JP2584736B2 - Copier - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a copying machine, and more particularly, to a copying machine provided with management means for managing a usage amount and the like using a recording medium storing usage information of the copying machine.

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in order to manage the amount of use of a copying machine, a key counter stored in each department has been attached to the copying machine.
A copier management device is provided in which a card having a department code or the like recorded therein is inserted into the copier management device to enable the copier to operate and to store the usage of the copier for each department. .

In a copier equipped with such a management device, generally, when a key counter or a card is removed, it is assumed that the user does not intend to continue using the copier, and the copy mode is set to a standard mode (for example, the number of copies). = 1, paper size = A4, magnification = 1, etc., a copy mode in which the most frequently used copy conditions are set in advance. This is a very effective function for preventing the next user of the copying machine from inadvertently performing the copy in the copy mode set by the previous user.

On the other hand, some copying machines are provided with an interrupt function for interrupting a copying operation being executed and giving priority to another copying. That is, when the interrupt mode is designated, the copy mode (magnification, paper size, number of copies, etc.) before the interrupt is stored in the memory, and when the interrupt mode is released after the interrupt copy is completed, the copy mode is stored in the memory. The copy mode is called, and the copy mode before the interruption is set.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention As described above, when a copying machine having an interrupt function is managed by the above-described key counter, card, or the like, for example, interrupt copying is performed with a user who is performing copying first. When the user belongs to another department, etc., after switching the copying machine to the interrupt mode, remove the card etc. inserted first, insert the card of the user who performs the interrupt copying, and perform the interrupt copying. However, in the case of interrupt copying, unlike the normal case, the previous user does not leave, so without interrupting the previous user's card, the interrupt mode setting is followed by the copying for interrupt copying. A mode (copying condition) may be set. In such a case, if the previous user's card is removed after the copy mode for interrupt copying has been set, the set copy mode is cleared and the standard mode is set, and the copy mode is set again. There was the inconvenience of having to do it again. In order to prevent such a situation, it is required that all persons who use the copier understand and execute the procedure of setting the copy mode after removing the previous user's card. However, in reality, this is not possible, and the inconvenience as described above cannot be avoided. On the other hand, at the time of interruption copying, the user may be in the middle of copying, and it is unlikely that a user who intends to perform interruption copying forgets to set the copy mode.

In view of the above-described problems, the present invention normally returns to the standard mode when a card is replaced, and sets the copy mode for interrupt copying at the time of interrupt copying. It is an object of the present invention to provide a copying machine which may be performed before.

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention has been made to achieve the above object, an operation means for setting copying conditions, a mounting unit for mounting a removable storage medium, Means for detecting attachment / detachment of the storage medium to / from the mounting section, management means for setting a copying machine to a copy-enabled state when the mounting of the storage medium to the mounting section is detected, and operation of the operation means. First setting means for setting a corresponding copying condition in the copying machine; and setting a predetermined standard copying condition in the copying machine when detachment of the storage medium from the mounting portion is detected by the detecting means. A second setting unit, an interrupt mode setting unit for setting an interrupt mode, a storage unit for storing copying conditions set in the copying machine when the interrupt mode is set by the interrupt mode setting unit, A third setting unit that, when the mode is released, calls a copy condition stored in the storage unit and sets the copy condition in the copying machine;
Prohibiting means for prohibiting the operation of the second setting means when the interrupt mode is set.

FIG. 1 is an external view of an example of an electrophotographic copying machine to which the present invention is applied. A copier management device 101 that manages the copier main body 100 by a magnetic card is installed on the copier main body 100 by being electrically connected thereto.
And an operation key 103 including an interrupt key 104 arranged on the operation unit 102 of FIG.

FIG. 2 shows an electrophotographic copying machine 100 to which the present invention is applied.
1 schematically shows the configuration of the copying machine. First, the configuration and operation of the copying machine will be schematically described with reference to FIG.

