JP2000127565A - Image forming apparatus network system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To alleviate a complexity of operability by inhibiting setting of a cover or lamination mode in the case of different sheet sizes of a sheet supply tray of a master unit set as a cover or lamination special purpose tray and a sheet supply tray of another image forming apparatus as a slave unit. SOLUTION: An image processor having a CPU 68 checks the presence or absence of each sheet supply tray as cover special purpose trays, a sheet size and the presence or absence of a sheet for both an own unit and a slave unit. If the tray set as the cover tray is not present at least in one of the own unit and the slave unit, if the sizes of the trays are different or if no sheet is in the tray, setting of a cover mode is inhibited. Thus, a complexity of operability generated caused by an association with a coupling mode, a cover mode or a lamination mode can be alleviated and a miscopy caused by an erroneous operation can be suppressed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus network system, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus network system in which a plurality of image forming apparatuses can share printing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, and a printer is frequently used, and some of them are connected to a plurality of image forming apparatuses via a network. In some of such image forming apparatus network systems, a connection operation can be performed by a plurality of image forming apparatuses.

[0003] The linking operation means, for example, that a single original is
When copying 0 sheets, the given image forming apparatus exchanges information with another image forming apparatus, and the two image forming apparatuses perform printing such as printing 50 sheets per unit. This is a function that shortens the working time.

On the other hand, in a conventional image forming apparatus, a plurality of paper feed trays are selectively set as a cover or a tray for exclusive use of a cover-only sheet or an insert-only sheet, and a cover of a sheet bundle after printing. Set the cover mode to place the cover-only sheet at the position where the cover sheet is inserted, or set the insert-sheet mode to insert the sheet only for the slip sheet at a predetermined position in the sheet bundle after printing, and execute those modes. There is an example (for example, JP-A-10-198223).

Naturally, even when a plurality of such image forming apparatuses are connected by a network to form an image forming apparatus network system and a connecting operation (connecting mode) is performed, functions such as a cover mode and a slip sheet mode are provided. It is possible to use them together.

[0006]

However, when the cover mode or the interleaf mode is executed between the linked machines (a plurality of image forming apparatuses), the paper supply set as the cover or interleaf tray for each image forming apparatus is performed. It is necessary to unify the paper conditions between the connected machines, such as the paper size of the paper trays being different or all the paper trays must not be at the paper end (no paper). Otherwise, malfunctions may occur. This causes a problem that miscopying occurs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to avoid the occurrence of miscopying caused by the combined use of a connection mode and a cover mode or a slip sheet mode in an image forming apparatus network system.

[0008]

According to the present invention, a plurality of image forming apparatuses are connected via a network, and each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses includes a document reading unit for reading a document and a plurality of paper feed trays. Paper information detecting means for detecting the presence or absence and size of paper, image printing means for printing an image read by the document reading means on paper fed from a selected one of the paper feeding trays,
A cover / interleaf tray setting means for selectively setting each paper tray as a cover or an interleaf tray for selectively setting a cover only or interleaf paper, and a cover of a sheet bundle after printing by the image printing means. A cover mode for arranging a cover-only sheet at a predetermined position or a cover / insert-sheet mode setting means for setting a slip-sheet mode for inserting a sheet only for a slip sheet at a predetermined position in a sheet bundle after printing. At least one of the plurality of image forming apparatuses is capable of executing a linking operation of transferring read image information of a document to another image forming apparatus as a slave and sharing printing. In order to achieve the above object, in an image forming apparatus network system including a connection mode setting unit for setting a connection mode in which the own apparatus is a master, the following is performed.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus, wherein a connection mode is set in at least one of the image forming apparatuses.
When the setting of the cover sheet or the slip sheet mode is requested, the paper size of the sheet feed tray set as the cover sheet of the master apparatus itself or the tray for exclusive use of the slip sheet and the cover sheet or slip sheet of another image forming apparatus as the slave unit are set. A cover / interleaf mode setting prohibiting unit for prohibiting the setting of the cover or interleaf mode when the paper size of the paper feed tray set as the paper dedicated tray is checked and the respective paper sizes are different is provided.

[0010] According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the state where the connection mode is set in the at least one image forming apparatus,
When the setting of the cover mode or the slip sheet mode is requested, the sheet feed tray set as the cover sheet or the slip sheet tray of the own apparatus as the parent machine or the cover sheet or the slip sheet tray of another image forming apparatus as the slave unit And a cover / interleaf mode setting prohibiting means for prohibiting the setting of the cover or interleaf mode when no paper is present in the paper feed tray set as.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the connection mode is set in the at least one image forming apparatus.
When the setting of the cover sheet or the slip sheet mode is requested, the paper size of the sheet feed tray set as the cover sheet of the master apparatus itself or the tray for exclusive use of the slip sheet and the cover sheet or slip sheet of another image forming apparatus as the slave unit are set. A warning display unit is provided for checking the paper size of a paper feed tray set as a paper-only tray, and displaying a warning if the paper sizes are different.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the at least one image forming apparatus has a connection mode set.
When the setting of the cover mode or the slip sheet mode is requested, the sheet feed tray set as the cover sheet or the slip sheet tray of the own apparatus as the parent machine or the cover sheet or the slip sheet tray of another image forming apparatus as the slave unit If there is no paper in the paper feed tray set as, a warning display means is provided to display a warning to that effect.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 shows a digital copying machine which is an embodiment of the image forming apparatus constituting the image forming apparatus network system according to the present invention. This digital copying machine has an automatic document feeder (hereinafter abbreviated as "ADF") 1 mounted on the upper part of a copying machine main body constituting a scanner (image reading means) and a printer (image printing means). An operation display unit 30 shown in FIG. 3 is provided.

First, a normal copying operation by the digital copying machine will be described. When a print key (start key) 34 on the operation display unit 30 is pressed, the lowermost document is placed on the feed roller 3 when the document bundle placed on the document table 2 of the ADF 1 with the image side of the document facing up. Is fed to a predetermined position on the contact glass 6 by the feeding belt 4 and stops.

Thereafter, a reading unit (scanner) 5
At 0, the image of the document on the contact glass 6 is read, and the read document is discharged onto the upper surface of the ADF 1 by the feed belt 4 and the discharge roller 5. Further, when the document set detection sensor 7 detects that the next document is present on the document table 2, the document is fed onto the contact glass 6 in the same manner as described above. The feed roller 3, the feed belt 4, and the discharge roller 5 are driven by a common motor (not shown).

