JPH10117261A - Coping machine management system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a copying machine management system, where every copying machine can always print out the image data in the order of pages, regardless of the mounting states of a sorter and a hard disk serving as the equipment functions and despite the different output forms of a print part by giving a print command, so as to make any of plural copying machines connected to a communication circuit fetch the image data from a prescribed server in the order suitable to its own equipment functions and output the image data in the order of the pages. SOLUTION: This management system consists of plural digital copying machines 2 (DPPC-1 to DPPC-n) which are connected to a LAN, serving as a communication circuit and distributed to every department, and a single server 4. The sever 4 consists of a personal computer, for example, and is provided with a client list file, a client directory and an image file directory. Every copying machine 2 periodically communicates with the server 4 and confirms its own client directory.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a copier management system capable of connecting a plurality of digital copiers to a communication line and mutually transmitting and receiving image information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, facsimile apparatuses have been put into practical use as means for transmitting image information to a remote place. However, in a system such as a facsimile that directly transmits data to a transmission destination, when image information is transmitted to a large number of transmission destinations, transmission operations must be performed by the number of transmission destinations. On the other hand, digital copiers have also been developed for copiers, and transmission and reception have been facilitated by converting image information of a document into a digital signal. Copiers are larger or smaller than facsimile machines,
Since it has many functions such as double-sided copying function, if a copier management system that can connect and transmit and receive image information to and from multiple digital copiers is established, many It can be used effectively.
In view of such a fact, the present applicant has established a plurality of digital copiers connected to a communication line and one server, and a plurality of copiers connected to the communication line regularly access the server. Japanese Patent Application No. 8-197167 proposes a copier management system which takes in the received information of the user.

[0003]

The output format of the printing unit provided in the copying machine includes a so-called face-up type in which the transfer paper is discharged with the printed surface facing upward, and a so-called face-up type in which the printed paper is discharged. There is a so-called face-down type in which the transfer paper is discharged with the sheet facing downward. The face-up type copier is configured to sequentially scan and print out the document to be copied from the last page, and the face-down type copier is configured to sequentially scan and print out the document to be copied from the first page. With this configuration, the transfer sheets printed and output are arranged in page order. Some copiers have a sorter or hard disk (large capacity readable / writable memory), others do not. These sorters and hard disks must be installed after purchasing the copier. In some cases, what was installed when the copier was purchased is later removed. By the way, when copiers with different equipment functions are connected to the copier management system, image data is fetched from the server and the printing order is uniquely controlled based on the functions possessed when the copier is purchased. Then, there arises a problem that the transfer paper printed out at the time of reception is not aligned in the page order due to the addition or removal of the sorter and the hard disk.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and has a main technical problem in that a plurality of copying machines connected to a communication line are equipped with a sorter and a hard disk, which are equipped with functions, and output of a printing unit. It is an object of the present invention to provide a copier management system in which each copier can always output a print in the order of pages regardless of the format.

[0005]

According to the present invention, in order to solve the above main technical problems, a copier management system comprising a plurality of digital copiers connected to a communication line and one server. Wherein the server stores an image file directory having image files for storing image data transmitted from each digital copying machine, and management data relating to image data to be created and received for each digital copying machine. A digital copying machine for scanning a document to be transmitted, an input unit for designating a transmission destination and the number of copies, and a digital copying machine. And a control unit for printing
The control unit communicates with the server at the time of transmission, writes image data scanned by the image scanner unit to an image file of the image file directory of the server, and transmits the client directory specified by the input unit to the client directory of the transmission destination. The management data relating to the image data is written in the reception header management file of the server, and at the time of reception, the server periodically accesses the reception header management file in the client directory of the server itself to confirm whether there is image data to be received. If there is image data to be copied, 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. Own copy machine has image data Capturing the image data in an order suitable for the equipment function, and instructing the printing unit to output the captured image data in a page order in an order suitable for the equipment function of the copying machine. Is provided.

