US 12,244,780 B2
Printing system and sub printer
Seiichiro Saito, Miyagi (JP); and Naoki Saito, Miyagi (JP)
Assigned to ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD., Tokyo (JP)
Filed by ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD., Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Oct. 5, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/481,498.
Claims priority of application No. 2022-173752 (JP), filed on Oct. 28, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0146857 A1, May 2, 2024
Int. Cl. H04N 1/32 (2006.01)
CPC H04N 1/32539 (2013.01) [H04N 2201/3219 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A printing system, comprising:
a main printer configured to print an image sheet by sheet and directly transmit a print instruction and image data to a sub printer;
the sub printer communicably connected to the main printer and configured to print an image sheet by sheet based on the print instruction and the image data that are directly transmitted from the main printer; and
a storage medium that is configured to store image data of a plurality of images and from which the main printer is able to read out the image data, wherein
in response to changing of a state of the sub printer, the sub printer notifies the main printer of a changed state,
the main printer regularly checks print situations of the main printer and the sub printer, and
in accordance with the print situations that are regularly checked, the main printer determines which of the printers is to be used for printing of an image for each of the image data of the plurality of images,
wherein:
the main printer creates a list for the main printer of the image data to be printed by the main printer and a list for the sub printer of the image data to be printed by the sub printer;
the main printer deletes, from the list for the main printer, the image data that start being printed by the main printer, and deletes, from the list for the sub printer, the image data that start being printed by the sub printer;
in response to the list for the main printer being empty, the main printer notifies the sub printer of the list for the main printer being empty;
in response to receiving the list for the main printer being empty, the sub printer divides the list for the sub printer into two lists, and transmits one of the lists to the main printer and uses another list as a new list for the sub printer;
in response to the list for the sub printer being empty, the sub printer notifies the main printer of the list for the sub printer being empty; and
in response to receiving the list for the sub printer being empty, the main printer divides the list for the main printer into two lists, and transmits one of the lists to the sub printer and uses another list as a new list for the main printer.