The transfer sheets (sheets) stacked (set) on the first tray 8, the second tray 9, and the third tray 10, which are the sheet feeding trays, are supplied with the first sheet feeding unit 11, the second sheet feeding unit 12, respectively. The paper is fed by the third paper feed unit 13 and transported by the vertical transport unit 14 to a position where it comes into contact with the photoconductor 15. Actually, any one of the trays 8 to 10 is selected, and the transfer paper is fed therefrom.

Here, this digital copying machine has a sensor (paper information detecting means) for detecting the presence or absence and size of the transfer paper in the first tray 8, the second tray 9, and the third tray 10.
However, since the sensor is well known, its illustration and specific description are omitted.

On the other hand, the image data (image information) read by the reading unit 50 is
7 is written on the photoreceptor 15 by the laser light, and the portion passes through the developing unit 27 to form a toner image thereon. The transfer paper fed from the selected paper feed tray is transferred (printed) on the photoconductor 15 while being conveyed by the conveyance belt 16 at the same speed as the rotation of the photoconductor 15. Further, the fixing unit 1
At 7, the toner image is fixed, and is discharged by a discharge unit 18 to a discharge tray 19 outside the apparatus.

At this time, for example, when it is desired to invert the transfer paper having the toner image printed on one side thereof for face-down (the image side is turned down to align the transfer paper in the page order), the transfer paper is The sheet is conveyed to a two-sided sheet conveyance path 113 by the sheet discharge unit 18, is switched back by the reversing unit 112, and is discharged to the sheet discharge tray 19 through the reverse sheet discharge conveyance path 114.

When an image is printed on both sides of a transfer sheet, the transfer sheet having the image printed on one side is conveyed to a double-sided input conveyance path 113 by a sheet discharge unit 18 and is switched by a reversing unit 112. After being reversed, the sheet is sent to the duplex conveying unit 111. The transfer paper sent to the two-sided conveyance unit 111 is re-fed from the two-sided conveyance unit 111 to transfer the toner image formed on the photoconductor 15 again.
Is transported to a position where the image abuts on the image, and the image is transferred to the other surface.
The paper is discharged to the paper discharge tray 19 by the paper discharge unit 18.

The photoreceptor 15, the transport belt 16, the fixing unit 17, the paper discharging unit 18, and the developing unit 27 are driven by a main motor (not shown), and each of the paper feeding units 11 to 13 is supplied with a driving force of the main motor. It is transmitted and driven by a paper clutch. Vertical transport unit 1
4 is driven by transmitting the driving force of the main motor via an intermediate clutch.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a layout of the operation display unit 30 provided in the digital copying machine. The operation display unit 30 includes a liquid crystal touch panel 31, a numeric keypad 3
2, a clear / stop key 33, a print key 34, and a preheat key 35. The liquid crystal touch panel 31 displays various function keys, the number of copies, a message indicating the state of the digital copying machine, and the like.

Here, when the preheating key 35 is depressed, the digital copying machine operated by the key shifts from the standby state to the preheating state (off state / sleep state), and the digital copying machine of the fixing unit 17 The surface temperature (fixing temperature) is reduced, and the display on the operation display unit 30 is turned off. The preheating state means a low power state according to the International Energy Star Program. To release the preheating state and shift to the standby state, the preheating key 35 is pressed again.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen of the liquid crystal touch panel 31 of the operation display unit 30. The function (mode) selected by the operator (user) touching a key displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 31
Is inverted to black. If the details of the function need to be specified (for example, a variable magnification value in the case of variable magnification), touching the key displays a detailed function setting screen. As described above, since the liquid crystal touch panel 31 uses the dot display device, it is possible to graphically perform an optimal display at that time.

In the display screen shown in FIG. 4, reference numeral 41 denotes a connection key, which is effective when it is electrically connected to another digital copying machine via a network. When the link key is depressed, the digital copying machine operated by the key performs a linking operation of transferring the read image information of the original to another digital copying machine as a slave machine (child machine) and sharing printing. Set the connection mode in which the own machine that can be used is set as the master machine (master machine). The connection key 41 and a control unit described later function as connection mode setting means.

Reference numeral 42 denotes a cover / interleaf key. By operating each key including this key in a predetermined procedure, a sheet dedicated to the cover is arranged at a position to be a cover of a sheet of paper (transfer sheet) after printing. To set a cover mode for inserting a sheet dedicated for slip sheet insertion at a predetermined position in a sheet bundle after printing, or to select the first tray 8, the second tray 9, and the third tray 10. In particular, it can be set as a cover or tray for exclusive use of a sheet for exclusive use of a cover or an insert. The cover / interleaf key 42 and a control unit to be described later function as cover / interleaf tray setting means and cover / interleaf mode setting means.

Referring now to FIG. 2 again, the operation of the digital copier to read the image of the original and to form the latent image on the photoreceptor surface will be described. A latent image is a potential distribution generated by converting an image into optical information and irradiating the image on the photoreceptor surface.

The reading unit 50 includes a contact glass 6 on which an original is placed and an optical scanning system. The optical scanning system includes an exposure lamp 51 and a first mirror 5.
2, a second mirror 55, a third mirror 56, a lens 53, a CCD image sensor 54, and the like. The exposure lamp 51 and the first mirror 52 are fixed on a first carriage (not shown), and the second mirror 55 and the third mirror 56 are fixed on a second carriage (not shown).

When reading an original image, the first carriage and the second carriage are moved in two directions so that the optical path length does not change.
It is mechanically scanned at a relative speed of one to one. This optical scanning system is driven by a scanner motor (not shown). The document image is read by the CCD image sensor 54, converted into an electric signal, and processed. By moving the lens 53 and the CCD image sensor 54 in the left-right direction, the image magnification changes. That is, the lens 53 and the CCD image sensor 5 correspond to the designated magnification.
4 are set in the left-right direction.

The writing unit 57 includes a laser output unit 58, an imaging lens 59, and a mirror 60. Inside the laser output unit 58, a rotating polygon mirror that rotates at a high speed and constant speed by a laser diode as a laser light source and a motor. (Polygon mirror). The laser light emitted from the laser output unit 58 is deflected by a polygon mirror that rotates at a constant speed, passes through an imaging lens 59, is turned back by a mirror 60, and condenses and forms an image on the surface of the photoconductor 15.

