JPH11143298A - Image recording method and system therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a multi-functional image recording method and system capable of enhancing productivity in total. SOLUTION: When first and second image recorders 1 and 2 are simultaneously operated, sheets on which images recorded by both of the first and second image recorders 1 and 2 are recorded are alternately housed in a second stack tray 308. When the recorded images are simultaneously supplied from an image reader 6 and an image input controller 8, an image signal supplied from the image input controller 8 is preferentially supplied to the second image recorder 2 and the sheet on which the image is recorded by the second image recorder 2 is housed in the second stack tray 308.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an image recording method and system using an image recording apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine or a laser beam printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various types of image recording apparatuses for recording an image on a sheet have been put to practical use. For example, there is an electrophotographic copying apparatus that records an image of a document on a sheet via a photoconductor or the like, or a printer that reproduces image information converted into an electric signal on a sheet as an image. In recent years, these image recording apparatuses have been required to have higher functions and more functions due to requests for rationalization of office work and the like. In particular, there is a strong demand for an improvement in output speed (the number of sheets processed for image recording per unit time), and the speed of these image recording apparatuses has been increased, and the functions of these electrophotographic copying apparatuses and printers and also functions such as facsimile machines have been developed. A composite office machine has been created that combines the same with a single device.

[0003]

However, although there is a difference between the respective systems, there is a speed corresponding thereto, and if the speed is increased beyond that, many problems occur. Taking an electrophotographic copying machine as an example, the paper feed function itself can be relatively easily adapted to high speed. However, if the entire apparatus is simply speeded up by increasing the paper feed speed, that is, the machine speed, various problems such as insufficient sensitivity of the photoreceptor, life of the exposure lamp, temperature rise, vibration, noise, and durability occur. I do.

On the other hand, if an electrophotographic apparatus is taken as an example, a situation in which the operation of the apparatus must be temporarily stopped tends to occur. For example, when paper or toner is replenished, paper jams are cleared, regular maintenance is performed, or when an unexpected trouble occurs, the operation of the apparatus must be temporarily stopped.

If a multifunction device having functions of a copier, a printer, a facsimile, etc. combined by one device is taken as an example, if one function is being executed and no other function can be used at all, the operation is performed. It's also bad, making it difficult to use.

Considering such an operation stop time of the apparatus, there is a problem that the total productivity is not improved even if the operation of the apparatus is speeded up.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and has as its object to provide a multifunctional image capable of improving the productivity as a whole. It is intended to provide a recording method and system.

[0008]

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image recording method, comprising: an image reading device for reading an original image; an image input control device capable of inputting an image signal from outside; 1st to record the image on the printed sheet
An image recording method for recording an image by an image recording system comprising: a first and a second image recording device; and a first and a second storage device for storing a sheet on which the image is recorded. The recording device and the second image recording device can be operated simultaneously or independently, respectively, and the image to be recorded is supplied independently from the image reading device and the image input control device, and the image to be recorded is When independently supplied from the image reading device, and when the first image recording device and the second image recording device operate simultaneously,
Sheets on which images recorded by the first image recording device and the second image recording device are recorded are alternately stored in the second storage device, and the images to be recorded are stored in the image reading device. When simultaneously supplied from the image input control device, the image signal supplied from the image input control device is preferentially supplied to the second image recording device, and the second
The sheet on which the image is recorded by the image recording device of
Is controlled so as to be stored in the storage device.

[0009] In order to achieve the above object, a second aspect is provided.
An image recording method according to claim 1, wherein the first and second image recording devices are electrophotographic copying devices using a laser beam.

[0010] Further, in order to achieve the above object, a third aspect is provided.
An image recording method according to claim 1, wherein the first and second image recording devices are laser beam printers.

[0011] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a fourth aspect.
The image recording system described above includes an image reading device that reads a document image, an image input control device that can input an image signal from the outside, first and second image recording devices that record an image on a supplied sheet, An image recording system comprising first and second storage devices for storing sheets on which images are recorded, wherein the first image recording device and the second image recording device are operated simultaneously or independently. The image to be recorded is supplied independently from the image reading device and the image input control device, the image to be recorded is supplied independently from the image reading device, and the first image recording is performed. When the device and the second image recording device operate simultaneously, the sheet on which the images recorded by the first image recording device and the second image recording device are recorded is stored in the second storage device. Exchange When the image to be stored and recorded is simultaneously supplied from the image reading device and the image input control device, the image signal supplied from the image input control device is preferentially transmitted to the second image recording device. Supplied,
A control device is provided for controlling a sheet on which an image is recorded by the second image recording device so as to be stored in the second storage device.

