JPS58186871A - Centralized controller of copying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To select the most appropriate copying machine adequately by calculating the unprocessed amount of operation and time on the basis of the accepted amount and processed amount of operation. CONSTITUTION:When information on original size, etc., is inputted from an input part 10 to a central arithmetic part 12 is respose to a request for copying operation, the central arithmetic part 12 makes comparison of original size, etc., reagarding respective copying machines on the basis of data stored in an internal storage part 15. Then, comparison of reduction/enlargement rates from the original size to copying size is made. Each copying machine calculates the unprocessed amount of operation and time by using the current accepted amount of copying operation and the processed amount of copying operation to select one copying machine eentually. The unprocessed amount of operation, operation time, etc., of the selected copying machine are displayed on a display part 15 at need.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to centralized management of copying machines, and in particular, when a copying task is requested, the most suitable copying machine for the copying task is selected from among a plurality of copying machines. Conventionally, when copying operations are performed using multiple copiers in a copy center or the like that has multiple copiers, one or more managers have mainly been responsible for Based on their abilities and experience, they decided on which copying machine should handle the newly requested copying work.

After understanding the various conditions such as the copying capacity of each copier, the amount of unprocessed work, and the working time, the administrator can process the required copying work in the shortest possible time based on those conditions. I selected a copier and made copies.

However, in the past, copying machines were selected based on the administrator's experience, making it difficult to effectively perform copying operations using the first few copying machines. For example, if you do not accurately grasp the operating status of each copier's copying capacity and unprocessed work, and make work allocation decisions based on appropriate judgment, errors in work allocation may occur, and work that has not been processed There was a risk that there would be major delays.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and in order to accurately select the most suitable copying machine when there is a request for copying work, it calculates the amount of unprocessed work based on the amount received and the amount processed. To provide a central control device for copying machines which selects an optimum subject by calculating time.

Hereinafter, the centralized control device for photographic subjects according to the present invention will be explained in detail.

The attached drawings show an embodiment of the central control device for copying machines of the present invention, and are used to manage data of a plurality of copying machines (maximum copy size, variable magnification ability, copy speed, amount of copies accepted, amount of copies processed, etc.) An input unit 10 (in the figure, it is composed of a light pen, but other input keys and punch holes are used to input work signals (original size, copy size, number of original sheets, number of copies, etc.) via an interface 11. It also stores a predetermined program (for example, one that calculates the amount of unfinished copies from the amount of copies received and the amount of copies processed), and also stores the data and signals of copying operations. an internal storage unit 13 for storing data, a central processing unit 12 for processing and calculating signals input from the input unit 10 (for example, calculating the copy unprocessed amount described above) based on the previous three programs; External storage section 4 for storing the processing and calculation results of the central processing section 12; and a predetermined display based on the signal processing and calculation results of the central processing section 12 (for example, the selection result of the best copying machine for copying work, the waiting It has a display section 15 for displaying (time, etc.).

A further example of the signal input to the input device 11 is (
1) Requesting department, (2) Manuscript size, (3) Number of manuscripts, (
4) Original type, (5) Subject size, (6) Number of copies, etc. In addition, inputted copying machine information includes, for example, maximum original size, maximum copy size, variable magnification ability, copy speed, and copying information. In the above configuration in which there is a reception volume, a copy processing volume, etc., when the input information in (]) to (6) above is input, the central processing unit 12 inputs the information and each item stored in the internal storage unit 13. Comparing and calculating the information regarding the initial cold capacity of the subject machine and the amount of unprocessed work, and displaying the result on the display unit 15,
The information is stored in the external storage unit 14 as necessary.

Next, a case will be described in which a copying operation using the three copying machines 1.2.3 having different copying capabilities shown in Table 1 is managed and operated by the apparatus of the present invention.

Information regarding the copying capacity of each copying machine shown in Table 1 is stored in advance in the internal storage section 13 shown in FIG.
0 to 3 copy operations shown in Table 2 (a), (b
), (C), these information are compared in the central processing unit 12 and the most suitable subject is selected.

In other words, when the copy operation (a) is requested, the central processing unit 1 is sent from the input unit 10 via the interface 11.
When the information such as the document size shown in Table 2 (a) is entered in 2, the central processing unit 12 calculates the information for each copying machine 1, 23 based on the data stored in the internal storage unit 13 (Table 1). Compare document size, etc.

The original size for work (a) is B4, and the copy size is A4.
Therefore, each copying machine can handle it in terms of size. Next, we compared the reduction/enlargement ratios from the original size to the copy size, and found that all three machines can process in this respect as well. Next, the amount of unprocessed work and time are calculated based on the number of copying employees currently being received by each copying machine and the copying work that has already been processed. is selected. Copying machine 1 performs work (a) (number of copies 20
The time required to process (0 sheets) (200 sheets x 0.5 seconds - 100 seconds) plus the unprocessed work time (12 minutes) by 4 times (about 13.7 minutes) is the shortest time for 3 machines. processing time.

Copying work (b) after the copying machine accepts work (a)
Data 75: When input from the input unit 10, the copying machine 2 is selected as a result of the same dance as above. Copy machine 2
The backlog time increases from 10 minutes to 11 minutes.

Next, the data for copying work (C) is transferred to input section 1 (JX
When inputting I, the copying machine 2
．． 3 is selected and copying machine 3 is further selected in the comparison of unprocessed working time, the unprocessed working time of copying machine 3 increases from 11 minutes to 113 minutes.

Based on the above calculation results, the display section 15 displays the selected copying machine and, if necessary, also displays the amount of unprocessed work, working time, etc.

Note that the same implementation is possible even if the centralized control device for copying machines of the present invention is connected online to a number of copying machines located at remote locations.

As explained in detail above, the present invention calculates the unprocessed work l' and time based on the received amount and processing lid, and selects the most suitable copying machine. This allows you to accurately select a copying machine.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawing shows an embodiment of a central control device for a copying machine according to the present invention. Explanation of symbols 10...Input section 11...Interface 12...Central processing section 13...Internal storage section 14...External storage section 15...Display section Patent applicant Seal of Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. Person Patent Attorney Nobuyuki Matsubara Agent Patent Attorney Kiyoshi Muraki Agent Patent Attorney Taira 1) Tadao Agent Patent Attorney Atsushi Ueshima −

Claims (1)

[Claims] A plurality of copying machines capable of performing a plurality of copy operations;
a storage unit that stores the amount of copying work each of the plurality of copying machines has received and the amount of copying work that has been processed; Calculate work amount and work time,
A central control device for copying machines, comprising a calculation unit that selects the most suitable copying machine for the copying operation based on the calculation results.