US4603970A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for inhibiting copying of confidential documents
Assignee: Fujifilm Business Innovation Corp
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Filing: 1983-06-30
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Granted: 1986-08-05
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Expires: 2003-06-30
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for inhibiting the copying of confidential documents is disclosed. Confidential documents are treated with an infrared ray-absorbing agent. The apparatus for inhibiting the copying of confidential documents is comprised of a means to detect the presence of the infrared ray-absorbing agent, and a means to stop a copying operation upon detection of the agent or a means to start a control system to make the documents unreadable. Documents may also be provided with a metal layer. The apparatus is then comprised of a means to detect the presence of the metal layer and a means to stop a copying operation or to start a control system adapted to make copied materials undistinguishable or unreadable upon detection of the metal layer.
Inventors
- 👤 Koichi Aota
- 👤 Katsuhiko Ishikawa
- 👤 Naoki Yokoi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 17:24
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G21/00; G03G21/04; G03G21/046
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
88 words
An apparatus for inhibiting the copying of information on a manuscript sheet treated with an infrared ray-absorbing agent, said apparatus comprising: scanning means for scanning said sheet for infrared ray-absorbing regions; comparison means for comparing an output of said scanning means to a reference level; and means responsive to an output of said comparison means for determining the size of detected infrared ray-absorbing regions and for preventing the copying of the information upon the detection of the presence of an infrared ray-absorbing region greater than a predetermined size.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
88 words
An apparatus for inhibiting the copying of information on a manuscript sheet treated with an infrared ray-absorbing agent, said apparatus comprising: scanning means for scanning said sheet for infrared ray-absorbing regions; comparison means for comparing an output of said scanning means to a reference level; and means responsive to an output of said comparison means for determining the size of detected infrared ray-absorbing regions and for preventing the copying of the information upon the detection of the presence of an infrared ray-absorbing region greater than a predetermined size.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said comparison means provides an infrared absorption detection signal for each detected infrared ray-absorbing region having a duration corresponding to the size of said each region, and wherein said means for preventing copying prevents the copying of information only when the duration of an infrared absorption signal exceeds a predetermined time interval.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said apparatus includes only a single scanning means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said scanning means provides an output representing an infrared ray-absorbing region upon encountering said infrared ray-absorbing agent or upon encountering information on said manuscript sheet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means to prevent copying is a means for stopping a copying operation upon detection of the presence of the infrared ray-absorbing agent.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means to prevent copying is a means to start a control system adapted to make any information on the manuscript sheet which is copied unreadable.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the means to start a control system adapted to make the information unreadable is a means to turn off the discharge of a charge transfer corotron.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the means to start a control system adapted to make the data unreadable is a means to turn off an exposure lamp.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-08-04 | 1990-02-03 | 1990-08-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-08-04 | 1994-02-03 | 1994-08-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-08-04 | 1998-02-03 | 1998-08-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |