Sheet removal determination system and sheet removal determination method

Abstract

In accordance with an embodiment, a sheet removal determination system has a first detection device to detect a sheet discharged to a discharge port; a second detection device to detect a terminal device positioned within a communication enabled range of the second detection device; and a controller to determine whether or not a user is authorized user based on user information acquired from the terminal device detected by the second detection device, determine that the sheet has been improperly removed if the user is not the authorized user and the second detection device detects the terminal device and a quantity of the sheets is less than that of the sheets before detection after the sheet is detected by the first detection device, and detect the terminal device again with the second detection device if the second detection device detects the terminal device and a quantity of the sheets is increasing than that of the sheets before detection after the sheet is detected by the first detection device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sheet removal determination system, comprising:
 a first detection device configured to detect a sheet discharged to a discharge port;   a second detection device configured to detect a terminal device positioned within a communication enabled range of the second detection device; and   a controller configured to
 determine whether or not a user is an authorized user based on user information acquired from the terminal device detected by the second detection device, 
 determine that the sheet has been improperly removed if the user is not the authorized user and the second detection device detects the terminal device and a quantity of the sheets is less than that of the sheets before detection after the sheet is detected by the first detection device, and 
 detect the terminal device again with the second detection device if the second detection device detects the terminal device and a quantity of the sheets is increasing than that of the sheets before detection after the sheet is detected by the first detection device. 
   
     
     
         2 . The sheet removal determination system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a timer configured to measure time from a time point at which the sheet is discharged to the discharge port and the sheet is detected by the first detection device, wherein   the controller determines neglect of the sheet if a measured time by the timer exceeds a preset set time when a quantity of sheets does not change compared with that before the sheet is detected.   
     
     
         3 . The sheet removal determination system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a communication component configured to receive a keyword used for authentication of a user from another device together with a job including a printing request, wherein   the controller determines that the user is an authorized user if a keyword acquired from the terminal device detected by the second detection device is coincident with the keyword received by the communication component.   
     
     
         4 . The sheet removal determination system according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the controller determines that the condition indicating that the sheet is improperly removed is satisfied if the keyword used for user authentication is not acquired from another device and the printing by the authorized user is not performed.   
     
     
         5 . The sheet removal determination system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the controller sets a flag indicating that the sheet is improperly removed when a condition indicating that the sheet is improperly removed is satisfied, and if there is the flag, determines that the sheet is improperly removed and outputs the determination result.   
     
     
         6 . The sheet removal determination system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the controller outputs a message indicating that the sheet is neglected if an instruction to turn off the power supply is issued in a state in which the sheet is detected by the first detection device.   
     
     
         7 . The sheet removal determination system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a storage component configured to store identification information of a user that does not remove the sheet after elapse of an upper limit time from printing execution to the removal of the sheet in association with a printing condition imposed on the user.   
     
     
         8 . The sheet removal determination system according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the controller performs printing according to the condition indicated by the printing condition if a printing execution instruction is issued from the user stored in the storage component.   
     
     
         9 . The sheet removal determination system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the first detection device is a weight sensor that detects the weight of the sheet discharged to the discharge port.   
     
     
         10 . A sheet removal determination method, comprising:
 detecting a sheet discharged to a discharge port;   detecting a terminal device positioned within a communication enabled range;   determining whether or not a user is an authorized user based on user information acquired from the terminal device; and   determining that the sheet has been improperly removed if the user is not the authorized user and the terminal device is detected and a quantity of the sheets is less than that of the sheets before detection after the sheet is detected; and   detecting terminal device positioned within a communication enabled range if the terminal device is detected and a quantity of the sheets is increasing than that of the sheets before detection after the sheet is detected.   
     
     
         11 . The sheet removal determination method according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 measuring time from a time point at which the sheet is discharged to the discharge port and the sheet is detected; and   determining neglect of the sheet if a measured time exceeds a preset set time when a quantity of sheets does not change compared with that before the sheet is detected.   
     
     
         12 . The sheet removal determination method according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 receiving a keyword used for authentication of a user from another device together with a job including a printing request; and   determining that the user is the authorized user if a keyword acquired from the terminal device detected is coincident with the keyword.   
     
     
         13 . The sheet removal determination method according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 setting a flag indicating that the sheet is improperly removed when a condition indicating that the sheet is improperly removed is satisfied, and determining that the sheet is improperly removed and outputting the determination result.   
     
     
         14 . The sheet removal determination method according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 determining that the condition indicating that the sheet is improperly removed is satisfied if the keyword used for user authentication is not acquired from another device and printing by the authorized user is not performed.   
     
     
         15 . The sheet removal determination method according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 outputting a message indicating that the sheet is neglected if an instruction to turn off the power supply is issued in a state in which the sheet is detected.   
     
     
         16 . The sheet removal determination method according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 storing identification information of a user that does not remove the sheet after elapse of an upper limit time from printing execution to the removal of the sheet in association with a printing condition imposed on the user.   
     
     
         17 . The sheet removal determination method according to  claim 16 , further comprising:
 performing printing according to the condition indicated by the printing condition if a printing execution instruction is issued from the user stored.   
     
     
         18 . The sheet removal determination method according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 detecting a weight of the sheet discharged to the discharge port.   
     
     
         19 . An image forming apparatus, comprising:
 an image forming section; and   a sheet removal determination system, comprising:
 a first detection device configured to detect a sheet discharged to a discharge port; 
 a second detection device configured to detect a terminal device positioned within a communication enabled range of the second detection device; and 
 a controller configured to
 determine whether or not a user is an authorized user based on user information acquired from the terminal device detected by the second detection device, 
 determine that the sheet has been improperly removed if the user is not the authorized user and the second detection device detects the terminal device and a quantity of the sheets is less than that of the sheets before detection after the sheet is detected by the first detection device, and 
 detect the terminal device again with the second detection device if the second detection device detects the terminal device and a quantity of the sheets is increasing than that of the sheets before detection after the sheet is detected by the first detection device. 
 
   
     
     
         20 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a timer configured to measure time from a time point at which the sheet is discharged to the discharge port and the sheet is detected by the first detection device, wherein   the controller determines neglect of the sheet if a measured time by the timer exceeds a preset set time when a quantity of sheets does not change compared with that before the sheet is detected.