JP2003326802A - Imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain specified information based on an image being formed while surely controlling visual variation thereof from an original image through a simple structure. <P>SOLUTION: In the image recorder having a means for forming anti-forgery information with regard to an image being recorded on a recording medium by inputted image information, a colorless transparent recording material is employed in the means for forming information. Alternatively, a white recording material is employed in the means for forming information, two kinds of recording material of the same color having a different glossiness is employed in the means for forming information, or black color by a black recording material and a process black color being formed using three color recording materials of yellow, magenta and cyan are employed in the means for forming information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus for recording forgery prevention information in an image formed on a recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, as image quality of color copiers, printers, scanners, facsimiles, and multi-function peripherals that integrate these have increased, it has become easier to forge bills and securities with high precision. There is a growing need to incorporate preventive measures in the device itself. As one of the effective preventive measures, a technology is known in which information (tracking code) for facilitating tracking of a forgery source is overwritten on the printed content in a color and density that are hard to see with the naked eye. .

For example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3015304, there is one in which a tracking code is printed in yellow as forgery prevention information added to an image.

Further, as disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2904492, in the case of an illegal image, a reproduced image of a copy is made into a single color, and as disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2966988, a specific pattern is added to the illegal image. There are things such as adding and painting, and in both cases, the image cannot be used as a copy.

[0005]

By the way, the patent No. 30
Although the means disclosed in No. 15304 is not noticeable to the user because it is yellow, it is relatively easy to notice that the anti-counterfeit information (tracking code) is printed when the surface of the printed image is carefully viewed. There was a problem.

Further, the structures disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3015304 and Japanese Patent No. 2904492 have a structure for detecting an illegal image, and there is a problem that the device and control are complicated accordingly.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and has a simple structure, which reliably suppresses a visual change of an image to be formed from an original image, while reliably forming an image to be formed. Based on this, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image recording device that can obtain specific information.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and to achieve the object, the present invention has the following constitution.

According to a first aspect of the invention, in the image recording apparatus having means for forming information for forgery prevention for the image recorded on the recording medium by the input image information, the means for forming the information. The image recording apparatus is characterized by using a colorless and transparent recording material.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the colorless and transparent recording material is used as the information forming means.
Compared with the conventional case of using yellow, it has the advantage that it is more difficult for users to notice.

According to a second aspect of the invention, in the image recording apparatus having means for forming information for forgery prevention with respect to the image recorded on the recording medium by the inputted image information, the means for forming the information. The image recording apparatus is characterized by using a white recording material.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the use of the white recording material for the means for forming the information has the advantage that it is more difficult for the user to notice, as compared with the conventional case of using yellow. .

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image recording apparatus having means for forming information for forgery prevention for the image recorded on the recording medium by the input image information, the means for forming the information. In addition, the image recording apparatus is characterized by using two kinds of recording materials having the same color and different glossinesses.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, by using two kinds of recording materials having similar colors and different glossinesses as means for forming information, even a careful user can
It is extremely unlikely that you will find ghostly recorded anti-counterfeit information.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in the image recording apparatus having means for forming information for forgery prevention for the image recorded on the recording medium by the input image information, the means for forming the information. In addition, the image recording apparatus is characterized by using a black color of a black recording material and a process black color formed by using three color recording materials of yellow, magenta, and cyan.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the process for forming the information forming means by using the black recording material of black and the recording materials of three colors of yellow, magenta and cyan.・ By using black color,
The recording material of the fifth color is not required, and it can be realized by the conventional four-color process of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black.

The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that the forgery prevention information is device identification information such as a serial number and a model of the image recording device on which an image is recorded. The image recording apparatus according to any one of 4 above.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, the forgery source can be easily traced by recording the device identification information such as the serial number and model of the image recording device on which the image is recorded.

An image recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the invention according to claim 6 is provided with a device for designating a content of the forgery prevention information. Is.

According to the invention of claim 6, since the device for designating the content of the forgery prevention information is provided, the user can freely change the content of the forgery prevention information. it can.

The invention according to claim 7 is characterized in that when the means for forming the information for forgery prevention becomes unavailable, image recording on the recording medium is disabled. The image recording apparatus described in any one of 1.