A photoreceptor drum 10 is supported at substantially the center of the copier body so as to be rotatable in the direction of the arrow in the figure, and around it, an erase lamp 11, a charging charger 12, a developing device 13, and a transfer charger 14 are provided. And a cleaning device 15 and the like are sequentially arranged. A document (not shown) is placed on a document placing glass 21 and scanned by an optical system 20 including a lamp 22, reflecting mirrors m1 to m4, and a lens 23, and the images are sequentially formed on the photosensitive drum.
Projected onto 10. Since the configuration of the optical system and the operation pertaining to scanning are well known, they will not be particularly described.

The sheet feeding device 30 includes a sheet feeding roller 31 and a holding mechanism 32 that holds the laminated sheet S, and rotates the sheet feeding roller 31 in synchronization with the copying operation, thereby sequentially moving the laminated sheet S from the uppermost one. The sheet is sent to one sheet, and is conveyed toward the photosensitive drum 10 via the conveying rollers 33 and 34 and the timing roller 35.

In the above configuration, the photosensitive drum 10 rotates with the start of the copying operation, and an image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 10 by charging, exposing, and developing, and this image is conveyed in synchronization with the image forming operation. Is transferred by the transfer charger 14 onto the copy sheet. The transfer sheet after the transfer is the photosensitive drum 10
The sheet is separated from the surface of the sheet, passes through the fixing device 16 and is fixed on the image. After the transfer, the photosensitive drum 10 is cleaned by the cleaning device 15 and the erase lamp 11 to remove the residual toner and residual charge, and prepares for the next copy.

M1 is a main motor for driving the photosensitive drum 10, the optical system 20, a copy sheet conveying system, etc., M2 is a developing motor, CL1 and CL2 are clutches for scanning and returning the optical system 20, and CL3 is Timing roller clutch and CL4
Is a paper feed roller clutch.

The configuration and operation of the copier management device 101 will be described step by step.

FIG. 3 is an external view of the copier management apparatus 101, which includes a card insertion unit 301, a display unit 302, operation keys SW1 and SW2, a magnetic card reader and writer unit 501 described later, a control CPU 600, and the like.

 4 and 5 schematically show the internal structure.

In order from the card insertion part 301 to the right, a pulse disk 43 for data recording timing detection, a pulse detection sensor 44,
Card transport upper roller 42, read & write magnetic head 4
1. A card transport guide 401, a card transport motor 45, and a card end detection switch SW4 are provided.

Also, from the left side facing the front of the copier management device 101,
A card leading edge detection actuator 52, a card leading edge detection switch SW3, and a card transport lower roller 51 are sequentially arranged.

Next, a series of operations from card insertion to ejection will be described with reference to the drawings.

First, the card insertion unit 301 of the copier management apparatus 101 inserts a magnetic card 31 (for division, individual, tabulation, erasure, and for a service person), and a card edge detection switch.
When SW3 is turned on, the transport motor 45 rotates forward (counterclockwise in FIG. 4), and the card 31 is transported inside along the transport guide 401 by being sandwiched by the transport upper roller 42 and the lower roller 51. Here, the data on the card 31 is taken into the control CPU 600 through the magnetic head 41 while the card is being conveyed. card
When the leading end of the card 31 turns on the card end detection switch SW4, the transport motor 45 is stopped, and the data previously taken into the control CPU 600 is processed.

This process enables, for example, the copying operation of the copier 100, stores the number of copies by department or size,
The processing includes storing paper jams and trouble information for each location and time, and displaying the stored information on the display unit 302.

Next, when the operation key SW2 is turned on, the conveyance motor 45 after processing such as turning off the display on the display unit 302 and prohibiting the copying operation of the copier 100 is performed.
Is reversed, and when it is not necessary to record data on the card, the card is ejected to the insertion unit 301 as it is, and a series of operations is ended.

If you need to record data on card 31,
The output of the pulse disk 43 for data recording timing detection, which rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the motor 45, is taken into the control CPU 600 via the sensor 44, and the data is written onto the card 31 through the magnetic head 41 in conjunction with the ejection operation of the card 31. Make a record.
When the data recording is completed, the transport motor 45 is stopped, and then the motor is rotated forward to check the recorded data.
The data on 31 is taken into control CPU 600 through magnetic head 41.

