JP3315291B2 - Image forming network device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming network apparatus constructed by connecting a plurality of image forming apparatuses via communication means to form a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, by combining an image output device such as an image scanner, a word processor, and a personal computer with an image forming device such as a plurality of printers via a network, an image is output based on an image signal output from the image output device. A system for recording an image on recording paper by a forming apparatus has been proposed.

For example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2-21190 discloses that
An image forming system is proposed in which a plurality of image output devices and a plurality of image forming devices are organically coupled with functions such as recording, storage, and communication of image information so that any location can be freely accessed from another location. Have been. Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
No. 75 proposes a system in which a plurality of digital copying machines copy an original image read by one digital copying machine in parallel, thereby substantially increasing the copying speed.

FIG. 38 shows a conventional digital copying machine capable of forming a remote image forming system. This copying machine includes an image reading unit 3, an image writing unit 4, a user restriction device 9, a CP.
System controller 10 having U10a, memory unit 11 ', human body detection sensor 12, clock module 1
3. It is schematically constituted by a communication control device (CSS) 14 and the like. Memory unit 11 'is DRA
It has an M block 11a, a compression block 11c, and a DMA block 11d.

FIG. 39 shows another conventional example. In this configuration, the image reading section 3, the image writing section 4, and the memory unit 11 ″ are provided with CPUs 3a, 4a and 11e, respectively.
Is transmitted through a control signal line. Therefore, in this configuration, the hardware configuration of the system is free.

[0006]

However, based on the image signal output from the image output device of the request source (hereinafter, also referred to as an operating device, a master device, and an image transfer source), another image forming device of the request destination is used. (Hereafter, remote unit, slave unit,
Also called an image transfer destination. ), An image is recorded on a recording sheet (hereinafter, also referred to as a remote operation or a connection operation), and the operation is interrupted due to an abnormality such as a paper end, a toner end, or a jam occurring in the slave machine to which the image is transferred. When an image is read out again from the memory of the master machine that is the image transfer source after the error is recovered and transferred, time-sharing operation is necessary when the master machine is reading another image from the memory and forming an image, or when storing the image. Therefore, there is a problem that the productivity (throughput) of the master machine is deteriorated. Similarly, when an image is sent from the master unit during the restart operation after restoration, a time-division operation is required in the slave unit, and there is a problem that productivity is deteriorated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and a first object of the present invention is to provide an operability in a case where an abnormality occurs in an image transfer destination or an image transfer source, the operation is interrupted, and the operation is restored. The object of the present invention is to provide an image forming network device capable of improving the image quality.

A second object of the present invention is to provide an image forming network apparatus capable of improving the productivity when the operation is interrupted due to the occurrence of an abnormality in the image transfer destination or the image transfer source and the operation is restored. is there.

[0009]

In order to achieve the first object, a first means comprises a detecting means for detecting a document size, an image reading means, a plurality of image forming means having a communicating means and a storing means. A plurality of image forming apparatuses configured to form a network via the communication unit, when the image forming operation is shared by the plurality of image forming apparatuses, the own apparatus and the other apparatus. When it is no longer possible to continue the image forming operation
The reading operation of the original of the own machine is continued, and the image processing apparatus further includes means for storing the read image data in the storage means of the other apparatus which continuously transmits the image data to the other apparatus. I have.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned second object, the second means is that, in an image forming network apparatus having the same premise, when an image forming operation is shared by a plurality of image forming apparatuses, both the own apparatus and another apparatus are used. After the image forming operation cannot be continued, the image forming apparatus returns to an image forming operable state in any one of the image forming apparatuses. When the operation is instructed, the reading operation of the original is interrupted, and the operation is stopped from the interrupted original. The apparatus is characterized in that it has means for executing an image forming operation up to the original whose reading operation has been completed, and thereafter executing the original reading operation and the image forming operation from the next original at the same time in parallel.

In order to achieve the first object, the third means is such that the means to be executed in the second means automatically restarts the image forming apparatus after returning from a machine abnormal state to an image creatable state. It is characterized by being executed.

[0012]

According to the first means, when it becomes impossible to continue the image forming operation in both the own apparatus and the other apparatus, the original reading operation of the own apparatus is continued and the image data is transmitted to the other apparatus. The image data read by the own device is stored in another device. As a result, the image forming operation has not been completed after the recovery from the abnormality, but the reading of the document has been completed, so that the document can be brought back and the operator is not wasted time.

In the second means, after the image forming operation cannot be continued in both the own apparatus and the other apparatus, the image forming apparatus returns to an image forming operable state in one of the image forming apparatuses.
When the operation is instructed, the reading operation of the original is interrupted, the image forming operation from the interrupted original to the end of the reading operation to the storage unit is executed, and then the original reading operation and the image forming operation from the next original are performed. At the same time in parallel. Thus, the operation can be performed without lowering the productivity at the time of restarting the operation.