More specifically, the control unit, when its own copying machine has a hard disk and a sorter and the output format of the printing unit is face-down, outputs the image data of the page designated on the hard disk. After fetching sequentially from the first page, instruct the printing unit to sort and output the specified number of copies sequentially from the first page, the own copying machine has a hard disk, does not have a sorter,
When the output format of the printing unit is face-up, the image data of the specified page is sequentially loaded from the last page to the hard disk, and then the specified number of copies are printed in order to electronically sort and output from the last page. Print command,
If the 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 designated page is sequentially imported from the first page and imported. Instructs the print unit to sort and output the specified number of copies of the image data of each page each time.If your copier does not have a hard disk and sorter and the output format of the print unit is face down, Is to sequentially fetch the image data of the specified page from the first page, and instruct the printing unit to print the image data of the fetched page each time, the own copier does not have a hard disk, If the printer has a sorter and the output format of the print unit is face-up, the image data of the specified page is And instructs the printing unit to sort and output the specified number of copies of the image data of the fetched page each time.The own copier does not have a hard disk and sorter, and the output format of the printing unit In the case of a face-up, a copier management system is provided which sequentially takes in the image data of the designated page from the last page and instructs the printing unit to output the image data of the taken page each time. You.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a copier management system constructed according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the illustrated embodiment, each part in an organization such as a company or government office is
A copier management system in which a plurality of copiers are connected by a so-called LAN (local area network) connecting sections via a communication line will be described as an example.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a copier management system configured according to the present invention. The copier management system includes a plurality of digital copiers (DPPCs) 2 arranged in respective sections and sections connected to a LAN as a communication line.
.. And one server 4.

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

[0010] The client directory is provided for each copying machine, that is, for each department in which each copying machine is installed, and includes 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. The document header file name is automatically given a number obtained from a serial number file described later. The received header management file includes the total number of received documents (image information) to be received transmitted from another copying machine, a document header file name,
Stores reception management information such as the number of copies, the number of output pages, the output progress of the received document, and the print output format of the transmitting copier. The function list file contains the functions of the corresponding copying machine, that is, the maximum copyable size, resolution, image data compression method, minimum zoom value, maximum zoom value, original mode, duplex mode, sorter, composite mode, Movement, binding allowance,
The functions of the corresponding copying machine such as date and time insertion, character insertion, and numbering are stored.

The image file directory has a plurality of document header files, a plurality of image files, and a serial number file. The document header file is created each time one transmission is performed, and the management information and the processing information of the image file for each document transmitted from each copying machine, that is, the total number of distributions of the document transmitted from each copying machine (specified Number of destinations) and total number of pages, number of pages to be written, designated magnification, binding position, binding width, original mode, date insertion, finisher, duplex copy, image file name (1 to 1)
n) 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 the transmission information. It should be noted that the image files are created in page units. 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, a number obtained from a serial number file described later is automatically added to the image file as an image file name. The serial number file manages a 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 unit 21 for reading a document.
, 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. In some cases, the hard disk 25 is not provided in some copiers. Some copiers 2 include a sorter 29 for sorting sheets printed by the printing unit 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 including a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) line image sensor, and an image processing unit. Is scanned relative to the original, the original image is read line by line in the original transport direction (the original line direction), and the read data is subjected to predetermined image processing as a digital signal. (IPU)
22.

The image processor unit (IPU) 22 includes:
The image data input from the image scanner unit 21 is subjected to gradation processing, and is output to the printing unit 23 when copying is performed as it is. The image processor unit (IPU) 22
When transmitting image data input from the image scanner unit 21 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 converts the modulated signal generated based on the image information read by the image scanner unit 21 or the constituent data of the image information transmitted from another copying machine. A laser optical unit that converts the laser light into an output, a developing unit that visualizes a latent image of the print image formed by the laser light emitted from the laser optical unit, and the visualized print image on a recording sheet. The laser printer includes a transfer unit for transferring and forming an image and a fixing unit for fixing a print image transferred and formed on recording paper. Note that the output format of the printing unit 23 includes a so-called face-up type in which the transfer paper is discharged with the printed surface up, and a so-called face-down type in which the transfer paper is discharged with the printed surface down. .

