JP2004207779A - Image forming system and image printing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming system for effectively reducing a bundle of originals including many pages when a plurality of image forming apparatuses share a printing job to print out the originals and to provide an image printing method. <P>SOLUTION: A prescribed pages of a bundle of originals to be printed are separated and respectively set to ADFs of its own apparatus and other apparatuses 81 to 83. Its own apparatus and the other apparatuses 81 to 83 respectively read the original images assigned to the apparatuses. When receiving a transfer request of the original images from other image forming apparatuses, its own apparatus and the other apparatuses 81 to 83 respectively transfer the original images read by their own. Its own apparatus and the other apparatuses 81 to 83 print out the original images read by their own and the original images that are transferred. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming system and an image printing method, and more particularly to an image forming system and an image printing method in which a plurality of electrically connectable image forming apparatuses share a reading function and a printing function and perform linked printing.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a technique in which a plurality of digital copying machines (image forming apparatuses) are functionally connected and used. The total performance is obtained by selecting the connection mode on the master unit side, sharing the read image with the connected slave units, and performing the printing operation in parallel.
[0003]
For example, when copying 100 sheets of a single document using the connection mode, if there are two image forming apparatuses in a connection state, the printing operation is performed 50 sheets per one, thereby reducing the total printing time. It was possible.
[0004]
When a plurality of originals are handled, the original is read by the image forming apparatus serving as a master, and thereafter, the printing operation is shared. As such a conventional technique, there is an image forming system disclosed in Patent Document 1. In the image forming system disclosed in Patent Document 1, a plurality of image forming apparatuses are connected and connected via a communication line. In a stack mode in which printed materials are sorted for each page, a read image is shared and copied by the plurality of image forming apparatuses, and a slave is used. The output side of the machine was reversed with that of the master machine, eliminating the need to change pages during integration and shortening the work time.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-10-112767
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional method, there is a problem that at least printing in the reverse order cannot be performed until the reading operation is completed. There is no problem when the number of documents is small and the number of copies is large, but when the number of documents is large and the number of copies is small, printing can be advanced on the master unit while the master unit is reading the original. Even if printing is started on the slave unit after reading is completed, the time cannot be reduced so much.
[0007]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and when printing a document by sharing a plurality of image forming apparatuses, it is possible to effectively reduce the printing time even for a document bundle having a large number of pages. It is an object to provide an image forming system and an image printing method.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 has a plurality of image forming apparatuses interconnected via a network, and each of the image forming apparatuses prints an original by sharing a predetermined number of pages. In the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus reads a document image assigned to the image forming apparatus, and, when receiving a document image transmission request from another connected image forming apparatus, converts the read document image into another document image. The image forming apparatus transmits an original image read by another image forming apparatus from another image forming apparatus, and prints the read original image and the received original image from the other image forming apparatus.
[0009]
Further, the invention according to claim 2 has a plurality of image reading apparatuses and a plurality of image forming apparatuses interconnected via a network, and the image reading apparatuses and the image forming apparatuses each convert a document for a predetermined page, An image forming system for sharing and reading, wherein an image reading device reads a document image assigned to itself, and reads the document image when receiving a document image transmission request from a connected image forming device. Is transmitted to the image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus reads the document image assigned to the own apparatus, and when the document image transmission request is received from another connected image forming apparatus, the read document image is read. A document image transmitted to another image forming apparatus and read from the image reading apparatus and the other image forming apparatus by the image reading apparatus and the other image forming apparatus, respectively. Receive, characterized by printing the original image and the received document image read.
[0010]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming system according to the first or second aspect, the image forming apparatus is set to a stack mode in which printed materials are sorted for each page, and the image forming apparatus holds the stack mode. When the printing of the document image is completed, a request for transmitting a document image that has not been printed by another image forming apparatus to the own apparatus is transmitted to the other image forming apparatus.
[0011]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming system according to any one of the first to third aspects, the image forming apparatus determines that a paper jam has occurred during the printing operation. In this case, the original image stored in the own apparatus is transmitted to another image forming apparatus.
[0012]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising: a plurality of image forming apparatuses interconnected via a network, wherein each of the image forming apparatuses prints an original document by a predetermined number of pages. In a printing method, an image forming apparatus reads a document image assigned to itself, and, when receiving a document image transmission request from another connected image forming apparatus, converts the read document image into another document image. The image forming apparatus transmits an original image read by another image forming apparatus from another image forming apparatus, and prints the read original image and the received original image from the other image forming apparatus.
[0013]
Further, the invention according to claim 6 has a plurality of image reading apparatuses and a plurality of image forming apparatuses interconnected via a network, and the image reading apparatuses and the image forming apparatuses each convert a document for a predetermined page, A printing method using an image forming system for sharing and reading, wherein an image reading device reads a document image assigned to itself and receives a document image transmission request from a connected image forming device. The read document image is transmitted to the image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus reads the document image assigned to the own apparatus, and reads the document image when receiving a document image transmission request from another connected image forming apparatus. The document image transmitted to the other image forming apparatus is transmitted from the image reading apparatus and the other image forming apparatus. Receiving an original image taken saw, characterized by printing the document image and the received document image read.
[0014]
According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image printing method according to the fifth or sixth aspect, a stack mode for sorting printed materials for each page is set, and printing of a document image held by the own apparatus is performed. When the process is completed, the image forming apparatus transmits to the other image forming apparatus a request to transmit a document image that has not been printed by the other image forming apparatus to its own apparatus.
[0015]
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the image printing method according to any one of the fifth to seventh aspects, the image forming apparatus determines that a paper jam has occurred in its own apparatus during the printing operation. In this case, the original image stored in the own apparatus is transmitted to another image forming apparatus.
[0016]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
An outline of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.