According to the seventh aspect of the invention, when the means for forming the information for forgery prevention becomes unavailable, the image recording on the recording medium becomes impossible, and the image recording apparatus is tampered with by the user. If you add or remove it, the device will not work and you will not be able to record unauthorized images.

The invention according to claim 8 is characterized in that when the input image information is only a character string without including image information, it is possible to automatically cancel the forgery prevention information formation. The image recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

According to the invention described in claim 8, when the input image information is only a character string without including image information, it is possible to automatically cancel the forgery prevention information formation. If there is no possibility of fraud, no action for fraud is performed, so the processing can be speeded up.

[0025]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the image recording apparatus of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

First, the invention according to claim 1 will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an embodiment of an image recording apparatus. The image recording apparatus of this embodiment can be applied to the electrophotographic printer 2. The electrophotographic printer 2 has a laser driver 20, which electrically processes a read image signal, for example, yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), black. The semiconductor laser 21 is modulated and driven according to the image signal sent after being decomposed into the respective components of (Bk). The laser light scans the photosensitive drum 25 via the polygon mirror 22, the f-θ lens 23, and the mirror 24.

Around the photosensitive drum 25, a charging unit 30,
A charge removing unit 31 and a cleaning unit 32 are arranged, and further, a yellow developing device 33, a magenta developing device 34, and a cyan developing device 3
5, five developing devices, that is, a black developing device 36 and a colorless transparent developing device 37 are in contact with the photosensitive drum 25, and the electrostatic development formed on the photosensitive drum 25 is developed with toner as a recording material.

A transfer drum 40 is arranged so as to face the photosensitive drum 25, a sheet of recording medium supplied from a sheet cassette 41 is wound around the transfer drum 40, and developed on the photosensitive drum 25 by the transfer electrode section 42. Transfer the image to paper. The transfer drum 40 is cleaned by the cleaning unit 44.

In this manner, after the four colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (Bk) are transferred in sequence, the information for forgery prevention is recorded using a colorless and transparent toner. After recording, the sheet passes through the fixing unit 43, and after the toner is fixed on the sheet, the sheet is discharged.

In this embodiment, colorless and transparent toner is used for printing the information (tracking code) for preventing forgery. In addition to the normal color image formation process, yellow (Y),
4 of magenta (M), cyan (C), black (Bk)
A colorless and transparent developing device 37 is further provided on the downstream side of the color developing device, and has means for forming anti-counterfeit information on the image recorded on the recording medium by the input image information. The colorless and transparent toner is a toner having the same configuration as a normal toner except that a coloring material such as carbon black is not added. Alternatively, it is a toner in which tackiness or the like is added to improve the fixing property.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, ordinary yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), black (B)
In addition to the contents as specified by the user with the four color toners of k), the colorless and transparent toner is used on the paper 50,
Image formation is performed with the tracking code 51, which is information for preventing forgery, overwritten. As a result, the tracking code 51, which is information for preventing forgery, is formed on the illegal image 52 recorded on the paper 50.

If the tracking code 51 is imaged at only one place, it may interfere with other original images formed to make it difficult to identify. Therefore, after the image formation process is completed, the printed matter is not printed. Tracking code 51 due to friction when used
Since there is a possibility that the paper will be worn and become difficult to read, it is preferable to print on a large number of places over the entire surface of the paper 50 as shown in FIG.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the tracking code 51 is irregularly arranged in an image forming position, or the angle of the base line of the character is irregularly changed. Having a difference makes it more difficult for malicious users to notice. Tracking code 51
It is desirable that the character size of is small as long as it does not interfere with the reading.

The content used for the tracking pattern by the tracking code 51 is, for example, the serial number of the electrophotographic printer 2. Later, when it is necessary to trace as an illegal image copy, if the electrophotographic printer 2 used for printing or the place and date can be specified, the company name, logo, room name of the installation place, ownership Character strings or symbols other than the manufacturing number, such as a person's name, may be used.

Alternatively, the tracking code 51 is shown in FIGS.
It is preferable to use encrypted information such as a bar code, a Carla code, Braille, a hologram pattern, etc. as shown in (1) because the advantage that a malicious user will not notice it is further increased. FIG. 6 shows a bar code that can be used.

