US3856125A

US3856125A - Printing machine with operation lockout

Info

Publication number: US3856125A
Application number: US00342638A
Authority: US
Inventors: D Post
Original assignee: Xerox Corp
Current assignee: Xerox Corp
Priority date: 1973-03-19
Filing date: 1973-03-19
Publication date: 1974-12-24
Anticipated expiration: 1991-12-24
Also published as: NL7402002A; CA1028032A; IT1010696B; GB1441886A

Abstract

A copying machine has electronic circuitry which prevents the machine from operating if it is programmed to make any number of copies lying within a predetermined range.

Description

United States Patent 1191 1111 3,856,125 Post Dec; 24, 1974 PRINTING MACHINE WITH OPERATION [5 6] References Cited LOCKOUT UNITED STATES PATENTS [75] Inventor: Donald Saxton Post, Fairport, NY. 3,074,525 1 1963 Quinn 192 127 3,453,500 7 1969 L d' 1. [73] Asslgnw Xerox (3911101911919 Stamford 3,746,891 7/1973 Conn. 1 [22] Filed: Ma r. 19, 1973 Primary Examiner-Allan D. Herrmann 21 Appl. N0.: 342,638 1 I [57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl 192/127, 271/57, 328/37, A py machine has electronic circuitry which P 328/48 vents the machine from operating if it is programmed 51] 1111. C1. Gllc 19/00, H03k 21/32, B65h 7/00 tomake y number of 9911198 1 8 wlthm a predeter- [58] Field of Search 192/127, 128; 328/37, 48; mmed range- ONE DECODER) 5 Claims, 2 Dr awing Figures come. LOGIC 1 CIRCUIT COPY SELECT REGISTERS I PAH-1m n vacuum SHEU 1 BF 2 PRINTING MACHINE WITH OPERATION LOCKOUT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an improvement in an electrostatic copying machine (copier), or other printing machine, but more particularly to a machine having means for preventing operation of the machine if the latter is programmed to make any number of copiesor prints lying within a predetermined range.

In the practice of xerography as described in US. Pat. No. 2,297,69l to Chester F. Carlson, a xero graphic surface comprising a layer of photoconductive insulating material affixed to a conductive backing is used to support electrostatic images. In the usual method of carrying out the process, the xerographic surface is electrostatically charged uniformly over its surface and then exposed to a light pattern of the image being reproduced to thereby discharge the charge in the areas where lightstrikes the layer. The undischarged areas of the layer thus form an electrostatic charge pattern or latent image in conformity with the configuration of the original pattern.

The latent electrostatic image may then be developed by contacting it with a finely divided electrostatically attractable materiaLsuch as a resinous powder-(toner).

The powder is held in the image areas by the electrostatic fields on the layer. Where the field is greatest, the greatest amount of material is deposited; and where the field is least, little or .no material is deposited. Thus, a powder image is produced in conformity with the image of the'copy being reproduced. The powder is programmed to print'any number of prints lying within a given range (e.g., in a low run range of two through nine prints). More specifically, however, the invention includes electronic'circuitry for preventing the main drive motor of the machine from operating if a copy select register indicates that the machine has been pro- V grammed to print any number of prints lying within the subsequently transferred to a sheet of paper or other transfer member and suitablyaffixed thereto to thereby form a permanent print.

The latest concept for copiers utilized high speed flash exposure of a document, and a moving photoconductive material in the form of an endless belt which is continuously charged. Additionally, such copiers are provided with a developing system which supplies toner particles in relatively large quantities for solid area cover ge, such as a magnetic brush developing apparatus. Thus, after the belt passes the magnetic brush assembly for example, a xerographic powder image is formed on the belt which corresponds to the electrostatic latent image. This powder image is then transferred to a support surface (e.g., a sheet of paper) to which it is fused by a fusing assembly whereby the powder image is caused to adhere to the support surface permanently.

