JP2005329594A - Image forming system and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to omit the process of calculating the time required for image transfer by requesting the return from the energy saving state to the printable state simultaneously with the start of image transfer.
In an image forming system configured by electrically connecting a plurality of image forming apparatuses, an arbitrary one of the plurality of image forming apparatuses serves as a master and reads an image. Data is transferred to a plurality of other image forming apparatuses serving as slave units, and the parent and child share prints as a linked job and process them in parallel. Means for starting transfer of image data to the slave unit when the reserved linked job is in the printing order. When the slave unit is in the energy saving state, image data is sent from the master unit to the slave unit. At the same time as the transfer to the printer starts, the slave unit is requested to enter a printable state.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming system and an image forming apparatus capable of connecting and printing a plurality of electrically connectable image forming apparatuses and sharing printing functions.

As an example of the prior art, there is an “image forming apparatus” that calculates a required time from the copy condition such as the number of originals, the number of copies, the copy magnification, and the paper size to the end of copying by a required time calculation unit (for example, see Patent Document 1). ). In addition, when the slave unit is in a state of reducing power consumption, if a connection request is issued from the master unit, the power consumption reduction state is canceled, the slave unit status is notified to the master unit, and printing is possible. For example, there is an “image processing system” for shifting to a print output state (see, for example, Patent Document 2). In addition, there is a “fixing device” having a temperature detection unit that detects the surface temperature of the heat roller and a control unit that controls power supply to the heating unit of the heat roller (see, for example, Patent Document 3).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-140849 JP-A-11-157172 JP 2000-098796 A

However, conventionally, when the energy saving recovery time is longer than the image transfer time by starting the energy saving recovery of the slave unit at the same time as the connection job is input in the master unit, the recovery from the energy saving of the slave unit is completed even after the image transfer is completed. do not do. This has the disadvantage of reducing printing performance.
Further, when the image transfer time is longer than the energy saving return time, the slave unit returns from the energy saving before the image transfer ends. As a result, there is a disadvantage that power is wasted.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and by requesting the return from the energy-saving state to the printable state simultaneously with the start of image transfer, the processing for calculating the time required for image transfer is omitted. Objective.

  In addition, the present invention omits the process of calculating the time required for image transfer by starting the transition of the slave unit to the printable state before the job preceding the linked job is completed on the master unit, The purpose is to shorten the time until the slave unit starts printing.

  Also, according to the present invention, when there are n jobs in combination with a job being printed and a job being reserved before a linked job, the energy saving return time is longer than the time until the end of printing n jobs. Sometimes, by requesting the return from the energy-saving state to the printable state, the processing for calculating the time required for image transfer is omitted, and the purpose is to shorten the time until the slave unit starts printing. .

  In addition, the present invention prevents printing density differences and color tone differences between the master unit and the slave unit by transferring the printing assignment from a machine with a small amount of toner remaining in the process cartridge to a machine with a large amount of remaining toner. For the purpose.

