Patent Publication Number: US-2007115496-A1

Title: Recording-medium management system, disposal processing apparatus, and disposal processing method

Description:
BACKGROUND  
     Technical Field  
      The invention relates to a recording-medium management system, a disposal processing apparatus, and a disposal processing method which are suitable for use in management of recording media.  
     SUMMARY  
      According to an aspect of the invention, a recording-medium management system includes a recording-medium management apparatus and a disposal processing apparatus. The recording-medium management apparatus manages pieces of identification information attached to recording media. The disposal processing apparatus disposes of a recording medium when receiving disposal permission from the recording-medium management apparatus. The disposal processing apparatus includes a disposal processing unit, a restricting unit, a reading unit. The disposal processing unit disposes of the recording medium. The restricting unit restricts disposal by the disposal processing unit. The reading unit reads identification information from the recording medium, which is positioned by the restricting unit.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      Exemplary embodiments of invention will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein:  
       FIG. 1  shows the configuration of a document management system according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing an exemplary configuration of a document generation apparatus;  
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram showing an exemplary configuration of a document management apparatus;  
       FIG. 4  schematically shows an exemplary mechanism of a document disposal apparatus;  
       FIG. 5  is a partially exploded perspective view of the document disposal apparatus;  
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the document disposal apparatus;  
       FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of part of a unit main body;  
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of components of the unit main body;  
       FIG. 9  shows a drive mechanism for a stopper gate;  
       FIG. 10  is a top view of a scanning unit;  
       FIG. 11  is a block diagram showing an exemplary configuration of the document disposal apparatus;  
       FIG. 12  illustrates an exemplary manner of generation of a document;  
       FIG. 13  shows an exemplary document management table;  
       FIG. 14  is a flowchart of a processing procedure of the document disposal apparatus;  
       FIG. 15  illustrates a problem that may occur when a document is inserted in to the document disposal apparatus;  
       FIG. 16  shows an apparatus structure for solving the problem that may occur when a document is inserted;  
       FIG. 17  shows an example in which a document tray unit is formed with steps;  
       FIG. 18  an example in which the document tray unit is provided with a movable guide;  
       FIG. 19  shows an example in which weights are added to respective weight members; and  
       FIG. 20  shows an example in which a weight member is formed with a projection. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
      Exemplary embodiments of the invention will be hereinafter described in detail with reference to the drawings.  
       FIG. 1  shows the configuration of a recording-medium management system according to the exemplary embodiment of the invention.  
      A document generation apparatus  1  generates a recording medium (document) to which a document ID is attached as identification information. A document management apparatus  2  performs various kinds of management processing on documents generated by the document generation apparatus  1 . A document disposal apparatus  3  performs disposal processing on documents generated by the document generation apparatus  1  and other documents. A network  4  is configured by using a LAN (local area network) or a WAN (wide area network), for example.  
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing an exemplary configuration of the document generation apparatus  1 . The document generation apparatus  1  is configured by using a digital copier, a digital multi-function machine (copier), or the like. The document generation apparatus  1  is composed of an operation panel  5 , an image reading section  6 , an image processing section  7 , an image output section  8 , a document generation control section  9 , and a network interface  10 .  
      The operation panel  5  serves as a user interface through which a user of the document generation apparatus  1  inputs various kinds of information and on which various kinds of information are displayed for the user. For example, the operation panel  5  is composed of an input unit having various buttons, switches, keys, etc. and a display unit which is a liquid crystal panel with a touch panel.  
      The image reading section  6  optically reads images of a document, which is a reading target. The image reading section  6  generates image data (scanning data) corresponding to a document sheet image by applying light to the surface of a document sheet set on a transparent document table (platen glass) and forming an image of reflection light returning from the document sheet surface on the photodetecting surface of a reading sensor (CCD sensor or the like) via an image forming optical system including mirrors and lenses. During that course, the document sheet surface is scanned for reading as the image forming optical system is moved.  
      The image processing section  7  performs prescribed image processing (e.g., color conversion, color correction, gradation correction, enlargement/reduction, image rotation, and screen generation) on the image data produced by reading the document with the image reading section  6 .  
      The image output section  8  prints the image data produced by the reading by the image reading section  6  and subjected to the image processing by the image processing section  7  on recording media such as sheets. The image output section  8  prints the image data by an electrophotographic method, for example.  
      The document generation control section  9  controls various operations relating to document generation. The document generation control section  9  controls operations of the operation panel  5 , the image reading section  6 , the image processing section  7 , and the image output section  8  according to control programs given in advance.  
      The network interface  10  is a communication interface via which the document generation apparatus  1  exchanges data with other apparatus (including the document management apparatus  2  and the document disposal apparatus  3 ) over the network  4 . Data exchange via the network interface  10  is controlled by the document generation control section  9 .  
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram showing an exemplary configuration of the document management apparatus  2 . The document management apparatus  2  is configured by using a personal computer, for example. The document management apparatus  2  is composed of a user interface section (UI section)  11 , a bar code analyzing section  12 , a search section  13 , a database section  14 , a document management control section  15 , and a network interface  16 .  
