JPH03271756A - Operation mode setting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent generation of trouble based on erroneous erasure or updating of registering mode content by specifying registering position of mode information and reading position of mode information in the device main body based on content of a user discrimination column on an information sheet means. CONSTITUTION:The program of operation mode shown on the information sheet means 50 is registered on a memory means by reading the content of the information sheet means 50 by the information reading means 20. The position where the operation mode is registered is fixed by the content of a user discriminating column on the information sheet means 50. Therefore, when a multiple number of users who utilize the device main body such as the copying machine each possess one piece of information sheet 50, if a different serial number or code number corresponding to the user is used and recorder for every piece of information sheet 50, memory range utilized by each user can be prevented from being overlapped. Thus, destroying of a program set by other users or updating of the user's own program by other users can prevented.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to setting of an operation mode in a device such as a copying machine, and in particular to an operation mode setting device for setting a mode using a sheet or card-like information input means. Regarding.

[Background Art] Recently, office equipment such as copying machines has been increasingly equipped with an extremely large number of functions.

Therefore, in this type of device, the operation panel is equipped with a large number of key switches and various indicators in order to set operating conditions, ie, operating modes, regarding the various functions provided. An operator operating this type of equipment must memorize all the functions of the various key switches on the operation panel, and must read all the various displays on the operation panel every time the equipment is used. You have to make sure that the mode you want is set, and even when using a simple operating mode, very cumbersome operations are required.

Therefore, recent copying machines are equipped with multiple sets of special memories that store operating modes.
A function (program function) is provided in which frequently used operation modes are stored in advance and the memory of the operation mode to be used is selectively recalled by operating a key switch to reproduce the operation mode stored therein.

1. For example, as shown in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 56-143455, a technology has been proposed that automatically reads the contents of an information sheet containing information specifying the operation mode and sets the operation mode to that content. There is.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in reality, the conventional copying machine having a program function has many points in its use, as shown below, and is not very useful.

(1) To prevent erroneous registration, registering a program in memory requires special key operations different from normal manual key operations, making the registration operation difficult.

(2) When registering a new program, if you make a mistake in selecting the memory to register, the contents of the memory previously registered by another person may be destroyed. If you use the same memory as another person, the registered program may There is a risk that it will be deleted (updated) by another person again.

(3) When calling a registered program, if you do not remember in which memory the program is registered, you must sequentially call the contents of various memories and compare them. Like setting the mode, it takes time.

Also, when setting the operation mode using an information sheet, if each user owns only one information sheet, the contents of the information sheet must be rewritten each time the copier is used. If you have multiple information sheets with information already filled in, you must search for and select the one with the same information as the desired operation mode from among the multiple information sheets. However, cumbersome operations are required.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to further simplify the operation mode setting operation.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above problem II, the present invention provides a memory means provided in the main body of the device and including an area for storing a plurality of sets of mode information; ,
Information sheet means comprising an information holding section including a user identification section and a mode information identification sieve: information reading means for reading information in the information holding section of the information sheet means; and information reading means for reading information from the information sheet means. processing the information and obtaining user identification information from the contents of the user identification section;
Mode control means is provided for registering mode information corresponding to the contents of the mode information identification sieve in a position specified by the user identification information on the memory means.

[Operation] According to the present invention, by causing the information reading means to read the contents of the information sheet means, the program of the operation mode indicated on the information sheet means can be registered on the memory means. The position where this operation mode is registered is determined by the contents of the user identification section on the information sheet means. Therefore, if multiple users of a device such as a copying machine each have one information sheet, it is necessary to record a different serial number and password for each information sheet in association with each user. For example, it is possible to avoid overlapping memory areas used by each user, and it is possible to reliably prevent programs set by other users from being destroyed and other users from updating their own programs.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, when calling a mode, the information reading means selects a set of registered modes from a position on the memory means corresponding to the user identification information read from the user identification section of the information sheet means. Read the information and set the information in the main body of the device. According to this, each user can register a program in the memory means in advance, and then simply set the information sheet on which the user identification information is recorded in the information reading means to call up the registered program. It is not necessary to select a program or enter various mode information on an information sheet means. There is no fear of reading someone else's program by mistake.

