JPH09107455A - Image copying system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image copying system which can work simultaneously for the color copying work of a color original by a color copying machine and the black-and-white copying of the color original by a black-and-white copying machine. SOLUTION: Two color image copying machines 60, 70 among devices constituting an image copying system 50 are provided with control parts 68, 78 capable of controlling the whole image copying system 50. When an operator intends to do copying work by using the device provided with the control part 68, 78, that control part 68, 78 judges the optimal combination from data such as the performance and the using state of other copying machines (e.g. 70, 80,90), and executes the copying work.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image copying system including a plurality of digital image copying devices.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when copying a color original and a black-and-white original, a color copy of the color original is performed by a color exclusive copying machine, and a color original or a black-and-white original is copied by a monochrome exclusive copying machine. Was done as. Further, even in an image copying system using a plurality of digital image copying machines, there has been no attempt to improve the efficiency of copying work by combining a color copying machine and a black-and-white copying machine and selectively using the both.

[0003]

In such an image copying system, both the color copying machine for color copying and the black and white copying machine for black and white copying need an image reading section and an automatic document feeder. , Was causing the high cost of the system. Also, when making color and black-and-white copies from color originals, color copying was done with a color machine and black-and-white copying was done with a black-and-white machine.
It was troublesome twice and the work efficiency was poor. Furthermore, when image copying is performed by connecting two or more copying machines,
When the device for reading the document and the device for writing are different, the operator on the reading side does not know which device is writing. Also, if you copy a color original in black and white,
The image deteriorated considerably, the original was in color, the image was deteriorated when copied, and the original was also in black and white, so it was impossible to determine whether the image was originally dirty.

Therefore, a first object of the present invention is to connect one or a plurality of digital color copiers and one or a plurality of digital copiers to each other to provide a black-and-white image copier. An object of the present invention is to provide a low-cost image copying system that does not require an image reading unit or an automatic document feeder. A second object of the present invention is to provide an image copying system capable of simultaneously performing a color copying operation of a color original by a color copying machine and a black and white copying operation of a color original by a black and white copying machine.

A third object of the present invention is to provide an easy-to-handle image copying system by clearly indicating the destination to which a copy is output. A fourth object of the present invention is to provide an image copying system in which, when a color original is copied in black and white, the fact that the original is a color original is clearly shown in the copy and the ease of handling thereafter is taken into consideration. That is.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a color image reading section for scanning a color original and converting the original image into color image data, and color image data converted by the color image reading section. A color image writing section for forming / copying an image on a recording sheet based on the above, and a black-and-white converting section for converting the color image data converted into the color image by the color image reading section into black-and-white image data, or Multiple digital color copiers,
One or a plurality of digital copying machines equipped with an image writing section for forming and copying an image on a recording paper based on the image data converted by the image reading section of the digital color copying machine; and the one or a plurality of digital copying machines. An image copying system comprising a digital color copying machine and a data communication means for exchanging data between the digital copying machine or a plurality of digital copying machines, wherein an original is set on the digital color copying machine. The color image data converted by the color image reading section is converted into black and white image data by the black and white converting means, and the black and white image data is transferred to the image writing section of the digital copying machine by the data communication means to make a black and white copy. The first object is achieved by creating

According to the present invention, the color image data read by the image reading unit of the digital color image copying machine, out of the plurality of devices forming the image copying system, is converted into black and white image data by the black and white converting means, and converted. By sending the generated image data to another digital copying machine (black and white dedicated machine) which constitutes this image copying system, the original is read by copying the color image among the devices constituting the image copying system. The image reading unit of the apparatus can perform the image writing, and the image writing can be performed by the image writing unit of the digital copying machine (monochrome machine).

According to the second aspect of the present invention, a color image reading section for scanning a color original and converting the original image into color image data, and an image is recorded based on the color image data converted by the color image reading section. One or a plurality of digital color copying machines provided with a color image writing section for forming / copying on paper and a black-and-white converting section for converting color image data converted into a color image by the color image reading section into black-and-white image data. Machine, and one or more digital copying machines equipped with an image writing section for forming / copying an image on a recording paper based on the image data converted by the image reading section of the digital color copying machine; Or a data communication means for exchanging data between a plurality of digital color copying machines and the one or a plurality of digital copying machines. An image copying system consisting of: a document is set on the digital color copying machine, and a color copy is created by the image writing section of the digital color copying machine from the color image data converted by the color image reading section; At the same time, the color image data converted by the color image reading section is converted into black and white image data by the black and white converting means, and the black and white image data is transferred to the image writing section of the digital copying machine by the data communication means to perform black and white copying. The second object is achieved by creating a product.