      The user interface section  11  is a user interface through which a user of the document management apparatus  2  inputs various kinds of information and on which various kinds of information are displayed for the user. For example, the user interface section  11  is composed of input devices such as a keyboard and a mouse and a display device such as a liquid crystal display.  
      The bar code analyzing section  12  analyzes and decodes a bar code that is contained in image data (scanning data). A bar code to be analyzed by the bar code analyzing section  12  is one that is contained in image data obtained when images of a document with a bar code are read by the document generation apparatus  1 . This bar code is information including at least a document ID. In general, bar codes are generally classified into one-dimensional bar codes in which pieces of information are arranged only in one direction and two-dimensional bar codes in which pieces of information are arranged in two orthogonal directions. Bar codes of both types can be used in practicing the invention. However, where it is desired to have a bar code contain not only a document ID but also other various kinds of information and data, it is desirable to use a two-dimensional bar code having a larger data capacity. This exemplary embodiment employs, as an example, a QR code (registered trademark) which is a kind of two-dimensional bar code and is now widespread.  
      The search section  13  searches data accumulated in the data base section  14 . The data base section  14  accumulates various kinds of data. For example, the database section  14  is configured by using a hard disk drive.  
      The document management control section  15  controls various operations relating to document management. The document management control section  15  controls operations of the user interface section  11 , the bar code analyzing section  12 , the search section, and the database section  14  according to control programs given in advance.  
      The network interface  16  is a communication interface via which the document management apparatus  2  exchanges data with other apparatus (including the document generation apparatus  1  and the document disposal apparatus  3 ) over the network  4 . Data exchange via the network interface  16  is controlled by the document management control section  15 .  
       FIG. 4  schematically shows an exemplary mechanism of the document disposal apparatus  3 . The document disposal apparatus  3 , which is configured by using a shredder, for example, is equipped with a document tray unit  17 , an insertion sensor  18 , a bar code scanner  19 , a stopper gate  20 , pairs of feed rolls  21  and  22 , a passage sensor  23 , and a shredder unit  24 .  
      The document tray unit  17  has a guide surface for supporting a document, which is a disposal target, in such a manner that the document is kept placed there on. The guide surface (top surface) of the document tray unit  17  consists of a horizontal guide surface  17 A which is approximately horizontal and a slant guide surface  17 B which is inclined from the horizontal guide surface  17 A. The slant guide surface  17 B of the document tray unit  17  extends from the end of the horizontal guide surface  17 A so as to descend gradually toward the feed rolls  21 . The slant guide surface  17 B of the document tray unit  17  extends past the stopper gate  20  to just in front of the feed rolls  21 . A document transport passage is formed downstream of the feed rolls  21  by using a separate chute guide (not shown).  
      The insertion sensor  18  detects a document that has been inserted to a prescribed position on the document tray unit  17 . The prescribed position is such a position that a QR code is located in a code reading area E of the bar code scanner  19 , that is, can be read by the bar code scanner  19 , when a document on which the QR code is printed as a document ID is inserted in the regular direction. For example, the insertion sensor  18  is a reflection-type optical sensor having a light-emitting element and a photodetector. The insertion sensor  18  is rendered in an on state when a document exists at its sensing position and in an off state when no document exists at the sensing position.  
      The bar code scanner  19  optically reads a bar code that is attached to a document, which is a disposal target, and outputs original information (data) contained in the bar code of the document. The bar code scanner  19  is configured in such a manner that light emitted from a light source provided inside the scanner  19  is applied to a bar code recording portion of a document, which is a disposal target, and an area sensor captures a bar code image by detecting reflection light via a lens provided inside the scanner  19 . The bar code recording portion is a portion of a document surface where a bar code is recorded which includes a document ID and other information. As shown in  FIG. 12 , the bar code recording portion is located at a corner position of a document and its dimensions are predetermined. Although in this exemplary embodiment the bar code scanner  19  reads a bar code using the area sensor, the configuration of the bar code scanner  19  is not limited to it and may be such as to employ a line sensor in the case where a one-dimensional bar code is to be read.  
      The stopper gate  20  functions as a restricting unit for stopping a document, which is a disposal target, at the above-mentioned prescribed position in the document insertion direction of the document tray unit  17  until its disposal is permitted. The stopper gate  20  is disposed between the insertion sensor  18  and the feed rolls  21 . The stopper gate  20  opens or closes a document transport passage formed by the pairs of feed rolls  21  and  22  at its entrance. In a closed state, the stopper gate  20  is projected downward so as to interrupt a document path from the document tray unit  17  to the feed rolls  21 . Therefore, in this state, if a user tries to insert a document inward on the document tray unit  17 , the head of the document butts against the stopper gate  20 . In contrast, in an open state, the stopper gate  20  is retracted upward from the document path from the document tray unit  17  to the feed rolls  21 . Therefore, if a user tries to insert a document inward on the document tray unit  17 , the head of the document butts into the nip portion of the feed rolls  21 .  
      The feed rolls  21  rotate while nipping a document that has been introduced by opening the stopper gate  20 , and thereby transport the document along a document transport passage, which is formed by a transport guide member (chute or the like; not shown). The feed rolls  22  rotate while nipping a document that has been transported by the feed rolls  21 , and thereby transport the document to the shredder unit  24  along the document transport passage.  