[0017]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the configuration and operation when the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment is a digital copying machine will be described with reference to FIG.
[0018]
First, when a print key 202 on an operation unit 201 described later is pressed, the feed roller 103 and the feed belt 104 are placed on a document table 102 of an ADF (automatic document feeder) 101 with a document image surface facing up. The placed document bundle (not shown) is fed from the lowest document to a predetermined document reading position on the contact glass 105.
[0019]
The reading unit 106 reads a document image of a document fed onto the contact glass 105. The feed belt 104 and the discharge roller 107 discharge the document from which the image has been read.
[0020]
Further, when the document set detection sensor 108 detects that the next document is present on the document table 102, a series of operations are performed on the document by repeating the same operation as the previous document. The feed roller 103, the feed belt 104, and the discharge roller 107 are driven by a transport motor (not shown).
[0021]
The recording sheets stacked on the first tray 109, the second tray 110, and the third tray 111 are fed by the first sheet feeding unit 112, the second sheet feeding unit 113, and the third sheet feeding unit 114, respectively. The sheet is sent to the registration roller by the vertical conveyance unit 115 and is conveyed to a position immediately before contact with the photosensitive drum 116.
[0022]
At the same time, the original image read by the reading unit 106 is written as image data on the photosensitive drum 116 by the laser beam output from the writing unit 117, and is visualized as a toner image by the developing unit 118. Is done.
[0023]
Next, by restarting the registration roller at a timing such that the registration roller is at a predetermined position with respect to the toner image, the recording paper is further conveyed by the conveyance belt 119 at the same speed as the rotation of the photosensitive drum 116. Then, the toner image on the photosensitive drum 116 is transferred. The toner image transferred to the recording paper is heat-fixed by the fixing unit 120. Subsequently, the recording sheet on which the image has been fixed is discharged to a discharge tray 122 by a discharge unit 121.
[0024]
When images are formed on both sides of the recording paper, the recording paper fed from the first tray 109, the second tray 110, and the third tray 111 and formed is not discharged to the discharge tray 122 side. By setting the branch claw provided on the transport path of the unit 121 for path switching to the upper side, it is reversed (switched back) by the reversing unit 123 and temporarily stocked in the double-sided transport unit 124.
[0025]
Thereafter, the recording paper stocked in the two-sided conveyance unit 124 is fed again from the two-sided conveyance unit 124, and after the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 116 is transferred, the branch claw for path switching is moved downward. To the paper discharge tray 122. As described above, the duplex conveying unit 124 is used when forming an image on both sides of the recording paper.
[0026]
The photoreceptor drum 116, the conveyance belt 119, the fixing unit 120, the paper discharging unit 121, and the developing unit 118 are driven by a main motor (the main motor 46 in FIG. 4), and the first paper feeding unit 112 and the second paper feeding unit 113 The third paper supply unit 114 controls the driving of the main motor by the first paper supply clutch (the first paper supply clutch 47b in FIG. 4), the second paper supply clutch (the second paper supply clutch 47c in FIG. 4), and It is driven by transmission by a third paper feed clutch (third paper feed clutch 47d in FIG. 4). The vertical transport unit 115 is driven by transmitting the drive of the main motor by an intermediate clutch (the intermediate clutch 47a in FIG. 4).
[0027]
Next, an image reading operation in the image reading unit 106 and an image writing operation in the writing unit 117, that is, an operation until a latent image is formed on a recording surface will be described. Here, the latent image is a potential distribution generated by converting an image into optical information and irradiating the image on the photoconductor surface.
[0028]
First, the reading unit 106 includes a contact glass 105 on which a document is placed, and an optical scanning system. The optical scanning system includes an exposure lamp 135, a first mirror 136, a lens 137, a CCD image sensor 138, a second mirror 139, a third mirror 140, and the like. The exposure lamp 135 and the first mirror 136 are fixed on a first carriage (not shown), and the second mirror 139 and the third mirror 140 are fixed on a second carriage (not shown). When reading a document image, the first carriage and the second carriage are mechanically scanned at a relative speed of 2: 1 so that the optical path length does not change. This optical scanning system is driven by a scanner drive motor (not shown).
[0029]
The original image is read by the CCD image sensor 138, converted into an electric signal, and processed. Note that moving the lens 137 and the CCD image sensor 138 in the left-right direction (in FIG. 1) changes the image magnification. That is, the position (image formation relationship) of the lens 137 and the CCD image sensor 138 in the left-right direction is set corresponding to the designated magnification.
[0030]
The writing unit 117 includes a laser output unit 141, an imaging lens 142, and a mirror 143. Inside the laser output unit 141, a laser diode (not shown) as a laser light source and a polygon motor (not shown) are used. A rotating polygon mirror (hereinafter, referred to as a polygon mirror and not shown) that rotates at a high speed at a constant speed is provided.
[0031]
The laser light emitted by the laser output unit 141 is optically scanned by a polygon mirror rotating at a constant speed, passes through the imaging lens 142, is turned back by the mirror 143, and is condensed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 116 to form an image. I do.
[0032]
The optically scanned laser light is exposed and scanned in a direction (main scanning direction) orthogonal to the direction in which the photosensitive drum 116 rotates, and recording of an image signal in line units is performed. At the time of this recording, an image (electrostatic latent image) is formed on the surface of the photoconductor drum 116 by repeating main scanning at a predetermined cycle corresponding to the rotation speed and the recording density of the photoconductor drum 116. Is done.
[0033]
As described above, the laser beam output from the writing unit 117 is applied to the photosensitive drum 116. A beam sensor (not shown) that generates a main scanning synchronization signal is disposed at a position near one end of the photoconductor drum 116 where the laser beam is irradiated. Based on the main scanning synchronization signal, control of image recording start timing in the main scanning direction and generation of a control signal for inputting / outputting an image signal are performed.