When the leading end of the card 31 turns on the card end detection switch SW4, the data previously recorded on the card 31 and the data read after recording are processed by the control CPU 600, and when the former and latter data match, When it is determined that the data has been correctly recorded, the transport motor 45 is reversed, and the card 31 is inserted into the insertion section 301.
And a series of operations is completed. If they do not match, it is determined that a recording error has occurred, and the recording and reading processes are repeated as described above. Here, the format of the data recorded on the magnetic card may be a standard standardized by JISB9561, or may be a unique data format.

6 and 7 are circuit diagrams of the copier management apparatus 101.

The CPU 600 has a magnetic card read / write unit 601, a display unit 30
2. A printer 603, operation keys and various switches 604, an external program ROM 605, an external RAM 606, and a clock 607 are connected to the input / output ports 74 to 78 shown in FIG. Outside
The RAM 606 and the clock 607 are backed up by a battery 608 so that the recorded contents are not erased when the power is turned off.

The magnetic card read / write unit 601 has a read head 71,
Waveform demodulation and shaping unit 79, input gate 81, write head
72, a waveform modulation section 80 and the like.

In this embodiment, the magnetic head 41 has a read 71 and a write 72.
Are shown separately, but a single gap head common to read and write may be used.

The CPU 600 of the copier management device 101 is
It is connected to the CPU 609 via a communication signal line 610, and data is transmitted and received through this signal line.

The terminal of CPU 600 used for transmission and reception of this data is the first
As shown in the table, a serial out terminal So for serial data transfer, a serial in terminal Si for reception, a data sampling clock terminal sck, and an interrupt terminal.

As a specific data transfer method, a method proposed in JP-A-59-127133 or the like, or any other method may be used.

CPU609 of the copier body 100 to CPU6 of the copier management device 101
Tables 2 and 3 show examples of data transferred to 00, and conversely.
Table 4 shows an example of data transferred from CPU600 to CPU609.
It is shown in Table 5.

Here, each information content of the transfer data is, for example, the following third
It is assumed that they are coded as shown in Tables (1) to (4).

 The status signals are, for example, as shown in Table 6.

 Next, the control operation of the copying machine will be described.

In step S1 shown in FIG. 8, each flag (including the copy flag) is reset, and data such as the set number of sheets, paper feed port, paper size, and copy magnification are initialized.

Next, in step S2, a main timer for defining the length of one routine is set. In step S3, the operation unit
Input processing from various keys and switches including the operation key 103 of 102 and output processing to a motor, a solenoid, and a display device are performed.

In step S4, the card status signal transmitted from the control CPU 600 of the copier management apparatus 101 is 0 or 1 (that is, if the card status signal is 0, the card 31 is inserted into the copier management apparatus 101; Is determined to be in a state of being removed). If the card is removed, it is determined in step S5 whether or not the printer is currently in the interrupt mode. If not, the number of copies is determined in step S6. To
1. Processing for setting the standard mode, such as making the copy magnification equal, is performed. When the determination of NO is made in steps S4 and S5, the process in step S6 is skipped, and the process proceeds to step S7.

If it is determined in step S7 that the interrupt key 104 is on,
In step S8, it is determined whether the interrupt key (104) has been turned on in the interrupt mode or the normal mode, and the process proceeds to step S11 in the interrupt mode and to step S9 in the normal mode. Steps S9 and S10 show the processing when the interrupt key 104 is pressed to enter the interrupt mode. At step S9, the number of displayed sheets (the number of remaining copies), the paper feed port, and the paper supply when the interrupt key 104 is pressed are shown. Save the paper size, exposure level, copy magnification, etc. in the memory and set the interrupt mode. In step S10,
Set the standard mode in the interrupt mode.

Steps S11 and S12 show processing at the time of releasing the interrupt mode, and when the interrupt mode is released at step S11,
In step S12, the number of copies, the exposure level, the copy magnification, and the like saved in the memory are returned to the predetermined memory as copy execution data.