  In order to achieve such an object, the invention described in claim 1 includes a reading unit that reads a document as image data, an image processing unit that performs image processing on the image data read by the reading unit, and an image processing unit that forms an image. In an image forming system configured by electrically connecting a plurality of image forming apparatuses including image data printing means for printing the image data and temperature detecting means for detecting the surface temperature of the fixing roller. Any one of the two image forming apparatuses serves as a master unit, and the read image data is transferred to a plurality of other image forming apparatuses serving as slave units. When there is a means to share printing and process it in parallel, and when the reserved linked job is in the printing order for the print job executed on the master unit , Equipped with means for starting transfer of image data to the slave unit, and when the slave unit is in an energy saving state, the image data can be printed to the slave unit at the same time as the image data is started to be transferred from the master unit to the slave unit. It is characterized by requiring the transition to.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a reading means for reading a document as image data, an image processing means for performing image processing on the image data read by the reading means, and an image for printing image data formed by the image processing means. In an image forming system configured by electrically connecting a plurality of image forming apparatuses having a data printing unit and a temperature detecting unit for detecting the surface temperature of the fixing roller, any of the plurality of image forming apparatuses One image forming apparatus serves as a master unit, and the read image data is transferred to a plurality of other image forming apparatuses serving as slave units, and the parent and child share printing and process them in parallel as linked jobs. Means for transferring the image data to the slave device side while the master device is executing a print job. If Tr is the time required to return to the printable state from the printer, and Ta is the time until the end of the job before the linked job, the parent device changes from the energy saving state to the printable state when Tr ≧ Ta. It is characterized by requesting the return.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the time until the end of the job being printed in the parent device is Ta (1), and the time until the end of the next job is Ta (2). If the time until the n job before the linked job is completed is Ta (n), such as the time until the end of the next job is Ta (3), then Tr ≧ Ta (n) In some cases, the master unit requests the slave unit to return from the energy saving state to the printable state.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the supply information of the process cartridge provided with means for detecting the supply end is notified from the slave unit to the master unit.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to the fourth aspect, in the image forming apparatus, when the slave unit is in the supply end or near end, the printing assignment of the slave unit is determined from the supply information of the own unit and the supply information notified from the slave unit. It is characterized by moving to the parent machine.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to the fourth aspect, in the image forming apparatus, based on the supply information of the own device and the supply information notified from the child device, the printing assignment of the parent device when the parent device is at the supply end or near end. It is characterized by moving to the child machine.

  The invention according to claim 7 is used in the image forming system according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

  According to the present invention, by requesting the return from the energy-saving state to the printable state at the same time as the start of image transfer, the slave unit can enter the printable state at the same time as the job preceding the linked job is completed on the master unit. Since the migration is started, the time required to start printing on the slave unit can be shortened. Further, it is not necessary to calculate the time required for image transfer.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus used in an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
When a start key 34 on the operation unit 30 shown in FIG. 2 is pressed on a document stack placed on the document table 2 in the automatic document feeder (hereinafter ADF) 1 with the image surface of the document facing upward, The uppermost document is fed to a predetermined position on the contact glass 6 by the feeding roller 3 and the feeding belt 4. After the image data of the original on the contact glass 6 is read by the reading unit 50, the original that has been read is discharged by the feeding belt 4 and the discharge roller 5. Further, when it is detected by the document set detection 7 that the next document is present on the document table 2, the document is fed onto the contact glass 6 in the same manner as the previous document. The feeding roller 3, the feeding belt 4, and the discharging roller 5 are driven by a motor.

  The transfer papers stacked on the first tray 8, the second tray 9, and the third tray 10 are fed by the first paper feeding device 11, the second paper feeding device 12, and the third paper feeding device 13, respectively, and are conveyed vertically. The unit 14 is transported to a position where it abuts on the photoreceptor 15. The image data read by the reading unit 50 is written on the photoconductor 15 by the laser from the writing unit 57 and passes through the developing unit 27 to form a toner image. Then, the toner image on the photoconductor 15 is transferred while the transfer paper is conveyed by the conveyance belt 16 at the same speed as the rotation of the photoconductor 15. Thereafter, the image is fixed by the fixing unit 17 and discharged to the finisher 100 of the post-processing apparatus by the paper discharge unit 18.

  The finisher 100 of the post-processing apparatus can be guided in the normal paper discharge roller 102 direction and the staple processing unit direction. By switching the switching plate 101 upward, the sheet can be discharged to the normal discharge tray 104 side via the transport roller 103. Further, by switching the switching plate 101 downward, the switching plate 101 can be conveyed to the staple table 108 via the conveying rollers 105 and 107.

  Each time a sheet of transfer paper loaded on the staple table 108 is discharged, the paper end surface is aligned by a paper alignment jogger 109, and is bound by the stapler 106 upon completion of partial copying. The group of transfer sheets bound by the stapler 106 is stored in the staple completion discharge tray 110 by its own weight.

  On the other hand, the normal paper discharge tray 104 is a paper discharge tray that can move back and forth. The paper discharge tray section 104 that can be moved back and forth moves forward and backward for each original or each copy section sorted by the image memory, and sorts copy paper that is simply discharged.

  When forming an image on both sides of the transfer paper, the transfer paper fed from each of the paper feed trays 8 to 10 is not guided to the paper discharge tray 104 side, and the branch claw 112 for switching the path is used. By setting it on the upper side, it is once stocked in the duplex feeding unit 111.

