JPS58200250A - Automatic inspection of electrophotographic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method for automatically inspecting or diagnosing an electrophotographic device. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for automatically testing several subsystems and features, features, or functions of an electrophotographic reproduction device.

[Background of the invention]

In electrophotographic reproduction devices, copies of documents or other objects are made by forming an image of a document on a photoreceptor surface, developing this image, and then fusing the developed image to copy paper. made by.

Electrophotographic processes in devices that use plain paper or other conventional image receptors without special coatings are transfer-type processes in which the photoreceptor is positioned around a rotating drum or configured as a belt. And it is driven by a roller system. In a typical transfer process, the photoreceptor material is passed under a static charge generating station to form a relatively uniform static charge across the photoreceptor surface, typically to a potential of several hundred volts. A charge is placed on the photoreceptor.The photoreceptor is then moved to an imaging station where it receives light reflected from the document to be reproduced.The white areas of the original document receive a large amount of light. As it reflects, the photoreceptor material 1d is discharged to a relatively low level in the white areas, while the black areas remain at high voltage levels after this exposure. A charge pattern, ie, an electrostatic image of the original document, corresponding to the printed pattern, shadow, etc., is formed.

Electrophotographic devices can also be configured to provide printing capabilities, where the image on the photoreceptor surface is formed by a character generation mechanism rather than by an optical image of the original document. The character generation function can be accomplished, for example, by driving the light emitting sources based on information stored in digital memory. Light emitting sources include laser guns, light emitting diode arrays, light modulators, etc., which are driven to form a charge pattern of the image on the photoreceptor based on the image of information.

The next step after forming the image on the photoreceptor is to send the image to a development station where a developer called toner is applied to the image. This developer is in the form of a black powder and carries a charge of opposite polarity to the charge pattern on the photoreceptor (6). Due to the absorption of oppositely charged toner, the toner is deposited on the photoreceptor surface in a proportion corresponding to the density of the original document.

Thus, the black text areas will have a large amount of toner, while the white background areas will have no toner, and the gray or halftone areas will have toner at inter-how levels.

The developed image is then conveyed from the development station to a transfer station where a copy receiver, typically paper, is juxtaposed to the developed toner image on the photoreceptor. A charge is placed on the back side of the copy paper so that when the copy paper is removed from the photoreceptor, the toner image is transferred from the photoreceptor to the copy paper. However, 100-color toner is rarely transferred from the photoreceptor to the copy paper, and therefore, toner remains on the photoreceptor after transfer. This is called residual toner.

The remaining steps are to permanently fuse the transferred toner image to the copy paper and to clean any residual toner on the photoreceptor. used again for.

In the cleaning step, the photoreceptor is passed through a pre-charging station which neutralizes the charged areas on the photoreceptor. The photoreceptor is further passed under an erase lamp to discharge any remaining charge. In this way, residual toner is no longer held to the photoreceptor surface by electrostatic absorption forces, and thus it can be easily removed at a cleaning station.

It is common to prevent residual loading of the cleaning station by removing any charge present on portions of the photoreceptor surface other than the imaged areas prior to the development step. Typically, this is accomplished by using a mid-image erase lamp to discharge the corresponding area of the photoreceptor between the trailing edge of one image and the leading edge of the next image. Lamps are also used that erase the charge outside the imaging area along the edges of the photoreceptor. For example, if the size of the original document is 21.25 m x 27.5 crn, and a copy of the same size is to be made, the size of the imaging area on the photoreceptor will also be 21.25 crn x 27°5 c.
It becomes rn. The former mid-image erase lamp and the latter erase lamp remove charges outside the 21.25 z x 27.5 cm imaging area.

A modification to the above-described process used in many electrophotographic reproduction machines is the use of specially prepared paper beat copy paper which itself is provided with a coating of photoreceptor material. Using this technique, the image is formed directly on the copy paper. The copy sheet is passed through a developer station to a fusing station. This type of copying machine does not have the problem of residual toner,
Therefore, there is no need for cleaning stations, erase lamps, pre-cleaning coronas, etc. however,
The cost of copy paper with this special photoreceptor material coating is much higher than plain paper, and this special coating reduces the quality of the finished copy. Therefore, a copying machine using this specially coated copy paper is suitable for use in applications where the number of copies is small or where the quality of the copies is less demanding.

In addition to the above basic configuration used to make copies or prints, modern electrophotographic reproduction devices have a number of additional features to facilitate their handling. For example, semi-automatic document feeders (hereinafter referred to as 5ADF) and fully automatic document feeders (hereinafter referred to as ADF) facilitate the operation of feeding documents into a copying device. A collator is also added, which automatically creates a set of collated copies. Additionally, many copying machines have duplex copying capabilities, whereby copies are made on both sides of a copy sheet. Another additional feature is the creation of copies with different magnifications relative to the original document. Other properties improve copy quality by providing a mechanism for controlling toner density in devices using carrier toner development mixtures. Many electrophotographs in recent years (Zero equipment is...
- Controlled by a microprocessor rather than by hard-wired analog or digital logic circuits. Through the use of microprocessors, new innovative features can be added at low cost, such as error logging and automatic diagnostic features that facilitate troubleshooting and improve maintenance. Microprocessor routines help establish a degree of human intelligence to anticipate operator needs for document feeding operations, collation, and other areas. Additionally, the microprocessor allows new functionality to be economically added, such as adding isolation sea Ifs between multiple copy sets within a collator.

As is clear from the above, an electrophotographic reproduction device has several important basic subsystems for making copies or prints and several other subsystems that provide functions that control copy quality or facilitate handling. Contains 7 stems.

Therefore, modern electrophotographic reproduction machines, whether used as copiers or printers, are very complex complexes of the above subsystems and functions. Degradation of the operational characteristics of one or more of these subsystems also degrades the quality of the copy. Typically, the deterioration of the operating characteristics of one (8) subsystem will become noticeable sooner than the others, and maintenance personnel will therefore repair only the subsystem with the degraded operating characteristics. However, at this time, the deterioration of the operating characteristics of other subsystems is progressing, and after a certain period of time, this deterioration becomes noticeable and maintenance personnel are called again to repair it. According to the invention, a typical copier user or maintenance personnel 1d can introduce or set up a series of different jobs within an automatic test operation performed by the copier itself to obtain information about a particular subsystem or function. By making each copy, it is possible to verify that each of the major functional areas of the copying machine is functioning properly.

