JPH11296329A - Network system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To register an abnormal content and carrying path information of the carrying path of image forming device with a small screen display part equipped with a small screen display part on an image forming device with a large screen display part equipped with a large screen display part, and to display the abnormal content and carrying path information on the large screen display part of the image forming device with the large screen display part. SOLUTION: In this network system, a copying machine 1 equipped with a large screen display part 14 and a printer A2, a printer B3, and a printer C4 equipped with a small screen display part are connected through a network. The copying machine 1 is provided with a CPU 12 for monitoring the carrying path state of the printer A2, the printer B3, and the printer C4 through an LAN cable 5, and successively registering the abnormal content and carrying path information in an information registering part 11 when an abnormality of the carrying path state is generated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a large screen display unit having a large screen display unit and an image forming apparatus having a small screen display unit having a small screen display unit connected via a network. Related to network systems.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, there has been a network in which a printer, a scanner, and the like are connected to a computer, a telephone line, or the like. At this time, when an image forming apparatus such as a printer is connected to a network, a printer server having a server function for managing the image forming apparatus is used.

A conventional printer server has a LAN interface unit connected to a LAN cable of a network, a printer interface unit connected to a printer as an image forming apparatus, and a data holding unit connected to both interface units. The printer data transmitted by the personal computer, which is an information processing device, is received by a LAN interface unit, and the received printer data is temporarily stored in a data holding unit, and then is transmitted using a predetermined protocol via the printer interface unit. The data is output to a printer and printed out.

[0004]

In the above-described printer server, when an abnormality occurs due to a paper jam in the printer, the contents of the abnormality are reported to a personal computer via a network. Then, the user was able to check which printer on the network failed by using a personal computer based on the notification of the content of the problem. However, there is a problem that one user monopolizes a personal computer on the network in order to know the contents of the above-mentioned abnormality, and other users cannot use the personal computer, resulting in downtime.

Further, recent printers have a problem that since the transport path is large, it is not possible to know where the jammed paper (jam paper) is located in the transport path. In order to
A display unit having a large screen (large screen) capable of displaying map information and jam position information of the transport path of the printer is required. However, there has been a problem that the cost of the printer is increased by providing a display unit having a large screen.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has a large screen display unit for displaying the abnormal contents of the transfer path and the transfer path information of an image forming apparatus with a small screen display unit having a small screen display unit. An object of the present invention is to register the image forming apparatus with the large screen display unit and display the contents of the abnormality and the transport route information on the large screen display unit of the image forming apparatus with the large screen display unit.

[0007]

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus having a large screen display unit having a large screen display unit and a small image forming apparatus having a small screen display unit. In a network system in which an image forming apparatus with a screen display unit is connected via a network, the image forming apparatus with a large screen display unit monitors a transport path state of the image forming apparatus with a small screen display unit via the network. And a control unit for sequentially registering the content of the abnormality and the transport route information in the information registration unit when the transport route status is abnormal.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, an image forming apparatus with a large screen display unit having a large screen display unit and an image forming apparatus with a small screen display unit having a small screen display unit are connected via a network. In the network system, when an abnormality occurs in the transport path state during use of the image forming apparatus with the small screen display unit, the content of the abnormality and the transport path information are transmitted via the network to the image forming apparatus with the large screen display unit. The image forming apparatus with the large-screen display unit is provided with an information registering unit for sequentially registering the abnormal content and the transport route information transmitted by the transmitting unit.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, when the new image forming apparatus with a small screen display unit is connected to the network, the transmission means of the transmission means of the image forming apparatus with the small screen display unit has an abnormal content. And the transfer route information to the image forming apparatus with the large screen display unit.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, when the replacement member of the image forming apparatus with the small-screen display unit comes to the replacement time, or when the cleaning member comes to the cleaning time, the replacement member becomes the replacement time. There is provided a display control means for displaying on the large screen display section of the image forming apparatus with the large screen display section that there is a notification that the cleaning member is in the cleaning time.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a timer means for counting a predetermined time, and after the predetermined time is counted by the timer means, the information transmitted to the image forming apparatus with the large screen display unit and held in the information holding unit for temporarily holding the information. Is confirmed, and when the information transmission is not completed, a transmission time extending means for extending the transmission time and transmitting the information is provided.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a network system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a copier, which is an image forming apparatus with a large screen display unit having a large screen display unit, and a printer, which is an image forming apparatus with a small screen display unit having a plurality of small screen display units, connected via a network. It is a block diagram showing a network system of this embodiment.

