JP3404692B2 - Copier management system - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a copying machine management system capable of connecting a plurality of digital copying machines to a communication line and mutually transmitting and receiving image information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a facsimile apparatus has been put into practical use as a means for sending image information to a remote place. However, in a system such as a facsimile in which data is directly transmitted to the other party, when image information is to be sent to a large number of parties, it is necessary to perform transmission operations as many as the number of parties. On the other hand, a digital copying machine has been developed as a copying machine, and it is easy to send and receive by converting the image information of a document into a digital signal. Copiers are enlarged / reduced compared to facsimile machines.
Since it has many functions such as double-sided copying function, if a copier management system that can connect multiple digital copiers and send and receive image information to each other is established, many functions will be provided to each other. It can be used effectively.
In view of such a fact, the applicant of the present invention is composed of a plurality of digital copying machines connected to a communication line and one server, and the plurality of copying machines connected to the communication line regularly access the server. Then, a copier management system that takes in the received information of itself is proposed as Japanese Patent Application No. 8-197167.

[0003]

The output formats of the printing unit equipped in the copying machine are the so-called face-up format, in which the transfer sheet is ejected with the printed surface facing upward, and the printed surface. There is a so-called face-down type in which the transfer paper is discharged with the bottom face down. The face-up type copier is configured to scan and print the document to be copied sequentially from the last page, and the face-down type copier is configured to sequentially scan and print the document to be copied from the first page. With such a configuration, the print sheets that have been printed out are arranged in page order. Some copiers have sorters and hard disks (large-capacity readable and writable memories) and some do not have them, and sorters and hard disks must be installed after purchasing the copiers. However, the one that was installed when the copier was purchased may be removed later. By the way, when a copying machine with different equipment functions is connected to the above-mentioned copying machine management system, the acquisition of image data from the server and the printing order are uniquely controlled based on the functions possessed when the copying machine is purchased. Then, a problem arises in that the transfer sheets printed out at the time of reception are not arranged in page order due to addition or removal of the sorter and the hard disk.

The present invention has been made in view of the above facts, and its main technical problem is that the plurality of copying machines connected to the communication line are equipped with a sorter and a hard disk, and the output of the printing section. It is an object of the present invention to provide a copier management system in which each copier can always print out in the same page order regardless of the format.

[0005]

According to the present invention, in order to solve the above main technical problems, a copying machine management system comprising a plurality of digital copying machines connected to a communication line and one server. The server stores an image file directory including an image file that stores image data transmitted from each digital copying machine, and management data regarding image data to be created and received for each digital copying machine. The digital copying machine comprises a client directory having a reception header management file, an image scanner section for scanning an original to be transmitted, an input section for designating a transmission partner and the number of copies, and received image data. Is provided with a printing unit for printing
The control unit communicates with the server at the time of transmission, writes the image data scanned by the image scanner unit in the image file of the image file directory of the server, and also the client directory of the transmission partner designated by the input unit. Management data related to the image data is written to the reception header management file of, and when receiving, the reception header management file of the client directory of the server is periodically accessed to check whether there is image data to be received, If there is image data to be stored, the presence / absence of a sorter, the presence / absence of a hard disk, and the output format of the printing unit, which are the functions of the copier, are checked and stored in the image file in the image file directory of the server. Own copier owns image data A print command to the printing unit so that the captured image data is output in a page order in a sequence suitable for the equipment function of its own copying machine while being captured in an order suitable for the storage function. A copying machine management system is provided.

