JPH0157784B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an inspection method for an electronic copying machine that uses a microcomputer to control the copying process.

A device that controls the copying machine in an electronic copying machine, for example, sends control signals to feed copy paper or rotate the photosensitive drum depending on the progress of the copying process, and advances the document table on which the document is placed. Movement inspection, backward movement inspection, checking whether output signals are being sent normally from a control device that receives signals to detect copy paper feeding or paper ejection, or whether input signals are being input normally. There is a demand for inspecting the operating state of drive motors and the like that drive photosensitive drums. FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration diagram of this type of control device using a microcomputer. In the figure, a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as a microcomputer) is composed of a central processing unit CPU, a storage device consisting of a read-only memory element OM and a readable/writable memory element RAM, and an input/output device PIA that controls the input/output interface. ing. The central processing unit CPU has control functions performed by conventionally used discrete circuits such as electromagnetic relays, transistors, and diodes. In addition, the storage device is a storage element in which the CPU control program is given in advance.
It has a ROM and a memory element RAM that can be rewritten by selecting the contents of the memory element ROM or under various conditions. In a control device using this microcomputer,
The copy machine control program is stored in ROM. Therefore, it is not possible to simply visually check whether the output signal is being sent normally from the microcomputer or whether the signals from various switches are being properly input to the microcomputer. However, it is possible to test whether the input to the microcomputer or the output from the microcomputer is normal by detecting the potential of each part on the printed board using a stator. However, this method requires a long time for inspection. Therefore, the inspection of the control device is carried out by determining whether the overall operation of the copying machine is good or bad, and when a failure occurs, there is a drawback that the failure part cannot be properly found without relying on the intuition of the administrator.

Therefore, as an inspection device for copying machines, for example, only the drive motor is turned on to check the operation of the drive motor.
Or turn on the forward clutch of the drive motor and document platen.
It is conceivable to perform inspections for each individual function, such as checking the advance of the document table. However, it is possible to classify these inspection functions into slightly larger functional blocks rather than individually. for example,
Optical system (light source lamp and adjustment of its light intensity), drive system (drive motor and document table movement system), paper feed system (copy paper feeding and transport system), photosensitive drum system (drive system, optical system, and static High-voltage power supply for electric transfer). In general, when testing the assembly and adjustment of a copying machine, it is better to test each target block separately, rather than running the entire normal copying process, since each block will not interfere with each other.
This is also preferable because it allows detailed inspection and adjustment of parts. However, in this case, it is difficult to generate a combined output from a plurality of control elements using the above-mentioned apparatus capable of testing individual control elements. In other words, incorporating all desired combinations of control elements at the design stage requires a great deal of time and effort for program development, and in practice it is difficult to imagine all such combinations in advance. is extremely difficult. Another drawback is that once a combination of control elements is determined, it is not possible to move to another combination.

In view of the above-mentioned points, the present invention eliminates the drawbacks of the prior art and actually creates a large number of inspection programs from one copying program by instructions from a keyboard, and inspects an electronic copying machine using these inspection programs. The purpose is to provide a method to do so.

According to the present invention, such an object includes a copy sequence control process consisting of a standby loop and a copy loop controlled by a microcomputer, and a control element (M, PFS) in the copy loop.
etc.) and setting means (output sets 1 to 6) for setting the timing for operating the corresponding control element, and the operation of the corresponding control element provided between the setting means and the control element.・Operation instruction means for instructing non-operation (test sets 1 to 6)
, a setting means consisting of an operation keyboard, and an inspection mode selection means for making the microcomputer recognize that it is in an inspection mode, and all of the operation instruction means are compatible with normal copying sequence control by the copying loop. A method for inspecting an electronic copying machine that performs copying by instructing the control element to operate and operating the control element at a timing set by the setting means, according to an operation output from the inspection mode selection means. an inspection mode setting step in which an inspection mode is set; an inspection preparation step in which the operation instruction means once instructs all of the control elements to cease operation; and subsequent to this, a specific control to be inspected is issued from the setting means. an operation instruction output step for outputting an operation instruction to the operation instruction means corresponding to the element; and an inspection step for operating the control element whose operation is instructed by the operation instruction means at a timing set by the setting means. This is accomplished by configuring.