[0034]
Next, with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the configuration of the operation unit 201 that performs display to the user and input of function settings from the user will be described.
[0035]
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a layout configuration of various keys and a panel of the operation unit 201 provided in the image forming apparatus. As shown in FIG. 2, the operation unit 201 includes a print key 202 as a start key, a clear / stop key 203, a numeric keypad 204, a liquid crystal display 205, an initial setting key 206, a reset key 207, a preheat key 208, and an interrupt key. 209 are provided. The liquid crystal display 205 is used for displaying various messages indicating the number of copies and the state of the digital copying machine (image forming apparatus), and for inputting various information.
[0036]
By pressing the initial setting key 206, the initial state of the apparatus can be customized. That is, the size of the recording paper stored in the apparatus can be set, and the state set when the mode clear key of the copy function is pressed can be arbitrarily set. Also, select an application that is selected with priority when no operation is performed for a certain period of time, set the transition time to low power according to the International Energy Star plan, and set the time to auto-off / sleep mode It is configured to be able to.
[0037]
By pressing the preheating key 208, the apparatus shifts from the standby state to the power reduction state, controls the fixing temperature to be lower, and turns off the display of the operation unit 201. That is, pressing the preheating key 208 shifts to [preheating]. This [preheating] is a mode in which power is saved by controlling the fixing temperature by lowering it by a fixed temperature (for example, 10 ° C.) and turning off the display of the operation unit 201. The setting of this mode is automatically set after a certain period of time from when there is no operation or operation depending on key input on the operation unit 201 or machine setting. This mode is released when a human body detection sensor detects that a person stands in front of the machine by key input on the operation unit 201 or machine setting.
[0038]
When the interrupt key 209 is pressed, the mode shifts to [interrupt mode]. This [interrupt mode] is a mode in which a copy operation is temporarily interrupted during a copy operation and during a copy operation. By setting this mode, the previous copy mode and, if the copying is in progress, the progress information is stored in the non-volatile RAM, the mode is shifted to the interrupt mode, and the mode is initialized. When the interrupt mode is released after execution of the copy operation, the mode and information stored in the nonvolatile RAM are returned to restore the state before the interrupt mode was set, and the mode before the interrupt can be continued by restarting. The setting / cancellation of this mode can be performed with the keys of the operation unit 201.
[0039]
In the present embodiment, since a dot display is used as the liquid crystal display 205, an optimal display at that time can be graphically performed. In this embodiment, a dot display is used as the liquid crystal display 205, but the present invention is not particularly limited to this.
[0040]
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a display screen of the liquid crystal display 205 of the operation unit 201. When the operator touches a key displayed on the liquid crystal display 205, a key indicating the selected function is highlighted. When the details of the function need to be specified (for example, in the case of scaling, a scaling value or the like), by touching a key, a setting screen of the detailed function is displayed.
[0041]
In FIG. 3, a message area for displaying a message such as "I can copy" and "Please wait" is provided at the top of the screen. In particular, a link key 30 for linking the apparatus and performing a copy operation is displayed. You.
[0042]
The connection key 30 is an effective key when it is electrically connected to one or more other image forming apparatuses. In this case, the present image forming apparatus provided with the operation unit 201 becomes a master apparatus, and one or more other connected image forming apparatuses become slave apparatuses. At this time, the original image read by the master unit can be output by the slave unit in response to a start instruction of the operation unit 201 of the master unit.
[0043]
Further, on the right side of the panel, there is a copy number display section for displaying the number of sheets set, and on the left side of the screen, an automatic density key for automatically adjusting the image density and a key for selecting a document are provided at the center and right of the screen. In the part, an automatic paper selection key to automatically select the recording paper, a sort key to specify the processing to arrange the copies one by one in the page order, a stack key to specify the processing to sort the copies for each page, the sorted processing Staple key to specify the binding process for each part, the same-size key to set the magnification to the same size, the variable-size key to set the enlargement / reduction ratio, the two-sided key to set the two-sided mode, and any information such as stamp and date and time Is provided, and a print setting key for printing on a recording sheet is provided. In FIG. 3, the selected mode is displayed with the keys displayed in reverse display different from the other displays.
[0044]
Next, a control system of the digital copying machine (image forming apparatus) will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 shows a control system of the digital copying machine (image forming apparatus). As shown in FIG. 4, each part is arranged around a main controller 40 for controlling the entire digital copying machine (image forming apparatus). ing.
[0045]
An image processing unit (IPU) 41, a connection I / F (interface) 42, an ADF 101, and an operation unit 201 are connected to the main controller 40 via a system bus. The main controller 40 is directly connected to the human body detection sensor 44, the main motor 46, the intermediate clutch 47a, the first paper supply clutch 47b, the second paper supply clutch 47c, and the third paper supply clutch 47d. The ADF 101 is connected to a transport motor 49 and a document set detection sensor 48, and the operation unit 201 is connected to the above-described liquid crystal display 205 and various input keys 45. That is, the main controller 40 includes an operation unit 201 for performing display to an operator and setting functions from the operator, an image processing unit (IPU) for controlling a scanner, controlling writing of a document image in an image memory, and performing image formation from the image memory. ) 41 and an automatic document feeder (ADF) 101 are connected.
[0046]
Further, the main controller 40 includes a connection I / O for transmitting and receiving information related to the configuration, function information, and operation control of a plurality of other image forming apparatuses connected to the image forming apparatus provided with the main controller. F42 is connected. The main controller 40 acquires information on the image forming apparatus connected via the connection I / F 42 and controls the connection operation by setting the operation, or executes the control of the connection operation from another connected image forming apparatus. And executes the operation control of the own device. Further, the respective distributed control devices and the main controller 40 exchange device status and operation commands as necessary.