In the network system of this embodiment, the copying machine 1 and a plurality of printers A2, B3 and C4 are connected via a LAN cable 5 such as an optical fiber or a coaxial cable. A network system 7 is configured by connecting a printer server 6 used in a network system configured according to a communication protocol such as TCP / IP for realizing a distributed processing environment such as TCP.

The network system 7 transmits a print output request, print data, and data such as transport path information (hereinafter, referred to as transport path information) of each printer via the LAN cable 5. The printer server 6 is connected to the LAN cable 5 to connect the printers A2, B3, and C4 that print out print data to the network system 7.

The copying machine 1 monitors the status of the printers A2, B3, and C4 connected by the LAN cable 5, and connects the LAN cable 5 when the transport path of the printers A2, B3, and C4 is abnormal. An information holding unit 9 for temporarily holding various types of information (jam information, replacement unit, replacement part information, printer transport path information, cleaning part information) transmitted through the interface unit 8 and transmitted through the interface unit 8; A timer 10 for measuring the transmission time of the information, an information registration unit 11 for sequentially registering various kinds of information temporarily stored in the information holding unit 9 after the timer 10 measures the predetermined transmission time, a CPU 12, a switching unit 13, And a display unit 14 having a large screen.

The information holding unit 9 has a memory capacity capable of holding only one piece of read information, and is controlled so that when new information is read, it is overwritten on old information. The information registration unit 11 has a memory capacity capable of sufficiently registering the transport path information of all the printers A2, B3, and C4 connected on the network.

When the memory capacity of the information registration unit 11 is large, as shown in Table 1, each of the printers A2 and B
3. The printer C4 holds an ID number, and the information registration unit 11 stores IDs of all printers on the network.
The number is divided so that each piece of transport path information is registered.

[0018]

[Table 1]

What kind of information (the transport path information of the copying machine 1 and the jam information on the transport path, or the transport path information and the jam information of another printer) to be displayed on the display unit 14 of the copying machine 1 Is a CPU 1 according to an instruction from the operation unit.
Reference numeral 2 outputs a signal to the switching unit 13 for switching.

As shown in FIG. 2, each of the above printers
An automatic document feeder 23 that automatically conveys the document 21 to the document reading section 22 and reads image information on both sides of the document 21 is provided above the document 21.

When the automatic document feeder 23 reads only one side of the original 21, the original 21 fed from the original feed tray 24 is transferred to the original transport path 2.
The document 21 is conveyed to a document reading unit 22 via the scanner 5, and after reading the image information on the surface of the document 21 by the document reading unit 22, the document 21 is conveyed to a document discharge tray 28 by document conveying rollers 26 and 27.

When reading both sides of the original 21, the original transport roller 27 is rotated in reverse so that the original reading section 22 reads the front side of the original 21 and then the original reading section 22 reads the back side of the original 21. Let it. And
The original 21 was conveyed as shown by an arrow in the drawing to an original reversing conveyance path 29 for reversing the front and back of the original 21, the original 21 was conveyed again to the original reading section 22, and image information was read from the back of the original 21. Then, the original 21 is transferred to the original conveying roller 2.
The document is conveyed to the document discharge tray 28 by the documents 6 and 27.

