JP2001194971A - Image forming device and image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device and image forming system in which the operability of a linking operation mode can be enhanced. SOLUTION: In each image forming device 1 composing the image forming system, a password number management part 62 of a control part 60 collates whether or not a password number inputted is registered in a personal identification number database 62a when an linking operation is instructed, and selects an independent operation mode or the linking operation mode in a mode selection part 61 based on the result. When the linking operation mode is instructed from other image forming devices at this time, the password number management part 62 collates the password number number, and it will newly register the password number automatically when it is not registered. This enables an operator to perform copy work by the linking operation mode by a simple manipulation.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of selecting a single operation mode or a connection operation mode when a plurality of image forming apparatuses are connected to form an image forming system, and an image forming system. is there.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming system in which a plurality of image forming apparatuses are connected by a communication network, a connecting operation for connecting a plurality of image forming apparatuses separately from a single operation mode in which each image forming apparatus operates independently. Modes may be used.

[0003] The link operation of the image forming apparatus is, for example, an operation function of sharing the image formation of a plurality of copy originals by two or more copying machines in a copying machine system in which a plurality of copying machines as image forming apparatuses are connected. Say. As a result, the efficiency of the image forming operation in the image forming apparatus can be improved, such as shortening the time required for copying when performing a large amount of copying.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A plurality of image forming apparatuses each of which can operate independently are used for one image forming operation by a specific operator, and while the coupling operation mode is selected, other operators can use the image forming apparatuses. Cannot be used alone. Therefore, in the execution of such a connection operation mode, the selection of the connection operation mode is permitted for a preset operator, or the number of copies is set by setting the upper limit of the number of copies for each operator. It is necessary to impose certain restrictions such as management.

[0005] As a method of managing the connection operation mode, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-111626, it is determined whether or not the operator is permitted to use the connection operation mode using a personal identification number. There is a way to do that. In the above document, an image forming system in which an image forming apparatus to which a password same as that input from a master (main apparatus) is input is set as a slave (slave apparatus), and is registered for each image forming apparatus. The document describes an image forming system in which a password is input and the image forming apparatus is set as a slave.

However, in the above-described management method using a password, the operator needs to separately register and manage the password for each of the image forming apparatuses constituting the image forming system. There was a problem in mode operation efficiency. For example, when requesting the same password for each image forming apparatus, the operator registers the same password for each image forming apparatus, and which image forming apparatus has already been registered. Must be managed by each person. When collating the personal identification number for each image forming apparatus, the operator needs to manage the personal identification number registered for each image forming apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide an image forming apparatus and an image forming system in which the operability of the connection operation mode is improved.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention comprises: (1) an image forming apparatus which forms an image on the basis of image data from an image reading unit or image data from an external device; Image forming means for forming; (2)
A communication unit for connecting the image data and an instruction signal on the operation of the device so as to be able to transmit and receive the image data and the other image forming apparatus; and (3) a single operation mode that operates alone or a connection via the communication unit. Control means including mode selection means for selecting any of the linked operation modes operating in conjunction with the other image forming apparatus, and a password management means for checking whether or not the input password is registered, With
(4) When the selection of the connection operation mode is instructed by an instruction signal received from another image forming apparatus, the password management unit checks whether or not the password received together with the instruction signal is registered. If it is not registered, the personal identification number is automatically registered.

Further, the image forming system according to the present invention comprises:
The image forming apparatus includes a plurality of the above-described image forming apparatuses, and each of the image forming apparatuses is connected via a communication unit.

In the above-described image forming apparatus and image forming system, the connection operation mode selection by the mode selection means is performed based on collation of the password by the password management means. Then, when the connection operation instruction is issued by the own device (when the image forming apparatus is the main device), the password management means performs only the collation of the password.
When a connection operation instruction is received from another machine (when the image forming apparatus is a slave machine), automatically register a password that has already been collated by another machine (main machine). And

Thus, when performing image formation such as copying in the connection operation mode, the operator specifies another image forming apparatus to be used for the connection operation, or inputs a password for each image formation apparatus. It is not necessary to perform the operation, and the operability at the time of selecting the connection operation is improved. Further, it is not necessary to separately register the same password in each image forming apparatus.