This latest concept for copiers results in very high speed machines which copy at a rate substantially in excess of any present or previous copying machines. Be-

cause of this high speed capability, it is highly desirable that such copiers be efficiently utilized. For example,

programmed fora low run.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION- The-present invention is directed to means for pre venting operation of a printing machine if the latter is given range. This is accomplished by logic circuitry which senses what is registered on the copy select register, and which controls relay contacts in responses to what is sensed. It is understood that it is within the scope of the present invention to have the circuitry prevent the machine from operating by controlling disabling means other than relay contacts (e.g., a clutch connected between the main drive motor and the driven member, etc.).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a schematic sectional view of an electrostatic copier embodying the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic circuit embodying the principles of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION For a general understanding of a copying machine in which the invention may be incorporated, reference is made to FIG. 1 in which the various system components for the machine are schematically illustrated. As in all electrostatic systems of the type illustrated, a light image of a document to be reproduced is projected onto the sensitized surface of a xerographic plate to form an electrostatic latent image thereon. Thereafter, the latent image is developed with an oppositely charged developing material to form a xerographic powderimage, corresponding to the latent image on the plate surface. The powder image is then electrostatically transferred to a support surface to which it may be fused by a fusing device whereby the powder image is caused permanently to adhere to the support surface.

In the illustrated machine 10, an original D to be cop ied is placed upon the transparent support platen P fixedly arranged in an illumination assembly generally indicated by the reference'numeral 11, arranged at the left end of the machine. While upon the platen, an illumination system flashes light rays upon the original thereby producing image rays corresponding to the inforrnational areas on the original. The image rays are projected by means of an optical system for exposing the photosensitive surface of a xerographic plate in the form of a flexible photoconductive belt 12. The surface of the belt was made photosensitive by the previous step of uniformly charging the same by means of a corona charging device' 13. In order to effect image processing, the belt 12 is arranged on a roller assembly generally indicated by the reference numeral 14, the latter being driven by a main drive motor (discussed below) and having three rollers 16, 18, and 20.

The roller assembly 14 is slidably mounted upon two support shafts, one of which is secured to the frame of the machine, and is adapted to drive the belt 12 in the direction of the arrow at a constant rate. During this movement of the belt, the reflected light image of an original on the platen is flashed upon the photosensitive surface of the belt to produce electrostatic latent im ages thereon at an exposure station A.

trostatic image passes through a developing station B in which there is positioned a developer assembly generally indicated by thereference numeral .15, the latter providing development of the electrostatic image by depositing toner on the belt surface via multiple brushes 22 as the belt moves through the development zone.

The developed electrostatic image is transported by the belt to a transfer station C where a sheet of copy paper is moved between a transfer roller and the belt at a speed in synchronism with the moving belt in order to accomplish transfer of the developed image solely by an electrical bias on the transfer roller. There is provided at this station a sheet transport mechanism genercertain that the copier is presently making satisfactory copies.

The lockout means 33 may be enabled or disabled by v applying the appropriate input signal'at 38. If the latter ally indicated at 17 adapted to transport sheets of paper from a paper handling mechanism generally indicated by the reference numeral 24 to the developed image on the belt at the station C. I

After the sheet is stripped from the belt 12. it is conveyed into a fuser assembly generally indicated by the reference numeral 26, wherein the developed and transferred powder image on the sheet material is per manently affixed thereto. To lubricate the fuser assembly (i.e., to apply a film of lubricant to one of the fuser rollers), a lubricator 28 is provided. After fusing, the finished copy is discharged from the apparatus at a suit able point for collection externally of the apparatus.

As stated above, because copiers of the type described above are capable of making copies at a very rapid rate, it is highly desirable that such copiers be utilized efficiently. To show how this is accomplished, reference is made to FIG. 2, wherein there is illustrated an electronic circuit for preventing operation of the copier if a low run is programmed into the copier.

To'prevent copies from being made if a low run is programmed into the copier-10, an electronic circuit having two registers is utilized. The copier is programmed to make the desired number of copies of an original by registering the number on a copy select register 30, the latter comprising a dynamic shift register combined with a flag register and multiplexed decoder so as to provide a 3 digit time shared display. A copy count register32 (also comprising a dynamic shift register combined with flag register and multiplexed decoder), counts the copies as they are deposited into'the' receiving bin of copier l0, and when the content of each of the

registers

30 and 32 is equal, the copier will stop by opening relay contacts as will be described hereinafter. Thus, whenever the content of each of 4 these registers is equal, the copier will not operate because the above mentioned relay contacts will not close, or if operating, the copier will stop.