[0047]
In the present embodiment, when executing the copy mode, the main controller 40 performs a paper conveyance process, an electrophotographic process process, an abnormal state, a sheet cassette state (recording sheet presence, etc. ), And a controller that controls the scanner operation, the ON / OFF of the light source, and the like in order to monitor the inside of the apparatus and read an image with the image reading unit. Further, the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment may include not only one extended function but also a plurality of applications simultaneously. In this case, an image forming apparatus that shares one resource may be expressed as a system, and a controller that controls this system may be expressed as a main controller.
[0048]
Next, the configuration and operation of the image processing unit (IPU) 41 in FIG. 4 will be described. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of the image processing unit (IPU) 41 according to the embodiment of the present invention and a connection state with related parts.
[0049]
First, the irradiation light from the exposure lamp irradiates the original surface, and is imaged on a CCD image sensor 138 provided in the reading unit 106 (FIG. 1) by an imaging lens (not shown).
[0050]
The CCD image sensor 138 photoelectrically converts the received document image to generate image data (analog electric signal). The image data is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 61, and the image data is converted by the shading correction circuit 62. After the shading correction is performed, the MTF / γ correction circuit 63 performs MTF correction, γ correction processing, and the like. Then, the image signal is enlarged or reduced in accordance with the magnification in the magnification processing circuit 72 and is passed to the selector 64.
[0051]
The selector 64 switches the image data input via the scaling processing circuit 72 to the memory controller 65 or the write γ correction circuit 71 and supplies the image data. The image signal that has passed through the writing γ correction circuit 71 is subjected to writing γ correction according to the image forming conditions, and is sent to the writing unit 117 (FIG. 1).
[0052]
Between the memory controller 65 and the selector 64, image data can be bidirectionally input / output. The image processing unit (IPU) 41 includes, in addition to the image data input from the reading unit 106, image data externally supplied via an I / O port 67 or a SCSI driver, for example, a data processing device such as a personal computer. It has a function of selecting input / output of a plurality of data so that data input from a PC can be processed.
[0053]
The image processing unit (IPU) 41 stores a CPU 68 for setting various information (commands) to the memory controller 65 and the like and controlling the reading unit 106 and the writing unit 117, and stores programs and data of the CPU 68. A ROM 69 and a RAM 70 are provided. Further, the CPU 68 is configured to be able to write or read data in the image memory 66 via the memory controller 65.
[0054]
The connection I / F 42 is connected to a data bus of the memory controller 65 for transmitting and receiving image information, and is configured to be able to input and output data. The image information is transferred to another image forming apparatus via the image memory 66 according to the data transfer speed between the image forming apparatuses. That is, at the time of image output, the memory controller 65 stores the image data in the image memory 66, then sequentially reads out the data from the image memory 66 according to the data transfer speed between the image forming apparatuses, and transfers the data to the connection I / F 42. I do. When an image is input, the memory controller 65 stores the image data transferred from another image forming apparatus via the connection I / F 42 in the image memory 66, and then reads the transferred image data from the image memory 66. The image data is processed inside the image forming apparatus. With this configuration, the connection operation is realized without being restricted by the functions of the image forming apparatus.
[0055]
The image data of the document sent to the memory controller 65 is sent to an image memory 66 after the image data is compressed by an image compression device in the memory controller 65. The reason for compressing the image is that it is possible to write the data of 256 gradations corresponding to the maximum original size in the image memory 66 as it is, but since the image memory 66 is frequently used for one original image, the image compression is performed. Is performed to effectively use the limited capacity. In addition, since many document images can be stored at one time, the stored document image data can be output in page order as a sorting function. When the image is output, the data in the image memory 66 is output while being sequentially expanded by the expansion device in the memory controller 65. Such a function is generally called “electronic sort”.
[0056]
Further, by utilizing the function of the image memory 66, it is also possible to sequentially write a plurality of document images in an area obtained by dividing an area for one recording sheet in the image memory 66. For example, four original images are sequentially written into four equally divided areas of one recording paper in the image memory 66, so that the four originals are combined into one recording paper image, and the copied copy is obtained. Output can be made. Such a function is generally called “aggregated copy”.
[0057]
Further, the image in the image memory 66 is configured to be accessible from the CPU 68. Therefore, the CPU 68 can process the content of the image memory 66, and can perform, for example, an image thinning process, an image cutout process, and the like. At the time of processing, the processing of the image memory 66 can be performed by writing data to the register of the memory controller 65. The processed image is stored again in the image memory 66.
[0058]
Further, the configuration is such that the content of the image memory 66 can be read by the CPU 68 and transferred to the operation unit 201 as image data 73 via the I / O port 67. When the screen display resolution of the operation unit 201 is low, the original image in the image memory 66 is sent to the operation unit 201 after the image is thinned out. Note that a storage device such as a hard disk may be used as the image memory 66 to store a large amount of image data. Using a hard disk also has the advantage that an external power supply is not required and an image can be held permanently. The image memory 66 reads a plurality of fixed originals (format originals) with a scanner and holds the originals.
[0059]
Next, the image data for one page in the selector 64 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a timing chart of image data for one page.
[0060]
A frame gate signal (hereinafter abbreviated as / FGATE) indicates an effective period of one page of image data in the sub-scanning direction. The main scanning synchronization signal (hereinafter abbreviated as / LSYNC) is provided for each line, and image data becomes valid at a predetermined clock after / LSYNC rises.