[0012] In the above-described image formation by the image forming means, image formation by image data from the image reading means corresponds to a copying function, and image formation by image data from an external device corresponds to a printing function. In the case of a multifunction peripheral, image formation management using a password is not always required to be applied to all image formation, and password management may be performed only for copying.

Further, the image forming apparatus is characterized in that the personal identification number management means can set permission or prohibition of automatic registration of personal identification numbers. At this time, it is possible to make settings in consideration of the usage status of each image forming apparatus, such as prohibiting the automatic registration in advance of the image forming apparatuses that do not want to be automatically registered among the image forming apparatuses constituting the image forming system. Become.

Further, the image forming apparatus is characterized in that the personal identification number management means sets the number of sheets for image formation corresponding to the personal identification number together with the automatic registration of the personal identification number. As a result, it is possible to manage the number of images to be formed when the connection operation mode is selected by the password. It should be noted that the limited number of image formations is the limited number of copies when password management is performed only for copying in image formation. Further, an input means for inputting the limited number of sheets may be provided.

At this time, the image forming system automatically registers the personal identification number transmitted from the first image forming apparatus instructed to form an image in the connection operation mode in the second image forming apparatus. The limit number set in the first image forming apparatus corresponding to the password or the limit number newly input from the input means provided in the first image forming apparatus is used for the second image forming. It is preferable to set the limit number corresponding to the password in the apparatus. As a result, the optimum number of copies is set for each password.

[0016] The image forming apparatus may further include print management means for managing image formation based on image data from an external device.

Further, in the image forming system, when performing image formation in the linked operation mode based on image data from an external device, in the image forming apparatus set as the parent machine, the personal identification number management means automatically manages the personal identification number. Irrespective of whether registration is permitted or prohibited, the total number of prints may be managed only by the print management means provided in the image forming apparatus.

At this time, the image forming apparatus of the slave unit may perform the same image forming operation (printing operation) as in the single operation mode, and the operation status can be checked only by the master unit. Printing management from the (client) is also facilitated.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of an image forming apparatus and an image forming system according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same elements will be denoted by the same reference symbols, without redundant description.
Also, the dimensional ratios in the drawings do not always match those described.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a copying machine as an example of an apparatus to which the image forming apparatus according to the present invention can be applied.

The copying machine CM (image forming apparatus 1) shown in FIG. 1 includes a main body 12 and an automatic document feeder 16 provided so as to open and close a copy glass 14 provided on the upper surface of the main body 12. An image reading unit (image reading unit) 10 for reading an image is configured by the copy glass 14, the automatic document feeder 16, and the document reading unit 18.

Inside the main body 12, an automatic document feeder 1
6, the moving original conveyed onto the copy glass 14 by the
Alternatively, open the automatic document feeder 16 and copy glass 14
An original reading unit 18 that reads an image of a fixed original placed thereon and converts the image into image data, and an image that forms a visible image on recording paper (recording material) based on the image data received from the original reading unit 18 A forming unit (image forming unit) 20 and a paper feeding unit 22 that supplies recording paper to the image forming unit 20 are provided.

The image forming section 20 includes a photosensitive drum 24 (image carrier) which rotates in a direction A (clockwise) in FIG.
And the transfer roll 25 rotating in the B direction (counterclockwise direction)
Are provided so as to approach each other at the transfer position P.

Around the photosensitive drum 24, a charging device 26 for uniformly charging the photosensitive drum 24 along a rotation direction thereof, and a laser beam or the like is driven based on image data received from the original reading section 18. Then, a writing device 28 for forming an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 24, the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 24 is visualized with four color toners of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, Four developing devices 30 for forming a developed image are provided, and a cleaning device 32 for removing the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 24 after the transfer is provided across the transfer position P. The number of the developing devices 30 is increased or decreased according to the number of toners used.

The transfer position P inside the transfer roll 25
At a position facing the photosensitive drum 24, the developed image formed by the toner formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 24 is transferred onto a recording sheet supplied from the paper feeding unit 22 and conveyed between the photosensitive drum 24 and the transfer roll 25. A transfer machine 34 for transferring is provided.

The image forming section 20 is provided with an image forming control section 35. The image forming control section 35 controls the charging device 26, the writing device 28 and the developing device 30 so that the photosensitive drum is controlled. The amount of toner adhering to the surface of the H.24 is controlled.

Further, the image forming section 20 includes a transfer machine 34.
Is provided with a fixing device 36 for fixing the image transferred to the recording paper by the recording medium.

