JP2004236210A - Image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To effectively utilize a memory resource of an image forming device by shortening the printing output completion time as a connection system. <P>SOLUTION: This system is constituted by electrically connecting a plurality of image forming devices comprising an image reading means for reading a document image; a storage means for storing image data; a printing means for printing a stored image; and a connecting means for mutually sending/receiving the image with another image forming device. An arbitrary single unit among the plurality of image forming devices acts as a master device, and read the document image to transfer the image data to another image forming device acting as a slave device. The master device and the slave device perform print by sharing in this image forming system. The system comprises an image aggregation means for aggregating the read image data to generate new image data, a transferring means for transferring the image data aggregated by the image aggregation means from the master device to the slave device, and a means for printing the aggregated image data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming system having a unit that aggregates image data read by a parent device and transfers new image data to a child device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a plurality of digital copiers are connected, and the read image data is transmitted to the slave unit connected to the linking system, and copying is performed by sharing the designated number of copy operations to the master machine and the slave machine copier. We have improved productivity and utilization efficiency. In the slave unit, another print job may be operating before the image data is transmitted and the printing is shared, or the next job may be reserved during the image transmission or the shared printing.
[0003]
In addition, in a multi-function device (hereinafter referred to as an MF device) in which a plurality of applications such as a printer and a facsimile are effective regardless of only copying, a technique for effectively using a memory shared resource is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. H10-163,197. Is used by multiple applications, a memory controller for arbitration is provided. Further, in Patent Document 2, a memory area for a linking operation is secured, and when a linking operation is not performed, it can be used in a single operation, and when a linking operation is instructed, the remaining area is released. I have.
[0004]
Further, in Patent Document 3, an image forming apparatus serving as a master unit of the connection system monitors the remaining memory capacity of the image forming apparatuses of a plurality of slave units serving as the connection system, and is performing a copy operation. Alternatively, if the remaining memory capacity of the slave unit is equal to or less than a predetermined value, the document reading operation is stopped, and the operability in transferring the read image to the image forming apparatus of the slave unit and distributing the print is improved. .
[0005]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-163,867 discloses a technique for efficiently using a memory shared resource in an image forming system in which a plurality of image forming apparatuses are connected and operated.
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-151432 [Patent Document 2]
JP 2001-183350 A [Patent Document 3]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-069259 [Patent Document 4]
JP 2001-13827 A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the slave unit, there is a possibility that a print job such as a printer or a facsimile exists in addition to the job to be shared by the print as described above. It is necessary to reduce the number of images to be transferred to the slave unit, start printing as soon as possible, and release the image data that is no longer required to share the printing as needed.
[0008]
In addition, at the time of stacking operation, the image output from the master unit and the image output from the slave unit are combined to obtain the same result as that output by a single image forming apparatus. I have.
[0009]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and does not transfer the read original image data as it is, but instead generates a new aggregated image in the master device and then transfers the combined image. Therefore, it is not necessary to hold the document image data, and the memory resources of the slave unit can be effectively used.
[0010]
In addition, by transferring the aggregated image data to the slave unit in the reverse order, the printing operation starts immediately without waiting for the transfer of the final image data as in the case where the image data is transferred from the first image, and as a result, In addition, it is possible to shorten the print output completion time as a connection system. Naturally, the memory of the slave unit is released as soon as possible, and the purpose is to effectively utilize the memory resources.
[0011]
Further, by deleting the aggregated image transferred by the slave unit when printing of the number of copies is completed, the purpose of effective use of memory resources on the slave unit side is achieved.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 includes an image reading unit that reads an original image, a storage unit that stores image data, a printing unit that prints the stored image, and another image forming apparatus. A plurality of image forming apparatuses having connection means for mutually transmitting and receiving images are configured to be electrically connected, and any one of the plurality of image forming apparatuses serves as a master unit, reads a document, and reads the image data. Is transferred to another image forming apparatus serving as a child device, and the read image data is aggregated to generate new image data in an image forming system having means for sharing printing between the parent device and the child device. It is characterized by having an image aggregating unit, a transfer unit for transferring the image data aggregated by the image aggregating unit from the master unit to the slave unit, and a unit for printing the aggregated image data.
[0013]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mode determination unit for determining whether the mode is a sort mode or a stack mode when an aggregated image is created by the image aggregation unit. After the master unit creates all the aggregated image data, the master unit transfers the images from the first aggregated image data to the slave unit in order from the first aggregated image data.In the case of the stack mode, the master unit transmits all the aggregated image data. After the creation, the image is sequentially transferred from the master unit to the slave unit from the final aggregated image data.
