JPH06236245A - Copy machine control equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the copy machine control equipment for effectively utilizing a copy machine rather than a conventional state with a connected computer. CONSTITUTION:This equipment is provided with a control part 22 for controlling the processing of image data registered and stored in a memory 20 and the printer function of the copy machine by connecting over one compact computers, inputting image data 102 and registering them on the memory 20 and equipped with a first image registration mode for deleting the image data 102 to be registered after the lapse of validity by setting the validity, second image registration mode for designating a date and time to print the image data to be registered and printing those data at the designated date and time with the copy machine and third image registration mode for setting identifiers to the plural image data inputted from the compact computers and printing those image data while combining them corresponding to the identifiers of the image data.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a copying machine control device in which a copying machine and a small computer are connected so that the copying machine can be used as a scanner or a printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional copying machine control device, image data taken in from a copying machine or a small computer connected thereto is stored in a memory of the copying machine control device and is registered with a data name. It has the function of performing layout and controlling the copier to perform printing.

[0003]

However, when the copying machine control device can be connected to the computer network, a user who wants to store and register the image data in the image storing means of the copying machine control device is unsuccessful. This will cover a large number of users. A problem at that time is a management method for effectively using the memory means of the copying machine control device for registering an image.

That is, the storage capacity is finite, and there is a possibility that some users may use the memory means exclusively. Also, when using a small computer connected to a computer network to print the transferred and registered image data, there may be a large number of users, and the time until the designated print command is executed There is also the problem of long waits.

Further, when distributed processing utilizing a computer network progresses, image data is registered from a plurality of small computers to one copying machine control device, and the plurality of image data are grouped and processed together. The need also arises.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art and to provide a copying machine control device which can utilize the copying machine more effectively than before by using a connected computer.

[0007]

Therefore, the copying machine control device according to the present invention includes a registration means for inputting image data from the connected copying machine and one or more small computers and registering the image data in the memory means. A copying machine control device comprising processing means for processing image data registered and stored in a memory means and control means for controlling a printer function of the copying machine, wherein an expiration date of the image data to be registered is set and the expiration date has passed. Then, the first image registration mode for deleting the image data from the memory means, and the copying machine connected at the specified date and time regardless of the power connection state of the computer that specified the date and time to print the image data to be registered and transmitted the image data. Second image registration mode for printing, and setting of identifiers for a plurality of image data input from a small computer to identify the image data With the configuration and having a third image registration mode for printing a combination of image data by, it is intended to achieve the above object.

[0008]

With the above construction, image data can be input from the copying machine and the small computer, registered in the memory means by the registration means, and printed by the connected copying machine.
By selecting the first to third image registration modes, the image data is deleted from the memory when the set expiration date has passed. Further, at the printing date and time designated for the image data, printing is performed by the connected copying machine regardless of the power connection state of the computer that transmitted the image data. Also, a plurality of image data input from a small computer can be combined and printed by the identifier set in the image data.

By executing the selection of the image registration mode, it is possible to prevent unnecessary image data from remaining in the memory means due to forgetting an instruction to delete the stored data after using the registered image data, and to improve the operating rate of the copying machine. It is possible to improve the work efficiency of the user by selecting a low time zone and automatically printing. Furthermore, by combining image data input from a plurality of computers, it is possible to provide effective work means to users in a distributed work environment.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A copying machine control device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a connection state of an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, a copier control device 14 includes a memory 20 for storing image data and the like input from the connected copier 12 and one or more small computers 24, and registration input of the image data to the memory 20. A control unit 22 is provided for controlling the printer function of the copying machine 12 when printing the image data stored in the memory 20.

That is, the image data 16 and the like taken in by the scanner of the copying machine 12 can be stored and registered. Further, the copying machine control device 14 having the function of connecting to the computer network 26 can be used by an unspecified number of users 28 by one or more small computers 24 connected to the network 26.

