JPH10322533A - Copying machine and copying machine network system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a copying machine and a copying machine network system with which productivity can be prevented from being lowered by continuing copying operation as long as possible even when any abnormality occurs in a storage device during a copying operation. SOLUTION: Original read operation and print operation on the side of master equipment are simultaneously performed. Concerning this operation, an image is printed as it is and that image is parallelly written in a memory. After the operation for the first edition is completed, images for the second edition are read out of the memory and printed and after the end of that operation, a print operation for the third edition is performed. On the side of slave equipment, images sent from a manipulator are stored in a memory and after a memory storage operation is finished, a print operation is executed. Its assignment can be freely set. When any one of equipment is interrupted, printing is continued by the other equipment and the number of editions to be partially charged can be easily changed as well. Further, the number of remaining editions under interruption can be assigned as well.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the control of a plurality of interconnected copiers.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for various purposes, a plurality of image signal output devices such as image scanners, word processors, personal computers, etc., which output image signals, and a plurality of printers, each of which forms an image based on each of the image signals. There has been proposed a system in which the above image forming apparatus is combined. For example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2-21190 discloses that a plurality of image signal output devices and a plurality of image forming devices are organically coupled to recording, storage, communication, and the like of image information by respective functions, and other devices are connected from an arbitrary location. An image forming system that allows free access to a place has been proposed. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 5-304575 discloses a system in which a plurality of digital copying machines are connected to increase the copying operation speed.

[0003]

By the way, when a plurality of copying machines are connected to each other and print processing is performed in a shared manner, a large number of copies can be obtained in a short time. When an abnormality occurs in the apparatus, the entire system may be stopped, which may be against the reduction of the processing time. Therefore, a first object of the present invention is to provide a copying machine that continues a copying operation as much as possible even when an abnormality occurs in a storage device during the copying operation. Further, a second object of the present invention is to provide a copying machine network system capable of continuing the copying operation as much as possible even if an abnormality occurs in the storage device during the copying operation and preventing a decrease in productivity. That is.

[0004]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, reading means for reading a document image, storage means for storing an image read by the reading means, and printing of the image stored in the storage means. In a copying machine having a printing unit and a coupling unit for mutually transmitting and receiving image information between another apparatus, an image read by the reading unit is transmitted to the other apparatus via the coupling unit and printed. When the work was shared and processed, when an abnormality occurred in the connecting means,
The first object is achieved by completing printing of the image stored in the storage unit by the printing unit and stopping the printing operation of another device.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a reading means for reading a document image, a storage means for storing the image read by the reading means, and a printing means for printing the image stored in the storage means. In a copying machine network system in which a plurality of copying machines are connected to each other by a connecting means for mutually transmitting and receiving image information to and from another copying machine, an image read by a reading means of an operating machine is stored in a storage means of the copying machine. With the other copying machine via the connecting means, and the other copying machine stores the image in the storage means, and the two machines share the image stored in the respective storage means with the respective printing means and print the image. When an error occurs in the connecting means during image transmission, the operating device stops the apparatus after completing printing of the image stored in the storage means, and the other copying machines immediately stop when an error occurs. To achieve the second object by Rukoto.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 shows a copying machine according to the present embodiment. When a user presses a start key 34 on the operation unit 30, a document bundle placed on a document table 2 in an automatic document feeder (hereinafter ADF) 1 is pressed to the lowermost position. Are sequentially fed to a predetermined position on the contact glass 6 by the feed roller 3 and the feed belt 4. After reading the image data of the document on the contact glass 6 by the reading unit 50, the document that has been read is
The sheet is discharged by the feed belt 4 and the discharge roller 5.
Further, when the document set detection 7 detects that the next document is present on the document table 2, the document is fed onto the contact glass 6 in the same manner as the previous document. The feed roller 3, the feed belt 4, and the discharge roller 5 are driven by a motor.

The transfer papers stacked on the first tray 8, the second tray 9, and the third tray 10 are fed by the first paper feeder 11, the second paper feeder 12, and the third paper feeder 13, respectively. ,
The sheet is transported by the vertical transport unit 14 to a position where it contacts the photoconductor 15. The image data read by the reading unit 50 is written on the photoconductor 15 by the laser from the writing unit 57, and passes through the developing unit 27 to form a toner image. And
The transfer paper transfers the toner image on the photoconductor 15 while being conveyed by the conveyance belt 16 at the same speed as the rotation of the photoconductor 15. After that, the image is fixed by the fixing unit 17, and the finisher 100 of the post-processing device is
Is discharged.

