JPS63265250A - Program control system for copying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To decrease the capacity of the internal memories of a machine as far as possible and to facilitate the change of a program for maintenance purpose by storing a program for ordinary operation in the internal memories and storing a program for test operation in an IC card. CONSTITUTION:The IC card 221 is mounted to a socket 220 and is connected to the bus in a central processing part. The internal memories 202, 203 and the IC card are selected by a selecting means 239 by which either of the program for the ordinary operation or the program for the test operation is selected. Only the program for the ordinary operation is stored in the internal memories 202, 203 and the program for the test operation which is not necessary in the ordinary use of the copying machine is stored in the attachable/detachable IC card 221. The capacity of the internal memories is thereby correspondingly decreased and the change of the program for the test operation is facilitated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a program control system 11 for a copying machine in which programs according to purposes are stored in different storage media and these programs are selectively controlled.

[Conventional technology and its problems]

In recent years, copying machines have dramatically improved their copying performance, and have come equipped with many functions such as continuous page copying, double-sided copying, composite copying, binding allowance, and offset copying. Also,
In addition to these original functions, copying machines have come to be equipped with a self-diagnosis function for maintenance and service of the copying machine, as well as a self-diagnosis function for product inspection at factories.

-i, copying machines are program-controlled by a microcomputer, and the various functions mentioned above are basically carried out by the ROM (read-only memory) inside the copying machine.
It is now realized by

However, in the past, these programs were stored in the internal ROM of the copying machine, which increased the memory capacity of the ROM and increased the cost of the copying machine.Furthermore, as the programs became longer, bugs were more likely to occur. The possibility of doing so is also increasing. In addition, if you want to change the self-diagnosis program for maintenance or product inspection as described above, you have to replace the entire internal ROM, but it is not easy to change the program once it has been converted to ROM, and it is difficult to change it. It is not easy to carry out the work, as it requires a lot of effort. Therefore, before commercializing a copier, all programs, including those for its maintenance and product inspection, must be thoroughly studied and debugged, and product development takes a long time. In addition to this, there is also the problem that it is difficult to upgrade programs for maintenance and product inspection.

[Technical means for solving the problems] In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention reduces the internal memory capacity of a copying machine as much as possible, and facilitates program changes for maintenance etc. The purpose is to provide a program control method for a copying machine that can provide the best service without placing a large burden on the copying machine user, and the technical means for this purpose is a system that is connected to a central processing unit. an internal memory, a socket for removably connecting an IC card to the bus of the central processing unit, and selection means for selecting between the internal memory and the IC card to be installed in the socket; A normal operation program that controls normal copying operations is stored in the IC card, and a test operation program that controls test operations is stored in the IC card. The present invention is characterized in that one of the programs is selected and executed.

[For production]

By inserting the IC card into the socket, the IC card is connected to the bus of the central processing unit. The selection means switches between the internal memory and the IC card, and selects either the normal operation program or the test operation program. The internal memory only stores programs for normal operation, and the test operation programs that are not required for normal use of the copier are stored in a removable IC card, so the capacity of the internal memory is correspondingly small. Also, it is easy to change the test operation program.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front sectional view showing the general structure of a copying machine A. FIG. In the figure, a photoreceptor drum l that can be driven to rotate counterclockwise is disposed approximately in the center of the main body of the copying machine, and surrounding it are a main eraser lamp 2, a sub charger 3, a sub eraser lamp 4, main charger 5,
A developing device 6, a transfer charger 7, a copy paper separation charger 8, and a blade type cleaning device 9 are provided. The photosensitive drum 1 has a photosensitive layer on its surface, and includes an eraser lamp 2.4, a charger 3,
5, it is sensitized and charged, and subjected to image exposure from an optical system 10.

The optical system 10 is installed below the original glass 16 so that the original image can be scanned.
．． 12, 13, a lens 14, and a mirror 15. The light ana and the movable mirror 11 move at a speed of v/n (n is the copying magnification) with respect to the circumferential speed V of the photosensitive drum 1, and the movable mirrors 12 and 13 move at a speed of V/2n. is driven by scan motor M3.

FIG. 2 shows the control circuit of copying machine A, and 201 is a central processing unit consisting of a microcomputer! (CPU), 2
02 and 203 are ROMs that store programs that control the normal operations of the copying machine A, 204 is a RAM (random access memory), and 205 is a ROM that stores programs that control test operations of the copying machine. ROM2
O3 is formed in the form of a card as an rc card 221, and is connected to the data bus, address bus, and control signal line of CPU2O5 by being inserted into a socket 220 provided in the main body of the copying machine. 206-2
13 is a gate that controls element selection of ROM202, 203 and RAM 204, and 214 is a gate that controls element selection of ROM2O3.

The socket 220 includes a control signal 231 for reading data from the memory, and a ROM 202, 2 as a control signal.
Control signal 235 for element selection of 03, ROM 20
5, a control signal 236 for element selection, a power supply line 233 for supplying the power supply ■cc, and a ground line 2
38 are connected. In contrast, the IC card 22
1 includes a signal line 232 connected to the control signal 231 and input to the read terminal of the ROM 205, and a signal line 2 connected to the control signal 236 and input to the element selection terminal of the ROM 2O3.
37, a signal vA 239 connected to the ground line 238 and also connected to the control signal 235 to drop the control signal 235 to 0'', and a power line 234 connected to the power line 233 are provided.