The deflected laser beam is exposed and scanned in a direction (main scanning direction) orthogonal to the direction in which the photoconductor 15 rotates, and the image signal output from the selector 64 of the image processing unit shown in FIG. Perform recording in line units. An image (electrostatic latent image) is formed on the surface of the photoconductor 15 by repeating main scanning at a predetermined cycle corresponding to the rotation speed and the recording density of the photoconductor 15.

As described above, the laser beam output from the laser output unit 58 of the writing unit 57 is applied to the photoconductor 15 of the image forming system. At a position near one end of the photoconductor 15 where the laser beam is irradiated, a beam sensor (not shown) that generates a main scanning synchronization signal is arranged. Based on the main scanning synchronization signal generated by the beam sensor, control of image recording start timing in the main scanning direction and generation of a control signal for inputting / outputting an image signal described later are performed.

Next, the configuration of an image processing section (image reading section and image writing section) in the digital copying machine will be described with reference to FIG. Exposure lamp 5 shown in FIG.
1 irradiates the original surface, forms reflected light from the original surface by a lens 53, receives light by a CCD image sensor 54, performs photoelectric conversion, and converts the light into an A / D converter 6.
1 converts the signal into a binary or multi-valued digital signal,
Quantize. The image signal converted into the digital signal is subjected to shading correction by a shading correction unit 62 and then image correction such as MTF correction and γ correction by an MTF / γ correction unit 63.

The shading correction is to correct unevenness of irradiation of a light source for irradiating a document and variation in sensitivity of a CCD image sensor. The MTF correction is to correct blur caused by the optical system, and the γ correction is to correct nonlinearity of the sensitivity of the CCD image sensor.

The selector 64 switches the destination of the image signal to the scaling unit 71 or the memory controller 65. The image signal that has passed through the scaling unit 71 is scaled according to the scaling factor, and sent to the writing unit 57. The memory controller 65 and the selector 64 are configured so that image signals can be input and output in both directions.

The image processing unit (IPU) includes, in addition to the image data input from the reading unit 50 shown in FIG. 2, image data supplied from outside (for example, output from a data processing device such as a personal computer). Are provided so that the print data generated by the print image data generator (print unit) 74 can be processed based on the print data.

The image processing unit further includes a CPU 68 for setting the memory controller 65 and the like and controlling the reading unit 50 and the writing unit 57, a ROM 69 for storing programs and data, and a RAM 7
0, an I / O port 75 serving as an interface for external data and addresses, and a SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) driver 76. The CPU 68 includes a memory controller 65
The writing and reading of data in the image memory 66 can be performed via the.

Although not shown, the digital copying machine also includes a communication control circuit which is an external communication means for communicating with the outside by connecting to a public line or the like.

Here, referring to FIG. 6, the selector 64 shown in FIG.
The image signal for one page will be described. FIG.
, The frame gate signal / FGATE indicates the effective period of one page of image data in the sub-scanning direction. The main scanning synchronizing signal / LSYNC is a main scanning synchronizing signal for each line, and an image signal becomes valid at a predetermined clock after this signal falls. A signal indicating that the image signal in the main scanning direction is valid is a line gate signal /
LGATE.

These signals correspond to the pixel clock signal VCL
Synchronous with K, data of one pixel is sent for one cycle of VCLK. This image processing unit has a separate frame gate signal / FGA for each of image input and output.
It has means for generating the TE, the main scanning synchronization signal / LSYNC, the line gate signal / LGATE, and the pixel clock signal VCLK, so that various combinations of image input / output can be realized.

The details of the memory controller 65 and image memory 66 in FIG. 5 will be described with reference to FIG. The memory controller 65 has an input data selector 81, an image synthesizing unit 82, a primary compression / expansion unit 83, an output data selector 84, and a secondary compression / expansion unit 85. The setting of the control data in these units is performed by the CPU 68 shown in FIG. The addresses and data in FIG. 7 indicate image data, and the addresses of data connected to the CPU 68 are not shown.

The image memory 66 comprises primary and secondary storage devices 86 and 87. The primary storage device 86 allows high-speed access to, for example, a DRAM or the like so that data can be written to the memory substantially in synchronization with the transfer speed of the input image data or data can be read from the memory at the time of image output at a high speed. Use the right memory.

The primary storage device 86 is divided into a plurality of areas according to the size of image data to be processed, and has a configuration (an interface unit with a memory controller) capable of simultaneously executing input / output of image data. ing. In order to enable the input and output of image data to be performed in parallel in each divided area, two sets of addresses and addresses for reading and writing are provided in the interface with the memory controller 65.
Data line is connected. As a result, an operation of outputting (reading) an image from another area while inputting (writing) the image to one area becomes possible.

The secondary storage device 87 is a large-capacity memory for storing data for synthesizing and sorting input images. For both the primary storage device 86 and the secondary storage device 87, if a memory element that can be accessed at high speed is used, data processing can be performed without distinction between primary and secondary.
Although the control is relatively easy, the access speed of the secondary storage device 87 is not so high because elements such as the DRAM are expensive, but a cheap and large-capacity recording medium is used, and the processing of input / output data is performed. Is performed via a primary storage device.

By employing the configuration of the image memory as described above, an image forming apparatus capable of inputting / outputting, storing, and processing a large amount of image data can be realized at a low cost and with a relatively simple configuration. It becomes possible.

Next, an outline of the operation of the memory controller 65 will be described. First, image input (storage in the image memory) will be described. The input data selector 81 selects the primary storage device 86 of the image memory 66 from the plurality of data.
The image data to be written into the memory is selected.

The image data selected by the input data selector 81 is supplied to an image synthesizing section 82 and is synthesized with data already stored in the image memory 66. The image data processed by the image synthesis unit 82 is
The data is compressed by the primary compression / decompression unit 83, and the compressed data is written to the primary storage device 86. The data written in the primary storage device 86 is further compressed by the secondary compression / decompression section 85 as necessary, and then the secondary storage device 8
7 is stored.

At the time of image output, image data stored in the primary storage device 86 is read. When the image to be output is stored in the primary storage device 86, the image data read from the primary storage device 86 is decompressed by the primary compression / decompression unit 83, and the decompressed image data
Alternatively, the output data selector 84 selects and outputs image data after image synthesis of the decompressed image data and the input image data.

