JPH063884A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To realize rapid and efficient service by providing a storage area for version in a program ROM and displaying the version stored in the program ROM when a specified key is operated. CONSTITUTION:When the specified key is inputted from a control panel 5, an M(master) CPU 50 transmits the request of a ROM version to an S(slave) CPU 51, and the SCPU 51 transmits the request of the ROM version to CPUs 52-55. The CPUs 52-55 collect the version in the program ROMs 62-65 and transmit it to the SCPU 51. When the SCPU 51 receives data transmitted from the CPUs 52-55, it adds the version in the program ROM 61 of its own (SCPU 51) to the received data and transmits it to the MCPU 50. When the MCPU 50 recevies the data transmitted from the SCPU 51, it adds the version in the program ROM 60 of its own to the data so as to display the data on a display part 6.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus for controlling the whole operation by a program stored in ROM.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus or the like, there is a case where a program of a control CPU is upgraded in order to improve performance or solve a problem. When performing such maintenance, it is customary to check the version of the program that is currently set. In the image forming apparatus, the program is stored in ROM, and the version number is printed on a label attached on the ROM.

[0003]

Therefore, in order to confirm the version of the program of the image forming apparatus, conventionally, the following work has been performed. A service person visits the user and removes the exterior of the image forming apparatus to expose the control board. Check the version printed on the label attached to the control ROM mounted on each control board.

Therefore, the control ROM of each CPU
In order to upgrade the version, the service person needs to visit the user in advance to check the ROM label, which consumes a great deal of time and manpower.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of promptly and efficiently confirming the version of the control ROM of the image forming apparatus installed in the user and enabling quick and efficient service.

[0006]

An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a display unit, a specific key, a program ROM having a version storage area, and a display unit for displaying the version of the program ROM when the specific key is operated. And version display means for displaying.

[0007]

In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the program ROM is provided with the version storage area,
When the specific key is operated, the version stored in the program ROM is displayed on the display unit.

[0008]

1 is a diagram showing the construction of a copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. The copying machine 1 includes a main body 2, a sorter 3,
It consists of a stand 4. An optical system 10 is arranged in the upper portion of the copying machine main body 2. The optical system 10 includes a copy lamp 11 including a halogen lamp and a plurality of mirrors 12 to 12
15, a zoom lens 16 and the like.

A photoconductor 20 is rotatably supported below the optical system 10. Around the photoconductor 20, a charger 21, a developing unit 22, a registration roller 2 are arranged in the order of the copying process.
3, a transfer device 24, a cleaner 25, a static eliminator 26 and the like are arranged.

Above the main body 2 of the copying machine, a document table 1 is provided.
7, an automatic document feeder 18 is provided, and an operation panel and a display unit (not shown) are provided in the vicinity thereof. The automatic document feeder 18 includes the document setting section 3
1, a document transport path 32 and drums 33 and 34. When copying a document, the document is wrapped around drums 33 and 34 and rotated to copy the front and back surfaces. At this time, the optical system 10 is stopped below the drum as shown.

The base 4 is provided with an intermediate tray 38 and a multi-sheet feeding device 28. The sorter 3 is provided with a plurality of output trays 35 and conveyance paths 36 and 37.

The transport path 36 connects the paper discharge section of the main body 2 and the intermediate tray 38 of the table 4.

The copy sheet is fed from the sheet tray 27 or the multi-sheet feeding device 28. The fed paper is
The sheet is fed by the registration roller 23 at the same timing as the copying process. The sheet is conveyed between the transfer device 24 and the photoconductor 20, the conveying device 29, and the fixing device 30 and then discharged.
The ejected paper is fed from the sorter 3 to the paper ejection tray 3 in a predetermined stage.
The paper is discharged to 5. In the case of double-sided copying or synthetic copying, the intermediate tray 38 is conveyed by the conveying paths 36 and 37 in the sorter 3.
Is saved once. The paper stored in the intermediate tray 38 is fed by the paper feed roller 39 and is conveyed again to the registration rollers 23.

During copying, copying process processing, document scanning, operations of peripheral devices, etc. are executed in synchronization. With the surface charged to a predetermined potential by the charger 21, the first mirror 12 and the second and third mirrors 13 and 14 are
Is moved in the A direction, and the original document (not shown) covered with the original document cover 17 is sequentially irradiated from the front end by the copy lamp 11. Then, the reflected light from the document is exposed to the photoconductor 20, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photoconductor 20.

When an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photoconductor 20,
This electrostatic latent image is developed by the toner supplied from the developing unit 22 to form a toner image. This toner image is moved to the position of the transfer unit 24 by the rotation of the photoconductor 20. At this time, the sheet temporarily stopped by the registration roller 23 is supplied to the position of the transfer device 24 at a predetermined timing.

Then, the toner image is transferred by the transfer device 24 onto the supplied paper. After that, the paper is peeled from the photoconductor 20, and is conveyed to the fixing device 30 by the conveying device 29 to fix the toner image on the paper. If the copy mode is the second process of single-sided copying, composite copying, or double-sided copying, the sheet is ejected to the sheet ejection tray 34 as it is. On the other hand, in the case of the first process of composite copying and double-sided copying, the paper discharged from the fixing device 30 is sent to the paper transport path 36.
If it is a synthetic copy, it is ejected to the intermediate tray 38 as it is,
In the case of double-sided copying, the front and back are reversed by the reversing unit 37, and then the paper is discharged to the intermediate tray 38.