[0061]
A signal indicating that image data in the main scanning direction is valid is a line gate signal (hereinafter abbreviated as / LGATE). These / FGATE, / LSYNC and / LGATE are synchronized with a pixel synchronization signal (hereinafter, abbreviated as VCLK), and data of one pixel is sent for one cycle of VCLK. That is, each of the above-mentioned signals (/ FGATE, / LSYNC and / LGATE) is synchronized with the pixel synchronization signal (pixel clock) VCLK, and data of 8 bits (256 gradations) per pixel for one cycle of VCLK. Is sent. In this embodiment, the writing density on the recording paper is 400 dpi, and the maximum number of pixels is 4800 pixels in the main scanning and 6800 pixels in the sub-scanning.
[0062]
Although a detailed description is omitted, the IPU 41 has separate / FGATE, / LSYNC, / LGATE and VCLK generation mechanisms for image input and image output, respectively. By performing phase adjustment or the like in the case of directly outputting data), various combinations of image input / output can be realized.
[0063]
Next, a configuration in which a plurality of image forming apparatuses are connected and an operation example thereof will be described. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the image forming system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
[0064]
As shown in FIG. 7, the image forming system is configured by connecting a plurality of digital copying machines (image forming apparatuses) having the configuration of FIG. These image forming apparatuses are connected via a connection I / F 42 so as to be able to communicate with each other (in a peer-to-peer relationship).
[0065]
Here, for convenience of explanation, a plurality of image forming apparatuses included in the image forming system are referred to as own device 80 (= master device) and opposing devices 81, 82, 83 (= slave device). However, all the image forming apparatuses are equal before the connection operation, and the apparatus that has requested the connection mode is treated as the master apparatus, and the apparatus that has received the connection mode request is treated as the slave apparatus. That is, in FIG. 7, the own device 80 is a master device, and the other device 81, the opposite device 82, and the opposite device 83 which are slave devices are connected to the own device 80 via the communication network 84.
You.
[0066]
Although FIG. 7 shows an example in which four image forming apparatuses are networked, the number of image forming apparatuses to be connected is not limited to this, and the connection I / F 42 matches and the connection mode Any number of units may be connected if the functions described above are mutually possible, or different models may be basically used if mutual communication is possible.
[0067]
Next, an operation when a plurality of the above-described image forming apparatuses are connected will be described. It should be noted that the “parent device” shown below indicates a master device, and the “child device” indicates a slave device. Hereinafter, in order to simplify the description, it is assumed that the image forming system has one master unit and one slave unit.
[0068]
FIG. 8 is a first flowchart illustrating a flow of an operation performed by the image forming system according to the embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the operation of the image forming system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
[0069]
FIG. 8 shows an operation in which the two image forming apparatuses are in a connected state, the master machine / slave machine reads a document, and when all the images are ready, the respective machines share printing. Note that the parent device performs the processing of steps S101 to S109, and the child device performs the processing of steps S110 to S119. The arrow from the master unit to the slave unit in FIG. 8 indicates that an event has been sent from the master unit and synchronization has been achieved thereby.
[0070]
First, the slave unit determines whether or not a connection mode setting instruction has been received from the master unit (step S110). If the connection mode set instruction has not been received (step S110 / No), the process of step S110 is repeated.
[0071]
When the connection key 30 is pressed on the parent device side (step S101), the parent device sets its own connection mode and transmits information indicating an instruction to set the connection mode to the child device. The slave unit receives the connection mode setting instruction from the master unit (step S110 / Yes), and sets its own connection mode (step S111).
[0072]
Next, the copy original bundle for one job is divided into two original bundles each having a predetermined number of sheets. Note that the number of divided document bundles does not have to be the same. The parent device and the child device set the bundle of divided documents on the respective ADFs 101 (steps S102 and S112).
[0073]
After setting the document bundle, the slave unit waits for a print start instruction from the master unit (step S113). If there is no print start instruction from the master unit (step S113 / No), the slave unit stands by (step S113).
[0074]
On the other hand, the master machine determines whether or not its own print key 202 has been pressed after setting the document bundle (step S103). If it is determined that the print key 202 has not been pressed (step S103 / No), the parent machine stands by (step S103).
[0075]
When the print key 202 is pressed on the master device side (step S103 / Yes), the master device starts the reading operation of the set document (step S104). When the print key 202 is pressed, the master unit transmits information indicating an instruction to start document reading to the slave unit. The slave unit also receives the print key event of the master unit (step S113 / Yes), and starts the reading operation (step S114). Each of the parent device and the child device stores the read image data in its own image memory 66.
[0076]
The parent machine and the child machine each determine whether or not their own document ends (information indicating that reading of all the documents has been completed) have been detected (steps S105 and S115), and have not yet detected the document ends. That is, if there is still a document to be read (steps S105 / No, S115 / No), the document is read again (steps S104, S114).
[0077]
Further, upon detecting the end of the original (steps S105 / Yes, S115 / Yes), the master unit and the slave unit transmit information to request the transfer of the image to be printed to the opposite unit (steps S106 and S116). ). Here, the opposing device refers to the child device when viewed from the parent device side, and refers to the parent device when viewed from the child device side. Here, the document image requested to be transferred by the parent device or the child device is a document image read by the opposite device, and neither the parent device nor the child device requests the transfer of the image read by the own device.
[0078]
The parent device and the child device each determine whether or not the image preparation (image reception, processing, etc.) for the image for which the image transfer request has been made has been completed (steps S107 and S117). Here, when it is determined that the print preparation is not completed (steps S107 / No, S117 / No), the process stands by as it is (steps S107, S117).
[0079]
When it is determined that the printing preparation is completed (steps S107 / Yes, S117 / Yes), the master unit and the slave unit each read the document image read by itself and the document image transferred from the opposite device (that is, one job worth). All the original images) are printed by sharing the designated number of sheets (steps S108 and S118).
