JPH09172558A - Image processing unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To control reproduction of a specific color image whose copying is inhibited such as money or the like with high accuracy and simplified configuration. SOLUTION: When a copy key is depressed in a copying machine (S3), an image read system reads a color original image and receives the original image as electric image signals consisting of plural color components (S5). Then the received electric image signal is discriminated as to whether the image signal represents the specific image based on a color characteristic whose reproduction is inhibited or not (S7, S9) and used for controlling the image reproduction in response to the discrimination (S11, S13).

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to image processing having a function of judging whether or not a color image represented by an electric image signal composed of a plurality of color components is a specific color image whose reproduction is prohibited. Regarding the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, copying machines have been required to respond to an operator's instruction.
An image on a document placed on a document table or the like is read and a copying operation is performed faithfully.

On the other hand, recent advances in copying technology, combined with colorization technology for image recording, have made it possible to output a copied image that is extremely close to the original image.

[0004]

Therefore, in the conventional copying apparatus, by misusing this, or by placing a "prank" or the like, an object such as money or securities that should be prohibited from being copied is placed on the document table. Since copying is performed according to the operator's instruction even if copying is performed by using the method, forgery can be easily induced, which may cause a serious social problem.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus capable of controlling reproduction of a specific color image, such as money or securities, which is prohibited from being copied with high precision and with a simplified configuration. .

[0006]

To this end, the present invention provides
Input means for inputting an electric image signal consisting of a plurality of color components, and processing the electric image signal consisting of a plurality of color components input by the input means, and reproducing a color image according to the electric image signal. Image reproduction means and an electric image signal composed of a plurality of color components input by the input means, the color image represented by the electric image signal is a specific color image whose reproduction is prohibited. Determining means for determining whether or not the specific color image is based on the color characteristics of the specific color image, and whether the color image represented by the electrical image signal by the determining means is a specific color image whose reproduction is prohibited. And a control unit for controlling the reproduction of the color image by the image reproduction unit according to the result of the judgment.

According to the above construction, a color image is reproduced by using an electric image signal composed of a plurality of color components input by the input means, and is represented by the electric image signal composed of the plurality of color components. Since it is possible to determine whether or not the color image to be reproduced is the specific color image for which reproduction is prohibited, it is not necessary to provide independent input means for image reproduction and for determination.

In addition, the reproduction target of the color image and the determination target as to whether or not the color image is the specific color image can be made to coincide with each other, and the determination is made based on the color characteristics of the specific color image. It is possible to make good decisions.

[0009]

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

FIG. 1 shows a copying apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Here, 1 is a central processing unit (CPU) in the form of a microcomputer, and 2 is a CPU described later with reference to FIG.
The ROM storing the operation programs of 3 and the RAM 3 used for work such as registers in the control process by the CPU 1. Reference numeral 4 denotes a keyboard, which has a well-known input key group such as a copy start command key and a copy number setting key. A keyboard interface circuit 5 connects the keyboard 4 and the system bus 10.

Reference numeral 6 is an image reading means for reading an image on a set original, 7 is an image memory for storing the read image data, and 8 is an image output means for outputting the stored image data.

Reference numeral 9 is a currency detecting means for detecting whether or not there is image data of an object such as money or securities whose copying is prohibited in the image memory, and 11 is an image for transferring image data at high speed between the respective units 6-9. It is a data bus.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the structure of the image reading means.

Here, 61 is an original illumination lamp for illuminating the original surface, 62 is a zoom lens for forming an original image on a CCD as a reading element, 63 is a CCD for converting the image into an electric signal,
Reference numeral 64 is a platen made of a transparent plate, and 65, 66 and 67 are mirrors.

In FIG. 2, the document illumination lamp 61 and the mirror 65 scan a document 69 placed on the document table 64 with the reading surface facing downward, and the reflected light from the document surface causes the mirror group to pass. It is guided to the zoom lens 62 via the zoom lens 62, focused on the CCD 63, and converted into an electric signal.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the configuration of the image output means 8.

Here, 81Y, 81M, 81C and 81K are respectively a primary charger for yellow, a primary charger for magenta,
It is a primary charger for cyan and a primary charger for black. In addition, similarly, the subscripts Y, M, C, and K in the drawings are the members having the reference numerals attached thereto, respectively.
It indicates that it is for yellow, magenta, cyan, and black.

Reference numeral 82 is an LED array that blinks in correspondence with image data, 83 is a developing device for adhering a developer (toner or the like) of a corresponding color, 84 is a transfer charger, 85 is a cleaner, and 86 is a photosensitive drum. is there.

Reference numeral 87 is a pickup roller for separating and taking out the recording medium (hereinafter referred to as copy paper) 811 stored in the paper feed cassette 811 one by one, and 812 to 815 are pairs of transfer rollers provided in the transfer path of the copy paper. Reference numeral 816 is a conveyor belt for discharging the recorded copy sheets, 88 is a fixing roller provided near the discharge port, and 89 is a discharge tray for stacking the discharged copy sheets.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the control procedure according to the present embodiment, and the operation of the above configuration will be described with reference to this drawing.

First, when a power switch (not shown) is turned on, the CPU 1 executes a predetermined initialization routine (step S1).
After the fixing roller 88 reaches a predetermined temperature, the keyboard 4 waits for a command input (step S3).

When the operator uses the keyboard 1 to instruct a copying operation, the CPU 1 drives the image reading means 6 to read the original image (step S5). This image reading is performed four times by switching the color filters, and each color (yellow, magenta,
Each image is developed in the image memory 7 (cyan, black).