  Thereafter, the transfer paper stocked on the double-sided paper feeding unit 111 is re-fed from the double-sided paper feeding unit 111 to transfer the toner image formed on the photosensitive member 15 again, and the branching claw 112 for switching the path. Is set on the lower side and guided to the paper discharge tray 104. In this way, the duplex feeding unit 111 is used when creating images on both sides of the transfer sheet.

  The photoconductor 15, the conveyance belt 16, the fixing unit 17, the paper discharge unit 18, and the development unit 27 are driven by a main motor 25 shown in FIG. 4, and each of the paper feeding devices 11 to 13 feeds the drive of the main motor 25. Transmission is driven by the clutches 22 to 24. The vertical conveyance unit 14 is driven to transmit the drive of the main motor 25 by the intermediate clutch 21.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the operation unit 30.
The operation unit 30 includes a liquid crystal touch panel 31, a numeric keypad 32, a clear / stop key 33, a print key 34, a preheat key 35, and a reset key 36. A message indicating the status of the device is displayed.

FIG. 3 is a view showing an example of display on the liquid crystal touch panel 31 of the operation unit 30.
When the operator touches a key displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 31, the key indicating the selected function is inverted in black. In addition, when it is necessary to specify the details of the function (for example, if it is variable magnification, the variable magnification value, etc.), the detailed function setting screen is displayed by touching the key. Thus, since the liquid crystal touch panel uses a dot display device, it is possible to graphically perform an optimal display at that time.

  In FIG. 3, the upper left is a message area for displaying messages such as “Ready to copy” and “Please wait”, the right is a copy number display section for displaying the set number of sheets, and an automatic sheet for automatically selecting a transfer sheet Select key, sort key that specifies processing to arrange copies in order of pages, stack key that specifies processing to sort copies by page, staple key that specifies processing to bind sorted items partly, and magnification Same size key to set the same size, Scaling key to set the enlargement / reduction ratio, Double side key to set the duplex mode, Edit key to set the binding margin mode, etc. Cover page / Slip sheet to set the cover / interleaf mode This is a connection mode key that prints out a large number of printing operations divided into a plurality of parts via a network of keys and digital copying machines.

  In addition, a paper feed tray state corresponding to the number of paper feed trays is displayed, and keys for manually setting the paper feed tray are displayed for the number of paper feed trays.

  With reference to FIG. 1, the image reading means in the present invention and the operation until the latent image is formed on the recording surface will be described. A latent image is a potential distribution generated by converting an image into light information and irradiating it on the surface of the photoreceptor.

  The reading unit 50 includes a contact glass 6 on which an original is placed and an optical scanning system. The optical scanning system includes an exposure lamp 51, a first mirror 52, a lens 53, a CCD image sensor 54, and the like. Yes. The exposure lamp 51 and the first mirror 52 are fixed on a first carriage (not shown), and the second mirror 55 and the third mirror 56 are fixed on a second carriage (not shown). When reading a document image, the first carriage and the second carriage are mechanically scanned at a relative speed of 2 to 1 so that the optical path length does not change. This optical scanning system is driven by a scanner drive motor (not shown). The document image is read by the CCD image sensor 54, converted into an electrical signal, and processed. The image magnification is changed by moving the lens 53 and the CCD image sensor 54 in the left-right direction in FIG. That is, the positions of the lens 53 and the CCD image sensor 54 are set in the left-right direction corresponding to the designated magnification.

  The writing unit 57 includes a laser output unit 58, an imaging lens 59, and a mirror 60. Inside the laser output unit 58, a rotary polygon mirror (polygon mirror) that rotates at a high speed at a high speed by a laser diode as a laser light source and a motor. ).

  The laser light emitted from the laser output unit 58 is polarized by a polygon mirror that rotates at a constant speed, passes through an imaging lens 59, is folded by a mirror 60, and is focused and imaged on the surface of the photoreceptor.