      The passage sensor  23  is disposed at a halfway position (approximately at the center) of the document transport passage from the feed rolls  22  to the shredder unit  24  and detects a passage of a document. For example, the passage sensor  23  is a reflection-type optical sensor having a light-emitting element and a photodetector. The passage sensor  23  is rendered in an on state if a document exists at the sensing position and in an off state if no document exists at the sensing position. Therefore, the passage sensor  23  is switched from an off state to an on state at the same time as the head of a document passes its sensing position. When the tail of the document thereafter passes the sensing position, the passage sensor  23  is switched from the on state to an off state.  
      The shredder unit  24  shreds (disposes o) a document fed by the feed rolls  22  while pulling the document into itself in one direction (indicated by an arrow). The shredder unit  24  can dispose of plural document sheets (e.g., a bundle of about 20 A4-size plain sheets) together. Furthermore, the shredder unit  24  can dispose of even stapled document sheets as they are (i.e., in a state that staples are not removed).  
       FIG. 5  is a partially exploded perspective view of the document disposal apparatus  3 . An apparatus main body  25  of the document disposal apparatus  3  has an upper cover  26  which is integral with the apparatus main body  25 . The upper cover  26  is integrally formed with the above-described document tray unit  17 . A scanning unit  27  is detachably mounted on the upper cover  26  of the apparatus main body  25  by means of screws, for example. The scanning unit  27  is generally composed of a unit main body  28  and a unit cover  29 . The unit cover  29  is a resin cover which covers the unit main body  28  when the scanning unit  27  is mounted on the apparatus main body  25 .  FIG. 6  shows a state that the scanning unit  27  is actually mounted on the upper cover  26  of the apparatus main body  25 .  
       FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of part of the unit main body  28 . The unit main body  28  has a side guide  30 , a first frame member  31 , and a second frame member  32 . The side guide  30 , which is an integral resin mold, for example, is attached to one end portion of the first frame member  31  with screws. When the unit main body  28  is attached to the upper cover  26 , the side guide  30  is located at one side end of the document tray unit  17 . The side guide  30  is formed with a guide surface  30 A which is parallel with the document insertion direction and a chute surface  30 B which is perpendicular to the guide surface  30 A (the surfaces  30 A and  30 B form an L-shape).  
      The first frame member  31  serves to form a document insertion guide passage between itself and the document tray unit  17 . To this end, the first frame member  31  is attached so that a prescribed gap is formed between itself and the document tray unit  17 . As also shown in  FIG. 8 , a first weight member  33  and a second weight member  34  are attached to the first frame member  31 . The weight members  33  and  34  are supported by respective support shafts so as to be swingable about them, the support shafts being provided on the first frame member  31 . The weight members  33  and  34  ride, by their own weight, on the top surface of a document that has been inserted manually by a user so as to be located at the prescribed position, and thereby prevent a head-side portion of the document from floating up. Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 19 , weight parts  133  and  134  may be added to the respective weight members  33  and  34  to prevent a head-side portion of a document from floating up.  
      The second frame member  32  is attached to the first frame member  31  with screws. In addition to the above-described insertion sensor  18 , bar code scanner  19 , and stopper gate  20 , a gate solenoid  35  is attached to the second frame member  32 . The gate solenoid  35  is a drive source for opening or closing the stopper gate  20 .  
       FIG. 9  shows a drive mechanism for the stopper gate  20  which includes the gate solenoid  35 . Being a plate-like resin member, for example, the stopper gate  20  has a pair of (i.e., right and left) stopper portions  36  which are integral with the body of the stopper gate  20 , as well as a vertically long guide hole  37  and a horizontally long guide hole  38 . The pair of stopper portions  36  are formed at the right and left ends of the stopper gate  20  so as to extend downward. The guide hole  37  is formed at the center, in the width direction (right-left direction in  FIG. 9 ), of the stopper gate  20 . The guide hole  38  is also formed at the center, in the width direction, of the stopper gate  20  approximately right over the guide hole  37 .  
      The gate solenoid  35  has an output shaft  39 , which is linked to the stopper gate  20  via an operation arm  40 . That is, the operation arm  40  is linked to the stopper gate  20  via a first engagement pin  41  and linked to the output shaft  39  via a second engagement pin  42 . The first engagement pin  41  is engaged with the guide hole  38  of the stopper gate  20 .  
      The operation arm  40  is supported by a support shaft  43  so as to be rotatable about it, the support shaft  43  being provided on the second frame member  32 . One end of a helical extension spring  44  is hooked on the operation arm  40 , and the other end of the helical extension spring  44  is hooked on a spring hook  45  which is integral with the second frame member  32 . The helical extension spring  44  is a member for urging the operation arm  40  in one direction (clockwise in  FIG. 9 ) about the support shaft  43 .  
      The stopper gate  20  is supported by a pair of (i.e., top and bottom) guide pins  46  so as to be movable in the vertical direction, the guide pins  46  being provided on the second frame member  32 . The guide pins  46  are spaced from each other in the vertical direction by a prescribed distance and engaged with the guide hole  37  of the stopper gate  20 . To prevent the stopper gate  20  from coming off the second frame member  32 , coming-off-preventive rings (e.g., C-rings) are attached to the respective guide pins  46 .  