In this way, when maintenance personnel are called to repair a malfunctioning part of a reproduction machine, after completing this major repair, they are not aware of whether these fault conditions are ongoing for other parts. can be easily investigated. In this way, other fault conditions that have not become apparent but are currently in progress can also be repaired.

The test procedure of the present invention also has the other advantage that the equipment can be located at a remote location. In this case, a normal level user of this remote equipment can cause the equipment to test itself to make a copy showing the operation or performance of each of the main functional parts of this equipment, and then send this test copy to the service. By sending the results of this test directly to the center or by telephone, instructions can be given to repair the malfunctioning subsystem, thus eliminating the need for maintenance personnel to travel to remote locations.

[Detailed description of the invention]

Generally speaking, the present invention provides an apparatus for automatically cycling through a series of discrete jobs in order to sequentially and automatically test major functional areas or parts of an electrostatographic copying or printing apparatus. in the control mechanism of the apparatus for producing for each individual job a copy or test sheet that can be operated and thereby visually evaluated to determine the proper operation of the subsystem or function being tested. This is a maintenance method performed in

The automatic inspection method of the present invention detects that an entry code is input by an operator via an input key on an operator console or control panel, and starts an automatic inspection operation based on this. In this automatic testing operation, various job sequences are automatically selected and executed in sequence, and the input key
automatically selects the operating parameters manually selected by the operator during normal copying operations via the job, and controls the various processing stations within the copier based on the automatically selected operating parameters. That is, the operation of the subsystem is selectively controlled to operate the copying machine, and the result of this operation is imaged on a copy sheet as a test result, and the copy sheet is ejected. Additionally, functions that cannot be selected by the operator during normal copying operations, such as toner density control functions, are examined in the automatic test and the results are imaged on the output copy sheet.

The automatic test process of the present invention will be described as applied to an IBM series ■ copier. This testing process also includes tests for characteristics such as document feeders, collators, auxiliary paper feeders, duplexing, reduction, and separation functions, as well as shutters, erase lamps, and magnetic brushes used for toner density control. Includes testing of subsystems such as developer voltage bias control and charging corona grid voltage bias control.

[Description of Embodiments] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an IBM series ■copying machine. Control 10 has one key or button 11 which is selected by the operator to command the copier to perform various functions.

For example, these keys include a button for the first reduction mode, a button for the second reduction mode, a button for the double-sided copy operation, a button for the collation operation, a button for the separation operation, and a button for the copy operation. Contains buttons for grayscale mode, etc. The number of copies to be made is specified by the operator via pushbutton 12, and the selected number is indicated by numeric display 13. The control console 10 starts and
It has a button 14 and a stop reset button 15.

A message appears in area 16 instructing the operator to perform the correct operation.

FIG. 1 also shows a tray 17 for automatic document feeding.

- Overlapping document sheets are automatically fed from this tray one at a time to the document processing station. A tray 18 is provided on which documents are placed one by one by an operator for delivery to a document processing station. After processing, the original document is ejected to area 19 and the completed copy sheet is ejected to tray 20. No collator is shown in FIG. - FIG. 2 shows an automatic document feeding device and semi-automatic document feeding device (ADF-8ADF,) used in the above-mentioned copying machine. When operating as an ADF - overlapping documents are A
DF) is placed on the lay 17 and fed under the sheet feed wheel 21 towards the gate 22. Once the document is positioned, the start button is pressed, gate 22 opens and the original document is fed one sheet at a time from sheet feed wheel 21 to nip rollers 24 and 25. When the leading edge of the first document is detected by photodetector 23, feed wheel 21 is lifted off the top of the first document and nip rollers 24 and 25 are stopped. When the copier is ready to receive this first document, rollers 24 and 25 are rotated again and the first document is moved through U-turn guides 26 and 27 to alignment rollers 28 and 29, pinch rollers 30 and 31A, and document glass. Send to 34. The document advances across document glass 34 by means of rollers 31, 32 and 63 which engage its upper surface until it reaches the alignment position of exit gate 38 where it is held still during the copying operation. During the copying of the first document, the feed wheel 21 is lowered to feed the second document in the stack through the nip rollers 24 and 25 until its front reaches the photodetector 23. Upon detection, feed wheel 21 is lifted over the stack of documents and nip rollers 24 and 25 are deenergized. Second
The document remains in this position until copying of the first document is completed. When the copying operation is completed, the exit gate 38 is lowered and the first document is ejected past the photodetector 65 and into the exit area 19. At this time, nip rollers 24 and 25 are reenergized and the second document is fed into the processing device on the document glass.

5 When it is desired to use an ADF, the operator places a sheet of document on the tray 18 and places the document on the photodetector 3.
6 and align roller 28 by this photodetector.
and 29 are energized. The alignment rollers advance documents fed by the operator to the entrance gate 37. When the copier is ready to receive a document, the entry gate 37 is lowered and the alignment rollers, pinch rollers 30 and 31A and rollers 31, 32 and '53 move the document across the document glass into alignment at the exit gate 38. position, and the document remains in this stationary position during the copying operation. When the copying operation is completed, the exit gate 38 is lowered and the document is ejected through the exit detector 35 into the exit area 19.

Figure 3 shows two collator modules 114B in a copier.
and 114C are installed. In this copying machine, a drum 120 rotates in the direction of arrow A and passes through a uniformly charged corona 121. A relatively uniform charge is now placed on the photoreceptor surface of the drum. As the drum continues to rotate, the charged surface passes through imaging station 122. An image of the original document is now projected onto the photoreceptor surface. Erase lamp 130E discharges the charge on portions of the photoreceptor surface other than the sized imaging area.

This image is developed by development device 125 and transferred to copy paper under transfer corona 126. The photoreceptor surface continues to rotate to cleaning station 13.
0, where the photoreceptor is cleaned and ready for the next copying operation.