  The polarized laser light is exposed and scanned in the direction (main scanning direction) perpendicular to the direction in which the photosensitive member rotates, and the line-by-line recording of the image signal output from the selector 64 of the image processing unit described later is performed. An image (electrostatic latent image) is formed on the surface of the photosensitive member by repeating main scanning at a predetermined cycle corresponding to the rotational speed and recording density of the photosensitive member.

  As described above, the laser beam output from the writing unit 57 is applied to the image forming photoconductor 15. Although not shown, a beam sensor for generating a main scanning synchronization signal is disposed at a position where a laser beam near one end of the photoconductor 15 is irradiated. Based on the main scanning synchronization signal, control of image recording start timing in the main scanning direction and generation of a control signal for inputting / outputting image signals described later are performed.

  The configuration of the image processing unit (image reading unit and image writing unit) in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The light emitted from the exposure lamp 51 illuminates the original surface, and the reflected light from the original surface is imaged and received by a CCD image sensor 54 with an imaging lens (not shown), and is photoelectrically converted. The digital signal is converted by the D converter 61. The image signal converted into the digital signal is subjected to shading correction 62 and then subjected to MTF correction, γ correction and the like in the image processing unit 63. In the selector 64, the destination of the image signal is switched to the writing γ correction unit 71 or the image memory controller 65. The image signal that has passed through the writing γ correction unit 71 is sent to the writing unit 57. Between the image memory controller 65 and the selector 64, an image signal can be input and output bidirectionally.

  Although not explicitly shown in FIG. 5, in addition to the image data input from the reading unit 50, image data supplied from outside (for example, output from a data processing device such as a personal computer) is output to the image processing unit (IPU). A function of selecting input / output of a plurality of data.

  A CPU 68 for setting the image memory controller 65 and the like and controlling the reading unit 50 and the writing unit 57, and a ROM 69 and a RAM 70 for storing programs and data thereof are provided. Further, the CPU 68 can write and read data in the image memory 66 via the memory controller 65. In addition, an HDD 73 for saving and saving the contents of the image memory 66 is provided.

Here, an image signal for one page in the selector 64 will be described with reference to FIG.
/ FGATE represents a valid period in the sub-scanning direction of one page of image data. / LSYNC is a main scanning synchronization signal for each line, and the image signal becomes valid at a predetermined clock after this signal rises. A signal indicating that the image signal in the main scanning direction is valid is / LGATE. These signals are synchronized with the pixel clock VCLK, and one pixel of data is sent for one cycle of VCLK. The image processing unit (IPU) 49 has separate generation mechanisms for / FGATE, / LSYNC, / LGATE, and VCLK for each of image input and output, and various image input / output combinations can be realized. .

  In order to share the work, it is necessary to transmit / receive image data and commands to / from another digital copying machine. In this embodiment, the IEEE 1394 connection interface is used for transmitting / receiving image data. A serial communication line is used. The memory controller 65 of FIG. 5 implements this via the connection interface driver 48.

  Further, it has a temperature detecting means comprising a thermistor for detecting the surface temperature of the fixing roller as shown in FIG.

FIG. 17 shows the periphery of a photoconductor and its unit adopting a tandem image forming system of four drums.
Each photoconductor unit (process cartridge unit) has a structure in which a photoconductor, a charging device unit, a developing unit, and a cleaning unit are integrally coupled. Each photoconductor unit (PCU) can be replaced by releasing each stopper.

  They are arranged in the order of paper transport from the lower right to MCYK. Note that each photoconductor unit (PCU) is incompatible with each color and cannot be interchanged between colors. Similarly to the PCU, the transfer unit is also laid out in an oblique direction, and transfers the image on the photosensitive member to the sheet while conveying the sheet from the lower right. In addition, the transfer unit is configured to be pulled out by tilting the release lever. Remove the transfer unit when replacing the transfer unit. The PCU can be pulled out by releasing the stopper.

  Next, a software control module configuration, image transfer, and print control in the image forming apparatus will be described. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a module configuration of software.

  The job information set in the application layer is passed to the control service layer using a start key or the like as a trigger. The control service layer interprets job information from the application and requests the handler manager for process information for operating the handler layer. The handler manager operates individual handlers according to the process information.

  The handler includes a scanner handler that controls the reading unit, an image memory handler that controls the input and output of image data to the image memory, a plotter handler that controls the writing unit and paper transport, and post-processing peripherals. The modules cooperate to perform processing from reading to storage in the image memory and image formation.