More specifically, when the copy machine of its own has a hard disk and a sorter and the output format of the printing section is face down, the control section outputs the image data of the specified page to the hard disk. After sequentially fetching from the first page, command the print section to print the specified number of copies in order from the first page, and the copier has its own hard disk and has no sorter.
If the output format of the printing unit is face-up, after the image data of the specified page is sequentially loaded from the last page to the hard disk, the specified number of copies is output to the printing unit in order of electronic sort output from the last page. Print command,
If your own copier does not have a hard disk but has a sorter and the output format of the printing unit is face down, the image data of the specified page is sequentially loaded from the first page and is also loaded. When the print command is issued to the print unit to sort and output the specified number of copies of the image data of each page each time, and the copy machine of its own does not have a hard disk and a sorter, and the output format of the print unit is face down. The image data of the specified page is sequentially fetched from the first page, and a print command is issued to the printing unit to output the image data of the fetched page each time, and its own copier does not have a hard disk, If the printer has a sorter and the output format of the printing unit is face-up, the image data of the specified page is displayed on the last page. The output format of the printing section is that the copying machine does not have a hard disk and a sorter, in order to sort and output the specified number of copies of the image data of the fetched pages. In the case of face-up, a copier management system is provided that sequentially fetches the image data of the specified page from the last page and issues a print command to the printing section to output the fetched image data of the page each time. It

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The preferred embodiments of a copying machine management system constructed according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the illustrated embodiment, each unit in an organization such as a company or a government office
An example of a copying machine management system in which a plurality of copying machines are connected by a so-called LAN (local area network) connecting the sections with a communication line will be described.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a copying machine management system constructed according to the present invention. The copier management system includes a plurality of digital copiers (DPPCs) 2, which are arranged in respective departments / sections connected to a LAN as a communication line.
.. and one server 4.

The server 4 is composed of, for example, a personal computer and is installed in a predetermined department of the organization. This server 4 has a management directory as described below. As shown in FIG. 2, the management directory is a client list file that stores the departments of the registered copying machines 2, ... And the clients created for each registered department of the copying machines 2 ,. A directory and an image file directory for storing image data and the like transmitted from each copying machine 2 ,.

The client directory is provided for each copying machine, that is, for each department to which each copying machine is installed, and has a transmission header management file, a reception header management file, and a function list file. The transmission header management file stores transmission information from the corresponding copying machine, such as the total number of transmission header files, the document header file name, the transmission date, the transmission time, and the transmission destination bit. Note that the document header file name is automatically given a number obtained from a serial number file described later. The received header management file contains the total number of received documents (image information) received from other copying machines, the document header file name,
The reception management information such as the number of copies, the number of pages already output, the output progress of the received document, and the printout format of the copying machine on the transmission side is stored. The function list file includes the functions of the corresponding copying machine, that is, the maximum copyable size, the resolution, the image data compression method, the zoom minimum value, the zoom maximum value, the original mode, the duplex mode, the sorter, the composite mode, Moving, binding,
Functions such as date and time insertion, character insertion, and numbering that the corresponding copying machine has are stored.

The image file directory includes a plurality of document header files, a plurality of image files, and a serial number file. The document header file is created each time it is sent, and the management information and processing information of the image file is sent in units of documents sent from each copying machine, that is, the total number of documents sent from each copying machine (specified. Number of recipients) and total number of pages, number of pages to be written, specified magnification, binding position, binding width, original mode, date insertion, finisher, double-sided copying, image file name (1 to 1
n) and the like are stored. The image file name is automatically given a number obtained from a serial number file described later. The image file stores full-size actual data of transmission information. The image file is created page by page. Therefore, when there are a plurality of originals in one transmission, the number of image files corresponding to the number of originals is created. Then, the number obtained from the serial number file described later is automatically attached to the image file as the image file name. The serial number file manages the serial number used as the next document header file name and image file name.

Next, each of the copying machines 2 will be described with reference to FIG. The copying machine 2 is composed of a digital copying machine, and has an image scanner section 21 for reading an original.
An image processor unit (IPU) 22 and a printing unit 2
3, a control unit 24, a hard disk 25, a network unit 26, an operation unit 27, and a display unit 28. Note that the hard disk 25 may not be included in some copiers. Further, the copying machine 2 includes a sorter 29 for sorting the sheets printed by the printing section 23.

