Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Corporation

Hidetomo Nishiyama

Yasuhiro Nakai

Syoichiro Yoshiura

Masato Tokishige

Tokiyuki Okano

Kiyoshi Inamoto

Kazunori Sohda

Kazuyuki Ohnishi

Yoichi Shimazawa

Masakatsu Nakamura

Takeshi Takarada

Atsushi Kurimoto

Masami Oka

Kazunori Iwasa

Kazuyuki Onishi

Masami Uchida

An image forming system, wherein a second digital copying machine stores image data temporarily on behalf of a first digital copying machine at its request and returns the stored image data upon receipt of a return request. When the second digital copying machine has not received any return request from the first digital copying machine within a predetermined period, the second digital copying machine erases the stored image data to utilize its own memory efficiently.

Shared memory image forming system

An image-forming system is constituted by connecting a plurality of digital copying machines to a communication apparatus so that the digital copying machines can transmit and receive image information with each other. As an instruction for image processing is inputted at any of the digital copying machines, a control section of the digital copying machine outputs the image information to a digital copying machine that is capable of carrying out the image processing. The digital copying machine that is assigned the image processing carries out a predetermined image processing on the image information and returns the processed image information via the communication apparatus. The image information is then visualized by a digital copying machine that receives the image information. Therefore, even if a predetermined image-processing function cannot be found in the digital copying machine that is to be used, the image information is processed by another digital copying machine having that image-processing function. This reduces economic burden on the user of the digital copying machine.

Image-forming system

A request condition managing table is provided to a request-sender digital copying machine. For example, when the request-sender digital copying machine is reset to a predetermined condition, the PCU of the request-sender digital copying machine outputs a clear signal to a request-receiver digital copying machine through a transmitting apparatus, so that the image data stored therein on behalf of the request-sender digital copying machine are cleared. Alternatively, the operator can erase such image data manually by checking the request condition managing table. In this manner, when the image data read by the request-sender image forming apparatus and stored temporarily in the request-receiver image forming apparatus become useless, the request-sender image forming apparatus so notifies the request-receiver image forming apparatus and directs the same to erase the image data, thereby preventing the request-receiver image forming apparatus from storing useless image data over a long period.

Image forming system

A digital copying machine is provided with a control section which, based upon function information and an instruction from an operation panel requesting that desired image process be carried out on image information, selects a digital copying machine and a host computer that are capable of carrying out the desired image process, successively transfers the image information to the respective processing sections of the digital copying machine and the host computer for each image process, and supplies the finally processed image information, which has been returned thereto, to a laser printer section. Further, upon receipt of an instruction from the operation panel requesting that a plurality of image processes be carried out on image information by using a digital copying machine and a host computer in a combined manner, the control section also makes a decision as to which image process should be preferentially carried out, and gives the resulting instruction. Thus, in the case when desired image processes are carried out by using the digital copying machine and the host computer in a combined manner, it is possible to shorten the transfer time, and to operate both of the apparatuses efficiently. As a result, it becomes possible to provide an image-forming system that produces a desired visual image in a short time.

In an image-forming system, when the user inputs an instruction for image processing to an input section in a digital copying machine, the control section of the digital copying machine outputs image information of a document to a host computer. The host computer carries out a predetermined image process on the inputted image information, and outputs the processed image information to the digital copying machine through a transferring device. The control section of the digital copying machine supplies the processed image information to an image-recording section, and the image-recording section forms a visual image based on the image information. With this arrangement, merely by installing necessary processing functions in the host computer, it becomes possible to eliminate the need for purchasing a new digital copying machine to replace the older one with relatively outdated functions, and also to reduce the burden on users on an economic basis.

