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IMAGE FORMING SYSTEM IN WHICH forming apparatus 1 records image data from a computer 8.

IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS IS A sensor 2 detects the presence/absence of recording paper

CONNECTED TO IMAGE FORMING sheets on an ejecting paper tray 13. A sensor 3 detects the

APPARATUS presence/absence of recording paper sheets on an ejecting

5 paper tray 14. A sensor 4 detects the presence/absence of

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. recording paper sheets on an ejecting paper tray 15. A

08/359,814, filed Dec. 20, 1994, now abandoned. control circuit 5 controls all operations in the image forming

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION apparatus, including processing of signals from the sensors

3 to 4. An ejecting paper tray switching unit 6 switches the

1. Field oi tne invention ejecting paper tray for receiving recording paper sheets in The present invention relates to an image forming system acc0rdance with a signal from the control circuit. An interin which an image processing apparatus is connected to an fece (I/F) ? Qn the image foming apparatus side connects image forming apparatus. the image forming apparatus i to me computer 8 through

2. Related Background Art communication. The computer 8 generates or stores image Conventionally, an image formed by a personal computer data ^ interface (I/F) 9 on the computer 8 side connects the

or the like is printed out by a printer. However, such a printer { fomi apparatus 1 to the computer 8 through

has only one ejecting paper tray and cannot sort printed communication. A CPU 10 controls the computer 8. A

recording paper sheets. A printer has been proposed which k board u is used b an ator to { t an instmction to

is connected to a sorter so as to sort printed recording paper ±e computer 8. A CRT 12 serves as the display unit of the

sheets. However, such a printer only controls the storage uter 8 The ejecti t 13 serves as one of the

destination in the sorter from the printer side. An operator g units for stod recordi sheets xhe ejecti

operating in front of a personal computer has no means for 14 seryes as Qne of ^ stQ unife for stQri

detecting a specific storage unit in the sorter, resulting in recordi sheets xhe ejecti t 15 serves as

difficulty in finding recorded paper sheets destinated for the Qne of ±e ... units for stodng recording paper sheets

operator. ^ ^ cable 16 connects the image forming apparatus 1 to the

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION computer 8 for communication. Recording paper sheets 17

It is an object of the present invention to provide an image are selectively ejected onto the ejecting paper trays. The

forming system for solving the above problem. operation of the first embodiment is sequentially described

in FIG 3

It is another object of the present invention to provide an

image forming system in which an operator can detect the 30 The operation in the above arrangement will be described

status of each storage unit of an image forming apparatus below with reference to FIG. 3.

from an image processing apparatus side, thereby selecting when an image generated or stored in the computer 8 is

the storage unit to be printed out, the operator inputs a print instruction from

It is still another object of the present invention to provide the keyboard 11 to the computer 8. Upon reception of this

an image forming system in which an operator at an image 35 instruction, the CPU 10 of the computer 8 transmits a printer

processing apparatus can certify an automatically selected occupancy command to the image forming apparatus 1

storage unit of an image forming apparatus. through the I/F 9 UPon reception of the printer occupancy

T, • ,. , P., ,. ,. , ., command through the I/F 7, the control circuit 5 of the image

It is still another obi ect of the present invention to provide r b . .' , . f

c ■ , ■ i-i.i . . • forming apparatus 1 certifies the occupancy status of the

an image forming system in which the operator at an image . ?. • , ,

■ , , ,. , , , 40 image forming apparatus itself. It a recording enable state is

processing apparatus can change an automatically selected b , r ■ ■ r ■ ,

. c t set, a command tor permission of occupancy is transmitted

storage unit of an image forming apparatus. ', „r. , . .r r, ■; r

_ , , . , . ° . . .... to the computer 8 (at this time, it the image forming

Other objects and features of the invention will be appar- , , , , , ,., r . 5

r , r ,, • , ., , , ... . . apparatus is connected to a plurality of computers, and

ent from the following detailed description in conjunction ,. c c * *u •• »