[0080]
Thereafter, the parent device and the child device determine whether or not the designated printing operation has been completed (steps S109 and S119), and when they have been completed (steps S109 / Yes and S119 / Yes), terminate the operations. If not completed yet (step S109 / No, S119 / No), the operations of steps S106 to S109 and steps S116 to S119 are repeated, respectively.
[0081]
In this manner, by sharing the reading operation between the plurality of image forming apparatuses, the total time of the document reading operation can be reduced. In this case, the timing at which the image forming apparatus transfers each read image is set at the time of actually performing the printing process, so that it is possible to reduce the traffic on the communication path and increase the efficiency of the memory resources used. .
[0082]
FIG. 9 is a second flowchart illustrating the flow of the operation of the image forming system according to the embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the operation of the image forming system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
[0083]
FIG. 9 shows an operation in which the two image forming apparatuses are in a connected state, the master machine / slave machine reads a document, and when all images are ready, the respective machines share printing. Note that the parent device performs the processes of steps S201 to S212, and the child device performs the processes of steps S213 to S225. The arrow from the master unit to the slave unit in FIG. 9 indicates that an event has been sent from the master unit and synchronization has been achieved.
[0084]
First, the slave unit determines whether or not a connection mode setting instruction has been received from the master unit (step S213). When the connection mode set instruction has not been received (step S213 / No), the process of step S213 is repeated.
[0085]
When the connection key 30 is pressed on the master device side (step S201), the master device sets its own connection mode and transmits information to the slave device to instruct the setting of the connection mode. The slave unit receives the connection mode setting instruction from the master unit (step S213 / Yes), and sets its own connection mode (step S214).
[0086]
Next, the copy original bundle for one job is divided into two original bundles each having a predetermined number of sheets. Note that the number of divided document bundles does not have to be the same. The parent device and the child device set the bundle of divided documents on the respective ADFs 101 (steps S202 and S215).
[0087]
After setting the document bundle, the slave unit waits for a print start instruction from the master unit (step S216). If there is no print start instruction from the parent device (step S216 / No), the child device stands by (step S216).
[0088]
On the other hand, the master machine determines whether or not its own print key 202 has been pressed after setting the document bundle (step S203). When it is determined that the print key 202 has not been pressed (step S203 / No), the parent machine stands by (step S203).
[0089]
When the print key 202 is pressed on the master device side (step S203 / Yes), the master device starts the reading operation of the set document (step S204). When the print key 202 is pressed, the master unit transmits information indicating an instruction to start document reading to the slave unit. The slave unit also receives the print key event of the master unit (step S216 / Yes), and starts the reading operation (step S217). Each of the parent device and the child device stores the read image data in its own image memory 66.
[0090]
Next, the parent device and the child device determine whether or not the stack mode is set (steps S205 and S218).
[0091]
Here, the stack mode indicates a print setting for sorting a print result (printed paper) for each page. For example, in a case where three copies of a document bundle of all three pages are copied using the stack mode, the image forming apparatus may use three first-page documents, three second-page documents, and three third-page documents. Then, the originals are sorted into three print original bundles.
[0092]
Further, for example, in a case where a plurality of image forming apparatuses copy the above-described document bundle using the connection mode and the stack mode, the first image forming apparatus prints three first page documents, The second image forming apparatus prints three second page documents, and the third image forming apparatus prints three third page documents. Note that one image forming apparatus may copy a document of a plurality of pages.
[0093]
In the stack mode according to the present embodiment, it is assumed that the master unit prints in the page order from the first page of the document bundle and the slave unit prints in the reverse order from the last page.
[0094]
When determining that the stack mode is not set (steps S205 / No, S218 / No), the master unit and the slave unit transfer the original image read by themselves to the opposing units (steps S206, S219). .
[0095]
When the master unit and the slave unit determine that the stack mode is set (steps S205 / Yes, S218 / Yes), each of the master unit and the slave unit does not transfer the original image read by itself to the opposing device. The process proceeds to steps S207 and S220.
[0096]
When the stack mode is set, the master unit reads and prints the original bundle in the order of pages from the first page, and the slave unit reads and prints the pages in reverse order from the last page, so that the respective units may end the printing operation almost simultaneously. There is. Therefore, at the time of setting the stack mode, the master unit and the slave unit do not transfer the original image read by themselves at the time of steps S205 and S218.
[0097]
Next, the parent machine and the child machine each determine whether or not their own document ends (information indicating that reading of all the documents has been completed) are detected (steps S207 and S220), and the document ends are still detected. If the original has not been read, that is, if there is an original to be read (steps S207 / No, S220 / No), the original is read again (steps S204, S217).
[0098]
When detecting the end of the original (steps S207 / Yes and S220 / Yes), the master and the slave determine whether or not the original image to be printed (the read original image) still remains on each of them (step S207 / Yes, S220 / Yes). Steps S208 and S221).
[0099]
When each of the master unit and the slave unit determines that there is still a document image to be printed by itself (steps S208 / Yes, S221 / Yes), the printing operation of the document image is performed as it is (steps S211 and S224).
[0100]
On the other hand, when the master unit and the slave unit each determine that there is no document image to be printed any more (steps S208 / No, S221 / No), the master unit and the slave unit request the opposite device to transfer the image to be printed. Is transmitted (steps S209 and S222).
[0101]
The parent device and the child device each determine whether or not the image preparation (image reception, processing, etc.) for the image for which the image transfer request has been made has been completed (steps S210, S223). Here, when it is determined that the printing preparation is not completed (steps S210 / No, S223 / No), the process stands by as it is (steps S210, S223).
[0102]
If it is determined that the print preparation is completed (steps S210 / Yes, S223 / Yes), the master unit and the slave unit each print the specified number of document images transferred from the opposing device (step S211; S224).
