US 6,192,202 B1Granted

Image forming system using plural copying apparatus to perform one copy job

AssigneeToshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha

InventorTakashi Doi

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

In tandem copy, an external controller assigns a minimum print copy number to a slave image forming apparatus from a total print copy number. The external controller assigns a remainder print copy number, which is obtained by subtracting the minimum print copy number assigned to the slave image forming apparatus from the total print copy number, to a master image forming apparatus, and instructs starting of printing out. When detecting that printing of all assigned copy number is completed in the slave and a new interrupt print job (other job print request) has come in, the external controller starts a new print job in the slave. When detecting that the interrupt printing in the slave is completed, the external controller suspends printing in the master and inquires of the master about a non-output copy number. Similarly with the print start time, the external controller redistributes a minimum print copy number to the slave and also redistributes a remainder of the non-output copy number, from which the minimum print copy number redistributed to the slave has been subtracted, to the master. The external controller thus resumes the tandem copy.

Claims9

Dependent claims

An image forming system wherein a plurality of image forming apparatuses are connected to a controller for controlling the image forming apparatuses, each of the image forming apparatuses comprising:

setting means for setting image formation of a desired copy number with use of said plurality of image forming apparatuses, with an image on an original being read;
read means for optically scanning the original and reading an image;
first memory means for storing image data read by the read means or image data transmitted from the controller;
and
first transmission means for transmitting the image data read by the read means to the controller, said controller comprising:
second memory means for storing the image data transmitted by the first transmission means;
second transmission means for transmitting the image data stored in the second memory means to an image forming apparatus other than the image forming apparatus which has read the original;
first control means for executing, when the reading by the read means has been finished, a control to distribute a predetermined minimum image formation copy number to the image forming apparatus to which the second transmission means has transmitted the image data, and to distribute a remainder image formation copy number, which is obtained by subtracting the minimum image formation copy number from a desired image formation copy number set by said setting means, to the image forming apparatus which has read the original;
and
second control means for executing a control to suspend image formation in the image forming apparatus which has read the original, when image formation of said predetermined minimum image formation copy number distributed by the first control means is finished, to redistribute the predetermined minimum image formation copy number to the image forming apparatus to which the second transmission means has transmitted the image data, and to redistribute a remainder image formation copy number, which is obtained by subtracting the minimum image formation copy number from the suspended image formation copy number, to the image forming apparatus which has read the original.

7 more elements

An image forming system wherein a first image forming apparatus and a second image forming apparatus are connected to a controller for controlling them, said first image forming apparatus comprising:

setting means for setting image formation of a desired copy number with use of said first and second image forming apparatuses, with an image on an original being read;
read means for optically scanning the original and reading an image;
first memory means for storing image data read by the read means or image data transmitted from the controller;
and
first transmission means for transmitting the image data read by the read means to the controller,
said controller comprising:
second memory means for storing the image data transmitted by the first transmission means;
second transmission means for transmitting the image data stored in the second memory means to the second image forming apparatus;
first control means for executing, when the reading by the read means has been finished, a control to distribute a predetermined minimum image formation copy number to the second image forming apparatus, and to distribute a remainder image formation copy number, which is obtained by subtracting the minimum image formation copy number from a desired image formation copy number set by said setting means, to the first image forming apparatus;
and
second control means for executing a control to suspend image formation in the first image forming apparatus, when image formation in the second image forming apparatus of said predetermined minimum image formation copy number distributed by the first control means is finished, to redistribute the predetermined minimum image formation copy number to the second image forming apparatus, and to redistribute a remainder image formation copy number, which is obtained by subtracting the minimum image formation copy number from the suspended image formation copy number, to the first image forming apparatus.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/504,953Filed 16 Feb 2000
Granted: 20 Feb 2001
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

H04N 1/32545
In systems having a plurality of input or output devices: distributing a job or task among a plurality of input devices or a plurality of output…
G03G 15/5087
Remote control machines, e.g. by a host: for receiving image data
H04N 1/00915
Arrangements for controlling a still picture apparatus or components thereof not otherwise provided for: assigning priority to, or interrupting, a…
H04N 1/32502
Circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device, e.g.…