[0014]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the invention, the image transferred from the master unit to the slave unit is deleted when printing of the number of copies set in the slave unit is completed. And
[0015]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0016]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. When a start key 34 on the operation unit 30 is pressed, a document bundle placed on a document table 2 of an automatic document feeder (hereinafter ADF) 1 is pressed from the uppermost document. The sheet is fed to a predetermined position on the contact glass 6 by the feed roller 3 and the feed belt 4. After the reading unit 50 reads the image data of the document on the contact glass 6, the document that has been read is discharged by the feed belt 4 and the discharge roller 5. When the document set detection 7 detects that the next document is present on the document table 2, the document is fed onto the contact glass 6 in the same manner as the document. The feed roller 3, the feed belt 4, and the discharge roller 5 are driven by a motor.
[0017]
The transfer sheets stacked on the first tray 8, the second tray 9, and the third tray 10 are respectively transferred by the first sheet feeding device 11, the second sheet feeding device 12, and the third sheet feeding device 13. The paper is fed and transported by the vertical transport unit 14 to a position where it contacts the photoconductor 15. The image data read by the reading unit 50 is written on the photoconductor 15 by the laser from the writing unit 57 and passes through the developing unit 27 to form a toner image. The transfer paper transfers the toner image on the photoconductor 15 while being conveyed by the conveyance belt 16 at the same speed as the rotation of the photoconductor 15. Thereafter, the image is fixed by the fixing unit 17, and is discharged to the finisher 100 of the post-processing device by the sheet discharging unit 18.
[0018]
The finisher 100 of the post-processing apparatus can guide the paper toward the normal paper discharge roller 102 and the staple processing unit. By switching the switching plate 101 upward, it is possible to discharge the paper to the normal paper discharge tray 104 via the transport roller 103. Further, by switching the switching plate 101 downward, the sheet can be conveyed to the staple table 108 via the conveying rollers 105 and 107.
[0019]
The transfer paper stacked on the staple table 108 is aligned with the jogger 109 for paper alignment every time one sheet is discharged, and is stapled by the stapler 106 when a part of the copy is completed. The transfer paper group bound by the stapler 106 is stored in the stapling completion paper discharge tray 110 by its own weight.
[0020]
On the other hand, the normal paper discharge tray 104 is a paper discharge tray that can move forward and backward. The paper discharge tray unit 104 that can be moved back and forth moves back and forth for each document or for each copy unit sorted by the image memory, and sorts the copy paper to be discharged simply.
[0021]
When images are formed on both sides of the transfer paper, the transfer paper fed and imaged from each of the paper feed trays 8 to 10 is not guided to the discharge tray 104 side, and the branch claw 112 for path switching is used. By setting it on the upper side, it is once stocked in the duplex paper supply unit 111.
[0022]
Thereafter, the transfer paper stocked in the duplex paper supply unit 111 is re-fed from the duplex paper supply unit 111 in order to transfer the toner image formed on the photoconductor 15 again, and a branch claw for switching the path is provided. 112 is set on the lower side and guided to the paper discharge tray 104. As described above, the double-sided paper feeding unit 111 is used when forming images on both sides of the transfer paper.
[0023]
The photoconductor 15, the conveyor belt 16, the fixing unit 17, the paper discharging unit 18, and the developing unit 27 are driven by a main motor 25, and each of the paper feeding devices 11 to 13 drives the main motor 25, respectively. Are transmitted and driven by the sheet feeding clutches 22 to 24 of the sheet feeding device. The vertical transport unit 14 is driven to transmit the drive of the main motor 25 by the intermediate clutch 21.
[0024]
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the operation unit 30. The operation unit 30 has a liquid crystal touch panel 31, a numeric keypad 32, a clear / stop key 33, a print key 34, a preheat key 35, a reset key 36, a copy / printer key 38, and an initial setting key 39. The liquid crystal touch panel 31 displays keys for mode setting, which will be described later, and a message indicating the state of the image forming apparatus.
[0025]
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display on the liquid crystal touch panel 31 of the operation unit 30. When the operator touches the key displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 31, the key indicating the selected function is inverted to black. When the details of the function need to be designated (for example, if the magnification is a variable magnification, etc.), a key is touched to display a detailed function setting screen. As described above, since the liquid crystal touch panel uses the dot display, the optimal display at that time can be graphically performed.