The finisher 100 of the post-processing apparatus can guide the transfer paper conveyed by the paper discharge roller 19 of the main body toward the normal paper discharge roller 102 and the stapling section. By switching the switching plate 101 upward, the normal discharge tray 104
Can be discharged to the side. By switching the switching plate 101 downward, the transport rollers 105 and 107
, And can be conveyed to the staple table 108. The transfer paper stacked on the staple table 108 is aligned with the jogger 109 for paper alignment every time one sheet is discharged, and is stapled by the stapler 106 when a part of the copy is completed. The transfer paper group bound by the stapler 106 is stored in the stapling completion paper discharge tray 110 by its own weight.

On the other hand, a normal paper discharge tray 104 is a paper discharge tray that can move back and forth. The paper discharge tray unit 104 which can be moved back and forth moves back and forth and sorts the discharged copy paper easily for each document or for each copy unit sorted by the image memory.
If images are to be formed on both sides of the transfer paper,
Transfer paper fed from 10 to 10 and formed into an image.
By setting the branch claw 112 for path switching to the upper side without guiding to the four-side paper feed unit 111
Stock at

Thereafter, the transfer paper stocked in the double-sided paper supply unit 111 is re-fed from the double-sided paper supply unit 111 to transfer the toner image formed on the photoreceptor 15 again, and the path is switched. Is set on the lower side and guided to the paper discharge tray 104. When an image is created on both sides of a transfer sheet in this way, the duplex sheet feeding unit 111 is used. The photoconductor 15, the transport belt 16, the fixing unit 17, the paper discharging unit 18, and the developing unit 27 are driven by a main motor 25, and each of the paper feeding devices 11 to 13 controls the driving of the main motor 25 by a paper feeding clutch 22 to 24, respectively.
The transmission is driven. The vertical transport unit 14 is driven to transmit the drive of the main motor 25 by the intermediate clutch 21.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the appearance of the operation unit 30. The operation unit 30 includes a liquid crystal touch panel 31, a numeric keypad 32, a clear / stop key 33, a print key 3
4. There is a mode clear key 35, and the liquid crystal touch panel 3
1 displays a function key 37, the number of copies, a message indicating the state of the image forming apparatus, and the like.

FIG. 3 shows the liquid crystal touch panel 3 of the operation unit 30.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of display of No. 1; First, when the operator touches a key displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 31, the key indicating the selected function is inverted to black. Also, if you need to specify the details of the function (for example, if you change the magnification, etc.), touch the key,
The detailed function setting screen is displayed. As described above, since the liquid crystal touch panel uses the dot display, the optimal display at that time can be performed graphically.

In FIG. 3, the upper left is a message area for displaying a message such as "Ready to copy" or "Please wait", and the right is a copy number display section for displaying the set number of sheets, and the image density below is automatically displayed. Key for automatic adjustment, automatic paper selection key for automatic selection of transfer paper, sort key for specifying the process of arranging copies one by one in the page order, stack key for specifying the process of sorting copies by page, sort Staple key to specify the processing to bind the processed parts one by one, same-size key to set the magnification to the same size, variable-size key to set the enlargement / reduction magnification, double-sided key to set double-sided mode, binding margin mode, etc. Key, and a link mode to divide a large number of print operations into multiple printouts via a digital copier network. It is the key. The selected mode is shaded with keys.

With reference to FIG. 1, the image reading means and the operation up to the formation of a latent image on a recording surface in the present embodiment will be described. Here, the latent image is a potential distribution generated by converting the image into optical information and irradiating the image on the surface of the photoconductor 15. The reading unit 50 includes a contact glass 6 on which a document is placed and an optical scanning system. The optical scanning system includes an exposure lamp 51 and a first mirror 5.
2, a lens 53, a CCD image sensor 54, and the like. The exposure lamp 51 and the first mirror 52 are fixed on a first carriage (not shown), and the second mirror 55 and the third mirror 56 are fixed on a first carriage (not shown). When reading the original image, the first carriage and the second carriage are moved by two so that the optical path length does not change.
It is mechanically scanned at a relative speed of one to one.