Next, one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram showing an example of the circuit configuration of an electronic copying machine to which the inspection method of the present invention is applied. In the figure, 1 is a microcomputer equipped with a central processing unit CPU, a storage device consisting of storage elements ROM and RAM, and an input/output device PIA. Connected to the data input of the microcomputer 1 are a print switch PSW with normally open contacts, a keyboard 3 for setting the number of copies, and an inspection switch SWO which is inspection mode means for giving the microcomputer 1 recognition of the inspection mode. This test switch SWO includes a switch (not shown) with a specific function,
For example, if the copying machine stops due to a paper jam during inspection, other functions cannot be inspected, so it is possible to combine a switch with the purpose of disabling the paper jam detection function. Another effective method for making the microcomputer aware of the inspection mode is to input a specific password to the keyboard 3 to make the microcomputer 1 aware that it is in the inspection mode. It is desirable for the PIN to be a combination of numbers that are not used in normal key operations.For example,
“0-0-9-9” etc. can be used. When this test mode is recognized, the switch for setting the number of copies on the keyboard 3 supplies data input to the microcomputer 1 that allows the copying machine to operate functionally block by function. In addition, there are various signal inputs (not shown), such as a temperature switch, a paper detection switch for copy paper fed from a cassette, a paper discharge detection switch for detecting the discharge of paper after copying, and a document platen detection switch. Inputs such as a starting reference position switch are connected to the microcomputer 1. In addition, microcomputer 1
For the output of the copying machine, control elements such as a drive motor M, a paper feed solenoid PFS, clutches FWD and RET for advancing and retracting the document table, a light source lamp LL for copying, a copying operation counter CNT, etc. are provided. Furthermore, a fixing heater, a charging/transferring high-voltage power supply device, a heat exhaust fan motor, etc. (not shown) are provided as necessary. Reference numeral 2 denotes a display light emitting diode for displaying the number of copies set and the number of copies. Reference numeral 4 denotes an input circuit which adjusts the voltage level of the input signal, switches the input signal when there is a shortage of input ports of the microcomputer, and connects the sequential signals of the microcomputer 1. 5 is an output circuit which includes an amplifier circuit for operating the motor M or the clutch FWD, RET, etc. The output circuit 5 also includes a latch circuit for increasing the number of output ports when the microcomputer 1 lacks the number of output ports. Note that an instruction light emitting diode 6 is connected to the output of the microcomputer 1 via an output circuit 5A, and includes an instruction light emitting diode 6 for indicating the paper size, a light emitting diode for indicating the cause of a failure of the copying machine, and the like.

Next, FIG. 3 is a time chart showing the basic operation timing of each control element in the copying process. In the figure, the copy machine is the print switch.
When PSW is pressed, drive motor M starts rotating, paper feed solenoid PFS is activated, and paper is sent out from the paper storage cassette. Paper feed solenoid
After being sent out by PFS, it is temporarily stopped, and the document table is moved forward by the forward clutch FWD to match the timing with the position of the copy document, and the paper is conveyed again to start copying. When the specified scanning of the original is completed, the forward clutch FWD is turned off. After this,
In order to return the document table to its original position, the reverse clutch RET is turned on and the document table returns to its original position. A paper ejection detection sensor detects that the copied paper has been ejected.
After EXP detects and confirms the predetermined paper width, it activates the counter CNT. The copying light source lamp LL goes out as the document table retreats, and the drive motor M stops after rotating for a predetermined time. To make multiple copies of the same original, make the microcomputer 1 recognize the required number of copies by operating the keys on the keyboard 3 shown in Figure 2, and by operating the print switch PSW once,
Copying is performed by repeating a series of the above copying processes. Now, even when the copier is in inspection mode,
The order of operation of the functional blocks follows the program order of the copying process.