The image synthesizing unit 82 synthesizes the image data read from the primary storage device 86 with the input image data (has a function of adjusting the phase of the image data), and selects the output destination of the synthesized image data ( Processing such as image output, write-back to the primary storage device 86, and simultaneous output to both output destinations is performed.

If the image data to be output is not stored in the primary storage device 86, the image data to be output stored in the secondary storage device 87 is read out, and the secondary compression / decompression unit 85 After the image data is decompressed and the decompressed image data is written in the primary storage device 86, the same image output operation as described above is performed.

In order to share work (distribute printing), it is necessary to transmit and receive commands and image data to and from another digital copying machine. In this embodiment, this is realized using a SCSI interface. ing. That is, the memory controller 65 in FIG. 5 is realized via the SCSI driver 76.

In this system, "operation reservation" means
In the case of a PPC (plain paper copier), the copying operation cannot be started when the fixing unit shown in FIG. 2 is being heated, but by fixing the mode setting and the document setting, the fixing unit is heated. Later, it is a function to automatically start the copy operation when the copy operation becomes possible.

In this embodiment, the operation reservation can be made during the heating of the fixing unit. However, any object that becomes operable with the lapse of time can be made an object. The time required for the paper feed tray to rise in the large-volume paper feeder, the time required for the rotation of the polygon motor in the writing device to stabilize, and the operation of supplying toner to the developing unit are considered.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are hardware configuration diagrams of another image forming apparatus embodying the present invention. These image forming apparatuses include an image reading unit A, an image writing unit B, a system controller C, a memory unit D, a user restriction device E, a human body detection sensor F, and an operation unit (the same as the operation display unit).
G, a remote diagnosis device (CSS) H, and a clock I. However, the memory unit D is necessary only when realizing a memory function, and is not necessary only when realizing a normal copy function.

Further, the clock I is necessary only when a weekly timer function for booting or shutting down the apparatus at a specific time is realized. In addition, the human body detection sensor F is necessary only when a function of automatically canceling the preheating mode when a user approaches the device in the preheating mode is provided. Since this function is a function of remote diagnosis, that is, a function of monitoring from a remote place, it is sufficient to mount the function only when such a function is required. However, even without this,
A communication control circuit for communicating with the outside needs to be provided.

In executing the copy mode, the system controller C performs a paper transport process, an electrophotographic process process, an abnormal state and a sheet cassette state (detection of the presence or absence of a sheet, etc.) in order to form an image in the image writing section B. ) Is a general term for a controller that controls a scanner operation, ON / OFF of a light source, and the like so that the image reading unit A monitors an original image.

A major feature of a digital PPC (plain paper copying machine) is that an image is converted into an electric signal and read, and the electric signal is restored by an image writing unit (also referred to as an image forming apparatus). At this time, by providing means for changing and transmitting the electric signal of the read image in various ways, it has become possible to apply to a field which cannot be realized by the conventional analog PPC.

For example, functions such as a facsimile, a page printer, a scanner, and a file system can be realized. Recently, even when a PPC function is executed, read image data is temporarily stored in a storage device such as a DRAM, and the read image data is stored as needed. By reading out the pixel data, a plurality of prints can be executed in one scan, or images of a plurality of originals can be printed on one transfer paper. Functions that can be realized by these digital PPC systems are referred to as “extended functions” or “apps”.

Further, in recent digital PPCs, not only one extended function but also a plurality of applications have been installed simultaneously. As described above, a digital PPC sharing one resource is expressed as a “system”, and a controller that controls this system is also called a “system controller”.

The preheating means that the fixing temperature is set to a fixed temperature (for example, 1
(0 ° C.) to reduce power consumption by turning off the display of the operation unit G. The setting of this mode is automatically performed after a lapse of a certain time after the operation or the operation is stopped depending on the key input on the operation unit G or the setting. This mode is released when a key input on the operation unit G or, depending on settings, a human body detection sensor F detects that a person stands in front of the apparatus.

The DRAM block in the memory unit D in FIGS. 8 and 9 is for storing the image signal read by the image reading unit A, and in response to a request from the system controller C, the image writing unit B. Can be transferred.

The compression block in the memory unit D is M
It has compression functions such as H, MR, MMR, etc.
It is provided to compress the image once read and improve the use efficiency of the memory (DRAM). Further, by changing the read address from the image writing unit B and its direction, rotation of the image can be realized.

In the user restriction device E, since the PPC using the electrophotographic process consumes a large amount of consumables, the user is specified or limited, and the use of the transfer paper for each user or each use department is performed. It is provided to manage the number of copies, and includes a type using a "coin rack", a "key counter", a "key card", a "prepaid card", and a type using a password.

In the hardware configuration of FIG. 8, the control of the image reading unit A, the image writing unit B, the memory unit D, and the remote diagnostic device H is controlled by the CP in the system controller C.
Only in U. On the other hand, in the hardware configuration of FIG.
The image reading unit A, the image writing unit B, and the memory unit D each have a CPU, and commands from the system controller C to the CPU of each unit are transmitted through control signal lines. As described above, the hardware configuration of the image forming system embodying the present invention can be freely set.

FIG. 10 shows an example of the configuration of an image forming apparatus management system using a remote diagnosis apparatus (CSS). A management apparatus Q installed at a service base and a network system including a plurality of image forming apparatuses P such as PPCs installed at the user are connected via a public network N. A communication control device R for controlling communication with the management device Q is installed on the user side, and each image forming device P of the user is connected to the communication control device R.

The communication control device R includes a telephone TE
L and facsimile machine FAX can be connected,
Installation is possible by inserting into the existing line of the user. Although a plurality of image forming apparatuses P can be connected to the communication control apparatus R, there may of course be a single apparatus. These image forming apparatuses P need not be of the same type, and may be different models. Further, other than PPC may be used.

Here, for convenience of explanation, it is assumed that a maximum of five image forming apparatuses P can be connected to one communication control apparatus R. The communication control device R and the plurality of image forming devices P are connected in a multi-drop manner according to the RS-485 standard.

Communication control between the communication control device R and each image forming apparatus P is performed by basic data transmission control means. By establishing a data link by a polling / selecting method of centralized control using the communication control device R as a control station, communication with an arbitrary image forming apparatus is enabled. Each image forming apparatus P can set a unique identification value by an address setting switch, and thereby the polling address and the selecting address of each image forming apparatus P are determined.