This optical scanning system is driven by a scanner drive motor (not shown). The document image is read by the CCD image sensor 54, converted into an electric signal, and processed. Lens 53 and CCD image sensor 5
4 is moved in the left-right direction in FIG. 1 to change the image magnification. That is, the positions of the lens 53 and the CCD sensor 54 in the left-right direction are set corresponding to the designated magnification. The writing unit 57 includes a laser output unit 58, an imaging lens 59, and a mirror 60. Inside the laser output unit 58, a rotating polygon mirror (polygon mirror) that rotates at a high speed at a constant speed by a laser diode as a laser light source and a motor. ) Is provided. The laser light emitted by the laser output unit 58 is deflected by a polygon mirror that rotates at a constant speed, passes through an imaging lens 59, is turned back by a mirror 60, and condenses and forms an image on the surface of the photoconductor 15.

The polarized laser light is exposed and scanned in a direction (main scanning direction) perpendicular to the direction in which the photosensitive member rotates, and performs recording in units of lines of an image signal output from a selector 64 of an image processing unit described later. . An image (electrostatic latent image) is formed on the surface of the photoconductor 15 by repeating main scanning at a predetermined cycle corresponding to the rotation speed and the recording density of the photoconductor 15. As described above, the laser light output from the writing unit 57 is applied to the photoconductor 15 of the image forming system. Although not shown, a beam sensor that generates a main scanning synchronization signal is disposed at a position near one end of the photoconductor 15 where the laser beam is irradiated. Based on the main scanning synchronization signal, control of image recording start timing in the main scanning direction and generation of a control signal for inputting and outputting an image signal described later are performed.

The configuration of the image processing section (image reading section and image writing section) in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The light emitted from the exposure lamp 51 irradiates the original surface, and the reflected light from the original surface is imaged and received by an image forming lens (not shown) by the CCD image sensor 54, photoelectrically converted and A / D-converted. The signal is converted into a digital signal by the converter 61. The image signal converted into the digital signal is subjected to shading correction 62 for correcting unevenness of the light source for irradiating the original and variation in the sensitivity of the CCD, and the image processing unit 63 corrects the blur caused by the optical system.
TF correction, γ correction, and the like are performed. In the selector 64, the destination of the image signal is changed by a scaling unit 71 that changes the reading density of the image and performs data interpolation using the read image data, or the image memory controller 65.
The switch to is performed. The image signal that has passed through the scaling unit 71 is scaled up or down in accordance with the scaling factor.
7

The signal of the image memory controller 65 is enlarged or reduced in accordance with the magnification and sent to the writing unit 57. Image memory controller 65 and selector 64
The space between them has a configuration in which image signals can be input and output in both directions. Although not specifically shown in FIG. 8, the image processing unit (IP
U), input and output of a plurality of data so as to process image data supplied from outside (for example, data output from a data processing device such as a personal computer) in addition to image data input from the reading unit 50. Has the function of selecting

CPU for setting the image memory controller 65 and the like, and controlling the reading unit 50 and the writing unit 57
(Central processing unit) 68, ROM (read only memory) 69 for storing the program and data, R
An AM (random access memory) 70 is provided. Further, the CPU 68 includes a memory controller 65
, Data can be written to and read from the image memory 66.

Here, an image signal for one page in the selector 64 will be described with reference to FIG. / FG
ATE represents an effective period of one page of image data in the sub-scanning direction. / LSYNC is a main scanning synchronization signal for each line, and the image signal becomes valid at a predetermined clock after this signal rises. A signal indicating that the image signal in the main scanning direction is valid is / LGATE.
These signals are synchronized with the pixel clock VCLK, and data of one pixel is sent for one cycle of VCLK. The image processing unit (IPU) 49 separates / FGATE, / LSYNC, /
Since it has a LGATE and VCLK generation mechanism, various combinations of image input / output can be realized.

Next, the memory controller 65 and the image memory 66 in FIG. 8 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The memory controller 65 includes an input data selector 101, an image composition 102, a primary compression / decompression 10
3. Output data selector 104, secondary compression / expansion 105
Block. The setting of control data in each block is performed by the CPU 68. The addresses and data in FIG. 8 indicate image data, and the data and addresses connected to the CPU 68 are not shown. The image memory 66 includes the primary storage device 106 and the secondary storage device 1.
07. The primary storage device 106 is capable of high-speed access to, for example, a DRAM or the like so that data can be written to the memory substantially in synchronization with the transfer speed of the input image data or data can be read from the memory at the time of image output at a high speed. Use the right memory. Also, the primary storage device 1
Reference numeral 06 has a configuration (an interface unit with a memory controller) that divides the image data into a plurality of areas according to the size of the image data to be processed and can simultaneously execute input / output of the image data.

