Method and copying machine for preventing illegal copying

A copying machine which copies a subject to be copied by irradiating a light of the region including at least an IR light to said subject to be copied, inputting reflected light from said subject to be copied by image information input means to detect image information of said subject to be copied, and performing a predetermined copying processing based on said image information, said copying machine comprising:

• illegal copying preventive image pattern storage means for storing previously a predetermined illegal copying preventive image pattern which has been previously formed on a subject, an illegal copying of which must be prevented, with at least one IR absorption material having an absorption at least in the IR region;
• an IR transmission filter for transmitting only the IR region of said reflected light;
• filter control means for moving/removing said IR transmission filter to/from a forward step of said image information input means when a copying request command is inputted;
• and
• copying acceptance judgement means for comparing the IR image information inputted by said image information input means with the illegal copying preventive image pattern previously stored in said illegal copying preventive image pattern storage means, and as a result, if both are coincident with or similar to each other, determining the copying to be not acceptable to perform a predetermined illegal copying preventive processing, while if otherwise, determining the copying to be acceptable to perform the copying processing of said subject to be copied.

A copying machine which copies a subject to be copied by irradiating a light to said subject to be copied, inputting reflected light from said subject to be copied by first image information input means to detect image information of said subject to be copied, and performing a predetermined copying processing based on said image information, said copying machine comprising:

• illegal copying preventive image pattern storage means for storing previously a predetermined illegal copying preventive image pattern which has been previously formed on a subject, an illegal copying of which must be prevented, said image pattern provided with at least one IR absorption material having an absorption at least in the IR region;
• a light source for irradiating a light of the region including at least an IR light to said subject to be copied;
• second image information input means for entering the reflected IR light from said subject to be copied to detect IR image information of said subject to be copied;
• and
• copying acceptance judgement means for comparing the IR image information inputted by said second image information input means with the illegal copying preventive image pattern previously stored in said illegal copying preventive image pattern storage means, and as a result, if both are coincident with or similar to each other, determining the copying to be not acceptable to perform a predetermined illegal copying preventive processing, while if otherwise, determining the copying to be acceptable to perform the copying processing of said subject to be copied.