JPH05297659A - Copying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To shorten a working time required for exchanging a battery by transmitting data to a host computer and returning it to a RAM again after the battery is exchanged when the voltage of the backup battery of the RAM drops. CONSTITUTION:A copying device 1 provided on a user side is provided with a copying machine main body 2 and a modem 3. Besides, the main body 2 and the modem 3 are connected by an RS232c line and the communication data and the communication condition data or the like of the main body 2 are transmitted and received. On the other hand, a modem 4 and the host computer 5 are provided on a service station side, and the modem 4 and the computer 5 are connected by the RS232C line. Then, when the drop of the voltage of the battery in the RAM whose battery is backed up is detected, the data stored in the RAM is transmitted to the computer 5. Besides, the data transmitted from the computer 5 is read out and written again in the RAM after it is confirmed that the battery is exchanged.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a copying machine having a battery backed up RAM.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional copying machine, when a voltage drop of a battery in a battery-backed RAM is detected, the fact is notified to the outside by an alarm of the copying machine main body. When this alarm is issued, the service person will replace the battery. At this time, in the past, in consideration of the case where data was accidentally deleted, the serviceman
The data of the total counter, maintenance counter, jam counter, etc. stored in the AM is read out by a simulation operation and recorded, and after replacing the battery,
The data stored in the RAM is compared with the recorded data, or the recorded data is recorded again in RA.
I was writing to M.

[0003]

However, in the conventional copying machine, the serviceman reads the data stored in the RAM every time the battery is replaced, and the verification or writing is performed after the battery is replaced. There is a problem in that an accident due to is likely to occur and it takes time to replace the battery.

An object of the present invention is to provide a copying machine which can reproduce the data stored in the RAM with high accuracy after replacing the battery and can replace the battery in a short time.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A copying machine according to the present invention has a RAM backed up by a battery, a detecting means for detecting a voltage drop of the battery, and a RAM when the detecting means detects that the battery voltage has dropped. Transmitting means for transmitting the stored data to the host computer, confirming means for confirming that the battery has been replaced, and confirming that the battery has been replaced by the confirming means, then reading the data transmitted from the host computer and again RA
And a reading means for writing to M.

[0006]

In the copying machine of the present invention, when the battery voltage drop in the battery-backed RAM is detected, the data stored in the RAM is transmitted to the host computer and it is confirmed that the battery has been replaced. After that, the data transmitted from the host computer is read and written in the RAM again.

[0007]

1 is a block diagram showing the construction of a copying machine and a maintenance communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The copying machine 1 provided on the user side is a copying machine main body 2
And a modem 3. The copying machine main body 2 and the modem 3 are connected by an RS232C line, and communication data and communication condition data of the copying machine main body 2 are transmitted and received. On the other hand, on the service station side, a modem 4 and a host computer 5 are provided.
And the host computer 5 are connected by an RS232C line. The modem 3 and the modem 4 are connected via a telephone line, and data is transmitted and received between the copying machine body 2 and the host computer 5.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control unit in the copying machine main body 2. CPU 1 with ROM 12 and RAM 13 backed up by battery 16
An operation panel 14 is connected to 1 via an interface (not shown). Numeric keypad on the operation panel 14,
An input key such as a print switch and a display unit for displaying an input state are provided, and the CPU 11 is an operation panel 1
By the input from 4, the input / output devices are centrally controlled according to the program written in the ROM 12 in advance. The data input / output at this time is temporarily stored in a predetermined memory area of the RAM 13. Further, the CPU 11 is connected to a serial interface 15 which is in charge of data input / output, and the serial interface 15 is connected to the RS232C line.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control unit in the modem 3. A serial interface 24 in charge of data input / output is connected to the CPU 21 having a ROM 22 and a RAM 23, and the serial interface 24 is connected to the serial interface 15 of the copying machine main body 2 via an RS232C line. The CPU 21 centrally controls each input / output device according to a program previously written in the ROM 22, and the data input / output at this time is temporarily stored in a predetermined memory area of the RAM 23. Data is transmitted and received between the copying machine main body 2 and the modem 3 via the RS232C line by the serial interface 15 and the serial interface 24. Further, an NCU modem 25 is connected to the CPU 21. The NCU modem 25 modulates the data output by the CPU 21, demodulates the data input from the line, and automatically executes dialing.

4 and 5 are flow charts showing the processing procedure of the control units of the copying machine body 2 and the modem 3 when the voltage of the battery 16 drops. In FIG. 4A, when the CPU 11 of the copying machine main body 2 detects the voltage drop of the backup battery 16 of the RAM 13 (n1),
A low voltage alarm is transmitted to the modem 3 and an alarm is displayed on the operation panel 14 (n2, n
3). On the other hand, in FIG. 5A, the CPU 2 of the modem 3
When No. 1 detects a voltage drop alarm (n11), it reads the data stored in the RAM 13 of the copying machine main body 2 (n12) and sends it to the service station side (n).
13).

After confirming the alarm displayed on the operation panel 14 of the copying machine main body 2 and the service person replaces the backup battery 16 of the RAM 13, the C of the copying machine main body 2 is replaced.
The PU 11 detects the recovery of the battery voltage (n4) and requests the modem 3 to return the transmitted data (n5) (FIG. 4).
(B)). On the other hand, the CPU 21 of the modem 3 confirms the data return request (n14), reads the stored data from the service station side, and sends it to the copying machine main body 2 (n15, n16) (FIG. 5 (B)). The data thus transmitted to the copying machine body 2 is stored in the RAM 13 again.

As described above, in the copying machine of the present invention, when the battery voltage drop in the battery-backed RAM of the copying machine body is detected, the data stored in the RAM is transmitted to the host computer of the service station. After replacing the battery, the battery is returned to the RAM again.

[0013]

As described above, according to the present invention, the RAM
RAM when the backup battery voltage drops
The data stored in is automatically sent to the host computer and returned to the RAM again after the battery is replaced, so the service person only needs to replace the battery.
The work time for battery replacement is shortened, and the data stored in the RAM is not changed by a mistake made by a serviceman.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a copying machine and a maintenance communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control unit in the copying machine main body.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control unit in a modem controller of the copying apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a copying machine main body control unit when the battery voltage drops.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a modem controller control unit when the battery voltage drops.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Copier 2 Copier main body 3 Modem controller 5 Host computer 13 RAM 16 Battery

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A battery-backed RAM,
R for detecting a battery voltage drop, and R for detecting that the battery voltage has dropped
Transmitting means for transmitting the data stored in the AM to the host computer, confirming means for confirming that the battery has been replaced, and reading the data transmitted from the host computer after confirming that the battery has been replaced by the confirming means. And a reading means for writing again in the RAM, and a copying machine.