  Further, the image forming apparatus includes a connection I / F driver for connecting to another image forming apparatus, and image data and command information can be exchanged via the I / F. FIG. 8 shows a state where the image forming apparatuses are connected to each other.

  In the single copy job, the procedure is to read and store an image and print the stored image. In the linked copy job, the following control is added to the above procedure.

  For linked copy jobs generated on the master unit, after the job information is interpreted in the control service of the master unit, the image read by the scanner is stored in the image memory, and the image is transferred to the image memory of the slave unit. Each process is executed separately.

  When the necessary image transfer is completed, the slave unit control service generates a print process that refers to the image data transferred in advance according to the information received from the master unit control service, and prints it to the handler manager of the slave unit. Request.

  The slave device control service sequentially notifies the master device of print jobs processed by the slave device. Based on this information, the control service of the master unit monitors the progress of the print job of the master unit and the print job of the slave unit, and performs the necessary printing.

  FIG. 9 shows a procedure in which the slave unit side starts the connecting operation during the energy saving mode in the first embodiment described below. The horizontal axis indicates time. If JOB1 and JOB2 are normal jobs and JOB3 is a linked job, when the copy operation starts on the parent device side, JOB3 becomes a reserved job on the parent device side, and the parent device saves energy to the child device at the same time as the JOB2 print operation ends. Notify the return request. Thereafter, printing of JOB3 <connection> starts in the master unit, image transfer starts in the slave unit, and printing starts when the image transfer and the warm-up operation are completed.

  Further, in the second and third embodiments described below, as shown in FIG. 10, the energy saving recovery is performed from the parent machine side so that the print end timing of the job before the concatenated job coincides with the completion of the energy saving recovery. Receive a request.

  FIG. 11 shows the relationship between the fixing temperature and time when a transition is made from power-on → printable state → energy saving state → printable state. The figure shows the time Tr [sec] required to return from the energy saving state to the printable state. The energy-saving state of the slave unit here is a state from when the energy-saving transition request is received from the master unit to when the energy-saving return request is received. The line of the fixing temperature at the time of energy saving transition and return is originally a curve, but here it approximates a straight line. Tr [sec] varies depending on the fixing temperature when the energy saving return request is made.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the first embodiment. FIG. 12 shows an image in which one-to-one connection is performed, the slave unit side is in an energy saving state, and the master unit and the slave unit start the connection operation from the time when the previous job is executed on the master unit side. The vertical axis indicates the fixing temperature, and the horizontal axis indicates time. Here, assuming that Tr [sec] is the time required to return from the energy saving state to the printable state and Tt [sec] is the time required for image transfer from the master unit to the slave unit, if Tr ≧ Tt, The machine starts printing the linked job after the image transfer is completed, and the slave machine starts printing after completing the warm-up operation after the image transfer is completed. If Tt ≧ Tr, both the parent device and the child device start printing the linked job at the same time as the image transfer is completed.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, by requesting the return from the energy-saving state to the printable state at the same time as the start of image transfer, the child device at the same time as the job preceding the linked job is completed at the parent device. Starts shifting to the printable state, so that it is possible to shorten the time until the slave unit starts printing. Further, it is not necessary to calculate the time required for image transfer.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the second embodiment. FIG. 13 shows an image of starting a connection operation between the master unit and the slave unit from the time of execution of the previous job on the master unit side in the one-to-one connection, the slave unit side in the energy saving state. The vertical axis indicates the fixing temperature, and the horizontal axis indicates time. Here, if Tr is the time required to return from the energy-saving state to the printable state and Ta is the time until the end of printing of the previous job of the linked job, the parent device saves energy to the child device when Tr = Ta. Request a return from a status to a printable status. As a result, the slave unit increases the fixing temperature and shifts to a printable state. If Tr> Ta, the slave unit starts printing the linked job after shifting to the printable state.