[0012] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a semiconductor device comprising:
The image recording system according to claim 4, wherein the first and second image recording devices are:
It is an electrophotographic copying machine using a laser beam.

[0013] In order to achieve the above object, a sixth aspect of the present invention is provided.
The image recording system according to claim 4, wherein the first and second image recording devices are:
It is a laser beam printer.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the configuration of a multi-function image recording system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a first image recording device, and 2 denotes a second image. A recording device 3 is a buffer that stores sheets on which images are recorded by the first and second image recording devices 1 and 2 and distributes the sheets to the first and second stack trays 303 and 308. Reference numeral 4 denotes an additional transport unit that guides the sheet discharged from the second image recording device 2 to the buffer 3. Reference numeral 5 denotes a document feeder which automatically carries a document into the image reading device 6. Reference numeral 6 denotes an image reading device for reading an image of a document, and 7 denotes an operation unit for inputting operation information of the present system and displaying various states of the present system, and includes a key input unit 701 and a display unit 702. 8
Is an image input control device that receives an image signal input from the outside and supplies it to the first and second image recording devices 1 and 2 in synchronization.

The first and second image recording apparatuses 1 and 2 are digital electrophotographic copying apparatuses using a laser beam.
They have substantially the same configuration.

First, the first image recording apparatus 1 will be described.

A primary charging device 1 as an image forming unit is provided around a photoreceptor 101 driven to rotate in the first image recording apparatus 1.
02, a developing device 103, a transfer charger 104, and a cleaning device 105 are arranged. A laser beam modulated according to an image signal is scanned and exposed on the photoreceptor 101 by a laser scanner 106 and visualized by a predetermined electrophotographic process.

On the other hand, the sheets P stacked on the sheet feeding section 107
1 are separated and fed one by one by a paper feeding unit 108 such as a known roller, and pass through a pre-image forming conveyance path 109, a photoconductor 101, a primary charger 102, a developing device 103, a transfer charger 104, and a cleaning device. The image is sent to the image forming unit 105 and the like. The visible image on the photoconductor 101 is transferred onto the sheet P1 sent to the image forming unit. Next, the sheet P1 reaches the fixing unit 110, where the image is fixed by means such as heating or pressing.

When an image is formed only on one side of the sheet P1, the sheet P1 is discharged to the outside of the first image recording apparatus 1 through the discharge path 111 as it is.

When images are formed on both sides of the sheet P1, the sheet P1 after the single-sided image is fixed is guided to the reverse conveying path 114 through the second conveying path 113 by the operation of the first conveying path switching means 112. I will Here, the inverted sheet P1
Is guided to the double-sided conveyance path 116 by the action of the second conveyance path switching means 115. After that, the sheet P1 is again guided to the pre-image forming conveyance path 109, and after forming the second image on the back side of the sheet P1 in the image forming section, the sheet P1 is fixed again by the fixing section 110 and passes through the discharge path 111 to the first sheet. Image recording device 1
Is discharged to the outside.

When a multiplex image is formed on one side of the sheet P1, the sheet P1 after the single-sided image is fixed is guided to the second conveying path 113 by the operation of the first conveying path switching means 112. Then, the sheet is further guided to the double-sided conveyance path 116 by the action of the third conveyance path switching unit 117. Then sheet P1
Is again guided to the pre-image forming conveyance path 109, the second image is formed on the front side of the sheet P1 by the image forming unit, then fixed again by the fixing unit 110, and passed through the discharge path 111 for the first image recording. It is discharged out of the device 1.

A plurality of sensors 118, 119, and 1 for monitoring the conveyance state of the sheet P1 and detecting a paper jam or the like are provided at appropriate places in the sheet conveyance path in the first image recording apparatus 1.
20, 121, 122, 123 and 124 are arranged.