. , , . & , r 1 recording of an image from one of the remaining computers

with the accompanying drawings. • u • * , .t., . c ■ t • i

r J b b 45 is being performed, or it the image forming apparatus singly

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS has a copy function, and a copying operation is being

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an image forming performed, a command for rejection of occupancy is sent,

system of an embodiment of the present invention; However, this status is not the subject matter, and a detailed

FIG. 2 is a view showing the outer appearance of the description thereof will be omitted),

image forming system' 50 Upon reception of the command for permission of

FIG. 3 is a view for' explaining a communication opera- occupancy, the computer 8 sends a status request to grasp the

tion of the image forming system; s,tatus of the lmage f°rmlng aPParatus 1- Upon reception of

rT„ . . r ... . .. the status request, the image forming apparatus 1 sends a

FIG. 4 is a view tor explaining a communication opera- ^ ^ . . . r b r , , r

r if r • * status containing information of the presence/absence of

tion of the image forming system; ,. , ^ , ■ ^ ^ TT

... . . 55 recording paper sheets on each ejecting paper tray. Upon

FIG 5 is a view for explaining a communication opera- rec tion of this status> the computer 8 indicates the status

tion of the image forming system; of each ... paper (ray Qn ±e CRJ u ... prQmpt.

FIG. 6 is a view for explaining a communication opera- ing the operator to select an ejecting paper tray. In FIG. 2,

tion of the image forming system; and the recording paper sheets are present on the ejecting paper

FIG. 7 is a view for explaining a communication opera- 60 tray i3. Therefore, the status indication of the ejecting paper

tion of the image forming system. tray 13 is the "presence of recording paper sheets", and the

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE status indication of the ejecting paper trays 14 and 15 is the

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS "absence of recording paper sheets". Upon checking the

indication, the operator selects the ejecting paper tray 14 or

First Embodiment 65 ^ when the recording paper sheets are to be stored on an

FIGS. 1 to 3 are views showing the first embodiment of available ejecting paper tray, and inputs a designation of the

the present invention. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an image ejecting paper tray from the keyboard 11 to the computer 8.

3

In this case, assume that the ejecting paper tray 14 is selected. Upon reception of the designation of the ejecting paper tray, the computer 8 transmits a command for designation of the ejecting paper tray to the image forming apparatus 1 such that the recording paper sheets are output 5 onto the ejecting paper tray 14. Upon reception of the command for designation of the ejecting paper tray, the control circuit 5 sends a signal to the ejecting paper tray switching unit 6. The ejecting paper tray switching unit 6 switches a convey path (not shown) to the ejecting paper tray 10 such that the recording paper sheets are ejected onto the ejecting paper tray 14. The computer 8 transmits the image data to the image forming apparatus 1 during this time, though no problem is posed because a time required for switching of the convey path is sufficiently shorter than that 15 required from reception of the image data to the end of print. Upon reception of the image data, the image forming apparatus executes print and stores the recording paper sheets on the designated ejecting paper tray 14.

20

Second Embodiment

FIGS. 1, 2, and 4 are views showing the second embodiment. A description of FIGS. 1 and 2 is the same as that in the first embodiment and will be omitted.

25

A description will be made with reference to FIG. 4. An operation before reception of a status signal by a computer 8 is the same as that in the first embodiment, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted. An operation after reception of the status by the computer 8 will be described. 3Q Upon reception of the status, the computer 8 automatically selects an available ejecting paper tray and transmits a command for designation of the ejecting paper tray to an image forming apparatus 1. Upon reception of the command for designation of the ejecting paper tray, a control circuit 5 3J in the image forming apparatus 1 sends a selection signal to an ejecting paper tray switching unit 6. The ejecting paper tray switching unit 6 switches a convey path to the ejecting paper tray such that recording paper sheets are ejected onto an ejecting paper tray 14. The computer 8 transmits image 4Q data to the image forming apparatus 1 during this time, and at the same time, indicates the ejecting paper tray number selected by the computer 8 on a CRT 12, thereby informing an operator of the ejecting paper tray for receiving the recording paper sheets. Upon reception of the image data, ^ the image forming apparatus 1 executes print and ejects the recording paper sheets onto the ejecting paper tray 14.