The content of each of the

registers

30 and 32 is com pared'by a comparison circuit 34,'and depending upon the content of each, an appropriate output is delivered to OR gate 36. Thus, one of several conditions necessary to permit operation of the copier is that the content of each register not be equal. As stated above, however, it may be desirable to provide lockout means prevent operation of the copier if the latter is programmedfor a short run, e.g., ,two through nine copies. Thus, in this instance, the copier should not operate even if the content of each of the

registers

30 and 32 is not equal; it may be desirable, however, to permit the copier to make a single samplecopy in order to assignal is high the lockout meansis set to'function; if

low, the lockout means is disabled, and thus will not function, because. gate 48 will always be high regardless of the program selection. Thus, in the latter instance, the copier 10 can operate to make copies assuming that a number other than zero has been programmed into the copier. 1

. A leading zero suppression circuit 40 inhibits the illumination of the display on the copy select register 30 when leading zeros are present in the units, tens, or hundreds position thereof. This is accomplished by blocking the flag register at the appropriate strobe time. On equipment having digital display means, e. g., LED display means, it is common, to have a leading zero suppression circuit to block out (for asthetic reasons) any unnecessary leading zeros of a number displayed. For example, the numeral one (1) would be displayed as 001 if the two leading zeros were not suppressed. Bysuppressing'the two leading zeros, however, only 1 is displayed. Thus, because this is commonly done, no additional explanation of this circuit is believed necessary. Thus, the lockout means 33 interrogates the copy selectregister 30 and provides a ready condition at 42 if a one (1) is registered in the units position of the register. A ready condition at 42 means that a condition is present there which will permit the copier 10 to operate. At the same time, the

'lockout means interrogates the tens position of the are programmed into the copier, a readycondition will not be provided at 42, and the copier 10 will not operate even though the content of each of the

registers

30 and 32 are not equal.

Initiation by the clear switch 44 at the beginning of each copy job arms OR gates 46 and 48. Normally, the output of OR gate 48is low, thus causing the output of inverter 50 to be low which will consequently prevent copier 10 from operating. When the output of inverter 50 is high (a ready condition), the copier 10 will operate because switch 52' will consequently close, thus delivering current through relay contacts 54. When the latter closed, the main drive motor 56 of the copier is connected to a main line power source as can be seen.

It is noted that the output'from inverter 50 passes througha combinational logic circuit 58, the latter also possibly having

additional inputs

60, 62, and 64 if it is desired that other conditions be satisfied before permitting copier 10 to operate. In the present embodiment, for example, one 'of these conditions is that the Start Print button of the copier be pushed.

Any number programmed from 2 through 9 will cause the output of circuit 34 to be high. Ordinarily this high, consequently producing a ready condition at If a number is registered in the tens position of register 30, the tens flag is enabled in the zero suppression circuit 40. Gate 47 senses the latter and causes gate 48 to go high. Both inputs to gate 36 are thus high, and thus the output of inverter 50 is high; consequently, a

i said sensing means includes means for receiving a sigready" condition is produced at 42.

While the invention has been described with reference to the structure disclosed, it is not confined to the details set forth, but is intended to cover such modifications or changes as may come within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a copying machine, the combination comprismg: a

a. means for registering the number of copies that it is desired be made of an original document; and

b. means for sensing any number registered by said registering means, and for preventing actuation of said machine if said registered number lies within a predetermined range.

2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein nal, andmeans responsive to said signal for allowing said machine to be actuated regardless of what number is registered by said registering means.

3. In a printing machine, the combinationcomprising: a

a. means for registering the number of prints thatit is desired be printed by said machine; and

b. means for preventing actuation of' said machine'if said registered number lies within a predetermined range.

4. The combination according to claim 3, wherein said preventing means also includes means for allowing actuation of said machine regardless of what numberis selected.

5. An improved printing machine having means for printing copies, the improvement comprising:

a. means for registering the number of copies that it is desired be printed; and

b. means for preventing said printing means from operating if said registered number lies within a predetermined range.-

Claims

1. In a copying machine, the combination comprising: a. means for registering the number of copies that it is desired be made of an original document; and b. means for sensing any number registered by said registering means, and for preventing actuation of said machine if said registered number lies within a predetermined range.

2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said sensing means includes means for receiving a signal, and means responsive to said signal for allowing said machine to be actuated regardless of what number is registered by said registering means.

3. In a printing machine, the combination comprising: a. means for registering the number of prints that it is desired be printed by said machine; and b. means for preventing actuation of said machine if said registered number lies within a predetermined range.

4. The combination according to claim 3, wherein said preventing means also includes means for allowing actuation of said machine regardless of what number is selected.

5. An improved printing machine having means for printing copies, the improvement comprising: a. means for Registering the number of copies that it is desired be printed; and b. means for preventing said printing means from operating if said registered number lies within a predetermined range.