According to the present invention, among the plurality of devices constituting the image copying system, the color copying work is performed by the digital color image copying machine, and at the same time, the image writing section of another digital copying machine (black and white dedicated machine). , It is possible to do black-and-white copying work.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image copying system according to the first or second aspect, at least one of the one or a plurality of digital color copying machines or one or a plurality of digital copying machines is used. One of the copying machines is equipped with an operating section having a display device, and when data is transmitted from the copying machine having the operating section to another copying machine by the data communication means, the copying machine of the destination is transmitted to this operating section. The third object is achieved by displaying. According to the present invention, by displaying the destination of the image data on the display device of the operation unit, the operator can easily recognize which copying device the copy is output to.

According to the invention of claim 4, in the image copying system of claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3,
The color image data converted by the color image reading unit is converted into monochrome image data by the monochrome conversion unit,
When this black-and-white image data was transferred to the image writing section of the digital copying machine by the data communication means to make a black-and-white copy, the original was colored in the first page of this black-and-white copy or the margins of all pages. The fourth object is achieved by further comprising a printing means for printing a display to the effect. According to the present invention, when the image data of a color original is sent to another image copying apparatus dedicated to black and white images, the original is a color original by printing the print data in the margin of the read image data of the first page or all pages. Specify what happened.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the image copying system of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is an example of an image copying system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this example, the image copying system includes one color copying device (10) including an automatic document feeder (ADF) 12, a reading unit 14 for reading a document, and a color image writing unit 20, and an image writing device 40. It is composed of one black-and-white copying machine (30). The black-and-white copying machine 30 is not provided with an automatic document feeder and a document reading section, and has a simpler structure than the color copying machine 10.

The color copying apparatus 10 is further provided with an operation section 16 and a control section 18. This operation unit 1
Reference numeral 6 is provided with a mode key for selecting whether to perform color copying or black-and-white copying. When the operator selects black-and-white copying, the control unit 18 converts the image data into black-and-white image data, and the converted image. The data is sent to the black-and-white copying machine 30. On the other hand, when the operator selects color copying from the operation unit 16, the control unit 18 controls the image reading unit 14
The image data from the printer is sent to the color image writing unit 20 of the color image copying apparatus 10 as it is. Then, the control unit 18
Controls the writing unit that sent the image data to perform the writing work.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of an image copying system according to another embodiment of the present invention. Among the devices constituting the image copying system 50, two color image copying devices (60, 70) are provided with control units 68, 78 capable of controlling the entire image copying system 50. When using the apparatus (60, 70) including these control units 68, 78, another copying apparatus can be used as a part of the image copying system 50.

Then, when the operator uses the apparatus provided with the control units 68 and 78 to perform a copying operation, the control units 68 and 78 are controlled by other copying apparatuses (for example, 70 and 8).
0, 90), the optimum combination is determined from the data such as the performance and the usage status, and the copying operation is executed. When the device without the control unit and with the image reading unit is not used as a part of the system, it can be used normally as one copying machine (FIG. 2, 110). As described above, the ADF and the reading unit may be provided in the monochrome copying machine. Normally, writing an image in color copying takes longer than in black-and-white copying, so in the image copying system shown in this example, what is needed is one copy of a color original for storage and one copy for distribution. If you want to make a copy,
Once the original is set in the color copying apparatus, both color and black-and-white copies can be efficiently made in a short time.

As another embodiment, in the operation unit,
The number of color copies and the number of black and white copies can be set independently, and the control unit converts the color image data to the color copying device as the color image data and to the black and white copying device as the monochrome image data. Then, the image is sent to both image writing units, each image writing unit is controlled, and the required number of copies are simultaneously created.

Further, as another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the display unit 140 of the apparatus operated by the operator displays from which apparatus the copy is currently being output. From this display, it is possible to easily recognize from which copying apparatus the copy is output.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the procedure of a process for printing a monochrome original on the fact that the original is a color original. First, when the operation unit is set to print that it is a color original, the operator also sets the position of the read image data and the page to be printed (step 10). Then, the color image data read by the scanner (reading unit) is temporarily stored in the read image data storage device. (Step 13). Next, the image data is sent from the read image data storage device to the color image writing section (step 14) to make a color copy.