A concrete example of the image registration process of the copying machine control device 14 of the embodiment in the use environment connected as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. In the memory means 20 of the copying machine control device 14,
When the image data 102 from the connected small computer is stored / registered, information relating to the registration mode is added as a header part 110 as an attribute of the image data 102. The information to be added is divided into four types: normal / expiration date / output date / time / group identifier, and instructions can be given independently of each other.

As shown in the header part explanatory diagram of FIG. 3, flag fields (112 to 118) of normal registration, expiration date setting, output date and time, and group identifier setting are provided at the head part of the header part 110. When each field is on, the subsequent value fields (1
22, 124, 126) stores instruction data. The image data ID is stored in 120.

For example, when the expiration date field is on, the control section 22 reads the expiration date field 122 of the header section 110 and controls the registered image data 102 to be deleted at the instructed date and time. At this time, each field can be turned on at the same time when the normal registration flag is off. That is, the image data 10 grouped by the value of the identifier field 126
2 is output at the designated date and time of the output date and time field 124,
It becomes possible to perform control to delete the registered image data 102 at the date and time designated by the expiration date field 122.

With the above-described configuration and operation, the header part 110 is attached to the image data 102 to be registered, and the control unit 22 performs additional processing according to the header information to effectively register the image. The processing and the effective use of the memory 20 can be performed.

(Other Embodiment) FIG. 4 shows a connection state of another embodiment of the present invention. The configuration of this embodiment is similar to that of the above-described embodiment, except that one small computer 24 is connected to the copying machine control device 14, and another small computer 202 is connected to the same small computer 24 through a computer network 26. The connection configuration is set.

That is, in this embodiment, a user of another small computer 202 who wants to send image data to the memory 20 of the copying machine control device 14 inputs the image data to the copying machine control device 14 via the small computer 24. It has become.

The specific method of the image registration processing is basically the same as that of the above embodiment. However, in this embodiment, the header information 11 is stored in the memory 20 of the copying machine control device 14.
The control of the image data 102 added with 0 is performed by the small computer 24.
The load of 4 can be reduced. In this embodiment, it is also possible to construct a software program for controlling registered image data from a small computer 24 directly connected to the copying machine control device 14.

[0020]

As described above, according to the present invention, the connected copying machine can be used as a scanner or a printer by the control means.

An unspecified number of users can input image data from a connected small computer, register it in the memory means, and print it by a connected copying machine. The copying machine is efficiently operated by an unspecified number of users. Can work well.

Further, by selecting the first to third image registration modes, the image data is deleted from the memory means when the set expiration date has passed. Further, at the printing date and time designated for the image data, printing is performed by the connected copying machine regardless of the power connection state of the computer that transmitted the image data.
Also, a plurality of image data input from a small computer can be combined and printed by the identifier set in the image data.

By selecting and executing the image registration mode, it is possible to prevent unnecessary image data from remaining in the memory means due to forgetting the instruction to delete the stored data after using the registered image data, and to effectively use the memory means.

Further, by selecting a time zone in which the operation rate of the copying machine is low and performing automatic printing, the work efficiency of the user can be improved. Furthermore, by combining image data input from a plurality of computers, it is possible to provide effective work means to users in a distributed work environment.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a connection block diagram of an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a memory registration header section according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a connection block diagram of another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 12 copy machine 14 copy machine control device 16 image data 20 memory 22 control section 24 small computer 26 computer network 28 user 102 image data 110 header section 112, 114, 116, 118 flag field 120 image data ID 122, 124, 126 value Field 202 Other small computer 208 Other user

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A registration means for inputting image data from a connected copying machine and one or more small computers and registering the same in a memory means, processing of the image data registered and stored in the memory means, and a printer of the copying machine. A first image registration mode for setting a valid period of image data to be registered and deleting the image data from the memory unit when a valid period of the image data to be registered is set. The second image registration mode in which printing is performed by the copying machine connected at the specified date and time regardless of the power connection state of the computer that specified the date and time to print the image data to be registered and sent the image data, and multiple input from a small computer A third image registration mode in which an identifier is set for the image data of and the image data is combined and printed according to the identifier of the image data. A copying machine control device characterized in that