On the other hand, reference numeral 30 denotes an image forming process unit for forming image information of the document 21 read by the document reading unit 22 on a sheet 31 as a recording material.

The image forming process unit 30 performs image processing of the document information of the document 21 read by the document reading unit 22 by an image processing unit (not shown) as shown by a broken line, A drum-shaped photoconductor 32 on which a laser beam is irradiated from a unit to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface in accordance with document information, and a developing unit for developing the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 32 into a visible image with toner 33 and the visible image of the photoconductor 32 by the toner
5, a transfer unit 36 for transferring to the paper 31 fed from the photoconductor 5, a cleaning unit 37 for removing residual toner on the surface of the photoconductor 32, a charging unit 38 for charging the surface of the photoconductor 32 to a predetermined potential; And a pair of fixing rollers 39 for fixing the transferred toner image by heat.

A paper transport path 40 for transporting the paper 31 between the pair of fixing rollers 39 is provided between the photosensitive member 32 and the transfer section 36. The paper transport path 40 is transported along the paper transport path 40. An image is formed on the paper 31.

A pair of first paper transport rollers 41 is provided downstream of the fixing roller 39. The first paper transport rollers 41 are reversible as shown by arrows in FIG. A sheet discharge path 4 is formed by rotating the sheet 31, which is formed of a roller and has been subjected to image formation in the image forming
2, a paper discharge tray 43 disposed outside the apparatus.
On the other hand, when performing double-sided image formation on the paper 31, the paper 31 on which the image is formed on the surface by the image forming process unit 30 is once transported to the paper discharge path 42, and thereafter,
The first paper transport roller 41 rotates in the reverse direction, and transports the paper 31 to a paper reversal transport path 44 that forms a loop with the paper transport path 40 for reversing the face of the paper 31.
By transporting the pair of second paper transport rollers 45 to a pair of registration rollers 46 provided on the upstream side of the image forming process unit 30, the sheet 31 is turned over and transported again to the image forming process unit 30. Then, an image is formed on the back surface of the sheet 31.

The registration roller 46 is used to transfer the image information of the original 21 developed as a visible image by the surface of the photoreceptor 32 in the image forming process section 30 to the transfer section 36 on the paper 31 accurately. This is provided to transport the information to the transfer section 36 of the image forming process section 30 at a predetermined timing in order to align the leading end of the information with the leading end of the sheet 31.

In the network system having the above configuration, the operation of the first embodiment in which the transport path information of the printer having a plurality of small-screen display units connected on the network is displayed on the large-screen display unit of the copying machine will be described. It will be described together with 3.

In the first embodiment of the network system, first, the user operates the display unit 14 of the copying machine 1.
A printer on which information such as a transport path is displayed is selected (S1), and a transmission command is input so that the transport path information is transmitted from the printer (S2). The printer that has received the transmission command transmits its own transport path information to the copying machine 1 as transmission data together with the ID number (the ID number corresponding to the printer shown in Table 1) (S3).

Here, the transmission time for N minutes is set in the timer 10 (S4), and after N minutes, it is confirmed whether or not the input of the transmission data to the information holding unit 9 is completed (S5). When the input of the transmission data is not completed, the time of M minutes is additionally set in the timer 10 (S6). During this period, the transmission data is continuously transmitted, and after the lapse of M minutes, the transmission data is input to the information holding unit 9 again. Check whether or not has been completed. When the input of the transmission data to the information holding unit 9 is completed, the transport path information and the ID number of the transmission data are registered as they are in the information registration unit 11 (S7). As a result, the information path information of the printer connected on the network at normal time can be registered in the information registration unit 11 together with the ID number.

Further, after the registration of the transport path information, it is confirmed whether or not an abnormality has occurred in the printer connected on the network (S8). If no abnormality has occurred, the fact is displayed on the large-screen display unit 14 of the copying machine 1 (S
9). If an error has occurred, the content of the error is set to L.
Abnormal contents are read out via the AN cable 5 (S1
0), and enters the abnormality processing mode.