[0026]
FIG. 3 shows a message area 47 for displaying a message such as "Ready to copy" or "Please wait", a copy number display section 73 for displaying the number of sheets set, and an automatic paper selection key for automatically selecting transfer paper. 46, a sort key 27 for designating a process for arranging copies one by one in a page order, a stack key 28 for designating a process for sorting copies for each page, and a staple for designating a process for binding the sorted products one by one. Key 29, an equal-magnification key 42 for setting the magnification to the same magnification, a variable-magnification key 43 for setting the enlargement / reduction magnification, a double-sided key 44 for setting the double-sided mode, and an edit key 45 for setting the binding margin mode and the like. And a cover / insert key 37 for setting a cover / insert mode, and a large number of print operations divided into a plurality of print operations via a digital copier network. It is constructed a connecting mode key 40 Outs. Further, the state of the paper feed tray corresponding to the number of paper feed trays is shown, and a key for manually setting the paper feed tray is displayed for each paper feed tray.
[0027]
With reference to FIG. 1, the operation of the image reading means and the operation up to forming a latent image on a recording surface in the present invention will be described. A latent image is a potential distribution generated by converting an image into optical information and irradiating the image on the photoreceptor surface.
[0028]
The reading unit 50 includes a contact glass 6 on which a document is placed and an optical scanning system. The optical scanning system includes an exposure lamp 51, a first mirror 52, a lens 53, a CCD image sensor 54, and the like. And is configured. The exposure lamp 51 and the first mirror 52 are fixed on a first carriage (not shown), and the second mirror 55 and the third mirror 56 are fixed on a second carriage (not shown). When reading 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). The document image is read by the CCD image sensor 54, converted into an electric signal, and processed. By moving the lens 53 and the CCD image sensor 54 in the left-right direction in FIG. 1, the image magnification changes. That is, the positions of the lens 53 and the CCD image sensor 54 in the left-right direction are set corresponding to the designated magnification.
[0029]
The writing unit 57 includes a laser output unit 58, an imaging lens 59, and a mirror 60. Inside the laser output unit 58, a laser diode as a laser light source and a motor rotate at high speed. It has a rotating polygon mirror (polygon mirror).
[0030]
The laser light emitted from the laser output unit 58 is polarized by a polygon mirror that rotates at a constant speed, passes through the imaging lens 59, is turned back by the mirror 60, and forms a focused image on the surface of the photoconductor.
[0031]
The polarized laser light is exposed and scanned in a direction (main scanning direction) orthogonal to the direction in which the photoconductor rotates, and performs recording in units of lines of an image signal output from a selector 64 of an image processing unit described later. An image (electrostatic latent image) is formed on the photoconductor surface by repeating main scanning at a predetermined cycle corresponding to the rotation speed of the photoconductor and the recording density.
[0032]
As described above, the laser light output from the writing unit 57 is applied to the photoconductor 15 of the image forming system. Although not shown, a beam sensor that generates a main scanning synchronization signal is disposed at a position near one end of the photoconductor 15 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 and outputting an image signal described later are performed.
[0033]
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control device centering on the main controller 20 in the image forming apparatus of the present invention. The main controller 20 controls the entire image forming apparatus. The main controller 20 includes an operation unit 30 that performs display to the operator and input control of function settings from the operator, an image that performs control of the scanner, control of writing a document image in the image memory, control of image formation from the image memory, and the like. A processing unit (IPU) 49 and a distributed control device such as the ADF 1 are connected. Each decentralized control device and the main controller 20 exchange an opportunity state and an operation command as needed. Further, a main motor 25 necessary for paper conveyance and the like and various clutches 21 to 24 are also connected.
[0034]
The configuration of the image processing unit (image reading unit and image writing unit) in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The light emitted from the exposure lamp 51 irradiates the original surface, and the reflected light from the original surface is imaged and received by an image forming lens (not shown) by the CCD image sensor 54 and photoelectrically converted. The signal is converted into a digital signal by the D converter 61. The image signal converted into the digital signal is subjected to MTF correction, γ correction, and the like in the image processing unit 63 after being subjected to shading correction 62. In the selector 64, the destination of the image signal is switched to the write γ correction unit 71 or the image memory controller 65. The image signal that has passed through the writing γ correction unit 71 is sent to the writing unit 57. The image memory controller 65 and the selector 64 are configured so that image signals can be input and output in both directions. Although not specifically shown in FIG. 5, the image processing unit (IPU) includes, in addition to the image data input from the reading unit 50, image data supplied from outside (for example, from a data processing device such as a personal computer). It has a function of selecting input / output of a plurality of data so that output data can be processed.
