JP2001018495A - Imaging system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To produce a limited number of printed matters at high speed by an arrangement wherein at least one imaging apparatus divides a set number of copies to distribute an imaging job to a plurality of imaging apparatus and numbers the copies correspondingly. SOLUTION: An imaging apparatus A(A) functions as a master machine and an imaging apparatus B(B) functions as a slave machine. Control means CPU for A has means DS for distributing the number of sheets and the distributing means DS distributes copies while taking account of the imaging speed of A and B. Consequently, A and B finish imaging at a substantially same time. The imaging apparatus A imparts number '1' to a recorded matter produced first and distributed number of copies are stacked in a sheet discharge tray while being numbered in ascending order. The imaging apparatus B imparts the number of all imaging copies to a recorded matter produced first and distributed number of copies are stacked in the sheet discharge tray while being numbered in descending order.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tandem image forming system in which a plurality of digital image forming apparatuses are connected, and image information read by each image forming apparatus is transmitted to form an image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a digital image forming apparatus, an original is scanned by an optical system or the like, an image is read by a CCD, converted into an electric signal, temporarily stored in an image memory as image information, and then recorded on a recording paper based on the image information. An image forming method for forming an image on a paper is widely used.

[0003] A plurality of such digital image forming apparatuses are connected by a transmission means for transmitting image information and control information to form a tandem image forming system, thereby improving the image forming speed. For example, when two image forming apparatuses having an image forming speed of 50 sheets per minute are connected, the image forming number is shared by the two connected image forming apparatuses, so that a speed of 100 sheets per minute is practically achieved. To form an image.

[0004] One mode of using printed materials is to print a limited number of copies. This is a usage mode in which a limited number of copies of an image consisting of one page or a plurality of pages are formed, binding processing is performed in some cases, and distribution is performed at a specific department or meeting. The image formation of such a limited number of copies is performed for the purpose of maintaining confidentiality, and a process of assigning a number or a symbol to each portion of the printed matter so as to clearly identify the distribution destination, that is, a numbering process is performed.

[0005]

The conventional tandem image forming system does not have a function of performing a numbering process when the limited number of prints are created. Therefore, in order to perform the numbering process in the conventional tandem image forming system, it is necessary to create a numbered print using each image forming apparatus without using the system function. There is a problem that the productivity of the product is extremely reduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems in the use of a conventional tandem image forming system for producing limited prints.

[0007]

The object of the present invention is achieved by the following invention.

(1) In an image forming system in which a plurality of image forming apparatuses are connected by information transmitting means, a numbering means for assigning a number or a symbol indicating the number of copies to a recorded matter in which each of the image forming apparatuses has formed an image is provided. And at least one of the image forming apparatuses includes a distribution unit configured to divide a set number of copies and distribute an image forming job to a plurality of the image forming apparatuses, and the numbering unit includes:
An image forming system, wherein a number or symbol corresponding to the number of copies distributed by the distribution unit is assigned to assign a number consistent with the number of copies of the job before division.

(2) It is composed of two image forming apparatuses, one numbering means assigns numbers in ascending order to increase the number every time an image is formed, and the other numbering means is set. The image forming system according to (1), wherein the numbering is performed in a descending order in which the number of sheets is reduced for each image formation from the set number of copies.

(3) In the case where a failure occurs in any of the image forming apparatuses, the distribution means performs redistribution for correcting the initial distribution. Item 10. The image forming system according to item 1.

(4) The distribution means (1) to (3), wherein the distribution means distributes the number of images to be formed in each of the image forming apparatuses according to the individual image forming speed of the image forming apparatus. The image forming system according to claim 1.

[0012]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The image forming apparatuses A and B are connected by a cable 100 as a transmitting means for transmitting image information and control information. The image forming apparatus A is used as a master machine,
The image forming apparatus B is used as a slave unit that forms an image under the control of the image forming apparatus A as a master unit. Each of the image forming apparatuses A and B can be independently used as a single image forming apparatus, but can be used as an image forming system by exchanging image information and control information through the cable 100. In the following description, a case where the image forming apparatuses A and B are used as components of an image forming system will be described.