According to the third means, since the image forming apparatus is automatically restarted after returning from the machine abnormal state to the image creatable state, the procedure for restarting the image forming operation by the operator can be omitted.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an image output side digital copying machine and an image forming side digital copying machine in one embodiment of a remote image forming system according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram schematically showing the digital copying machine shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the document feeder of FIG. 1 in detail, FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the human body detection sensor of FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is an image forming apparatus management system constituted by the communication control device of FIG. Block diagram, FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a remote image forming system,
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a software structure of the copying machine of FIG. 1,
8 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation unit of FIG. 2, FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram showing a detection circuit of the touch panel of FIG. 8, FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing detection logic of the detection circuit of FIG. 9, and FIG. 12 to 21 are explanatory diagrams showing display screens,
22 and 23 are explanatory diagrams showing a communication sequence between the image output side digital copying machine and the image forming side digital copying machine shown in FIG. 1, FIGS. 23 to 32 are flowcharts for explaining processing, and FIGS. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a processing example in a normal state and in a case where an abnormality occurs.

FIG. 1 shows a copying machine (operating machine, master machine) PPC-I requesting copying and a copying machine (remote machine, slave machine) PPC-II requested to copy. Each of the digital copying machines in the remote image forming system according to the present embodiment has a document feeder (AD) as shown in FIGS.
F) 1, operation unit 2, image reading device 3, image forming device 4 (or image writing unit), duplex unit 5, paper discharge sorting device 6, three-stage paper cassette 7, extended function setting unit 8 , A user controller 9, a system controller 10 having a CPU 10a, a memory unit 11, a human body detection sensor 12, a clock module 13, a communication control device (CSS) 14, and the like.

The memory unit 11 is provided with a SCSI (Network Interface Unit) as a network means for transferring an image read by the image reading device 3 of the own device to an external network and for storing image data received from the network in the DRAM block 11a. Small Computor System Interf
ace) 15 and the SCSI controller 11b. Note that, for example, Ethernet is used as a physical means as a network communication means instead of the SCSI 15,
Various means can be used such as using TCP / IP communication of an OSI (Open System Interface) reference model as data communication. The memory unit 11 also has
A compression block 11c and a DMA block 11d are provided.

Hereinafter, each component and various terms used in this embodiment will be described in detail. The ADF 1 shown in FIG. 2 has two DC servo motors, a transport motor and a paper discharge motor, and the paper supply unit and the paper discharge unit are independent. The reversing / discharging section has a reversing mechanism for reversing the front and back of a document, and can copy a two-sided document on one side.

The configuration of the ADF 1 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The original is placed on the original table 401 and inserted until the leading edge of the original is slightly touched. When the original set detection sensor 402 detects the original, the original insertion display (not shown) is turned off, and the start key 205 (FIG. 8) is turned off in this state. When the button is pressed, a call solenoid and a paper feed spring (not shown) are turned on, and then the conveyance motor is turned on, and the conveyance belt 408 and the like start moving, and the document feeding is started.

In this case, the separation belt 403 and the separation roller 4
04, only the lowermost document on the document table 401 is fed, and the documents that have passed the separation roller 404 are the leading and trailing registration detection sensors 405 and 406, a document width detection sensor and a pulse generator (not shown), The size is detected by the document length detection sensor 407.

When the trailing edge of the document passes the trailing edge registration detection sensor 406, the registration detection sensors 405 and 406 are turned off, and when the conveyance motor reaches a predetermined number of pulses, it is turned off. As a result, the transport belt 408 stops,
The document stops at a predetermined position. When reading of the document image is completed and a document replacement signal is sent from the copier, the transport motor and the discharge motor are turned on, and the discharge of the document and the feeding of the next document are performed simultaneously. In the case of a double-sided document, the document once passes over a contact glass (not shown), is turned upside down at a reversing / discharging unit 409, and returns to the reading position on the contact glass again.

The ADF 1 is connected via a communication line for transmitting / receiving a command to / from a power source from the copying machine main body, operates based on a command (feeding / discharging command, etc.) from the copying machine, and further determines whether or not a document exists. Etc. to the copier. Here, the number of documents that can be set on the document table 401 is limited by the opening of the insertion unit, the separation mechanisms 403 and 404, and the like. Referring back to FIGS. 1 and 2, the image reading device 3 illuminates the original with a light source, converts the reflected light into an electric signal by a solid-state imaging device (CCD), and performs "necessary image processing". Here, the “necessary image processing” is performed by converting the analog electric signal converted by the CCD into two.
Quantization for converting into digital data of multiple values or multi-valued data, shading correction for correcting unevenness of illumination of a light source for illuminating a document and sensitivity variation of a CCD, MTF correction for correcting blur caused by an optical system, and using read image data. In this case, a magnification process or the like for changing the image reading density by data interpolation is performed.

The image forming apparatus 4 records an image in the form of an electric signal on plain paper or thermosensitive paper by an electrophotographic system, a thermal system, a thermal transfer system, an ink jet system, or the like. Here, the electric signal of the image converted by the image reading device 3, the electric signal of the image input to the image forming device 4, and the signal for synchronizing the electric signal of this image are collectively referred to as a "video signal" or This is called "image data". In addition, the video signal is transmitted to the image reading device 3 or the image forming device 4 and the “application (=
Information transmitted for exchanging between "extended functions 8)" is called a "control signal" or a "command".