The image scanner unit 21 includes an automatic document feeder for feeding a document to be copied or transmitted by the copying machine 2, an image pickup unit composed of a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) line image sensor, and an image processing unit. Is scanned relative to the document to read the document image line by line in the document conveying direction (row direction of the document), and the read data is subjected to predetermined image processing as a digital signal, and then the image processor unit (IPU)
22 is output.

The image processor unit (IPU) 22 is
The image data input from the image scanner unit 21 is subjected to gradation processing, and when it is copied as it is, it is output to the printing unit 23. Further, the image processor unit (IPU) 22 is
When the image data input from the image scanner unit 21 is transmitted to another copying machine, the image data subjected to gradation processing is output to the control unit 24.

In the illustrated embodiment, the printing unit 23 outputs a modulation signal generated based on the image information read by the image scanner unit 21 and the constituent data of the image information transmitted from another copying machine. A laser optical unit that converts and outputs the laser light, a developing unit that visualizes the latent image of the print image formed by the laser light emitted from the laser optical unit, and the visualized print image on the recording paper. The laser printer includes a transfer unit that transfers and forms an image and a fixing unit that fixes the print image transferred and formed on a recording sheet. The output format of the printing unit 23 includes a so-called face-up format in which the printed surface is ejected and the transfer paper is ejected, and a so-called face-down format in which the printed surface is ejected. .

The control unit 24 has a central processing unit (CPU) 241, which performs arithmetic processing according to a predetermined processing program, a ROM (Read Only) storing processing programs for executing the copying function and the transmission / reception function, and various processing data. M
emory) 242, and a RAM (Random Acce
ss Memory) 243 is built in. This control unit 24
After temporarily storing the image data input from the image processor unit (IPU) 22 in a RAM (Random Access Memory) 243, the image processing unit 27 performs the editing process designated by the operation unit 27 and outputs the image data to the network unit 26. Further, the control unit 24 controls the network unit 26 when receiving.
Image data received via the RAM (Random Access M
After being temporarily stored in the emory) 243 or the hard disk 25, the specified edit processing is performed and the result is output to the printing unit 23.

The hard disk 25 is composed of a readable / writable RAM (Random Access Memory) having a relatively large capacity, and temporarily stores image data.

The network unit 26 transmits the image data input from the control unit 24 to the server 4 via the LAN. Further, the image data received from the server 4 via the LAN is sent to the control unit 24.

The operation unit 27 is provided with various input keys, inputs various copying conditions such as a transmission partner and the number of copies, and starts copying.
Settings such as stop and transmission start / stop instructions are performed, and the setting signal is input to the control unit 24.

The display unit 28 includes an LCD, an LED, etc.,
Display copy conditions and current operation.
The display unit 28 also displays the contents of the function list of another copying machine.

The sorter 29 includes a plurality of bins for sorting the sheets printed by the printing section 23. Some sorters may not be equipped with this sorter 29.

Each of the copying machines 2 and the server 4 constituting the copying machine management system in the illustrated embodiment is configured as described above, and the transmission and reception operations of each copying machine will be described below with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. The description will be made also with reference to the flowchart.

First, the control section 24 in the copying machine on the transmission side.
The transmission operation will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG. When transmitting the image information, the operator performs a transmitting operation (step S0). That is, the operator sets a document to be transmitted on the automatic document feeder of the image scanner unit 21, inputs a transmission partner from the operation unit 27, and manages information and processing information to be performed by the copying machine of the transmission partner, that is, a copy magnification. Enter copy conditions such as, double-sided copy, and number of copies. When the operator presses the transmission start key from the operation unit 27, the image scanner unit 2
Reading of the original set by 1 is started.
The image scanner unit 21 performs predetermined image processing on the read data in page units and outputs the data as a digital signal to the image processor unit (IPU) 22. When used as a copying machine, the image processor unit (IPU) 22 outputs the image data input from the image scanner unit 21 to the printing unit 23 as it is.
When the image processor unit (IPU) 22 needs to be edited, the image processor unit 22 performs a predetermined editing process on the image data and outputs the image data to the printing unit 23. When transmitting to another copying machine, the image processor unit (IPU) 22 outputs the image data input from the image scanner unit 21 to the control unit 24. When sending a document to another copying machine, when setting a document on the automatic document feeder of the image scanner section 21, regardless of the output format of the printing section equipped in the copier, the first page is used. Set to scan in order.