[Embodiment] FIG. 2 shows the configuration of one type of copying machine that implements the present invention. This will be explained with reference to FIG. Roughly speaking, this copying machine consists of a copying machine main body and a group of optional units such as an ADF (automatic document feeder 60, sorter 70, automatic duplex processing unit 80, etc.). The paper system has five stages. That is, the first paper feeding system and the second paper feeding system are provided in the copying machine main body, and the third paper feeding system is the second paper feeding unit 170 and the fourth paper feeding system. A third paper feeding unit 180 including a system and a fifth paper feeding system is connected to the copying machine main body. 21, 22, 23 and 24 are the first paper feeding system, the second paper feeding system, and the third paper feeding system, respectively. 25 is a tray of the fifth paper feeding system.

A contact glass 1 on which a document is placed is provided at the top of the main body of the copying machine, and an optical scanning system 30 is provided below the contact glass 1. The optical scanning system 30 includes an exposure lamp 31. First mirror 32. Third mirror 33° Fourth mirror 34. lens 3
5. A fifth mirror is provided with a 36° slit 37, etc. When performing document reading scanning, a first carriage carrying an exposure lamp 31 and a first mirror 32 and a second carriage carrying a third mirror 33 and a fourth mirror 34 are arranged in two positions so that the optical path length does not change. It is mechanically scan-driven at a relative speed of l. The lens 35 is a zoom lens, and its magnification can be changed by driving a motor.

Therefore, the light emitted from the exposure lamp 31 is transmitted to the first mirror 32.
．． Third mirror 33. Fourth mirror 34. Lens 35. Fifth
Through the mirror 36 and the slit 37, the photosensitive drum 2
imaged on top.

Around the photoreceptor drum 2, there are a main charger 3 and an eraser 4. Developing device5. Pre-transfer static elimination lamp 6, transfer charger dandruff separation charger 8. It is equipped with a dangling unit 9, etc.

The image reproduction process will be briefly explained. The surface of the photosensitive drum 112 is uniformly charged to a predetermined high potential by the discharge of the main charger 3. The charge in the portion not used for image reproduction is erased by the eraser 4. When the charged surface of the photoreceptor drum 2 is irradiated with reflected light from a document, the potential of that portion changes (decreases) depending on the intensity of the irradiated light. The photosensitive drum 2 rotates in the direction shown by the arrow in the figure, and in synchronization with this, the optical scanning system 30 sequentially scans the document surface, so that the density (light reflectance) of the document image is reflected on the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 A potential distribution corresponding to the distribution, that is, an electrostatic latent image is formed.

When the portion on which the electrostatic latent image is formed passes near the developing device 5,
The toner in the developing device 5 is attracted to the surface of the photoreceptor 2 according to the potential distribution, thereby developing an electrostatic latent image, and a visible image corresponding to the electrostatic latent image is formed on the photoreceptor drum 2. Ru. On the other hand, in synchronization with the progress of the copying process, recording sheets are supplied from one of the five paper feeding systems selected. This recording sheet is fed through the registration rollers 27 at a predetermined timing so as to overlap the surface of the photosensitive drum 2.

Then, the transfer charger 7 transfers the visible image (toner image) on the photoreceptor drum 2 to the recording sheet side, and the separation charger 8 separates the recording sheet to which the visible image has been transferred from the photoreceptor drum 2. do. The separated recording sheet is conveyed to a fixing device 12 by a conveyor belt 11. After passing through the fixing device 12, the toner image on the recording sheet is fixed onto the recording sheet by heat within the fixing device 12. The recording sheet that has been fixed is discharged to the sorter 70 or the automatic duplex unit 80 through a predetermined paper discharge path.

A menu sheet reader is connected to the copying machine shown in FIG. 2 for reading the contents of a menu sheet on which settings for various operation modes of the copying machine are entered.

