transparent toner image corresponding to the information signal is formed on the photosensitive drum 22.

Next, a yellow toner image is formed. At the stage of forming a yellow toner image, the photosensitive drum 2
2 rotates once, and the start point of image formation reaches the vicinity of the charger 23 again. From here, similar to each step of the transparent toner, "charging step by the charger 23", "electrostatic latent image formation (exposure step) corresponding to the yellow signal (Y ')", "yellow toner "Development process" is performed sequentially,
A yellow toner image is formed.

Next, a magenta toner image is formed. At the stage of forming a magenta toner image, the photosensitive drum 2
2 further rotates once, and the starting point for forming the yellow toner image reaches the vicinity of the charger 23. From here, in the same manner as each step of the yellow toner, "charging step by the charger 23", "electrostatic latent image formation corresponding to the magenta signal (M ') (exposure step)", "magenta toner development" Steps are sequentially performed to form a magenta toner image.

Next, a cyan toner image is formed. The forming method is the same as that for the yellow toner image and the magenta toner image. That is, the "charging step by the charger 23", "electrostatic latent image formation corresponding to cyan signal (C ') (exposure step)", and "cyan toner developing step" are sequentially performed.

Finally, a black toner image is formed. The forming method is the same as that for the toner image formed by each of the colored toners. That is, the "charging step by the charger 23", "electrostatic latent image formation corresponding to black signal (K ') (exposure step)", and "black toner developing step" are sequentially performed.

As described above, the "transparent toner image / yellow toner image / magenta toner image / cyan toner image / black toner image" are successively superposed on each other to form a transparent toner image and a color toner image on the photosensitive drum 22. Is formed.

After the development process of the fourth color black toner is completed, a voltage is applied to the transfer device 26. This allows
The transparent toner image and the color toner image on the photoconductor drum 22 are transferred to a recording medium such as paper or OHP sheet fed from the paper feed cassette 28. Further, the recording medium on which the color image is transferred is thermally fixed by the fixing device 29 and then discharged.

In this way, the image generating apparatus of this embodiment outputs a color image by electrophotography and, at the same time, forms a transparent toner image on the output color image. This transparent toner image is formed on the basis of the specific information signal as described above, and contains at least information that can specify the output device. The portion on which the transparent toner image is formed forms a glossy surface, and the reflected light is obtained when the light is irradiated, whereas irregular reflection light is detected on the non-glossy surface on which the transparent toner image is not formed. Therefore, the presence or absence of the transparent toner image can be easily identified by detecting the reflected light or the diffused reflected light due to the light irradiation.

Therefore, when the transparent toner image is identified in the detection of counterfeit bills, the output image can be recognized as a copy (that is, a counterfeit) obtained from the original document, and at the same time the output device can be detected. It becomes possible to specify.

Although it is possible to arbitrarily set what kind of mark is written in which area on the output image by forming the transparent toner image, the size of the original document and the selected recording at the time of actual copying. Considering that there is a case where the size does not always match the size of the medium, a mark (for example, a repeating pattern of small marks) that can be decoded even from a part of the entire output image is particularly preferable. Further, in this case, for example, the part of the repeating pattern of the small mark may be formed by the transparent toner (that is, most of the output image is a non-glossy surface), or conversely, the part other than the repeating pattern is transparent. Form in which toner forms a negative image (that is, most of the output image is glossy)
But it doesn't matter.

As the information added to the output image, in addition to the information that can specify the output device, for example, information such as the date and time when the copy is created and the operator ID can be cited.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the mounting mechanism of the transparent toner developing device in this embodiment.

As is apparent from the figure, the transparent toner developing device 24T is mounted on the main body of the apparatus through the connector 32 of the developing device 24T and the connector 31 of the drum mount rear panel 30. The arrow X in the drawing indicates the mounting direction. After mounting,
NVR built in the transparent toner developing unit 24T from the main body side
The AM33 data set is performed, but a predetermined password is required for its setting.

If the transparent toner developing device 24T is detached from the main body, the control CPU of the main body detects the detachment and the image output is stopped and the image cannot be used.

Further, once the transparent toner developing device 24T is removed, the data in the built-in NVRAM 33 is erased. Therefore, when the transparent toner developing device 24T is reattached, the data must be set again. As described above, it cannot be set without a predetermined password. If the data is not set, the mounting of the transparent toner developing device 24T is not completed and the image is not output.

That is, in the image generating apparatus of this embodiment, when the transparent toner developing device 24T is detached, the image output is stopped and the image cannot be used. Further, once the transparent toner developing device 24T is detached, it is predetermined to be reattached. Verification is required, and without this verification, reattachment is not completed and the product cannot be used. That is, by having such a removal preventing device for the transparent toner developing device 24T, it is possible to more reliably prevent fraud.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the structure of another embodiment of the image generating apparatus of the present invention. The same parts as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals and the duplicate description will be omitted.

A characteristic feature of the present embodiment is that information is added by applying a transparent paint on the output image after fixing instead of forming the transparent toner image as in the above-mentioned embodiment ( Therefore, in this embodiment, the above-mentioned transparent toner developing device 24T is not provided, and there is no step of forming a transparent toner image).

