Printer providing security for printout

Abstract

A printer accepting print requests from a plurality of users comprising bins storing printout and locks each locking a corresponding one of the bins, wherein the printer locks one of the bins and delivers the printouts to that one of the bins.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A printer accepting print requests from a plurality of users comprising: 
       lockable bins for storing printouts; and  
       locks each for locking a corresponding one of said bins, wherein said printer, in response to a user input, selectively leaves a selected lockable bin locked or unlocked and delivers the printouts to said selected lockable bin.  
     
     
       2. The printer claimed in claim  1 , further comprising a plurality of printout detection means each for detecting the existence of a printout in a corresponding one of said bins so as to avoid locking one of said bins which has a printout already therein. 
     
     
       3. A printer connected to a host device and shared by a plurality of users comprising: 
       a printer unit printing printouts in response to a request from one of the users via the host device;  
       lockable bins, one of which is selected by said printer unit for storing the printouts, wherein a first identification known to said one of the users is assigned to the one of said lockable bins selected by said printer unit;  
       locks each for locking a corresponding one of said lockable bins;  
       mailbox means for selectively locking said one of said lockable bins selected by said printer unit and delivering the printouts to said one of said selected lockable bins, wherein said mailbox means, in response to a user input, selectively leaves a selected lockable bin locked or unlocked and delivers printouts to said selected lockable bin; and  
       panel means for receiving a second identification, wherein said mailbox means unlocks said one of said lockable bins when said first identification is identical to said second identification.  
     
     
       4. The printer as claimed in claim  3 , wherein said printer unit assigns said first identification to said one of said bins and sends said first identification to said one of the users via the host device so that said first identification can be known to said one of the users. 
     
     
       5. The printer as claimed in claim  3 , wherein said first identification is assigned to said one of said bins via the host device by said one of the users. 
     
     
       6. The printer as claimed in claim  3 , further comprising a plurality of printout detection means each for detecting the existence of a printout in a corresponding one of said bins so as to prevent said printer unit from selecting one of said bins which has a printout already therein. 
     
     
       7. The printer as claimed in claim  6 , further comprising: 
       a plurality of fullness detection means each for detecting printouts filling a corresponding one of said bins;  
       a rack containing said bins; and  
       a plurality of slid bin detection means each for detecting whether a corresponding one of said bins is slid out of said rack.  
     
     
       8. A method of selectively locking one of a plurality of locks each provided for a corresponding lockable bin of a printer which is connected to a host device and has a panel to receive data for unlocking one of said locks, said printer delivering printouts to one of said lockable bins in response to a request via the host device from one of users sharing said printer, said method comprising the steps of: 
       determining whether there is at least one available lockable bin from among said lockable bins;  
       selecting one of said lockable bins from said at least one available lockable bin;  
       in response to a user input requesting a locked bin, assigning a first identification assigned to the selected one of said lockable bins, said first identification being known to said one of the users and locking said selected one of said lockable bins;  
       delivering said printouts to said selected one of said lockable bins;  
       waiting for a second identification to be received by said panel;  
       comparing said first identification with said second identification;  
       unlocking said selected one of said lockable bins if said first identification is identical to said second identification; and  
       in response to a user input requesting that a selected lockable bin not be locked, delivering said printouts to said selected one of said lockable bins without locking the selected lockable bin.  
     
     
       9. The method as claimed in claim  8 , wherein said step of assigning said first identification comprises the steps of: 
       assigning said first identification to said selected one of said bins; and  
       sending said first identification to said one of the users via the host device so that said first identification can be known to said one of the users.  
     
     
       10. The method as claimed in claim  8 , wherein said step of assigning said first identification comprises the step of assigning to said selected one of said bins said first identification sent from said one of the users via the host device. 
     