This abnormality processing mode is as shown in FIG.
First, the copier 1 checks the printer in which the abnormality has occurred (S
11) It is checked whether or not the abnormality has occurred in the copying machine 1 itself (S12). If not, it is checked whether or not the printer A2 has occurred (S13). It is checked whether the printer is the printer B3 (S1).
4) If it is not the printer B3, it is checked whether it is the printer C4 (S15). Then, when the copying machine 1 or the printer in which the abnormality has occurred is confirmed, the content of the abnormality is displayed on the large-screen display unit 14 of the copying machine 1 (S16, S1).
7, S18, S19).

When the user finishes the abnormal processing by watching the display on the display unit 14 (S20, S21, S22, S2
3) The information that the abnormal processing has been completed is transmitted to the copying machine 1, and the process returns to S9 in FIG. 3 to display on the display unit 14 that no abnormality has occurred.

In the network system of the present invention,
When an error occurs in a printer equipped with multiple small-screen displays connected to the network, the details of the error and transport path information are automatically transmitted to the copier and displayed on the large-screen display. The operation of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

In the second embodiment of the network system, first, when any abnormality occurs in the printer connected to the network (S31), the printer in the abnormal state, by itself, reports the contents of the abnormality and the transport path information on a large screen. A transmission command is automatically issued to transmit to the copying machine 1 having the display unit 14 (S32). The copier 1 that has received the transmission command determines whether or not it is currently in a receivable state (S33). If it is not receivable, it continues to receive the transmission command from the printer until it becomes receivable.

When the copying machine 1 is in the receivable state, the printer in the abnormal state transmits the contents of the abnormality and the transport path information to the copying machine together with the ID number (S34).

The copying machine 1 starts inputting information transmitted to its own information holding unit 9 (S35).

Here, a transmission time of N minutes is set in the timer 10 (S36), and the transmission data is stored in the information holding unit 9 after N minutes.
It is confirmed whether or not the input has been completed (S37). If the input of the transmission data has not been completed, the time of M minutes is additionally set in the timer 10 (S38). During this period, the transmission data is continuously transmitted. After the lapse of M minutes, the transmission data is input to the information holding unit 9 again. Check whether or not has been completed. When the input of the transmission data to the information holding unit 9 is completed, the input abnormal contents and the transport path information are displayed on the large screen display unit 1 of the copying machine 1.
4 is selected by the user (S39), and if it is to be displayed, the contents of the abnormality of the printer and the transport path information are displayed as a diagram or a logo (S40). If not displayed, the display contents are not changed in the display state before the abnormal contents and the transport path information are input to the information holding unit 9 of the copying machine 1 (S41).

In the network system of the present invention,
The operation of the third embodiment for updating and registering transport path information in a copying machine having a large screen display unit when a printer having a new small screen display unit is newly connected to the network will be described with reference to FIG.

In the third embodiment of the network system, when a new printer is connected on the network (S51), the printer automatically transmits the ID number of the printer to the copying machine 1 side.

Upon receiving the ID number, the copying machine 1 searches for an ID number that matches the currently registered ID number (S5).
2) If the ID number in the information registration unit 9 of the copying machine 1 does not match the ID number of the newly added printer, the copying machine 1 stores the transport path information of the newly added printer in the copying machine 1. Input a transmission command to transmit to the
3). The printer that has received the transmission command transmits its own transport path information to the copying machine 1 (S54).

At this time, the transmission time for N minutes is set in the timer 10 (S55), and the transmission data is stored in the information holding unit 9 after N minutes.
It is confirmed whether or not the input has been completed (S56). If the input of the transmission data has not been completed, the time of M minutes is additionally set in the timer 10 (S57). During this time, the transmission data is continuously transmitted, and after the lapse of M minutes, the transmission data is input to the information holding unit 9 again. Check whether or not has been completed.