The control unit 24 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 241 for performing arithmetic processing according to a predetermined processing program, a ROM (Read Only) storing processing programs for executing a copying function and a transmitting / receiving 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, it performs an editing process specified by the operation unit 27 and outputs it to the network unit 26. Further, the control unit 24 controls the network unit 26 at the time of reception.
Image data received via the RAM (Random Access M
emory) 243 or the temporary storage in the hard disk 25, and then performs the specified editing processing and outputs the result to the printing unit 23.

The hard disk 25 comprises a readable and 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, for inputting various copy conditions such as a transmission partner and the number of copies, and for starting / copying.
Settings such as an instruction to stop and start / stop transmission are made, and the setting signal is input to the control unit 24.

The display unit 28 includes an LCD, an LED, and the like.
Displays the copy conditions and the operation of the current operation.
In addition, the display unit 28 displays the contents of the function list of the other copying machines.

The sorter 29 has a plurality of bins for sorting the sheets printed by the printing unit 23. In some cases, the sorter 29 is not provided in some copiers.

Each of the copying machines 2 and the server 4 constituting the copying machine management system in the illustrated embodiment are configured as described above. The transmission and reception operations of each copying machine are shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. This will be described with reference to a flowchart.

First, the control unit 24 in the copying machine on the transmitting side
Will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. When transmitting the image information, a transmission operation is performed by the operator (step S0). That is, the operator sets a document to be transmitted to the automatic document feeder of the image scanner unit 21, inputs a transmission partner from the operation unit 27, and also manages information and processing information to be performed by the copying machine of the transmission partner, that is, a copy magnification. And copying conditions such as double-sided copying and the number of copies. Then, when the operator presses the transmission start key from the operation unit 27, the image scanner unit 2
The reading of the original set by 1 is started.
The image scanner unit 21 performs predetermined image processing for each read page of the read data, and outputs the digital data to the image processor unit (IPU) 22 as a digital signal. 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 editing is required, the image processor unit (IPU) 22 performs a predetermined editing process on the image data and outputs the image data to the printing unit 23. When transmitting the image data 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 the document is transmitted to another copying machine, when the document is set on the automatic document feeder of the image scanner unit 21, regardless of the output format of the printing unit provided in the own copying machine, the document is printed from the first page. Set to scan in order.

As described above, the control unit 24 having input the copy conditions and the image data creates an image file in page units based on the image data input in step S1, and stores the image file in a RAM (Random Access Memory) 243.
To be stored temporarily. Next, the control unit 24 proceeds to step S2, communicates from the network unit 26 to the server 4 via the LAN, and the RAM (Random Access Memory) 24
The image file temporarily stored in the server 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
Memory) 243 is deleted.
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.
Write to the document header file in the image file directory. Next, the control unit 24 proceeds to step S4 to write the transmission information in the transmission header management file of the transmitting client directory, and further proceeds to step S5 to print its own printing unit in the reception header management file of the receiving client directory. Write the reception management information including the output format of Thus, the transmission operation of the transmission-side copying machine ends.

Next, the receiving operation in the copying machine on the receiving side will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. Note that the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 show an example in which the image data of the (M) page is output to the (N) portion. Each copying machine 2 periodically communicates with the server 4 and checks its own client directory. The control unit 24 of each copying machine accesses its own client directory of the server 4 and checks the total number of received documents in the received header management file to confirm whether or not there is received data (step P1). If there is no data, the process proceeds to step P2, and after a predetermined time elapses, the presence or absence of received data is checked again. Step P1
In the case where there is received data, the control unit 24 obtains the document header file name from its own received 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 a hard disk 25. The program proceeds to P16 if the hard disk 25 is not provided. In the case where the own copying machine has the hard disk 25 in Step P3,
The control unit 24 proceeds to step P4 and checks whether the output format of the printing unit 23 provided in its own copying machine is a so-called face-down format in which the transfer paper is discharged with the printed side down, and the face-down format. In step P5, the process proceeds to step P5. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step P12.
Move to