In order to enable the input and output of image data to be executed in parallel in each of the divided areas, an interface with a memory controller is connected by two sets of address and data lines for reading and writing. Thus, an operation of outputting (reading) an image from the area 2 while inputting (writing) the image to the area 1 becomes possible.

The secondary storage device 107 is a large-capacity memory for storing data for synthesizing and sorting input images. For the primary storage device 106 and the secondary storage device 107, data processing can be performed without discrimination between primary and secondary by using elements that can be accessed at high speed, and control is relatively easy. Expensive, 2
Although the access speed of the secondary storage device 107 is not so high, a low-cost, large-capacity recording medium is used, and processing of input / output data is performed via the primary storage device.
By adopting the configuration of the image memory as described above, it is possible to realize an image forming apparatus capable of inputting / outputting, storing, and processing a large amount of image data with a low-cost and relatively simple configuration. Become.

Next, an outline of the operation of the memory controller 65 will be described. (1) Image input (storage in image memory) will be described. The input data selector 101 selects image data to be written into the image memory (primary storage device 106) from a plurality of data. The image data selected by the input data selector 101 is supplied to the image synthesizing 102, and synthesizes with the data already stored in the image memory. The image data processed by the image synthesis 102 is compressed by a primary compression / decompression 103, and the compressed data is written to a primary storage device 106. The data written to the primary storage device 106 is
After being further compressed by the next compression / decompression 105, it is stored in the secondary storage device 107.

(2) When outputting an image (reading from the image memory), the image data stored in the primary storage device 106 is read. When the image to be output is stored in the primary storage device 106, the image data in the primary storage device 106 is decompressed by the primary compression / decompression 103, and the decompressed data or the decompressed data The output data selector 104 selects and outputs data after image synthesis of the input data and the input data. Image composition 102
Combining the data in the secondary storage device 106 with the input data (having a function of adjusting the phase of the image data), selecting the output destination of the combined data (image output, writing back to the primary storage device 106, both outputs) (Simultaneous output to the destination is also possible).

The image to be output is the primary storage device 106
Is not stored in the secondary storage device 107, the output target image data stored in the secondary storage device 107 is subjected to the secondary compression / decompression 10
5, and the expanded data is stored in the primary storage device 106.
After that, the above-described image output operation is performed.
Further, it is necessary to transmit and receive commands and image data to and from another digital copying machine in order to share the work. In this embodiment, this is realized using a SCSI interface. The memory controller of FIG. 8 realizes this via the SCSI driver 80. The operation reservation described in this embodiment means that the copying operation cannot be started during the heating of the fixing in the copying machine or the like. This function automatically starts the copy operation when the copy operation is enabled after the end. In the present embodiment, the operation reservation can be made during fixing heating. However, any object that becomes operable with the passage of time is eligible for the reservation.

It can be considered that the LCT tray rise time, the polygon motor rotation stabilization time, the toner replenishment operation, and the like. In the hardware configuration diagram of FIG. 4, the system includes an image reading unit, an image writing unit, a system controller, a memory unit,
User restriction device, human body detection sensor, remote diagnosis device (C
SS) and a clock, but a memory unit is necessary only when a memory function is realized, and is not necessary only when a normal copy function is realized. Also, a clock is only needed to implement a weekly timer function that boots or shuts down the machine at a certain time. further,
Human body detection is necessary only when realizing a function to automatically release the preheating mode when the user approaches the machine in the preheating mode, CSS is a remote diagnosis, that is, when a machine error occurs, It is a function to automatically notify the service center and monitor the execution state / use state of the machine from a remote place. Therefore, it is sufficient to mount the function only when such a function is required.

The DRAM block in the memory unit in FIG. 4 is for storing the image signal read from the image reading section, and stores the image data stored in the image writing section in response to a request from the system controller. Can be transferred. The compressed block is M
It has a compression function such as H, MR, MMR, etc.
The image once read can be compressed to improve the use efficiency of the memory (DRAM). In addition, the rotation of the image is realized by changing the address read from the image writing unit and its direction. Example of hardware configuration in FIG.
In "1", the control of the image reading unit, the image writing unit, the memory unit, and the CSS is performed by the system controller 1C.
The control is performed only by the PU. On the other hand, in the "hardware configuration example-2" of the figure, the image reading unit, the image writing unit, and the memory unit each have a CPU, and commands from the system controller to each controller are transmitted through control signal lines. The system hardware configuration can be freely configured.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a network copy system according to the present embodiment. In the figure, eight digital copies are networked, but of course there is no need to limit the number of connected copies. Next, FIG.
A hardware configuration example for implementing the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in the figure, the hardware configuration of one digital PPC is “hardware configuration example-1” in FIG.
Although the configuration is almost the same as that shown in the above, the read image is transferred to the external network in the memory unit, or the image data from the network is stored in the DRAM block unit in the memory unit. Therefore, SCSI (Small Comput
er System Interface) and a SCSI controller.

