JPH09307733A - Image recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the operating efficiency by allowing other image recording device in the system to conduct the image recording operation in place of any image recording device in the system whose image recording operation is interrupted due to a trouble. SOLUTION: On the occurrence of a trouble in a digital copying machine being a system component, other machine connecting to the system is selected as a machine to conduct image forming processing as to image data relating to a copy operation of the machine having the trouble in place of the machine having the trouble is selected (s21, s22). The digital copying machine sends a command to request substitute to the selected machine (s23) and sends the set mode and condition after receiving a permission of substitute (s24, s25), and then sends image data relating to the copy operation in which the trouble takes place (s26, s27).

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image recording device such as a digital copying machine or a laser printer, and more particularly to an image recording device which constitutes an image forming system together with other devices via a data communication means.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A digital copying machine, which is an example of an image recording apparatus, reads an image of a document in an image reading section, performs image processing on the read image in an image processing section, and then prints it on a sheet in the image recording section. To form an image.
There is an image forming system configured by connecting a plurality of image recording devices including such a digital copying machine via a data transmission line. In addition to the digital copying machine, a device such as a facsimile, a personal computer, a printer or a scanner may be connected to the image forming system.

For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 53-116834 discloses a system in which a plurality of image reading devices and a plurality of image forming devices are used, and an image read by any one of the image reading devices is controlled by a single control unit. Is disclosed and any one of the image forming apparatuses is made to perform image formation.

Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-198958 discloses a structure in which image data is distributed and supplied to any of image forming means constituting the system according to a set original copy mode. It is disclosed.

[0005]

However, in the conventional image recording apparatus, when a trouble occurs during image recording and the image recording operation is interrupted, another image recording apparatus constituting the system substitutes the image. There is no recording device, and the image recording operation is restarted after the trouble is canceled in the image recording apparatus, or the original document relating to the image recording operation interrupted by moving to another image recording apparatus by the operator. Since it is necessary to provide image data, there is a problem that the operating efficiency of the system decreases.

An object of the present invention is to enable an image recording operation to be performed by another image recording apparatus in the system when the image recording operation is interrupted due to a trouble in any of the image recording apparatuses in the system, thereby improving the operating efficiency. An object of the present invention is to provide an image recording apparatus capable of improving the above.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, when the image recording operation is interrupted, the image data relating to the interrupted image recording operation is transferred to another single or a plurality of other image data via the data communication means. It is characterized in that a proxy request process for transmitting to the image recording device is executed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the proxy request process is executed after it is determined that the image data should be transmitted to another image recording apparatus based on the cause of interruption of the image recording operation.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the proxy request process is executed after the process of determining the transmission destination of the image data or the image data amount to be transmitted based on the image recording ability or the operation state.

The invention described in claim 4 is characterized in that the proxy recording process is executed based on the image data relating to the interrupted image recording operation transmitted from another image recording device via the data communication means.

The invention described in claim 5 is characterized in that the proxy recording process is executed after it is judged that the proxy recording process should be executed based on a predetermined condition.

[0012]

FIG. 1 is a schematic front sectional view showing the structure of a digital copying machine which is an image recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The digital copying machine 30
It comprises a scanner section 31 and a laser recording section 32. The scanner unit 31 includes a document table 35 made of transparent glass, a double-sided automatic document feeder (RADF) 36 that automatically supplies and conveys a document onto the document table 35,
The scanner unit 40 is configured to read an image of a document placed on the document table 35. Scanner unit 3
The image of the original read in 1 is sent as image data to an image data input unit described later, and predetermined image processing is performed on the image data.

The RADF 36 automatically conveys a plurality of documents set on a predetermined document tray one by one onto a document table 35. Further, the RADF 36 allows the scanner unit 40 to selectively read one side or both sides of the document according to the operator's selection.
A double-sided document conveyance path and a conveyance path switching unit are provided. The scanner unit 40 includes a copy lamp 41 that exposes the image surface of the document, a photoelectric conversion element (CCD) 44 that converts light reflected from the document into an electric image signal, and distributes light reflected from the document to the CCD 44. It comprises scanning units 40 a and 40 b provided with mirrors 42 a to 42 c and a lens 43 for imaging reflected light from a document on a CCD 44.

The scanner section 31 is operated by the RADF 36 and the scanner unit 40 in association with each other.
The scanner unit 40 is moved horizontally along the lower surface of the document table 35 while the documents to be read are sequentially placed on the document 5, and the image of the document is scanned. Scanner unit 4
The image data read by the scanning of 0 is sent to an image processing unit to be described later, and after being subjected to various image processing, is temporarily stored in a memory. The image processing unit supplies the image data in the memory to the laser printer unit 32 according to the output instruction, and forms an image on a sheet.

