JPH0461464A - Data processing unit in picture forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent various malfunction in picture forming by checking 1st and 2nd write check flag areas in a nonvolatile memory at re-application of power when a power failure takes place in the midst of writing data for the number of picture forming or the like into the nonvolatile memory. CONSTITUTION:When power is interrupted while a counter of the number of picture forming for a nonvolatile memory 17 of a picture forming control section 18 is increased, the content of 1st and 2nd write check flag areas is checked at re-application of power. Thus, based on the checked content, whether or not the count in the 1st and 2nd write areas is indefinite, or as is the case, up to whether or not the counter has already been increased is discriminated. Thus, various kinds of malfunction in picture forming caused due to indefinite data in the nonvolatile memory 17 are prevented.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer. The data processing device of the image forming apparatus sequentially writes data such as the number of image formations into a non-volatile memory, and reads the data from the non-volatile memory as necessary so that it can be used for executing various image forming processes. It is related to.

``Prior Art'' Traditionally, this type of image forming apparatus uses semiconductor memory in a microcomputer to check when to replace consumables used in the apparatus and to maintain frequently used image forming modes. Non-volatile memory is widely used.For example, during image forming operation, parameters necessary for executing the image forming process, etc. are stored in non-volatile memory.
Sequentially writes data such as progress status and number of image formations,
This written data is read out as needed after image formation and is used to execute various image formation processes, such as checking when to replace consumables.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Writing of various data to the nonvolatile memory is performed during each image forming operation, but if there is a power outage or the image forming apparatus is shut down during the writing of this data. If the power is turned off due to an operator error, etc., the contents of the nonvolatile memory become undefined. However, when the power was turned on after that, there was a problem that caused various malfunctions. For example, if data on the number of image formations is incremented (added) in nonvolatile memory each time an image is formed, and the data on the cumulative number of times is used to check when to replace consumables, etc., the data on the number of image formations is stored in nonvolatile memory. If the power is turned off while data is being written, the content of the image formation count data in the nonvolatile memory becomes unstable at that moment, causing the cumulative number of image formations to be incorrect, resulting in problems such as incorrect timing of replacing consumables. could cause.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems,
The purpose of this is to prevent data from being stored in nonvolatile memory while the image forming device is operating, and even if the power is cut off due to a power outage or operational error, the contents of the nonvolatile memory may become undefined. An object of the present invention is to provide a data processing device for an image forming apparatus that can reliably process data without any problems.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a data processing device in an image forming apparatus having one non-volatile memory for sequentially storing data during operation according to the present invention includes (a) the above-mentioned The nonvolatile memory has a first write area and a second write area for each data stored therein, and a first write check flag area and a second write area corresponding to the first write area. A corresponding second writing check/error flag area is provided, respectively.
(b) When writing data to the nonvolatile memory, ■
After setting a predetermined write check flag in the first write check flag area, ■ write data in the first write area, ■ set a predetermined write check flag in the second write check flag area,
■Writing data in the second write area; ■Setting a write check flag different from the write check flag in the first write check flag area and the second write check flag area sequentially;
The configuration is such that steps 1) to (5) are performed.

[Function] According to the data processing device of the present invention having the configuration described above, even if the power is cut off due to a power outage or the like while data is being written to the nonvolatile memory, the data in the first and second writing areas will be retained. Since the data cannot be indefinite at the same time, data on the non-uncertain (stable) side can be selected and used. Moreover, by checking the flags set in the first and second write check flag areas corresponding to the first and second write areas, it is possible to determine whether the data in the first and second write areas are being rewritten. It is possible to determine whether it is unstable data, stable data before rewriting, or even stable data after rewriting, so you can accurately store various data in memory, read stored data, The image forming apparatus can be reliably used for maintenance, etc.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example embodying the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

The image forming apparatus 1 shown in the embodiment of FIG. 3 transfers a latent image formed by exposing a long photosensitive recording medium 2 to the photosensitive recording medium
This is a device that performs pressure development to form an image on a cut sheet-like recording paper 3 corresponding to the above. At the center of the interior of the image forming apparatus 1, a cartridge 5 is removably installed, in which a photosensitive recording medium 2 is wound around a cartridge shaft 4 and housed therein. The photosensitive recording medium 2 pulled out from the cartridge 5 is placed on an exposure table 6,
The film is wound up onto a pick-up roll 10 disposed outside the cartridge 5 so as to be integrated with the cartridge 5 via a drive shaft 7, a pressure developing device 8, and a separation roll 9.