      Gate holes  47  through which the stopper portions  36  of the stopper gate  20  project and retract, a clearance hole  48  for preventing the first frame member  31  from contacting the stopper gate  20 , a detection window  49  for the insertion sensor  18 , a hole  50  through which the bottom portion of the first weight member  34  is brought into contact with the document tray unit  17 , and a hole  51  through which the bottom portion of the second weight member  35  is brought into contact with the document tray unit  17  are formed in the first frame member  31 .  
      In the above-configured drive mechanism for the stopper gate  20 , when the gate solenoid  35  is switched from an unexcited state to an excited state, the output shaft  39  is pulled into the solenoid main body against the urging force of the helical extension spring  44 , whereby the operation arm  40  is rotated counterclockwise about the support shaft  43 . The stopper gate  20  is lifted up by the operation arm  40 . As a result, the stopper portions  36  of the stopper gate  20  are retracted through the gate holes  47  of the first frame member  31 . In a state that the scanning unit  27  is mounted on the upper cover  26  of the apparatus main body  25 , the stopper portions  36  of the stopper gate  20  are spaced from the slant guide surface  17 B of the document tray unit  17  (i.e., the stopper gate  20  is opened).  
      On the other hand, when the solenoid  35  is switched from an excited state to an unexcited state, the operation arm  40  is rotated clockwise about the support shaft  43  by the urging force of the helical extension spring  44 , whereby the output shaft  39  of the gate solenoid  35  is pulled out of the solenoid main body. The stopper gate  20  is pushed down by the operation arm  40 . As a result, the stopper portions  36  of the stopper gate  20  are projected downward through the gate holes  47  of the first frame member  31 . In a state that the scanning unit  27  is mounted on the upper cover  26  of the apparatus main body  25 , the stopper portions  36  of the stopper gate  20  are brought in contact with the slant guide surface  17 B of the document tray unit  17  (i.e., the stopper gate  20  is closed).  
       FIG. 10  is a top view of the scanning unit  27 . The guide surface  30 A of the side guide  30  is parallel with the insertion direction (indicated by a narrow) in which a document  52  is inserted manually. The document  52 , which is a disposal target, is inserted with an orientation that a QR code  53  recording portion (printing portion) is located at a head-side corner position. At this time, to position the document  52  in the direction perpendicular to the insertion direction, one sideline of the document  52  is fully brought into contact with the guide surface  30 A of the side guide  30 . And the portion of the document  52  near the one sideline is placed on the chute surface  30 B of the side guide  30 .  
      As a result, in a state that the head of the document  27  is in contact with the stopper gate  20  as a result of manual insertion by a user, the QR code  53  recording portion is positioned inside the code reading area E of the bar code scanner  19 . Another possible method for positioning the QR code  53  recording portion inside the code reading area E of the bar code scanner  19  is to use the weight members  33  and  34  in addition to bringing the head of the document  52  into contact with the stopper gate  20  by the user&#39;s manual insertion and bringing the one sideline of the document  52  fully in contact with the guide surface  30 A of the side guide  30 . In this case, even if a head portion of the document  52  is turned up, the positions of the document  52  in the X and y directions do not vary and the first weight member  33  and the second weight member  34  suppress the document  52  from floating up. This makes it possible to read the QR code  53  of the document  52  correctly with the bar code scanner  19 .  
      In the above example, a document is positioned by the stopper gate  20 , the guide surface  30 A of the side guide  30 , and the weight members  33  and  34 .  FIG. 17  shows another example in which the document tray unit  17  is stepped in the direction which the side guide  30  faces toward. The steps are formed in such a manner that their height increases as the corresponding regular sheet size (A4, B4, A3, or the like) increases. As such, each step serves as a guide for preventing a document from being inserted in a wrong direction. Instead of forming steps, a sub-guide  135  capable of being moved in the document width direction in accordance with the document size may be provided as shown in  FIG. 18 . The above example in which a document is positioned by the stopper gate  20 , the guide surface  30 A of the side guide  30 , and the weight members  33  and  34  is directed to the case of reading a two-dimensional code with the area sensor. On the other hand, in the case of reading a one-dimensional code with a line sensor, a document can be positioned only by the stopper gate  20  or by the stopper gate  20  and the weight members  33  and  34  because it is sufficient to position the document only in the document transport direction and the vertical direction.  
      The insertion sensor  18  is disposed immediately upstream of the stopper gate  20  in the document insertion direction. Therefore, the insertion sensor  18  is switched from an off state to an on state immediately before the head of the document  52  butts against the stopper gate  20  as it is inserted manually by a user. Therefore, on-timing of the insertion sensor  18  indicates a time point when the QR code  53  printed on the document  52  is put in the code reading area E and reading should be started. Although in this exemplary embodiment insertion of the document  52  is detected by the insertion sensor  18 , insertion of the document  52  may be detected in the following manner. As shown in  FIG. 20 (A), the weight member  33  or  34  is formed with a projection  117 . As shown in  FIG. 20 (B), a photosensor  118  is turned on or off when the projection  117  intersects the optical axis of the photosensor  118  as the weight member  33  or  34  moves.  