The laser printer section 32 includes a sheet storage / transport section 33, a laser writing unit 46, and an electrophotographic processing section 47. The laser writing unit 46 includes a semiconductor laser that irradiates a laser beam corresponding to the image data supplied from the image processing unit, a polygon mirror that polarizes the laser beam at a constant angular velocity, and a laser beam that is polarized at a constant angular velocity. An fθ lens and the like for correcting the light so as to be polarized at the same speed on the photosensitive drum 48 of the section 47 are provided.

The first cassette 5
1, a second cassette 52, a duplex copying unit 53, and a manual feed tray 54 are provided. This paper storage transport section 3
A plurality of sheets of paper are stored in each of the cassettes 3 of each size, and when the operator selects a cassette that stores a desired size, the sheets of paper are fed one by one from the cassette and go through the transport path 55. Then, they are sequentially conveyed to the laser printer unit 32.

The electrophotographic process unit 47 includes a charging unit, a developing unit, a transfer unit, a peeling unit, a cleaner, and a static eliminator installed around the photosensitive drum 48, and a downstream side of the photosensitive drum 48 in the sheet conveying direction. And a fixing device 49 provided. On the downstream side of the fixing device 49, there is formed a sheet discharge conveyance path 50 branched into a conveyance path 57 continuing to the post-processing device 34 and a conveyance path 58 continuing to the duplex copying unit 53.

In the copying operation, the laser writing unit 4
Electrophotographic process unit 4 by laser light emitted from 6
7, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 48.
This electrostatic latent image is visualized into a toner image by the toner supplied from the developing device, then is electrostatically transferred to a sheet fed from the sheet storage / feed unit 33, and heated and heated by the fixing device 49. Fixes on paper under pressure. The sheet on which the toner image is formed is conveyed to the post-processing device 34 via the conveyance paths 50 and 57, or is conveyed to the duplex copying unit 53 via the conveyance paths 50 and 58.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of the image processing section of the digital copying machine. The image processing unit includes an image data input unit 70, an image processing unit 71, an image data input unit 72, a memory 73 including a RAM and a hard disk, and a CPU 74. The image data input unit 70 includes a CCD unit 70a, a histogram processing unit 70a, and an error diffusion processing unit 70c. The image data input section 70 processes the image data by the error diffusion method and stores it in the memory 73 while binarizing and converting the image data read from the CCD 42 to obtain a histogram as a binary digital amount.

That is, in the CCD section 70a, after the analog electric signal corresponding to each pixel density of the image data is A / D converted, MTF correction, black and white correction or gamma correction is performed.
It is output to the histogram processing unit 70b as a digital signal of 256 gradations (8 bits). In the histogram processing unit 70b, the digital signal input from the CCD unit 70a is added for each pixel density of 256 gradations to obtain density information (histogram data), and the obtained histogram data is processed by the CPU 74 or the pixel The data is output to the error diffusion processing unit 70c as data. The error diffusion processing unit 70c includes an error diffusion method that is a type of pseudo intermediate processing,
That is, the digital signal of 8 bits / pixel output from the CCD unit 70a is converted into 1 bit (binary) by a method of reflecting the binarization error in the binarization determination of the adjacent pixel, and the local area in the original document is converted. A redistribution operation for faithfully reproducing the density is performed.

The image processing unit 71 includes a multi-valued processing unit 71a,
71b, a composition processing section 71c, a density conversion processing section 71d, a scaling processing section 71e, an image processing section 71f, an error diffusion processing section 71g, and a compression processing section 71h.
The image processing unit 71 is a processing unit that finally converts the input image data into image data desired by the operator, and performs processing until it is stored in the memory 73 as finally converted output image data. . However, the image processing unit 7
Each of the above-described processing units 71a to 71h constituting the unit 1 selectively functions as necessary.

That is, the multi-value quantization processing units 71a and 71b are
The binarized data is converted again into 256 gradations in the error diffusion processing unit 70c. In the synthesis processing unit 71c, a logical operation for each pixel, that is, an operation of a logical sum, a logical product, or an exclusive logical sum is selectively performed. The data to be subjected to this calculation is the pixel data stored in the memory 73 and the bit data output from the pattern generator (PG). The density conversion processing unit 71d arbitrarily sets the relationship between the input density and the output density for the 256-level data signal based on a predetermined tone conversion table.
The scaling unit 71e performs interpolation with known data input according to the designated scaling factor, thereby obtaining pixel data (density value) for the target pixel after scaling, and changing the size in the sub-scanning direction. After the magnification, the magnification in the main scanning direction is changed. In the image processing unit 71f, various image processing is performed on the input pixel data, and information collection on a data string such as feature extraction is performed. The error diffusion processing unit 71g includes an image data input unit 70
The same processing as the error diffusion processing unit 70c is performed. The compression processing unit 71h performs 2
The value data is compressed. This compression of the image data is executed in the final processing loop when the final output image data is completed.