A transparent document table 11 and its cover 12 are arranged above the cartridge 5, and between the cartridge 5 and the document table 11, an optical system I4 having a built-in light source 13 for exposing the photosensitive recording medium 2 is provided. It is arranged. A thermal fixing device 15, a paper feed device 16 that feeds the recording paper 2 one sheet at a time to the pressure developing device 8, and a non-volatile memory 17 (to be described later) are built into the lower part of the cartridge 5 to perform various controls for image formation. A control unit 18 is provided for each.

Next, before explaining the specific data writing operation of the nonvolatile memory 17 of the control section 18, an outline of the image forming operation of the image forming apparatus 1 having the above configuration will be explained.

When the operator of the image forming apparatus 1 inputs a command to start image formation, the unexposed photosensitive recording medium 2 is ejected from the cartridge 5 by a drive control signal from the control unit 18 and placed on the exposure table 6.
The paper is automatically passed through the optical system 14 and exposed to light by the optical system 14. The optical system 14 optically scans the original 19 on the original platen 11 from below, exposes the photosensitive recording medium 2 with light reflected from the original 19, and forms a latent image corresponding to the image of the original 19 on the photosensitive recording medium 2. do.

When this exposure is completed, the control section 18 increments the counter value of the number of image formations in the nonvolatile memory 17. The photosensitive recording medium 2 on which the latent image has been formed is overlapped with the recording paper 3 from the paper feeder 6 before the pressure developing device 8 and sent to the pressure developing device 8, where it is passed through a pair of pressure rollers 20. The latent image on the photosensitive recording medium 2 is pressure-developed onto the recording paper 3 by applying a pressure of .21. After development, the recording paper 3 is separated from the photosensitive recording medium 2 by a separation roller 9 and sent to a heat fixing device 15, where the image is fixed, and then transferred to a paper output tray 22.
is discharged. On the other hand, the photosensitive recording medium 2 after development is separated by a separation roller 9 and wound onto a pick-up roll 10 .

Here, the operation of writing data to the non-volatile memory 17 by the control unit 18 will be explained using a specific operation of incrementing the counter value of the number of image formations. The counter value in the data memory 17 is incremented.

That is, the nonvolatile memory 17 is provided with a first write area, a second write area, and first and second write check flag areas corresponding to the first and second write areas.

Then, at the data write start stage, after setting a predetermined check flag, for example, flag rAAJ, in the first write check flag area (after writing) [5TEP1], the counter of the first write area is rewritten with data. Increment based on [5TEP2co.

Then, set the same flag “AA” as above in the second write check flag area, and then
Increment the counter in the write area based on the rewritten data [5TEP4.

Next, a check flag different from the flag rAAJ, for example, a flag "
By setting the flag "55" [5TEP5] and finally setting the flag "55" in the second write check flag area [5TEP6], the series of processing steps for data writing is completed.

By the way, the process when the power is turned off due to a power outage or the like during the data write operation described above will be explained. The timing at which the power is turned off can be considered to be the times shown in (AI) to (A9) in FIG. 1, so each time will be explained.

As shown in FIG. 1, if the power is turned off before starting 5TEP 1 (AI), the contents of the first and second write check flag areas are both "55",
The counters of the first write area and the second write area have not yet been incremented.

If the power is turned off during execution of 5TEP I (A2), the content of the first write check flag area is "undefined" as it is being written, and the content of the second write check flag area is "55". Yes, both the first and second write areas are not incremented.

If the power is turned off between the end of 5TEP 1 and the start of 5TEP 2 (A3), the content of the first write check flag area is rAAJ, and the content of the second write check flag area is "55". At this time, the counter in the first write area may be incrementing, so there is a possibility that the counter in the first write area is incrementing.
The write area counter has not yet been incremented.

If the power is turned off during execution of 5TEP 3 (A4), the contents of the first write check flag area will be changed to “AA”.
J, the contents of the second write check flag area are being written and are "indeterminate", the counter of the first write area has been incremented, and the counter of the second write area has not yet been incremented.

If the power is turned off between the end of 5TEP 3 and the start of 5TEP 5 (A5), the contents of the first and second write check flag areas are both rAAJ,
Since the counter in the first write area has already been incremented and the counter in the second write area may be incrementing, there is a possibility that the counter is "undefined".