The sheet P1 on which an image has been recorded by the first image recording apparatus 1 is discharged to the outside of the first image recording apparatus 1 through the discharge path 111, and then carried into the buffer 3.
The sheet P1 carried in from the first carry-in path 301 of the buffer 3 is switched by the stack switching unit 309 depending on whether the image recorded on the sheet P1 is supplied from the image reading device 6 or the image input control device 8. The sheet is stored in the first stack tray 303 through one discharge path 302 or is stored in the second stack tray 308 through the second discharge path 307. That is, when the recorded image is the original image from the image reading device 6, the image is stored in the first stack tray 303 and the recorded image is stored in the image input control device 8.
If the image is an externally input image from the printer, the image is stored in the second stack tray 308.

The configuration of the second image recording device 2 is basically exactly the same as that of the first image recording device 1. In the description of the components of the second image recording apparatus 2, the first image recording apparatus 1
(For example, the photoreceptor 101 of the first image recording device 1 is replaced by the second image recording device). In FIG. 2, the photoconductor 201 is indicated), and a description thereof will be omitted.

The sheet P2 on which an image has been recorded by the second image recording apparatus 2 is discharged to the outside of the second image recording apparatus 2 through the discharge path 211, and then is added to the additional carry-in path 4 of the additional transport section 4.
01. The sheet P2 carried into the additional carrying path 401 passes through the additional carrying path 402 of the additional carrying section 4, is discharged from the additional discharging path 403 to the outside of the first image recording apparatus 1, and is discharged.

In addition, sensors 404, 405, and 406 for monitoring the conveyance state of the sheet P2 and detecting a paper jam or the like are arranged at an appropriate position in the sheet conveyance path of the additional conveyance section 4.

The sheet P2 discharged from the additional discharge path 403 to the outside of the first image recording apparatus 1 is carried into the buffer 3. The sheet P2 carried in from the second carrying-in path 304 of the buffer 3 is firstly switched by the stack switching means 309 depending on whether the image recorded on the sheet P1 is supplied from the image reading device 6 or the image input control device 8.
The sheet is stored in the first stack tray 303 through the discharge path 302 or is stored in the second stack tray 308 through the second discharge path 307. That is, if the recorded image is a document image from the image reading device 6, the image is stored in the first stack tray 303. If the recorded image is an externally input image from the image input control device 8, the second stack tray 308 is stored. Is stored in.

Document P0 stacked on document tray 501
By inputting appropriate instruction information from the key input unit 701 of the operation unit 7, the image is carried into the image reading device 6 and the image is read. Further, by inputting appropriate instruction information from the key input unit 701 of the operation unit 7, images on both sides of the document P0 can be read.

The image reading device 6 illuminates the incoming document P0 with an exposure lamp 602, and reflects the reflected light on a mirror 6
The lens is guided to a lens 606 by the elements 03, 604, and 605, and further formed on a CCD sensor 607 as an image reading element.

In the image recording system configured as described above, when only one of the image reading device 6 and the image input control device 8 operates alone, how to cope with high productivity image recording will be described. This will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image recording system according to this embodiment.

First, a case where only the image reading device 6 is operated to record an image on one side will be described.

In the case of this system, first, the image signal Ss1 of the document read by the document feeder 5 and the image reading device 6 is distributed to the first and second image recording devices 1 and 2, , 2 are operated in parallel (FIG. 2). That is, first, after the image signal Ss1 is temporarily stored in the basic buffer memory B0, it is distributed to the first buffer memory B1 and the second buffer memory B2. When the sheet P1 fed from the first sheet feeding unit 107 is detected by the sensor 119 disposed in the pre-image forming conveyance path 109, the first image recording apparatus 1 synchronizes with the detected sheet P1. A command is issued to the first buffer memory B1 to record an image based on the image signal Ss1 on one side of the sheet P1.
Thereafter, the sheet P1 is discharged onto the first stack tray 303 through the first discharge path 302 by the stack switching means 309.

On the other hand, in the second image recording apparatus 2, the sheet P2 is fed from the second sheet feeding section 207 after a predetermined time has passed since the sheet P1 is fed from the first sheet feeding section 107.
When the sheet P2 fed from the second sheet feeding unit 207 is detected by the sensor 219 disposed in the pre-image forming conveyance path 209, the second buffer memory B2 is synchronized with the detection.
And the same image signal Ss1 as that of the sheet P1 is recorded on one side of the sheet P2. Thereafter, the sheet P2 is guided to the additional transport section 4, and further carried into the buffer 3, where the stack switching means 309 outputs the first discharge path 30.
2 and is discharged onto the first stack tray 303.
At this time, the sheets P1 and P2 are alternately stored on the first stack tray 303.

