Abstract: The present specific document determining apparatus according to the present invention comprises a microwave sensor for irradiating a microwave to and scanning a document, detecting a reflected portion of the irradiated microwave, outputting a first detection signal, again irradiating a microwave and scanning the document after the document is placed on a contact glass, detecting a reflected portion of the irradiated microwave, and outputting a second detection signal; a signal processing section for using the first detection signal as a reference signal and comparing a level of the reference signal to a level of the second detection signal to make determination as to whether metallic fiber is included in the document or not, and a controller for making determination as to whether the document is a specific one or not according to a result of determination by the signal processing section.

Abstract: The present specific document determining apparatus according to the present invention comprises a microwave sensor for irradiating a microwave to and scanning a document, detecting a reflected portion of the irradiated microwave, outputting a first detection signal, again irradiating a microwave and scanning the document after the document is placed on a contact glass, detecting a reflected portion of the irradiated microwave, and outputting a second detection signal; a signal processing section for using the first detection signal as a reference signal and comparing a level of the reference signal to a level of the second detection signal to make determination as to whether metallic fiber is included in the document or not, and a controller for making determination as to whether the document is a specific one or not according to a result of determination by the signal processing section.

Abstract: The present specific document determining apparatus according to the present invention comprises a microwave sensor for irradiating a microwave to and scanning a document, detecting a reflected portion of the irradiated microwave, outputting a first detection signal, again irradiating a microwave and scanning the document after the document is placed on a contact glass, detecting a reflected portion of the irradiated microwave, and outputting a second detection signal; a signal processing section for using the first detection signal as a reference signal and comparing a level of the reference signal to a level of the second detection signal to make determination as to whether metallic fiber is included in the document or not, and a controller for making determination as to whether the document is a specific one or not according to a result of determination by the signal processing section.

Abstract: The present specific document determining apparatus according to the present invention comprises a microwave sensor for irradiating a microwave to and scanning a document, detecting a reflected portion of the irradiated microwave, outputting a first detection signal, again irradiating a microwave and scanning the document after the document is placed on a contact glass, detecting a reflected portion of the irradiated microwave, and outputting a second detection signal; a signal processing section for using the first detection signal as a reference signal and comparing a level of the reference signal to a level of the second detection signal to make determination as to whether metallic fiber is included in the document or not, and a controller for making determination as to whether the document is a specific one or not according to a result of determination by the signal processing section.

Abstract: The present specific document determining apparatus according to the present invention comprises a microwave sensor for irradiating a microwave to and scanning a document, detecting a reflected portion of the irradiated microwave, outputting a first detection signal, again irradiating a microwave and scanning the document after the document is placed on a contact glass, detecting a reflected portion of the irradiated microwave, and outputting a second detection signal; a signal processing section for using the first detection signal as a reference signal and comparing a level of the reference signal to a level of the second detection signal to make determination as to whether metallic fiber is included in the document or not, and a controller for making determination as to whether the document is a specific one or not according to a result of determination by the signal processing section.

Abstract: An original image comprises a printed region on which a predetermined printed matter is realized and a background region on which no printed matter is realized. The shape of a peripheral zone in the original image comprises the shape of the background region, which shape exists particularly at the peripheral region of said original image. It is determined whether or not the original image comprises the special document by detecting the peripheral zone. Further, the original image has an outer-frame region, having a predetermined shape at the peripheral region of the original image. The determination is carried out using a result of measuring the width of the outer-frame region. Further, the width of the outer-frame region comprises a width along a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction extending along the outline of the original image.

Abstract: The present specific document determining apparatus according to the present invention comprises a microwave sensor for irradiating a microwave to and scanning a document, detecting a reflected portion of the irradiated microwave, outputting a first detection signal, again irradiating a microwave and scanning the document after the document is placed on a contact glass, detecting a reflected portion of the irradiated microwave, and outputting a second detection signal; a signal processing section for using the first detection signal as a reference signal and comparing a level of the reference signal to a level of the second detection signal to make determination as to whether metallic fiber is included in the document or not, and a controller for making determination as to whether the document is a specific one or not according to a result of determination by the signal processing section.

Abstract: An original image comprises a printed region on which a predetermined printed matter is realized and a background region on which no printed matter is realized. The shape of a peripheral zone in the original image comprises the shape of the background region, which shape exists particularly at the peripheral region of said original image. It is determined whether or not the original image comprises the special document by detecting the peripheral zone. Further, the original image has an outer-frame region, having a predetermined shape, at the peripheral region of the original image. The determination is carried out using a result of measuring the width of the outer-frame region. Further, the width of the outer-frame region comprises a width along a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction extending along the outline of the original image.