The paper feed section 22 is provided at a lower portion of the main body 12, and includes three paper feed trays 38, 40, 42, and a paper feed mechanism 44 provided in each of the paper feed trays 38, 40, 42. It has. Each paper feed tray 38, 40, 42
The recording papers are stacked and accommodated by size or type, and are detachably mounted on the main body 12, and the recording paper is sent out from any of these paper feed trays. The paper feed mechanism 44 includes a pickup roller 46 that sequentially contacts the recording paper on the uppermost of the paper feed trays 38, 40, and 42 and sequentially feeds the recording paper, and receives the recording paper sent by the pickup roller 46 to form an image. It comprises a feed roller 48 and a retard roller 50, which are a pair of rollers for feeding the recording paper while preventing double feeding toward the section 20. The pickup roller 46 and the feed roller 48 are rotated by the drive of a motor (not shown), and the retard roller 50 forming a pair with the feed roller 48 rotates with the rotation of the feed roller 48.

A recording paper transport path 54 is formed by several sets of guide rollers 52 from each of the paper feed trays 38, 40, 42 toward the image forming section 20. Therefore, the recording paper sent from each of the paper feed trays 38, 40, and 42 is
Along transfer path 54, transfer position P, fixing device 36
And is discharged to the outside via a discharge roller 56 provided on the downstream side of the fixing device 36.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing an embodiment of an image forming system which can be connected and constructed by connecting a plurality of image forming apparatuses 1 such as the copying machine CM shown in FIG. is there. In the system of FIG. 2, six image forming apparatuses 1 a to 1 f are respectively connected via communication units described below.
They are connected so that image data and an instruction signal for mutually instructing or exchanging information about the operation of each image forming apparatus can be transmitted and received. From the plurality of image forming apparatuses 1a to 1f connected in this manner, an image forming system capable of selecting a connection operation mode when performing an image forming operation is configured.

Each of the image forming apparatuses 1a to 1f forms an image in the image forming section 20 based on image data from an external device other than the image reading section 10 in addition to the copying function (see FIG. 1). A multifunction machine (copying machine + printing machine) having a printing function may be used. In this case, as shown for the image forming apparatus 1a in FIG. 2, the print instruction apparatus 2 such as a personal computer (PC), which is an external apparatus, is connected to the image forming apparatus 1a via a network separately from the image forming system. Is done.

The image forming system shown in FIG. 2 constructed by connecting a plurality of image forming apparatuses 1 having a copying function (or a printing function or other functions) will be described below. Configuration of the forming apparatus 1,
The connection operation in the image forming system will be described.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. Here, reference numerals 10 and 20
Corresponds to the image reading unit 10 and the image forming unit 20 shown in FIG. In the drawing, a single arrow line indicates a flow of a control signal, an instruction signal, and the like, and a double arrow line indicates a flow of image data.

In the following description, when the connection operation mode is executed, the image forming apparatus which is actually operated by the operator to perform the connection operation is formed by the main unit and the connection operation instruction from the main unit. The slave image forming apparatus is a slave. Therefore, the distinction between the master unit and the slave unit is temporary when the connection operation mode is selected. In an actual image forming system, a master unit and a slave unit may be set in advance for management purposes.
The parent device and the child device in management do not always match.

The image forming apparatus 1 (image forming apparatus 1a)
The control unit 60 includes a control unit 60 that inputs and outputs image data from the image reading unit 10 to the image forming unit 20 and processes image data, and controls an operation mode of the apparatus. Control unit 60
Has a mode selection unit 61 for selecting a single operation mode or a connection operation mode as an operation mode based on an instruction signal.

In the image forming apparatus 1, the selection of the connection operation mode in the copying operation is managed by a password registered in advance. For this reason, the control unit 60 is configured to include a password management unit 62 that performs password collation when the connection operation mode is selected by the mode selection unit 61. In addition, the password management unit 62
The personal identification number database 62a storing personal identification number data registered for the image forming apparatus 1 is connected.

Further, in the image forming apparatus 1, a limit number, which is an upper limit of the number of copies, is set in correspondence with each password, thereby managing the number of copies of each operator. This limited number is also stored in the database 62a or a separately provided database in association with each password.