If the number of sheets processed by the first and second image recording apparatuses 1 and 2 for image recording per unit time is set to N each, the processing capacity of the entire system will be as follows. 2N per hit. Therefore, high-speed recording with twice the productivity can be performed without forcibly increasing the machine speed.

Next, a case where only the image reading device 6 is operated and images are recorded on both sides will be described.

In the case of this system, the image signals for each page of the document to be image-recorded are Sd1, Sd2, Sd3, Sd4,
, The image signals recorded on the front side and the back side of the sheet P1 by the first image recording apparatus 1 are Sd (4n
-3), Sd (4n-2), the image signals recorded on the front side and the back side of the sheet P2 by the second image recording apparatus 2 are Sd (4n-1) and Sd (4n), respectively. The signals are distributed, and the two image recording apparatuses 1 and 2 are operated in parallel (n = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,...). First, after the image signals are temporarily stored in the basic buffer memory B0, the image signals Sd (4n-3) and Sd (4n-2) are stored in the first buffer memory B1 and the image signals Sd (4n-1) and Sd.
(4n) is allocated to the second buffer memory B2. Then, the first image recording device 1 includes the first paper feeding unit 10
The sheet P1 fed from the printer 7 is transported by the pre-image forming conveyance path 109.
When it is detected by the sensor 119 arranged in the inside, it issues a command to the first buffer memory B1 in synchronization with it,
An image based on the image signal Sd (4n-3) is recorded on one side of the sheet P1. Thereafter, the sheet P1 performs the above-described reversing operation, is again guided to the image forming unit, and outputs the image signal S
An image according to d (4n−2) is recorded, and is discharged onto the first stack tray 303 through the first discharge path 302 by the stack switching unit 309.

On the other hand, in the second image recording apparatus 2, the sheet P2 is fed from the second sheet feeding section 207 after a predetermined time has passed since the sheet P1 is fed from the first sheet feeding section 107.
When the sheet P2 fed from the second sheet feeding unit 207 is detected by the sensor 219 disposed in the pre-image forming conveyance path 209, the second buffer memory B2 is synchronized with the detection.
And an image is recorded on one side of the sheet P2 by the same image signal Sd (4n-1) as that of the sheet P1. Thereafter, the sheet P2 performs the above-described reversing operation, is again guided to the image forming unit, and records an image based on the image signal Sd (4n) on the back surface. Thereafter, the sheet P2 is guided to the additional transport section 4, is further carried into the buffer 3, and is discharged onto the first stack tray 303 through the first discharge path 302 by the stack switching means 309. At this time, the sheets P1 and P2 are alternately stored on the first stack tray 303.

The above-described single-sided and double-sided image recording operations are similarly performed when only the image input control device 8 is operated and an image signal from the image input control device 8 is recorded. , P1 and P2 are carried into the buffer 3 and discharged by the stack switching means 309 through the second discharge path 307 onto the second stack tray 308.

The above is an explanation of the effective operation for improving the productivity in terms of increasing the speed of the image recording apparatus. However, the present invention improves the productivity in eliminating the downtime of the image recording system described below. It is even more effective in realizing. That is, while the first and second image recording apparatuses 1 and 2 are operating at the same time, the first and second image recording apparatuses 1 and 2 are caused by some factors (paper supply, toner supply, paper jam, periodic maintenance, occurrence of unexpected trouble, etc.). The downtime of the entire system is eliminated even when one of the image recording apparatuses 1 and 2 is inactive. Alternatively, even when image signals from both the image reading device 6 and the image input control device 8 are simultaneously supplied to the first and second image recording devices 1 and 2, one of the image recording devices is completely down. Can be prevented.

A specific example at that time will be described first when recording a single-sided image.