To create a latent image at imaging stage 122, a document is placed at multi-processing station 111 by an operator, ADF, or ADF. This optical image of the original document is obtained by a scanning motion by optical module 112 and is directed onto a photoreceptor.

Copy paper is stored in paper feeders 135 and 154 and is passed from one of these to gate 1 via paper feed path 127.
Sent to 28th. At the appropriate time in the operating cycle, gate 128 releases the copy sheet and the copy sheet receives a toner image from rotating drum 120 while passing through transfer corona or transfer station 126 . Copy paper is
It passes through a pair of fusing rollers 131 and is fixed, and is then transferred to the exit tray 1.
14A5 or collator module 114B and 1
14C is sent to one side. When a double-sided copying operation is performed, the copy paper that has been copied on one side is temporarily stored in the double-sided copying tray 140 by the gate 142, and from there is fed again along the copy paper feeding path 127 to print the copy paper on the opposite side. A copy is made.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the functions of the collator. Paper feed path 1
Copy sheets fed into the collator along line 27 are conveyed via passage 216, closed gate 217, constriction 227 and belt 228 to moving distributor 230, which distributes the two-ply sheets in a predetermined manner. into the selected storage tray.

When collating double-sided copy paper, gate 217
The copy paper that has been opened and fed into the constriction section 22
7 to the collator tray.

One of the functions of this copying machine is a separation sheet insertion function.

This feature can be used when multiple copying jobs are performed using a collator or exit tray and the copy sheets remain in the collator or tray until all jobs are completed. For example, if the first job or copy operation is 21.25 x
27. Use 50 copy sheets and insert these copy sheets into the first 5 collator/trainers as shown in Figure 4:Iv-17), and after this operation is completed, separate sheets or sub-supply sheets. 21.25X35 from paper binding @135
Feed rusted copy paper into each of the five collator trays.

Since the separation sheet is larger than the copy paper, the copy paper for the first copy job and the copy paper for the second copy job are clearly separated. The separator sheet can also be fed at the end of the first copying job, in which case it is called the last separator sheet, and at the beginning of the second copying job, it is called the first separator sheet. The feeding of the first or last separator sheet depends on when the operator presses the separator sheet button. If the button is pressed during the first copy job, the last separator sheet will be applied. If the Separate button is pressed during the setup operation for the second copying job, the first Separate Sheet is provided.

Many copying machines, including the copying machine being described, produce copies that are lighter than the normal copy density when the backbone area of the original document is darker than normal, or when the original document is lighter than normal. It has a control device that provides copies with a darker than normal copy density. In the copying machine being described, this control is accomplished by varying the bias voltage applied to the magnetic brush developer. This technique itself is well known in the art and will be briefly described below. For example, assume that the voltage level of the discharge area of the photoconductor after exposure is about 150V, while the black areas of the original document are created on the photoconductor at a voltage level of about 800V. In this case, using a magnetic brush bias level of about 300 volts, the voltage that creates the electrostatic field that deposits toner on the undischarged areas of the photoconductor is 500 volts.
(Strike 800V - "300V). This voltage is called the black vector. On the other hand, in the discharge area, -15DV
(i.e., 150V-300V), thus creating an electrostatic field in the opposite direction that prevents toner from adhering to the discharge area. This voltage is called the white vector. By changing the magnetic brush bias level from 300V to 400V, the white vector is increased to produce a whiter background and the black vector is decreased. In this way, the finished copy is made lighter than normal. Conversely, if you change the magnetic brush bias level 7 from 300V to 250V, the finished copy will be darker than normal.

Thus, depressing the ``light copy'' button causes the magnetic brush bias voltage to be higher than the normal value, while depressing the ``dark copy'' button causes the magnetic brush bias voltage to be lower than the normal value.

Other functions that may be selected by the operator are a reduction function;
The copying machine being described has a first mode in which the size is reduced to approximately 75 inches and a second mode in which the size is reduced to approximately 65 inches.

The copying machine also has an automatic billing function. This function is the first
This includes entering a user code using button 12 as shown. The copier will not start operating unless the entered user code is recognized as valid. When activated, the number of copies made is added to this specific user code. The copier also includes a timing control system for causing the various sequential operations to occur in the correct order and for all operations to proceed in relation to drum, scanning, or document position. In the copier being described, the timing signal is generated relative to and synchronized to the rotational position of the drum. For example, the start of a scan occurs at a specific timing.
The shutter for forming a test patch for toner concentration measurement is moved into position at a specific timing cycle, and the erase lamp is turned on and turned off at a specific timing cycle. It will be turned off. A particular timing point in time at which a particular machine event or action occurs is referred to as a machine timing event (MTE) or simply an event.
It is called count (EC).

The present invention provides two sets of operator selection for all seven functions, namely document feeding function, collator function, sub-feeding function,
Automatically cycles through a series of jobs to automatically test subsystems provided to accomplish separation sheet functions, duplex copying functions, shade selection functions, and reduction functions. In addition to these operator selection features, the automatic test procedure of the present invention automatically runs through a series of other jobs to activate other subsystems within the copier that are operating without operator selection. circulate. Torera,
The shutter, erase lamp, and charging corona subsystems used in the toner concentration control subsystem. Once started -1, the inventive procedure cycles through both sets of jobs without operator intervention.

In copiers that utilize the triboelectric effect, the carrier material and toner material are mixed together and the toner particles are charged with an opposite polarity to that present on the photoconductor. In this manner, the charged toner is attracted to the undischarged or charged areas of the photoconductor, thereby developing the latent image. As the development operation continues, the toner in the carrier-toner mixture is consumed and toner is periodically supplied to maintain the carrier-toner mixture ratio so as to always develop at a constant density. The copier under discussion forms a small charged area on the fully discharged photoconductor portion, then develops this area and toner from the developed area (i.e., toner patch area). Techniques are used to determine whether toner density is appropriate by sensing reflected light. An optical shutter is then used to define this area.