The image forming apparatus 1 is provided with an input / output unit 90 connected to the control unit 60. Input / output unit 9
0 is used to instruct the control unit 60 to execute image reading or image formation and its execution conditions, or to select a single operation mode or a connection operation mode. For example, a device operable by an operator It is installed as an upper control panel. Further, a communication unit 70 is connected to the control unit 60. The communication unit 70 includes the image forming apparatus 1 (1a) and the other image forming apparatuses 1 (1b to 1b).
f, see FIG. 2). By connecting a plurality of image forming apparatuses 1 via the communication unit 70, an image forming system that can be connected is configured.

In the present embodiment, a print management unit 80 for inputting image data is provided separately from the image reading unit 10. The print management unit 80 receives a print instruction and image data from the print instruction device 2 (see FIG. 2) such as a PC, and performs printing via the control unit 60. However,
The image forming apparatus 1 has only a copying function of forming an image based on image data from the image reading unit 10, and a printing function of forming an image based on image data from an external device such as the print instruction device 2. When the print management unit 80 is not provided, the configuration may be such that the print management unit 80 is not provided.

In the image forming apparatus 1 configured as described above, when the single operation mode is selected, the image data of the document read by the image reading unit 10 is sent to the image forming unit 20 via the control unit 60. Then, an image is formed (copied).
Also, the image data provided from the print instruction device 2 via the print management unit 80 is similarly sent to the image forming unit 20 via the control unit 60 to perform image formation (printing).

On the other hand, when the connection operation mode is selected, the division of the image forming operation is determined by the control unit 60, and the respective image data are transmitted via the image forming unit 20 of the image forming apparatus 1 or the communication unit 70 as the main unit. The image is sent to another image forming apparatus that is a slave machine to form an image.

The password management unit 62 checks the password as described above when selecting the link operation mode in the copying operation. Here, when the link operation mode is instructed by another image forming apparatus and the image forming apparatus 1 becomes a slave, the transmitted password is collated in another image forming apparatus that is already the main machine. Things. At this time, the password management unit 62 checks the transmitted password, and if the password is not registered in the password database 62a, newly registers (automatically registers) the password.

It is preferable that the password management unit 62 can set the permission or prohibition of the execution of the automatic registration of the password. Permission or prohibition of the automatic registration is instructed by the operator from the input / output unit 90, for example. Then, when the automatic registration is prohibited, the password management unit 62 only checks whether or not the transmitted password is registered.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of a specific configuration of the control unit 60 and the communication unit 70 in the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. A hardware control function of each unit of the image forming apparatus 1 in the control unit 60 and a software function necessary for the operation of the apparatus are performed by the CPU 60a.

The CPU 60a has a ROM 60 storing software programs and the like necessary for the operation of the present apparatus.
b and a writable memory 60c such as a RAM for storing necessary data are connected. Also, an input / output interface 63 for exchanging instruction signals and the like with the input / output unit 90 as a user interface, and a communication interface 71 for exchanging instruction signals and the like with other image forming apparatuses are connected. I have.

The CPU 60a includes an image reading unit 10
An image processing unit 64 for processing image data input from the (or print management unit 80) is connected. The image processing unit 64 includes an image input unit 64a, an image compression unit 64b, an image decompression unit 64c, an image output unit 64d, and a processing unit 67 for performing predetermined processing on image data.
And a page buffer 65 for storing image data,
And a hard disk 66. Further, the image processing section 64 is provided with an image communication section 72 for exchanging image data with another image forming apparatus.

The communication interface 71 and the image communication unit 72 of the components shown in FIG. 4 constitute the communication unit 70 of FIG. 3, and the other components are the control unit 60.
Is composed.

In the above configuration, the image data from the image reading section 10 (or the print management section 80) is input to the image input section 64a of the image processing section 64. Then, after the data is compressed by the image compression unit 64b, the compressed data or the original image data is stored in the page buffer 65 or the hard disk 66. When processing is performed on image data, the processing unit 67 performs image processing.

The compressed data stored in the page buffer 65 or the hard disk 66 is compressed by the image decompressor 64c when the image is formed in the image forming apparatus 1 (1a) in the single operation mode or the connection operation mode. After the data is read and the data is decompressed, the decompressed image data is output from the image output unit 64d to the image forming unit 20.