  FIG. 15 shows a flowchart from when a linked job is input to the parent device until notification of energy-saving return to the child device in the second embodiment. When the master unit receives the linked job, it determines whether Tr ≧ Ta holds. If it does, the slave unit is notified of an energy saving return request, and if it does not, the same determination as in the step is performed after a certain period.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, when the time taken to print the previous job of the linked job on the parent device is longer than the time taken to warm up the child device, the parent device finishes printing the previous job. Then, since the slave unit shifts to a printable state at the same time as the image transfer is completed, the time until the slave unit starts printing is shortened, which is useless during the image transfer period compared to the image processing system of the first embodiment. Can not consume power.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the third embodiment. FIG. 14 shows an image in which connection is started between the parent device and the child device from the end of the previous job on the parent device side in the one-to-one connection, the child device side is in an energy saving state. The vertical axis indicates the fixing temperature, and the horizontal axis indicates time. Here, if Tr is the time required to return from the energy saving state to the printable state, and Ta (n) is the time from the job being printed to the end of printing of the previous job of the linked job, the master unit will be Tr ≧ Ta ( In the case of n), the slave unit is requested to return from the energy saving state to the printable state. As a result, the slave unit increases the fixing temperature and shifts to a printable state.

  FIG. 16 shows a flowchart from when a linked job is input to the parent device until notification of energy-saving return to the child device in the third embodiment. When the master device receives the linked job, it determines whether Tr ≧ Ta (n) holds. If it does, the slave unit is notified of an energy saving return request, and if it does not, the same determination as in the step is performed after a certain period.

  As described above, according to the third embodiment of the present invention, in the case where the time required for printing the previous job of the linked job in the parent device is shorter than the time required for warming up the child device, in the image processing system of the second embodiment, While the warm-up has not yet finished after printing of the previous job of the linked job, when the multiple jobs are reserved, the slave device is ready to print simultaneously with the printing of the previous job of the linked job from the parent device. Since the transition is made, the time required to start printing on the slave unit side can be shortened, and wasteful power can be prevented from being consumed during the image transfer period as compared with the image processing system of the first embodiment.

  FIG. 18 is a flowchart for explaining the printing sharing process after the connection job is input to the parent device in the fourth embodiment. When the master device accepts the linked job, it is checked in step 1 whether the self device and the partner device are toner near-end, and if both devices are near-end, print assignment processing is performed between the self device and the partner device.

  If either one is not near-end, it is confirmed in step 2 whether the own device is toner near-end, and if it is near-end, all printing is performed by the partner device. If the own machine is not near-end, it is checked in step 3 whether the partner machine is toner near-end, and if it is near-end, all printing is performed by the own machine. If the partner machine is also not near-end, print sharing processing is performed between the own machine and the partner machine.

  As described above, according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, by transferring the printing assignment from a machine having a small amount of toner in a process cartridge to a machine having a large amount of remaining toner, the difference in print density and color tone between the master unit and the slave unit is printed. It is possible to prevent the difference from occurring.