The image data output unit 72 includes a restoration unit 72a,
The multi-value processing unit 72b, the error diffusion processing unit 72c, and the laser output unit 72d are included. The image data output unit 72 restores the image data stored in the memory 73 in a compressed state, converts the image data back into the original 256 gradations, and generates an error in the quaternary data that provides a smoother halftone expression than the binary data. The spread is performed and the data is transferred to the laser output unit 72d.

That is, in the decompression unit 72a, the compression processing unit 71
h, the compressed image data is restored. The multi-value processing section 72b includes a multi-value processing section 71 of the image processing section 71.
And 71b. Error diffusion processing unit 7
2c, the error diffusion processing unit 70 of the image data input unit 70
The same processing as in c is performed. In the laser output unit 72d,
Digital pixel data is converted into a laser on / off signal based on a control signal from a sequence control (not shown), the semiconductor laser in the laser writing unit 46 is turned on / off, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 48. Is written.

The data handled by the image data input unit 70 and the image data output unit 72 is basically stored as binary data in order to reduce the capacity of the memory 73, but deterioration of the image data may occur. In consideration of this, it can be processed as four-valued data.

FIG. 3 shows C in the digital copying machine.
It is a figure which shows the processing state of each part by PU. CPU74
Manages each drive mechanism unit such as the RADF 36, the scanner unit 31, and the laser printer unit 32 by sequence control, and outputs a control signal to each drive mechanism unit.
Further, the operation board unit 75 of the operation panel is connected to the CPU 74 in a mutually communicable state, and a control signal is sent to the CPU 74 according to the copy mode set and input by the operator.
The data is transferred to U74 and the digital copying machine 30 is operated according to the copy mode. On the other hand, the CPU 74 transfers a control signal indicating the operation state of the digital copying machine 30 to the operation board unit 75, and displays the current operation state of the digital copying machine 30 on the operation board unit 75.

The sorter control unit 76 manages the operation of a post-processing device such as a sorter for sorting the copy sheets discharged from the digital copying machine 30. The image data communication unit 77 performs image communication with other digital image equipment such as image information and image control signals.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the operation panel of the digital copying machine. A liquid crystal display device 1 having a touch panel is arranged in the center of the operation panel, and various mode setting key groups are arranged around the liquid crystal display device 1. On the screen of the liquid crystal display device 1, there is always provided a screen switching instruction area for switching to a selection screen for accepting the selection of the image editing function. By pressing this area, various image editing functions are displayed in a list. To be done. The image editing function is set by depressing the area in which the function desired by the operator is displayed from among the image editing functions displayed in the list on the liquid crystal display device 1.

The dial 2 is operated when adjusting the brightness of the screen of the liquid crystal display device 1. Magnification automatic setting key 3
Operate when setting the mode to select the copy magnification automatically. The zoom key 4 is operated when changing the copy magnification in units of 1%. The fixed magnification keys 5 and 6 are operated when selecting a fixed magnification. The equal magnification key 7 is operated when returning the copy magnification to the standard magnification. The density switching key 8 is operated when switching the copy density adjustment to either the automatic mode, the manual mode, or the photo mode. The density adjustment key 9 is operated when finely adjusting the density level in the copy density adjustment in the manual mode or the photo mode. The tray selection key 10 is operated when selecting a desired paper size from the paper sizes set in the digital copying machine 30.

The copy number setting key 11 is operated when setting the number of copies. The clear key 12 is operated when the set value of the number of copies is cleared or when the continuous copy operation is interrupted midway. The start key 13 is operated when instructing the start of the copying operation. The all release key 14 is operated to release all the currently set modes and return to the standard state. The interrupt key 15 is operated when performing a copy operation of another document during the continuous copy operation. The operation guide key 16 is operated when displaying guidance on an operation method. The forward key 17 is operated when displaying the continuation of the guidance of the operating method being displayed. The double-sided mode setting key 18 is operated when setting a double-sided copying mode for copying on both sides of paper. The post-processing mode setting key 19 is operated when setting the method of sorting the copied sheets by the post-processing device.

The setting keys 20 to 22 are operated in the facsimile mode. The memory transmission mode key 20 is operated when the image data of the transmission original is temporarily stored in the memory and then transmitted. The mode switching key 21 is used for the digital copying machine 3
It is operated when the operation mode of 0 is selectively switched to either a copying machine or a facsimile. The one-touch dial key 22 stores the destination telephone number in advance,
Operate when making a call to the destination by one-touch operation.

