GB1603734A – Copying or printing apparatus
– Google Patents
GB1603734A – Copying or printing apparatus
– Google Patents
Copying or printing apparatus
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Publication number
GB1603734A
GB1603734A
GB13149/78A
GB1314978A
GB1603734A
GB 1603734 A
GB1603734 A
GB 1603734A
GB 13149/78 A
GB13149/78 A
GB 13149/78A
GB 1314978 A
GB1314978 A
GB 1314978A
GB 1603734 A
GB1603734 A
GB 1603734A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
image forming
input
computer
program
interrupt
Prior art date
1977-04-06
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
GB13149/78A
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Canon Inc
Original Assignee
Canon Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
1977-04-06
Filing date
1978-04-06
Publication date
1981-11-25
1977-04-06
Priority claimed from JP3985777A
external-priority
patent/JPS53124437A/en
1977-04-06
Priority claimed from JP3985877A
external-priority
patent/JPS53124438A/en
1978-04-06
Application filed by Canon Inc
filed
Critical
Canon Inc
1981-11-25
Publication of GB1603734A
publication
Critical
patent/GB1603734A/en
Status
Expired
legal-status
Critical
Current
Links
Espacenet
Global Dossier
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Classifications
G—PHYSICS
G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
G03G21/00—Arrangements not provided for by groups G03G13/00 – G03G19/00, e.g. cleaning, elimination of residual charge
G03G21/14—Electronic sequencing control
Description
PATENT SPECIFICATION
( 21) Application No 13149/78 ( 22) Filed 6 April 1978 ( 31) Convention Application No 52/039858 ( 32) Filed 6 April 1977 ( 31) Convention Application No 52/039857 ( 32) Filed 6 April 1977 in ( 33) Japan (JP) ( 44) Complete Specification published 25 Nov 1981 ( 51) INT CL 3 GO 5 B 15/02 G 03 G 13/22//G 06 K 15/14 ( 52) Index at acceptance G 3 N 275 293 404 B ( 54) A COPYING OR PRINTING APPARATUS ( 71) We, CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA, a Japanese Company of 30-2, 3chome, Shimomaruko, Ohta-ku, Tokyo, Japan do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following
statement:-
The present invention relates to a copying or printing apparatus for performing an image forming process with a stored program control Thus, the present invention, though being explained in the following with reference to a copying apparatus, is also applicable to a printer for data print-out.
In general an apparatus for automatic repeated formation of an electrophotographic image comprises a rotary photosensitive member around which there are provided, in the direction of rotation thereof, a means for forming an electrostatic latent image, a means for developing said latent image, a means for transferring thus obtained visible image onto a transfer sheet and a means for cleaning said photosensitive member for succeeding formation of electrostatic latent image thereon, wherein various devices for performing these process steps have to be controlled in predetermined sequence.
In a known apparatus the sequential operation of these devices is determined by signals produced by cam switches actuated in accordance with the rotational position of the photosensitive member, or by counting pulses in a pulse train generated by the rotation of said photosensitive member.
In these arrangements, if said cam signals or pulse signals are supplied to a computer to control the sequential release of operational control signals, the constant monitoring of such cam signals or pulse signals is necessary, and accordingly difficulties arise if a process other than the sequential operation of such devices is to be performed In particular, since the frequency of clock signals used for data processing in the computer (for example I jusec-‘) is much higher than that of the above-mentioned pulses in the pulse train, it becomes necessary to establish a correlation between the computer operations and pulse counting; additional programs and memories are required for such purpose Further, where a computer is used for the sequential process control of a copying process, the programmed control provides for detection of an emergency condition, such as paper jamming, only at predetermined detection times timings; this could cause delay in the appropriate safety measure being taken.
According to the present invention there is provided a copying or printing apparatus, comprising:
means for forming an image on a recording member; means for detecting a predetermined state of the apparatus; and computer means operable to control the operation of the image forming means and having a stored main program comprising instructions for the operation of said image forming means, a stored interrupt program to be executed upon interruption of the execution of the stored main program, input means for receiving an input instruction issued by said detecting means upon said detection of a predetermined state, for causing execution of said interrupt program, and means for enabling said interrupt program to be executed upon issue of said input instruction only under a predetermined condition.
The main program may be interrupted and the interrupt program executed, for example in response to the detection of a fault, such as an abnormally high temperature in the apparatus, absence of copy paper or developer or jamming of ( 11) 1 603 734 copy paper The interrupt program may be one which is executed, when enabled, in response to pulses generated in synchronism with the operation of the image forming means so as to perform a count of said pulses for determining the operational timing of at least one operational element of the image forming means.