When the input of the transmission data to the information holding unit 9 is completed, the transport path information and the ID number of the transmission data are registered as they are in the information registration unit 11 (S58), and the registration of the newly added printer is performed. Display section 14 indicating completion
(S59).

If the currently registered ID number matches the transmitted ID number in S52, the transport path information has already been registered in the information registering section 9 of the copying machine 1. The transport path diagram or logo of the printer is displayed on the first display unit 14 (S59).

FIG. 7 shows an example of the transport path information (transport route map) in the first to third embodiments. FIG. 7A shows the sheet transport path information (map of the transport path) of the copying machine itself on the display unit 14 of the copying machine 1. A transport path 54 to the image forming process unit 53 via the roller 52;
3, a photoconductor drum 55, a transfer unit 56, a fixing roller 57, and a transport path 59 from the manual cassette to the image forming process unit 53 via the registration roller 58 are displayed, respectively. Which portion of the paper jam has occurred and the paper is jammed is indicated by flashing of that portion.

FIG. 7B shows the display of the jam on the display unit of the printer on the network. Since the display unit of the printer is a display unit of a small LCD of about 16 characters, it is indicated by the character "Kami @ mari". It just displays the status.

FIG. 7C shows paper transport path information (map of transport path) of a printer connected on the network on the display unit 14 of the copying machine, and includes a paper feed cassette 61, a registration roller 62, A transport path 64 from the paper feed cassette 61 to the photosensitive drum 63 via the registration roller 62
, A transfer unit 65, a fixing roller 66, a sheet conveying roller 67, and a sheet reversing conveying path 68 are displayed, and it is possible to determine in which portion of the map of the conveying path a jam has occurred and the paper is jammed. It is indicated by blinking of that part.

In the network system of the present invention,
When a replacement member (replacement unit or replacement part) of a printer having a small screen display unit connected to the network reaches a replacement time, information on the replacement member is automatically transmitted to the copier side, The operation of the fourth embodiment, which is displayed on the large screen display unit of the copying machine, will be described with reference to FIG.

In the fourth embodiment of the network system, first, when a replacement unit or a replacement part that arrives at the replacement time occurs in a printer connected on the network (S61), the printer in which the replacement unit or the replacement part occurs is first generated. Inputs a transmission command to transmit the replacement unit or replacement part information to the copying machine 1 having the large-screen display unit 14 (S62).

The copying machine 1 which has received the transmission command determines whether or not it is in a receivable state at present (S63). If the reception is not possible, the copier 1 continues to receive the transmission command from the printer until it becomes receivable. When the copying machine 1 is in the receivable state, the printer in which the replacement unit or the replacement part has occurred transmits its own replacement unit or replacement part information to the copying machine together with the ID number (S64). Copier 1 side
The input of the information transmitted to its own information holding unit 9 is started (S65).

Here, the transmission time of N minutes is set in the timer 10 (S66), and the transmission data is stored in the information holding unit 9 after N minutes.
It is confirmed whether or not the input has been completed (S67). If the input of the transmission data has not been completed, the time of M minutes is additionally set in the timer 10 (S68). During this period, the transmission data is continuously transmitted. After the lapse of M minutes, the transmission data is input to the information holding unit 9 again. Check whether or not has been completed. When the input of the transmission data to the information holding unit 9 is completed, whether or not the input replacement unit or replacement part information is to be displayed on the large-screen display unit 14 of the copying machine 1 is selected by the user (S69). If it is to be displayed, the contents of the abnormality of the printer and the transport path information are displayed as a diagram or a logo (S70). If not displayed, the display contents are not changed in the display state before the contents of the abnormality and the transport path information are input to the information holding unit 9 of the copying machine 1 (S71).

FIG. 9 shows a display state of a replacement procedure of a replacement unit or a replacement part on the display unit 14 of the copying machine 1 according to the fourth embodiment, for example, a removal procedure of the upper heat roller assembly of the fixing unit. A stationary illustration 71 showing a procedure for replacing a replacement part and a description 72 explaining the procedure are displayed.