For many years, copiers have used erase lamps to erase the charge on all but the imaged area of the photoconductor. An intermediate section erase lamp is provided that spans the entire width of the photoconductor to discharge the appropriate portion of the photoconductor between the trailing edge of one image and the leading edge of the next image. Additionally, edge erase lamps are provided to erase the charge along the left and right sides of the imaging area. The edge erase lamp is sectioned into several sections, thus creating an imaging area whose dimensions correspond to the width and length of the copy document.

If the copier has been turned on for an extended period of time, copy quality is improved by increasing the voltage on the charging corona over a period of time after the copier is turned on. By increasing the charging corona voltage level, the copy quality during this initial start-up period becomes equal to the copy quality when the copier is used for some degree continuously. This development is believed to be due to charge leaking from the toner during long periods of disuse and gradual recovery of charge when the copier is turned on.

To compensate for such phenomena, the voltage level of the charged corona is increased during the initial period. This is done by varying the voltage of the charging corona power supply.

[Processing procedure]

A. General Description The method of the present invention is described for performing an automatic test procedure to verify that the major functional parts of the copier described above are operating properly. To make this method easier to perform by ordinary machine/copier users as well as trained service personnel, a specific start-up or entry technique that does not require special knowledge of the internal workings of the machine/copier is provided. is used, which causes the copier to enter automatic inspection mode.

This initiation technique or entry procedure requires the user to open the copier or collator door and select either the dark copy button or the light copy button and the separator sheet button on the control panel, i.e., console 10. 25)
The only way to do this is to press the first button at the same time. As a result, °'88B'' is displayed on the numeric display 13 on the east side of the control, and all of the various control panel messages of this control, f9L 10, are displayed by flashing.The microcomputer of this copier or the microprocessor detects and decodes the opening of said door and the simultaneous depression or activation by said operator of a dark copy key, a light copy key and a separate sheet key; The above-mentioned "888" is loaded as an entry code into the display device.When the microprocessor detects the depression of the start key or start button, which will be described later, after this entry code is entered by the operator, the microprocessor executes an automatic test procedure or operation. Start.

In this way, all control panel lights can be visually inspected and all messages can be verified to be working properly.

When "°888"' is displayed on the numeric display 16, this procedure provides the additional feature of completely zeroing out the machine error log. In order to zero this entire log (26), a "'0"' must be placed in the numeric display and the start button pressed. If this is not done, only the i nearest fail code will be zeroed when the start button is pressed.

Zeroing the error log is done by software during automatic inspection.
This is to highlight the occurrence of a fail.

A soft fail is an error that increments the error log but does not cause an emergency stop of the copier; for example, when it is detected that copy paper has not been fed from paper feed device 135 or 154, The machine is re-fed without an emergency stop, and only if this re-feed does not feed the copy paper correctly will a node fail or emergency stop of the copier occur.

By zeroing out error logs during inspection procedures and monitoring for soft fail occurrences, maintenance personnel can detect a problem area, or failure, that is occurring at the time, and can detect an increased failure rate. Teno-do-
This fault can be repaired before it causes a fail or emergency stop of the machine.

When the START or START button is pressed, the automatic test procedure turns off all of the lamps on the control panel.
Zero the most recent fail code, zero the error log if required, and automatically set up the first job for the first functional test. The maintenance personnel are then required to close the copier or collator door and place the two master documents into the ADF or 5ADIi' and perform an automatic test upon feeding the first master document. The procedure performs all of the individual jobs necessary to start up and perform the various tests included in the procedure without the need for assistance from maintenance personnel.

The first test performed is the collator test, and in doing this,
II is automatically entered into the numeric display 16. If the machine or copier has one collator module, 0.13" is entered, and if the machine has two collator modules, fi6" is entered. The collator button is automatically selected and the test begins. If the collator module is not installed, the test procedure automatically moves to the next functional test.

To begin the test, the host machine places a first document on document glass 34 and makes three copies to the first collator module. The test procedure then skips to the second collator module and three more copies are made to run this second collator module.
Sent to collator module. In this manner, the collator module's mobile dispensing device 230 (FIG. 4) is indexed downwardly to distribute one copy into each of the first three collator trays. next,
A first master document is ejected from the document glass and a second master document is indexed or positioned on the document glass.

Three more copies are made of this second master document and fed into the second collator module,
The mobile dispensing device 230 is moved from collator tray 3 to collator tray 1 in an upwardly indexing manner. In this way, indexing motion in both the upward and downward directions of the mobile dispensing device is tested. Three more copies are made to test the upward indexing movement of the mobile dispensing device of the first module.

Upon completion of the test, the test procedure automatically moves to the second job where the duplex function is automatically selected and the number of copies made is placed on the numeric display. It will be done. A single side (Side 1) copy is made and then fed from the duplex copy tray to the first collecture module. In this manner, the operation of the collator inversion game 1-217 (FIG. 4) is tested.

When this collator test is completed, each of the moving dispensing devices must be in the Baum position and the toned surfaces of all copies in the collator tray must be oriented the same way. Therefore, I decided to investigate this.”:9
Maintenance personnel or machine users can check whether the collator is operating properly.

Once the collator test is finished, the test procedure automatically moves on to another job and here the numeric display shows “′′
1" is entered, and the duplex copying function, sub-feeder, separation sheet function, and reduction '1" function are automatically selected. Of course, this reduction "1" function is selected only when this copying machine is a reduction machine.

During this test, the procedure performs the following jobs: That is, the leading separation sheet is handled from the sub-sheet feeding device, and then the double-sided copying sheet is fed from the sub-sheet feeding device. In this test, a separation sheet from the paper feeder is placed on the output tray of this copier, and a duplex sheet fed from the subfeeder receives one image of the document on the first side and is placed on the duplex tray 140. can be placed in A sheet is then fed from the duplex tray and the same buttock image is copied onto its second side. This copy is then ejected to the output tray of the copier and placed on top of the separator sheet.

The test procedure automatically transfers to other jobs, here with Reduction II 21, while the duplex function continues to be activated.
1 function is selected, the sub-feeder selection is deactivated, and the separation sheet function is turned off in the normal manner without special intervention in this test procedure. A copy of the same master is made on the second side of the copy sheet from the main paper feeder. During this process, the separator sheet function is automatically reselected so that the last separator sheet is fed from the secondary feeder at the end of making a duplex copy. Both the duplex copy and the final separator sheet are fed into the exit pocket of the copier, and the separator sheet is superimposed on top of the duplex copy.