The image forming apparatuses A and B each include an operation unit 10 as setting means and a reading unit 20 for reading a document image.
An image memory 30 that stores image information read by the reading unit 20, an image forming unit 40 that forms an image on recording paper based on the image information in the image memory 30,
A numbering means 51 for assigning a number or a symbol to the recording paper on which an image is formed for each number of copies, a post-processing unit 50 having a stapler 52, and a paper ejection unit for detecting the ejection of the recording paper on which an image is formed. Sensor 60 and paper discharge path switching means 70
, An input / output port 80, and control means CPU.

The operation unit 10 is provided with a total number setting button as a total number setting means, a button for selecting whether to discharge the recording paper with the image side up or with the recording paper down. .
The reading unit 20 feeds the document one by one, moves the reading position, or places the document stationary on the document placing table, moves the optical system or the like, scans the document surface, and scans the CCD or the like. The image is read by the image sensor and image information is output. The output image information is stored in the image memory 30. Image memory 3
Numeral 0 stores image information in units of jobs and has a capacity to store image information of several hundred pages.

The image forming section 40 employs an electrophotographic method, forms an electrostatic latent image on a pre-charged photosensitive drum surface by laser beam scanning modulated based on the image information, and visualizes the electrostatic latent image with toner. This toner image is transferred to a recording sheet and fixed to form an image on the recording sheet. The numbering unit 51 of the post-processing unit 50 prints a symbol or number indicating the number of image forming copies on the upper or lower part of the recording paper on which an image is formed, and the configuration of the numbering unit is also a part of the image forming unit 40. The character generating means outputs numerical information of the corresponding number or symbol from the character generating means based on the copy number information counted by the control means CPU, and prints the number or symbol on the recording paper. The post-processing unit 50 includes a stapler 52 that performs a binding process for each unit in addition to the numbering unit 51. The sensor 60 is provided in a paper discharge unit of the image forming apparatuses A and B, and detects a recording sheet on which an image is formed. The control means CPU counts the number of formed images based on the detection signal of the sensor 60 and detects a failure such as a paper jam. The paper discharge path switching means 70 switches between a paper discharge path for discharging paper with the image recording surface facing upward and a paper discharging path for discharging paper with the image recording surface facing downward. In double-sided image formation in which images are formed on both front and back sides of a recording sheet, the paper discharge path switching unit 70 switches between a paper discharge path for discharging paper with the front side up and a paper discharge path for discharging paper with the front side down. .

The connected image forming apparatuses A and B have the same configuration as shown in the figure. In the present embodiment, image forming apparatus A functions as a master machine, and image forming apparatus B functions as a slave machine. Control means C of image forming apparatus A
The PU has distribution means DS for distributing the number of sheets. For example, when creating 100 copies of recorded matter,
The number of copies to be formed in each image forming apparatus is allocated such that 0 copies are created in the image forming apparatus A and 50 copies are created in the image forming apparatus B. Allocation means DS
Distributes the number of copies in consideration of the image forming speeds of the image forming apparatuses A and B. For example, if the image forming apparatus A has an image forming speed of 60 sheets per minute and the image forming apparatus B has an image forming speed of 30 sheets per minute, the image forming apparatuses A and B have two image forming speeds.
The number of image forming copies is distributed at a ratio of one to one. By such a distribution, the image forming apparatuses A and B always complete image formation in substantially the same time.

The image is formed by the reading unit 20 of the image forming apparatus A.
Not only when the image information is transmitted to the image forming apparatus B based on the image information obtained by the reading in the image forming apparatus B, A may be transmitted to A.

Next, numbering by the numbering means 51 of the image forming apparatuses A and B when image formation is performed in the image forming apparatuses A and B will be described.

As an example, as shown in FIG. 2, it is assumed that the image forming apparatus A has an image forming speed of 50 sheets per minute and the image forming apparatus B has an image forming speed of 70 sheets per minute.

Here, the total number of image forming copies is assumed to be 50 copies, and when this 50 copies is set by the operation section 10 of the image forming apparatus A, the distribution means DS determines the number of copies to be distributed to the image forming apparatuses A and B as follows. Is determined by calculation.

