Abstract:
A copying machine to which a cooperative copying machine is connectable by a cable and which can perform a tandem function for distributing a job to the cooperative copying machine and causing the cooperative copying machine to execute the job. The copying machine includes a function selection input accepting circuit for accepting only function selection input relating to a common function provided in both the copying machine and the cooperative copying machine when a tandem mode is set, and a function setting circuit for setting the copying machine in order to perform the function accepted by the function selection input accepting circuit.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a copying machine to which one or a plurality of copying machines are connectable by a dedicated cable and which has a tandem function for distributing image data read by one of the copying machines among the plurality of copying machines and causing the copying machines to perform copying processing. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     A copying machine to which one or a plurality of copying machines are connectable by a dedicated cable and which has a tandem function for distributing image data read by one of the copying machines among the plurality of copying machines and causing the copying machines to perform copying processing to improve productivity has already been developed. In doing copying utilizing the tandem function, however, no attention has been paid to circumstances where mode setting is performed for utilizing a function which is available in only parts of the plurality of copying machines. In order to utilize the tandem function, therefore, it has been necessary that all of the plurality of copying machines connected to one another have the same functions. 
     When only one of the two copying machines connected to each other by a cable has a stapling function, for example, the tandem function cannot be utilized. Even if both the copying machines respectively have duplex copying functions, for example, the tandem function cannot be utilized when the duplex copying function of one of the copying machines is at fault. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a copying machine capable of utilizing, even when the functions of a plurality of copying machines connected to one another by a cable are not the same, a tandem function in the range of the function common to the plurality of copying machines. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a copying machine capable of causing, when the functions of a plurality of copying machines connected to one another by a cable are not the same, only parts of the copying machines to execute jobs in response to the selection of the functions provided in the parts of the copying machines. 
     A copying machine according to a first aspect of the present invention is a copying machine to which a cooperative copying machine can be connected by a cable and which can perform a tandem function for distributing a job to the cooperative copying machine and causing the cooperative copying machine to execute the job. The copying machine comprises a mode setting section for setting the copying machine to a tandem mode for performing the tandem function; a common function judging circuit for judging, when the tandem mode is set, a common function provided in both the copying machine and the cooperative copying machine; a function selection input accepting circuit for accepting only function selection input relating to the common function judged by the common function judging circuit and bringing selection input of a noncommon function which is not provided in either the copying machine or the cooperative copying machine into an acceptance inhibited state; and a function setting circuit for setting the copying machine in order to perform the function accepted by the function selection input accepting circuit. 
     By this construction, when the functions of the plurality of copying machines connected to one another by a cable are not the same, the copying machines can be caused to perform copying processing in the tandem mode only with respect to the function common to all the copying machines. 
     A copying machine according to a second aspect of the present invention is a copying machine to which one or a plurality of cooperative copying machines can be connected by a cable and which can perform a tandem function for distributing a job to the cooperative copying machines and causing the cooperative copying machines to execute the job. The copying machine comprises a function selection instruction issuing section for issuing an instruction to select the function; a job start instruction issuing section for starting the execution of the job corresponding to the function selected by the function selection instruction issuing section; a function judging circuit for judging whether or not the function selected by the function selection instruction issuing section can be performed by any of the copying machine and the cooperative copying machines; a function setting circuit for setting a specified copying machine which the function judging circuit judges can perform the function in order to execute the job corresponding to the function; and a job control circuit for causing the specified copying machine to perform the function set by the function setting circuit upon issuing the instruction to start the jobs by the job start instruction issuing section. 
     By this construction, in a case where the functions of the plurality of copying machines connected to one another by the cable are not the same, when the functions provided in only parts of the copying machines are selected, copying processing can be performed only by the parts of the copying machines. 
     The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the schematic configuration of two copying machines connected to each other in order to utilize a tandem function; 
     FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing an example of the process procedure performed by a main control section in the copying machine in a case where a tandem mode is selected; 
     FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a function comparison table; and 
     FIGS. 4A and 4B show a flow chart showing another example of the process procedure performed by a main control section in the copying machine in a case where a tandem mode is selected. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of two copying machines connected to each other in order to utilize a tandem function. Two copying machines  10  and  20  respectively comprise reading sections  11  and  21  for optically reading a document image and converting the read document image into an image signal, recording sections  12  and  22  for recording the read image signal on paper sheets, operation display sections  13  and  23  respectively having display devices  132  and  232  and operation keys  131  and  231 , and main control sections  14  and  24  for controlling the sections. 