As a major feature of the digital PPC, an original image is converted into an electric signal by the image reading device 3 and read, and is restored by the image forming device 4 based on the electric signal. Therefore, the present invention can be applied to fields other than the conventional analog copier, and can realize functions such as facsimile, page printer, scanner, and file system. A plurality of copies in one scan by reading the data as necessary and storing it in a storage device such as the DRAM 11a, or realizing a function of combining and printing a plurality of originals on one transfer paper. Can be. These functions are referred to as “extended functions” or “applications”, and in the present embodiment, the memory unit 11 is used as a buffer when transferring image data between digital copiers on a network. I have.

When executing the copy mode, the system controller 10 controls the paper transport process, the electrophotographic process process, the abnormal state, the state of the paper cassette (such as the presence or absence of paper), and the like so that the image writing unit 4 can form an image. It controls the scanner operation and on / off of the light source so that the in-machine monitoring and the image reading unit 3 can read the image. Here, the last digital PPC is configured to mount not only one extended function 8 but also a plurality of applications.

Function units shared by a plurality of applications are expressed as “resources” and “resources,” and the system controller 10 performs system control in these resource units. The resources managed in the digital PPC of the present embodiment are the image reading device 3, the image forming device 4,
Operation unit 2, memory unit 11, peripheral device (= ADF1,
Sorter 6, double-sided unit 5, etc.). In addition, especially when the image forming apparatus 4 is of the electrophotographic type, the amount of paper consumption increases. Therefore, when the user does not want to permit unlimited use, a coin rack for identifying, limiting, and managing the user is used.
A user restriction device 9 such as a key counter, a key card, a prepaid card, and a recitation code are used. When the system becomes complicated, it is necessary to individually respond to each user. However, it is impossible to satisfy all of these responses at the time of shipment from the factory, so that response in the market is indispensable. Therefore,
Normally, a non-volatile RAM is provided to enable system settings according to customer requirements. This function is called "user setting". A state in which no operation is performed by the user for a certain period of time is referred to as an “idle state”, and other states are referred to as a “busy state”. The time until the transition from the “busy state” to the “idle state” can be “user-set”. For example, "user setting" can be performed so that the user does not transition to the "idle state" unless a non-operation state by the user continues for a certain period of time even after the copy operation is completed as well as during the copy operation.

The human body detecting sensor 12 has an infrared light emitting diode, an optical system for restricting the emission direction of the infrared light to a fixed direction, and an infrared light receiving sensor for detecting the reflected light of the emitted infrared light. The system is configured to detect an object (operator) inside and send a signal to a main body control board of the system controller 10 as shown in FIG. Further, a detection distance changeover switch is provided in the sensor 12, and for example, the detection distance can be changed in two stages. Therefore, "preheating" can be controlled by arranging the sensor 12 in front of the machine to confirm whether or not a person is in front of the machine.

The clock module 13 is used to realize a weekly timer function for turning on / off the power according to the on / off time set for each day of the week. For this function, an operation for adjusting the time of the clock module 13 and an operation for setting the on / off time for each day of the week are required.

In the "preheating mode", the fixing temperature is controlled by lowering the fixing temperature by a certain temperature (for example, 10 ° C.), and the power consumption can be saved by turning off the display of the operation unit 2. This mode is set by key input via the operation unit 2, or is automatically set after a certain period of time elapses after the operation or operation is stopped depending on the machine setting. Also,
The set mode is released by a key input through the operation unit 2 or released when the human body detection sensor 12 detects that a person stands in front of the machine. The "interrupt mode" is a mode in which a copy operation or the like is temporarily interrupted during a copy operation or an operation to perform another copy. By setting this mode, the previous copy mode, and if copying is in progress, information on the progress of the copy is stored in the non-volatile RAM 11a, and the mode is shifted to the interrupt mode to initialize the setting mode. After the other copy operation is completed, the interrupt mode is released, the mode stored in the non-volatile RAM 11a and the intermediate progress are returned to return to the state before the interrupt mode was set, and the mode before the interrupt mode is continued by restarting. it can. The setting / cancellation of this mode can be performed via the keys of the operation unit 2.

FIG. 5 shows an image forming apparatus management system constituted by the communication control device 14. The communication control device 14 includes one or more Ps installed on the user side.
The PC 20 is connected to a management device 21 installed at a remote service base via a public line network 22. The communication control device 14 includes a telephone 23 and a facsimile 23
Can be connected, and can be installed by inserting into an existing line of the user. The PPC 20 may be of the same type or of a different type, and may be connected to other devices other than the PPC.

The communication control device 14 and the PPC 20 are connected in a multi-drop manner according to, for example, the RS-485 standard. Communication control is a basic type data transmission control procedure,
By establishing a data link by a polling / selecting method of centralized control using the communication control device 14 as a control station, communication with an arbitrary PPC 20 is possible. A unique address can be set for each PPC 20 by an address setting switch, and the polling address and the selecting address of each PPC 20 are determined by the unique address.

Further, such a digital copying machine 20 is
By connecting with the CSI 15 and the SCSI controller 10b, a remote image forming system including, for example, eight digital copying machines PPC-I to PPC-VIII can be configured as shown in FIG. Note that the number of PPCs 20 shown in FIG. 6 is not limited to eight. The software structure of each of the PPCs 20 in such a system is, as shown in FIG.
And a system control layer 102 and a device control layer 103.