The number of copies of the image forming apparatus A = 50 (copy) × ｛5
0 / [50 + 70]｝ = 21 (copy), the number of copies of the image forming apparatus B = 50 (copy) −21 (copy) = 29
(Part).

As described above, when the image forming apparatus A starts the image forming of 21 copies and the image forming apparatus B starts the image forming of 29 sets, and the image forming apparatus B executes the image forming smoothly, the image forming of both apparatuses ends almost at the same time.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a discharge tray TA of the image forming apparatus A.
And the state of recording paper discharge on the discharge tray TB of the image forming apparatus B. Recording papers are stacked on the trays TA and TB in the order of paper ejection.

In the image forming apparatus A, the number "1" for the first copy is assigned to the lowermost recorded matter, that is, the first recorded matter, and numbering is performed up to 21 in ascending order. Then, in the image forming apparatus A, the sheets are stacked on the sheet discharge tray TA such that the screen faces down. When images are formed on both sides of the recording paper, the recording paper is discharged onto the paper discharge tray TA such that the front side image is at the bottom and the back side image is at the top. The discharge of the recording sheet with the front and back reversed is performed by the control unit CPU controlling the discharge path switching unit 70.

In the image forming apparatus B, the 50th number "50" is assigned to the lowermost recorded matter, that is, the first recorded matter, and numbered up to "22" in descending order. Then, in the image forming apparatus B, the recording paper is discharged to the paper discharge tray TB so that the screen faces upward. Accordingly, in the image forming apparatus B, the recording sheets are discharged such that the first page is also stacked in descending order in the page order. Such a paper discharging means in the image forming apparatus B changes the order of pages read out from the image memory 30 so that, for example, when a recorded matter of nine pages is created, the ninth page is created first, Image formation is performed in which images are formed in descending order and finally the image of the first page is formed.

The order of the discharge of the recording sheets on the discharge trays TA and TB, that is, the order of the pages so that the order of the pages and the number of copies are opposite to each other, is relative. It is also possible to reverse the paper discharge in the image forming apparatus B and the paper discharge in the image forming apparatus B. The image forming apparatus A
The means for reversing the page order in the image forming apparatus B and the page order in the image forming apparatus B are the same as the means for reversing the image forming order as described above, and are performed in the normal order without reversing the image forming order. Means of inverting the recorded matter at the stage when the unit recorded matter is created may be employed.

By superimposing the recording material stacked on the tray TA on the recording material stacked on the tray TB, recording materials numbered from 1 to 50 are completed.

Next, a description will be given of a process when a trouble such as running out of recording paper occurs during the execution of the image forming process and the image forming process is interrupted.

As shown in FIG. 3, for example, an image forming apparatus B
During execution of image formation from the part number 50 (part number 3
A trouble suddenly occurred during the image formation of 1).
Assume that the image of the copy is formed and stopped. Then, the stop information and the number of image forming copies up to this point, that is, in this example, 20 of the number of image forming copies are transmitted from the image forming apparatus B to the image forming apparatus A. Here, the order of the number of copies formed by the image forming apparatus B is 50 to 31.
The control unit CPU of the image forming apparatus A detects the transmitted stop information of the image forming apparatus B and the information of the number of image forming copies, and determines the number of the unformed image forming copies of the image forming apparatus B, namely, 9 to 9 of the copy numbers 30 to 22. Copies to the image forming apparatus A. as a result,
As shown in FIG. 3, the image forming apparatus A adds 30 copies obtained by adding 9 copies of redistribution Nos. 30 to 22 to 21 copies of the copy numbers 1 to 21 determined first, and B shows 19 copies before stopping and 1 image formed after trouble occurred
In other words, 20 copies were image-formed. In the same manner as described above, the printed matter of 30 copies formed by forming an image with the image forming apparatus A and stacked with the image side down is inverted, and the image is formed with the image side up and the copy formed by the image forming apparatus B is over 20 copies. By stacking, it is possible to easily obtain 50 copies of the printed material having the same part number.

A numbering means (counter) is used for numbering the number of copies. However, the normal counter starts counting from 0. In this case, since the numbering starts from No. 1, the counter of the image forming apparatus A is configured to add 1 in advance and start.