     The operation keys  131  and  231  in the operation display sections  13  and  23  respectively comprise tandem mode setting keys  13   a  and  23   a  for setting the copying machines  10  and  20  to a tandem mode, function selecting keys  13   b  and  23   b  for selecting one or a plurality of functions (for example, a stapling function, a duplex copying function, etc.) in causing the copying machines  10  and  20  to perform a copying operation, and start keys  13   c  and  23   c  for starting copying processing by the selected functions. The operation key  131  may be composed of a mechanical switch arranged around the display device  132  composed of a liquid crystal panel, for example, or may be constructed by a combination of a button displayed on the display device  132  and a transparent touch panel provided on a surface of the display device. 
     The respective main control sections  14  and  24  in the copying machines  10  and  20  are connected to each other by a dedicated cable  30 . 
     A first embodiment will be first described. In the first embodiment, in a case where the functions of the two copying machines  10  and  20  connected to each other by the cable are not the same, a tandem function can be utilized in the range of the function common to the copying machines  10  and  20 . In this case, it is assumed that the copying machine  20 , for example, is a cooperative copying machine for performing copying processing in cooperation with the copying machine  10 . 
     Specifically, a document image is read by the copying machine  10 , a user sets, for example, a copying mode with respect to the copying machine  10 , and copying processing is performed upon being distributed between the copying machine  10  and the cooperative copying machine  20 . 
     FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the process procedure performed by the main control section  14  in the copying machine  10  in a case the tandem mode setting key  13   a  is operated to select the tandem mode. 
     When the tandem mode is set by the tandem mode setting key  13   a  (step S 1 ), the main control section  14  creates a function comparison table, as shown in FIG. 3, on a memory in order to compare the functions of the copying machine  10  and the cooperative copying machine  20  (step S 2 ). 
     In the function comparison table shown in FIG. 3, a function which can be utilized is represented by a symbol “∘” and a function which cannot be utilized is represented by “X”. For example, on the memory, a value “1” is assigned to the symbol “∘”, and a value “0” is assigned to the symbol “X”. 
     The main control section  14  refers to the function comparison table, to compare the functions of both the copying machines  10  and  20 , and specifies the common function which can be utilized in both the copying machines  10  and  20 . That is, if the logical AND of the values, in the function comparison table, corresponding to a function of the copying machines  10  and  20  is “1”, then the function is a common function. The function in which the logical AND is “0” is a noncommon function which can be utilized only by either of the copying machines or can be utilized in neither of the copying machines. 
     The main control section  14  brings, with respect to the function provided only in either of the copying machines or the function provided in neither of the copying machines (the noncommon function in which the logical AND is “0”), selection input of the function into an acceptance inhibited state (step S 3 ). The main control section  14  controls the operation display section  13 , to indicate on the display device  132  that the tandem mode is selected, and inverts, flashes, or cancels the display of the function which cannot be selected (the noncommon function). That is, the common function and the noncommon function are displayed in different manners on the operation display section  13  (step S 31 ). 
     Thereafter, when an input operation for selecting the common function (a copying function) which is in the acceptance allowed state is performed by the function selecting key  13   b  (step S 4 ), the main control section  14  sets the sections in each of the copying machines  10  and  20  in order to perform the selected common function (step S 6 ). In this case, the sections in the cooperative copying machine  20  are set by the main control section  24  which has received a command from the main control section  14  through the dedicated cable  30 . When the plurality of functions are to be set, a function selecting operation (step S 4 ) and a corresponding function setting operation (step S 6 ) are repeatedly performed. 
     When the start key  13   c  in the operation display section  13  is pressed (step S 5 ), copying processing is performed upon being distributed between the copying machines  10  and  20  (step S 7 ). A copying mode in this case is a copying mode corresponding to the function set at the step S 6 . Copied paper sheets are discharged from both the copying machines  10  and  20  by the copying mode. 
     FIGS. 4A and 4B show a flow chart for explaining the operation of a copying machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In the description of the second embodiment, FIGS. 1 and 3, together with FIGS. 4A and 4B, will be referred to. 
     In the second embodiment, in a case where the functions of two copying machines  10  and  20  connected to each other are not the same, when a function (a noncommon function) provided in one of the copying machines is selected, copying processing by the function can be performed by only one of the copying machines. Description is made of a case where a document image is read by the one copying machine  10 , for example, and a copying mode is set by a user with respect to the copying machine  10 . 
     FIGS. 4A and 4B show the process procedure performed by a main control section  14  in the copying machine  10  in a case where a tandem mode for performing a tandem function is selected. 