[0035]
5 includes a CPU 68 for setting the image memory controller 65 and the like and controlling the reading unit 50 and the writing unit 57, a ROM 69 for storing the program and data, and a RAM 70. . Further, the CPU 68 can write and read data in the image memory 66 via the memory controller 65. Further, it has an HDD 74 for saving and saving the contents of the image memory 66.
[0036]
Here, an image signal for one page in the selector 64 will be described with reference to FIG. / FGATE indicates the effective period of one page of image data in the sub-scanning direction. / LSYNC is a main scanning synchronization signal for each line, and the image signal becomes valid at a predetermined clock after this signal rises. A signal indicating that the image signal in the main scanning direction is valid is / LGATE. These signals are synchronized with the pixel clock VCLK, and data of one pixel is sent for one cycle of VCLK. The image processing unit (IPU) 49 has a separate / FGATE, / LSYNC, / LGATE, and VCLK generation mechanism for image input and output, respectively, and enables various combinations of image input / output. .
[0037]
Further, in order to share work, it is necessary to transmit and receive image data and commands to and from another digital copying machine. In this embodiment, the connection interface of IEEE 1394 is used for transmitting and receiving image data. A serial communication line is used. The memory controller of FIG. 5 realizes this via the connection interface driver 80.
[0038]
Next, a software control module configuration in the present image forming apparatus, image transfer, and print control will be described. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a software module configuration.
[0039]
The job information set in the application layer is transferred to the control service layer with a start key or the like as a trigger. The control service layer interprets job information from the application and requests process information for operating the handler layer from the handler manager. The handler manager operates individual handlers according to the process information.
[0040]
The handlers include a scanner handler that controls a reading unit, an image memory handler that controls input and output of image data to and from an image memory, and a plotter handler that controls a writing unit, paper conveyance, and a post-processing peripheral. The software modules cooperate with each other to perform processing from reading to storage in the image memory and image formation. Further, the present image forming apparatus has a connection I / F driver for connecting with another image forming apparatus, and it is possible to exchange image data and command information via this I / F.
[0041]
In the case of a single copy job, the procedure of reading and storing an image and the procedure of printing a stored image are performed. In the case of a linked copy job, the following control is added in addition to the above procedure. For the linked copy job that occurred on the master unit, the process of storing the image read by the scanner in the image memory after the job information was interpreted in the control service of the master unit, and transferring the image to the image memory of the slave unit And are executed separately.
[0042]
When the required image transfer is completed, the control service of the slave unit generates a print process that refers to the image data that has been transferred in advance, according to the information received from the control service of the master unit, and prints it to the handler manager of the slave unit. Request.
[0043]
Then, the control service of the slave unit notifies the master unit of the print job processed by the master unit sequentially. According to this information, the control service of the master unit monitors the progress of the print job of its own unit and the print job of the slave unit, and performs printing as needed.
[0044]
<Example 1>
In the present embodiment, an operation example in the weekly magazine binding mode will be described. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a finish in the weekly magazine mode. In weekly magazine mode, press the double-sided key on the LCD touch panel, and then press the weekly magazine key. The reading unit reads all the originals placed on the ADF platen, and then the first image as shown in the figure. And the last image are aggregated to generate a new image. If these are output in order and folded as shown in the figure, the result will be a weekly magazine-like finish.
[0045]
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a connection job on the parent device side. In this description, two image forming apparatuses are connected via the IEEE 1394 interface, read a document by the master, transfer the read image to the slave using the interface, and print by the master and the slave. to share the load.
[0046]
First, when the linked copy key shown in FIG. 3 is pressed, it is checked whether or not there is an image forming apparatus connected by the interface. That is, the connection with the image forming apparatus is established. At the same time, the print key in FIG. 2 becomes green, and the copy can be started. The print key is pressed after the two-sided key and the weekly magazine key are pressed. Then, to read the original, it is checked whether the original exists on the pressure plate or the ADF (step S901). If the document does not exist, a message indicating that the document size is not known is displayed in the message area of FIG. 3 (step S902). If there is a document, the document on the document table is fed onto the contact glass by the feeding roller and the feeding belt, and the document is read by the reading unit (step S903).