When a predetermined number of sheets of paper are accumulated in the intermediate tray 38, the sheets on the intermediate tray 38 are sequentially fed from the uppermost one by the paper feed roller 39 and sent to the photoconductor 20, and copying is continuously performed. Be seen.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control unit in the copying machine 1. The copying machine 1 includes a master CPU (M
CPU) 50, slave CPU (SCPU) 51, and CPUs 52 to 55 of each unit. MCPU
Reference numeral 50 controls the image forming process and also controls the operation of the entire apparatus. The SCPU 51 controls each unit of the copying machine according to a command from the MCPU 50. S
The CPU 51 has an ADFCP for controlling the ADF.
A U52, a synthetic copy CPU 53 for controlling the intermediate tray 38 of the table 4, the sorter CPU 54 for controlling the sorter 3, and a mirror CPU 55 for controlling the optical system are connected. ROMs 60 to 65 storing programs are connected to the CPUs 50 to 55, respectively.
Each of the OMs 60 to 65 stores the version number of the program. Further, the MCPU 50 has an operation panel 5, a driver 59, and an RA for registering data.
An M56, an optical sensor 40 for detecting the image density, a copy lamp lighting circuit 57, and a charging unit 58 are connected. The operation panel 5 displays the operated data in MC
Input to the PU 50, the driver 59 displays the data output from the MCPU 50 on the display unit 6. The copy lamp 11 is connected to the copy lamp lighting circuit 57, and the charger 21 is connected to the charging unit 58. Further, the mirror CPU 55 controls the rotation of the mirror motor 67 via the driver 66. The rotation speed data of the mirror motor 67 is detected by the rotary encoder 68 and input to the mirror CPU 55.

The MCPU 50 instructs the SCPU 51 to operate each unit by a command based on signals from various keys and sensors according to a program stored in the ROM 60. In SCPU51, MC
It receives a command from the PU 50 and sends a command to each unit to perform an operation according to an instruction from the master. For example, in the mirror CPU 55, the first mirror base (copy lamp 1
1, mirror 12) and a second mirror base (mirror 1
(3, 14) to start moving in the A direction, and to return the first and second mirror bases that have finished moving in the A direction to their home positions. Further, the MCPU 50 controls the supply / stop of the voltage to the copy lamp 11 via the copy lamp lighting circuit 57, adjusts the effective voltage level applied to the copy lamp 11, and adjusts the voltage of various high voltage units such as the charging unit 58. Take control.

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 are flowcharts showing the processing procedure of the control unit when reading the version of the program ROM mounted in the copying machine. Figure 3 shows MCP
U50, Figure 4 is SCPU 51, Figure 5 is CP of each unit
It is a flowchart of U52-55.

When a service person inputs a specific key from the operation panel 5 of the copying machine, the MCPU 50 (see FIG. 3).
(N1)), and sends the ROM version request to the SCPU 51 ((n2) in FIG. 3). SCPU51
When the ROM version request is received from the MCPU 50 (FIG. 4 (n11)), the ROM version request is transmitted to the CPUs 52 to 55 that control each unit (FIG. 4 (n12)). CPU 52-55
Receives the ROM version request from the SCPU 51 (FIG. 5 (n21)), the program ROM 62
.About.65 versions are collected and transmitted to the SCPU 51 (FIG. 5 (n22)).

When the SCPU 51 receives the data transmitted from the CPUs 52 to 55 (FIG. 4 (n13)), the SCPU 51 adds the program ROM of its own (SCPU 51) to the received data.
The version 61 is added and transmitted to the MCPU 50 (FIG. 4 (n14, n15)).

Upon receiving the data transmitted from the SCPU 51 (FIG. 3 (n3), the MCPU 50 adds the version of its own program ROM 60 (FIG. 3 (n3)).
4)), this data is displayed on the display unit 6 (see FIG.
5)).

As described above, in this embodiment, the program RO installed in the copying machine by the input of the specific key.
The M version is displayed on the display unit of the copying machine.

[0025]

According to the present invention, the version of the program ROM in each control section is displayed on the display section, and the version can be confirmed promptly without removing the exterior of the copying machine, thereby providing a quick and efficient service. You will be able to do it.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a copying machine that is an embodiment of the present invention.

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

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the control unit.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the same.

FIG. 5 is the same flowchart.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1-Copy machine 5-Operation panel 6-Display unit 50-Master CPU 51-Slave CPU 52-ADFCPU 53-Composite copy CPU 54-Sort CPU 55-Mirror CPU 60-Program ROM (MCPU) 61-Program ROM (SCPU) 62-Program ROM (ADFCPU) 63-Program ROM (Composite Copy CPU) 64-Program ROM (Sort CPU) 65-Program ROM (Mirror CPU)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A display unit, a specific key, a program ROM having a version storage area, and version display means for displaying the version of the program ROM on the display unit when the specific key is operated. An image forming apparatus characterized by.