In step S13, the copy status signal transmitted from the control CPU 600 of the copying machine
(I.e., if the copy status signal is 0, the copy operation is enabled, and if the copy status signal is 1, the copy operation is prohibited), and if the copy is prohibited, the process proceeds to step S20. If copying is permitted, it is determined in step S14 whether or not the copy flag F is 1 (that is, if 0, the copying machine body 100 is on standby, and if it is 1, copying is in progress). Step in case
Proceeding to S17, in the case of 0, it is determined in step S15 whether or not the print key of the operation key 103 has been pressed. In the case of NO, the process proceeds to step S20. In the case of YES, the copy flag F is set to 1 in step S16. And the process proceeds to step S17. In step S17, various copying processes are performed. In step S18, it is determined whether or not copying is completed. If YES, the copy flag F is reset in step S19, and the process proceeds to step S20.
In the case of, the process proceeds directly to step S20.

In step S20, the above-described various data transmission and reception processes are performed.

In step S21, it is determined whether or not the main timer set in step S2 has expired. If YES, the process returns to step S2. If NO, step S21 is repeated.
Adjust the length of the routine.

Next, the operation of the copier management apparatus 101 is described in ninth to fourteenth.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

When the power of the copier 100 is turned on in FIG. 9A, first, the management apparatus 101 is initialized in step S30. Next, in step S31, it is determined whether or not the magnetic card 31 is inserted into the card insertion portion 301 by the card leading edge detection switch SW3. If the magnetic card 31 is already inserted when the power is turned on, the motor is turned on in step S33. 45
Is reversed, and if the magnetic card is not inserted or the magnetic card is removed, the motor 45 is stopped in step S32. Subsequently, in step S34, the display unit 302 displays "CARD". In step S35, it is determined whether or not the tip detection switch SW3 is turned on, that is, whether or not a card is inserted. Proceed to S36, and if not inserted, repeat step S35.

In step S36, the motor 45 is rotated forward, and the card 31 is transported inside along the transport guide 401. In step S37, a process of taking data on the conveyed card into the control CPU 600 through the magnetic head 41 is performed. In step S38, whether or not the card end detection switch SW4 has been turned on, that is,
Judge whether the card 31 has been completely sent inside,
If it is sent, the motor 45 is stopped in step S39, and if it is in the middle of sending, the processes of steps S37 and S38 are repeated.

In step S40, it is determined whether or not the card ejection switch SW2 has been pressed.
The copy status signal (Table 5 (2)) to be transferred to 00 is set to the copy disabled state, and then the motor 45 is reversed in step S44. In step S45, it is determined whether the write flag is 1 or not.

The write flag is set to “1” when data needs to be written on the card, and reset to “0” otherwise.

If the write flag is “0”, the process proceeds to step S31,
The card ejection process is performed as it is. Write flag is “1”
In the case of, data write processing is performed in step S46. The writing process modulates the write data in synchronization with the write timing pulse input to the CPU 600 by the pulse disk 43 and the detection sensor 44 that rotate in synchronization with the transport of the card.
This is a process performed by turning on and off a current flowing through the write head 72 of the magnetic head 41 through 80.

In step S47, it is determined whether or not the writing process has been completed, that is, whether or not all the data has been written. In the case of YES, the process proceeds to step S48, and in the case of NO, steps S46 and S47 are repeated.

When the writing is completed, the motor is rotated forward in step S48, the data previously written on the card in step S46 is read again in step S49, and it is determined whether or not SW4 is turned on in step S50. Repeats steps S49 and S50. If YES, the motor is stopped in step S51 and the process proceeds to step S52.

In step S52, it is determined whether the data written in step S46 and the data read in step S49 are equal,
If they are not equal, the process returns to step S44 to perform the writing process again. If they are equal to each other, the process returns to step S31 to perform a card ejection process, and ends a series of operations.

If the card ejection switch SW5 has not been pressed in step S40, the process proceeds to step S51 in FIG. 9B.