3a and 3b, the menu sheet reader 2
0 configuration is shown. Figure 3a is a longitudinal cross-sectional view, Figure 3b is the third
It is a right side view of figure a.

Referring to each figure, a guide member 44 is located at the right end of the device. The menu sheet 50 is
4 and inserted into the entrance of the device in the direction of the arrow. Conveying rollers 41 and 40 are arranged at a position close to the inlet and a position close to the outlet, respectively. These conveyor rollers are driven by an electric motor Ml, which will be described later.
The menu sheet 50 is conveyed from the entrance toward the exit.

The menu sheet 50 is conveyed between the conveyance guide plates 42 . The menu sheet conveyed to the exit is discharged onto a paper discharge tray 45.

An entrance sensor 51 is provided at a position slightly upstream of the conveyance roller 41 to identify whether or not a menu sheet 50 is inserted. Further, an exit sensor 52 is provided at a position slightly upstream of the conveyance roller 40 on the exit side to determine whether or not a menu sheet is being ejected. Further, four sheet reading sensors 53a, 53b, 53e, and 53d are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the menu sheet 50 near the middle between the conveyance roller 41 on the entrance side and the conveyance roller 40 on the exit side. has been done. 55 is a display formed in the shape of an arrow, and has a built-in light emitting diode LED to be described later. 56 is a power switch of the menu sheet reader 20.

This menu sheet reader 20 has a menu sheet 50
The machine reads the information entered in the machine and transmits the information to the copying machine itself. The copying machine main body performs various mode settings, etc. based on the information transmitted by the menu sheet reader 20.

FIG. 1 shows an example of the menu sheet 50.

1m-th shows the front surface of the menu sheet 50.

On the right side of the menu sheet 3, a large number of rectangular marks 57a and 57b having the same shape are formed at equal intervals. The timing mark 57a located on the rightmost side is completely painted in black.

The data mark 57b located on the left side of the timing mark 57a shows only a square frame, but you can fill it in black or add any mark (for example, a
) can be entered.

In the initial menu sheet, data mark 5
7b is all just a square frame. In order to set the copy mode, the person using the copying machine fills in black the square frame corresponding to the information to be specified, thereby writing the information on the menu sheet 50.

In this example, the information areas on the menu sheet 50 include a mode storage designation section 50a and a user code designation section sob.

A copy size designation section 50c and a copy magnification designation section 50d.

Double-sided copy specification section 50e and sorter mode specification section 50
It is divided into six blocks of f. The user code designation section 50b includes 10 to designate a numerical value of 1 digit from O to 9.
mark, 10 marks to specify the numerical value from 0 to 9 in the 10's digit, and 1 to specify the numerical value from 0 to 9 in the 100's digit.
It has 0 marks. Therefore, this designation section can designate 1000 types of code numbers in the range of 0 to 999. The copy size designation section 50c includes A3. A4. B
Marks corresponding to four types of recording paper sizes, 4 and B5, are provided.1 For example, if the mark for A4 size is filled in black, A4 size is specified.

Similarly, the copy magnification setting section 50d contains 100.115
゜121, 141.93.87.82.71 (%) mark 6 or 9 double-sided copy designation section 50
e is provided with two marks for designating duplex-duplex mode and single-sided-duplex mode, and sorter mode designation section 50f.
There are two marks for specifying sort mode and stack mode.

FIG. 7 shows the appearance of the operation board provided in the main body of the copying machine shown in FIG. 2. Referring to FIG. 7, this operation board is provided with a large number of key switches and a large number of indicators.

That is, as a key switch, sorter mode key K1
, ADF15ADF mode key 2. 3. 4a for the binding margin adjustment key, 4b for the binding margin adjustment key, 5. for the size change key. Zoom magnification keys K6a, K6b.

7 on the duplex mode key. M draft is key 8. Copy magnification adjustment key: 9a, 9b, 9c, numeric keypad KIO, paper selection (paper feed system switching) key: 11°, moderation key: 12a,
12b, clear key KC.

A print start key KS, interrupt key KI, etc. are provided. Further, one display section is provided with various displays including a message display.