       FIG. 11  is a block diagram showing an exemplary configuration of the document disposal apparatus  3 . The document disposal apparatus  3  is equipped with, in addition to the above-described components, an operation panel  54 , a feeder driving section  55 , a shredder driving section  56 , a document disposal control section  57 , and a network interface  58 .  
      The operation panel  54 , which is manipulated by a user of the document disposal apparatus  3 , is mounted on the upper cover  26  of the apparatus main body  25 . For example, the operation panel  54  is configured by using manipulation buttons (e.g., a start button and a stop button) and a display panel which displays various manipulation pictures including an operation status of the document disposal apparatus  3  and a manipulation guidance (guide message).  
      The feeder driving section  55  rotates the above-described feed rolls  21  and  22 . For example, the feeder driving section  55  may be configured by using a motor as a drive source. The shredder driving section  56  rotates the above-described shredder unit  24 . For example, the shredder driving section  56  may be configured by using a motor as a drive source.  
      The document disposal control section  57  controls various operations relating to document disposal according to control programs given in advance. The document disposal control section  57  is electrically connected to the bar code scanner  19 , the operation panel  54 , the gate solenoid  35 , the feeder driving section  55 , and the shredder driving section  56  which are operation control targets. The above-described insertion sensor  18  and passage sensor  23  are electrically connected to the document disposal control section  57 .  
      The network interface  58  is a communication interface via which the document disposal apparatus  3  exchanges data with other apparatus (including the document generation apparatus  1  and the document management apparatus  2 ) over the network  4 . Data exchange via the network interface  58  is controlled by the document disposal control section  57 .  
      Next, a document management method using the above-configured document management system will be described. Documents to which the invention is directed are ones generated by the document generation apparatus  1  while being assigned unique document IDs individually. The document ID may consist of only numerals or may be formed by combining numerals, alphabetical characters, symbols, etc. as appropriate. A specific management method that is directed to a case of handling documents to serve as vouchers for an accounting audit, a tax audit, etc. will be described below.  
      First, for example, a form of a payment application document  59  as shown in  FIG. 12A  is generated by inputting document data (electronic data) with a bar code to serve as a document template to the document generation apparatus  1  and printing the document data on a sheet with the image output section  8 . For example, the document data may be generated by the document management apparatus  2  and sent from the document management apparatus  2  to the document generation apparatus  1  over the network  4 . Alternatively, the document data maybe generated separately by a server apparatus for document data generation and sent from the server apparatus to the document generation apparatus  1  over the network  4 .  
      A QR code  60  which contains a document ID to be assigned to a payment application document  59  and other information is thereby attached, by printing, at a corner position, to the form of a payment application document  59  generated by the document generation apparatus  1 . That is, a payment application document  59  to be generated by the document generation apparatus  1  corresponds to a “document to which a document ID is attached.” The form of a payment application document  59  has a region  61  to which a receipt is to be stuck. As shown in  FIG. 12B , an applicant generates an original of a payment application document  59  by sticking a receipt  62  to the form of a payment application document  59  and, if necessary, adding statements and putting his or her seal thereto.  
      After generating the payment application document  59  in the above manner, the applicant sets it on the document table of the document generation apparatus  1  and causes the image reading section  6  to read its image. The image data that have been produced by reading the payment application document  59  with the image reading section  6  are sent to the document management apparatus  2  over the network  4 . The original of the payment application document  59  that has been read is filed, for example, and put in storage.  
      Receiving the image data (scanning data) of the payment application document  59  from the document generation apparatus  1 , the document management apparatus  2  stores the image data in the database section  14  and acquires decoded information of the document ID assigned to the payment application document  59  by analyzing the QR code image contained in the received image data with the bar code analyzing section  12 . The document management control section  15  registers the thus-acquired document ID in a document management table, which is stored in the database section  14 .  
       FIG. 13  shows an exemplary document management table. As shown in  FIG. 13 , a “document ID,” a “document generation date and time,” a “document storage period,” and a “document disposal date and time” are registered in the document management table so as to be correlated with each other. In registering a “document generation date and time” or a “document disposal date and time,” it is desirable that a standard time acquired from a time delivery server or a time authentication server on the Internet via the network  4  be used as a time of the day. The “document ID” may be one obtained by decoding a QR code with the bar code analyzing section  12  or one that was assigned to the document by the document management apparatus  2  itself or a separate server apparatus when it generated document data with a bar code (mentioned above). The “document generation date and time” is a date and time of generation of the document. In this exemplary embodiment, a date and time when image data produced by reading the document such as the payment application document  59  with the document generation apparatus  1  are sent to the document management apparatus  2  or a date and time when the image data sent from the document generation apparatus  1  are received by the document management apparatus  2  is registered as a “document generation date and time.”  
      The “document storage period” is the end (date and time) of a period in which the document should be kept in storage. Each document whose document ID is registered in the document management table should be kept in storage until the document storage period expires. If the “document storage period” registered is “unspecified,” the document can be disposed of anytime. If the “document storage period” registered is “permanent,” disposal of the document is always prohibited.  
      For example, if information for setting of a “document storage period” is contained, in addition to the document ID, in the QR code that is printed on the form of a payment application document  59 , a “document storage period” can be set automatically on the basis of decoded information that is produced by the bar code analyzing section  12 . More specifically, if information to the effect that the document storage period of the payment application document  59  should be set at 6 years is contained in the QR code, a date and time that is 6 years after the date and time of generation of the payment application document  59  can be set automatically as a “document storage period.” 