Since this exchange procedure is composed of a plurality of steps, all the steps are simultaneously displayed on one still image, the still images of each step are sequentially displayed, and the movement of each step can be understood. The display form is not limited, such as displaying the screen on the moving image in conjunction with the description, and any display form that can be easily recognized by the user may be used.

In the network system of the present invention,
When a cleaning member (cleaning unit or cleaning part) of a printer having a small-screen display unit connected to a network reaches a cleaning time, information on the cleaning member is automatically transmitted to the copying machine, The operation of the fifth embodiment, which is displayed on a large-screen display unit of a copying machine, will be described with reference to FIG.

In the fifth embodiment of the network system, first, when a cleaning unit or a cleaning part which has reached the cleaning time is generated in a printer connected to the network (S81), the printer in which the cleaning unit or the cleaning part is generated is generated. Inputs a transmission command to transmit the cleaning unit or cleaning part information to the copying machine 1 having the large-screen display unit 14 (S82).

The copying machine 1 which has received the transmission command determines whether or not it is in a receivable state at present (S83). If it is not receivable, it continues to receive the transmission command from the printer until it becomes receivable. When the copier 1 is in the receivable state, the printer in which the cleaning unit or the cleaning part has occurred transmits its own cleaning unit or cleaning part information to the copier together with the ID number (S84). Copier 1 side
The input of the information transmitted to its own information holding unit 9 is started (S85).

Here, the transmission time for N minutes is set in the timer 10 (S86), and the transmission data is stored in the information holding unit 9 after N minutes.
It is confirmed whether or not the input has been completed (S87). If the input of the transmission data has not been completed, the time of M minutes is additionally set in the timer 10 (S88). During this period, the transmission data is continuously transmitted. Check whether or not has been completed.

When the input of the transmission data to the information holding unit 9 is completed, it is determined by the user whether or not the input cleaning unit or cleaning part information is to be displayed on the large-screen display unit 14 of the copying machine 1 (S89). When selected and displayed, the contents of the abnormality of the printer and the transport path information are displayed in a figure or a logo (S90). If not displayed, the display contents are not changed in the display state before the abnormal contents and the transport path information are input to the information holding unit 9 of the copying machine 1 (S91).

[0059]

According to the first aspect of the invention, when the transport path state of the image forming apparatus with the small screen display unit is abnormal, the contents of the abnormality and the transport path information of the image forming apparatus with the small screen display unit are displayed on the large screen. Since the information is sequentially registered in the information registration unit of the image forming apparatus with a display unit, when the image forming apparatus with a large screen display unit is not in use, the abnormal state and transport path information of the image forming apparatus with a small screen display unit connected via a network are used. And the like can be easily confirmed, and since the information is displayed on the large-screen display unit, an abnormal portion or the like can be easily recognized.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when an abnormality occurs in the state of the transport path during use of the image forming apparatus with the small screen display unit, the content of the abnormality is displayed on the image forming apparatus with the large screen display unit. Since the information can be displayed on the section, detailed information can be transmitted to the user.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, even if the new image forming apparatus with a small screen display unit is connected to a network, the contents of the abnormality of the new image forming apparatus with a small screen display unit Can be displayed on the large screen display unit of the image forming apparatus with the large screen display unit, and detailed information can be transmitted to the user.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the replacement procedure of the replacement member or the cleaning procedure of the cleaning member of the image forming apparatus with the small screen display section is displayed on the large screen display section of the image forming apparatus with the large screen display section. The replacement of the replacement member or the cleaning of the cleaning member can be easily performed based on the display on the display unit.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when the transmission time from the printer to the information holding unit of the copier is not enough, the time can be extended and the transmission can be continued, so that the transmission from the printer can be surely performed. Information can be done.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a network system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a schematic structure of a printer connected to the network system of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates an operation of the first embodiment in which, in the network system according to the present invention, transport path information of a printer having a plurality of small screen display units connected on a network is displayed on a large screen display unit of a copying machine. It is a flowchart shown.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation in an abnormality processing mode according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention. When an abnormality occurs in a printer having a plurality of small screen display units connected to a network, the content of the abnormality and transport path information are automatically transmitted to the copying machine. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the second embodiment for transmitting the information to a large-screen display unit.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an embodiment in which, in a network system according to the present invention, when a printer having a new small-screen display unit is connected to a network, the transfer path information is updated and registered in a copying machine having a large-screen display unit. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the third embodiment.