Therefore, the menu sheet 50 and the menu sheet reader 2
When operating the copying machine without using 0, you must operate various key switches and numerous indicators on the operation board as shown in Figure 7, and it is easy to make mistakes if you are not used to it. .

Referring to FIG. 5, which shows the configuration of the entire electric circuit of this copying machine, a main control unit 101 including a microcomputer includes an optical system control unit 102. Operation board 8. Paper feed control unit 108. Temperature control unit 111. Lamp control unit 114. High voltage electric IK-L knit 116. ADF (automatic document feeder) unit 60
．． Sensor unit 128. Driver 121. A sorter unit 70, an automatic duplex unit 80, and a menu sheet reader 2 are connected.

Briefly, the optical system control unit 102 is connected to an electric motor 103 for reciprocating scanning driving of the optical scanning system, an electric motor 104 for adjusting the copy magnification, and an eraser lO5, and to the operation board 8, A display 106 and a key switch 107 are connected, and the paper feed control unit 1
08 is connected to an electric motor 109 and a paper feed clutch 110 for driving the paper feed system, and a fixing heater 112 and a drum heater 113 are connected to the temperature control unit 111.
An exposure lamp 115 is connected to the lamp control unit 114 , and a high voltage power supply unit 116 is connected to the exposure lamp 115 .

Electrostatic charger 117. A transfer charger 118, a separation charger 119 and a developing sleeve 120 are connected.

Note that the ADF unit 60 is configured to transfer the original document to the reading surface of the copying machine (
It has a function to read the size of the document when it is conveyed onto the contact glass.

The sensor unit 128 includes a timing pulse generator,
It is equipped with a registration sensor, a paper discharge sensor, a recording paper size sensor, a density detection sensor, a separation sensor, a toner sensor, an overrun sensor, a paper end sensor, etc. A recording paper size sensor is provided in each of the five paper feeding systems, and detects the size of the recording paper in the cassette set in each paper feeding system.

The driver 121 includes a main motor 122 . Various clutches 123. Various solenoids 124. A static elimination lamp 125 and a fan 126 are connected.

Referring to FIG. 3c, which shows the configuration of the electric circuit of the menu sheet reader 20, a microcomputer 200 is provided as a control device. The input boat of the microcomputer 200 includes six transmission type optical sensors, SEi and SEo.

S T a , S T b , S T c and ST
d is connected. These optical sensors S Ei,
S Eo, S Ta.

STb, STc, and STd are sensors 51, 52, and 53a shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b, respectively.

53b, 53c and 53d.

In addition, the output boat of the microcomputer 200 has
An electric motor M1 for driving the transport roller is connected via a motor driver. By controlling two signal lines CW (clockwise) and CCW (counterclockwise) connected to the output port of the microcomputer 200, it is possible to turn on/off the energization of the electric motor Ml and switch the direction of the energization. . In other words, the microcomputer 200 can control on/off and driving direction of the electric motor M1. In addition, the microcomputer 20
A light emitting diode LED for display is connected to the output port 0 via an inverter.

The microcomputer 200 has a built-in serial communication (data transmission) function, and its data transmission terminal and data reception terminal are connected to the serial communication terminal of the main control unit 101 shown in FIG. 1 via a buffer. There is. Therefore, the menu sheet reader 20 and the main control unit 101 can exchange data with each other.

Data transmission between the main control unit (copying machine) and the menu sheet reader is schematically shown in FIG. That is, when the copying machine first becomes ready, a "readable" signal is sent to the menu sheet reader. In response to this signal, the menu sheet reader 20 turns on the sheet insertion permission indicator (55: LED). Then, when the menu sheet is inserted, after reading it, the display (55: LED) indicating that 5 sheets can be inserted is turned off.