[0047]
Next, it is determined whether or not the read image is in a mode for further consolidating the memory (step S904). In a mode such as a normal single-sided to single-sided copy mode, information on an image obtained by reading an original and image data are transmitted to the slave unit in order to print the original image as it is without consolidating the memory ( Step S908). Image information (image main / sub scanning dot number, transfer paper size code, resolution, image direction, printing surface, image format data, etc.) is transmitted from the master unit to the slave unit via the connection interface. It should be noted that the information regarding these images is information necessary when printing is performed by the slave unit. The number of image main / sub scanning dots is the range of writing, the transfer paper size code is automatic selection of the tray, the image direction is the output rotation angle when printing, and the printing surface is one side / double side / double side back side. You will need it. The image data that is actually read is transferred from the master unit to the slave unit via the connection interface in the same way as the image information, and is written into the image memory of the master unit at the same time, and is read at the time of printing. In the sort printing of a plurality of copies, the image data is temporarily saved in the HDD in order to write the next image in the image memory. Here, in the master unit, the reading process and the printing process are performed in parallel. In the reading process, it is determined whether or not the read original is the final original (step S909). If it is not the last document, a return reading operation is performed. If it is the last document, it is notified that it is the last document (step S912). Next, it is checked whether or not the actual image transfer has been performed (step S913), and when the transfer of all the original images is completed, an image transfer end notification is transmitted to the slave unit (step S914).
[0048]
On the other hand, it is determined whether the printing of the copy may be performed by the parent machine in the sorting printing process or the image may be performed by the parent machine in the stack printing process (step S915). When the copy is to be shared by the parent machine, the printing is actually executed (step S916). The image to be printed is the aggregated image data in the case of the aggregation mode, and is the original image data in the case of not being the aggregation mode. Then, when the printing of the original has been completed for one copy at the time of sorting, and when the image has been printed at the time of stacking, the printing result success is registered (step S917). If it is determined that there is no print sharing in the master unit (No in step S915), it is determined whether the printing assigned to the master unit and the slave unit has been completed (step S918). If it is completed, the image data saved in the HDD or in the image memory is deleted (step S919).
[0049]
Here, the process returns to the memory aggregation operation (step S904). When the weekly magazine mode as shown in FIG. 8 is selected, the memory aggregation operation is performed from the original image, and new image data is generated. (Step S906). In the weekly magazine mode, since the first image and the last image are collected on the same memory image, reading is repeated until the final document is determined. In this embodiment, if there are eight originals, the eighth original is determined to be the final original, and the first and eighth pages are stored in memory as shown in FIG. The eyes are stored in the memory, then the third and sixth sheets are stored in the memory, and finally the fourth and fifth sheets are stored in the memory, and the image to be printed is ready. When the image to be printed is ready, the process proceeds to the printing process in the same manner as in the case of not in the memory aggregation mode, and the printing for the master unit is performed.
[0050]
<Example 2>
After creating the memory aggregated image from the original image data, it is determined whether the mode is the sort mode or the stack mode (step S907). In the case of the sort mode (Yes in step S907), as shown in FIG. 11, sheets are discharged from the combined image of the first document and the eighth document, and finally the fourth document and the The fifth integrated image is discharged. By integrating this, the same sort output as that output by itself can be obtained. In order to output the images of the first document and the eighth document from the top on the slave unit side, transfer is started from these images (step S911). On the other hand, if the stack mode has been set (No in step S907), the master unit discharges the combined images of the first document and the eighth document for the number of copies as shown in FIG. The combined image of the fifth document is discharged, but the child device discharges the combined image of the fourth document and the fifth document. Since two copies have already been assigned to the master unit with three copies, the slave unit output ends there. By integrating the output bundle of the output parent device and the image bundle output by the child device, the same stack output as that output alone can be obtained. However, when merging, the output bundle of the slave unit is turned upside down before merging. In order to output the image of the fourth document and the image of the fifth document from the top on the slave side, transfer is started from this image (step S910).