The structural features of this embodiment will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 3, a transparent paint coating device 34 is provided above the fixing device 29 integrally with the fixing device 29. After the fixing, the transparent paint is applied to the output image in a specific pattern, for example, and predetermined information is added to the output image. Of course, the information added here includes at least information that can specify the output device, as described above. The output image in this embodiment is formed by superimposing by electrophotography as in the above-mentioned embodiments.

The transparent coating material used in this embodiment is preferably a thermosensitive coloring material which is colorless at the time of application and develops a color by heating. By doing so, it is possible to identify a counterfeit product by a simple method in which heat is applied at the time of detection. Examples of the heat-sensitive coloring material include JP-A-58-191190, JP-A-62-249787, and JP-A-58-191190.
Although known in each of the publications such as 3-104879, JP-A-2-99385, and 3-244592, these known thermosensitive coloring materials can be optionally used in the present embodiment. In general, the thermosensitive coloring material is composed of a combination of an electron-donating dye precursor and a developer, and is a material which is colorless at the time of application (unheated) and reacts by heating to give a predetermined color. Used in this embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic structural view showing the mounting mechanism of the fixing device in this embodiment. As is clear from the figure, the fixing device 29 has a connector 38 of the fixing device 29 and a connector 37 of the rear panel 36 of the main body. It is attached to the main body of the device via.
After mounting on the main body, the mounting is completed by performing data setting of NVRAM 33 built in the fixing device 29 from the main body side, and the entire device operates, but a predetermined password is set for setting the data. I need.

Therefore, like the mounting mechanism of the transparent toner developing device in the above-described embodiment, if the fixing device 29 integrated with the transparent paint applying device 34 is detached from the main body of the device, the image output is stopped and cannot be used. The remounting requires a predetermined collation, and without this collation, the remounting is not completed and cannot be used. By having such a removal preventing means for the transparent paint applying device 34, it is possible to more reliably prevent fraudulent acts.

It should be noted that it is more desirable from the viewpoint of downsizing that the transparent paint coating device 34 is integrally provided with the fixing device 29 as in the present embodiment, but of course the invention is not limited to this. Absent. For example, the transparent paint applying device 34 may be arranged on the downstream side of the fixing device 29 in the conveying direction. In this case, the transparent paint applying device 34 is independently provided with the same removal preventing means as described above.

[0054]

As described in detail above, according to the image generating apparatus of the present invention, since the information for identifying at least the output device by the transparent substance is added to the output image, the output image is more than the original document. It is possible to identify the obtained copy and at the same time identify the output device.For example, once a counterfeit such as a bill is found in any place, the output device is identified by the information added to it. Therefore, it is easy to identify the specific source, etc., and has the effect of preventing forgery.

Further, according to the image generating apparatus of the present invention, when the information adding means made of the transparent substance is removed, the output of the image is stopped and the image cannot be used. Further, once the information adding means is removed, the information attaching means is reattached. Must have a predetermined collation, and if there is no such collation, it is possible to more surely prevent fraudulent activity by having a removal preventing means for the information adding means that the reattachment is not completed and cannot be used.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of an embodiment of an image generating apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a mounting mechanism of a transparent toner developing device in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of another embodiment of the image generating apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a mounting mechanism of a fixing device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A document reading section B image forming section 11 document table 12 exposure lamp 13 reflection mirror 14 main lens 15 color CCD sensor 21 laser exposure system 22 photoconductor drum 23 charger 24Y yellow developer 24M magenta developer 24C cyan developer 24K black development Device 24T Transparent toner developing device 25 Cleaning device 26 Transfer device 27 Separator 28 Paper feeding cassette 29 Fixing device 30 Drum stand rear panel 31 Connector 32 Connector 33 NVRAM 34 Transparent paint coating device 35 Coating roller 36 Main body rear panel 37 Connector 38 Connector

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Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An image generating apparatus, comprising means for adding information capable of identifying at least an output device on an output image by using a transparent substance. 2. The image generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the output of the image is stopped by detecting the detachment of the information adding means by the transparent substance. 3. The image generating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a collating unit is required for reattaching the information adding unit made of the transparent material when the information adding unit is once removed. 4. An electrophotographic method is used to form an electrostatic latent image of information to be added on an output image on a photosensitive drum, and this is developed with a transparent toner made of a transparent substance, and then the transparent toner is obtained. 2. The image generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image is transferred and fixed on the recording medium together with the toner image of the output image to add information by the transparent substance to the output image. 5. An electrostatic latent image of an output image is formed on a photosensitive drum according to an electrophotographic method, and this is developed with toner to be visualized, and then the developed image is transferred and fixed on a recording medium. 2. The image generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least information for identifying the output device is added by applying a transparent substance on the output image formed by the above method. 6. An image generating apparatus, wherein the transparent substance according to claim 5 is a thermosensitive coloring material which is colorless during application and develops a color by heating. 7. An image forming apparatus, wherein the thermosensitive coloring material according to claim 6 is an electron-donating dye precursor which is colorless at the time of application and is colored by reacting with a developer by heating.