FIG. 11 shows a system configuration example of a network copy which is an example of a network system of an image forming apparatus embodying the present invention. In the figure, eight digital copiers are connected by a network interface to form a network, but it is not necessary to limit the number of copiers to be connected. This network can be connected to a public line network via a communication control device as in the case of the image forming apparatus management system shown in FIG.

Next, an example of a hardware configuration for implementing the present invention will be further described with reference to FIG. The hardware configuration of each digital PPC-I, II shown in FIG.
The configuration is substantially the same as that shown in FIG. 8, and the same reference numerals are assigned to the respective parts in FIG. 8, and the description thereof will be omitted. However,
In the memory unit D of each digital PPC, a read image is transferred to an external network, or image data from the network is transferred to a DR in the memory unit.
In order to store the data in the AM block unit, a SCSI controller is provided for each of them, and the SCSI controller is used as a network
Connected by CSI.

Naturally, various means are conceivable as network communication means, for example, using Ethernet (registered trademark) as physical means, and using TCP / IP communication of an OSI (Open System Interface) reference model for data communication. Can be Further, by using the configuration as shown in FIG. 12, not only the image data is transferred as described above,
Notification of the in-flight status of each PPC on the network,
Alternatively, control commands and setting commands such as a remote output command described later can be transferred.

Next, the image read by the image reading section A of the digital PPC-I shown in FIG.
The connection operation (remote output) to be transferred to the image writing unit B of -II will be described. FIG. 13 is a conceptual diagram of the software. A “copy application” illustrated in FIG. 13 is an application that executes a copy sequence for executing a copy operation, and an “input / output control” is a layer (device driver) that performs logical / physical conversion of data.

The operation unit controller is an MMI (Man Machi
layer (LCD display or LED) to execute ne interface
The "peripheral device controller" is a layer that executes the control of peripheral devices mounted on the PPC, such as the automatic duplex unit, sorter, and ADF, at the logical level. is there. “Image forming apparatus controller”, “image reading apparatus controller”, and “memory unit” are as described above.

When a print request is requested from another device on the network, the "daemon process" reads out image data stored in the memory unit and transfers the image data to the "image forming device". It exists as an application that performs the role of As a matter of course, before the "daemon process" reads image data from the memory unit and executes a print operation, image transfer from another device on the network must be completed.

Here, the operation unit, peripheral devices, image forming apparatus,
The image reading device and the memory unit are handled as resources held by the respective PPCs. When the “digital PPC-I” of FIG. 12 executes a copying operation using its own resources (when the print start key is pressed), the “system controller” that executes system control
Requesting the resources of the "image forming apparatus", the "image reading apparatus", or the "peripheral device" and the "memory unit" as necessary.

The “system controller” arbitrates the right to use the resource in response to the request from the “copy application” and notifies the “copy application” of the arbitration result (usability). When the “digital PPC-I” is used in a stand-alone state (in a state where the network is not connected), all the resources held by the system are in a state where the “copy application” can occupy all the resources. Be executed.

On the other hand, when a print operation is performed using resources of another digital PPC (hereinafter referred to as “remote digital PPC”) existing on the network as in this embodiment, the “system” of the remote digital PPC is used. Request the right to use the resource to the "control unit".

The “system controller” of the remote digital PPC arbitrates resources according to the request, and notifies the result to the “copy application” of the digital PPC of the request source. The "copy application" executes image reading when the right to use is permitted, and, when image storage in its own memory unit is completed, remote output via an external interface (SCSI in this embodiment). The image is transferred to the memory unit of the digital PPC.

When the image transfer is completed, after transmitting each condition (paper feed port, paper discharge port, number of prints, etc.) for executing printing to the “daemon process” of the digital PPC of the remote output destination, Send a "print start" command. Upon receiving the "print start" command, the remote output destination "daemon process" requests the "system controller" of itself (digital PPC that executes remote output) to start printing, and the remote output is sent by the "system controller". Be executed.

When the “digital PPC-II” uses a “digital PPC-II” memory unit, the “digital PPC-II” memory unit is “digital PPC-II” (or as shown in FIG. 11). As described above, when a plurality of digital PPCs are connected on the network, the use of applications of digital PPCs other than “digital PPC-I” is disabled.

FIG. 14 shows an outline of an electronic sorting process (a function of storing image data in a memory) during a linking operation when the linking mode and the cover mode in the image forming apparatus network system described above are set. Shows outlines of the electronic sort processing at the time of the connection operation when the connection mode and the slip sheet mode are set, respectively.

Here, a case is shown in which an operation of an image forming apparatus (master apparatus) as an operating device and another image forming apparatus (slave apparatus) perform an operation of copying six copies of three originals in the electronic sort mode. The copy operation is shared between the master unit and the slave unit. However, it is assumed that at least the ADF is mounted on the master machine.

The master unit normally reads an original document which is sequentially set on the contact glass by automatic feeding of the ADF (operation of reading the original document and storing the image data in an image memory), and printing operation (image data). (The operation of printing an image on a sheet on the basis of the above). Actually, the scanned image data of the original is printed as it is (image is printed on paper based on the image data)
Meanwhile, an operation of transferring and writing the image data to its own image memory (for example, the secondary storage device 87) and a transfer operation of transferring and transferring the image data to the slave device are performed in parallel.

After the printing operation of the first copy is completed, the same image data as that of the first copy is sequentially read from the image memory, and the printing operation of the second copy is performed. The same image data as described above is sequentially read from the image memory, and the printing operation of the third copy is performed. At this time, if the cover mode is set, a cover-dedicated sheet (shown by hatching in FIG. 14) is arranged at a position to be a cover of the sheet bundle of each unit after printing. If the slip sheet mode is set, a sheet dedicated to slip sheets (shown by hatching in FIG. 15) is inserted at a predetermined position in the sheet bundle of each section after printing.

On the other hand, the slave unit stores the image data sent from the master unit in the image memory. At this time,
Whether the image data can be printed in parallel depends on the performance of the memory unit. Here, the printing operation for the first copy is executed after the writing operation to the image memory is completed. Then, after the printing operation is completed, the printing operation of the second copy and the third copy is sequentially performed. At this time, if the cover mode is set, a cover-specific sheet (shown by hatching in FIG. 14) is provided at a position to be a cover of the sheet bundle of each section after printing.
Place. If the slip sheet mode is set, a sheet dedicated to slip sheets (shown by hatching in FIG. 15) is inserted at a predetermined position in the sheet bundle of each section after printing.