[0051]
<Example 3>
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of the connection operation of the slave units. In the slave unit, when the print key is pressed on the master unit and the linked job starts, the master unit requests the linked unit to start a linked job, starts the linked job on the slave unit side, and requests the first page of image information ( Step S1001). It waits for an image information response for the first page (step S1002), and if image information has been received, determines whether the image is the last page (step S1003). If the flag indicating no information is set in the image information, it is determined that the previous page is the last page. Conversely, if it is not determined that the page is the last page, the image information is stored (step S1004), and the image information of the next page is requested (step S1005). Next, in order to determine whether or not an actual image has been transferred, the process waits for the end of transfer of all images from the master unit. When the end of all image transfer is received from the master unit (Yes in step S1006), an inquiry is sent to the master unit as to whether printing of the copy can be performed by the slave unit (step S1007), and the reply is OK. If so, the printing is actually executed (step S1008). In the case of the sort mode, the printing of the last page is completed for one copy, or in the case of the stack mode, when the image is completely printed, a success of the printing result is transmitted to the parent machine (step S1009). This result is used by the parent device to determine whether printing assigned to the child device has been completed (step S918).
[0052]
If the reply is NG (No in step S1007), it is determined whether the printing assigned to the child device has been completed (step S1010). Here, if all the printing shared by the slave unit is completed, the image saved in the HDD of the slave unit or the image in the image memory is deleted regardless of the printing execution state of the master unit (step S1011). . In the sort mode, the images to be deleted are the images from the first page to the last page all at once, and in the stack mode, only the printed image is deleted.
[0053]
【The invention's effect】
As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, a reading unit that reads a document image, a unit that aggregates a plurality of read image data to generate new image data, and a storage unit that stores image data And a plurality of image forming apparatuses including a printing unit that prints the stored image and a coupling unit that transmits and receives an image to and from another device, and are electrically connected to each other. Any one of them becomes a master device, reads a document, transfers the image data to an image forming apparatus that is another slave device, and in a connection system including means for sharing and printing by the master and child, reads the read image data. Further, in a mode in which new image data is aggregated and generated and printed, the image data generated and aggregated is transferred instead of the image data read from the master unit to the slave unit. It is not necessary to hold the original image data in any child machine side, it is possible to effectively utilize the memory resources of the slave unit.
[0054]
Further, according to the present invention, in the stack mode, after all the aggregated image data is generated by the master unit, the image is transferred from the last image data to the slave unit from the master unit. As described above, the printing operation is immediately started without waiting for the transfer of the final image data, and as a result, the printing output completion time as a concatenated system can be shortened, and the memory of the slave unit is quickly released. Memory resources can be used effectively.
[0055]
Further, according to the present invention, by deleting the aggregated image transferred by the slave unit when the printing of the number of copies is completed, the memory resources on the slave unit side can be effectively used.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an operation unit 30.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a display on a liquid crystal touch panel 31 of the operation unit 30.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a control device centered on a main controller 20 in the image forming apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing unit (an image reading unit and an image writing unit).
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an image signal for one page in a selector 64;
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a module configuration of software.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a finish in a weekly magazine mode.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a linked job on the parent device side.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a linked job on the slave device side.
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a paper discharge method in a sort mode.
FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a sheet discharging method in a stack mode.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Automatic Document Feeder (hereinafter ADF)
2 platen 20 main controller 30 operation unit 34 start key 50 reading unit 53 lens 54 CCD image sensor 57 writing unit 64 selector

Claims (3)

Image reading means for reading an original image;
Storage means for storing image data;
Printing means for printing the stored image;
A plurality of image forming apparatuses having connection means for mutually transmitting and receiving images to and from other image forming apparatuses are configured to be electrically connected,
An arbitrary one of the plurality of image forming apparatuses serves as a master, reads an original, transfers the image data to another image forming apparatus serving as a slave, and the master and the slave share printing. In an image forming system having means for performing,
An image aggregation unit that aggregates the read image data to generate new image data;
Transfer means for transferring the image data aggregated by the image aggregation means from the parent device to the child device,
Means for printing the aggregated image data. When creating an aggregated image by the image aggregation unit, the mode has a mode determination unit that determines whether the mode is a sort mode or a stack mode,
In the case of the sort mode, after all the aggregated image data is created in the master unit, the images are sequentially transferred from the master unit to the slave units from the first aggregated image data,
2. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein in the case of the stack mode, after all the aggregated image data is created in the master unit, the images are sequentially transferred from the master unit to the slave units from the final aggregated image data. 3. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the image transferred from the master unit to the slave unit is deleted when printing for the number of copies set in the slave unit is completed.

Images