Image processing system

• US 4,791,492 A
• Filed: 04/09/1984
• Issued: 12/13/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/1983
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Yamada, Masanori, Nagashima, Nao, Sugishima, Kiyohisa
• Primary Examiner(s): Coles, Sr., Edward L.
• Application Number:
  US06/598,192
• Time in Patent Office: 1,709 Days
• Field of Search: 358/286, 358/257, 358/280, 358/264, 358/3 SH, 355/14 E, 355/14 D, 355/8
• US Class Current: 358/409
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32502 in systems having a plurality of input or output devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32507 a plurality of input devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32523 a plurality of output devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32545 Distributing a job or task among a plurality of input devices or a plurality of output devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/36 for synchronising or phasing transmitter and receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0081 Image reader H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence

Abstract

There is described an image processing system in which the image signals from a reader unit is transmitted to plural image forming units for reproducing plural images simultaneously, through a signal transmitting unit. The signal transmitting unit has a function of synchronizing each image forming unit independently, in order to avoid the total failure or retarded operation caused by a failure in synchronization of one of the plural image forming units.

Claims

1. An image processing system comprising:

generating means for generating digital image signals;

plural image forming means for image formation in response to said digital image signals; and

transmission means for transmitting the digital image signals generated by said generating means to said plural image forming means,

wherein said transmission means is provided with plural synchronizing means each for providing synchronization of transmission of said digital image signals to an associated one of said plural image forming means so as to achieve simultaneous image formation by said plural image forming means in response to the same digital image signals, and

wherein each of said synchronizing means comprises memory means for storing the digital image signals generated by said generating means.

2. An image processing system according to claim 1, wherein each of said synchronizing means is adapted to receive synchronizing signals relating to the image formation from the associated one of said plural image forming means and to synchronize the transmission of said digital image signals to the associated one of said plural image forming means in response to said synchronizing signals.

3. An image processing system according to claim 1, wherein said generating means comprises reading means for photoelectrically reading an original document.

4. An image processing system according to claim 1, wherein said transmission means is operable to select an image forming means for use in image formation from among said plural image forming means.

5. An image processing system comprising:

generating means for generating digital image signals in accordance with synchronizing signals;

at least one image forming means connected with said generating means and adapted for image formation in response to said digital image signals; and

recognizing means for recognizing a number of said image forming means to be connected with said generating means;

wherein said generating means changes the synchronizing signals employed in the generation of the digital image signals in accordance with the number recognized by said recognizing means.

6. An image processing system according to claim 5, wherein said recognizing means is adapted to recognize whether the number of the connected image forming means is one or more than one.

7. An image processing system according to claim 5, wherein said generating means is adapted to generate the digital image signals in response either to a first synchronizing signal supplied from the connected image forming means, or to a second sychronizing signal generated in said generating means.

8. An image processing system according to claim 5, wherein said generating means comprises reading means for photoelectrically reading an original document.

9. An image processing system comprising:

generating means for generating digital image signals;

plural image forming means for image formation on a recording material in response to the digital image signals from said generating means, wherein said plural image forming means is equipped with the recording materials of plural sizes;

designating means for designating the size of the recording material to be employed in the image formation; and

means for selecting the image forming means to be employed from said plural image forming means, according to the size designated by said designating means.

10. An image processing system according to claim 9, wherein said designating means is provided in said generating means.

11. An image processing system according to claim 9, further comprising display means for displaying the sizes of the recording materials contained in said plural image forming means.

12. An image processing system according to claim 9, wherein said plural image forming means are adapted to execute simultaneous image formations in response to the same digital image signals.

13. An image processing system according to claim 9, wherein said generating means comprises reading means for photoelectrically reading an original document.

17. An image processing system according to claim 13, wherein said generating means includes manual operable means for setting a desired size of the recording material.

14. An image processing system comprising:

generating means for generating digital image signals;

plural image forming means each adapted to form an image on various sizes of recording material in response to the digital image signals; and

transmission means for receiving said digital image signals from said generating means and selectively transmitting the digital image signals to at least one of said plural image forming means;

wherein said generating means outputs size information regarding a size of a recording material on which an image is to be formed to said transmission means, and said transmission means selects at least one of the plural image forming means in accordance with the size information outputted by said generating means.

15. An image processing system according to claim 14, wherein said generating means comprises reading means for photoelectrically reading an original document.

16. An image processing system according to claim 14, wherein said generating means is also operable to output information concerning the number of times of image formation.

18. An image processing system according to claim 14, wherein said plural image forming means are adapted to execute simultaneous image formations in response to the same digital image signals.

19. An image processing system comprising:

generating means for generating digital image signals;

plural image forming means for selective image formation in response to the digital image signals from said generating means;

displaying means for indicating disabled state of the image forming means; and

control means adapted, in case one of the image forming means becomes disabled in the course of an image formation and said image formation can be achieved by another of the image forming means, to cause said another image forming means to execute said image formation;

wherein said display means does not indicate the disabled state of the image forming means in case the image formation can be executed by another image forming means.

20. An image processing system according to claim 19, wherein said display means is adapted to display the disabled state in case the disabled image forming means cannot be replaced by another image forming means.

21. An image processing system according to claim 19, wherein said generating means comprises reading means for photoelectrically reading an original document.

22. An image processing system according to claim 19, wherein said plural image forming means are adapted to execute simultaneous image formations in response to the same digital image signals.

23. An image processing system comprising:

generating means for generating digital image signals;

plural image forming means for image formation on a recording material in response to the digital image signals; and

display means provided in said generating means and adapted to display all the size information on said recording materials charged in said plural image forming means.

24. An image processing system according to claim 23, further comprising selecting means for selecting the image forming means to be employed according to the size information displayed in said display means.

25. An image processing system according to claim 23, wherein said plural image forming means are adapted to execute simultaneous image formations in response to the same digital image signals.

26. An image processing system according to claim 23, wherein said generating means is composed of reading means for photoelectrically reading an original document.

27. An image processing system according to claim 26, further comprising means for selecting an image forming means for use in image formation among said plural image forming means.

28. An image processing system comprising:

generating means for generating digital image signals; and

plural image forming means for simultaneous image formation in response to the same digital image signals;

wherein provided, in case at least one of the plural image forming means in the course of simultaneous image formation becomes disabled, are a first mode in which the image formation is executed by other image forming means and a second mode in which the entire image forming operation is interrupted.

29. An image processing system according to claim 28, further comprising selecting means for selecting either of said first and second modes.

30. An image processing system according to claim 29, wherein said generating means comprises reading means for photoelectrically reading an original document.