     
       11. The printer claimed in claim  1 , further comprising: ( a )  a panel accepting a first identification code entered through operations on the panel; and  ( b )  a controller coupled electronically to the panel and to the locks and responsive to said first identification code entered through operations on the panel to determine if the first identification code authorizes the unlocking of a selected one of said bins and, in case of a favorable determination, causing the lock corresponding to the selected bin to unlock the bin and thereby enable a user to remove printouts delivered thereto.   
     
     
       12. The printer claimed as in claim  11 , in which said controller comprises a memory storing a second identification code assigned to said selected bin, and makes the determination whether the first identification code authorizes the unlocking of the selected bin depending on whether the first identification code matches the second identification code. 
     
     
       13. The printer claimed in claim  12 , in which a user selects said second identification code and supplies the second identification code to the printer for storage in said memory. 
     
     
       14. The printer claimed in claim  13 , including a network interface through which the printer receives said second identification code from a user. 
     
     
       15. The printer claimed in claim  12 , in which said printer selects and generates said second identification code in response to a user's print request and stores the second identification code in said memory. 
     
     
       16. The printer claimed in claim  11 , in which said printer comprises a printer unit printing said printouts and a mailbox secured thereto to which the printer unit delivers said printouts. 
     
     
       17. The printer claimed in claim  16 , in which said mailbox incorporates said bins and locks. 
     
     
       18. The printer claimed in claim  16 , in which said printer unit incorporates said controller and panel. 
     
     
       19. The printer claimed in claim  11 , further comprising at least one interface circuit through which said controller is electronically coupled to said panel and said locks. 
     
     
       20. The printer claimed in claim  19 , is which said at least one interface circuit comprises a first interface circuit through which said controller is coupled electronically to said panel and a second interface circuit through which said controller is electronically couple to said locks. 
     
     
       21. The printer claimed in claim  1 , comprising a printer unit printing said printouts and a mailbox to which said printer delivers said printouts, said bins and locks being incorporated in said mailbox, said printer further including a panel, and said printer comprising a controller responding to a user's operations on the panel to unlock a selected locked bin. 
     
     
       22. The printer claimed in claim  21 , in which said panel is incorporated in the printer unit. 
     
     
       23. The printer claimed in claim  21 , in which said controller is incorporated in the printer unit. 
     
     
       24. The printer claimed in claim  1 , in which said printer, in response to a user input, selects a locked bin for delivering printouts thereto, and delivers thereto more printouts resulting from more than one print jobs. 
     
     
       25. A printing process comprising the steps of: 
       
         providing a printer having a panel for accepting user inputs, a mailbox comprising a stack of lockable bins for the delivery of printouts thereto, and a plurality of locks each for selectively locking or unlocking a corresponding one of said bin to selectively leave the bin locked or unlocked;  
       
       
         selecting one of said bins, furnishing an identification code to the printer, and causing the lock corresponding to the selected bin to lock the bin;  
       
       
         printing a job and delivering printouts to the selected bin;  
       
       
         entering a bin unlocking code through user operations of the printer's panel;  
       
       
         determining if the identification code matches the bin unlocking code and, in case of a match, causing the lock corresponding to the selected bin to unlock the bin; and  
       
       
         sliding the bin at least partly out of the stack of bins to remove said printouts delivered thereto. 
       
     
     
       26. The printing process claimed in claim  25 , in which said selecting of a bin comprises selecting a bin in response to a user's designation of a bin. 
     
     
       27. The printing process claimed in claim  26 , in which said selecting of a bin comprises selecting a bin in response to a print request from a user, wherein said print request does not specify a bin. 
     
     
       28. The printing process claimed in claim  25 , in which said furnishing of an identification code to the printer comprises furnishing an identification code selected by a user. 
     
     
       29. The printing process claimed in claim  28 , in which said furnishing of an identification code selected by the user comprises furnishing the code as electronic data over a network to which the user and printer are connected via respective interface circuits. 
     
     
       30. The printing process claimed in claim  25 , in which the printer comprises a printing unit and a mailbox, and the printer's panel through which the user enters said bin unlocking code is incorporated in the printing unit.