A plurality of display screens are hierarchically displayed on the liquid crystal display device 1. The hierarchical structure of the plurality of display screens is shown in FIG. The liquid crystal display device 1 displays the display screens shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 according to the hierarchical structure shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the system configuration of the digital copying machine. This system is configured by connecting a plurality of digital copying machines 30 via a communication means. In the office, a digital copying machine having a fax function capable of transmitting and receiving data via a telephone line together with a scanner and a printer, and a printer function of printing out document data output from a personal computer or a word processor, etc. Information devices. These information devices are SCSI
They are connected to each other via a general-purpose interface such as, and send and receive data. The data includes a command code for control and bit data such as image density data.

As described above, as a digital copying machine,
For example, the digital copying machine 30a is a memoryless, low-function, low-cost digital copying machine, and has a basic editing function that does not require a memory such as black-and-white inversion, italic, and mirror image. It has. As a communication interface, an Ethernet that can transfer image data at high speed is provided. This digital copier 30
a is a copy speed of 20 CPM (number of copies per minute)
It is a low speed type.

The digital copying machine 30b has a 64 MB memory (400 DPI, 8 bits / pix, 4 sheets of A4 size).
And has editing functions such as composition and repeat in addition to the basic editing functions described above. Digital copier 3
Reference numeral 0b is a medium-speed type having an Ethernet capable of transferring image data at a high speed similar to that of the digital copying machine 30a as a communication interface, and having a copying speed of about 40 CPM.

The digital copying machine 30c has a large capacity memory of 500 MB (400 DPI, 8 bit / pix, compression rate 1 /
4 and 100 pages of A4 size), and in addition to the editing function of the digital copying machine 30b, changes the page order and stores various formatted document data. Further, the digital copier 30c is equipped with character recognition software for extracting characters from the read image data, and can also code bit data. The digital copying machine 30c is a high-speed type having a copying speed of about 60 CPM. The digital copying machine 30c includes not only an Ethernet for high-speed image data transfer but also
A general-purpose communication interface such as SCSI or RS232C is also provided.

The system includes a digital copying machine 30a.
30c, a color scanner 81 having a reading resolution of 600 DPI, and a full-color printer 82 having a recording density of 600 DPI are connected to each other, and exchange data with the digital copying machine 30c via a general-purpose communication interface. Send and receive

In the system 80 configured as described above, the digital copying machine 30c having abundant image editing functions and having a large-capacity memory is set as the main copying machine to connect via the communication means. It is possible to utilize the rich image editing function of the digital copying machine 30c from the other digital copying machines 30a and 30b. Further, since image data can be transmitted and received between the digital copying machines 30a to 30c, an image read by a certain digital copying machine or a color scanner 81 can be copied by another digital copying machine or a color printer 82.

By using the communication data in the system 80 as bit data such as image data (hierarchical data for each pixel, for example, 8 bits: 256 gradations), a high gradation image can be transmitted with high precision. Also, text data such as characters can be encoded and transmitted at high speed with a small amount of data. In particular, image data having a gradation such as a natural image should be transmitted as data expressed by a dither method or an error diffusion method, which is one of the area gradation methods generally intended to compress data. There is also. The conversion into the error diffusion image is performed in advance in each device.

The format of the transmission data is determined by the settings of each digital copying machine or printer. Therefore, after the image data from each scanner is transferred to the printer unit,
The image processing unit converts the data into a data string necessary for writing and outputs image data. Each interface is
Each of them is defined by a prescribed protocol and a communication speed, and is selected based on the content (data amount) of data to be transmitted and the positional relationship (distance or the like) of each device.

Further, each interface is not limited to one for connecting each device one by one. For example, each device may be connected to a common communication line such as a daisy chain, and in such a case, an address is set for each device so that a data transmission destination can be specified.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing a processing procedure in the copying operation of the digital copying machine. The digital copying machine 30 waits for the operation of the start key 13 while accepting the copy mode setting on the operation panel. When the start key 13 is operated, the central processing unit 74 changes from the standby state to the copy execution state (s
1). After resetting the image processing unit 71, the central processing unit 74 outputs a command for mode setting to the image processing unit 71 based on the setting condition set in the operation board unit 75, and sets the mode condition. Is performed (s2).

Next, the central processing unit 74 outputs an image input command to the image processing section 71 and causes the image reading device 31 to start reading an image (s).
3). When the input of the image for one scan of the scanner unit is completed (s4), the central processing unit 74 outputs an image processing command to the image processing unit 71, and the image processing unit 7
In 1, the image processing is started (s5). When there are a plurality of originals, the image reading is continued in parallel with the image processing.

When image reading and image processing are completed (s
6, s7), the image processing data is saved in the memory, and the laser is driven to start image recording (s).
8). Along with this, paper feeding is started (s9),
The copying process ends by finishing the image recording for all pages and discharging the paper (s10 to s).
12).