If the result of the check in step P4 is that the output format of the printing unit 23 of the own copying machine is the face-down format, the control unit 24 proceeds to step P5 and sets (1) in the page variable (m). Is substituted for (N) in the copy number variable (n). Then, the control unit 24 proceeds to Step P6, reads the image file of the (m) 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 or not the page variable (m) has reached (M pages). In this case, since (m = 1), it has not reached (M pages), so the control unit 24 proceeds to step P8
And (m + 1) is substituted for the page variable (m).
Then, the control unit 24 executes the above steps P6 to P6.
By executing each step 8 until the page variable (m) reaches (M pages), the image data of the corresponding image file (M pages) is stored in the hard disk 25. As described above, when the output format of the printing unit 23 of the own copying machine is the face-down format, the image data of (M pages) is stored in the hard disk 25 sequentially from the first page. As described above, the image data of the corresponding image file (M page) is
5, the control unit 24 proceeds to step P9 to check whether or not its own copying machine has the sorter 29. If the copy machine has the sorter 29, the control unit 24 proceeds to step P10 ( The printing unit 23 to sort and output the n) portion
Command to print. On the other hand, if the copying machine does not include the sorter 29 in step P9, the control unit 2
4 proceeds to step P11, and instructs the printing unit 23 to print the (n) portion in order to perform electronic sort output. That is, (M page)
(N) parts 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 a face-down format, that is, a so-called face-up format in which the transfer paper is discharged with the printed side up. 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, the image data is fetched, and the image data is temporarily stored in the hard disk 25. Then, the control unit 24 proceeds to Step P14 and checks whether the page variable (m) has reached (1 page).
Since (m = M) this time, since it has not reached (1 page), 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-described steps P13 to P15 until the page variable (m) reaches (1 page), whereby the corresponding image file (M page) is obtained.
Are stored in the hard disk 25. As described above, when the output format of the printing unit 23 of the copying machine is the face-up format, the image data of (M pages) is stored in the hard disk 25 sequentially from the last page. As described above, when the image data of the corresponding image file (M pages) is stored in the hard disk 25, the control unit 24 proceeds to step P9 and executes each of the steps P9 to P11.

If the copying machine does not have the hard disk 25 in step P3, the control unit 2
In step P4, the process proceeds to step P16, where it is checked whether the output format of the printing unit 23 mounted on the copying machine is a face-down format.
To step P if not face down
Move to 23.

As a result of the check in step P16, if the output format of the printing unit 23 of the own copying machine is the face-down format, the control unit 24 proceeds to step P17.
And assigns (1) to the page variable (m) and (N) to the copy number variable (n). Then, the control section 24 proceeds to step P18 to check whether or not its own copying machine has the sorter 29. If the copying machine has the sorter 29, the control section 24 proceeds to step P19 and does not have the sorter 29. In this case, the process shifts to Step P23. Step P1
As a result of the check in step 8, the copying machine
In step P19, the control unit 24 reads the image file of the (m) th page, takes in the image data, and stores the image data in the RAM (Random Access Memory) 24.
3 temporarily. Then, the control unit 24 determines in step P2
0, and regarding the image data of the (m) page temporarily stored in the RAM (Random Access Memory) 243,
A print command is sent to the printing unit 23 to sort and output the (n) portion. When the image data of the (m) th page is sorted and output (n) copies, the control unit 24 proceeds to step P21 to check whether the page variable (m) has reached (M pages). Since (m = 1) this time, since it has not reached (M pages), the control unit 24 proceeds to step P22 and substitutes (m + 1) for the page variable (m). Then, the control unit 24 executes the above-described steps P19 to P2
Steps 2 are executed until the page variable (m) reaches (M pages). As described above, the user's own copier does not have the hard disk 25 but has the sorter 29 and the printing unit 2.
If the output format of 3 is a face-down format,
The operation of sorting and outputting the (N) portion is executed (M) times while sequentially taking in the image data of (M pages) from the first page.