The menu sheet reader then sends a "data available" signal to the copier. If the copying machine is in the ready state, the menu sheet reader 20 sequentially sends the data group read from the menu sheet to the copying machine in response to a signal to send a "ready to send" signal to the menu sheet reader 20. Send. In other words, every time data is transmitted, the copying machine sends a "sendable" signal to the menu sheet reader, and in response, the menu sheet reader sends 1 byte of data to the copying machine for all data. and execute it repeatedly in sequence. When the transmission of all data is completed, the menu sheet reader 20 transmits a 'data end' signal to the copying machine.

Upon receiving the "end of data" signal, the copying machine executes the manual menu processing (FIG. 4b) and again sends the "readable..." signal to the menu sheet reader. If a menu sheet is inserted, the same operation as above will be repeated.In addition, if the mode setting (manual menu) process is performed multiple times, the mode set in the later process will be set in the copier. Furthermore, if there is a key input from the operation board 8 of the copying machine after the mode is set by the menu sheet reader, the mode setting is updated in accordance with that input.Conversely.

When a mode corresponding to the key input from the operation board 8 is set in the copying machine, if data is input from the menu sheet reader, the mode is updated according to the data.

For example, priority is given to mode setting by manual key input from the operation board 8 and mode setting by data input from the menu sheet reader 20.

The priority order may be configured to be changeable with a switch.

That is, if priority is given to manual key power, mode setting from the menu sheet reader is prohibited when the copier is in a mode other than the standard mode, and if priority is given to the menu sheet reader, mode setting is performed by the menu sheet reader. After that, all keys on the operation board other than the all clear key and the print start switch may be prohibited from being manually operated.

When the print start switch KS is pressed, the copying machine sends a "read not possible" signal to the menu sheet reader 20 and starts copying according to the set operation mode. In this case.

The sheet insertable display of the menu sheet reader is turned off. When the copying operation is finished, the copier will be “readable” again.
A signal is sent to the menu sheet reader 20.

In this embodiment, the copying machine sends three types of signals to the menu sheet reader 20: "readable", "readable", and "sendable". “Readable” and “unreadable” are D
It is represented by the label IOK, and corresponds to the 10H and OOH 8-bit codes, respectively.

Also, 'sendable' is represented by a DSOK label.

It supports FFH 8-bit code.

A list of the signals that the menu sheet reader 20 sends to the copying machine is shown in Table 1 below. Basically, the lower 4 bits of these signals represent the type of data, and the upper 4 bits represent the data type. It is structured to represent the content.

Table 1 outlines the operation of the main control unit 101 of the main body of the copying machine.
Shown in Figure a. Since the basic contents of the process shown in FIG. 4a are the same as those of a general copying machine, a description of the internal process will be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 4a, when the copier is in standby, step SA3. The processes of SA4 and SA5 are repeatedly executed. At this time, data shown in Table 1 is communicated with the menu sheet reader 20, and processing is then performed according to the contents of the received data. The contents of this process are shown in FIG. 4b. This will be explained with reference to FIG. 4b.

In step 1, the information on the menu sheet read by the menu sheet reader 20 is converted into a data format shown in Table 1.
Receive from 0.

In step 2, it is determined whether the received information includes a user code. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, when none of the marks in the user code designation section 50b are filled in, the menu sheet reader 20 cannot detect the user code and does not send the user code to the main control unit 101. In this case, it is assumed that no user code has been specified, and the process proceeds to step 6. In step 6, the operation mode (copy size, copy magnification) of the copying machine is determined according to the information written in each designated section on the menu sheet.

2-sided copy mode and sorter mode).

In this example, a user number is assigned in advance to a user using a copying machine, and each user number is set so as not to overlap. Each user normally enters information (filling in, etc.) in the user code designation section of the menu sheet corresponding to the user code (for example, 123) assigned only to him/her.

If the menu sheet containing the user code has been read, the process proceeds from step 2 to step 3 in FIG. 4b.

In the next step 3, the information in the mode storage designation section 50a on the menu sheet is referred to. If the mark in the mode storage designation area is filled out, the process further advances from step 3 to step 4. Here, the internal memory of the control unit 101 (non-volatile RAM backed up by a battery)
) The contents of the mode registration memory provided above are referred to.

A memory map of this mode registration memory is shown in FIG.