Here, the master unit is set to the set number (6
The print operation of the copy unit is divided and shared between the own device and the slave device in half, but this allocation can be set arbitrarily, and even if one of the machines is interrupted, the share (distribution) of the copy unit It is also possible to easily change the number of copies. You can assign the number of remaining copies during suspension.

Also, in this case, since six copies of three originals are copied in the electronic sort mode, at least the ADF is
Must be installed, but if a plurality of copies of one document are to be made in the electronic sort mode, the ADF need not be installed in the master machine.

Hereinafter, with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 1 and 16 and the display screens of FIGS. 17 to 19, in each of the above-described image forming apparatuses, the functions (the cover / Interleaving mode setting prohibiting means and claim 3,
4 warning display means) will be described. These functions are performed by the image processing unit including the CPU 68 shown in FIG.
This is performed by the system controller C shown in FIGS. 9 and 12 or the system controller (system controller) shown in FIG. 13 and the network interface shown in FIGS. 11, 12, and 13.

The processing operation according to the present invention when the setting of the cover mode is requested is the same as the processing operation according to the present invention when the setting of the interleaving mode is requested. explain. Also, here, a case where two image forming apparatuses are connected in the connection mode will be briefly described. FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing operation when a connection mode is set in each image forming apparatus in which the apparatus according to the first and second aspects of the present invention is a master apparatus.

Each of the image forming apparatuses is periodically switched to the master mode as shown in FIG. 1 by pressing the link key 41 shown in FIG. First, it is checked whether the cover / insert key 42 has been pressed (step 1). If the cover key 42 has been pressed (cover mode setting has been requested), the key operation is used as a trigger. The presence / absence of a paper feed tray set as a cover-only tray (with cover attribute set) is checked by referring to the attribute information of all the paper feed trays of the master device itself and the slave device (steps 2 and 3).
3).

If both the own device and the slave device have a paper feed tray set as a cover-only tray,
The paper size of each paper feed tray (cover cover tray) is checked (step 4). If the paper sizes are the same, the presence or absence of paper in each paper feed tray set as the cover only tray is checked (step 5). If the paper is set in any of the paper feed trays, that is, if all the conditions are satisfied in steps 2 to 5, the setting of the cover mode is permitted (step 6).

On the other hand, if at least one of the own device and the slave device does not have the sheet tray set as the cover only tray, the sheet size of each sheet tray set as the cover only tray of the own device and the slave device is different. If no, or if paper has not been set in at least one of the paper feed trays set as cover-only trays of the own device and the slave device, the cover mode setting is prohibited (step 8).

In this manner, when the permission / prohibition state of the cover mode setting is determined, a cover / interleaf setting screen as shown in FIG. 17, for example, is displayed on the operation display unit of the own device, and the cover sheet is displayed to the user. The user is prompted to set a mode (step 7).

Here, on the cover / interleaf setting screen shown in FIG. 17, a cover setting key 43 and an interleaf setting key 44 are prepared. When the user wants to set the cover mode, the user presses the cover setting key 43. The cover mode setting is completed.
However, if the setting of the cover mode is prohibited in step 8 in FIG. 1, even if the cover setting key 43 is pressed, the setting of the cover mode is not accepted.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing operation when the connection mode is set in each image forming apparatus in which the own apparatus is set as the master apparatus according to the third and fourth aspects of the present invention. Each of the image forming apparatuses periodically starts the processing routine of FIG. 16 when the connection mode in which the own apparatus is the master apparatus is set by pressing the connection key 41 of FIG.

First, it is checked whether the cover / insert key 42 has been pressed (step 11). If the cover key 42 has been pressed (cover mode setting has been requested), the cover as shown in FIG. 17 is displayed. A cover sheet setting screen is displayed on the operation display unit to prompt the user to set the cover mode (step 1).
2). Here, on the cover / interleaf setting screen shown in FIG. 17, when the user wants to set the cover mode, the user may press the cover setting key 43.

Next, it is checked whether or not the cover setting key 43 has been pressed (step 13). When the cover setting key 43 has been pressed, the key operation is used as a trigger to trigger the master unit and the slave unit. The presence / absence of a paper feed tray set as a cover-only tray (with cover attribute set) is checked by referring to the attribute information of all the paper feed trays (steps 14 and 15).

If both the own device and the slave device have a paper feed tray set as a cover-only tray,
The paper size of each paper feed tray (cover tray) is checked (step 16), and if the paper sizes are the same, the presence or absence of paper in each paper feed tray set as the cover-only tray is checked (step 17). If the paper is set in any of the paper feed trays, that is, if all the conditions are satisfied in steps 14 to 17, the setting of the cover mode is ended (step 18).

On the other hand, if at least one of the own device and the slave device does not have the sheet tray set as the cover only tray, the sheet size of each sheet tray set as the cover only tray of the own device and the slave device is different. Is displayed, or if paper is not set in at least one of the paper trays set as cover-only trays for the own device and the slave device, a warning screen indicating this is displayed on the operation display of the own device. It is displayed on the upper side and prompts the user to reset or set the paper (step 19).

FIGS. 18 and 19 show steps 19 in FIG.
It is a figure which shows the different example of the warning screen displayed by. FIG.
Reference numeral 8 denotes a warning screen displayed when the paper size of the paper feed tray (cover cover tray) set as the cover-only tray is different between the master unit (master unit) and the slave unit (child unit). 7 is a warning screen displayed when paper is not set in the paper feed tray set as the cover-only tray. Since a plurality of slave units can be connected, a warning screen is displayed on the master unit so that the master unit can collectively manage the information of the slave units.

As described above, each of the image forming apparatuses is
When the connection mode is set and the cover or slip sheet mode setting is requested, the paper size of the paper tray set as the cover or slip sheet tray of the master machine itself and the slave sheet Check the paper size of the paper feed tray set as the cover or interleaf-only tray of another image forming apparatus, and if each paper size is different, or paper is not set in each of the paper feed trays (existing In this case, the setting of the cover mode or the interleaf mode is prohibited, thereby reducing the complexity of the operability caused by the combined use of the link mode and the cover mode or the interleaf mode (combined use), and suppressing erroneous copying due to a malfunction. be able to.