Further, in this embodiment, the printer driver installed in the personal computer 1 uses the registry of the personal computer 1 to identify the serial number of the personal computer 1 or the personal computer owner's device and the printing date and time. It is possible to print after reading such as, and processing for superimposing the image of the tracking code on the image specified by the user. Alternatively, every time the power of the personal computer 1 is turned on, the printer driver becomes a parallel port and communicates with the electrophotographic printer 2 via the LAN port to read the serial number of the electrophotographic printer 2 and write it in the setting file. Write. In each subsequent printing, printing can be performed after processing for superimposing the image of the tracking code 51 on the image designated by the user.

FIG. 7 shows a tracking code determining device. An angle θ1 (for example, 45
From the light source 60, and a certain angle θ2 (for example, 45 degrees)
The CCD camera 61, which is an image input device, is arranged at a temperature of 10 degrees. Since the reflectance of the white background portion of the paper 50 is greatly different from that of the colorless and transparent toner portion, the determination device 62 identifies the difference and cuts out the tracking code, and then OCR the data so that it is printed on the paper 50 as a printed matter. The content of the tracking code can be automatically read. If the tracking code is encrypted, it is decoded according to its decoding algorithm to decode the recorded content.

The image recording apparatus of the present invention can be applied to an ink jet printer. Further, although not shown, it can be applied to a thermal transfer printer or the like.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram for explaining a schematic structure of an ink jet recording head included in an ink jet printer.

This ink jet recording head 70 has four
One recording head unit 70a, 70b, 70c, 70
In addition, a recording head unit 70e is added. The nozzle array (nozzle group in which a plurality of nozzles are arranged in a row) of each recording head unit is viewed in the sub-scanning direction (when the recording medium is The upper nozzle array and the lower nozzle array (in the figure, they are divided into upper and lower parts by a dotted line). The two types of nozzle arrays are connected to ink tanks 71 of different colors via a supply pump 72.

In this manner, after the four colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (Bk) are recorded in sequence, the forgery prevention information is recorded using the colorless and transparent ink. Record.

In this embodiment, the colorless and transparent recording material is used as the means for forming information, which has the advantage that it is more difficult for the user to notice, as compared with the conventional case of using yellow.

Next, the invention described in claim 2 will be described. This embodiment has the same structure as the invention according to claim 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 8, but uses a white recording material as means for forming information (tracking code) for preventing forgery. There is.

For example, the whiteness of the white toner, which is a white recording material used for printing the recording of the tracking code, is slightly bluish or reddish rather than completely pure white. It is preferable that the background color of the paper used is close to that of the paper.

Alternatively, a sensor for detecting the color of the loaded paper is provided, and the image forming process is controlled according to the detection result, and in addition to pure white toner, yellow (Y), magenta (M) ), Cyan (C), black (B
It is preferable to mix a small amount of the color toner of k) so that the color of the trace code is matched with the background color of the paper, because the advantage of being less noticeable to a malicious user is further increased.

As described above, by using the white toner and the white ink as the white recording material for the means for forming the information, there is an advantage that it is more difficult for the user to notice as compared with the case where the conventional yellow is used. .

Next, the invention described in claim 3 will be described. This embodiment is configured as shown in the schematic view of the embodiment of the image recording apparatus in FIG.

The image recording apparatus of this embodiment is applied to the electrophotographic printer 2 and has the same configuration as that of the embodiment of FIG. 1, but records information for anti-counterfeiting (tracking code). To print, use toner with similar colors but different gloss. For example, black toner which is a recording material having a different glossiness from the black toner which is the recording material stored in the fourth black developing device 36 is arranged in the fifth black developing device 38.

Among the constituents of the toner, for example, when the wax content is increased, the glossiness is increased, and when the wax content is decreased while the amount of the coloring material is the same, a matte toner having a similar color is obtained.

When copying, as shown in FIG.
In the black portion of the original 80, as shown in FIG. 11, a mask consisting of the pattern of the tracking code is applied to the original image, and the portion other than the mask pattern is formed of matte black a1 and at the same time, the mask pattern is formed. The overlapping portion is formed of gloss black a2. The relationship between matte and gloss may be reversed. Even if it is applied to a part having a small stroke, it is difficult to read the tracking code 51. Therefore, when the pattern width is less than a certain width (for example, 1 mm or less), the tracking code 5 is used.
The process 1 may be omitted, and the load of the CPU is reduced and the process becomes faster.