Image forming system having transfer device for communicating between

In the present image forming system, when a digital copying machine having no specimen image judging section makes a copy, it transfers an input image to an image processing apparatus having the specimen image judging section within the system to request to judge whether the input image is a copy-prohibited image on its behalf. When the judging result is returned within a predetermined period, the digital copying machine controls the copying operation based on the judging result: when the judging result is negative, a normal copying operation is carried out; when the copying is totally prohibited, the image processing apparatus ends the copying operation after informing the user that the copying operation is terminated because the copying of the subject image is prohibited. Consequently, whether the subject image data are a specimen image like paper money can be discovered at the image processing machine, thereby preventing a crime, such as forgery of paper money or securities. Also, if the specimen image judging section is installed in the image processing apparatus, each digital copying machine connected to the same does not have to include the specimen image judging section, thereby suppressing a cost increase.

Image forming apparatus having a specimen image judging section and an

An image forming system has a plurality of image forming apparatuses that are operatively connected so as to communicate image information with each other. Some of the image forming apparatuses carry out image processing in a distributed manner with respect to image information that has been inputted to one of the image forming apparatuses and corresponds to a plurality of pages. Such some image forming apparatuses carry out the image processing for every predetermined pages of the image information in parallel and within processing capacity levels of such some image forming apparatuses. The processing capacity levels fall within a permissible range. Such an arrangement causes (1) to shorten the time required for processing to be carried out within the image forming system and (2) for the image-processed image information to be substantially the same level over the entire pages.

Image forming system having a plurality of image forming apparatuses for

An image forming system is arranged such that when a designated machine is not provided with the image processing function requested by an operator, a plurality of image forming apparatuses which are capable of performing the requested image processing function are selected. Then, the image data are respectively transferred to the selected plurality of image forming apparatuses through a transmission apparatus to be processed. When the image data has been processed with a requested image processing function, the processed image data are returned to the image forming apparatus of the requesting end. Then, the image forming apparatus of the requesting end realigns a plurality of processed image data. As a result, even if a predetermined processing function is not provided in the designated image forming apparatus, a plurality of image data are transmitted to other image forming apparatus to be processed, thereby obtaining a visible image efficiently.

A cleaning unit used for cleaning the surface of a recording medium in an image forming apparatus, the cleaning unit having a head being moved so as to contact with and separate from the recording medium on the basis of the assessment of preset image forming conditions such as paper size, document size, and copy magnification, and a control section for moving the cleaning head at a detected appropriate time, wherein the cleaning head is released so as to avoid the dispersion of toner that is likely to spoil the image.

Cleaning unit

An image forming apparatus including a condition determining device for determining optimum conditions automatically for copying a document during copying, a blank lamp for recording information concerning the determined conditions in code on a sheet of copy paper, a code scanner for reading the coded information when producing a copy from the copy paper carrying the code thereon, and control circuits for setting copying conditions according to the read information. With this configuration, when producing copies of the image on the original document, by reading the coded information and setting the copying conditions, an image satisfying the optimum conditions is readily obtained whenever it is desired. Moreover, even when making copies from a copied image which was produced through subsequent copying, the formed images always have the same quality that the original has.

Image forming apparatus with storage for copying conditions

A developing apparatus which includes a plurality of developing units individually provided with sensors for detecting amount of toner accommodated therein, includes a judging device for judging whether or not sensor outputs of other developing units are below a replenishable amount when a sensor output of one developing unit falls below a replenishing requiring amount, and a replenishing display device for urging toner replenishment, based on the result of the above judgement, with respect to the developing unit having the sensor output below the replenishing requiring amount and the developing unit whose sensor output is below the replenishable amount.

Developing apparatus

A developing apparatus which includes a plurality of developing units individually provided with sensors for detecting amounts of toner accommodated therein, includes a judging device for judging whether or not sensor outputs of other developing units are below a replenishable amount when a sensor output of one developing unit falls below a replenishing requiring amount, and a replenishing display device for urging toner replenishment, based on the result of the above judgement, with respect to the developing unit having the sensor output below the replenishing requiring amount and the developing unit whose sensor output is below the replenishable amount.

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Yamatokoriyama, Japan

Hidetomo Nishiyama