For example, suppose that a paper jam occurs in the sheet conveying path in the first image recording apparatus 1 while the first and second image recording apparatuses 1 and 2 are operating at the same time during single-sided image recording.
Then, first, a paper jam is detected by any of the sensors 118 to 124, and the operation of the first image recording apparatus 1 is stopped, and at the same time, information indicating that a paper jam has occurred is displayed on the display unit 702 of the operation unit 7. Then, the operator is prompted to execute the paper jam processing.

In the meantime, the image signal Ss1 continues to be sent by the operation of the second buffer memory B2, and the second image recording apparatus 2 sets the number of sheets processed for image recording per unit time to N.
When it continues to operate as a sheet and when the paper jam processing ends, the first image recording apparatus 1 operates again to maintain the original high productivity. In this case, the time for the paper jam processing is the first time.
Although the productivity is lower than in the case where the second image recording apparatuses 1 and 2 are operating at the same time, high productivity can be maintained as a whole because there is no downtime.

In this embodiment, when one image recording apparatus is stopped, the number of processed images per unit time of the other image recording apparatus is set to N and the multifunctional image recording system is continuously operated. Stated. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and when one image recording apparatus is stopped, the number of processed images per unit time of the other image recording apparatus may be accelerated to N or more. Then, the productivity when one of the first and second image recording apparatuses 1 and 2 is deactivated can be further increased.

When one image recording apparatus is stopped, the means for accelerating the number of processed sheets per unit time of the other image recording apparatus to N or more is to reduce the interval between continuously conveyed sheets. Or increasing the overall paper transport speed. In the latter case, there is a concern about the initial problems such as insufficient sensitivity of the photoconductor 101 (201), the life of the exposure lamp 602, temperature rise, vibration, noise, durability, etc., even if only temporarily. Therefore, the former method of reducing the interval between continuously conveyed sheets is more effective. In this case, since the number of sheets passing through per unit time increases, the heat of the fixing unit 110 (210) is more deprived by the sheets, and as a result, the fixability may be insufficient. In this case, if one of the image recording apparatuses is stopped and the fixing temperature of the other image recording apparatus is controlled to be slightly increased, this problem can be effectively solved.
When the fixing temperature is increased, there is a problem that extra electric power is required. However, since one of the image recording apparatuses is stopped, the problem does not occur if the electric power is applied accordingly.

Next, a specific example in which image signals from both the image reading device 6 and the image input control device 8 are simultaneously supplied to the first and second image recording devices 1 and 2 will be described.

For example, first, only the image signal Ss2 from the image input control device 8 is first and second image recording devices 1,
In the state in which each is supplied to the buffer 3 in a single-sided image recording mode and is alternately discharged onto the second stack tray 307 through the second discharge path 307 by the stack switching means 309, the operation unit 7 key input section 7
A case will be described in which instruction information for starting reading of a document is input from 01.

First, the operating state of the image reading device 6 is detected. Here, only the image input control device 8 is operating while the image reading device 6 is not operating, and the image signal Ss2
Is supplied from the image input control device 8, the image signal S
s2 is distributed to the first and second image recording apparatuses 1 and 2, and both image recording apparatuses 1 and 2 are operated in parallel (FIG. 2). That is, first, the image signal Ss2 is stored in the basic buffer memory B0.
Is temporarily stored in the first buffer memory B1 and the second buffer memory B1.
The data is distributed to the buffer memory B2. And the second
When the sheet P1 fed from the second sheet feeding unit 207 is detected by the sensor 119 provided in the pre-image forming conveyance path 109, the image recording apparatus 2 of
A command is issued to the buffer memory B1 to record an image based on the image signal Ss2 on one side of the sheet P1. Thereafter, the sheet P1 is transferred to the first discharge path 3 by the stack switching means 309.
02, and is discharged onto the first stack tray 303.

On the other hand, in the second image recording apparatus 2, the sheet P2 is fed from the second sheet feeding section 207 after a predetermined time has passed since the sheet P1 is fed from the first sheet feeding section 107.
When the sheet P2 fed from the second sheet feeding unit 207 is detected by the sensor 219 disposed in the pre-image forming conveyance path 209, the second buffer memory B2 is synchronized with the detection.
And an image is recorded on one side of the sheet P2 by the same image signal Ss2 as that of the sheet P1. After that, the sheet P2 is guided to the additional transport section 4, and further carried into the buffer 3, where the stack switching means 309 switches the second discharge path 30.
7, and is discharged onto the second stack tray 308.
At this time, the sheets P1 and P2 are alternately stored on the first stack tray 303.