At this point, the test procedure includes the proper operation of the ADIi' or sAD+ to position and eject the original master document onto the document glass, and the collator operation, the feeding operation of the main paper feeder, the feeding operation of the secondary paper feeder. Paper feeding operation, duplex tray feeding operation, and operation of all components related to the paper feed path and image forming section, duplex copying function, and separation sheet function including both the first and last separation sheets were inspected. .

The next test performed is a job that examines the operation of the toner density control shutter mechanism using a single copy from the main paper feeder. This inspection is performed by activating a shutter on a portion of the imaging area of the copy being made.

If the shutter operates properly, the copy sheet will be ejected with a black patch (toner patch) of a size corresponding to the portion described above. By observing this copy by an operator or maintenance personnel, it can be determined whether the shutter is operating properly.

The next job will check the erase lamp by automatically placing °'1'' in the numeric display and automatically selecting the dim copy button and secondary feeder select button. The document illumination lamp is turned on to make an all-black copy when the document starts automatically.However, both the middle erase lamp and the edge erase lamp are turned on and the edge erase lamp is turned on to make an all-over black copy. A white leading edge is formed on the second sheet. At this point, the middle erase lamp is turned off and the edge erase lamp is then turned off to form a stepped image on the output copy.

To perform this test, copy paper is removed from the sub-sheet feeder. This is because this sub-sheet feeding device accommodates copy paper of one gal size. If legal-size copy paper is not present in the secondary paper feeder, the instructions for performing this procedure will require you to load legal-size copy paper into the secondary paper feeder before starting this automatic test procedure. request.

To check if the light source, normal dark copy function, and dark color copy function are working properly, the next test is to turn on the numeric display and turn the magnetic brush bias to light, normal, and dark. It is automatically initiated by selecting the dark level and making two copies.The operator or maintenance personnel observes these copies.
It is checked whether these functions are operating properly.

The final step is a grid-level test of the charged corona. In case B, this procedure automatically places a "2" in the numeric display and makes two copies at each of the three grid levels. Observation of these copies by the operator or maintenance personnel determines whether the grid level has changed during this procedure.

While conducting the above test, the test procedure calls for automatically flashing the middle erase lamp so that a white erase stripe appears on the test copy. In this way,
The operation of the intermediate erase lamp is checked and in addition all test copies are classified.

B. DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIGS. 5A through 24 show detailed flowcharts of the microcode used to perform the procedures described above for the copier described above.

Figures 5A-5F illustrate the main routine that performs all copier or machine condition checks necessary to begin a test procedure and conclude its operation;
Diagram B shows test control procedures that are called by the main routine to sequentially perform test procedures for individual subsystems or functions. Figures 7A and 7B illustrate the procedures called by the main routine to provide initialization conditions. Figures 8A-8C illustrate an automatic test procedure called by the test control procedure to determine whether the collator module is operating properly, including collating duplex copies. Figures 9A and 9B illustrate the test procedure invoked by the test control procedure to examine the separation sheet function, reduction function, and duplex copy function with feeding from both the primary and secondary paper feeders. FIG. 10 shows the test procedure called by the host control procedure to continue testing the reduction, separation sheet, and paper feed functions. Figures 11A and 11B illustrate the test procedure invoked by the test control procedure to determine whether the patch shutter mechanism for toner density control operations is operating properly. Figures 12A and 12B illustrate the test procedure called by the test control procedure to determine whether the erase lamp subsystem is operating properly. FIG. 16 shows the test procedure called by the test control procedure to determine whether the magnetic brush development bias electronic control subsystem is operating properly. Figures 14A and 14B illustrate the test procedure invoked by the test control procedure to determine whether the charged corona grid voltage subsystem is operating properly.

Figures 15A and 15B illustrate an exit procedure that is called by the main routine or test control procedure to check the copier or machine status prior to exiting the automatic test procedure. FIG. 16 shows the procedure that is initiated when automatic testing is now stopped based on copy paper path or machine conditions. FIG. 17 shows the procedure for testing the main indicator lamps on a control console or control panel. FIG. 18 shows a routine that checks automatic feeding of the second mask document during an automatic test procedure. FIG. 19 shows the procedure called to skip the collator test if the copier or machine being tested does not have a collator module installed. FIG. 20 shows the setup routine for the collator test procedure. FIG. 21 shows the steps called by the eject routine to restore the copier or machine to a user-ready condition at the end of the test procedure. 22nd
The figure shows a routine that terminates the test procedure if the machine condition is incorrect. FIG. 26 shows a special routine that images a striped test pattern on each of the predetermined test copies created during the test procedure. FIG. 24 shows the procedure for zeroing out the error log. If so, the procedure incorporates processing steps that are specific to this copier and specific to the particular microprocessor used in this copier, and thus include steps that are not significantly relevant to the test procedure of the present invention. Sometimes. Many of these specific operations are generally summarized and explained in flowcharts, thereby clarifying the test procedures of the present invention.

The main routines are shown in Figures 5A-5F and are basically housekeeping and setup routines to ensure that all operations are performed in the proper order for the automatic test procedure to be performed.・It is a routine. In describing this procedure herein, reference is made to FIGS. 5A-5F so that everything occurs in sequence, and the procedure proceeds without unnecessary branches. The procedure of Figures 5A-5F is periodically checked by the machine processor to see if the test procedure should be performed or what the next step is if it is in progress. I would like to draw your attention to this. In following the flowcharts of FIGS. 5A to 24, Table 1.1. :・ The abbreviations used in this specification will be explained with reference to.