[0103]
Thereafter, the master unit and the slave unit each determine whether or not the designated printing operation has been completed (steps S212 and S225). If the printing operation has been completed (steps S212 / Yes and S225 / Yes), the operations are terminated. If not completed yet (steps S212 / No, S225 / No), the operations of steps S208 to S212 and S221 to S225 are respectively repeated.
[0104]
In this way, in the stack mode, the timing of transferring the images read from each other is set to the time when the actual printing process is performed, so it is possible to reduce the traffic on the communication path and increase the efficiency of the memory resources used. It becomes.
[0105]
FIG. 10 is a third flowchart showing the flow of the operation of the image forming system according to the embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the operation of the image forming system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
[0106]
FIG. 10 shows an operation in which the two image forming apparatuses are in a connected state, the master machine / slave machine reads a document, and when all the images are ready, the respective machines share the printing. Note that the parent device performs the processing of steps S301 to S311 and the child device performs the processing of steps S312 to S323. The arrow from the parent device to the child device in FIG. 10 indicates that an event has been sent from the parent device and synchronization has been achieved thereby.
[0107]
First, the slave unit determines whether or not a connection mode setting instruction has been received from the master unit (step S312). If the instruction to set the connection mode has not been received (step S312 / No), the process of step S312 is repeated.
[0108]
When the connection key 30 is pressed on the parent device side (step S301), the parent device sets its own connection mode and transmits information indicating an instruction to set the connection mode to the child device. The slave unit receives the connection mode setting instruction from the master unit (step S312 / Yes), and sets its own connection mode (step S313).
[0109]
Next, the copy original bundle for one job is divided into two original bundles each having a predetermined number of sheets. Note that the number of divided document bundles does not have to be the same. The parent device and the child device set the bundle of documents divided into the respective ADFs 101 (steps S302 and S314).
[0110]
After setting the document bundle, the slave unit waits for a print start instruction from the master unit (step S315). If there is no print start instruction from the parent device (step S315 / No), the child device stands by (step S315).
[0111]
On the other hand, the master machine determines whether or not its own print key 202 has been pressed after setting the original bundle (step S303). If it is determined that the print key 202 has not been pressed (step S303 / No), the parent machine stands by (step S303).
[0112]
When the print key 202 is pressed on the master device side (step S303 / Yes), the master device starts the reading operation of the set document (step S304). When the print key 202 is pressed, the master unit transmits information indicating an instruction to start document reading to the slave unit. The slave unit also receives the print key event of the master unit (step S315 / Yes), and starts the reading operation (step S316). Each of the parent device and the child device stores the read image data in its own image memory 66.
[0113]
The parent device and the child device each determine whether or not their own document ends (information indicating that reading of all the documents has been completed) have been detected (steps S305 and S317), and have not yet detected the document ends. That is, if there is still a document to be read (steps S305 / No, S317 / No), the document is read again (steps S304, S316).
[0114]
When detecting the end of the original (steps S305 / Yes, S317 / Yes), the master unit and the slave unit transmit information indicating that the transfer of an image to be printed is requested to the opposite unit (steps S306 and S318). ). Here, the opposing device refers to the child device when viewed from the parent device side, and refers to the parent device when viewed from the child device side. Here, the document image requested to be transferred by the parent device or the child device is a document image read by the opposite device, and neither the parent device nor the child device requests the transfer of the image read by the own device.
[0115]
The parent device and the child device each determine whether or not the image printing preparation (image reception, processing, etc.) has been completed for the image for which the image transfer request has been made (steps S307 and S319). Here, when it is determined that the printing preparation is not completed (steps S307 / No, S319 / No), the process stands by (steps S307, S319).
[0116]
If it is determined that the print preparation is completed (steps S307 / Yes, S319 / Yes), the master unit and the slave unit each read the original image read by itself and the original image transferred from the opposite device (that is, one job worth). All the original images) are printed by sharing the designated number of sheets (steps S308 and S320).
[0117]
The parent device and the child device determine whether or not a paper jam such as a paper jam has occurred during the printing operation (steps S309 and S321).
[0118]
When determining that no jam has occurred in the master unit and the slave unit (steps S309 / No, S321 / No), the master unit and the slave unit shift to the operations of steps S311 and S323, respectively.
[0119]
When the master unit and the slave unit determine that a jam has occurred in themselves (steps S309 / Yes, S321 / Yes), all the untransferred original images among the original images read by themselves are transferred to the other device (step S309 / Yes). S310, S322).
[0120]
Thereafter, the master unit and the slave unit each determine whether or not the designated printing operation has been completed (steps S311, S323), and when they have been completed (steps S311 / Yes, S323 / Yes), terminate the operation. If not completed yet (steps S311 / No, S323 / No), the operations of steps S306 to S311, and steps S318 to S323 are repeated, respectively.
[0121]
In this way, if the printing operation is interrupted, all image data held by the machine at that point is transferred to the other machine, so it is possible to suppress print performance degradation due to transfer time It becomes.
[0122]
In the present embodiment, an image forming system in which a plurality of image forming apparatuses having an image reading function and a printing function are connected is described. However, even if the image forming system has an image reading apparatus without a printing function, Good. In this case, each of the image reading apparatus and the image forming apparatus performs the reading of the document image by itself, and the image reading apparatus transmits the read document image to the connected image forming apparatus to form a plurality of image forming apparatuses. The device performs printing by sharing.
[0123]
The above embodiment is an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to this, and may be variously modified and implemented without departing from the gist of the present invention. Becomes possible.
[0124]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the total time of the document reading operation by sharing the reading operation between the plurality of image forming apparatuses. In this case, the timing at which the image forming apparatus transfers each read image is set at the time of actually performing the printing process, so that it is possible to reduce the traffic on the communication path and increase the efficiency of the memory resources used. .