In response to the above operating conditions, the operation unit 7
When the user inputs instruction information to start reading a document from the key input unit 701, the document P0 stacked on the document tray 501 is carried into the image reading unit 601 and the image is read. The image signal Ss1 of the original read by the original feeder 5 and the original reading device 6 is stored in the basic buffer memory B.
After being temporarily stored at 0, the operation state of the image input control device 8 is detected. At this time, the image input control device 8 is already operating, and in this case, the image signal Ss1 is distributed only to the first buffer memory B1. When the sheet P <b> 1 fed from the second feeding unit 207 is detected by the sensor 119 provided in the pre-image forming conveyance path 109, the second image recording apparatus 2 synchronizes with the detected sheet P <b> 1. First
A command is issued to the buffer memory B1 to record an image based on the image signal Ss1 on one side of the sheet P1. Thereafter, the sheet P1 is transferred to the second discharge path 3 by the stack switching means 309.
07 and is discharged onto the second stack tray 308.

On the other hand, after the image signal Ss2 supplied from the image input control device 8 is temporarily stored in the basic buffer memory B0, the operating state of the image reading device 6 is detected. At this time, the image reading device 6 is already operating, and the image signal Ss2 is in this case stored in the second buffer memory B2.
Allocated only to. The second image recording device 2 has a first
After a lapse of a predetermined time from the feeding of the sheet P1 from the sheet feeding unit 107, the sheet P2 is fed from the second sheet feeding unit 207. When the sheet P2 fed from the second sheet feeding unit 207 is detected by the sensor 219 provided in the pre-image forming conveyance path 209, a command is issued to the second buffer memory B2 in synchronization with the detection, and Image signal Ss on one side of P2
2 is recorded. After that, the sheet P2 is guided to the additional transport section 4, further loaded into the buffer 3, and passed through the second discharge path 307 by the stack switching means 309 to the second discharge path 307.
The sheet is discharged onto the stack tray 308.

Assuming that the number of sheets processed by the first and second image recording apparatuses 1 and 2 for image recording per unit time is N, respectively, when only the first image input control apparatus 8 is in operation, The total number of processed sheets for the supplied image signal Ss1 was 2N, but the simultaneous operation of the image reading device 6 enabled the first number of sheets processed by the image reading device 6 and the image input control device 8 for each type of recording image. Of the first and second stack trays 3 according to the type of the recorded image.
03 and 308, the image signal Ss
The number of processed sheets for Ss1 and Ss2 is N, and the sheets are continuously operated. Therefore, the number of sheets processed per unit time in the entire system is not changed to 2N sheets,
The operator does not interrupt the image recording operation of the image signal Ss2 supplied from the image input control device 8 even when the image input control device 8 is in operation. The read image signal Ss1
Can be performed.

First, only the image signal Ss1 from the image reading device 6 is supplied to the first and second image recording devices 1 and 2, each of which is carried into the buffer 3 by single-sided image recording, and the stack is switched. By means 309, the first discharge path 30
When the image input control device 8 is operated in a state in which the image input control device 8 is discharged alternately onto the first stack tray 303 through the second stacker 2 as described above, both the image reading device 6 and the image input control device 8 The image signal is simultaneously transmitted to the first and second
The operation is exactly the same as when the image is supplied to the image recording devices 1 and 2 of the first embodiment. The first image recording device 1 and the second image Since the images are distributed to the recording device 2 and the images are distributed and discharged to the first stack tray 303 and the second stack tray 308 for each type of the recorded image, the number of processed sheets per unit time for the image signals Ss1 and Ss2 changes to 2n. However, even if the operator starts up and operates the image reading device 6, the image signal S supplied from the image reading device 6
The image recording operation of the image signal Ss1 read from the image reading device 6 can be performed at any time by operating the image input control device 8 without interrupting the image recording operation of s2.

[0055]

As described in detail above, according to the image recording method and apparatus of the present invention, the entire system can be sped up without forcibly increasing the paper feed speed, that is, the machine speed, and has multiple functions. However, there is an effect that productivity can be improved without causing problems such as insufficient sensitivity of the photoconductor, life of the exposure lamp, temperature rise, vibration, noise, and durability.