As a matter of course, various means are conceivable as network communication means, for example, using Ethernet as a physical means and using TCP / IP communication of an OSI (Open System Interface) reference model for data communication. In addition, by using the configuration as shown in the figure, not only image data transfer as described above, but also control commands such as an in-machine status notification of each machine existing on the network and a remote output command to be described later, setting It also transfers commands.

Next, an operation of transferring an image read by "digital PPC-1" to an image writing unit of "digital PPC-2" (hereinafter, remote output) will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram of the software,
A “copy application” illustrated in FIG. 7 is an application that executes a copy sequence for executing a copy operation.
“Input / output control” is a layer (device driver) that performs theoretical / physical conversion of data. The operation unit controller is a layer that executes MMI (Man Machine Interface) (a layer that performs LCD display, LED on / off, key input scan, etc. at a logical level), and a “peripheral device controller” is an automatic duplex unit, a sorter, PP such as ADF
This is a layer that executes, at a logical level, control of peripheral devices attached to C, and is referred to as an "image forming apparatus controller".
The "image reading device controller" and the "memory unit" are as described above.

When a print request is requested from another machine on the network, the "daemon process" reads out image data stored in the memory unit and transfers the image data to the "image forming apparatus". It exists as an application that performs the role. Of course, before a "daemon process" can read an image from a memory unit and perform a print operation, the image transfer from another machine on the network must be completed. Here, the operation unit, the peripheral device, the image forming apparatus, the image reading apparatus, and the memory unit are handled as resources (resources) possessed by each PPC. In the case where the “Digital PPC-1” in the figure executes a copy operation using its own resources (when the print start key is pressed), the “Digital PPC-1” sends “Image forming apparatus” and “Image” to the “System controller”. It requests each resource of the "reading device" or, if necessary, the "peripheral device" and the "memory unit" to the "system control" section.

The "system control" section arbitrates the right to use resources in response to a request from the "copy application".
Notify the "copy application" of the arbitration result (usability). When the “digital PPC-1” is used in a stand-alone mode (in a state where the network is not connected), the “copy application” can occupy all the resources held by the system, so that the copying operation is immediately executed.
On the other hand, as in the present embodiment, the right to use a resource is given to a “system controller” of a remote digital PPC that executes a print operation using a resource of another machine (hereinafter, remote digital PPC) existing on the network. Request. The remote digital PPC's system controller arbitrates for resources as requested and notifies the requesting machine's application of the result.

When the right to use the application is granted, the application reads the image. When the image storage in the memory unit of the application is completed, the application performs remote output via an external interface (SCSI in the present embodiment). The image is transferred to the memory unit of the previous machine. When the image transfer is completed, the print start command is sent after sending the conditions (paper feed port, paper discharge port, number of prints, etc.) to execute printing to the "daemon process" of the remote output destination machine. Send. When the "daemon process" of the remote output destination receives the "print start" command, it requests the "system controller" of its own (the machine that executes the remote output) to start printing, and
Remote output is performed by the system controller.

When the memory unit of "digital PPC-2" is used by "digital PPC-1", the memory unit of "digital PPC-2" is replaced with "digital PPC-2" (or [FIG. In the case where a plurality of digital PPCs are connected on a network as shown in [1], use of digital PPCs other than "digital PPC-1" is disabled. FIG. 11 shows an operation outline of an electronic sort mode (a function of storing images in a memory and sorting the images) during a connection operation. This figure shows a case where a six-copy copy operation is performed by sorting three originals and using an operating device and another machine. A copy operation is performed between an operation device (master device) and one slave device.

Normally, the operation device operates the original reading operation and the printing operation of the master device simultaneously. In the actual operation, the operation of writing the image in the memory while printing the scanner image as it is is performed in parallel.
After the printing operation of the first copy is completed, the image of the second copy is read out from the memory and printed, and the printing operation of the third copy is performed after the completion. The slave device stores the image sent from the operation device in the memory. After the end of the memory storage operation, the print operation is executed. After the printing of the first copy is completed, the second copy and the third copy are processed. Also, as shown here, the designated number of copies is printed in half, but this allocation can be set freely, and it is easy to change the number of copies per copy even if one of the machines is interrupted. It is possible. You can assign the number of remaining copies during suspension.