Next, the money detecting means 9 is operated to check whether the image data on the image memory 7 is money or securities (step S7). In the present embodiment, for example, if the address correspondence between the readable area on the document table 64 and the storage area on the image memory 7 is established, the original document size is determined based on the size of the data expansion area on the image memory 7. The inspection can be performed by recognizing the size and comparing the result with the size of money or the like stored in advance in the ROM 2 or the like. It can also be performed by comparing the color spectrum distribution of the document with data registered in advance.

When the size of money is applicable,
The currency detecting means outputs "1", and outputs "0" when not applicable. When the output is "0", the CPU 1 causes the image output means 8 to output the image on the image memory 7 as a color image (step S11). On the other hand, in the case of "1", image output is prohibited (step S13).

In the image output process (step S11), an image is formed based on a known electrostatic process. That is, after charging the photosensitive drum 86 with the primary charger 81, the photosensitive drum 86 is charged.
The LED array 82 blinks corresponding to the image data in synchronization with the rotation of to form an electrostatic latent image. This electrostatic latent image is developed
Developed with developer (toner, etc.) in 83, transfer charger 84
Is transferred onto the copy paper 87 fed by the pickup roller 87. Output of a color image is realized by performing the above-described process for each of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. Then, after the development of the predetermined color is completed, the copy sheet 810 is conveyed to the fixing roller by the conveying belt 816 and thermally fixed, and is output to the sheet discharge tray 89.

On the contrary, in the process of step S13, the CPU 1 does not activate the image output means 8, and therefore copying is prohibited and no output is made. That is, if the document is money or the like, image output is prohibited. In connection with this processing, a predetermined error message may be displayed or an audio warning may be issued.

As described above, in order to finally prohibit the image output of money or the like, in addition to prohibiting the operation of the image output means 8 as described above, it can be performed before that. For example, scanning of the document surface is performed four times for each color, but if the document size becomes clear in the process, image reading may be prohibited by prohibiting subsequent reading at that time. .

It is also possible to prohibit the output after the copying operation by the image output means 8.

FIG. 5 shows such an embodiment,
In the present embodiment, a copy sheet on which an image has been once formed is not output to the outside of the apparatus, but is internally discarded by cutting or the like.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic structure of the main part of this embodiment. In this embodiment, the process proceeds to the image transfer onto the copy sheet in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 regardless of the type of original. When the output of the image detecting means 9 is "0", the conveyor belt 816 is set to the position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 5, and the copy sheet 810 is conveyed to the fixing roller 88 by the conveyor belt 816 and thermally fixed. Later output tray 89
Is output to On the other hand, when the output of the image detecting means is “1”, that is, when the original is money or the like, the conveyor belt 816
Is set at the position indicated by the broken line in FIG. Then, the copy paper 810 that has been sent is sent to the cutting machine 101 through the guide 100, where it is finely cut and discarded, and a copy output cannot be obtained.

In each of the embodiments described above, the detection of currency or the like is performed based on the size of the document, but such detection may be performed using any form of means. Of course it is good.

For example, means for reading a magnetic pattern of a part or the whole of currency used in an automatic vending machine or the like may be provided, and the pattern may be compared with a previously stored pattern. In this case, in the case where the original cover provided on the original table 64 and covering the original 69 is equipped with a magnetic head, or a copying machine equipped with an automatic document feeder (ADF), etc. It is also possible to adopt a configuration including a head.

It is also possible to read a part or the whole of an image pattern of currency or the like and compare it with a pattern stored in advance. For this reading, if the apparatus is in the form of a digital copying machine as described above, the reading operation by the image reading means 6 may be used as it is. In other cases, a reading head may be provided on the document cover or the conveyance path such as the ADF. You can leave it. Alternatively, the document cover may be provided with illumination means to read the watermark pattern for comparison.

Further, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied regardless of the form of the image output means 8. For example, in the above example, the LED array is used to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum, but a laser beam or the like may be used. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and various methods may be used.

[0036]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The reproduction of a color image and the reproduction of the color image represented by the electric image signal composed of the plurality of color components are prohibited by using the electric image signal composed of the plurality of color components input by the input means. Since it is possible to determine whether the image is a specific color image, it is not necessary to provide independent input means for image reproduction and determination.

Moreover, the object for reproducing the color image and the object for determining whether or not the color image is the specific color image can be matched with each other, and further, the determination is made based on the color characteristics of the specific color image. Therefore, it is possible to make an accurate determination.

As a result, it is possible to provide an image processing apparatus capable of controlling the reproduction of a specific color image, such as money and securities, which is prohibited from copying, with high precision and with a simplified configuration. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a copying apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing a configuration example of image reading means in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view showing a configuration example of image output means.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a control procedure according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of a main part of a second embodiment of a unit that prohibits copy output.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 CPU 2 ROM 3 RAM 4 keyboard 5 keyboard interface 6 image reading means 7 image memory 8 image output means 9 currency detection means 10, 11 bus 61 original illumination lamp 63 CCD 64 original table 69 original 81 primary charger 82 LED array 83 Developing device 86 Photosensitive drum 88 Fixing roller 101 Cutting machine 810 Copying paper 816 Conveying belt

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Agency reference number FI Technical display location H04N 1/46 Z

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Input means for inputting an electric image signal composed of a plurality of color components, and processing the electric image signal composed of a plurality of color components input by the input means, and processing the processed electric image signal according to the electric image signal. Image reproduction means for reproducing a color image and an electric image signal composed of a plurality of color components inputted by the input means, and reproduction of the color image represented by the electric image signal is prohibited. Determining means for determining whether or not it is a specific color image based on the color characteristics of the specific color image; and a specific color image forbidden to reproduce the color image represented by the electrical image signal by the determining means. And a control unit that controls the reproduction of the color image by the image reproduction unit according to the determination result of whether or not the image processing apparatus.