Next, ROM202, 203, RAM204 or RO
A description will be given of how elements of each memory of M205 are selected. FIG. 3 shows the address signal A1
The state of the output of the gate for selecting each memory element is shown depending on the states of 3 to 15 and the state of the control signal 235.

- First, when the IC card 221 is not inserted into the socket 220, the control signal 235 is "°1", so when the address signals A13-15 of the CPU2O5 are "°0", the ROM202 When address signal A13 is “1”, address signal A14°1
5 is 0'', the RAM 204 also receives the address signal A.
When 13 to 15 are "1", each element is selected. When the IC card 221 is inserted into the socket 220 and connected, the control signal 235 becomes "0" and the output of the elements 206 and 207 becomes "1n", so regardless of the address signal, the ROM 202 and 203 elements On the other hand, an element of the ROM 205 is selected when any one of the address signals A13 to A15 is "0", and data at a designated address is read out by the read control signal 231.

FIG. 4 shows the address area of each memory. As mentioned above, by inserting the IC card 221 into the socket 220, the elements of ROM2O2 and 203 are no longer selected, so that the ROM2O3 has addresses A13 to A1.
Can be used as long as 5 is not all “1”, that is, 000
Addresses 0H-DFFFH can be used as address areas.

Therefore, when the IC card 221 is not inserted into the socket 220, the normal operation program stored in the ROM 202, 203 is read and executed, and the copying machine A performs the normal copying operation. IC
When card 221 is inserted into socket 220, ROM2
The test operation program stored in 05 is read out and executed, whereby the copying machine A performs a test operation. Therefore, a program for self-diagnosis for copying machine maintenance and service, or self-diagnosis for product inspection at a factory is stored in ROM2O3, and an IC card 221 carried by a service person or inspector is required. By inserting it into the socket 220 at a certain time,
These functions can be realized when needed.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, when the IC card 221 is inserted into the socket 220, the control signal 235 becomes "0", and the control signal 235 becomes "0", and the control signal 235 becomes "0", and the control signal 235 is changed from the internal ROM2O2, 203 to the external ROM2.
05, and test operations of the copying machine can be performed. Since it is only necessary to store programs for normal operation in ROM202 and 203, R
The memory capacity of OM2O2, 203 is small, so it is possible to reduce costs and
The possibility of bugs occurring in the OM2O2 and 203 programs is reduced, and even if the test operation program is changed, there is no need to replace the ROM2O2 and 203. , changes or additions, and can easily handle version upgrades.

Nao, in order to start the program in ROM2O3 when switching from ROM2O2, 203 to ROM205, set the start address of the program in ROM205 to the same address as that of ROM2O2, 203, or insert the IC card 221. By doing so, the start address of the program in the ROM 205 may be initially set in the CPU 205, or the start address of the program in the ROM 205 may be set in the CPU 205 from the operation panel of the copying machine.

Figures 5 and 6 show ROM2O2, 203 and ROM2
Another embodiment for switching with 05 will be shown.

In Figure 5a, IC card 2 is inserted into socket 220.
When the IC card 21 is inserted, the lever 242 of the microswitch 241 provided near the socket 220
21, thereby switching the control signal 235 from the power supply side to the ground side, as shown in FIG. A photosensor may be used instead of the microswitch 241.

In FIG. 6, a control signal 235 is dropped to the ground line by a dinobu switch 243 provided on a board inside the copying machine to switch programs. Although this method has lower operability than other methods, it is convenient when you want to switch other circuits at the same time or when you want to switch them manually.

In the above embodiment, ROM2O2, 203 is CP
Although we have explained the case where the ROM2O2 and 203 are separate elements from the CPU201, even if the ROM2O2 and 203 are built into the CPU2O5, there is a case where it is possible to switch between the mode using the built-in memory and the mode using the external memory. is applicable.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, the selection means selects an IC from the internal memory.
You can easily switch to the card's external memory and perform copy machine test operations. Since only the programs for normal operation need be stored in the internal memory, the memory capacity is small, which reduces costs and reduces the possibility of bugs occurring in internal memory programs. There is no need to replace the internal memory even if the test operation program is changed.
Programs other than the normal operation of the copying machine can be independently created, changed, or added, and version amplifiers can be easily supported.

Therefore, it is possible to reduce the capacity of the copier's internal memory as much as possible, make it easier to change programs for maintenance, etc., and provide the best service without putting much burden on the copier users. It becomes possible.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the general configuration of a copying machine, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control circuit of the copying machine, and FIG. 3 shows address signals and output states of gates. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the address area of each memory, FIG. 5 a and b are front views and circuit diagrams showing other embodiments of the selection means, and FIG. FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram showing another embodiment. A... Copy machine, 201... CPU (central processing unit)
, 202, 203...ROM (internal memory), 2
05...ROM (IC card), 206,207...
・Gate, 220...Socket, 221...IC card, 235...Control signal, 239...Signal line (selection means), 241...Micro switch (selection means)
, 243...DIP switch (selection means). Applicant Minolta Camera Co., Ltd. Figure 3 Figure 4 Atoshimata Figure 5 α Figure 5 Figure 6

Claims (1)

[Claims] an internal memory connected to a central processing unit; a socket for removably connecting an IC card to a bus of the central processing unit; and an IC installed in the internal memory and the socket.
a selection means for selecting a card, the internal memory stores a normal operation program for controlling normal copying operations, and the IC card stores a test operation program for controlling operations for a test. 1. A program control system for a copying machine, wherein the program is stored and one of the normal operation program and the test operation program is selected and executed.