  As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention was described, it is not limited to the said Example, A various deformation | transformation is possible in the range which does not deviate from the summary.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an operation unit of the image forming apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display on a liquid crystal touch panel of an operation unit of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a diagram illustrating a main controller and its peripheral portion of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing unit (an image reading unit and an image writing unit) of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an image signal for one page in a selector according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the module structure of software concerning the Example of this invention. 1 is a diagram illustrating a state in which image forming apparatuses according to an embodiment of the present invention are connected. FIG. It is a figure which concerns on Example 1 of this invention and shows the procedure which the subunit | mobile_unit side started connection operation | movement in the energy saving mode. It is a figure which shows the procedure which concerns on Example 2 and 3 of this invention, and the subunit | mobile_unit side started connection operation | movement in the energy saving mode. It is a figure which shows the relationship between fixing temperature and time which concerns on Example 1 of this invention. It is a figure explaining operation | movement of Example 1 of this invention. It is a figure explaining operation | movement of Example 2 of this invention. It is a figure explaining operation | movement of Example 3 of this invention. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation from when a connection job is input to a parent device until notification of energy saving return to the child device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation from when a connection job is input to a parent device until notification of energy saving return to the child device according to the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration around a photoconductor and a unit thereof that employs a tandem image forming method of a four-drum according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a print sharing process after a linked job is input to a parent device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Automatic document feeder (ADF)
2 Document platen 3 Paper feed roller 4 Feed belt 5 Discharge roller 6 Contact glass 7 Document set detection 8 1st tray 9 2nd tray 10 3rd tray 11 1st paper feed device 12 2nd paper feed device 13 3rd feed Paper device 14 Vertical transport unit 15 Photoconductor 16 Transport belt 17 Fixing unit 18 Paper discharge unit 20 Main controller 21 Intermediate clutch 22 First paper feed clutch 23 Second paper feed clutch 24 Third paper feed clutch 25 Main motor 26 Carry motor 27 Development unit 30 Operation unit 31 Liquid crystal touch panel (liquid crystal display)
32 Numeric keypad 33 Clear / Stop key 34 Start key (Print key)
35 Preheating key 36 Reset key 48 Connection I / F (connection interface driver)
49 Image Processing Unit (IPU)
50 reading unit 51 exposure lamp 52 first mirror 53 lens 54 CCD image sensor 55 second mirror 56 third mirror 57 writing unit 58 laser output unit 59 imaging lens 60 mirror 61 A / D converter 62 shading correction 63 image processing unit 64 Selector 65 Image memory controller 66 Image memory 67 I / O port 68 CPU
69 ROM
70 RAM
71 Write γ correction unit 72 Scaling process 73 HDD
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Finisher 101 Switching plate 102 Normal discharge roller 103 Conveyance roller 104 Normal discharge tray 105 Conveyance roller 106 Stapler 107 Conveyance roller 108 Staple stand 109 Jogger 110 Staple completion discharge tray 111 Double-sided paper feed unit 112 Branch claw

Claims (7)

Reading means for reading a document as image data;
Image processing means for performing image processing on the image data read by the reading means;
Image data printing means for printing image data formed by the image processing means;
In an image forming system configured by electrically connecting a plurality of image forming apparatuses including a temperature detecting unit that detects a surface temperature of the fixing roller,
Any one of the plurality of image forming apparatuses serves as a master unit, and the read image data is transferred to another plurality of image forming apparatuses serving as slave units. It has a means to share printing as a job and process it in parallel.
A unit for starting transfer of the image data to the slave unit when the reserved linked job is in a printing order with respect to the print job being executed by the master unit;
When the slave unit is in an energy saving state, the slave unit is requested to shift to a printable state simultaneously with the start of transfer of the image data from the master unit to the slave unit side. Image forming system. Reading means for reading a document as image data;
Image processing means for performing image processing on the image data read by the reading means;
Image data printing means for printing image data formed by the image processing means;
In an image forming system configured by electrically connecting a plurality of image forming apparatuses provided with temperature detecting means for detecting the surface temperature of the fixing roller,
Any one of the plurality of image forming apparatuses serves as a master unit, and the read image data is transferred to another plurality of image forming apparatuses serving as slave units. It has a means to share printing as a linked job and process it in parallel,
Means for transferring the image data to the slave device side by the reserved linked job while the master device is executing a print job;
In the linked job, if the time taken to return from the energy saving state to the printable state is Tr, and the time until the end of the job before the linked job is Ta,
An image forming system, characterized in that, when Tr ≧ Ta, the master unit requests the slave unit to return from an energy saving state to a printable state. In the linked job, Ta (1) is the time until the end of the job being printed in the master, Ta (2) is the time until the end of the next job, and Ta is the time until the end of the next job. (3) ... If the time until the n job before the linked job is completed is Ta (n),
3. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein when Tr ≧ Ta (n), the master unit requests the slave unit to return from an energy saving state to a printable state.   2. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein in the image forming apparatus, supply information of a process cartridge provided with means for detecting a supply end is notified from the slave unit to the master unit.   2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the slave unit transfers the printing assignment of the slave unit to the master unit at a supply end or near end, based on supply information of the own unit and supply information notified from the slave unit. Item 5. The image forming system according to Item 4.   2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, based on the supply information of the own device and the supply information notified from the slave device, the master device transfers the printing share of the master device to the slave device at the supply end or near end. Item 5. The image forming system according to Item 4.   An image forming apparatus used in the image forming system according to claim 1.

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