In addition, even when paper is replenished, toner is replenished, paper jams are removed, regular maintenance is performed, and unforeseen troubles occur, the system can be stopped without downtime and productivity can be improved. Play.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a configuration of an image recording system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation procedure of the image recording system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 1st image recording device 2 2nd image recording device 3 buffer 4 additional conveyance part 5 original feeder 6 image reading device 7 operation part 8 image input control device 101 photoreceptor 102 primary charger 103 developing device 104 copy charger 105 Cleaning device 106 Laser scanner 107 Paper feed unit 108 Paper feed unit 109 Pre-image forming conveyance path 110 Fixing unit 111 Ejection path 112 First conveyance path switching means 113 Second conveyance path 114 Reverse conveyance path 115 Second conveyance path switching means 116 Double-sided conveyance path 117 Third conveyance path switching means 118 Sensor 119 Sensor 120 Sensor 121 Sensor 122 Sensor 123 Sensor 124 Sensor 201 Photoconductor 202 Primary charger 203 Developing device 204 Copying charger 205 Cleaning device 206 Laser scanー 207 Paper feeder 208 Paper feeder 209 Conveyance path before image formation 210 Fixing section 211 Ejection path 212 First conveyance path switching means 213 Second conveyance path 214 Reverse conveyance path 215 Second conveyance path switching means 216 Double-sided conveyance path 217 Third transport path switching means 218 Sensor 219 Sensor 220 Sensor 221 Sensor 222 Sensor 223 Sensor 224 Sensor 301 First carry-in path 302 First carry-out path 303 First stack tray 304 Second carry-in path 307 Second carry-out path 308 Second Stack tray 309 Stack switching means 401 Additional carrying-in path 402 Additional carrying path 403 Additional carrying-out path 404 Sensor 405 Sensor 406 Sensor 501 Document tray 601 Document reading unit 602 Exposure lamp 603 Mirror 604 Mirror 606 Lens 701 key input unit 702 display unit

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Kazuhito Ohashi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Tadashi Tadashi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Kia Within Non Corporation (72) Inventor Masafumi Kamei 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Corporation

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An image reading device for reading a document image, an image input control device capable of externally inputting an image signal, first and second image recording devices for recording an image on a supplied sheet, An image recording method for recording an image by an image recording system including first and second storage devices for storing recorded sheets, wherein the first image recording device and the second image recording device are Can be simultaneously or independently operable, the image to be recorded is supplied independently from the image reading device and the image input control device, the image to be recorded is supplied independently from the image reading device, and When the first image recording device and the second image recording device operate simultaneously, the sheet on which the images recorded by the first image recording device and the second image recording device are recorded, Previous In a case where images to be stored and alternately stored in the second storage device are simultaneously supplied from the image reading device and the image input control device, the image signal supplied from the image input control device has priority. An image recording method, wherein a sheet supplied to the second image recording device and on which an image is recorded by the second image recording device is controlled to be stored in the second storage device. . 2. An image recording method according to claim 1, wherein said first and second image recording apparatuses are electrophotographic copying apparatuses using a laser beam. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first and second image recording devices are laser beam printers.
The image recording method described in the above. 4. An image reading device for reading a document image, an image input control device capable of externally inputting an image signal, first and second image recording devices for recording an image on a supplied sheet, An image recording system comprising first and second storage devices for storing recorded sheets,
The first image recording device and the second image recording device,
Simultaneously or independently operable, images to be recorded are supplied independently from the image reading device and the image input control device, images to be recorded are supplied independently from the image reading device, and When the first image recording device and the second image recording device operate simultaneously, the sheet on which the images recorded by the first image recording device and the second image recording device are recorded is the sheet When the images to be stored and alternately stored in the second storage device are simultaneously supplied from the image reading device and the image input control device,
An image signal supplied from the image input control device is preferentially supplied to the second image recording device, and a sheet on which an image is recorded by the second image recording device is sent to the second storage device. An image recording system, comprising: a control device for controlling storage of the image. 5. The image recording system according to claim 4, wherein said first and second image recording apparatuses are electrophotographic copying apparatuses using a laser beam. 6. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said first and second image recording devices are laser beam printers.
The image recording system as described.