Table 1 Flag Bits for Auto-Test Procedures ACA Auto-Test Failure ACFOR Auto-Test End Off Run ACEORA
ACM with automatic test end-off runs allowed
O8 Autotest mode only selected ACR Autotest in progress ACR8 Autotest run started AC3B5 Autotest start button selected ACTI Autotest Test 1 ACT2 Autotest Test 2 ACT3 Autotest Test 3 ACT4 Auto Inspection test 4 ACT5 Automatic inspection test 5 ACT<S Automatic inspection test ACT7
Automatic inspection test 7. 71) ACTC automatic inspection test completed CFOR copy machine operation ended C8R copy machine start request DCC double-sided copy completed DFC double-sided copy output completed DFE I document feeder engine) IJ was prohibited DFM Double-sided copy output mode D
SIS Copying of the first side of double-sided copying starts EO
T1 End of test 1 EOT2 End of test 2 EOT3 End of test 3 EOT4 End of test 4 EOT5 End of test 5 EOFGT End of first grid test EO
8GT End of second grid test FDFE
First document feeding efgit I IPB5
Prohibition of index exceeding collator tray 3 LSHR MTE where first separation sheet was run Machine timing event SB
I SCT when the start button is pressed
Skip collator test TAIOFF
'Turn off all indicators TATO
N Turn on all indicators TSII
R Table in which the last separation sheet was run ■ Subroutine AUTM used in the automatic inspection procedure
ODES automatic inspection test mode procedure AUTQ1
Automatic test procedure 1 AUTO2 automatic test procedure 2 AUTO5 automatic test procedure 3 AUTO4 automatic test procedure 4 AUTO5 automatic test procedure 5 AUTO6 automatic test procedure 6 AUTO7 automatic test procedure 7 AUTOEND automatic inspection effect procedure BCDR8
T Procedure for zeroing the error log CESTPIND
Control panel light procedure DISPYCTC numeric display symbol procedure EXIT11 First document feeding start procedure FEATSLCT Function selection procedure FET5LTCO collator function selection procedure R8TAUTC
K Procedure for restoring the machine to a user-usable state 5ETABORT Procedure 5T for automatic test failure
RIPE Stripe Generation Procedure 5TRTSLCT START BUTTON SELECTION PROCEDURE Entry by the processor is at block 300 of FIG. 5A and at step 501 it is determined whether the document feed lid is open relative to the document platen. Assuming the document feed lid is closed, the process proceeds to step 302 where it determines whether the lamp test is on or off and displays error messages other than the expected ones, i.e. "Door Open" and Parow. paper"
You can also check to see if other error messages exist. If the answer is no, step 306
Stop at ': It is checked whether the button is activated or not. If the answer is no, the ``Automatic Checkout Failed'' flag is set.
rt) is examined in step 304. If this flag is off, the procedure continues to FIG. 5C and, in step 305, the processor checks to see if the flag ``Automatic Test Mode Only Selected'' is active. , if this flag is off, step 622 is entered and the flag ``Autotest in progress'' is checked. If this flag is off when You can check whether it was done or not. Each time the processor enters this procedure at step 300, the routine continues to loop through step 3220 until the answer to step 3220 is affirmative (yes). The process then proceeds to step 6221, which checks to see if a copy is present in the duplex copy tray, and if so, ejects the copy before proceeding. Next, proceeding to step 3222, it is determined whether the flag ``Copier Ended'' is active. If it is off, automatic test mode cannot proceed and normally this An off flag indicates that an automatic recovery procedure has been set. To eliminate this condition, the operator must press the 'Stop-Reset' button to reset all flags in this machine. . To carry out the automatic test procedure, the operator must open the door once more and press the necessary buttons mentioned above.

Assuming all conditions are met, the answer to step 6222 will be affirmative and all lights on the control panel will turn on at step 32.
26, and in step 3224, °'888' is displayed on the numeric display.
In this step, the information keyed into the control panel is prohibited from disappearing after a certain period of time, and the flag ``only automatic test mode selected'' is activated.

Now, step 05 again from step '500.
Returning to step 305, the answer to step 305 is now yes, which causes a branch to step 306, which places the control functions of this copier in a user monitor state. This is because the copier in this description will not operate unless a distinguishable code number is keyed into the machine. This step 306 performs substantive acceptance.

Next, in step 307 (Figure 5E) it is determined whether the lamp test mode is active. If operation is proceeding smoothly, the lamp test mode is on, which tests all error messages on the flt control panel, and step 30
At 8, a new copy selection by the operator is possible. This allows the operator to use “0” if desired.
” and zero the error log.

In step 309, the processor flags 5BI (
Start button pressed...5TART
BUTTON INTEGRATION) is energized and should be deenergized at this time, so we branch to step 310, and here the flag AUTOMATIC START BUTTON SELECTED' is energized. The question as to whether the copier door has been opened is answered in the negative, which branches to step 311, where it is determined that the copier door is open and the routine begins when the operator starts. It continues to loop until the step until the button is pressed. When this occurs, a branch is made to step 309 which leads to a start button selection procedure in step 3091.

A start button selection procedure is shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, which, if selected or desired by the operator, will zero the error log. This subroutine also turns off the lights on the control panel and determines whether the copier under test has a collator and, if so, one or two collators. This is 2 8. Wow, j, big h'j"*1 care 1 completed" flag is set and this collator test is skipped. If one collator module is installed, the copy selection value °'6n is entered, and if two collator modules are installed, the copy selection value '°6''' is entered. If the module is not installed, the seventh
At step 312 in Figure B, the function selection (test item selection) procedure in Figure 19 is called. Referring to FIG. 19, the copier is then set to perform a duplex function test and skip the collator test. If the copier is equipped with one or two collator modules, the collator function selection procedure is invoked in steps 313 or 314 of FIG. 7B. A subroutine with is shown in FIG. 20 which automatically selects the collator function and loads the number of copies to be made into a numeric display.

Following this setting operation, a return is made to the main routine, and the result in step 309 of FIG. 5E is
Since the SDI flag is reset in 90,
Now it's a denial. Therefore, the answer to the question "Was the flag start button selected" in step 310 is now affirmative, since this flag is
This is because it was actively set during the start button selection subroutine of the figure. The process then proceeds to step 316 and collection of usage data is prohibited. This is because the operation of this automatic test procedure does not involve collection of usage data (for which the user of the machine is charged).

In this manner, the testing procedure proceeds without charging the user of the machine or copier.