Referring to FIG. 6, the mode registration memory includes a number of areas each divided into three bytes. Each 3-byte area further contains a registration flag, user code,
It is divided into areas for storing information such as copy size, copy magnification, nine-sided copy, and sorter mode. Actually, the memory allocated is 1 bit for the registration flag, 9 bits for the user code, 3 bits for the copy size, 5 bits for the copy magnification, 2 bits for double-sided copy, and 2 bits for the sorter mode. In the initial state, the registration flags of all areas are cleared, and each time data is registered in each area, the registration flags are set.

In Step 4 of the 4th bWI, for each area on the mode registration memory, it is first determined whether the registration flag is set, and only for those areas where the flag is set, the user code stored there is referred to. and compare it with the user code sent by the menu sheet reader. If a match is detected, it is considered registered. If the registration has been completed, the process proceeds to step 5, and if no match is detected, the process proceeds to step 9.

In step 5, the contents of the 3-byte area in which the user code matching the user code sent from the menu sheet reader is registered are updated with the data newly input from the menu sheet reader.

In step 9, the mode registration memory is checked in order from area 1, and the user code and various mode information input from the menu sheet reader are input to the first area (free memory) where the registration flag is cleared. and also sets the registration flag.

If no mode storage designation is detected in step 3, the process first proceeds to step 7.
Similarly, for each area on the mode registration memory, first check whether the registration flag is set, and only for those areas where the flag is set, refer to the user code stored there and execute it. Compare with the user code sent from the menu sheet reader. If a match is detected, the process proceeds to step 8; if a match is not detected, this subroutine is ended.

In step 8, the data stored in the 3-byte area in which a match with the user code sent from the menu sheet reader is detected is read out, and the copying machine's operation mode (copy size, copy magnification, 2 2-sided copy mode and sorter mode).

In the above embodiment, the user writes an arbitrary code number on the menu sheet, but instead of this, for example, a coded string of the user's first and last name may be registered as the user code. Also, regarding the user code.

It is also possible to print or magnetically record the menu sheet in advance so that only the information can be read out.

[Effect] As described above, according to the present invention, the information sheet means (50)
Based on the contents of the user identification 11 (50b) above, the position in the main body of the apparatus where the mode information is registered and the position from which the mode information is read are specified.

This ensures that the memory area for mode information is divided for each user. Therefore, multiple users do not use the same memory, and troubles caused by erroneous deletion or updating of registration mode contents can be eliminated.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the appearance of the menu sheet. FIG. 2 is a front view showing the structure of a mechanical section of a main body of a copying machine that implements the present invention. FIGS. 3a, 3b, and 3c are a vertical sectional view, a right side view, and a block diagram showing an electric circuit, respectively, of the menu sheet reader of the embodiment. 4a and 4b illustrate the main control unit 10 of FIG.
1 is a flowchart showing the operation of FIG. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the electrical equipment section of the copying machine shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 6 is a memory map showing area allocation within the mode registration memory provided in the main control unit 101. 7 is a plan view showing the appearance of the operation board of the copying machine shown in FIG. 2. FIG. FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing signals related to communication between the main control unit and the menu sheet reader. 20: Menu sheet reader (information reading means) 50: Menu sheet (information sheet means) 50b: (User identification column)

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) Memory means provided in the main body of the device and including an area for storing multiple sets of mode information; an information sheet formed in the form of a sheet or card and including an information holding section including a user identification field and a mode information identification field; means; information reading means for reading information in the information holding section of the information sheet means; and processing the information read by the information reading means from the information sheet means to obtain user identification information from the contents of the user identification column. , mode control means for registering mode information corresponding to the content of the mode information identification column in a position specified by the user identification information on the memory means; an operation mode setting device. (2) When a mode call is instructed, the mode control means registers the user identification information from the position on the memory means corresponding to the user identification information read by the information reading means from the user identification field of the information sheet means. 2. The operating mode setting device according to claim 1, wherein the operating mode setting device reads out a set of mode information and sets the information in the main body of the device.