US 5,812,747 AGranted

Copying system

AssigneeKonica Corporation

InventorsShizuo Kayano, Yoshio Yamazaki

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A copying system includes a plurality of copying apparatus each capable of sharing image formation with other copying apparatus. The plurality of copying apparatus each having: reading device for reading an original document to obtain an image data thereof; memory device for storing the image data; image forming device for forming an image, based on the image data stored in the memory device; control device for determining allotment conditions for the image formation with other copying apparatus when an inter-connected mode in which the plurality of copying apparatus are connected and operated with each other is selected; sending device for sending the image data stored in the memory device to other copying apparatus; receiving device for receiving an image data sent from other copying apparatus. The image data received is stored in the memory means. When the inter-connected mode is selected, each of the other copying apparatus forms images on the basis of the image data received according to the determined allotment conditions. When one of the plurality of copying apparatus in the inter-connected mode during image forming operation becomes unable to form images, the control means determines new allotment conditions for the image formation with the other operable copying apparatus to form image which have not been formed among images allotted to the one of the copying apparatus.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A copying system comprising:

a plurality of copying apparatus each capable of sharing image formation with other copying apparatus, said plurality of copying apparatus each comprising:
(a) reading means for reading an original document to obtain an image data thereof;
(b) memory means for storing the image data;
(c) image forming means for forming an image, based on the image data stored in said memory means;
(d) selecting means for selecting an inter-connected mode for communicating with other copying machine and to conduct image forming;
(e) control means for determining allotment conditions for the image formation with other copying apparatus when an inter-connected mode in which said plurality of copying apparatus are connected and operated with each other is selected;
(f) sending means for sending the image data stored in said memory means to other copying apparatus;
(g) receiving means for receiving an image data sent from other copying apparatus, the image data received being stored in said memory means;
wherein when the inter-connected mode is selected, each of said other copying apparatus forms images on the basis of the image data received according to the determined allotment conditions,
and wherein when one of the plurality of copying apparatus in the inter-connected mode during image forming operation becomes unable to form images, said control means determines new allotment conditions for the image formation with the other operable copying apparatus to form images which have not been formed among images allotted to said one of the copying apparatus.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/682,932Filed 8 Jul 1996
Priority: JP 7-17487911 Jul 1995
Granted: 22 Sep 1998
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification14 codes

H04N 1/32507
In systems having a plurality of input or output devices: a plurality of input devices
H04N 1/00954
Arrangements for controlling a still picture apparatus or components thereof not otherwise provided for: scheduling operations or managing resources
H04N 1/32502
Circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device, e.g.…
H04N 1/32523
In systems having a plurality of input or output devices: a plurality of output devices