When the setting of the cover mode or the interleaf mode is requested in a state where the link mode is set for each of the image forming apparatuses, the image forming apparatus is set as the cover or the interleaf tray for the master machine. Check the paper size of the specified paper tray and the paper size of the paper tray set as the cover of another image forming apparatus as the slave unit or the tray for exclusive use of the slip sheet. By displaying the warning, the user can be prompted to change the paper and change the setting. Therefore, the complexity of the operability caused by the combined use of the connection mode and the cover mode or the slip sheet mode is reduced, and erroneous copying due to a malfunction is suppressed. be able to. In the connection mode, the master unit displays the warning, so that the management of the connection unit can be centralized.

Furthermore, when the setting of the cover mode or the interleaf mode is requested in the state where each image forming apparatus is set to the connection mode, when the cover mode or the interleaf mode is requested, the image forming apparatus is set as the cover of the own machine or the interleaf tray. If a sheet is not set in the set sheet tray or a sheet tray set as a cover sheet of another image forming apparatus as a slave unit or a tray for exclusive use of an interleaf sheet, a warning is displayed to notify the user of the fact. Since the setting can be prompted, the complexity of the operability caused by the combined use of the connection mode and the cover mode or the interleaf mode can be reduced, and erroneous copying due to a malfunction can be suppressed. In the connection mode, the master unit displays the warning, so that the management of the connection unit can be centralized.

In the above-described embodiment, each image forming apparatus performs the processing according to the present invention. However, at least one of the image forming apparatuses may be used.
One of the image forming apparatuses may perform the process according to the present invention.

[0105]

As described above, according to the image forming apparatus network system of the first aspect of the present invention, at least one of the image forming apparatuses includes:
When the connection mode is set and the cover or interleaf mode setting is requested, the paper size of the paper tray set as the cover or the interleaf tray of the own machine, which is the parent machine, and the slave unit Check the paper size of the paper feed tray set as the cover or interleaf-only tray of another image forming apparatus, and if the respective paper sizes are different, the setting of the cover or interleaf mode is prohibited. The complexity of the operability caused by the combined use with the cover mode or the slip sheet mode is reduced, and erroneous copying due to a malfunction can be suppressed.

According to the image forming apparatus network system of the second aspect of the present invention, at least one of the image forming apparatuses is set to the cover mode or the slip sheet mode in the connection mode. When settings are requested,
When there is no paper in the paper feed tray set as the cover or the interleaf tray of the own device as the parent machine or the cover or the paper tray set as the interleaf tray of another image forming apparatus as the slave unit Since the setting of the cover mode or the slip sheet mode is prohibited, the same effect as that of the first aspect can be obtained.

According to the image forming apparatus network system of the third aspect of the present invention, at least one of the image forming apparatuses operates in the cover mode or the interleaving mode in the connection mode. When settings are requested,
The paper size of the paper feed tray set as the cover or the interleaf tray of the own device, which is the parent machine, and the paper size of the paper tray set as the cover or the interleaf tray of another image forming apparatus as the slave unit Is checked, and a warning is displayed when the respective paper sizes are different, so that the user can be prompted to replace the paper and change the setting, and the same effect as the invention of claim 1 can be obtained. Further, in the connection mode, the master unit displays the warning, so that the management of the connection unit can be centralized.

According to the image forming apparatus network system of the present invention, at least one of the image forming apparatuses is set to the cover mode or the interleaf mode while the connection mode is set. When settings are requested,
When there is no paper in the paper feed tray set as the cover or the interleaf tray of the own device as the parent machine or the cover or the paper tray set as the interleaf tray of another image forming apparatus as the slave unit Will warn you so.
The user can be prompted to set a sheet, and the same effect as that of the third aspect can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing operation in each image forming apparatus embodying the present invention when a connection mode in which the own apparatus is a master apparatus according to the first and second aspects of the present invention is set.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a digital copying machine showing an example of an image forming apparatus constituting an image forming apparatus network system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a layout of an operation display unit provided in the digital copying machine shown in FIG.

4 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen on a liquid crystal touch panel 31 of an operation display unit 30 shown in FIG.

5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing unit (an image reading unit and an image writing unit) in the digital copying machine illustrated in FIG. 2;

6 is a waveform diagram of an image signal for one page in the selector 64 shown in FIG.

7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a memory controller 65 and an image memory 66 of the image processing unit illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a hardware configuration diagram of another image forming apparatus embodying the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a hardware configuration diagram of still another image forming apparatus embodying the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus management system that can be used to carry out the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a system configuration diagram of a network copy in which the present invention can be implemented.

FIG. 12 is a configuration diagram of a system in which two digital PPCs embodying the present invention are connected.

FIG. 13 is a conceptual diagram of the software.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of an electronic sort process at the time of a connection operation when a connection mode and a cover mode are set in the image forming apparatus network system according to the present invention.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of an electronic sort process at the time of a linking operation when the linking mode and the slip sheet mode are set.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing operation when a connection mode is set in each image forming apparatus embodying the present invention in which the own apparatus is a master apparatus according to the invention of claims 3 and 4;

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of a cover / insertion sheet setting screen displayed on the operation display unit by each image forming apparatus (master device) embodying the present invention.

FIG. 18 shows the operation display unit when each image forming apparatus (master unit) embodying the present invention has a different paper size in the sheet feed tray set as the cover-only tray between the master unit and the slave unit. It is a figure showing an example of a warning screen.

FIG. 19 is a warning screen displayed on the operation display unit when each image forming apparatus (master machine) embodying the present invention has no paper set in a paper feed tray set as a cover-only tray of a slave machine. It is a figure showing an example of.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: Automatic Document Feeder 2: Document Plate 3: Feed Roller 4: Feeding Belt 5: Discharge Roller 6: Contact Glass 8: First Tray 9: Second Tray 10: Third Tray 11: First Feed Unit 12: Second paper feed unit 13: Third paper feed unit 14: Vertical transport unit 15: Photoconductor 16: Transport belt 17: Fixing unit 18: Discharge unit 30: Operation display unit 31: LCD touch panel 32: Numeric keypad 34 : Print key 41: link key 42: cover / interleaf key 43: cover setting key 44: interleaf setting key 50: reading unit 57: writing unit 65: memory controller 66: image memory 68: CPU 69: ROM 70: RAM 76: SCSI driver 87: Secondary storage device A: Image reading unit B: Image writing unit C: System control D: Memory unit E: User restriction device F: Human body detection sensor G: Operation unit (operation display unit) H: Remote diagnostic device (CSS) I: Clock P: Image forming device (PPC) Q: Management device R: Communication control device N: Public line network