As described above, the control unit 24, which has input the copying conditions and the image data, creates an image file page by page based on the image data input in step S1 and stores this in a RAM (Random Access Memory) 243.
Temporarily store in. Next, the control unit 24 proceeds to step S2 to communicate with the server 4 from the network unit 26 via the LAN, and the RAM (Random Access Memory) 24
The image file temporarily stored in 3 is copied to the image file in the image file directory of the server 4. In addition,
After copying the image file to the image file directory of the server 4, the control unit 24 copies the RAM (Random Access).
Memory) 243 erases the image data temporarily stored.
Then, in step S3, the control unit 24 creates a document header file based on the management information and processing information input from the operation unit 27 in step S0 and the data read by the image scanner unit 21, and the server 4
Write to the document header file in the image file directory of. Next, the control unit 24 proceeds to step S4 to write the transmission information in the transmission header management file in the client directory on the transmission side, and further proceeds to step S5 to print its own printing unit on the reception header management file in the client directory on the reception side. Write the reception management information including the output format of. In this way, the transmitting operation of the transmitting copying machine is completed.

Next, the receiving operation of the copying machine on the receiving side will be described with reference to the flow charts shown in FIGS. Note that the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 show an example in which (N) copies of the image data of the (M) page are output. Each copying machine 2 periodically communicates with the server 4 to check its own client directory. The control unit 24 of each copying machine accesses its own client directory of the server 4, checks the total number of received documents in the received header management file, and confirms whether or not there is received data (step P1), and then receives the received data. If there is no data, the process proceeds to step P2, and after the elapse of a predetermined time, the presence or absence of received data is checked again. Note that step P1
If there is received data in, the control unit 24 obtains the document header file name from its own reception header management file and grasps the corresponding image file (M page) from the document header file name.

If there is received data in step P1, the control section 24 proceeds to step P3 to check whether or not its own copying machine has the hard disk 25, and if it has the hard disk 25, step P4. If the hard disk 25 is not provided, the process proceeds to step P16. In step P3, if the copying machine of its own has the hard disk 25,
The control section 24 proceeds to step P4 to check whether the output format of the printing section 23 installed in its own copying machine is the so-called face-down format in which the printed surface is discharged downward and the so-called face-down format is adopted. If it is not, the process proceeds to step P5, and if it is not the face-down format, the process is step P12.
Move to.

As a result of the check in the step P4, if the output format of the printing section 23 of its own copying machine is the face-down format, the control section 24 proceeds to step P5 and sets (1) to the page variable (m). Is assigned to the copy number variable (n). Then, the control unit 24 proceeds to Step P6, reads the image file of the (m) th page, takes in the image data, and temporarily stores it in the hard disk 25. Then, the control unit 24 proceeds to Step P7 and checks whether the page variable (m) has reached (M page). Since (m = 1) this time, it does not reach (M page), so the control unit 24 proceeds to step P8.
Going to step (3), (m + 1) is assigned to the page variable (m).
Then, the control unit 24 performs the above steps P6 to P
By executing each step of 8 until the page variable (m) reaches (M page), the image data of the corresponding image file (M page) is stored in the hard disk 25. In this way, when the output format of the printing unit 23 of its own copying machine is the face-down format, the image data of (M pages) is sequentially stored in the hard disk 25 from the first page. As described above, the image data of the corresponding image file (M page) is stored in the hard disk 2.
If it is stored in 5, the control unit 24 proceeds to step P9 to check whether or not its own copying machine has the sorter 29, and if it has the sorter 29, it proceeds to step P10 ( The printing unit 23 should sort out n) parts.
Command to print. On the other hand, if the own copier does not have the sorter 29 in step P9, the control unit 2
In step 4, the process proceeds to step P11, and the printing unit 23 is instructed to print to output the (n) copies by electronic sorting. That is, (M page)
Image data of (N) are repeatedly output.

