JPH01150160A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To shorten a maintenance time for a device and to improve reliability for monitoring without using a specific software debugging tool, etc., by incorporating a RAM monitor in an image forming device. CONSTITUTION:Image formation is performed on a recording medium by a various kinds of loads 4 connected to a CPU1 which performs a various kinds of control on a copying machine for which the image forming device is applied, and information with respect to the image formation is inputted from an operating part 2. Also, the size of a cassette sheet and states from a various kinds of sensors are inputted from a sensor input part 3. A monitor mode to monitor the content of a RAM in the image forming device by the RAM monitor key 14 of a key input part 5 in the operating part 2 is selected, and the number of sheets to be copied is set by a copy number set key 13. And when a CPU1 switches the modes of a key input part 5 and a display part 6 corresponding to input from the key input part 5 and the address of the RAM to be monitored is inputted by the operating part 2, an inputted address and the content of the RAM corresponding to the address are displayed on the display part 6.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus suitable for reducing maintenance time of a copying machine or the like.

Conventional technology Conventionally, for example, in a copying machine, there is a test mode.

Display means for displaying information related to image formation, such as check mode, can be used to display that a special operation is in progress,
There is a display control method to display abnormal conditions, but
It is no longer an effective means for debugging today's huge amount of software, or for maintenance when problems occur in the market. An example of this type of device is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 61-246769.

Such a conventional method has a problem in that although it is possible to recognize the mode of the device, it is not possible to recognize the internal state of the device (for example, RAM) necessary for maintenance or the like.

Purpose The purpose of the present invention is to solve such conventional problems and to analyze the causes when troubles occur in the market without using special software debugging tools.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can shorten maintenance time.

Structure In order to achieve the above object, the image forming apparatus of the present invention includes an image forming means for forming an image on a recording medium, a display means for displaying information related to the image formation, and a display means for displaying information related to the image formation. In an image forming apparatus having an input means for inputting information and a control means for performing various controls, means for selecting a monitor mode for monitoring the contents of a RAM of the apparatus is provided, and according to the selection of the monitor mode by the selection means. Then, the control means switches the mode of the input means and the display means to the monitor mode, and when the address of the RAM to be monitored is inputted by the input means, the inputted address and the RAM corresponding to the address are A feature is that the content is displayed by the display means.

Hereinafter, the configuration of the present invention will be explained in detail using examples.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a copying machine to which the present invention is applied. This will be explained below as an example of a copying machine equipped with an 8-bit microcomputer.

In Fig. 2, 1 is a central processing unit (for example, an 8-bit microcomputer) that performs various controls, 2 is an operation unit that inputs operational instructions necessary for copying or checking RAM data, etc., and 3 is a cassette paper size sensor. , a sensor input unit for inputting the status from a toner end sensor, paper feed sensor, paper discharge sensor, etc. 4 is various loads such as a solenoid, an exposure lamp, and a theorem heater.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the operating section 2 shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 1 shows its appearance.

1 and 3, 5 is a key manual unit, 6 is a display unit, 11 is a magnification display unit that displays the magnification of copy enlargement/reduction, etc., 12 is a copy number counter that displays the number of copies to be made, 13 is a copy number set key, and 14 is a RAM monitor key that is characteristic of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a RAM map in this embodiment. This RAM map shows the RAM map of the input section and the output section, and the figure shows the address.

Shows the RAM name and function.

In this embodiment, the magnification display section 11 is used to display a RAM address, the copy number counter 12 is used to display RAM data, and the copy number set key 13 is used as a RAM address set key, and the user can refer to the RAM map shown in FIG. while setting the RAM address you want to view. The mode is switched using the RAM monitor key 14 on the operation section. of course.

This RAM monitor key 14 may be mounted on the board with a dip switch or the like, or another key may be used in place of the RAM monitor key 14 when a plurality of keys are pressed.

Further, the copy number counter 12 can be a set number counter or a discharged sheet number counter depending on the mode.