Abstract: In a paper media system for reading a bidimensional bar code representative of, for example, the contents of a document, reproducing the contents, and displaying or outputting them, a bar code recording device combines a document image with a bar code image by reducing, or moving, or decomposing and rearranging the document image, and then prints them on a paper together. Hence, the document image is prevented from overlapping the bar code image on the paper. Further, a character image existing in a document image are transformed to a second bar code image. The second bar code image is combined with the above or first bar code image and then printed on a paper. Thins prevents the first and second bar code images from overlapping each other on the paper. In addition, because bar code images are provided with line widths and line distances capable of being read by a bar code reader, they can be surely read by a bar code reader.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a special-document discriminating apparatus used for providing a counterfeit preventing function to a digital copy machine and the like, and to a managing system for an image forming apparatus having a special-document discriminating function. The special-document discriminating apparatus is provided with a ROM for discriminating a special-document such as paper money, which ROM is detachably attached to a controlling circuit board. Data used for determination may be learned from test pattern data input from the image forming apparatus, or the data may be input from an external unit via a communication line. The managing system for an image forming apparatus comprises an image forming apparatus and a managing apparatus connected to the image forming apparatus. Either the image forming apparatus or the managing apparatus has a special-document discriminating function.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a special-document discriminating apparatus used for providing a counterfeit preventing function to a digital copy machine and the like, and to a managing system for an image forming apparatus having a special-document discriminating function. The special-document discriminating apparatus is provided with a ROM for discriminating a special-document such as paper money, which ROM is detachably attached to a controlling circuit board. Data used for determination may be learned from test pattern data input from the image forming apparatus, or the data may be input from an external unit via a communication line. The managing system for an image forming apparatus comprises an image forming apparatus and a managing apparatus connected to the image forming apparatus. Either the image forming apparatus or the managing apparatus has a special-document discriminating function.

Abstract: A digital copier or a complex copier having a facsimile function is provided with a security function for keeping a record of persons who copied or transmitted images, the dates of copying or transmission and the kinds of the images in a manner which is not known to a third person. When a scanner included in the copier is used, a document image is electrically or magnetically recorded in a security unit removably mounted on the copier. The document image is thinned or otherwise reduced in scale before written to the security unit. A keyword, password or similar information identifying a person is input on the copier. The document image is recorded in the security unit together with the person's identification and the date and time when the scanner is used. A plurality of such document images stored in the security unit are printed on a single paper at the same time.

Abstract: A copying apparatus includes an image reading unit for optically reading an original and for outputting image signals, an image processing unit for processing the image signals from the image reading unit in accordance with a predetermined method and for outputting image data, a printer unit for forming an image corresponding to the image data from the image processing unit on a recording sheet, a determination unit for determining whether the rank of certainty that the original is the same as the special original such as paper money is a first rank or a second rank, a control unit for prohibiting the image corresponding to the image data from being formed on the recording sheet when the determination result obtained by the determination unit is the first rank, and a marking unit for adding a predetermined mark on the recording sheet when the determination result obtained by the determination unit is the second rank.

Abstract: The present invention provides an invisible light image detecting means for detecting an invisible light region image formed by using colorless paint in an invisible light region, and a discriminating means for discriminating a general document from a specific one by using the image data detected by said invisible light image detecting means, thus discrimination between a general document and a specific one being executed accurately and without fail.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an image reading unit for reading an original and for outputting image data corresponding to the original, an image processing unit for processing the image data supplied from the image reading unit in accordance with a predetermined method and for outputting printing image data, a printer unit for printing an image corresponding to the printing image data supplied from the image processing unit, and an image adding unit for adding an identification information to the recording sheet on which the image is formed by the printer unit, the identification information identifying the image forming apparatus in order to prevent forgery of securities, confidential documents or backnotes. A detector detects the presence or absence of the image adding unit and disables the copying functions when the image adding unit is absent.

Abstract: A document handling apparatus comprises a first conveyor means for conveying a document to a given location, a document stacking means for receiving documents conveyed by the first conveyor means and maintaining them at said location to form them into a stack, a stapling means for stapling the stack of documents, and a second conveyor means for conveying the stapled stack of documents out of said given location. The first or the second conveyor means comprises a conveyor roller or rollers, and an electromagnetic ball control device which brings a steel ball into abutment against or away from the conveyor rollers in response to an operation of an electromagnet.

Abstract: An automatic voltage regulator employing an optical feedback system, in which a luminous element, whose intensity varies in response to the variation in a regulated voltage, illuminates a photosensitive element which generates a feedback signal responsive to intensity of light. More precise voltage regulation is possible. Furthermore, a "soft-start" circuit is provided which can arbitrarily select a rising time of a regulated voltage to a predetermined magnitude, starting always from a predetermined phase angle of the voltage.