The application layer 101 has a copy application 101-1 and a daemon process section 101-2. The system control layer 102 has a system control section (system controller) 102-1 and an operation section controller 102-2.
, A peripheral device controller 102-3, an image forming device controller 102-4, an image reading device controller 102-5, and a memory unit 102-5. The device control layer 103 includes the input / output control unit 103-1 and the SCS
SCSI controller 1 for digital copiers PPC-I and PPC-II.
03-2 is connected via the SCSI15.

The copy application 101-1 is an application that executes a copy sequence for executing its own copy operation, whereas the daemon process unit 101-2 prints from another machine on the network. When requested, the application exists as an application that reads image data stored in the memory unit 102-5 and transfers the image data to the image forming apparatus 4. Naturally, before the daemon process unit 101-2 reads out the image data from the memory unit 102-5 and executes the printing operation, the transfer of the image data from another machine on the network must be completed.

The input / output control unit 103-1 converts the data into a logical /
Layer (device driver) for physical conversion. The operation unit controller 102-2 is an MMI (Man Machine Inte
rface) to execute the layer (LCD display or LED lighting /
Layer that performs erasing, key input scanning, etc. at a logical level)
The peripheral device controller 102-3 is a layer that controls a peripheral device mounted on the PPC 20, such as the automatic duplex unit 5, the sorter 6, and the ADF 1, at a logical level.

Next, the configuration and display contents of the operation unit 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 8, a mode clear key 201 is used to return various modes to the standard mode. By operating the mode clear key 201, the number of repeats is “1”, the density is “automatic density”, and the paper feed is “automatic feed”. The “paper selection” and the magnification are set to “actual magnification”, and other functions such as double-sided are canceled. The operation unit 2 also includes an interrupt key 202 for performing interrupt copying, a program key 203 for selectively registering and calling a mode frequently used by the user, and a display screen for displaying basic operations and functions. Guidance key 204 and a print key (start key) 20 for starting a copying operation
5 are provided. The print key 205 has an LED for ready / wait display, and the green LED is lit when ready and the red LED is lit when waiting.

The clear / stop key 206 has the function of a clear key during standby, and has the function of a stop key during copying. The clear key is pressed to cancel the set number of copies, the stop key is pressed to interrupt the copying operation, and the machine stops when the copying operation ends at that point. The ten keys 207 are used to set the number of copies and to input numerical values such as a zoom magnification and a binding margin. The display unit 208 is an LCD display (which may be a CRT) and displays various functions, states, and messages. On the surface of the display 208, the touch panel 2
10 are arranged and used as soft keys for selecting various modes.

Referring to FIG. 9 and FIG.
The ten detection circuits will be described. The controller 212 sets the detection terminal to the high state, and the terminal X1 of the touch panel 210,
X2, Y1, and Y2 are set as shown in FIG. The terminals Y1 and Y2 of the touch panel 210 are pulled up by a resistor R. When the touch panel 210 is off, Y1 is at + 5V and when it is on, it is at 0V.

The controller 212 detects this voltage via the A / D converter 211, and switches to the measurement mode when detecting the ON state. In the X direction, X1 is + 5V, X2 is 0V, the potential at the input position is Y1, and the A / D converter 21
The X coordinate is detected by the controller 212 via 1. The coordinates in the Y direction are similarly detected by switching the circuit, and therefore the touch panel 21
The XY coordinates of the pressed position of 0 are detected.

Next, the operation control section will be described with reference to FIG. The CPU 284 of the operation control unit exchanges commands with the system controller 10 via the optical transceiver 291 by serial communication, and
When a command from 0 is received, the contents to be displayed on the LCD 283 are determined, a code for selectively reading a large number of bit patterns stored in advance in the CGROM 285 is developed in the VRAM 281, and the read bit pattern is sent to the LCD controller 282. It is displayed on the screen of the LCD 283 via the LCD.

The bit pattern development area in the VRAM 281 is divided into several sections. A bit pattern on a screen different from the currently displayed screen can be developed, and the address of the VRAM 281 can be changed. The screen can be rewritten instantly. The LCD controller 282 exchanges addresses and data between the CPU 284, the CGROM 285, the touch panel 210, the keyboard 287 driven by the LED driver 286, the address decoder 288, the address latch 289, and the like. The CPU 284 has an address latch 289, a ROM 2
90, an address and data are exchanged between the address decoder 288 and the like via the system reset unit 292.

Next, referring to FIGS.
The display screen 3 will be described. As shown in FIG. 12, the standard screen displays a message area 301 in which a message such as "Ready to copy" or "Please wait" is displayed, and a copy set number display section 302 indicating the number of copy sets on the right side. .

An automatic adjustment key 303 for setting processing for automatically adjusting the image density as a soft key,
An automatic paper selection key 304 for automatically setting a transfer paper selection process, an equal-size key 305 for setting the copy magnification to the same size, and a staple for setting a process of closing the sorted copy paper bundle. A key 306, a stack key 307 for setting a process for sorting copy sheets in page order, and a sort key 308 for setting a process for aligning copy sheets one by one in page order, are connected via a network as shown in FIG. Key 309 for setting processing to be printed by the copier, an erase / move key 310 for setting a binding margin mode and the like, a two-sided key 311 for setting a two-sided mode, and a magnification for enlargement / reduction. The zoom key 312 for performing the zooming operation is displayed. This soft key is shaded when it is touched and selected.