In a step S51, it is determined whether or not the read card is a section card. In the case of YES, the process is performed in a step S52 and the process returns to the step S40. If NO, it is determined in step S53 whether or not the card is an individual card, and if YES, step S53
The process is performed in 54 and the process returns to step S40. If NO, the process proceeds to step S55.

The same processing is performed in steps S55 to S60 for counting, erasing, and serviceman cards.

If the card is not a serviceman card in step S59, it is determined that the card is defective or different in reading, "ERROR" is displayed on the display unit 302 in step S61, and the flow returns to step S31 to perform card ejection processing.

10 to 14 show steps S52, S54 and S5 in FIG. 9 (b).
It is a flowchart which shows the detail of a process of 6, S58, S60.

In FIG. 10 (a), it is first determined in step S101 whether or not the department number setting mode is set, and if YES, the process proceeds to step S10.
Proceed to 2; if NO, proceed to step S105. The department number setting mode is a mode for recording an arbitrary department number on a department card. This determination is made based on the data read from the card, for example, when the department number is a specific number (such as “00”). This is performed in some cases or depending on whether a dedicated flag is set or not. FIG. 15 shows an example of the data format on the card.

In step S102, it is determined whether or not the department number has been input, that is, whether or not the department number has been input using the operation keys 103 on the operation unit 102 of the copier 100.
In step S103, the department number input in the write data area is set, and in step S104, the write flag is set to 1 and step
Return to S40. If the department number has not been entered, the process returns to step S40.

With this operation, the department code can be input using the key.

If it is determined in step S101 that the mode is not the department number setting mode, that is, if the department number has already been recorded, it is determined in step S105 whether or not the mode is the collation number setting mode.

The verification number is a number for determining whether or not the card can be used in the specific management apparatus 101, and is backed up by the verification number written on the card 31 and the battery 608 of the management apparatus 101. Only the card whose matching number stored in the memory 606 matches can be used.

The collation number setting mode is a mode for recording a collation number on a card, similarly to the department number setting mode.

In the case of the collation number setting mode, the collation number stored in the memory is transferred to the write data area in step S106, the write flag is set to 1 in step S104, and step S4 is performed.
Return to 0.

If the mode is not the verification number setting mode, that is, if the verification number has already been recorded on the card, the verification number on the card is compared with the verification number on the memory in step S107, and if they do not match, it is displayed in step S114. "NOGOOD" is displayed in the section 302 to indicate to the operator that the card cannot be used, and the flow returns to step S31 to perform a card discharging process.

If they match, copy is enabled in step S108, and it is determined whether or not the operation key SW1 is turned on in step S109. The total number of copies for each paper size is displayed, and if the operation key SW1 is off, the department number and the total number of copies for each department are displayed in step S111, and the process proceeds to step S112.

In step S112, it is determined whether or not the copying machine 100 has started copying and fed paper, and if paper has been fed, in step S113, the contents of the corresponding tabulation area are updated according to the department No. paper size. Then, the process returns to step S40, and if the sheet is not fed, the process returns to step S40.

In FIG. 10 (b), it is determined in step S120 whether or not the mode is the balance setting mode. A personal card is not a card that can be copied permanently like a department card, but is a card that cannot be copied when a certain amount or the number of copies is reached, and the upper limit is set by the balance.
The determination as to whether or not the balance setting mode is made is made in the same manner as in the department number setting mode. In the case of the balance setting mode, it is determined in step S121 whether or not the balance has been set by the operation keys 103 of the copying machine 100 in step S121. Judge, if there is an input, set the balance in the area of the write data in step S122,
In step S123, set the write flag to 1 and
Return to S40. If there is no input, the process returns to step S40.

If it is determined in step S120 that the mode is not the balance setting mode, that is, if the balance has already been recorded on the card, it is determined in step S124 whether the mode is the collation number setting mode as in the case of the department card, and YES In the case of, the collation number is transferred to the write data area, the write flag is set to 1 in step S123, and the process returns to step S40.