Next, as a result of the check in step P4, if the output format of the printing unit 23 of the copying machine is not the face-down format, that is, the so-called face-up format in which the printed surface faces up and the transfer paper is discharged. If there is, the control unit 24 proceeds to Step P12 and substitutes (M) for the page variable (m) and (N) for the copy number variable (n). Then, the control unit 24 proceeds to step P13,
(M) The image file of the page is read and the image data is fetched and temporarily stored in the hard disk 25. Then, the control unit 24 proceeds to step P14 and checks whether or not the page variable (m) has reached (one page).
Since (m = M) this time, (1 page) has not been reached, so the control unit 24 proceeds to step P15 and substitutes (m-1) for the page variable (m). Then, the control unit 24 executes each of the above steps P13 to P15 until the page variable (m) reaches (one page), so that the corresponding image file (M page)
Image data is stored in the hard disk 25. In this way, when the output format of the printing unit 23 of its own copying machine is the face-up format, the image data of (M pages) is sequentially stored in the hard disk 25 from the last page. As described above, when the image data of the corresponding image file (M page) is stored in the hard disk 25, the control unit 24 proceeds to step P9 and executes steps P9 to P11.

When the copying machine of its own does not have the hard disk 25 in step P3, the control unit 2
In step 4, the process proceeds to step P16, and it is checked whether the output format of the printing unit 23 installed in the copying machine of its own is the face-down format.
Proceed to step P if not face down format
Move to 23.

As a result of the check in the step P16, if the output format of the printing section 23 of its own copying machine is the face-down format, the control section 24 controls the step P17.
(1) is assigned to the page variable (m) and (N) is assigned to the copy number variable (n). Then, the control unit 24 proceeds to step P18 to check whether or not its own copying machine has the sorter 29, and if it has the sorter 29, it proceeds to step P19 and does not have the sorter 29. In that case, the process proceeds to step P23. Step P1
As a result of the check in step 8, the self-copy machine is sorted by the sorter 29.
In step P19, the control unit 24 reads the image file of the (m) th page and takes in the image data, and the RAM (Random Access Memory) 24
Temporarily store in 3. The control unit 24 then proceeds to step P2.
The image data of the (m) page temporarily stored in the RAM (Random Access Memory) 243
A print command is issued to the print unit 23 to sort out the (n) copy. After the image data of the (m) th page is sorted and output (n), the control unit 24 proceeds to Step P21 and checks whether the page variable (m) has reached (M page). Since (m = 1) this time, (M page) has not been reached, so the control unit 24 proceeds to step P22 and substitutes (m + 1) for the page variable (m). Then, the control unit 24 uses the steps P19 to P2.
Each step of 2 is executed until the page variable (m) reaches (M page). As described above, the copying machine of its own does not have the hard disk 25 but has the sorter 29, and the printing unit 2
When the output format of 3 is face-down format,
While the image data of (M pages) is sequentially fetched from the first page, the work of sorting out the (N) copies is executed (M) times.

If the result of the check in step P18 is that the copying machine of its own does not have the sorter 29, the control section 24 proceeds to step P23 and reads the image file of the (m) th page to read the image data. Is temporarily stored in a RAM (Random Access Memory) 243. Then, the control unit 24 proceeds to step P24, where R
With respect to the image data of the (m) th page temporarily stored in AM (Random Access Memory) 243, the printing unit 23 is instructed to print one copy normally. When one copy of the image data of the (m) th page is normally output, the control unit 24 proceeds to step P25 and sets the page variable (m) to (M page).
Check whether or not. Since (m = 1) this time, it has not reached (M pages), so the control unit 24
Advances to step P26, and the page variable (m) becomes (m +
Substitute 1). Then, the control unit 24 performs the above step P
The steps 23 to P26 are executed until the page variable (m) reaches (M page). And
When the page variable (m) reaches (M pages), the control unit 24 proceeds to step P27 to substitute (1) for the page variable (m), and further proceeds to step P28 to copy number variable (n). Check whether or not the number reaches (N part).
As a result of the check in step P28, when the copy number variable (n) does not reach (N copy), the control unit 24 proceeds to step P28 and sets (n +) in the copy number variable (n).
1) is substituted, the process proceeds to step P23, and steps P23 to P29 are executed until the copy number variable (n) reaches (N copy). In this way, the copy machine of its own is the hard disk 25 and the sorter 2.
9 is not provided and the output format of the printing unit 23 of the copier of its own is the face-down format, one copy is normally output while sequentially capturing the image data of (M pages) from the first page. The work is repeated (N) times.

