JPH0442848Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a copy number management device, and more particularly to a password input error control device.

[Conventional technology]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in order to prevent unlimited use of a copying machine, it is known that a copying machine is provided with a copy number management device, and a copying operation is enabled only when a pre-registered password is input.

[Problem that the invention attempts to solve]

However, in the conventional copy number management device, even if an incorrect password is entered, the error is simply displayed and the system waits for input again, so the user can re-enter the password any number of times. Therefore, even a person who does not know the password can input the correct password by chance and make copies, making it difficult to manage the number of copies by password.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the conventional copy number management device described above, and to provide a copy number management device that prevents the correct password from being accidentally input.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to achieve the above object, the copy number management device for a copying machine of the present invention includes a nonvolatile memory in which a password is registered in advance, a console panel for inputting the password, and a password registered in the nonvolatile memory. and a PIN entered from the console panel, a means for enabling the copying machine to perform copying operations when the PINs match, and a means for determining the number of times the PIN has been entered when the PINs do not match. a counting means for counting; a means for comparing the value of the counting means with a predetermined constant value;
The apparatus is characterized by further comprising means for prohibiting input from the console panel for a predetermined period of time when the value of the counting means reaches the certain value.

[Effect]

In the present invention, a password entered from the console panel is compared with a password registered in advance in a non-volatile memory, and when the two match, the copying machine is enabled to perform copying operations. If an incorrect password is entered a predetermined number of times or more, input from the console panel is prohibited for a predetermined period of time, and the password can be re-entered after the predetermined period of time has elapsed.

〔Example〕

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

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a copying machine to which the copy number management device of the present invention is applied, in which 1 is the main body of the copying machine, 2 is a console panel, 3 is a platen cover, 4 is a first tray, and 5 is a second tray. It is.

As shown in FIG. 3, the console panel 2 is provided with a numeric keypad 21, a start button 22, a clear button 23, a copy number management button 24, a copy number management cancellation button 25, a message display device 26, and the like.

FIG. 4 shows a block circuit diagram of the copy number management device of the present invention, and 30 indicates a microcomputer as a whole, which is connected to a CPU 31 via a bus line.
ROM32, RAM32, NVM (non-volatile memory)
34, a timer 35, an input port 36, an output port 37, etc. are connected to each button 21 to 25 of the console panel 2 via the input port 36, and connected to the message display device 26 via the output port 37. .

The copy number circuit device of the present invention can be switched to three modes as described below as necessary.

The first is an access control mode that automatically manages the number of copies after the power is turned on, the second is the assigned account mode that manages the number of copies only when the number of copies management button 24 is pressed, and the third is the prohibition of managing the number of copies. mode. Switching between these three types of modes is performed in the administrative mode where a password etc. can be registered.

First, the relationship between these three types of modes will be briefly explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In the figure, the area surrounded by a broken line P is the access control mode, the area surrounded by a broken line Q is the assigned account mode, the area surrounded by the broken line R is the copy number management prohibition mode, and the area surrounded by the broken line S is the Indicates administrative mode.

When the power is turned on, depending on the mode set in the NVM 34 in advance, if it is access control mode, it will proceed to steps 210 to 213, and if it is assigned account mode, it will proceed to steps 220 to 226.
If the transfer sheet number management prohibition mode is selected, the process proceeds to steps 230 to 234.

Next, each mode will be explained.

In the access control mode, you are always required to enter a PIN number, and copying is possible only when the correct PIN number is entered (steps 211~
213). In addition, the number of copies etc. at this time is NVM3
4 is stored.

If a special PIN number is entered in step 211, the process advances from step 212 to step 240 and switches to administrative mode.
At step 240, it becomes possible to set each mode, register a password, etc.

In the assigned account mode, unless the number of copies management button 24 is turned on, normal copying can be performed (steps 221, 226), but when the number of copies management button 24 is turned on, the machine waits for the password to be entered, and in this state the password is not entered. When the number is input, the copying operation state is entered, and the number of copies etc. are stored in the NVM 34 (steps 222 to 224). When the copy number management release button 25 is turned on here, the state returns to the normal copyable state again (steps 225 and 226). This assigned account mode is used, for example, when a user wants to record the number of sheets used by each individual.