When an image is formed in another image forming apparatus 1 (1 b to 1 f) in the connection operation mode, another image forming apparatus to which the compressed data or the image data corresponds via the image communication unit 72. Sent to Alternatively, when the connection operation mode is instructed from another image forming apparatus, the compressed data or the image data is received via the image communication unit 72.

Here, functions such as mode selection in the control unit 60, that is, operation mode selection by the mode selection unit 61 and password management by the password management unit 62 shown in FIG. 3 are realized by software functions by the CPU 60a. Is done. In addition, the personal identification number database 62a
The memory 60c is configured to store the registered personal identification numbers or the number of copies permitted for each personal identification number in the memory 60c.

The operation of the image forming apparatus 1 having the above configuration will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the image forming system configured by connecting a plurality of the image forming apparatuses 1 illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 as illustrated in FIG. Here, of the steps shown in the flowchart, steps S101 to S105 indicate the operation by the main machine instructed to execute the copy, and steps S201 to S105.
Reference numeral 204 denotes an operation by the slave machine. However, step S104 shows a connection operation by both the master unit and the slave unit.

First, in a certain image forming apparatus 1 (hereinafter, referred to as a main machine), a copy (copy) operation by a linking operation is instructed, and a password is input from the input / output unit 90 (step S101). This password is input regardless of whether copying is performed by a single operation or a link operation. Then, the collation of the input personal identification number is performed in the personal identification number management part 62 of the control part 60, and the mode selection part 6
1, the connection operation mode is selected (step S10).
2).

Next, for the designated copying operation, a request for a linking operation is sent to another image forming apparatus 1 (hereinafter, referred to as a slave machine), and the input personal identification number is transmitted (step S103). ). In accordance with the connection operation request from the main unit, the slave unit collates the personal identification number received by the personal identification number management unit 62 (step S201). Copying is performed (step S104).

If the personal identification number received from the main unit has not been registered in the slave unit, it is checked whether or not automatic registration of the personal identification number is permitted (step S202). Then, the copy is executed in the single operation mode (step S105).

On the other hand, if the automatic registration is permitted, the slave machine automatically registers the received personal identification number. First, the limited number of copies to be set corresponding to the password is received from the main machine (step S203). Then, the personal identification number is automatically registered in the personal identification number database 62a, and the corresponding limit number is set (step S204). When the automatic registration of the personal identification number is completed, the copy is executed by the connection operation of the master unit and the slave unit (step S104).

Regarding the number of copies permitted during the linking operation, regardless of whether automatic registration is permitted or prohibited,
Each image forming apparatus manages the number of copies. Also, regarding the transmission of the limited number (see step S203) set at the time of automatic registration from the master unit to the slave unit,
The limit number set in the main machine corresponding to the password may be transmitted. Alternatively, when the automatic registration is performed, the input / output unit 9
0, an input instruction of the number of control sheets is displayed on a display unit provided at 0,
It is also possible to allow the operator to input the number of sheets to be set for the slave machine from an input unit provided in the input / output unit 90, and to transmit the input number of sheets. Further, an operator may be able to set or change the method of determining the limit number of sheets.

As described above, in the above-described image forming apparatus 1, in the image forming system configured by connecting the image forming apparatuses 1 through the respective communication units 70, the connection operation mode is selected. If the password transmitted from the main unit is not registered in the slave unit, the password management unit 62 of the slave unit automatically registers the password. At this time, when the operator instructs the connection operation mode, complicated operations such as designation of another image forming apparatus to be used for the connection operation and input of all the passwords registered in each image forming apparatus become unnecessary. In addition, the operability of the copying operation in the connecting operation is improved.

In the automatic registration of the personal identification number, permission or prohibition of the execution of the automatic registration can be set. Therefore, of the plurality of image forming apparatuses constituting the image forming system, the image which is not desired to be automatically registered is set. Various settings are possible, such as prohibiting automatic registration of the forming apparatus in advance. For example, if automatic registration is prohibited in a frequently used apparatus among a plurality of image forming apparatuses, a situation in which the image forming apparatus is excessively occupied by a connection operation request from another apparatus can be prevented. .

In addition to the password, the corresponding copy limit is set by the same limit as that of the main unit or by the limit newly inputted by the operator at the main unit. As a result, also in the slave machine, a suitable limit number is set for the password.