When the connection mode is selected by the connection key 309, a copy machine selection key 313 for selecting another copy machine (remote machine) to be printed as shown in FIG.
Is displayed, and the selected copier display is shaded. When the selection operation of the copier is completed and the setting end key 314 is pressed, a screen is displayed in which the connection key 309 is shaded as shown in FIG. When the connection key 309 is pressed on this screen, the connection mode is canceled and the screen shown in FIG. 14 is displayed, and when the connection key 309 is pressed again, the screen is switched to the screen shown in FIG.

FIG. 15 shows a screen displayed when a jam has occurred in the remote machine "4" during the connection operation and the operation has been stopped, and the number 315 of the remote machine and the stop reason "jam" 316 are displayed. Similarly, when the remote device runs out of paper, the remote device number 315 and the stop reason 316 are also displayed.
Is displayed, and is deleted when the reason for stopping the remote unit is improved.

FIG. 16 shows a screen when the connection operation is completed in all of the copier (operating machine) and the remote machine on the connection request side, and a message 317 and a confirmation key 318 are displayed. When the confirmation key 318 is pressed, this display is closed. FIG. 17 shows a screen displayed when the copy of the remote machine "4" is interrupted and the remaining copy is shared between the operating machine and the remote machines "1" and "7" to complete the connection operation. And a confirmation key 318 are displayed. When the confirmation key 318 is pressed, this display is closed.

FIG. 18 shows a screen in the case where the remote device is in the connection operation (during the remote operation), and its message is displayed in the message area 301. FIG. 19 shows a screen when the remote device starts the connection operation, and the message is displayed in message area 301. Therefore, after the screen shown in FIG.
The screen switches to the screen shown in. FIG. 20 shows the screen of the remote machine on the interruption side when the remote machine interrupts the connection operation and distributes the rest to another machine during copying, and FIG. 21 shows the screen of the operating machine when the shared copy is started. Show the screen.

Next, a communication process using the software structure shown in FIG. 7 will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, in the hardware configuration shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the operation unit 2, the peripheral devices 1, 5, 6, the image forming device 4, the image reading device 3, and the memory unit 11
0 is treated as a resource (resource). In FIG. 7, when the PPC-I executes a copy operation using each resource of the own device (when the print start key is pressed), the copy application 101-1 of the PPC-I sends the copy application 101-1 to the system controller 102-1. It requests the right to use each resource of the image forming device 4, the image reading device 3, and the peripheral devices 1, 5, 6, and the memory unit 11 as necessary.

The system controller 102-1 arbitrates the right to use resources in response to a request from the copy application 101-1 and notifies the copy application 101-1 of the arbitration result. Here, when the PPC-I is used stand-alone, that is, when the PPC-I is not connected to the network, all the resources held by the PPC-I can be occupied by the copy application 101-1. Is started.

On the other hand, when copying (remote output) using the resources of one or more remote units on the network, for example, as shown in FIG.
-I's copy application 101-1 is remote machine PPC-II
Request the right to use the resource to the system controller 102-1. The system controller 102-1 of the remote machine PPC-II arbitrates the right to use the resource in accordance with the request, and transmits the result to the operating machine PPC which has issued the request
Notify the arbitration result to the copy application 101-1 of -I.

Copy application 101- of operating device PPC-I
1 executes reading of an image when the right to use is permitted, and completes the storage of the image in the memory unit 102-5 of the own device.
The image is transferred via the PC and the image is stored in the memory unit 102-5 of the remote device PPC-II. When the image transfer is completed, the copy application 1 of the operation device PPC-I
After transmitting various parameters (paper feed port, paper discharge port, number of prints, etc.) for executing printing to the daemon process unit 101-2 of the remote device PPC-II, the print start command Send.

Upon receiving the print start command, the daemon process unit 101-2 of the remote machine PPC-II requests the system controller 102-1 of its own machine to start printing, and accordingly, the system controller 102-1 of the remote machine PPC-II Remote output by 102-1 is performed.

Here, as shown in FIG.
When the memory unit 102-5 of the remote device PPC-II is used by the PC-I, the remote device PPC-II
The use of this memory unit 102-5 by II is not allowed. In FIG. 22, the FGATE assert command from the system controller 102-1 of the remote device PPC-II to the daemon process unit 101-2 synchronizes the leading edge of the transfer paper with the writing start position of the image read from the memory unit 102-5. This command is issued when the transfer paper, for which paper feeding has been performed, reaches the registration rollers.

The conditions under which such remote output is possible are as follows: from the operating device PPC-I to the remote device PPC-II.
This is only when a use permission command is given to the memory use request command to the system controller 102-1. That is, as shown in FIG. 23, the system controller 102-1 of the remote device PPC-II
When a memory use request command is received from the operating device PPC-I, arbitration processing is executed according to the usage status of the own device and the system of the entire network, and an arbitration result command is returned to the operating device PPC-I. In this case, the request may be permitted as shown in FIG. 22, or may be rejected. If rejected, the operating device PPC-I interrupts the process or continues the process using only its own resources.