In the case of NO, the comparison numbers on the card and the memory are compared in step S126, and if they do not match, the process proceeds to step S135.
Displays "NOGOOD" on the display unit 302, and returns to step S31.

If they match, the balance read from the card is displayed in step S127, and it is determined in step S128 whether the balance is greater than 0. If the balance is 0, copying is prohibited in step S134. And return to step S40.

If the balance is greater than 0, copying is permitted in step S129, and it is determined in step S130 whether paper has been fed.

If paper is not fed, the process returns to step S40.If paper is fed, the balance is updated in step S131, the updated balance is transferred to the writing area in step S132, and the write flag is set in step S133. Set to 1 and return to step S40.

In the case of an aggregation card in step S56 of FIG. 11, data such as the number of copies for each department and the number of copies for each size managed and aggregated in the memory in step S150 are displayed on the display unit 302, and the process returns to step S40. .

In the case of an erased card in step S58 of FIG. 12, it is determined in step S160 whether or not the operation key SW1 has been turned on.
If so, "ALL CLEAR" is displayed in step S161, various data managed in the memory are deleted in step S162, and the process returns to step S31.

If the operation key SW1 is not turned on, step S163
Displays "CLEAR" and returns to step S40.

In the case of a serviceman card in step S60 of FIG. 13, information of various types of paper jams and troubles of the copying machine main body 1 managed in the memory is displayed on the memory in step S170, and the process returns to step S40.

FIG. 14 shows processing when an interrupt is issued from the copying machine CPU 609.

When an interrupt occurs, the information to be transmitted in step S180 is set in a serial transfer register (not shown), and step S1 is executed.
At step 81, transmission and reception of serial data are performed simultaneously in synchronization with the clock transmitted from the CPU 609, and when transmission and reception are completed, the information sent from the copier side is stored in the memory at step S182, and received at step S183. In the data
If JAM / trouble information is included, step S184
Updates the contents of the corresponding memory area and terminates the interrupt processing. If no JAM / trouble has occurred, the interrupt processing ends.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to a type of copying machine in which the amount of use is managed by a card, and the same effect can be obtained by using the present invention in a copying machine managed by a key counter or the like.

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, normally, when a storage medium such as a card for managing a copying machine is removed, the mode returns to the standard mode, while in the interrupt mode, this storage mode is used. Since the medium is not returned to the standard mode even if it is removed, the copy mode is normally returned to the standard mode when the user changes, so that the copy is performed in the copy mode set by the previous user. In addition, at the time of interrupt copying, even if the copy mode for interrupt copying is set before replacing the storage medium, the copy mode (magnification, paper size, , The number of copies, etc.).

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a copying machine to which the present invention is applied.
1 (B) is a plan view showing an operation panel of the copying machine of FIG. 1 (A), FIG. 2 is a side view showing the inside of the copying machine of FIG. 1 (A), and FIG. FIG. 4 is a side view showing the inside of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 5 is a front view showing the inside of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an example of the control apparatus. FIG. 7, FIG. 7 is a detailed circuit diagram of FIG. 6, FIG. 8 to FIG.
FIG. 15 shows an example of the storage format of the recording medium. 100: Copy machine body, 101: Management device, 104: Interrupt key

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An operating unit for setting copying conditions; a mounting unit for mounting a removable storage medium; a unit for detecting whether the storage medium is attached to or detached from the mounting unit; Management means for setting a copying machine in a copy-enabled state when attachment to the attachment unit is detected; first setting means for setting copying conditions corresponding to an operation of the operation means in the copying machine; A second setting unit for setting a predetermined standard copying condition in the copying machine when detachment from the mounting unit is detected by the detection unit; an interrupt mode setting unit for setting an interrupt mode; Storage means for storing the copy conditions set in the copying machine when the interrupt mode is set by the setting means; and copy conditions stored in the storage means when the interrupt mode is released. A third setting means for setting said copier call, copier, characterized in that and a prohibiting means for prohibiting the operation of the second setting means when the interruption mode is set.