FIGS. 7A and 7B show an example of display of transport path information according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7A is a display explanatory diagram showing the paper transport path information of the copy machine itself on a display unit of the copy machine.
Is an explanatory diagram of a display at the time of a jam on the display unit of the printer, (c)
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing display of paper transport path information of a printer on a display unit of the copying machine.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating information about a replacement member (replacement unit or replacement part) of a printer having a small-screen display unit connected to the network when the replacement time arrives in the network system of the present invention. Is a flow chart showing the operation of the fourth embodiment in which the data is automatically transmitted to the copying machine side and displayed on a large-screen display unit of the copying machine.

FIG. 9 is a display explanatory diagram showing a display state of a replacement procedure of a replacement unit or a replacement part on a display unit of a copying machine according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating information on a cleaning member (cleaning unit or cleaning part) of a printer having a small screen display unit connected to the network when the cleaning time arrives in the network system of the present invention. Is a flow chart showing an operation of the embodiment in which is automatically transmitted to the copying machine side and is displayed on a large-screen display unit of the copying machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Copier 2 Printer A 3 Printer B 4 Printer C 5 LAN cable 6 Printer server 7 Network system 8 Interface part 9 Information holding part 10 Timer 11 Information registration part 12 CPU 13 Switching part 14 Display part

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A network system in which an image forming apparatus with a large screen display unit having a large screen display unit and an image forming apparatus with a small screen display unit having a small screen display unit are connected via a network. The image forming apparatus with the large screen display unit monitors the transport path state of the image forming apparatus with the small screen display unit via the network, and when the transport path state is abnormal, the content of the abnormality and the transport path information are sequentially stored in the information registration unit. A network system comprising control means for registering. 2. A network system in which an image forming apparatus with a large screen display unit having a large screen display unit and an image forming apparatus with a small screen display unit having a small screen display unit are connected via a network. When an abnormality occurs in the transport path state during use of the image forming apparatus with the small screen display unit, a transmission unit that transmits the details of the abnormality and the transport path information to the image forming apparatus with the large screen display unit via the network. A network system, wherein the image forming apparatus with a large screen display unit includes an information registration unit for sequentially registering the details of the abnormality transmitted by the transmission unit and the transport route information. 3. The transmission means, when a new image forming apparatus with a small screen display unit is connected to the network, transmits abnormal contents of the transport path state and the transport path information of the image forming apparatus with the small screen display unit. 3. The network system according to claim 2, wherein the image data is transmitted to an image forming apparatus with a large screen display unit. 4. When the replacement member of the image forming apparatus with the small screen display unit comes to the replacement time, or when the cleaning member comes to the cleaning time, it is said that the replacement member is the replacement time, or 3. The network system according to claim 1, further comprising display control means for displaying on the large screen display section of the image forming apparatus with the large screen display section that the member is to be cleaned. 5. A timer means for counting a predetermined time, and after the timer counts the predetermined time, the information transmitted to the image forming apparatus with the large screen display unit and held in the information holding unit for temporarily holding the information is stored. 3. The network system according to claim 1, further comprising a transmission time extending means for confirming and transmitting the information by extending the transmission time when the information transmission is not completed.