FIG. 22 shows only the minimum information required for the operation for executing the remote output. However, when the peripheral device of the remote device PPC-II is used, the memory unit 102- In addition to requesting only the use right of No. 5, the request also includes the use right of the peripheral device. In particular, when the arbitration of the use of the sorter 6 is insufficient as an example of the peripheral device, the transfer paper on the operating device PPC-I side and the remote device PPC-II at the discharge port of the remote device PPC-II.
Problems such as the mixture of them on the side occur. Next, the operation will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 24 shows a display process of the operating device when the remote device cannot be continued, and in the linked operation mode (step S1), in the case of the operating device (step S2), continuation of a jam or a paper end from the remote device. When the disabled state is received, the remote machine number and the continuation disabled state are displayed, for example, as shown in FIG. 15 (steps S3 → S4).

Then, when the jam or paper end or the like is improved in the remote machine and a continuation impossible cancel signal is received, the display of the remote machine number and the continuation impossible state are canceled (steps S5 → S6), and the remote machine is also displayed. If the remaining portion of the machine is not shared by another remote machine, a request is made to continue the operation (step S7 → S8). In this case, the start is automatically instructed when the continuation is disabled from the disabled state due to a reset of a jam or the like.

FIG. 25 shows a process of notifying the operating device when the remote machine cannot continue (step S11). If an event such as a jam or paper end cannot occur (step S12), the operating machine notifies the operating machine. On the other hand, it transmits the inability to continue and the reason thereof (step S13), and then transmits the number of operation completion sheets (step S14). Then, when the cause of the continuation failure is improved in the remote device, a reset signal of the continuation failure is transmitted (step S15 → S1).
6).

When continuation is not possible, an interruption process as shown in FIG. 26 is performed, and during the printing operation (step S2).
1) When the jam (step S22), the paper end (step S24), the abnormality (serviceman call) (step S26), the toner end (step S28), and the interruption request (step S30) occur, the print operation is interrupted (step S30). S23, S25, S27, S29, S3
1).

Next, in FIG. 27, when there is an operation start instruction by pressing the print key 205 (step S41), if the connection operation mode is set, the operation unit instructs the remote unit to execute (step S42 →). S43),
Next, execution of the own device is started (step S44), and then a linking operation flag is set (step S45). On the other hand, if the coupling operation mode is not set in step S42, the execution of the normal operation is started (step S4).
6).

Next, a description will be given, with reference to FIGS. When the connection operation in progress flag is set (step S53), the operating device in the connection operation mode (step S51 → S52) clears the interrupt stop device storage buffer for storing the interrupted remote device (step S54). Then, the in-operation check flag is reset (step S55). Next, it is checked whether or not the copying machine "1" is set as a remote machine among the eight copying machines "1" to "8" shown in FIG. 6 (step S56). Sets the operating flag when the copying machine "1" is operating (steps S57 to S60), and stores the copying machine "1" as an interrupting stop machine when the copying machine is in the suspended state (steps S58 to S59).

Hereinafter, steps S61-S65, S66-
S70, S71 to S75, S76 to S80, S81 to S
85, S86 to S90, and S91 to S95, the same processing is performed for the copying machines "2" to "8", so that the operating flags of the copying machines "2" to "8" are set during the operation. On the other hand, when the copying machine is in the interrupted state, the copying machines "2" to "8" are stored in the interrupted-stopper storage buffer.

Next, when the operating flag is set as shown in FIG. 31 (step S96), if there is an interruption stoppage machine in step S97, step S9 is performed.
8 and if there is no interruption stop, step S1
Branches to 02 or lower. In step S98, the remaining remote machine that has been suspended is distributed to the remote machine whose operation has been completed, and an operation is requested.

In this case, by requesting rotation and paper selection to a remote machine having paper in the direction corresponding to the image rotated by 90 ° image, the user of the distribution destination can distribute the paper to his / her own copy paper. Is ejected so as to be identifiable. Note that the copy sheet may be shifted in the horizontal direction on the discharge tray, and if the destination user can identify the copy sheet and the copy sheet to be distributed, a request to that effect may be made.

Next, the remote machine requesting the sharing is stored (step S99), and then the interrupted remote machine is notified of the stoppage of the remaining request and that another remote machine is being requested (step S99). (Step S100) Next, as shown in FIG. 20, for example, the remote device for which the sharing is requested is displayed on the operation device (Step S101). On the other hand, if there is no interruption stoppage machine in step S97, the linking operation flag is reset (step S102), and if there is a sharing request, the discharge destination is displayed as shown in FIG. 21 (step S102). S103 → S104),
The operation end is displayed (step S105).

Next, with reference to FIG. 32, the request receiving process of the remote machine will be described. When the remote operation request is received (step S111), the operation is started if the remote operation can be accepted without any reason such as an abnormality or the requested paper source is a paper end (step S112 → S).
113) On the other hand, if it is not possible, the operation is disabled and the reason is transmitted to the operating device (step S112 → S11).
4) Then, the operation end number (in this case, “0”) is transmitted (step S115).

When a remote operation continuation request is received after the interruption of the remote operation (step S116), similarly, if the operation cannot be accepted, a message indicating that the operation cannot be continued is transmitted to the operating device (step S116). S117 → S11
4) Then, the operation end number until interruption is transmitted to the operating device (step S115). On the other hand, if the operation can be accepted, the remaining print operation requested is executed (steps S117 → S118).