In this process, if the image recording operation or the discharge of the paper is not completed even after the lapse of a predetermined time, it is judged that a trouble has occurred (s13), and the trouble process is executed (s14).

FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing an example of trouble processing in the digital copying machine. When a trouble occurs in the digital copying machine that constitutes the system, another device connected to the system is selected as a device to substitute the image forming process for the image data related to the copying operation in which the trouble occurs (s
21, s22). The digital copying machine 30a sends a command to the selected device as a proxy (s2
3) After receiving the proxy authorization, the set mode and conditions are transmitted (s24, s25). Further, the image data relating to the copying operation in which the trouble has occurred is transmitted (s
26, s27).

For example, in the system having the configuration shown in FIG. 11, if a trouble occurs during the copying process in the digital copying machine 30a, the digital copying machine 30b may be used.
Alternatively, the proxy process is executed by the printer 82. By this process, the copying process for the image data relating to the copying operation in which the trouble has occurred can be performed by another device.

It should be noted that, as shown in FIG. 12, regardless of whether or not the copying process is completed when the trouble occurs, all the image data in the copying operation in which the trouble occurs is copied by the device that performs the proxy process. Can be executed. For example, if a trouble occurs when the copying process for the third document is completed during the copying operation for the five documents, the copying process for all the documents from the first document in the proxy process is performed. I do. As a result, even if post-processing such as sorting is set, the copied image can be obtained in a state desired by the operator in the device that has performed the proxy processing.

Further, as shown in FIG. 13, when a trouble occurs, it is possible to cause a device which performs a proxy process only for image data for which the copy process is not completed to execute the copy process. For example, in the above example, the copying process is executed only for the image data of the fourth and subsequent originals in the device that performs the proxy process. As a result, it is possible to prevent duplication of the same image data and prevent a decrease in operating efficiency.

Further, as shown in FIG. 14, when a trouble occurs in the multi-copy copying operation for a plurality of originals, the proxy processing can be started from the image data at the head of the originals. For example, if a trouble occurs at the time when the copying process for the second document of the mth copy is completed during multicopy of n copies of three originals, The proxy process is started from the copy process. As a result, even when post-processing such as sorting is set, it is possible to obtain a copy image in a state desired by the operator while minimizing duplicate copy processing.

The image data from which the proxy process is started may be automatically set according to the mode and conditions set in the copying operation in which the trouble has occurred.

The method of selecting a device for requesting a substitute process is, for example, whether or not a memory for storing the transmitted image is provided, and the copy process is executed under the same conditions as the digital copying machine in which the trouble occurred. Judgment is made based on whether or not it is possible, whether the installation locations are close, and whether the management departments are the same.

This determination can also be made when the digital copying machine that has received the proxy processing request command transmits a response that permits proxy processing. For example,
When used by another user, when trouble occurs, when necessary paper is not set, and the like, it may be possible not to send a response permitting proxy processing.

Further, a device for requesting the substitute processing is displayed on the operation panel of the digital copying machine in which the trouble has occurred, so that the operator can easily recognize the place where the copy-processed paper on which the substitute processing is performed exists. Good. In this case, the proxy processing request can be executed only when the operator who confirms the displayed contents instructs the proxy processing. Further, it may be possible to wait for the trouble to be cleared at a predetermined time and request the proxy processing only when the trouble is not cleared even after the predetermined time elapses. In addition, on the operation panel of the digital copying machine that has been authorized for proxy processing,
By displaying the fact that the proxy processing has been accepted, it is possible to prevent another operator from mistakenly using the digital copying machine that has permitted the proxy processing. In this case, the copying operation relating to the proxy processing may be started after a predetermined time has elapsed from the display indicating that the proxy processing has been accepted, so that another operator can use the copy operation within the predetermined time.

Further, the result of the proxy processing may be displayed on the operation panel of the digital copying machine in which the trouble has occurred.

FIG. 15 is a flow chart showing the trouble processing in the digital copying machine which is an example of the embodiment of the invention described in claim 3. When a trouble occurs in a digital copying machine that constitutes a system together with another digital copying machine having a different copying speed, the proxy processing is performed according to the copying speed of the other digital copying machine. Therefore, the transmission of the image data is started after the proxy processing amount is determined (s30 → s26). In this proxy processing amount determination processing, the remaining number C of image data that could not be image-formed due to the occurrence of trouble is calculated (s31), and the copying speed C of another digital copying machine connected to the system is calculated.
PMm is read as the processing capacity Tm (s32), and the proxy processing amount corresponding to the processing capacity Tm is calculated (s33).
Image data to be transmitted is prepared according to the calculated proxy processing amount (s34).