The process then proceeds to step 317 of FIG. 5F, where it is determined whether an error has occurred regarding the positioning of the lens for the reduction function. Assuming the lens is correctly positioned, the process proceeds to step 318, where it is determined whether all doors of the copier are closed, and if no, the process proceeds to step 319, where it is determined whether the copier is in run mode. You can check 79X whether or not it is true. This copier run mode becomes active only after the operator begins feeding a document.

At this point, the copier feeds this first document into the document glass and the answer to step 619 is yes to branch to step 32o. In step 620, it is determined whether a collator module is attached to the copier, and therefore the flag "collator module" is off.

In step 321, a flag "Automatic inspection in progress" is set.
is activated, the flag ``Run Started'' is activated, and the flag ``Path Test 1'' (Collator Test) is activated. Also, ACMOS flag 6 'only automatic test mode is selected' is reset)j:/l, -t and AC
The S B S flag 'Autotest start button selected' is reset.

This leads to step 3 through step 30o (Figure 5A).
Returning to step 05 (Fig. 5C), in this step 305 the AC
Since the MOS flag ``Flag Only Mode Selected'' has now been reset, the program branches to step 322, where the ACR flag ``Automatic Check in Progress'' is active, so the program branches to step 323 of FIG. 5D. At this point, it has been determined that all doors of the copier have been closed, that no errors have occurred in the reduction optics, and that the CEO flag ``Copier Ended'' is off, which causes the step Branch to 324 and A
CEORA flag '1 End-off of automatic check
Run allowed'' is activated.

All of the configuration procedures are now complete and therefore step 625
, the AUTMODES flag 'self'.

The ``Dynamic Verification Test Mode Procedure'' or ``Automatic Mode Test'' is called. This test begins in Figure 6A,
Then, in step 32B, the toner patch sample procedure is inhibited, billing meter counting is inhibited, and usage data collection is inhibited. The processor then checks in step 327 the ACTC flag ``Autocheck test completed'' and finds it is off, and branches to step 328;
Examine the 7 flag autocheck test 7'' and find that it is off. Similarly, steps 329-331 find that the other test flags are off and the sixth
A branch is made to step 32 in Figure B, where the striped pattern generation procedure (Figure 26) is called.

In step 33 of FIG. 26, it is discovered that the duplex copy ejection and separation sheet job is not in progress and that the document is being scanned. If the imaging area of the body is located, turn on the mid-section erase lamp;
Then, when this imaging area has advanced a little from the 2nd position, the intermediate erase lamp is turned off. As a result of this subroutine, the mid-section erase lamp is flashed as the imaging field of the photoconductor progresses, thus causing a white stripe to appear across the center of each copy made during the Lake-Tesna procedure. .

After the above striped pattern generation subroutine, the processor executes the 6th B.
Returning to the diagram 1. , ACT3 flag °° automatic inspection test 3”
The ACT2 flag "Automatic inspection test 2" and the ACR flag "Automatic inspection in progress" are set in steps 636 to 3'5.
Test with 8. At this point in the procedure, the processor finds that the ACR flag is active at step 8 and branches to step 339 and automatic test procedure 1 is called.

FIG. 8A shows this automatic test procedure 1, and first in step 640 it is determined that this test 1 has not yet been completed and branches to step 341 where it is determined that the copier run mode is present. Then, the process branches to step 342, where it is determined whether the duplex copying function is active. At this point in this test 1 it is not active and a branch is made to step 43 where the second master document is
0 (Figure 20) to find out when the document was sent to the document glass. The answer is no because at this point the copier is in the process of making a copy of the first document. Therefore step 3
A return to step 43 is made and the process proceeds to step 645 in FIG. 8C. The procedure of FIG. 8C checks the counters of the mobile dispenser during the making of the first three copies (which are fed into the first six collator trays of the first collator module). This is done in order to switch to the second collator module after the copy has been fed into the third collator tray 3 from the top of the first collator module. In this way, the collator test is performed compressively. This is because the normal operation would be to send copies to all 20 collator trays of the first collator module before using the first collator tray of the second collator module. An explanation of the code required to perform this compression function is shown in the following table (■).

Table ■ Start with UTO1 block number segment l-31 (, AUTO1 procedure) 345
whether the m2 city collator module is attached to the multifunction machine; then, whether the position counter of the mobile distributor of the 3451 collator is equal to 2; and if the copy is exactly the switch of the mobile distributor of the first collator module If the pass is finished then 3452 Prevent the mobile distributor of the first collator module from advancing beyond the third collator tray or 3453 If the position counter of the mobile distributor of the collator is equal to 6 then 3454 Move Change the value of the position counter of the distribution device to 19. This causes the next copy to be sent to the second collator module.

Or □! 3455 Whether the copy is directed to the second collator module and whether the position counter of the mobile distributor is equal to 20. Then 3456 Change the value of the position counter of the mobile distributor to 21. This synchronizes this position counter to the collator fist tray 1 of the second collator module.

Finish After the three copies for collator trays 1-3 of the second collator module have been made by the copier, the first master document is ejected from the document glass, and the second master document is placed on the document glass. is positioned. Then, step 3430 in FIG. 18 is executed and the answer is affirmative, and the FDFE flag "first document feeding effect" is activated in step 344. The process then returns to step 345 of FIG. 8C and finally to step 341 (FIG. 8A), where the answer to whether the copier is in run mode is negative. This occurs after the copier has completed making copies and positioned the mobile dispensing devices of each collator module to their respective home positions. At this time, collator trays 1-6 of each collator module each have two copies.

If the answer to step 341 (FIG. 8A) above is negative, branch to step 346 of FIG. 8B;
Since flag 1 ``Feed efjt of first document'' is now activated, branch to step 348. Initially,
The duplex function is turned off in step 348, so a branch is made to step 349 where the duplex function is selected, the copy number display is loaded with II 13+, and the C8R flag ``Copier Start Request'' is set.
is activated and the second job can now be started to complete this first or collator test. Step 300 (FIG. 5A) is passed back to step 3a2 (FIG. 8A), and in step 342 a check is made as to whether the duplex copying function has been selected.