      In general, as for receipts, the storage period is determined in accordance with the amount of money received. Therefore, if information indicating the amount of money received of a receipt to be stuck to the form of a payment application document  59  is contained in the QR code, a storage period of the receipt can be determined automatically from that information and registered as a “document storage period” in the document management table. Furthermore, a user can manually change or set a “document storage period” registered or to be registered in the document management table using the user interface section  11  of the document management apparatus  2 .  
      The “document disposal date and time” is a date and time when the document was disposed of. Documents are disposed of by the document disposal apparatus  3 . Therefore, a date and time when a notice of completion of disposal of a document (hereinafter also referred to as “disposal completion notice”) is sent from the document disposal apparatus  3  to the document management apparatus  2  with designation of a document ID of a document that has been disposed of is registered in the document management table as a “document disposal date and time.”  
      A user ID of a user who has generated a document using the document generation apparatus  1  be registered in the document management table as information indicating a document generator, or a user ID of a user who has disposed of a document using the document disposal apparatus  3  be registered in the document management table as information indicating a document disposer. In such a case, ID information of the user who has generated or disposed of the document can be acquired by utilizing an existing user authentication technique (e.g., one using an IC card).  
       FIG. 14  is a flowchart of a processing procedure which is followed when the document disposal apparatus  3  disposes of a document. The document disposal apparatus  3  has an ordinary disposal mode in which a document is disposed of without reading its document ID (in this exemplary embodiment, a QR code) and a scanning disposal mode in which a document ID of a document, which is a disposal target, is read, whether disposal of the document is permitted is inquired of the document management apparatus  2  with designation of the read-out document ID, and the document is disposed of if disposal permission is obtained from the document management apparatus  2 . The flowchart of  FIG. 14  shows a processing procedure of the scanning disposal mode.  
      In the ordinary disposal mode, when the start button on the operation panel  54  is depressed by a user in a state that the document disposal apparatus  3  is in a standby state, the document disposal control section  57  instructs the gate solenoid  35 , the feeder driving section  55 , and the shredder driving section  56  to start driving, whereby the stopper gate  20  is opened and driving of the feed rolls  21  and  22  and the shredder unit  24  is started. As a result, if the user of the document disposal apparatus  3  places a document, which is a disposal target, on the document tray unit  17  and inserts it inward, the head of the document is nipped by the feed rolls  21  and the document is pulled into the apparatus  3 . The document is transported as it is by the feed rolls  21  and  22  and shredded by the shredder unit  24 .  
      If the stop button on the operation panel  54  is depressed by the user after the above-mentioned depression of the start button on the operation panel  54  or if a prescribed time has elapsed from the depression of the start button, the document disposal control section  57  instructs the gate solenoid  35 , the feeder driving section  55 , and the shredder driving section  56  to stop the driving, whereby the stopper gate  20  is returned to a closed state and the driving of the feed rolls  21  and  22  and the shredder unit  24  is stopped. The document disposal apparatus  3  is thus returned to a standby state.  
      On the other hand, in the scanning disposal mode, a user of the document disposal apparatus  3  places a document, which is a disposal target, on the document tray unit  17  and inserts it inward. At this time, if a QR code is printed on the document, which is a disposal target, as shown in  FIG. 10  the user should insert it with orientation that its QR-code- 53 -printed surface is made the top surface (i.e., the document is placed with its front side up) and that the QR-code- 53 -printing portion is located on the downstream side (deep side) in the insertion direction.  
      If, for example, a document  52  placed on the document tray unit  17  is an old document that has been read repeatedly or a document that has been circulated among many sections, a situation frequently occurs that as shown in  FIG. 15 (A) corner portions of the document  52  are turned up. If a corner portion near the QR-code- 53 -printing portion is turned up as shown in  FIG. 15 (B), turned-up portions  52 A of sheets of the document  52  butt against a document insertion mouth (document intake mouth)  64  through which the document  52  is being inserted manually by the user, as a result of which the document  62  is inserted inward with the turned-up portions  52 A folded. As a result, as shown in  FIG. 15C , part of the QR code  53  is covered with the folded turned-up portions  52 A of the sheets of the document  52 . This disables the bar code scanner  19  from reading the QR code  53  of the document  52  correctly.  
      In view of the above, in the document disposal apparatus  3  according to the exemplary embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 16 , a document intake chute  65  which forms a document insertion mouth  64  is provided integrally with or separately from the unit cover  29  of the scanning unit  27 . The document intake chute  65  is a member for correcting head-side turned-up portions  52 A, if any, of sheets of a document  52  which is placed on the document tray unit  17 .  
      The document intake chute  65  is provided so as to project from the front end portion of the unit cover  29  toward the side where the horizontal guide surface  17 A of the document tray unit  17  exists. The document intake chute  65  has a guide surface  65 A which is parallel with the slant guide surface  17 B of the document tray unit  17 . The guide surface  65 A is provided like a visor to define the top boundary of the document insertion mouth  64  and forms a prescribed angle θ with the horizontal guide surface  17 A of the document tray unit  17 . The prescribed angle θ is set in a range of 15° to 30°, for example. Because of the formation of the angle θ, the vertical interval between the horizontal guide surface  17 A of the document tray unit  17  and the guide surface  65 A of the document intake chute  65  decreases gradually as the position goes deeper in the document insertion mouth  64 .  