For example, in the system configured as shown in FIG. 16, when a trouble occurs in the digital copying machine 30a having a copying speed of 40 CPM while leaving image data for eight sheets, the copying speed from the digital copying machine 30a is increased. 8 × 60 / (60 + 20) = 6 pieces of image data are transmitted to the digital copying machine 30b having 60 CPM, and 8 × 20 / (60 + 20) = for the digital copying machine 30c having copying speed of 20 CPM. Two pieces of image data are transmitted. By this processing, if a trouble occurs during the copying operation in the digital copying machine 30a, another digital copying machine 30 connected to the system
Each of b and 30c can substitute the copying process according to the copying ability, and the copying process for the image data which cannot be processed due to the occurrence of trouble can be completed quickly.

FIG. 17 is a flow chart showing the trouble processing in the digital copying machine according to another embodiment of the invention described in claim 1. For image data that could not be copied due to the occurrence of a trouble in one digital copying machine, it is determined whether or not the trouble is resolved while the substitute process is being executed by the other devices that make up the system (s41, s42). When the trouble is resolved during the proxy process, the operation stop command is transmitted to the device under the proxy process on condition that the own machine processing mode is selected (s44). When the device performing the proxy processing stops operating (s45), a transmission command of image data is transmitted to the device performing the proxy processing after setting the processing mode (s46 to s48). As a result, the image data transmitted from the device undergoing the proxy processing is received and the copy processing is executed (s49 → s8).

For example, in the system having the configuration shown in FIG. 11, when a trouble occurs during the copying process in the digital copying machine 30a and the proxy process is being executed by the digital copying machine 30b, the digital copying machine 30a performs the digital processing during the proxy process. When the trouble of the copying machine 30a is solved, the proxy processing by the digital copying machine 30b is stopped, and the copying processing relating to the image data remaining by this cancellation is executed by the digital copying machine 30a. By this processing, it is possible to shorten the time for using the equipment installed in another department.

FIG. 18 is a flow chart showing trouble processing in a digital copying machine according to another embodiment of the invention described in claim 3. If the trouble is solved while the proxy processing is being executed by the other multiple devices that make up the system for the image data that could not be copied due to the trouble in one digital copying machine, the redistribution processing mode is selected. Then, the operation stop command is transmitted to the device that is performing the proxy processing (s5
1, s44). When the device performing the proxy processing stops operating (s45), a transmission command of image data is transmitted to the device performing the proxy processing after setting the processing mode (s4).
6, s47), the image data transmitted from the device undergoing the proxy processing is received (s48, s49). After this, select the device to perform the proxy processing, send the proxy request command,
The processing mode is transmitted to the device to which the proxy permission is returned (s22 to s25). Furthermore, the above-mentioned s31 to s34
The proxy processing amount including the self machine is determined based on the processing of (s30), the image data of the determined proxy processing amount is transmitted to each device (s26, s27), and the copy processing of the remaining image data is performed. Is executed by itself (s6
1 to s64 → s8).

For example, in the system having the configuration shown in FIG. 11, when a trouble occurs during the copying process in the digital copying machine 30a and the proxy processing by the digital copying machine 30b and the printer 82 is executed, the proxy processing is performed. If the trouble of the digital copying machine 30a is eliminated, the proxy processing by the digital copying machine 30b and the printer 82 is stopped, and the copying processing relating to the image data remaining by this cancellation is performed by the digital copying machine 30a, the digital copying machine 30b and the printer 82. Run by. By this processing, the copying processing for the image data remaining after the trouble is resolved can be completed more quickly.

FIG. 19 is a flow chart showing trouble processing in a digital copying machine according to still another embodiment of the invention described in claim 3. If a trouble occurs in the digital copying machine that makes up the system,
Another device connected to the system is selected as a device to substitute the image forming process for the image data for which the image formation cannot be executed on the sheet due to the occurrence of trouble (s21, s22). At this time, the digital copying machine 30a determines the proxy request mode (s7).
0). In the proxy request mode determination process, it is determined whether or not each of the other devices selected as the devices to be subjected to the proxy process is in operation (s71, s7).
2, s77, s78), if the selected device is not operating, the normal request mode is set (s74), and if the selected device is operating, it is determined whether or not the device accepts an interrupt process (s74). ), If the device accepts interrupt processing, the interrupt request mode is set (s75). If the interrupt process is not accepted, the device is excluded from the devices that perform the interrupt process (s76).

For example, in the system shown in FIG.
If a trouble occurs during execution of the copying process by the digital copying machine 30a, when the digital copying machines 30b to 30d are selected as the devices to perform the substitute processing, the digital copying machine 30b and the interrupt processing capable of interrupt processing are When the possible digital copying machine 30c is operating, the digital copying machine 30b is requested to perform the proxy processing as an interrupt process, and the digital copying machine 30d is requested to perform the normal proxy processing.
The digital copying machine 30c is excluded from the devices that perform proxy processing. By this processing, the proxy processing can be requested according to the operating states and functions of the other devices that make up the system.