In this way, even if a trouble occurs in either the image forming apparatus A or the image forming apparatus B, it is possible to cope with the image formation in which the order of the part numbers is similarly arranged.

In the above example, the recorded matter is stapled and used one copy at a time. For example, since the recorded matter part is composed of nine images (characters) and is stapled at nine sheets, one copy is used. However, if the image forming apparatus B is not bound one by one, the image forming apparatus B stops the image forming at the time when the image forming apparatus B is stopped. Assuming that the printing is stopped at the time when the formation is completed, it is possible to redistribute the five unformed images to the image forming apparatus A. That is, the image forming apparatus A forms an image of 30 copies and 5 sheets, and the image forming apparatus B forms an image of 19 copies and 4 sheets. Also in this case, the image forming apparatus B is formed by reversing 30 copies and 5 sheets formed by the image forming apparatus A.
The number of copies can be easily aligned by superimposing 19 copies on which the image has been formed with four copies.

In this example, if priority is given to the image forming speed, the 20th copy (copy number 31) is discarded, and the image formation of the 20th copy is distributed to the image forming apparatus A. 31 image forming apparatuses A and 19 image forming apparatuses B
It is also possible to form a part. The use of this method improves the overall image forming speed.

Further, if the image forming apparatus B is repaired in a short time before the image formation of the additional distribution of the image forming apparatus A is completed in the above-described example, such as replenishment of the recording paper, it is determined that the repair has been performed. Transmitting the information to the image forming apparatus A;
It is also possible that the image forming apparatus A forms 25 copies and the image forming apparatus B forms 25 copies again by redistributing the number of unformed image copies again. In any case, as described above, the number of copies can be easily made uniform by reversing one of the recorded materials and superimposing it on the other recorded material.

By arranging the recording paper discharging method of the two linked image forming apparatuses and distributing the number of copies to each of the image forming units, even if a trouble occurs in the image forming apparatus, the copy is always arranged in an order corresponding to the trouble immediately. Is formed.

[0037]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the numbering or the number indicating the number of copies is given to the recorded matter by using the tandem image forming system, and the limited printed matter can be created at a high speed. Was.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, a printed matter numbered in a correct order can be obtained without performing troublesome post-processing on a recorded matter created in each image forming apparatus constituting the image forming system.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, even if a trouble occurs in the image forming apparatus constituting the image forming system and the image formation is interrupted, the set number of prints is numbered in a correct order.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when a tandem image forming system is constituted by image forming apparatuses having different image forming speeds, a correctly numbered printed matter can be obtained with the highest image forming efficiency.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a paper discharge state in an image forming apparatus included in the image forming system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a paper discharge state in the image forming apparatus that forms the image forming system according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Operation part 20 Reading part 30 Image memory 40 Image forming part 50 Post-processing part 51 Numbering means 52 Stapler 100 Cable A, B Image forming apparatus CPU control means

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G06F 3/12 G06F 3/12 P H04N 1/00 H04N 1/00 B

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An image forming system in which a plurality of image forming apparatuses are connected by an information transmitting means, wherein each of the image forming apparatuses has a numbering means for giving a number or a symbol indicating the number of copies to a recorded matter on which an image is formed. In addition, at least one of the image forming apparatuses has a distribution unit that divides a set number of copies and distributes image forming jobs to the plurality of image forming apparatuses, and the numbering unit is distributed by the distribution unit. An image forming system, wherein a number or a symbol corresponding to the number of copies is assigned to assign a number unified to the number of copies of the job before division. 2. An image forming apparatus comprising: two image forming apparatuses;
The numbering means of one unit performs numbering in ascending order to increase the number for each image formation, and the other one numbering means performs numbering in descending order to decrease the number of sheets for each image formation from the set number of copies. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when a failure occurs in any one of the image forming apparatuses, the distribution unit performs redistribution for correcting an initial distribution. Image forming system. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the distribution unit distributes the number of images to be formed in each of the image forming apparatuses according to an image forming speed of each of the image forming apparatuses.
4. The image forming system according to any one of 3.