As a result of the check in step P16, if the output format of the printing section 23 of the copier of its own is not the face-down format, that is, the face-up format, the control section 24 proceeds to step P30 and page variables. Substitute (M) for (m) and (N) for the copy number variable (n). Then, the control unit 24 proceeds to step P31 to check whether or not its own copier has the sorter 29, and if it has the sorter 29, the control unit 24 proceeds to step P3.
2, the process proceeds to step P36 if the sorter 29 is not provided. If the result of the check in step P31 is that the own copier has the sorter 29, in step P32, the control unit 24 reads the image file of the (m) th page and takes in the image data, and the RAM (Random It is temporarily stored in the Access Memory) 243. Then, the control unit 24 proceeds to step P33, where R
With respect to the image data of the (m) th page temporarily stored in the AM (Random Access Memory) 243, the printing section 23 is instructed to print out the (n) section. When the (n) th page of the image data of the (m) th page is sorted and output, the control section 24 proceeds to step P34 to check whether or not the page variable (m) has reached (one page). Since (m = M) this time, (1 page) has not been reached, so the control unit 24 proceeds to Step P35 and substitutes (m-1) for the page variable (m). Then, the control unit 24 executes each of the steps P32 to P35 until the page variable (m) reaches (one page). As described above, when the copier of the self does not have the hard disk 25, the sorter 29 is provided, and the output format of the printing unit 23 is the face-up format, the image data of (M page) is transferred from the last page. While taking in sequentially, (N)
The work of sorting and outputting the copies is executed (M) times.

If the result of the check in step P31 is that the copier of its own does not have the sorter 29, the control section 24 proceeds to step P36 to read the image file of the (m) th page and read the image data. Is temporarily stored in a RAM (Random Access Memory) 243. Then, the control unit 24 proceeds to step P37, where R
With respect to the image data of the (m) th page temporarily stored in AM (Random Access Memory) 243, the printing unit 23 is instructed to print one copy normally. When one copy of the image data of the (m) th page is normally output, the control unit 24 proceeds to step P38 to check whether the page variable (m) has reached (one page). This time (m = M)
Since (1 page) has not been reached, the control unit 24 proceeds to step P39 and substitutes (m-1) for the page variable (m). Then, the control unit 24 executes each of the steps P36 to P39 until the page variable (m) reaches (M page). When the page variable (m) reaches (M pages), the control unit 24 proceeds to step P40 and checks whether the copy number variable (n) reaches (N copies). As a result of the check in Step P40, when the copy number variable (n) does not reach (N copy), the control unit 24 proceeds to Step P41, substitutes (M) into the page variable (m), and further proceeds to Step P42. (N + 1) is substituted into the copy number variable (n), and the flow shifts to step P36. Then, the control unit 24 determines that the copy number variable (n) is (N
Part) until the above steps P36 to P4
Repeat each step of 2. As described above, when the self-copier does not include the hard disk 25 and the sorter 29 and the output format of the printing unit 23 of the self-copier is the face-up format, the image data of (M page) is the last. One copy is normally output while sequentially fetching from pages, and this work is repeated (N) times.

[0034]

Since the copying machine management system according to the present invention is constructed as described above, it has the following operational effects.