FIGS. 33 to 37 show three originals (image "1").
To “3”), a specific example in which four copies (number of copies) are distributed to the operating device and one remote device, and two images “1” to “3” are copied each, and the left side of FIG. The right side shows the processing of the operating machine (master machine, requesting copying machine), and the right side shows the processing of the remote machine (slave machine, requesting copying machine).

FIG. 33 shows an example of normal termination without stopping due to an abnormality. First, in the process (1) relating to the image “1”, (a) the master machine reads the first original and reads the image “ Print the first piece of "1",
The image is stored in the memory and transferred to the slave device. (B) The slave device stores the image “1” in the memory. Then (c)
The master machine reads the image “1” from the memory and prints the second sheet, and sends a print request for the image “1” to the second sheet.
(D) The slave unit prints two images “1” based on the print request. Hereinafter, in the processes (2) and (3), the above processes (a) to (d) are executed for the images “2” and “3”, respectively.

FIG. 34 shows an example in which a jam occurs during printing of the image "2" on the slave device side. in this case,
The image “1” has been normally completed in the process (1), but the processes (2) and (3) have not been normally completed due to the occurrence of a jam. Therefore, the master machine does not request the subsequent print of image "2" based on the notification of the occurrence of the jam from the slave machine, and performs image transfer for image "3" in process (3) '. Do not request the print.

Therefore, in this case, as shown in FIG. 24, when the jam is improved in the remote unit and the continuation disable signal is received by the master unit, the remaining portion of the remote unit is shared by the other remote units. If not, a request is made to continue the operation, or, as shown in FIG. 31, the remaining portion of the remote unit is shared with other remote units.

FIG. 35 shows an example in which an unrecoverable abnormality has occurred during the processing of the image "2" on the slave device side. In this case, although the image “1” has been normally terminated in the process (1), the processes (2) and (3) after the occurrence of the abnormality are stopped, and the image “3” is not processed in the process (3) ″. Neither image transfer nor print request is performed. Therefore, in this case,
The assignment is performed as shown in FIG.

FIG. 36 shows an example in which a copy paper jam occurs when the first sheet is printed after the image “2” is read into the memory on the master side. In this case, after the image “1” ends normally in the process (1), the master machine does not print after the occurrence of the jam, but requests the image transfer of the images “2” and “3” and a print request. By doing so, the printing on the slave device side is normally completed. Therefore, in this case, by recovering the jam on the master machine side, it is possible to process prints after the occurrence of the jam.

FIG. 37 shows an example in which a jam (abnormality) occurs on both the master side and the slave side and the operation is interrupted. At that time, the printing operation cannot be performed but the image can be read into the memory. Execute without interruption. That is, in this example, the image “1” is displayed on the master device side.
This is an example in which a jam has occurred during the printing of the image “1” in the process (1) and reading it into the memory, and in the slave unit during the printing of the image “1” in the process (1). Depending on the interruption time at the time of interruption and the number of remaining documents, the master machine can read all of the documents. As a result, the time when the document is released from the machine can be shortened, and so-called document separation can be improved. In this case, the image “2” is read into the memory in the process (2).

When one of the machines shifts from the jam (abnormal) state to the return state from the jam state and resumes operation, the original reading operation on the master side is interrupted, and the processing at the time of abnormal interruption is performed as processing (1) '. Priority is given to the print operation from the image to the original image of the read operation, and after that operation,
As the process (2) ′, the original reading and the printing operation for the original are simultaneously executed to operate. This is effective for a machine that cannot simultaneously store and read a read original in a memory. There is no problem if the memory operation and the read operation can be performed at the same time, but the operation of reading the original after the interruption to the memory cannot be performed at the same time as the print operation of the image whose original is already read. The reading operation of the original after the restart as in the process (3) is realized simultaneously with the printing operation. Regarding the restart of the other (remote machine), the process (1) "is performed between the transfer of the original image in the processes (2) and (3) and the storage operation to the memory so as not to delay the operation of the operating machine. 37, the printing operation from the memory is executed, thereby preventing a large decrease in productivity. (1), (2), and (3) in FIG. , "3", and dashes, two dashes, and three dashes represent a series of divided processes.

In the case of a stop due to a jam,
By restarting the operation with the jam reset signal as a trigger, the operation can be automatically started to reduce the operator's operation procedure. Further, in the case of a stop due to a paper end, the timing when the operation is restarted is a transition from the paper end state to the paper present state.

[0076]

As described above, in the case where the image forming operation is shared by a plurality of image forming apparatuses, when the image forming operation cannot be continued by both the own apparatus and another apparatus,
2. The invention according to claim 1, further comprising means for continuing the reading operation of the original of the own apparatus and storing the image data read by the own apparatus which has continuously transmitted the image data to the other apparatus. By continuing the reading operation of reading the original as much as possible when the operation is interrupted, the time during which the original is occupied by the machine can be shortened, thereby making it easier to prepare the original for the next job. As a result, it is possible to bring back the document even if the image forming operation is not completed after the abnormal processing, and the operability can be improved as a whole.