      Since the document intake chute  65  is provided to define the top boundary of the document insertion mouth  64 , even if a head portion of a document  52  placed on the document tray unit  17  has turned-up portions  52 A, the turned-up portions  52 A are pressed down gradually while being kept in contact with the guide surface  65 A of the document intake chute  65  as the document  52  is inserted manually into the document insertion mouth  64  by a user. As a result, the turned-up portions  52 A of the document  52  are corrected by the document intake chute  65  instead of being folded. This enables the bar code scanner  19  to read the QR code  53  of the document  52  correctly.  
      When the document is inserted in the above-described manner, the output signal of the insertion sensor  18  is switched from an off state to an on state immediately before the head of the document butts against the stopper gate  20 . While the document disposal apparatus is in a standby state, at step S 1  the document disposal control section  57  continuously monitors the output signal of the insertion sensor  18  (i.e., its on/off state). If the insertion sensor  18  is turned on as a result of the insertion of the document by the user, the document disposal control section  57  gives a bar code reading instruction to the bar code scanner  19 . At step S 2 , the bar code scanner  19  reads the QR code printed on the document in response to the reading instruction. At this time, since the first weight member  33  and the second weight member  34  suppress a head portion, particularly the QR code recording portion (in the code reading area E) to be read by the bar code scanner  19 , of the document from floating up, the QR code printed on the document can face the bar code scanner  19  squarely. This enables the bar code scanner  19  to read the QR code  53  reliably.  
      At step S 3 , the document disposal control section  57  judges whether the reading of the QR code has succeeded. Whether the reading of the QR code has succeeded is judged by judging whether the QR code printed on the document has been decoded correctly into a document ID by the bar code scanner  19 . There are two major situations that may cause the bar code scanner  19  to fail in reading the QR code. The first situation (absence of a code) is that no QR code is printed on the document or the QR code is located outside the code reading area E (see  FIG. 10 ) because the document is inserted with improper orientation (e.g., the back side of the document rather than its front side is up or the tail of the document rather than its head is inserted first). The second situation (a defective code) is that although the QR code is located in the code reading area E, it is stained or damaged severely or decoded information of the QR code does not contain a document ID.  
      If the reading of the QR code has succeeded (step S 3 : yes), at step S 4  the document disposal control section  57  inquires of the document management apparatus  2  whether disposal of the document that is identified by the document ID contained in the QR code is permitted. This is done by generating a disposal permission inquiry message in which the document ID contained in the QR code read by the bar code scanner  19  is designated and sending this inquiry message to the document management apparatus  2  via the network interface  58  and the network  4 . That is, the document disposal permission inquiry is an inquiry as to whether disposal of the document that is identified by the document ID designated in the inquiry is permitted. If the reading of the QR code has succeeded, the information contained in the QR code may be displayed on the operation panel  54  in a simplified manner.  
      In the document management apparatus  2  which has received the inquiry message, the search section  13  conducts a search to determine whether the document ID designated in the inquiry message is registered in the document management table. If the document ID concerned exists in the document management table, the document management apparatus  2  checks a “document storage period” that is registered as corresponding to the document ID concerned. If the date and time of reception of the document disposal permission inquiry from the document disposal apparatus  3  (i.e., an inquiry date and time) is after the document storage period, the document management apparatus  2  returns, to the document disposal apparatus  3 , a reply message to the effect that disposal of the document is permitted. If the date and time of reception of the document disposal permission inquiry from the document disposal apparatus  3  is not after the document storage period, the document management apparatus  2  returns, to the document disposal apparatus  3 , a reply message to the effect that disposal of the document is prohibited.  
      The document disposal control section  36  receives, via the network interface  58 , the reply message returned from the document management apparatus  2 . At step S 5 , the document disposal control section  36  judges whether the reply message returned in response to the inquiry from the document disposal apparatus  3  itself is to permit disposal of the document. If the reply message is to permit disposal of the document, the document disposal control section  57  displays a disposal permission guidance (guide message; prepared in advance) on the operation panel  54  at step S 6  and opens the stopper gate  20  by instructing the gate solenoid  35  to do so at step S 7 . At the same time, the document disposal control section  57  instructs the feeder driving section  55  to start rotating the feed rolls  21  and  22  and, in response, the feeder driving section  55  starts rotating the feed rolls  21  and  22 . An exemplary disposal permission guidance is “The document will be disposed of. Please insert the document further inward.”  
      If the user inserts the document further according to the guidance displayed on the operation panel  54 , the head of the document butts into the nip portion of the feed rolls  21  and the document is fed downstream along the document transport passage as the feed rolls  21  rotate (step S 8 ). The document thus fed by the feed rolls  21  is passed to the feed rolls  22  which are located downstream of the feed rolls  21  in the transport direction, and is then transported to the shredder unit  24  as the feed rolls  22  rotate. When the tail of the document passes the sensing position of the insertion sensor  18  and the output signal of the insertion sensor  18  is thereby switched from the on state to an off state, the document disposal control section  57  instructs, with preset timing (e.g., at a time point when the tail of the document passes the feed rolls  21 ), the gate solenoid  35  to return the stopper gate  20  to the original state (closed state) and the stopper gate  20  is thereby done so.  
