IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD OF THE APPARATUS, AND CONTROL PROGRAM OF THE APPARATUS

• US 20080235787A1
• Filed: 03/20/2007
• Published: 09/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation), Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation), Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Shimoda, Koichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,954,149 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/17
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/44 Secrecy systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4406 Restricting access, e.g. according to user identity mechanisms actuated y cards, PIN or the like in apparatus for dispensing G07F7/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4426 involving separate means, e.g. a server, a magnetic card
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4493 Subsequently rendering the image intelligible using a co-operating image, mask or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception

Abstract

When an enabler key 10 is inserted in the main body 1, an overwrite mode for overwriting new data on existing data in a hard disk drive 25 is set. When the enabler key 10 is removed from the main body 1, the overwrite mode is released. During startup of the main body 1 and at every fixed time t1 after the startup of the main body 1, presence or absence of insertion of the enabler key 10 is detected. When a result of this detection changes from “present” to “absent”, the main body 1 is stopped.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a data storing unit;

an enabler key insertable in and removable from the apparatus;

a first control unit configured to set, when the enabler key is inserted in the apparatus, an overwrite mode for overwriting new data on existing data in the data storing unit and release the overwriting mode when the enabler key is removed; and

a second control unit configured to detect presence or absence of insertion of the enabler key during startup of the apparatus and at every fixed time after the startup of the apparatus and stop the apparatus when a result of the detection changes from present to absent.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a control panel that has a display screen.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein;

the second control unit detects presence or absence of the insertion of the enabler key during startup of the apparatus and at every fixed time after startup and, when a result of the detection changes from present to absent, stops the apparatus and displays an indication of call for a serviceman for the apparatus on a display screen of the control panel.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein;

the data storing unit is a hard disk drive.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising;

a USB port in which the enabler key is removably inserted.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising;

a memory for management that stores the result of the detection by the second control unit.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein;

the second control unit detects presence or absence of insertion of the enabler key during startup of the apparatus and at every fixed time after the startup, monitors a change in a result of the detection according to comparison of the result of the detection and contents of the memory for management, and stops the apparatus when the result of the detection changes from present to absent.

8. An apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising;

a control panel that has a display screen.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein;

the second control unit detects presence or absence of the insertion of the enabler key during startup of the apparatus and at every fixed time after startup, monitors a change in a result of the detection according to comparison of the result of the detection and contents of the memory for management, and, when the result of the detection changes from present to absent, stops the apparatus and displays an indication of call for a serviceman for the apparatus on a display screen of the control panel.

10. An image forming apparatus comprising:

data storing means;

an enabler key insertable in and removable from the apparatus;

first controlling means for setting, when the enabler key is inserted in the apparatus, an overwrite mode for overwriting new data on existing data in the data storing means and releasing the overwriting mode when the enabler key is removed; and

second controlling means for detecting presence or absence of insertion of the enabler key during startup of the apparatus and at every fixed time after the startup of the apparatus and stopping the apparatus when a result of the detection changes from present to absent.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising;

displaying means.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein;

the second controlling means detects presence or absence of the insertion of the enabler key during startup of the apparatus and at every fixed time after startup and, when a result of the detection changes from present to absent, stops the apparatus and displays an indication of call for a serviceman for the apparatus on the displaying means.

13. An apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising;

memory means for management for storing the result of the detection by the second control unit.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein;

the second controlling means detects presence or absence of insertion of the enabler key during startup of the apparatus and at every fixed time after the startup, monitors a change in a result of the detection according to comparison of the result of the detection and contents of the memory means for management, and stops the apparatus when the result of the detection changes from present to absent.

15. An apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising;

displaying means.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein;

the second controlling means detects presence or absence of the insertion of the enabler key during startup of the apparatus and at every fixed time after startup, monitors a change in a result of the detection according to comparison of the result of the detection and contents of the memory means for management, and, when the result of the detection changes from present to absent, stops the apparatus and displays an indication of call for a serviceman for the apparatus on the displaying means.

17. A control method of an image forming apparatus including a data storing unit and an enabler key insertable in and removable from the apparatus, the control method comprising the steps of:

setting, when the enabler key is inserted in the apparatus, an overwrite mode for overwriting new data on existing data in the data storing unit and releasing the overwriting mode when the enabler key is removed; and

detecting presence or absence of insertion of the enabler key during startup of the apparatus and at every fixed time after the startup of the apparatus and stopping the apparatus when a result of the detection changes from present to absent.

18. A control program of an image forming apparatus including a data storing unit, an enabler key insertable in and removable from the apparatus, and a controller, the control program causing the controller to execute:

a procedure for setting, when the enabler key is inserted in the apparatus, an overwrite mode for overwriting new data on existing data in the data storing unit and releasing the overwriting mode when the enabler key is removed; and

a procedure for detecting presence or absence of insertion of the enabler key during startup of the apparatus and at every fixed time after the startup of the apparatus and stopping the apparatus when a result of the detection changes from present to absent.