Third Embodiment

FIGS. 1, 2, and 5 are views showing the third embodi- 50 ment. A description of FIGS. 1 and 2 is the same as that in the first embodiment and will be omitted. In FIG. 5, an operation from reception of a status signal by a computer 8 to automatic selection of an available tray is the same as that in the second embodiment, and a detailed description thereof 55 will be omitted. The subsequent operation will be described with reference to FIG. 5.

Upon selection of the ejecting paper tray, the computer 8 indicates the selection result and the status of each ejecting paper tray on a CRT 12, thereby requesting an operator for 60 certification. Upon checking the indication, the operator inputs data representing acknowledgement or change of selection of the ejecting paper tray selected by the computer 8 from a keyboard 11. The computer 8 transmits a command for designation of the ejecting paper tray to an image 65 forming apparatus 1 in accordance with the data input from the keyboard 11. Thereafter, the same operation as that in the

4

first embodiment is performed to store recording paper sheets on an ejecting paper tray 14.

Fourth Embodiment

FIGS. 1, 2, and 6 are views showing the fourth embodiment. A description of FIGS. 1 and 2 is the same as that in the first embodiment and will be omitted. An operation before transmission of a command for permission of occupancy by an image forming apparatus 1 is the same as that in the first embodiment. The subsequent operation will be described with reference to FIG. 6.

Upon transmission of the command for permission of occupancy, a control circuit 5 automatically selects an available ejecting paper tray and sends a selection signal to an ejecting paper tray switching unit 6. The ejecting paper tray switching unit 6 switches a convey path such that recording paper sheets are ejected onto the selected ejecting paper tray and transmits data representing the selection result to a computer 8. Upon reception of the data representing the selection result, the computer 8 indicates the selection result on a CRT 12 in accordance with the data to inform an operator of it, and sends image data to the image forming apparatus 1.

Thereafter, the same operation as that in the first embodiment is performed to store the recording paper sheets on an ejecting paper tray 14.

Fifth Embodiment

FIGS. 1,2, and 7 are views showing the fifth embodiment. A description of FIGS. 1 and 2 is the same as that in the first embodiment and will be omitted. An operation before reception of data representing the selection result of an ejecting paper tray is the same as that in the fourth embodiment, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted. The subsequent operation will be described with reference to FIG. 7.

Upon reception of the data representing the selection result, a computer 8 indicates the selection result on a CRT 12, thereby requesting an operator for certification.

Thereafter, the same operation as that in the third embodiment is performed to store recording paper sheets on an ejecting paper tray 14.

In the above embodiments, the image forming apparatus has been described as a printer. However, it is not limited to a printer and may also be applied to a copying machine or the like having a facsimile communication function. In the above embodiments, a single computer and a single printer are used for the descriptive convenience. However, a plurality of computers and printers connected with each other in a LAN may also be used. The computer and the image forming apparatus may also be set at different locations.

As has been described above, available recording paper sheet storage units can be detected, and the information can be transmitted to a computer or the like to designate a storage unit from the computer or the like. With this arrangement, the conventional problem can be solved, thereby realizing an image forming system having excellent operability.

The present invention can be applied to selection of a sheet feeding unit in an image forming apparatus. More specifically, the presence/absence or size of sheets in a plurality of feeding units is detected. The detection result is indicated on the CRT of a computer. An operator is prompted to select a feeding unit, or the image forming apparatus or the computer automatically selects a feeding unit. The selected feeding unit and the detection result may be indicated on the CRT of the computer.

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