FIG. 21 is a flow chart showing the trouble processing in the digital copying machine according to still another embodiment of the invention described in claim 3. When a trouble occurs in the digital copying machine that composes the system,
When the device selected as a device to be substituted for the image forming process for the image data for which image formation could not be executed on the paper due to the occurrence of trouble is operating, the remaining number of processing and the processing capacity of the operating process in that device From this, the time until the operation is completed is calculated (s81), and it is determined whether or not the substitute process is requested as an interrupt process depending on whether this time is within a fixed time (s82 to s8).
4).

For example, in the system shown in FIG.
If a problem occurs during execution of the copying process by the digital copying machine 30a, when the digital copying machines 30b to 30d are selected as the devices to perform the proxy processing, if the digital copying machine 30b is in operation, the digital copying machine 30b. The time T from the remaining number of sheets C and the copying speed CPM to the end of the operation is calculated. If the time T is within 5 minutes, for example, the digital copying machine 30b is requested to perform the proxy processing by the interruption processing. By this processing, it is possible to request the substitutive processing more finely according to the operating states of the other devices that make up the system.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing a part of the processing procedure of the digital copying machine according to the embodiment of the invention described in claim 4. When a trouble occurs in the digital copying machine that constitutes the system, for the image data for which the copying process cannot be executed for the paper due to the occurrence of the trouble, the device for requesting the management of the proxy process of the copying process is selected (s91, s92). . A command requesting management of proxy processing is sent to the selected device (s9
3) After receiving the acceptance response for the management of the proxy processing (s94), the processing mode and the image data are transmitted (s95 to s97). On the other hand, the device that has received the proxy processing management request command transmits a reception response (s103) after determining whether the proxy processing management is possible (s101, s102), and receives the processing mode and image data. (S104 to s106). After this, for example, s22 to s25, s30, s26, s27, s61 shown in FIG.
~ The process of s64 is executed.

For example, in the system shown in FIG. 11, when a trouble occurs in the digital copying machine 30a, the digital copying machine 30b is requested to manage the proxy processing. The digital copying machine 30b selects its own machine and the printer 82 as the devices that perform the proxy processing, distributes the image data received from the digital copying machine 30a to the own machine and the printer 82, and performs the copying process according to the received processing mode. Run. By this processing, even when the power is cut off in the digital copying machine 30a after a trouble has occurred, the substitution processing can be managed by another device and the copying processing for the image data remaining due to the trouble can be executed.

FIG. 24 is a flow chart showing trouble processing in the digital copying machine according to another embodiment of the invention described in claim 1. If a trouble occurs in the digital copying machine that constitutes the system, select the device that requests the copy processing on behalf of the image data that could not be copied on the paper due to the trouble, and before sending the image data. First, it is determined whether or not all the image processing on the image data has been completed (s110). If the image processing is not completed, the image data for which the image processing is completed is transmitted (s111, s112), the image data for which the image processing is not completed is transmitted (s113, s114), and An image processing request command is transmitted (s115).

By this processing, for example, when a trouble occurs in the image processing section or the image recording section,
Even if a trouble occurs and the operation stops when the image processing of some image data is not completed after the reading of the image of the document is completed, the copy processing is performed with the image processing desired by the operator. You can do it. FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing an example of processing in the digital copying machine which is requested to perform the proxy processing. The digital copying machine that has received the proxy processing request determines whether proxy processing is possible (s120, s121), and if proxy processing is possible, sends a response to accept proxy processing (s).
122), if the proxy process is impossible, a response to reject is transmitted (s123). If you accept the proxy processing,
While setting the received processing mode (s124),
Reception of image data is started (s125). When the reception of the image data is completed, it is determined whether the image processing is requested (s126, s127). When the image processing is requested, the image processing is executed (s128), and the image recording related to the copying operation is executed by the processing of s8 to s15 in FIG.

The digital copying machine that has accepted the proxy process waits for the operation of the start key even during the execution of the copy operation related to the proxy process (s129 → s1), and starts during the execution of the copy operation related to the proxy process. When the key is operated, the reading process and the image process of the image of the document are executed by the processes of s2 to s7 in FIG. 9, and the image data for which the image process is completed is stored in the memory. Then, when the copying process related to the proxy process is completed, it is judged whether or not there is image data in the memory (s129 → s130), and if there is image data, the image recording is performed by the processes of s8 to s15 in FIG. I do. FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing an example of processing relating to determination as to whether or not to request proxy processing.
In the case of a digital copying machine in which a trouble has occurred, if the content of the trouble is a trouble due to lack of consumables such as toner and paper, the other device is not requested to perform the proxy processing (s131, s132), and the trouble is If the cause is other than that related to consumables, for example, if it is a mechanical trouble of the digital copying machine, another device connected in the system is requested to perform the proxy processing (s13).
3).