As a result of the check in step P18, if the copying machine does not have the sorter 29, the control section 24 proceeds to step P23, reads the image file of the (m) page, and reads the image data. And temporarily store it 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) page temporarily stored in the AM (Random Access Memory) 243, a print command is issued to the printing unit 23 to output one copy normally. (M) If one copy of the image data of the page has been output normally, the control unit 24 proceeds to step P25 and sets the page variable (m) to (M pages).
Check if it has been reached. In this case, since (m = 1), it has not reached (M pages), so the control unit 24
Proceeds to Step P26, and sets (m +) in the page variable (m).
Substitute 1). Then, the control unit 24 determines in step P
Steps 23 to P26 are executed until the page variable (m) reaches (M pages). And
If the page variable (m) has reached (M pages), the control unit 24 proceeds to step P27, substitutes (1) for the page variable (m), and further proceeds to step P28 to copy number variable (n). Check whether or not has reached (N part).
If the result of the check in Step P28 is that the number-of-copies variable (n) does not reach (N), the control unit 24 proceeds to Step P28 and sets (n +
1), the process proceeds to step P23, and steps P23 to P29 are executed until the copy number variable (n) reaches (N). As described above, the user's own copier uses the hard disk 25 and the sorter 2
In the case where the output unit 9 is not provided and the output format of the printing unit 23 of the own copying machine is the face-down format, one copy is normally output while sequentially taking in the image data of (M pages) from the first page. The operation is repeatedly performed (N) times.

As a result of the check in step P16, if the output format of the printing unit 23 of the own copying machine is not the face-down format, that is, if the output format is the face-up format, the control unit 24 proceeds to step P30 and sets the page variable (M) is substituted for (m) and (N) is substituted for the copy number variable (n). Then, the control section 24 proceeds to step P31 to check whether or not its own copying machine has the sorter 29. If the copying machine has the sorter 29, the control section 24 proceeds to step P3.
Proceeding to 2, the program shifts to Step P36 if the sorter 29 is not provided. As a result of the check in step P31, if the own copying machine has the sorter 29, in step P32, the control unit 24 reads the image file of the (m) th page, takes in the image data, and stores the image data in the RAM (Random). Access Memory) 243. Then, the control unit 24 proceeds to Step P33, where R
With respect to the image data of the (m) page temporarily stored in the AM (Random Access Memory) 243, a print command is issued to the print unit 23 to sort and output the (n) part. When the image data of the (m) th page is sorted and output (n) copies, the control unit 24 proceeds to step P34 to check whether the page variable (m) has reached (1 page). Since (m = M) this time, since (1 page) has not been reached, the control section 24 proceeds to step P35 and substitutes (m-1) for the page variable (m). Then, the control unit 24 executes the steps P32 to P35 until the page variable (m) reaches (1 page). As described above, when the copying machine does not have the hard disk 25 but includes the sorter 29 and the output format of the printing unit 23 is the face-up format, the image data of (M page) is copied from the last page. (N)
The operation of sorting and outputting the sets is executed (M) times.

