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US 7,971,528 B2Granted
Used-master security system for a printing apparatus
AssigneeTohoku Ricoh Co., Ltd.
InventorHideyuki Kagawa
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
There is provided a used-master security system for a printing apparatus that can prohibit the removal of used masters for any type of master and to safely secure used masters by prohibiting the removal of used masters; a used-master security method for a printing apparatus in which the used-master security system of the printing apparatus is used; and a printing apparatus capable of prohibiting the removal of used masters with the used-master security system for a printing apparatus, and having a used-master storage device for storing used-masters provided to the printing apparatus main body and a used-master security device that is capable of prohibiting the removal of used masters inside the used-master storage device.
Claims22
A used-master security system for a printing apparatus, comprising:
- a used-master storage device provided to a printing apparatus main body and configured to store at least one used master, the used-master storage device including at least a front surface facing to an exterior of the printing apparatus and a rear surface opposite to the front surface and facing to an interior of the printing apparatus;
- a mount detection device that detects whether the used-master storage device is mounted in the main body of the printing apparatus;
- a used-master security device configured to prohibit the removal of a used-master inside the master storage device, the used-master security device including a locking mechanism secured to an interior of the printing apparatus;
- a lock device;
- and
- a lock setting device that imparts to the lock device either a prohibited state for prohibiting the removal of the used-master storage device out from the main body of the printing apparatus, or a released state for permitting the removal of the used-master storage device out from the main body of the printing apparatus, wherein the lock setting device is a control device that controls the lock device and imparts to the lock device either a prohibited state or a released state,
- wherein the lock device includes a projection extending from the rear surface of the used-master storage device, the rear surface and projection facing the interior of the printing apparatus in an opposite direction from a direction of removal of the used-master storage device,
- wherein the projection is configured to project into an aperture formed in the locking mechanism, the locking mechanism configured to slide in a direction substantially perpendicular to the projection to engage the projection and prohibit the removal of the used-master storage device out from the main body of the printing apparatus,
- wherein the locking mechanism is located further to the interior of the printing apparatus than the rear surface of the used-master storage device, and
- wherein the control device does not set the lock device in the prohibited state unless the mount detection device detects that the used-master storage device is mounted in the main body of the printing apparatus.
7 more elements
A used-master security method for a printing apparatus, comprising:
- providing a used-master storage device to a printing apparatus main body for storing a used master, the used-master storage device including at least a front surface facing to an exterior of the printing apparatus and a rear surface opposite to the front surface and facing to an interior of the printing apparatus;
- detecting whether the used-master storage device is mounted in the main body of the printing apparatus;
- prohibiting the removal of a used-master inside the used-master storage device with a used-master security device, the used-master security device including a locking mechanism secured to an interior of the printing apparatus;
- prohibiting the removal of the used-master storage device out from the main body of the printing apparatus using a lock device that includes a projection extending from the rear surface of the used-master storage device, the rear surface and projection facing the interior of the printing apparatus in an opposite direction from a direction of removal of the used-master storage device;
- and
- imparting to the lock device either a prohibited state for prohibiting the removal of the used-master storage device out from the main body of the printing apparatus, or a released state for permitting the removal of the used-master storage device out from the main body of the printing apparatus,
- wherein the projection is configured to project into an aperture formed in the locking mechanism, the locking mechanism is configured to slide in a direction substantially perpendicular to the projection to engage the projection and prohibit removal of the used-master storage device,
- wherein the locking mechanism is located further to the interior of the printing apparatus than the rear surface of the used-master storage device, and
- wherein the lock device is not set in the prohibited state unless used-master storage device is detected as being mounted in the main body of the printing apparatus.
6 more elements
A printing apparatus comprising:
- at least a used-master storage device provided to a printing apparatus main body and used for storing a used master, the used-master storage device including at least a front surface facing to an exterior of the printing apparatus and a rear surface opposite to the front surface and facing to an interior of the printing apparatus;
- a mount detection device that detects whether the used-master storage device is mounted in the main body of the printing apparatus;
- at least a portion of a used-master security device provided to a used-master security system for the printing apparatus, said used-master security system configured to prohibit the removal of used masters inside the used-master storage device, wherein the used-master security system includes a locking mechanism secured to an interior of the printing apparatus;
- a lock device;
- and
- a lock setting device that imparts to the lock device either a prohibited state for prohibiting the removal of the used-master storage device out from the main body of the printing apparatus, or a released state for permitting the removal of the used-master storage device out from the main body of the printing apparatus, wherein the lock setting device is a control device that controls the lock device and imparts to the lock device either a prohibited state or a released state,
- wherein the lock device includes a projection extending from the rear surface of the used-master storage device, the rear surface and projection facing the interior of the printing apparatus in an opposite direction from a direction of removal of the used-master storage device,
- wherein the projection is configured to project into an aperture formed in the locking mechanism, the locking mechanism configured to slide in a direction substantially perpendicular to the projection to engage the projection and prohibit the removal of the used-master storage device out from the main body of the printing apparatus,
- wherein the locking mechanism is located further to the interior of the printing apparatus than the rear surface of the used-master storage device, and
- wherein the control device does not set the lock device in the prohibited state unless the mount detection device detects that the used-master storage device is mounted in the main body of the printing apparatus.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.