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G03G 21/00 396 H04N 1/00 C H04N 1/00 B41J 29/00 H (72) Inventor Hiroshi Mori Tokyo 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo F-term in Ricoh Co., Ltd. (reference) 2C061 AP01 HH01 HJ03 HJ07 HJ08 HJ10 HK06 HK07 HN05 HN17 HN27 HQ15 HR07 2H027 DC18 DC19 EJ13 FA30 FA31 FD08 GB14 ZA07 FB04 FB07 FB03 FA05 HA33 HA36 HB03 MA03 MA10 MA26 MB03 MB10 MC21 MC28 MC30 5C062 AA05 AA35 AB25 AB30 AB53 AC10 AC15 AC43 AC67 AC68 AF15

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of image forming apparatuses are connected via a network, and each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses detects a document reading unit for reading a document, and presence / absence and size of paper in a plurality of paper feed trays. Paper information detecting means, image printing means for printing an image read by the document reading means on paper fed from a selected one of the paper feeding trays, and each of the paper feeding trays And a cover / tray-only tray setting means for selectively setting a cover-only sheet or a slip-only sheet as a cover or a slip-sheet-only tray, and a position at which a sheet bundle after printing by the image printing means becomes a cover. A cover / interleaf mode setting for setting a cover mode for laying out a cover-only sheet or a slip-sheet mode for inserting a sheet for exclusive use at a predetermined position in a sheet bundle after printing. Means for connecting at least one of the plurality of image forming apparatuses to transfer the read image information of the document to another image forming apparatus as a slave unit and share printing. In an image forming apparatus network system including a connection mode setting unit configured to set a connection mode in which the own apparatus to be executable is set as a base unit, wherein the at least one image forming apparatus is in a state where the connection mode is set. When the setting of the cover or the slip sheet mode is requested, the sheet size of the sheet feed tray set as the cover of the own machine as the master machine or the tray for the slip sheet and the cover of another image forming apparatus as the slave machine Or, check the paper size of the paper feed tray set as the interleaf-only tray, and if the respective paper sizes are different, set the cover or interleaf mode to prohibit the cover / interleaf mode The image forming apparatus network system characterized in that a constant inhibiting means. 2. A plurality of image forming apparatuses are connected via a network, wherein each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses detects a document reading unit for reading a document, and presence / absence and size of paper in a plurality of paper feed trays. Paper information detecting means, image printing means for printing an image read by the document reading means on paper fed from a selected one of the paper feeding trays, and each of the paper feeding trays And a cover / tray-only tray setting means for selectively setting a cover-only sheet or a slip-only sheet as a cover or a slip-sheet-only tray, and a position at which a sheet bundle after printing by the image printing means becomes a cover. A cover / interleaf mode setting for setting a cover mode for laying out a cover-only sheet or a slip-sheet mode for inserting a sheet for exclusive use at a predetermined position in a sheet bundle after printing. Means for connecting at least one of the plurality of image forming apparatuses to transfer the read image information of the document to another image forming apparatus as a slave unit and share printing. In an image forming apparatus network system including a connection mode setting unit configured to set a connection mode in which the own apparatus to be executable is set as a base unit, wherein the at least one image forming apparatus is in a state where the connection mode is set. When the setting of the cover or the slip sheet mode is requested, the cover sheet or the slip sheet of another image forming apparatus as a sheet tray or a slave unit set as the cover of the own machine as the parent machine or the tray for slip sheet. A cover / interleaf mode setting prohibiting means for prohibiting the setting of the cover or interleaf mode when there is no paper in the paper tray set as the dedicated tray. Forming device network system. 3. A plurality of image forming apparatuses are connected via a network, and each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses detects a document reading unit for reading a document and presence / absence and size of paper in a plurality of paper feed trays. Paper information detecting means, image printing means for printing an image read by the document reading means on paper fed from a selected one of the paper feeding trays, and each of the paper feeding trays And a cover / tray-only tray setting means for selectively setting a cover-only sheet or a slip-only sheet as a cover or a slip-sheet-only tray, and a position at which a sheet bundle after printing by the image printing means becomes a cover. A cover / interleaf mode setting for setting a cover mode for laying out a cover-only sheet or a slip-sheet mode for inserting a sheet for exclusive use at a predetermined position in a sheet bundle after printing. Means for connecting at least one of the plurality of image forming apparatuses to transfer the read image information of the document to another image forming apparatus as a slave unit and share printing. In an image forming apparatus network system including a connection mode setting unit configured to set a connection mode in which the own apparatus to be executable is set as a base unit, wherein the at least one image forming apparatus is in a state where the connection mode is set. When the setting of the cover or the slip sheet mode is requested, the sheet size of the sheet feed tray set as the cover of the own machine as the parent machine or the tray for slip sheet and the cover of another image forming apparatus as the slave machine Alternatively, a warning display unit is provided for checking the paper size of a paper feed tray set as a slip sheet-only tray, and displaying a warning when the paper sizes are different. The image forming apparatus network system. 4. A plurality of image forming apparatuses are connected via a network, and each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses detects a document reading unit for reading a document and presence / absence and size of paper in a plurality of paper feed trays. Paper information detecting means, image printing means for printing an image read by the document reading means on paper fed from a selected one of the paper feeding trays, and each of the paper feeding trays And a cover / tray-only tray setting means for selectively setting a cover-only sheet or a slip-only sheet as a cover or a slip-sheet-only tray, and a position at which a sheet bundle after printing by the image printing means becomes a cover. A cover / interleaf mode setting for setting a cover mode for laying out a cover-only sheet or a slip-sheet mode for inserting a sheet for exclusive use at a predetermined position in a sheet bundle after printing. Means for connecting at least one of the plurality of image forming apparatuses to transfer the read image information of the document to another image forming apparatus as a slave unit and share printing. In an image forming apparatus network system including a connection mode setting unit configured to set a connection mode in which the own apparatus to be executable is set as a base unit, wherein the at least one image forming apparatus is in a state where the connection mode is set. When the setting of the cover or the slip sheet mode is requested, the cover sheet or the slip sheet of another image forming apparatus as a sheet tray or a slave unit set as the cover of the own machine as the parent machine or the tray for slip sheet. An image forming apparatus network system, comprising: a warning display unit that displays a warning when paper is not present in a paper feed tray set as a dedicated tray.