Image forming apparatus, security printing method, and storage medium

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9333666-B2
Application number	US-201414584173-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 29, 2014
Priority date	Dec 27, 2013
Publication date	May 10, 2016
Grant date	May 10, 2016

Abstract

An image forming apparatus having security printing function, connectable to a post-processing apparatus capable of cutting a sheet, includes a sheet size detector to detect a size of a sheet to be conducted with print processing, a dividing number acquiring unit to acquire a dividing number of the sheet, a sheet divider to divide the sheet into a plurality of areas based on the sheet size detected by the sheet size detector and the dividing number acquired by the dividing number acquiring unit, a security printing setting acquiring unit to acquire setting of a position of security printing, and a security printing position determination unit to determine a print position of security printing on each of the plurality of areas, divided by the sheet divider, based on the position of security printing acquired by the security printing setting acquiring unit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image forming apparatus having security printing function, connectable to a post-processing apparatus capable of cutting a sheet, the image forming apparatus comprising:
a sheet size detector to detect a size of a sheet to be conducted with print processing;
a dividing number acquiring unit to acquire a dividing number of the sheet;
a sheet divider to divide the sheet into a plurality of areas based on the sheet size detected by the sheet size detector and the dividing number acquired by the dividing number acquiring unit;
a security printing setting acquiring unit to acquire setting of a position of security printing;
a security printing position determination unit to determine a print position of security printing on each of the plurality of areas, divided by the sheet divider, based on the position of security printing acquired by the security printing setting acquiring unit;
an image magnification unit to change magnification of a size of a target-print image and a size of security printing based on the sheet size detected by the sheet size detector and the dividing number acquired by the dividing number acquiring unit;
an image direction setting acquiring unit to acquire setting of an image direction of the target-print image; and
an image rotation unit to rotate the target-print image and the security printing with a given angle based on the image direction acquired by the image direction setting acquiring unit and the dividing number acquired by the dividing number acquiring unit,
wherein the post-processing apparatus includes a punch unit having a plurality of perforators for perforating holes at the center and one end of the one sheet in a conveyance direction of the sheet,
wherein the image forming apparatus further comprises;
a punch unit information acquiring unit to acquire information of shape and number of the perforators of the punch unit;
an overlapping determination unit to determine whether a print area of the security printing and a perforating area of double punching by the punch unit overlap based on security printing position acquired by the security printing setting acquiring unit and the shape and number of the perforators acquired by the punch unit information acquiring unit;
a security printing position adjustment unit to adjust a print position of security printing to avoid overlapping of the print area of the security printing and the perforating area of the double punching when the overlapping determination unit determines that the print area of the security printing and the perforating area of the double punching overlap; and
a printer engine to perform printing of the security printing at the print position which has been adjusted.

2. A method of security printing for an image forming apparatus connected to a post processing apparatus, comprising the steps of:
detecting a size of a sheet to be conducted with print processing;
acquiring a dividing number of the sheet;
dividing the sheet into a plurality of areas based on the sheet size detected at the sheet size detection step and the dividing number acquired at the dividing number acquiring step;
acquiring a position of security printing; and
determining a print position of security printing on each of the plurality of areas, divided at the sheet dividing step, based on the position of security printing acquired at the security printing setting acquiring step;
changing magnification of a size of a target-print image and a size of security printing based on the sheet size which has been detected and the dividing number which has been acquired;
acquiring a setting of an image direction of the target-print image; and
rotating the target-print image and the security printing with a given angle based on the image direction which has been acquired and the dividing number which has been acquired,
wherein the post-processing apparatus includes a punch unit having a plurality of perforators for perforating holes at the center and one end of the one sheet in a conveyance direction of the sheet,
wherein the method further comprises:
acquiring information of a shape and a number of perforators of the punch unit;
determining whether a print area of the security printing and a perforating area of double punching by the punch unit overlap based on security printing position which has been acquired and the shape and number of the perforators which has been acquired;
adjusting a print position of security printing to avoid overlapping of the print area of the security printing and the perforating area of the double punching when the print area of the security printing and the perforating area of the double punching are determined to overlap; and
printing the security printing at the print position which has been adjusted using a printing engine.

3. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program that, when executed by a computer having a processing circuitry, causes the computer to execute a method of security printing for an image forming apparatus connected to a post processing apparatus, comprising the steps of:
detecting a size of a sheet to be conducted with print processing;
acquiring a dividing number of the sheet;
dividing the sheet into a plurality of areas based on the sheet size detected at the sheet size detection step and the dividing number acquired at the dividing number acquiring step;
acquiring a position of security printing; and
determining a print position of security printing on each of the plurality of areas, divided at the sheet dividing step, based on the position of security printing acquired at the security printing setting acquiring step;
changing magnification of a size of a target-print image and a size of security printing based on the sheet size which has been detected and the dividing number which has been acquired;
acquiring a setting of an image direction of the target-print image; and
rotating the target-print image and the security printing with a given angle based on the image direction which has been acquired and the dividing number which has been acquired,
wherein the post-processing apparatus includes a punch unit having a plurality of perforators for perforating holes at the center and one end of the one sheet in a conveyance direction of the sheet,
wherein the method further comprises:
acquiring information of a shape and a number of perforators of the punch unit;
determining whether a print area of the security printing and a perforating area of double punching by the punch unit overlap based on security printing position which has been acquired and the shape and number of the perforators which has been acquired;
adjusting a print position of security printing to avoid overlapping of the print area of the security printing and the perforating area of the double punching when the print area of the security printing and the perforating area of the double punching are determined to overlap; and
printing the security printing at the print position which has been adjusted using a printing engine.

Assignees

• Yamawaki Taku
• Kuwano Shuko
• Matsumura Yutaka
• Ricoh Co Ltd

Inventors

• Yamawaki Taku
• Kuwano Shuko
• Matsumura Yutaka

Classifications

• B26F1/00 Primary

  Perforating; Punching; Cutting-out; Stamping-out; Apparatus therefor (perforating by laser beam B23K26/00; subjecting the grinding tools or the abrading medium to vibration, e.g. grinding with ultrasonic frequency, B24B1/04; perforating by sand-blasting B24C; punching cards or tapes for statistical and record purposes G06K1/00) · CPC title

• B26F1/0092

  Perforating means specially adapted for printing machines (B26F1/02 - B26F1/46 take precedence) · CPC title

• B41J29/00

  Details of, or accessories for, typewriters or selective printing mechanisms not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• H04N1/2338 Primary

  according to user specified instructions, e.g. user selection of reproduction mode · CPC title

• H04N1/387

  Composing, repositioning or otherwise {geometrically} modifying originals · CPC title