[Object] To provide a printer system that is simple in structure, and has dual-head capability or duplex printing capability as desired. [Solution] A printer system 1 includes a first printer unit 10, and a second printer unit 20. The first printer unit 10 includes a first-printer housing 10a, and a first thermal transfer part 13. The second printer unit 20 includes a second-printer housing 20a, and a second thermal transfer part 23. The first printer unit 10 and the second printer unit 20 are independent of each other and capable of connecting to each other. A sheet printing paper 2 printed on by the first printer unit 10 is sent to the second printer unit 20 and then continuously printed on by the second printer unit 20.

[Object] To provide a printer system that is simple in structure, and has dual-head capability or duplex printing capability as desired. [Solution] A printer system 1 includes a first printer unit 10, and a second printer unit 20. The first printer unit 10 includes a first-printer housing 10a, and a first thermal transfer part 13. The second printer unit 20 includes a second-printer housing 20a, and a second thermal transfer part 23. The first printer unit 10 and the second printer unit 20 are independent of each other and capable of connecting to each other. A sheet printing paper 2 printed on by the first printer unit 10 is sent to the second printer unit 20 and then continuously printed on by the second printer unit 20.

A can printing apparatus 1 includes a main printer 2 having plural plate cylinders 47 for printing different colors and performing printing onto side surfaces of cans, a secondary printer 6 performing additional printing to the side surfaces of the cans after the printing by the main printer, and a can inspection machine 5 inspecting a printing state. The can inspection machine 5 includes a can rotation device 51 which rotates cans C, a can imaging device 52 which takes images of the cans C and an image processing device 53 which processes the taken images, and the secondary printer 6 includes a printing head 6a which faces a side surface of a can held by the can rotation device 51 of the can inspection machine 5 and a processing unit which gives an instruction of printing to the printing head 6a based on a predetermined printing pattern and processing data of the image processing device 53 of the can inspection machine 5.

A can printing apparatus 1 includes a main printer 2 having plural plate cylinders 47 for printing different colors and performing printing onto side surfaces of cans, a secondary printer 6 performing additional printing to the side surfaces of the cans after the printing by the main printer, and a can inspection machine 5 inspecting a printing state. The can inspection machine 5 includes a can rotation device 51 which rotates cans C, a can imaging device 52 which takes images of the cans C and an image processing device 53 which processes the taken images, and the secondary printer 6 includes a printing head 6a which faces a side surface of a can held by the can rotation device 51 of the can inspection machine 5 and a processing unit which gives an instruction of printing to the printing head 6a based on a predetermined printing pattern and processing data of the image processing device 53 of the can inspection machine 5.

A can printing apparatus 1 includes a main printer 2 having plural plate cylinders 47 for printing different colors and performing printing onto side surfaces of cans, a secondary printer 6 performing additional printing to the side surfaces of the cans after the printing by the main printer, and a can inspection machine 5 inspecting a printing state. The can inspection machine 5 includes a can rotation device 51 which rotates cans C, a can imaging device 52 which takes images of the cans C and an image processing device 53 which processes the taken images, and the secondary printer 6 includes a printing head 6a which faces a side surface of a can held by the can rotation device 51 of the can inspection machine 5 and a processing unit which gives an instruction of printing to the printing head 6a based on a predetermined printing pattern and processing data of the image processing device 53 of the can inspection machine 5.

[Object] To provide a printer system that can be easily produced by easily assembling a plurality of modules. [Solution] A printer system 1 includes a plurality of modules 10, 30, and 20 that are coupled to each other. Each of the modules 10, 30, and 20 has a housing 11, 31, or 21 and a coupling body 15, 35, or 25. One of the housing 11, 31, or 21 and the coupling body 15, 35, or 25 has an insertion hole 16, 36, or 26, and the other one of the housing 11, 31, or 21 and the coupling body 15, 35, or 25 has an insertion pin 13, 33, or 23.

A image forming apparatus is configured to manage parallel printing of a print job, by performing the steps of: retrieving a request to print the print job; determining a network availability of one or more other image forming apparatuses connected to a network; generating a workplan for distributing the print job across a plurality of image forming apparatuses based on (1) print job information, including one or more of: the number of pages, the storage size, and a speed requirement assigned to the print job, and (2) image forming apparatus information, including one or more of: respective loads on, print speeds of, specific capabilities of, and failure rates of the plurality of image forming apparatuses; dividing, according to the workplan, the print job into a plurality of constituent print jobs; and transmitting one of the plurality of constituent print jobs to one of the plurality of image forming apparatuses.

A image forming apparatus is configured to manage parallel printing of a print job, by performing the steps of: retrieving a request to print the print job; determining a network availability of one or more other image forming apparatuses connected to a network; generating a workplan for distributing the print job across a plurality of image forming apparatuses based on (1) print job information, including one or more of: the number of pages, the storage size, and a speed requirement assigned to the print job, and (2) image forming apparatus information, including one or more of: respective loads on, print speeds of, specific capabilities of, and failure rates of the plurality of image forming apparatuses; dividing, according to the workplan, the print job into a plurality of constituent print jobs; and transmitting one of the plurality of constituent print jobs to one of the plurality of image forming apparatuses.