      When the head of the document passes the sensing position of the passage sensor  23  while the document is being transported by the feed rolls  22  and the output signal of the passage sensor  23  is thereby switched from the off state to an on state, the document disposal control section  57  instructs the shredder driving section  56  to start driving and, in response, the shredder driving section  56  starts driving the shredder unit  24 . As a result, the document that has been fed by the feed rolls  22  is pulled into the shredder unit  24  as it is and shredded (disposed of) by the shredder unit  24  (step S 9 ).  
      When the tail of the document passes the sensing position of the passage sensor  23  and the output signal of the passage sensor  23  is thereby switched from the on state to an off state, at step S 10  the document disposal control section  57  sends a disposal completion notice (message) which indicates that the disposal of the document concerned has been completed and in which the document ID of the document for which the document disposal permission was received a short while ago is designated, to the document management apparatus  2  after a lapse of a prescribed time (more specifically, a time that is taken until the tail of the document is pulled into the shredder unit  24  and the entire document is shredded) from the time point when the output signal of the passage sensor  23  was switched to the off state. The disposal completion notice (message) is sent to the document management apparatus  2  via the network interface  58  and the network  4 . In the document management apparatus  2  which has received the disposal completion notice (message) from the document disposal apparatus  3 , a date and time of reception of the message is registered in the column of the “document disposal date and time” as part of disposal history information corresponding to the document ID that is designated in the message.  
      On the other hand, if it is judged at step S 3  that the reading of the QR code has failed, at step S 11  a reading failure guidance which was prepared in advance is displayed on the operation panel  54 . An exemplary reading failure guidance is “Disposal of this document is prohibited. Please pull out the document.” If disposal of the document is not permitted by the document management apparatus  2  at step S 5 , at step S 12  a disposal prohibition guidance which was prepared in advance is displayed on the operation panel  54 . An exemplary disposal prohibition guidance is “This document is cannot be disposed of because its storage period has not expired yet. Please pull out the document.” When sending the disposal completion notice at step S 10 , the document disposal apparatus  3  immediately returns to a standby state. On the other hand, when the reading failure guidance is displayed at step S 11  or the disposal prohibition guidance is displayed at step S 12 , the document disposal apparatus  3  returns to a standby state after the insertion sensor  18  is switched from the on state to an off state (i.e., the user removes the document from the document tray unit  17 ).  
      In the above document management system, document IDs assigned to documents are managed by the document management apparatus  2  so as to be correlated with “document storage periods,” respectively. In disposing of a document using the document disposal apparatus  3 , a QR code printed on the document, which is a disposal target, is read by the bar code scanner  19  and the document ID contained in the QR code is acquired. An inquiry as to whether disposal of the document identified by the document ID is permitted is sent to the document management apparatus  2 . If a reply to the inquiry means that disposal of the document is permitted, the document disposal apparatus  3  performs disposal processing on the document. Therefore, only documents whose storage periods have expired can be disposed of reliably unlike in the conventional case in which a person in charge is required to check whether disposal of each document is permitted. Furthermore, erroneous discard of a document due to a human check error can be avoided.  
      Since a document ID assigned to a document generated by using the document generation apparatus  1  is managed by the document management apparatus  2  so as to be correlated with a “document storage period,” the document can be managed all the way from its generation to disposal.  
      When a document has been disposed of (i.e., shredded) by the document disposal apparatus  3 , a disposal completion notice message in which its document ID is designated is sent to the document management apparatus  2  and, upon reception of the message, the document management apparatus  2  registers a document disposal date and time in the document management table as disposal history information corresponding to the document ID. Therefore, the actual date and time of disposal of the document can be kept in storage as history information in association with the fact that the document was disposed of. It is also possible to acquire user ID information or the like of a person (document disposer) who was in charge of the disposal of the document by utilizing a user authentication technique and keep it in storage as another piece of disposal history information. This makes it possible to later check when and by whom a document that is identified by a certain document ID was disposed of.  
      When a document is generated (printed) by the document generation apparatus  1 , a date and time of generation of the document and user ID information or the like of a person (document generator) who is in charge of the generation of the document, together with a document ID of the document, are registered in the document management table of the document management apparatus  2 . This makes it possible to later check when and by whom a document that is identified by a certain document ID was generated.  
      The scanning unit  27  including the insertion sensor  18 , the bar code scanner  19 , the stopper gate  20 , etc. is mounted detachably on the apparatus main body  25  (upper cover  26 ) of the document disposal apparatus  3 . Therefore, with regard to the configuration of the document disposal apparatus  3 , it is possible to consider the apparatus main body  25  without the scanning unit  27  a standard configuration and attach the scanning unit  27  as a retrofittable optional component.  
      Although in the above embodiment a QR code containing a document ID is printed on a document, the invention is not limited to such a case. For example, numerals, symbols, etc. representing a document ID may be printed on a document. Furthermore, the method for attaching a document ID to a document is not limited to printing. For example, a document ID may be attached to a document by sticking a label to the document.