The answer to this now is to set the DSIS flag 'Copying of the first side of a duplex copy has started'.Finally, the duplex copy that has been copied to this first side will be placed in the duplex tray. After this occurs, the answer in step 41 as to whether the copier is in run mode will be negative, thus step 348 (FIG. 8B).
, branches to step 350 and step 351, and D
FM flag ``Double-sided copy ejection mode'' and EOT 1
Activate the flag 'End of test 1'.

Step 34 through step 300 (FIG. 5A)
0 (FIG. 8A), now this step 340
A branch is taken from to steps 352 and 353 and a loop is made until the second side of the duplex copy is generated and its ejection operation is completed.

Once this is complete, steps 352 to 354
A branch is taken to step 355, and the function selection procedure of FIG. 19 is called. This subroutine de-selects the collator function and sets up the copier for the next job, which begins a second test for duplexing, separator sheets, secondary feeder, and reduction. . Next, in step 356, ACT2 flag parameter automatic inspection test 2''
is energized and passes through step 300 to step 6B.
Return to step 37 in the figure.

In processing this automatic mode procedure, step 3 above.
In step 7, a branch is made to step 357, in which the second automatic test procedure (AUTO2:
Call automatic test procedure 1). This subroutine is shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B and operates in duplex copying mode with a leading separator sheet from the main paper feeder. Based on the results of this test, automatic mode procedures (6A and 6
A return is made to step 336 (Figure 6B).
A branch is made in Figure 10, and the third automatic test procedure is called (Figure 10).The operation of this subroutine is to check whether the last separated sheet has been properly fed from the sub-feeding device. A return is then made to the automatic mode procedure, and during the course of this procedure step 3
A branch is taken at 31 (Figure 6A) to call the fourth automatic test procedure of Figures 11A and 11B.

This test energizes the shutter mechanism to form the toner batch in the center of the copy sheet, thus determining whether the shutter mechanism is operating properly.

After completion of this test, a return is made to step 330, from which a branch is made to the fifth test procedure of FIG. 12A. In this test, the document illumination lamp is turned off, and all edge erase lamps are turned on and then turned off, thereby creating a copy that indicates whether or not these edge erase lamps are working properly. and discharged.

Once this fifth test is complete, a return is made to the automatic mode procedure, and this time a branch is made to step 329 (Figure 6A) to execute the sixth automatic test procedure of Figure 13. call.

In this test, the normal copy and dark copy functions are sequentially selected and a toner imaged copy is made for each selection, and the branch returns again to the automatic mode procedure of FIG. 6A. will be done. At this time, a branch is taken in step 628 (Figure 6A) to call the seventh test procedure (Figure 14A).

In this test, the grid voltage levels for the charged corona grid are set to various values, and copies of the toner images at each grid voltage setting are made and ejected.

When this test is completed, the ACTC flag ``Automatic Inspection Test Completed'' is activated and step 3 of Figure 6A is activated.
A branch to step 370 occurs at 27, and when all copier operations are completed, a branch to step 671 is made to perform the automatic test
This subroutine is another housekeeping routine that allows the user to return the copier to normal copying by calling the subroutine of FIG.

As explained above, various functions of the copier are automatically selected, thereby automatically cycling through a series of jobs, each with different parameters, and each of the various functions and subsystems During the test, the subsystem is properly activated to achieve the required actions to check whether it is working properly or not, and a copy is made showing the results of this test and is therefore available to the operator or Maintenance requirements can be determined by observing this test copy.
The functions and subsystems of the copier or machine are not operating properly.
- You can know whether the force is strong or not. In this way, among the failures of the copying machine, we have not yet reached the point of a hard error that causes the copying machine to momentarily stop operating6.
The occurrence of low-level errors can be detected at an early stage, thereby reducing the number of times maintenance personnel have to service them.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a copying machine incorporating the inspection procedure of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an ADF and 5ADF, Fig. 6 is a diagram showing a paper path when a collator module is installed in the copying machine, 4 shows the collator module; FIG. 5A, FIG. 5B, FIG. 5C, FIG. 5D, FIG. 5E, FIG. 5F, FIG. 6A, FIG. 6B, FIG. 7A, FIG. 7B, Figure 8A, Figure 8B, Figure 8C, Figure 9A, Figure 9B, Figure 10, Figure 11A, Figure 11B, Figure 12-Figure, Figure 12B, Figure 16, Figure 14, Figure 14A. , FIG. 14B, FIG. 15A,
Figures 15B, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, and 24
The figure is a flowchart according to the inspection procedure of the present invention. 10... Control console, 11... Lamp or indicator, 12... Button, 13... Character display device, 14... Start button, 15... Stop reset. Button, 16...Message display area, 1
7.1B, 20...Tray, 19...Document output tray, It,! iB, 114C...Collator module, 111...Document processing station, 11
2...Optical device, 120...Drum, 121...
...Uniform charging. F, 122-0-@@y-fLy, 130E... Erasing lamp, 125... Developing device, 12B... Gate, 126... Transfer corona, 131... Fusing roller pair, 142...Gate, 154...Main paper feeder, 135...Sub paper feeder, 140...Double-sided copying tray, 217...
Gate, 224...Copy '-Reversing device, 228
...Bell), 230...Distribution device. Applicant: International Pin Books Machines
CORPORATION FIG, 4 11] H5B-200250C19) FIG, 5A FIG, 18 FIG, 19 FIG, 20 1 Continued from page 1 0 Inventor Michael Alfred Lalipati Longmont Mount Engineering Co., Ltd., Colorado, USA 512 Vance Street Inventor Thomas Travis Underhill 4642 Holleau Hampshire Street, Colorado, United States Inventor Marvin Unidel 70 Longmont Niwot Road, Colorado, United States 1237023-

Claims (1)

[Claims] In an automatic inspection method for an electrophotographic apparatus in which a control panel is provided with keys for selecting operating parameters including a key for selecting the number of copies, an entry code is automatically checked and the entry code is detected. when an automatic inspection job sequence is entered and the job automatically selects the operating parameters that are manually selected during normal operation of the electrophotographic device via the keys; The automatic inspection method described above comprises operating the electrophotographic apparatus based on the above and forming an image representing the result of the operation on a passive sheet.