Note that even in this assigned account mode, if you enter the special PIN number in step 223,
Switch to administrative mode (steps 223, 240).

In the copy count control prohibition mode, you can freely make copies without entering a PIN (step
231). Even in this copy number management prohibition mode,
If you turn on the copy number management button 24 and wait for a PIN to be entered, and enter a special PIN in this state, you can switch to the administrative mode (steps 232 to 234).
240).

In the present invention, input errors such as passwords are controlled in an access control mode that always manages the number of copies.

The access control mode will be explained below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the power is turned on, the message "Please enter your password" is displayed on the message display device 26 (step 101). Next, enter your password using the numeric keypad button 21 on the console panel 2 (step 102) and press the copy number management button 24.
The input PIN and NVM3 are processed by CPU31.
4 (step 103), and if the password is correct, the copying machine is enabled for operation (step 104). At this time, enter the special PIN number and press the number of copies management button 24.
Press to switch from access control mode to administrative mode.

If the passwords do not match, an error message "input error" is displayed on the message display device 26 (step 105), and the number of input errors is recorded in the RAM, for example.
A counter for input miscount provided in a predetermined area in 33 is used to count (step 106).
Timer 3 if the number of input errors is less than 3
5 (steps 107 and 108), and after 3 seconds,
The error display on the message display device 26 is cleared (steps 109 and 110), and the process returns to step 101.

If the input error is the third time, key input from the console panel 2 is prohibited, and the message "Please call the operator" is displayed on the message display device 26 (steps 107, 111, 112). It also resets the input miscount counter (step 113) and starts the timer 35 (step 113).
114) After 60 seconds have elapsed, the key input prohibition is canceled, the error display on the message display device 26 is cleared (steps 115, 116, 110), and the process returns to step 101.

Therefore, according to the copy number management device of the present invention, if the correct PIN is entered, copies can be made, and if the PIN is entered incorrectly, an "input error" message is displayed and the machine waits for input again. If an input error occurs three times in a row, the message "Please call an operator" is displayed and key input from the console panel 2 is prohibited for 60 seconds, thereby preventing the user from entering the incorrect PIN number repeatedly. It becomes possible.

[Effect of idea]

As described above, according to the present invention, in a copying machine equipped with a number of copies management device, when a password is input incorrectly more than a predetermined number of times, key input from the console panel is prohibited for a certain period of time.
This has the effect that the possibility of accidentally inputting the correct password is extremely reduced, and the number of copies can be accurately managed for each password.

In addition, even if you make a mistake in entering your PIN number more than a certain number of times, the next user can enter the PIN number after a certain period of time, rather than being continuously prohibited from entering keys. This has the effect of preventing unauthorized use by a malicious user without bothering the administrator of the copying machine, and not interfering with the use of the copying machine by a legitimate user.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the control process of the copy number management device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a copying machine in which the copy number management device is used, FIG. 3 is a plan view of the console panel, and FIG. 4 5 is a block circuit diagram of the copy number management device, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the switching operation between each mode. 1...Copier main body, 2...Console panel,
3...Platen cover, 4...First tray, 5...
...Second tray, 21...Numeric keypad button, 22...
...Start button, 23...Clear button, 24
... Copy number management button, 25... Copy number management release button, 26... Message display device, 30
...Microcomputer, 31 ...CPU, 3
2...ROM, 33...RAM, 34...NVM
(nonvolatile memory), 35...timer, 36...input port, 37...output port.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A non-volatile memory with a pre-registered PIN number,
A console panel for inputting a password, means for comparing the password registered in the non-volatile memory with the password input from the console panel, and a means for controlling the copying operation of the copying machine when the two passwords match. counting means for counting the number of inputs of the PIN number when the PIN numbers do not match; means for comparing the value of the counting means with a predetermined constant value; 1. A copy number management device for a copying machine, comprising means for inhibiting input from the console panel for a predetermined period of time when a predetermined value is reached.