FIG. 27 is a flow chart showing another example of the processing relating to the judgment as to whether or not to request the substitute processing. In the case of a digital copier in which a trouble has occurred, if the content of the trouble is a mechanical trouble of the digital copier and it is a minor one that can be resolved by the user through guidance on the operation panel, etc. Without requesting (s141, s142), only when the trouble cannot be easily repaired by the user, the substitute processing is requested to another device (s143).

[0072]

According to the first aspect of the invention, when the image recording operation is interrupted, the image data relating to the interrupted image recording operation is transferred to another single or plural image recording via the data communication means. By transmitting to the device, the interrupted image recording operation can be delegated to another image recording device,
It is possible to improve the operating efficiency of the image recording apparatus that constitutes the system.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the interruption is performed by executing the substitute request processing after it is determined that the image data should be transmitted to another image recording apparatus based on the cause of the interruption of the image recording operation. After comparing the time required for the work for eliminating the cause with the time required for the work for collecting the paper that has been subjected to the proxy processing by another image recording apparatus, it is possible to efficiently request the proxy processing.

According to the third aspect of the invention, by executing the proxy request process after the process of determining the destination of the image data or the amount of the image data to be transmitted based on the image recording capability or the operation state, the image is processed. The proxy processing can be efficiently requested according to the recording capability or the operating state.

According to the invention described in claim 4, by executing the proxy recording process based on the image data relating to the interrupted image recording operation transmitted from another image recording device through the data communication means, It is possible to substitute the interrupted image recording operation in the image recording apparatus, and it is possible to improve the operating efficiency of the image recording apparatus that constitutes the system.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the proxy recording process is executed after it is determined that the proxy recording process should be performed based on a predetermined condition, so that only the processable image recording device can be used. The proxy process can be efficiently executed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic front sectional view showing a configuration of a digital copying machine which is an image recording apparatus showing an example of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image processing unit included in the digital copying machine.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a processing state of each unit by a CPU in the digital copying machine.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of an operation panel of the digital copying machine.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a hierarchical structure of a plurality of display screens in the liquid crystal display device of the operation panel.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen in the liquid crystal display device.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen in the liquid crystal display device.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a system configuration of the digital copying machine.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in a copying operation of the digital copying machine which constitutes the above system.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of trouble processing in the digital copying machine.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a configuration of a system when the above trouble processing is executed.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an execution state of trouble processing of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an execution state of another trouble process of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an execution state of still another trouble processing of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing trouble processing in the digital copying machine which is an example of the embodiment of the invention described in claim 3;

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a configuration of a system when the above trouble processing is executed.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a trouble process in the digital copying machine according to another embodiment of the invention described in claim 1;

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a trouble process in the digital copying machine according to another embodiment of the invention described in claim 3;

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing trouble processing in a digital copying machine according to yet another embodiment of the invention as set forth in claim 3;

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a configuration of a system when the above trouble processing is executed.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing trouble processing in the digital copying machine according to yet another embodiment of the invention as set forth in claim 3;

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a configuration of a system when the above trouble processing is executed.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing a part of a processing procedure of the digital copying machine according to the embodiment of the invention described in claim 4;

FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing trouble processing in the digital copying machine according to another embodiment of the invention described in claim 1;

FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing an example of processing in a digital copying machine which is requested to perform proxy processing.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing an example of processing relating to determination as to whether or not to request proxy processing.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing another example of processing relating to determination as to whether or not to request proxy processing.

[Explanation of symbols]

 30-Digital copier 71-Image processing unit 74-Central processing unit 75-Operation board unit 80-Image forming system 81-Color scanner 82-Color printer

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An image recording apparatus having data communication means for mutually transmitting and receiving image data to and from another image recording apparatus, when the image recording operation is interrupted, the image data relating to the interrupted image recording operation. An image recording apparatus, characterized in that it executes a proxy request process for transmitting the data to another single or a plurality of image recording apparatuses via data communication means. 2. The image recording device according to claim 1, wherein the proxy request process includes a process of determining whether to transmit image data to another image recording device based on a cause of interruption of the image recording operation. 3. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the proxy request process includes a process of determining a destination of image data or an amount of image data to be transmitted based on an image recording capability or an operation state. 4. An image recording apparatus equipped with data communication means for mutually transmitting and receiving image data to and from another image recording apparatus, wherein an interrupted image transmitted from another image recording apparatus via the data communication means. An image recording apparatus, which executes a proxy recording process based on image data relating to a recording operation. 5. The image recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the proxy recording process includes a process of determining whether to perform the proxy recording process based on a predetermined condition.