If the power is turned off during execution of 5TEP5 (86),
The contents of the first write check flag area are being written and may be "undefined," the contents of the second write check flag area are rAAJ, and the counters of the first and second write areas have both been incremented. It is.

If the power is turned off between the end of 5TEP 5 and the start of 5TEP 6 (A7), the contents of the first write check flag area are r55J, the contents of the second write check flag area rAAJ, 1st and 2nd
Both write area counters have already been incremented.

If the power is turned off during execution of 5TEP 6 (A8), the contents of the first write check flag area will be “55
'', the content of the second write check flag area is ``Writing in progress'', and the counters in the first and second write areas have both been incremented.

If the power is turned off after completing 5TEP 6 (A9
), the contents of the first and second write check flag areas are both "55", and the counters of both the first and second write areas have been incremented.

The above aspects are summarized in a table as shown in FIG. 2.

As is clear from the table in the same figure, after the power is turned off while the image forming count counter in the non-volatile memory 17 of the image forming control section 18 is being incremented, when the power is turned on next time, the first By checking the contents of the second write check flag area, it can be determined from the contents whether the counters of the first write area and the second write area are indeterminate, and in some cases, whether the counters have already been incremented. You can even tell what's going on. In other words, even if the power is turned off at any of the timings (A1) to (A9) while the counter for the number of image formations in the nonvolatile memory 17 is being incremented, the counters in the first and second writing areas will not change when the power is restored. Whether it is before the increment, after the increment, or is undefined is determined by the contents of the first and second write check flag areas, that is, the combination of "55", rAAJ, and "undefined". Ru.

For example, if the contents of the first and second write check flag areas are "55" when the power is turned on, both the first and second write areas are in the state before incrementing; Let the counter value of the first writing area be the number of times of image formation.

The content of the first write check flag area is "55"
However, if rAAJ does not work (that is, it is undefined) and the content of the second write check flag area is "55", the counter value of the first write area is incremented (1
(addition) to obtain the number of image formations.

Also, the contents of the first write check flag area are “
AA" and the content of the second write check flag area is "55", the first write area is undefined,
At this time, the counter value of the second writing area is incremented (added by l) to determine the number of times of image formation.

The contents of the first write check flag area are rAAJ
Then, the contents of the second write check flag area are rA
When it is neither AJ nor "55" (that is, it is undefined), the counter value of the first writing area is taken as the number of times of image formation.

Furthermore, when the contents of the first and second write check flag areas are both r'A A J, or when the first write check flag area is undefined and the second write check flag area is rAAJ, further I When the first write check flag area is "55" and the second write check flag area is "AA", or when the first write check flag area is "55" and the second write check flag area is undefined. , let the counter value of the first writing area be the number of times of image formation.

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the above detailed description, the data processing device in the image forming apparatus of the present invention has the following effects.

That is, even if the power is turned off while data such as the number of image formations is being written to the nonvolatile memory, the first and second write check flag areas of the nonvolatile memory are checked when the power is turned on. It is possible to determine whether the data in the first and second areas is undefined data being rewritten, data before rewriting, data after rewriting, etc., so that the data in nonvolatile memory becomes undefined. Various malfunctions in image formation caused by this can be prevented. Therefore, various data in the image forming apparatus can be reliably processed and used effectively, and the reliability of the operation of the image forming apparatus is greatly improved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the data processing procedure in the data processing device of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows the contents of the first and second write check flag areas and the first and second write check flag areas of the data processing device according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus equipped with a data processing apparatus of the present invention. 1... Image forming device, 17... Non-volatile memory, 18
...control section. ′$ 1 Figure

Claims (1)

[Claims] In an image forming apparatus having a non-volatile memory for sequentially storing data during operation, the non-volatile memory has a first write area and a second write area for each piece of data stored in the non-volatile memory. a write area, a first write check flag area corresponding to the first write area, and a second write check flag area corresponding to the second write area, respectively, and writing data to the nonvolatile memory. (1) sets a predetermined write check flag in the first write check flag area, (2) writes data to the first write area, and (3) sets a predetermined write check flag in the second write check flag area. After setting the check flag, (4) write data to the second write area, and (5) write a write check flag different from the write check flag to the first write check flag area and the second write check flag area in sequence. A data processing device for an image forming apparatus, characterized in that the data processing device is configured to perform the steps (1) to (5) above.