When the RAM address is set, 3 on the 1 magnification display section 11
DBDSP(3),(4) with digits as RAM address display
), (5), and copy number counter 1.
2 digits as RAM data display D B D S P
It is displayed in correspondence with (1) and (2).

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of segment data displayed in a RAM address, and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of how data in the accumulator is used. The accumulator is used separately for the upper 4 digits and the lower 4 digits. Furthermore, if the data to be displayed is three digits long, the data may be divided and used by performing calculations such as division.

FIG. 7 is a schematic flowchart of the control operation of the copying machine (CPU) in FIG. 2. Hereinafter, the general operation will be explained according to FIG.

First, when the power is turned on, an initialization routine is entered (step 701), after which the number of copies or RAM address is set (step 702),
Magnification display or RAM address display (step 703
), copy counter display or RAM data display (step 704), and other copy control routines are sequentially performed in an endless loop. Below, detailed processing of steps 702, 703, and 704 is shown in Figures 8 to 10.
This will be explained using the flow shown in the figure.

FIG. 8 is a detailed flowchart (subroutine) of processing step 702(7) in FIG. Here, copy number setting and RAM address setting processing are controlled. The processing operation of step 702 will be described below with reference to FIG.

First, in step 801, it is not in the copy state, but in the UP/D
If any of the OWN keys (number of copies set key) is pressed (step 802), the process advances to step 803. The series of steps in step 803 is such that when the number of copies set key 13 is held down, step 8 is executed every 0.4 seconds.
Enter the flow below 04 and sequentially UP/DO the set number
This is a flow for WN. When step 803 is skipped and step 804 is entered, it is determined here whether or not the RAM monitor mode is set, and if it is not the monitor mode, step 8
Proceed to 05. Here, the number of copies set key 13 is
Determine whether any of the UP/DOWN keys have been turned on, and if the UP key is ON, proceed to step 808;
If the key is ON, the process advances to step 806. Step 80
6, CTSET (position counter) determines whether tr 117 is present or not, and if re 1 +j is not present, step 807't' CTSET is set to mass 1 (-1) L, "1".
”, proceed to step 815 without setting it lower than that. In step 808, it is determined whether or not it is 9 II for CTSET, and if it is not “9”, it is set to plus 1 in step 809.
(+1), and if it is 69'', proceed to step 815 without increasing it further.In step 815, CTUP (sheet output counter) is initialized.In addition, in steps 810, 811, 812, 813,
The only difference is that SET has been changed to CTARAM (RAM address counter), and the rest are steps 805, 806,
This is the same processing as 807, 808, and 809.

FIG. 9 is a detailed flowchart (subroutine) of processing step 703 in FIG. Here, the magnification display and R
Controls AM address display processing. Below, the 9th
The processing operation of step 703 will be explained according to the diagram.

First, step 901 determines whether a copy operation is in progress.
), if it is in operation, go to the next subroutine; otherwise, go to processing step 902.

Here, the address of TBSEG (7 segment display table) shown in Fig. 5 is stored in the register (H/L),
Determine whether it is RAM monitor mode (step 903
). If not in RAM monitor mode, process step 9
Proceed to 04. Here, data is stored in the accumulator from DBRED (1) (the data buffer of the first digit of the magnification display section 11), and then the address data stored in the register and the data stored in the accumulator are added. The data with the data as an address is stored in the accumulator, and then it is stored in DBDSP(3) (first digit of the magnification display section). And step 905
Now, the same process as step 904 is performed on the magnification display section 11.
The process is performed for each digit, and in step 906, the magnification display section 11
It follows the third digit. Further, when it is determined in step 903 that the RAM monitor mode is selected, step 90
Proceed to 7. In step 907, the upper 4 digits of the CTARAM (RAM address counter) data determined in the process shown in FIG. data is stored in DBDSP(3). Then, in step 908, data whose address is the sum of the upper four digits of CTARAM and the data in the register is stored in DBDSP(4) (second digit of magnification display section 11). Next, in step 909, since an 8-bit microcomputer is used in this embodiment, there is no address to display.
It OI+ data is stored in DBDSP (5) (third digit of magnification display section 11) where "I O" should be displayed.