     When a tandem mode setting key  13   a  in an operation display section  13  is operated to select the tandem ode (step U 1 ), the main control section  14  creates a function comparison table, as shown in FIG. 3, on a memory in order to compare the functions of the copying machine  10  and the other copying machine  20  (a cooperative copying machine) (step U 2 ). 
     The main control section  14  further judges whether or not a copying function is selected (a copying mode is selected) by the user operating a function selecting key  13   b , and judges whether or not a start key  13   c  in the operation display section  13  is pressed (step U 4 ). When the copying function is selected by the user (step U 3 ), it is judged whether or not the selected copying function is a copying function (a common function) provided in both the copying machines  10  and  20  (step U 5 ). When the selected copying function is a function common to both the copying machines  10  and  20 , the sections in the copying machine  10  are set in order to set the selected copying function. A command issued to perform setting for performing the common function is transmitted to a main control section  24  in the copying machine  20  through a cable  30 . Thereafter, the program proceeds to the step U 4 . 
     When the start key  13   c  is pressed after only the copying function provided in both the copying machines  10  and  20  is selected (YES at step U 4 ), jobs are distributed between both the copying machines  10  and  20 , so that copying processing is started (step U 7 ). A copying mode at this time is a copying mode corresponding to the function set at the step U 6 . 
     When it is judged at the step U 5  that the selected copying function is a copying function (a non-copying function) provided in only one of the copying machines  10  and  20 , the copying machine having the selected copying function is specified. The specified copying machine is hereinafter referred to as a “specified copying machine”. In this case, the main control section  14  displays on a display device  132  in the operation display section  13  a message indicating that output processing can be performed only by the specified copying machine, that is, copying processing in the tandem mode cannot be performed in a system of the two copying machines which are currently presumed. Further, the main control section  14  displays on the display device  132  in the operation display section  13  a message for inquiring whether or not the processing is continued (step U 8 ). 
     The message forces the user to enter a command to continue processing (an OK command) or a command to stop processing (an NG command) When the NG command is entered (NG at step U 9 ), the tandem mode is stopped. 
     On the other hand, when the OK command is entered, the main control section  14  brings, with respect to the function which is not provided in the specified copying machine out of the functions of both the copying machines  10  and  20 , selection input of the function into an acceptance inhibited state (step U 10 ). In other words, the selection input of only the function provided in the specified copying machine enters an acceptance allowed state. At this time, the main control section  14  controls the operation display section  13 , to display the function in the acceptance allowed state and the function in the acceptance inhibited state on the display device  132  in different manners (step U 101 ). 
     Thereafter, when an operation for selecting the function in the acceptance allowed state is performed by the function selecting key  13   b  (step U 11 ), the sections in the copying machine  10  are set in correspondence with the selected copying function (step U 13 ). When the start key  13   c  in the operation display section  13  is operated in this state (step U 12 ), the copying processing by the specified copying machine is started (step U 14 ). A copying mode at this time is a copying mode corresponding to one or more functions set at the steps U 6  and U 13  if only the function provided in both the copying machines  10  and  20  is selected. When a function other than the function provided in both the copying machines  10  and  20  is selected, the copying mode is a copying mode corresponding to the function set at the step U 13 . At this time, it is preferable to indicate on the display device  132  in the operation display section  13  that the copying processing is not performed in the tandem mode and which of the copying machines is the specified copying machine. 
     Although description has been made of the embodiments of the present invention, the present invention can be embodied in another embodiment. For example, although in the first and second embodiments, description has been made of a case where the copying processing in the tandem function is performed by the two copying machines, the present invention is also applicable to a case where the copying processing in the tandem function is performed by three or more copying machines. 
     The three or more copying machines may be connected by connecting the two or more copying machines to the copying machine  10  through cables, for example. The two or more copying machines may be connected to the copying machine  10  by connecting the copying machine  10  and the copying machine  20  to each other by the dedicated cable  30  as well as connecting the other copying machine to the copying machine  20  by a cable. 
     When the second embodiment is applied to a system in which three or more copying machines are connected in tandem, a case where the two more copying machines are “specified copying machines” may occur. In this case, it is preferable that jobs are executed upon being distributed among the two ore more specified copying machines. That is, an image may be read in the one specified copying machine, and copying processing of the read image may be performed upon being distributed among the plurality of specified copying machines. 
     Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the spirit and scope of the present invention being limited only by the terms of the appended claims. 
     The application is based on Japanese Patent Application Serial No. 11-346536 filed with the Japanese Patent Office on Dec. 6, 1999, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.