The image recording apparatus of the present invention can be similarly applied to an ink jet printer.

As described above, by using two kinds of recording materials having similar colors and different glossinesses as means for forming information, even a cautious user can ghostly record information for forgery prevention. The chances of noticing that they are present are extremely small.

Next, the invention described in claim 4 will be described. This embodiment is configured as shown in the schematic view of the embodiment of the image recording apparatus of FIG.

The image recording apparatus of this embodiment is applied to the electrophotographic printer 2 and has the same configuration as that of the embodiment of FIG. 1, except that a yellow developing device 33, a magenta developing device 34, and a cyan developing device. The developing device 35 and the black developing device 36 are provided, and the means for forming the information (tracking code) for preventing forgery is a black color by a black recording material, and a yellow color,
A process black color formed by using recording materials of three colors of magenta and cyan is used.

In FIGS. 4, 5 and 11, the background portion of the stroke of the character is formed in simple black color, and the information of the tracking code 51 such as the printer serial number is formed in process black color. The relationship between both black colors may be opposite to the above,
Usually, the existence of the tracking code 51 is less noticeable when a simple black color is used as the background color.

Since the simple black color and the process black color are very similar in color, for example, when observing the part closely, there is a difference that the process black has a slightly lower density. Is hard to notice. However, if it is applied to the determination device of FIG. 7, it can be read. Note that the identification accuracy is higher when θ1 in FIG. 7 is 60 degrees than 45 degrees.

Further, the image recording apparatus of the present invention can be similarly applied to an ink jet printer or a thermal transfer printer.

As described above, the means for forming the information for preventing forgery includes the black color of the black recording material and the process black color formed by using the three color recording materials of yellow, magenta and cyan. By using, the recording material of the fifth color is not required, and the conventional four-color process of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black can be realized.

The invention according to claim 5 is, as described in the invention according to claim 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 8, the serial number of the image recording device in which the information for forgery prevention records an image. The device forgery is easy to trace by recording the device specifying information such as the model and the model, and the device specifying information such as the serial number and the model of the image recording device that recorded the image.

The invention according to claim 6 is to provide a device for designating the content of the forgery prevention information, and the user can freely change the content of the forgery prevention information. .

For example, an electrophotographic printer or an inkjet printer may be provided with an external device such as a keyboard for designating a tracking code. However, a hidden command is issued from the keyboard of the operation panel of the electrophotographic printer or the inkjet printer. If it is configured to start the specified software using it, there will be no increase in hardware costs.

For example, if the user presses "1", "5", "7", and "8" of the ten keys for setting the number of copies at the same time for 5 seconds or longer, the mode for accepting the designation of the tracking code is entered, and thereafter the user enters. The service person inputs the character code with the numeric keypad and specifies the character string of the tracking code or pictogram.

According to the invention described in claim 7, the means for forming the information for forgery prevention cannot be used, for example, it can be removed.
Or, if it is modified, it becomes impossible to record an image on the recording medium.

For example, in order to execute the function of superimposing the image of the tracking code on the image designated by the user at high speed, it is better to implement it as firmware rather than software. However, if the malicious user is a person who has an electronic skill, it becomes possible to modify the firmware by removing the firmware. In order to prevent this, every time the printer driver receives a print command from the personal computer, it communicates with the LSI that stores the firmware and confirms whether a fixed character string is returned or not, and the corresponding LSI determines the predetermined If it does not return a certain response within the time, it is considered that the electrophotographic printer or the inkjet printer has been tampered with, an error message is issued, and the printing of the record is refused. Or "illegal"
A single or multiple character strings that draw attention, etc. are superimposed on the original image and printed.

As described above, if the user improperly modifies the image recording device of the electrophotographic printer or the ink jet printer, the device does not operate and the unauthorized image recording cannot be performed.

According to the eighth aspect of the invention, when the input image information does not include image information and is only a character string, it is possible to automatically cancel the forgery prevention information formation.