FIG. 10 is a detailed flowchart (subroutine) of processing step 704 in FIG. Here, the copy counter and RAM data display are controlled. The processing operation of step 704 will be described below with reference to FIG.

First, in step 1001, it is determined whether or not there is a copy abnormality. If it is abnormal, the process advances to step 1003. In step 1003, data is stored in the accumulator according to the abnormal mode, and the process proceeds to step 10098. Further, if it is determined to be normal in step 1001, step 1004
If it is not the RAM monitor mode, the process advances to step 1005. Here C
The data of TSET (l number counter) is put into the accumulator, and the process advances to step 1006 to determine the display conversion flag. This flag allows the copy number counter 12 to be used as a set number counter or a discharged sheet number counter depending on the mode.

When the flag is "0", the contents of the accumulator are replaced with CTUP (sheet output counter) data in step 1007, and the process proceeds to step 1009. When the flag is "1", the data remains as CTSET data. Proceed to step 1.009. Also.

When it is determined in step 1004 that it is the RAM monitor mode, the process advances to step 1008. Here, the CTARAM (RAM address counter) data determined in the subroutine of FIG. 8 is stored in the accumulator and the primary ADH
The address of the AM (RAM address table) is put into the register (H/L), and the data obtained by adding the data in the accumulator and the data in the register is stored in the accumulator, and the process proceeds to step 1009. . In step 1009, the address of TBSEG is stored in the register, and the current CTUP, CT
Mask the upper 4 digits of the data in the accumulator in which SET or RAM data is stored, and write the data whose address is the sum of the lower 4 digits and the TBSEG address data to DBDSP (1) (of the copy number counter 12). At step 1010, similarly to step 10o9, the top four digits of the accumulator are stored.
The data whose address is the sum of the digit and the address data of TBSEG is stored in DBDSP(2) (the second digit of the copy number counter 12).

In this way, in this embodiment, the RAM monitor key 14 is provided on the operating section 2, and the RAM monitor function is built into the copying machine, thereby reducing maintenance time. Further, by using the RAM monitor function, tasks such as program depacking can be performed efficiently.

In the above embodiment, a copying machine was explained as an example.

The wooden image forming device is not limited to this, but is also a device having other image forming functions (for example, a fax machine).

Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to printers, etc.).

Effects As explained above, according to the present invention, since the device has a built-in RAM monitor, it is possible to analyze the cause when a trouble occurs in the market without using special software debugging tools, and to improve the maintenance of the device. The time can be shortened and the reliability of the monitor can also be improved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an external view of the operating section of an image forming apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a copying machine to which the present invention is applied, and FIG.
The figure shows an example of the configuration of the operating section in Fig. 2, Fig. 4 shows a RAM map in this embodiment, Fig. 5 shows an example of segment data displayed with RAM addresses, and Fig. 6 shows an example of the accumulator. Figure 7 is a schematic flowchart of the control operation of the copying machine in Figure 2;
8 is a detailed flowchart of the copy number set/RAM address setting process in FIG. 7; FIG. 9 is a detailed flowchart of the magnification display/RAM address display process in FIG. 7;
FIG. 10 is a detailed flowchart of the copy counter/RAM data display process of FIG. 7. 11: Magnification display section, 12: Copy number counter, 13:
Copy number set key, 14: RAM monitor key,
1: CPU, 2: Operation section, 3: Sensor input section, 4: Various loads, 5: Key human power section, 6: Display section.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) An image forming means for forming an image on a recording medium, a display means for displaying information related to the image formation, an input means for inputting information related to the image formation, and a control means for performing various controls. In an image forming apparatus having an image forming apparatus, means is provided for selecting a monitor mode for monitoring the contents of the RAM of the apparatus, and in response to the selection of the monitor mode by the selection means, the control means controls the input means and the display means. When the mode is switched to a monitor mode and an address of a RAM to be monitored is input by the input means, the input address and the contents of the RAM corresponding to the address are displayed by the display means. Image forming device.