FIGS. 12 and 13 are flowcharts showing the procedure of processing of the master unit during the link operation. Prior to the connection operation, the slave device is notified of the start of the connection processing (step 11). This notification includes information such as the copy mode. The master unit repeats reading (step 12), storage (step 13), printing (step 14), and transmission to the slave unit (step 1) until the document is completed.
5). Actually, these processes are performed in parallel. After notifying the slave machine of the end of the document (step 19), the remaining copies are printed (step 20). If a communication error occurs during the transmission of an image to the slave unit (step 16; Y), after printing the read image existing in the memory, it stops (step 21), and an error is displayed (step 21). Step 22).

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing of the slave unit during the connection operation. Upon receiving the connection start notification from the master unit (step 30), the function as the slave unit is started (step 31). The slave unit continues to store the image information transmitted from the master unit in the memory (step 34). When the document end notification is received (Step 36; Y), the printing operation in the slave machine is performed (Step 37). This operation is the same as the process for printing the remaining copies of the master machine. If a communication error occurs while receiving an image from the master unit (Step 32; Y): The operation is immediately stopped and an error is displayed (Step 38).

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a configuration common to a master unit and a slave unit.
9 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a process of printing the remaining copies. Next, images to be printed are sequentially read from the memory (step 40), and the images are printed (step 4).
1) If the printing is completed (Step 42; Y), the process proceeds to the next image. FIG. 16 is an example of an error display displayed when a communication error occurs. This is a display common to the master unit and the slave unit.

[0040]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when an abnormality occurs in the connecting means of the copying machines, the printing of the image stored in the storage means is completed by the printing means, and the printing operation of another apparatus is performed. Is stopped, the copying operation can be continued as much as possible even if an abnormality occurs in the storage device during the copying operation. According to the second aspect of the present invention, in the copying machine network system, when an abnormality occurs in the connecting unit during image transmission, the operating unit stops the apparatus after completing printing of the image stored in the storage unit, and stops other devices. The copying machine can continue the copying operation as much as possible by stopping immediately when an abnormality occurs.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a copying machine according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of an operation unit.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a display on a liquid crystal touch panel of an operation unit.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a system.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a network copy system according to the embodiment;

FIG. 6 shows a plurality of digital PPCs according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration to which the above is connected.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a conceptual diagram of software according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing unit (an image reading unit and an image writing unit).

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration of a memory controller and an image memory.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an image signal for one page in a selector.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an outline of an operation in an electronic sort mode at the time of a connection operation.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing of the master unit during the connection operation.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing of the master unit during the connection operation, and is a continuation of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of processing of a slave device during a connection operation. Is shown.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of processing for printing the remaining copies common to the master machine and the slave machine.

FIG. 16 is an example of an error display displayed when a communication error occurs.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 ADF (automatic document feeder) 2 platen 7 document detection 15 photoreceptor 27 developing unit 30 operation unit 50 reading unit 57 writing unit 64 selector 65 memory controller 66 image memory 100 finisher 106 primary storage device 107 secondary storage device

Claims (2)

[Claims] A reading unit for reading an original image; a storage unit for storing an image read by the reading unit; a printing unit for printing an image stored in the storage unit; In a copying machine having a linking unit for transmitting and receiving image information, when the image read by the reading unit is transmitted to another device via the linking unit to perform printing work, A copying machine characterized in that, when an abnormality occurs in the connecting means, printing of the image stored in the storage means is completed by the printing means, and printing work of another apparatus is stopped. 2. A plurality of copying machines each comprising a reading unit for reading a document image, a storage unit for storing an image read by the reading unit, and a printing unit for printing the image stored in the storage unit. In a copying machine network system connected by a connecting means for mutually transmitting and receiving image information to and from another copying machine, an image read by a reading means of an operating device is stored in a storage means of the copying machine, and the image is read through a connecting means. The image is transmitted to another copier, the other copier stores the image in the storage unit, and the two copiers transmit the image stored in the respective storage unit to the respective printing units when sharing the image. When an abnormality occurs in the connecting means, the operating device stops the apparatus after printing the image stored in the storage means, and the other copying machine stops immediately when the abnormality occurs. Machine network system.