When the image forming operation is shared by a plurality of image forming apparatuses, the image forming operation cannot be continued by both the own apparatus and the other apparatus, and then the image forming apparatus is brought into a state in which any one of the image forming apparatuses can perform the image forming operation. When the operation is instructed, the operation of reading the original is interrupted, and the image forming operation from the interrupted original to the end of the reading operation to the storage unit is executed, and then the original reading operation and the image from the next original are performed. According to the invention of (2), means for simultaneously executing the forming operation and the parallel operation is provided by a machine which cannot simultaneously execute the operation of storing the original image in the image memory and the operation of reading and printing the stored image. Can be operated without impairing the operation, and the productivity does not decrease when the operation is restarted.

The automatic restart of the image forming apparatus after returning from the machine abnormal state to the image creatable state.
According to the described invention, the operation is automatically resumed and resumed from the abnormal state without bothering the operator,
It is possible to reduce the operation procedures of the operator, thereby improving the operability.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an image output side digital copying machine and an image forming side digital copying machine in one embodiment of a remote image forming system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram schematically showing the digital copying machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram illustrating a document feeder of FIG. 1 in detail;

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram illustrating the human body detection sensor of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus management system configured by the communication control device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a remote image forming system.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a software structure of the copying machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation unit of FIG. 2;

9 is a circuit diagram showing a detection circuit of the touch panel of FIG.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing detection logic of the detection circuit of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating an operation control unit.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a standard screen of a requesting copier.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a request destination copying machine setting screen of the requesting copying machine.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a request (coupling) setting screen of a requesting copying machine.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen of the requesting copying machine when an error occurs in the requested copying machine.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen of a requesting copying machine when a copy request is completed.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen of a requesting copying machine when a copying request is completed by sharing.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a screen during copying of a requested copying machine.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen at the start of copying of a requested copying machine.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen of a requested copying machine when copying is interrupted and shared by another machine.

FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen of a requesting copying machine in a case where copying is interrupted by a requesting copying machine and is shared by another requesting copying machine.

FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram showing a communication sequence between the image output side digital copying machine and the image forming side digital copying machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram showing a communication sequence between the image output side digital copying machine and the image forming side digital copying machine when a memory use is requested.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart illustrating a non-continuation display operation of the requesting copying machine;

FIG. 25 is a flowchart for explaining a continuation impossible notification operation of the requested copying machine;

FIG. 26 is a flowchart for explaining an interruption process when continuation is impossible.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart illustrating an operation start process of the requesting copying machine.

FIG. 28 is a flowchart for explaining an operation end check process of the requesting copying machine;

FIG. 29 is a flowchart illustrating an operation end check process of the requesting copying machine;

FIG. 30 is a flowchart illustrating an operation end check process of the requesting copying machine;

FIG. 31 is a flowchart for explaining an operation end check process of the requesting copying machine;

FIG. 32 is a flowchart for explaining a remote operation request accepting process of the requested copying machine.

FIG. 33 is an explanatory diagram showing a processing example in a case where the requesting copying machine and the requesting copying machine have ended normally.

FIG. 34 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of processing when a jam occurs in a requested copying machine;

FIG. 35 is an explanatory diagram showing a processing example when an unrecoverable abnormality has occurred in a requested copying machine;

FIG. 36 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a processing example when a jam occurs in a requesting copying machine;

FIG. 37 is an explanatory diagram showing a processing example when a jam occurs in both the requesting copying machine and the requesting copying machine;

FIG. 38 is a block diagram showing a conventional digital copying machine.

And FIG. 39 is a block diagram showing another conventional digital copying machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 operation unit 3 image reading device 4 image forming device (image writing unit) 10 system controller 11 memory unit 11b SCSI controller 14 communication control device (CSS) 15 SCSI

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-62-78971 (JP, A) JP-A-62-281560 (JP, A) JP-A-63-5659 (JP, A) JP-A-2-254849 (JP) JP-A-4-157762 (JP, A) JP-A-5-227341 (JP, A) JP-A-5-227342 (JP, A) JP-A-5-336385 (JP, A) 6-83915 (JP, A) JP-A-6-164782 (JP, A) JP-A-7-123224 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 1/00 -1/00 108

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a detecting unit for detecting a document size; an image reading unit; and a plurality of image forming apparatuses having a communicating unit and a storing unit, and the plurality of image forming apparatuses are connected to the network via the communicating unit. In an image forming network device configured with the above, when the image forming operation is shared by a plurality of image forming devices, when the image forming operation cannot be continued by both the own device and the other device, the copy of the original of the own device is performed. An image forming network apparatus comprising: means for continuing reading operation and storing image data read by the own apparatus which continuously transmits image data to another apparatus. 2. An image forming apparatus comprising: a detecting unit for detecting a document size; an image reading unit; and a plurality of image forming apparatuses having a communicating unit and a storing unit. When the image forming operation is shared by a plurality of image forming apparatuses in the image forming network device configured by The apparatus returns to the image creation operable state, and when the operation is instructed, interrupts the reading operation of the original, performs the image creation operation from the interrupted original to the end of the reading operation to the storage unit,
The image forming network apparatus further comprises means for simultaneously executing a document reading operation and an image forming operation from the next document in parallel. 3. An image forming network apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said executing means automatically executes a restart after returning from an abnormal state of the image forming apparatus to a state in which an image can be created.