[0125]
Further, according to the present invention, in the stack mode, the timing at which the mutually read images are transferred is set to the time when the printing process is actually performed, so that the traffic on the communication path is reduced and the efficiency of the memory resources used is increased. It becomes possible.
[0126]
Further, according to the present invention, when the printing operation is interrupted, all the image data held by the own apparatus are transferred to another apparatus at that time, so that the printing performance is prevented from deteriorating due to the transfer time. It becomes possible.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a layout configuration of various keys and a panel of an operation unit provided in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a display screen of a liquid crystal display of an operation unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a control system of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of an image processing unit and a connection state with related parts according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a timing chart of one page of image data in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a first flowchart illustrating a flow of an operation performed by the image forming system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a second flowchart illustrating a flow of an operation performed by the image forming system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a third flowchart illustrating a flow of an operation performed by the image forming system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
30 Linking key
41 IPU
42 Connection I / F
44 Human Body Detection Sensor
45 Various input keys
46 Main motor
47a Intermediate clutch
47b 1st paper feed clutch
47c 2nd paper feed clutch
47d 3rd paper feed clutch
48,108 Original set detection sensor
49 Transport motor
61 A / D converter
62 Shading correction circuit
63 MTF / γ correction circuit
64 selector
65 Memory Controller
66 Image memory
67 I / O port
68 CPU
69 ROM
70 RAM
71 Write gamma correction circuit
72 Zoom processing circuit
73 Image data
80 own machine
81-83 Opponent machine
84 Communication Network
101 ADF
102 platen
103 Feed controller
104 feed belt
105 contact glass
106 reading unit
107 Discharge roller
109 1st tray
110 2nd tray
111 Third tray
112 1st paper feed unit
113 2nd paper feed unit
114 Third Paper Feeding Unit
115 vertical transport unit
116 Photoconductor drum
117 Writing unit
118 Developing unit
119 Conveyor belt
120 fixing unit
121 paper output unit
122 Output tray
123 reversing unit
124 Double-sided conveyance unit
135 Exposure lamp
136 First mirror
137 lens
138 CCD image sensor
139 Second mirror
140 Third mirror
141 laser output unit
142 imaging lens
143 mirror
201 Operation unit
202 Print key
203 Clear / Stop key
205 LCD display
206 Initial setting key
207 Reset key
208 Preheating key
209 Interrupt key

Claims (8)

An image forming system having a plurality of image forming apparatuses interconnected via a network, wherein each of the image forming apparatuses prints an original for a predetermined number of pages, sharing and printing,
The image forming apparatus includes:
Reading the original image assigned to the own device, transmitting the read original image to the other image forming apparatus when receiving a transmission request of the original image from the other connected image forming apparatus, An image forming system comprising: receiving a document image read by another image forming apparatus from another image forming apparatus; and printing the read document image and the received document image. An image forming system having a plurality of image reading apparatuses and a plurality of image forming apparatuses interconnected via a network, wherein the image reading apparatuses and the image forming apparatuses respectively read originals for a predetermined number of pages and share the originals. So,
The image reading device,
Reading the original image assigned to each device, transmitting the read original image to the image forming apparatus when receiving a transmission request of the original image from the connected image forming apparatus,
The image forming apparatus includes:
Reading the original image assigned to the own device, transmitting the read original image to the other image forming apparatus when receiving a transmission request of the original image from the other connected image forming apparatus, Receiving a document image read by the image reading device and the other image forming device from the image reading device and the other image forming device, respectively, and printing the read document image and the received document image. Image forming system. The image forming apparatus includes:
When the stack mode for sorting printed materials for each page is set, and the printing of the original image held by the own apparatus is completed, the original image not yet printed by the other image forming apparatus is transmitted to the own apparatus. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the request is transmitted to the another image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes:
4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when it is determined that a paper jam has occurred in the own apparatus during the printing operation, the original image held by the own apparatus is transmitted to the other image forming apparatus. Item 10. The image forming system according to Item 1. An image printing method using an image forming system having a plurality of image forming apparatuses interconnected via a network, wherein each of the image forming apparatuses prints an original document for a predetermined number of pages,
The image forming apparatus reads a document image assigned to the image forming apparatus, and when the image forming apparatus receives a document image transmission request from another connected image forming apparatus, converts the read document image into another image forming apparatus. An image printing method, comprising: transmitting an original image read by the other image forming apparatus from the other image forming apparatus; and transmitting the read original image and the received original image from the other image forming apparatus. An image forming system including a plurality of image reading apparatuses and a plurality of image forming apparatuses interconnected via a network, wherein the image reading apparatuses and the image forming apparatuses respectively read originals by a predetermined number of pages. The printing method used,
The image reading device reads a document image assigned to itself, and transmits the read document image to the image forming device when receiving a document image transmission request from the connected image forming device. ,
The image forming apparatus reads a document image assigned to the image forming apparatus, and when the image forming apparatus receives a document image transmission request from another connected image forming apparatus, converts the read document image into another image forming apparatus. Transmitting the original image read by the image reading device and the other image forming device from the image reading device and the other image forming device respectively, the read original image and the received original image An image printing method characterized by printing. When a stack mode for sorting printed materials for each page is set, and the printing of the original image held by the own apparatus is completed, the image forming apparatus is configured to output the original image that has not been printed by the other image forming apparatus. 7. The image printing method according to claim 5, wherein a transmission request to the own apparatus is transmitted to the other image forming apparatus. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein when the image forming apparatus determines that a paper jam has occurred during the printing operation, the image forming apparatus transmits the document image held by the own apparatus to the other image forming apparatus. 8. The image printing method according to any one of items 1 to 7.

Images