For example, each time an electrophotographic printer or an ink jet printer receives a print command, it automatically analyzes the content represented by PDL or the like of the content to be printed, and if the content does not include image information, the content is printed. In the case of only columns, there is no possibility that bills, securities, etc. have been illegally copied, so the process of superimposing the tracking code is omitted. This reduces the load on the CPU and HDD,
The printing process can be speeded up.

As described above, when the information for preventing forgery is only the character string without including the image information, the recording can be automatically canceled. If there is no possibility of fraud, the operation of the fraud countermeasure is performed. Since it does not, the processing can be speeded up.

[0069]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the colorless and transparent recording material is used as the information forming means, which makes the user notice more noticeable than the conventional case of using yellow. There is an advantage that it is hard to be broken

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the use of the white recording material for the means for forming the information has an advantage that it is more difficult for the user to notice as compared with the conventional case of using yellow.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, two kinds of recording materials having similar colors and different glossiness are used as means for forming information, so that even for a cautious user, the information for preventing forgery is ghosted. It is extremely unlikely that you will notice that it has been recorded.

In a fourth aspect of the present invention, the information forming means uses a black color of a black recording material and a process black color formed by using three color recording materials of yellow, magenta and cyan. By using and, the recording material of the fifth color is not required, and the conventional four-color process of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black can be realized.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, the forgery source can be easily traced by recording the device identification information such as the serial number and model of the image recording device on which the image is recorded.

According to the sixth aspect of the invention, since the device for designating the content of the forgery prevention information is provided, the user side or the like can freely change the content of the forgery prevention information.

In the invention described in claim 7, when the means for forming the information for preventing forgery becomes unavailable, the image recording on the recording medium becomes impossible, and the user may make an unauthorized modification to the image recording device. , If you remove it, the device will not work and you will not be able to record unauthorized images.

According to the invention described in claim 8, when the input image information does not include image information and is only a character string,
It is possible to automatically cancel the formation of information for preventing forgery, and when there is no possibility of fraud, the operation for fraud is not performed, so the processing can be speeded up.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an embodiment of an image recording device.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which a tracking code, which is information for preventing forgery, is overwritten.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state in which a tracking code, which is information for preventing forgery, is overwritten.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an embodiment in which a tracking code is a bar code.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an embodiment in which a tracking code is a bar code.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing types of barcodes.

FIG. 7 is a tracking code determination device.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram for explaining a schematic configuration of an inkjet recording head included in an inkjet printer.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of an embodiment of an image recording apparatus.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a document.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a pattern of a tracking code.

FIG. 12 is a schematic view of an embodiment of an image recording device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 personal computer 2 Electrophotographic printer 20 laser driver 25 photosensitive drum 33 Yellow Developer 34 Magenta Developer 35 Cyan developer 36 Black Developer 37 Colorless and transparent developing device 40 transfer drum 50 sheets 51 Tracking code that is information for preventing forgery 52 Illegal image

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An image recording apparatus having means for forming anti-counterfeit information on an image recorded on a recording medium by input image information, wherein the means for forming information is a colorless and transparent recording material. An image recording apparatus characterized by using. 2. An image recording apparatus having means for forming anti-counterfeiting information on an image recorded on a recording medium by input image information, wherein a white recording material is used as the means for forming information. An image recording device characterized by being used. 3. An image recording apparatus having means for forming anti-counterfeiting information on an image recorded on a recording medium according to input image information, wherein the means for forming information has a similar color and gloss. An image recording apparatus using two types of recording materials having different degrees. 4. An image recording apparatus having means for forming anti-counterfeit information on an image recorded on a recording medium by input image information, wherein the means for forming information is made of a black recording material. An image recording apparatus using a black color and a process black color formed by using recording materials of three colors of yellow, magenta, and cyan. 5. The anti-counterfeiting information is device identification information such as a serial number and a model of an image recording device on which an image is recorded, according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The image recording apparatus described. 6. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a device for designating a content of the forgery prevention information. 7. The image recording method according to claim 1, wherein when the means for forming the forgery prevention information becomes unavailable, image recording on the recording medium is disabled. Image recording device. 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein when the input image information is only a character string without including image information, it is possible to automatically cancel the information formation for preventing forgery. The image recording apparatus according to any one of 6 above.