The image forming apparatus 1 constituting the image forming system forms an image based on the image data from the print instruction apparatus 2 in addition to the copying function, as shown in FIG. A multifunction peripheral having a printing function may be used. At this time, in the linked operation mode in which the printer is functioned as a printing machine (printer) instead of a copier, regardless of whether automatic registration of a personal identification number is permitted or prohibited, the print management unit 8 of the parent machine of the image forming system.
It is preferable to manage the total number of printed sheets only with 0.
At this time, the slave unit only needs to perform the same print processing as in the single operation mode, and the print management by the print instruction device 2 as the client becomes easy. However, in the case of a multifunction peripheral, image formation management using a password is not necessarily required to be applied to all image formation, and password management may be performed only for copying.

The image forming apparatus and the image forming system according to the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiment.
Various modifications are possible. In addition, about the operation,
The present invention is not limited to the one shown in the flowchart of FIG.

[0062]

As described above in detail, the image forming apparatus and the image forming system according to the present invention have the following effects. That is, in the image forming system including a plurality of image forming apparatuses, when the connection operation mode is selected, the password management unit of the slave unit transmits the password transmitted by collation performed by the password management unit of the main unit. Automatically register a new number. As a result, the operator can perform the copying operation in the linked operation mode by a simple operation that is almost the same as in the single operation mode, and the operability in the linked operation mode is improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating a copying machine that is an example of an image forming apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating an embodiment of an image forming system configured by connecting a plurality of image forming apparatuses.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an embodiment of an image forming apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a specific configuration of a control unit and a communication unit in the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation of the image forming system using the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 3;

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 1a to 1f: image forming apparatus, 2: print instruction apparatus, 1
0: image reading unit, 12: body, 14: copy glass, 1
6 Automatic document feeder, 18 Document reading unit, 20 Image forming unit, 22 Paper feed unit, 24 Photoconductor drum, 25 Transfer roll, 26 Charging device, 28 Writing device, 30
Developing device, 32: Cleaning device, 34: Transfer machine, 3
5 image forming controller, 36 fixing device, 38, 40, 4
2 paper feed tray, 44 paper feed mechanism, 46 pickup roller, 48 feed roller, 50 retard roller, 52 guide roller, 54 recording paper transport path, 56
Discharge roller, 60 ... Control unit, 60a ... CPU, 60b ...
ROM, 60c memory, 61 mode selector, 62
PIN management unit, 62a ... PIN database, 63
... I / O interface, 64 ... Image processing unit, 64
a image input unit, 64b image compression unit, 64c image expansion unit, 64d image output unit, 65 page buffer, 6
6 hard disk, 67 processing unit, 70 communication unit, 7
1: Communication interface, 72: Image communication unit, 80
... Print management unit 90, input / output unit.

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An image forming unit that forms an image based on image data from an image reading unit or image data from an external device, and the image data and the operation of the device for another image forming apparatus. A communication means for connecting the instruction signal so as to be able to transmit and receive the instruction signal; and a single operation mode operating independently, or a connection operation mode operating in connection with the other image forming apparatus connected via the communication means. And a control unit including a password management unit that checks whether or not the input password is registered. The password management unit receives the password from the other image forming apparatus. When the selection of the connection operation mode is instructed by the instruction signal that has been given, while checking whether or not the password has been registered together with the instruction signal, If not registered, the image forming apparatus automatically newly registers the password. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said password management means can set permission or prohibition of said automatic registration of said password. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the password management unit sets the number of sheets for image formation corresponding to the password together with the automatic registration of the password. . 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising an input unit for inputting the limited number of sheets. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a print management unit that manages image formation based on image data from the external device. 6. An image forming system comprising a plurality of the image forming apparatuses according to claim 1, wherein each of the image forming apparatuses is connected via the communication unit. 7. The automatic registration in the second image forming apparatus for the personal identification number transmitted from the first image forming apparatus instructed to form an image in the connection operation mode. The limit number set in the first image forming apparatus corresponding to the password or the limit number newly input from the input means provided in the first image forming apparatus is used as the second image. 7. The image forming system according to claim 6, wherein the number is set as a limit number corresponding to the password in the forming apparatus. 8. In the image forming apparatus set as a master unit when performing image formation in the connection operation mode based on image data from the external device, the personal identification number management unit includes 7. The image forming system according to claim 6, wherein, regardless of whether automatic registration is permitted or prohibited, the entire image formation is managed only by print management means provided in the image forming apparatus.