Next, FIG. 4 is a flow chart for explaining one embodiment of the present invention. The figure shows a copy loop and a standby loop with an output control process that controls the copy process. The copying loop includes the control elements in the copying process, namely the drive motor M, paper feed solenoid PFS, and forward clutch.
Output data to FWD, reverse clutch RET, light source lamp LL, and counter CNT Set 1
An output control process is provided for sequentially supplying and controlling output sets 6. Further, the standby loop waits for the print switch PSW shown in FIG. 2 to be pressed and leaves each control element in a standby state. When the print switch PSW is pressed, the copying loop starts operating and output sets 1-6 are sequentially controlled, and when the copying process is completed, the process returns to the standby loop. When copying a plurality of sheets, the copying loop circulates a plurality of times until "YES" indicates that copying is complete, and then returns to the standby loop. Here, test sets 1 to 6 are connected to output sets 1 to 6 as operation instruction means for instructing the operation/discharge operation of the corresponding control elements, respectively. Test sets 1 to 6 are all set to be output as "YES" (operation instruction) in normal copy sequence control. The timing at which each control element is operated is set based on the data output from the output control process so that the output set corresponding to each control element is set as shown in FIG. 3, for example.

When the test mode is switched, all test sets are temporarily set to "NO".

Although it is possible to test set various control elements individually in the test mode, it is preferable to further test the operation of each functional block. Therefore, control elements necessary for inspection and unnecessary functional blocks can be selected using the normal copying process. That is, after making the microcomputer 1 recognize the inspection mode, the user operates the switch on the keyboard 3 to select the required function block. At this time, key operations on the keyboard 3 are used to set or reset test sets 1 to 6 to prepare test programs in accordance with various test functions. Thereafter, when the print switch PSW is turned on, an operation test is performed according to this test program. For example, drive motor M, forward clutch FWD and reverse clutch
To test in combination with RET, keyboard 3
The key switch 1.2.3… is the test set 1.2.3…
If it is compatible with …, the key switch “1”
- Just operate "3" - "4". In addition to opening the inspection switch SWO, returning to the normal copying mode from the inspection mode can be done by pressing a specific empty switch on the keyboard 3, for example, the "9" key switch of the empty switch in this embodiment, or by using another password or It is also possible to use an external switch. Note that when returning from inspection mode to copy mode, test switch 1 to test set 6
are all set. Thereafter, when the print switch PSW is turned on, the respective control elements are turned on and off in accordance with output set 1 to output set 6 of the copying process to perform copying.

As explained above, according to the present invention, only a specific control element to be tested is operated by using an operation instruction means (test set) that instructs the operation of each control element in normal copy sequence control using a copy loop. In this way, instructions from the keyboard cause the operation instruction means corresponding to these specific control elements to issue operation instructions, so that multiple operations can actually be performed from one copying program by instructions from the keyboard. It is possible to create inspection programs, and the time and effort spent on program development is significantly reduced compared to developing many inspection programs in advance by assuming combinations of all control elements at the design stage. Not only that, but also control elements can be easily selected on the spot according to the inspection purpose, so it can be widely applied to manufacturing, inspection, and maintenance and has great effects.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of this type of control device using a microcomputer, FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram showing an example of the circuit configuration of an electronic copying machine to which the inspection method of the present invention is applied, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a time chart showing the basic operation timing of each control element in the copying process. FIG. 4 is a flow chart for explaining one embodiment of the present invention. 1...Microcomputer, 3...Keyboard, 4...Input circuit, 5,5A...Output circuit.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A copying sequence control process consisting of a standby loop and a copying loop controlled by a microcomputer, and provided for each control element in the copying loop to operate the corresponding control element. a setting means for setting the timing for the operation; an operation instruction means provided between the setting means and the control element for instructing the operation/non-operation of the corresponding control element; and a setting means comprising an operation keyboard; and inspection mode selection means for making the microcomputer recognize that it is the inspection mode, and in normal copying sequence control by the copying loop, all of the operation instruction means instruct the corresponding control elements, and A method for inspecting an electronic copying machine that performs copying by operating the control element at a timing set by a setting means, the method including an inspection mode setting step of setting an inspection mode according to an operational output from the inspection mode selection means. and an inspection preparation step in which the operation instructing means once instructs all the control elements to be non-operational, and following this, the setting means instructs the operation instructing means corresponding to a specific control element to be inspected. An electronic device comprising: an operation instruction output step for outputting an operation instruction; and an inspection step for operating the specific control element whose operation is instructed by the operation instruction means at a timing set by the setting means. How to inspect a copy machine.