As a result of the check in step P31, if the copying machine does not have the sorter 29, the control section 24 proceeds to step P36, reads the image file of the (m) page, and reads the image data. And temporarily store it 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) page temporarily stored in the AM (Random Access Memory) 243, a print command is issued to the printing unit 23 to output one copy normally. (M) If one copy of the image data of the page has been output normally, the control unit 24 proceeds to step P38 and checks whether or not the page variable (m) has reached (1 page). This time (m = M)
Therefore, since (1 page) has not been reached, the control section 24 proceeds to Step P39 and substitutes (m-1) for the page variable (m). Then, the control unit 24 executes the steps P36 to P39 until the page variable (m) reaches (M pages). If the page variable (m) has reached (M pages), the control unit 24 proceeds to step P40 and checks whether or not the number of copies variable (n) has reached (N units). As a result of the check in Step P40, if the number-of-copies variable (n) does not reach (N), the control unit 24 proceeds to Step P41 and substitutes (M) for the page variable (m), and furthermore, Step P42. Then, (n + 1) is substituted for the number-of-copies variable (n), and the routine goes to Step P36. Then, the control unit 24 sets the copy number variable (n) to (N
Step P36 to Step P4
Step 2 is repeated. As described above, when the user's own copying machine does not include the hard disk 25 and the sorter 29 and the output format of the printing unit 23 of the user's copying machine is the face-up format, the image data of (M page) is output to the last. One copy is normally output while sequentially fetching from the page, and this operation is repeated (N) times.

[0034]

Since the copier management system according to the present invention is configured 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 its own client directory of the server to determine whether there is image data to be received. If there is image data to be received, check the presence / absence of a sorter, the presence or absence of a hard disk, and the output format of the printing unit, which are the functions of the copier, and check the image file in the image file directory of the server. Captures the stored image data in an order suitable for the equipment functions of the copying machine, and prints the captured image data in a page order in the order appropriate for the equipment functions of the copying machine. The print order is sent to the printer, so even if the sorter and hard disk are installed differently, It can be shaped output.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a management directory provided in a server constituting the copier management system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a copier constituting a copier 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.

FIG. 5 is a partial flowchart showing a receiving operation of a control unit of the copying machine shown in FIG. 3;

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 unit 22: Image processor unit (IPU) 23: Printing unit 24: Control unit 25: Hard disk 26: Network unit 27: Operation unit 28: Display unit 29: Sorter

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A copier management system comprising a plurality of digital copiers connected to a communication line and one server, wherein the server stores image data transmitted from each digital copier. An image file directory having an image file; and a client directory having a reception header management file which is created for each digital copying machine and stores management data relating to image data to be received. An image scanner unit for scanning a document to be transmitted, an input unit for designating a transmission partner and the number of copies, a printing unit for printing received image data, and a control unit. The image data scanned by the image scanner unit in communication with the server is stored in the image file directory of the server. In addition to writing to the file, management data relating to the image data is written to the reception header management file of the client directory of the transmission destination specified by the input unit, and the reception header management file of the server's own client directory is periodically received. Check whether there is image data to be received by accessing the printer.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 Checking, taking in 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 copying machine, and loading the acquired image data in the equipment of the copying machine. It is output in the page order in the order suitable for the function Copier management system to print commands the indicia shaped portion, characterized in that. 2. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein said own copying machine has a hard disk and a sorter, and when the output format of said printing unit is face down, said image data of a page designated on said hard disk is firstly stored. After fetching sequentially from the page, the printing section is instructed to print the designated number of copies in order from the first page in order, and the copying section has a hard disk, does not have a sorter, and has a printing section. When the output format is face-up, after the image data of the designated page is sequentially taken from the last page to the hard disk, the printing unit is arranged to sequentially output the designated number of copies in electronic sort from the last page. If the 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 page is sequentially fetched from the first page, and a print command is issued to the printing unit to sort and output the designated number of copies of the image data of the fetched page each time. If the output format of the printing unit is face-down, the image data of the designated page is fetched sequentially from the first page, and the image data of the fetched page is output each time. When the printing unit instructs the printing unit to print, and the copier 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 designated page is Are sequentially read from the last page, and the specified number of copies is sorted and output for the image data of the fetched page. If the copier 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 designated page 2. The copier management system according to claim 1, further comprising: sequentially taking in the pages, and instructing the printing unit to output the image data of the taken pages each time.