As soon as the image data is sent to the color image writing section, the print data stored in the print data storage device is called (step 15) and is combined with the image data stored in the read image data storage device (step 15). 16). The combined image data is sent to the black-and-white copying machine (step 17), and the black-and-white copying machine makes a black-and-white copy. A mark indicating that the document is in color is printed in the margin of the black-and-white copy.

This makes it clear that the original document was a color document at first sight. Therefore, the user
Since it is possible to confirm that the original is in color and that the image is deteriorated when copied, the part that is difficult to see can be referred to a color original later.

[0021]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since it is not necessary to provide an image reading unit or an automatic document feeder in the digital copying machine (black-and-white copying machine), the structure of the apparatus can be simplified and the cost can be reduced. An image copying system can be provided. Also,
The copying time can be shortened. According to the second aspect of the present invention, the color copying work of the color original document and the black and white copying work of the color original document are performed in one operation, so that the work time can be shortened and the work can be simplified.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, even when a copy is output from a device other than the digital copying machine operated by the operator, the output destination is displayed on the display section so that the operator can copy the copy. It becomes clear if you should go get it. According to the invention of claim 4, by printing the print data indicating that the original document is in color, the user can easily confirm that the original document is in color.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a basic configuration of an image copying system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a basic configuration of an image copying system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing contents of a display unit provided in an image copying system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of an image copying system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 color image copying apparatus 12 automatic document feeder (ADF) 14 reading section 16 operating section 18 control section 20 color image writing section 30 black-and-white copying apparatus 32 black-and-white image writing section 50 image copying system 60, 70 color image copying apparatus 62, 72 Automatic Document Feeder (ADF) 64, 74 Reading Unit 68, 78 Control Unit 69, 79 Writing Unit 80, 90, 100 Black-and-white Copying Device 110 Black-and-white Copying Device (with ADF and Reading Unit)

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A color image reading section for scanning a color original and converting the original image into color image data, and an image is formed / copied on a recording paper based on the color image data converted by the color image reading section. One or a plurality of digital color copying machines including a color image writing unit and a black-and-white conversion unit for converting the color image data converted into the color image by the color image reading unit into black-and-white image data; One or more digital copying machines equipped with an image writing section for forming / copying an image on a recording paper based on the image data converted by the image reading section of the copying machine, and the one or more digital colors Copier and this one
An image copying system comprising data communication means for exchanging data with each other or with a plurality of digital copying machines, wherein an original is set on the digital color copying machine and converted by the color image reading section. The color image data is converted into black and white image data by the black and white conversion means, and the black and white image data is transferred to the image writing section of the digital copying machine by the data communication means to create a black and white copy. Image copying system. 2. A color image reading section for scanning a color original and converting the original image into color image data, and an image is formed / copied on a recording paper based on the color image data converted by the color image reading section. One or a plurality of digital color copying machines including a color image writing unit and a black-and-white conversion unit for converting the color image data converted into the color image by the color image reading unit into black-and-white image data; One or more digital copying machines equipped with an image writing section for forming / copying an image on a recording paper based on the image data converted by the image reading section of the copying machine, and the one or more digital colors Copier and this one
An image copying system comprising data communication means for exchanging data with each other or with a plurality of digital copying machines, wherein an original is set on the digital color copying machine and converted by the color image reading section. An image writing section of the digital color copying machine creates a color copy from the color image data, and at the same time, the color image data converted by the color image reading section is converted into black and white image data by the black and white converting means. An image copying system characterized in that the data communication means transfers the image data to an image writing section of a digital copying machine to create a black and white copy. 3. One or a plurality of digital color copying machines, or at least one of the one or a plurality of digital copying machines is provided with an operation unit having a display device,
2. When the copying machine having the operation unit transmits data to another copying machine by the data communication means, the copying machine of the transmission destination is displayed on the operation unit. 2. The image copying system described in 2. 4. The color image data converted by the color image reading section is converted into black and white image data by the black and white converting means, and the black and white image data is transferred to the image writing section of the digital copying machine by the data communication means. 3. When a black-and-white copy is made by using the above-mentioned method, a printing means is further provided for printing an indication that the manuscript was in color in the margins of the first page or all pages of the black-and-white copy. The image copying system according to claim 2 or 3.