That is, according to the present invention, each copying machine connected to the communication line periodically accesses the reception header management file in the client directory of its own server to determine whether or not there is image data to be received. If there is image data to be received, check the presence / absence of a sorter, the presence / absence of a hard disk, and the output format of the printing unit, which are the equipment functions of the copier of its own, and check the image file in the image file directory of the server Print the stored image data so that it is output in the order suitable for the equipment functions of the copier, and the captured image data is output in page order in the order suitable for the equipment functions of the copier. Since it is configured to issue a print command to the copy section, it is always arranged in page order even if the sorter and hard disk mounting conditions are different. It can be shaped output.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a copying machine management system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a management directory included in a server that constitutes the copying machine management system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a copying machine that constitutes a copying machine management system according to the present invention.

4 is a flowchart showing a transmission operation of a control unit of the copying machine shown in FIG.

5 is a partial flowchart showing a receiving operation of a control unit of the copying machine shown in FIG.

6 is a partial flowchart showing a receiving operation of a control unit of the copying machine shown in FIG.

7 is a partial flowchart showing a receiving operation of a control unit of the copying machine shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

2: Digital copier 4: Server 21: Image scanner section 22: Image processor unit (IPU) 23: Printing section 24: Control unit 25: Hard disk 26: Network unit 27: Operation unit 28: Display 29: Sorter

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-60-123153 (JP, A) JP-A-7-137237 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 1/00-1/00 108

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A copying machine management system comprising a plurality of digital copying machines connected to a communication line and one server, wherein the server stores image data transmitted from each digital copying machine. An image file directory including image files and a client directory including a reception header management file that stores management data relating to image data created for each digital copying machine and to be received are provided. An image scanner unit that scans an original to be transmitted, an input unit that specifies the transmission partner and the number of copies, a printing unit that prints the received image data, and a control unit. The image data scanned by the image scanner unit by communicating with the server is converted into an image in the image file directory of the server. In addition to writing to a file, write management data related to the image data to the reception header management file of the client directory of the transmission partner specified by the input unit, and periodically receive the reception header management file of the server's own client directory when receiving. To see if there is image data to receive, and if there is image data to receive, check the presence / absence of a sorter, the presence / absence of a hard disk, and the output format of the printing unit, which are the equipment functions of the copier of its own. Check and load the image data stored in the image file in the image file directory of the server in an order suitable for the equipment function of the copier of the own machine, and the equipment of the copier of the acquired image data The pages are output in the order suitable for the function and in page order. Copier management system to print commands the indicia shaped portion, characterized in that. 2. The control unit, when the copy machine of its own has a hard disk and a sorter, and the output format of the printing unit is face down, the control unit prints the image data of the page specified in the hard disk first. After sequentially fetching from pages, a print command is given to the printing unit so that the specified number of copies are sequentially sorted and output from the first page, and the own copying machine has a hard disk and does not have a sorter. If the output format is face-up, the image data of the specified page is sequentially fetched from the last page, and then the specified number of copies is electronically sorted and output from the last page. If the copy machine of your own does not have a hard disk but has a sorter and the output format of the printing section is face down, it is specified. The image data of the pages are sequentially fetched from the first page, and a print command is issued to the printing unit to sort out the designated number of copies of the image data of the fetched pages each time. If the output format of the printing unit is face-down, and the image data of the specified page is sequentially fetched from the first page, the image data of the fetched page should be output each time. When a print command is issued to the printing unit, and the own copying machine does not have a hard disk but has a sorter and the output format of the printing unit is face-up, the image data of the specified page Sequentially from the last page, and sort output the specified number of copies of the image data of the imported pages each time If a print command is issued to the printing unit in order to do so, and if the copy machine of its own does not have a hard disk and a sorter, and the output format of the printing unit is face-up, the image data of the specified page is the last 2. The copying machine management system according to claim 1, wherein the copying machine management system sequentially fetches the image data of the fetched pages and issues a print command to the printing unit to output the image data of the fetched pages each time.