The computer means may store a plurality of interrupt programs for execution, in accordance with a predetermined priority, in response to instructions on respective said input means.
Thus the high priority instruction may indicate a fault, as mentioned above, while the lower priority instruction may comprise a said pulse input to be counted.
An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a copying apparatus embodying the present invention; Figure 2 is a function time-chart of the apparatus shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is an example of flow chart for the timing control; Figure 4 is a time chart of the drum clock signals and the computer clock signals; Figure 5 is an example of flow chart for the process sequence control according to the flow chart shown in Figure 3; Figure 6 is an example of control circuit for use in the present invention; Figure 7 is a diagram of internal circuit of the micro-computer element shown in Figure 6; Figures 8 (A), 8 (B) and 9 are examples of flow chart for sequence control in Figure 6; Figure 10 is a time chart showing interruption accepting; Figure 11 is an another example of flow chart according to Figure 6; Figures 12 A 12-B and 12-C are detailed flow charts according to Figure 6; and Figure 13 is a bit diagram of the RAM.
Referring to Figure 1 which is a schematic cross-sectional view of an electrophotographic apparatus embodying the present invention, there will be explained the process and the functions of various loads therein for the process performance.
An original to be copied is placed on an original table constituting an original support surface and is maintained in place by means of an original pressure plate 10.
An optical system is composed of an illuminating section consisting of an illuminating lamp 9 and a movable mirror 8, a movable mirror 6, a lens 17 and stationary mirrors 18 and 19 Thus the image of said original is focused on the photosensitive surface of a rotating drum 30 through a movable mirror 8 displaced in the direction of arrow A integrally with the illuminating lamp 9 and a movable mirror 6 displaced in 70 the same direction with a speed equal to of the displacing speed of said movable mirror 8, said movable mirrors functioning to maintain the length of light path constant.
and further through the lens 17 and 75 stationary mirrors 18 and 19, whereby the original being scanned and slit exposed by the illuminating section The drum 30 is provided on the periphery thereof with a photosensitive layer covered with a 80 transparent insulating layer, said photosensitive layer being charged positively by means of a DC charger 12 receiving a positive high-voltage current from an unrepresented high-voltage source 85 Upon arrival of the photosensitive layer at the exposure section 16, the original placed on the original support is illuminated by the lamp 9 and is focused on the drum 30 through aforementioned movable mirrors, 90 lens and stationary mirrors, and said photosensitive layer is simultaneously subjected to an AC charge elimination by means of an AC discharger receiving an AC high-voltage current from a high-voltage 95 source during the exposure of said drum to the image of said original.
Successively the photosensitive drum surface is subjected to a uniform exposure with a uniform exposure lamp 33 thereby 100 forming an electrostatic latent image on said surface, which is successively guided into the developing section 31.
The development is conducted by powder development with a developing sleeve, 105 thereby rendering said electrostatic latent image visible.
The foregoing and following process steps are conducted during the rotation of said photosensitive drum 110 A transfer sheet is supplied from a cassette 21 or 22 by a feed roller 24, advanced by the first rollers 25 and second rollers 28 and temporarily stopped by the rollers 29 when a timing roller clutch CL is 115 disconnected, which is activated upon receipt of a register signal to start rotation of the rollers 29 thereby restarting the advancement of transfer sheet Said register signal is obtained from a switch RG 120 detecting the passing of optical system through a determined position Also a switch OHP generates a signal indicating the home position of the optical system.
The transfer sheet thus advanced is 125 brought into close contact with the rotary drum, and the image formed on said drum is transferred onto said transfer sheet by a positive high-voltage current applied in a transfer charger 27 Upon completion of 130 1,603,734 1,603,734 transfer, the transfer sheet is separated from the drum by a separating roller 26 and guided to a fixing roller 4 for thermal fixing of the transferred image Upon completion of fixing the excessive charge is eliminated by a charge eliminator 3, and the transfer sheet is ejected to a tray 20 by ejecting rollers to complete the copying cycle On the other hand the photosensitive drum surface is cleaned by a blade M maintained in pressure contact for removing the remaining toner, and thus is prepared for the succeeding cycle A switch DHP releases a drum home position signal to stop the drum in a position wherein the splice of the photosensitive element coincides with the cleaner 11 23 a and 23 b are a known pair of a lamp and a light-receiving element for detecting the presence or absence of transfer sheet in the cassette, 2 is a known pair of a lamp and a light-receiving element for detecting the delay in sheet advancement and the jamming thereof in this position 16 is a blank exposure lamp for illuminating the photosensitive member, in the absence of image exposure, to eliminate unevenness in the surface potential 7 is a fixing motor, 15 is motor for driving the optical elements, and 14 is a pre-exposure lamp for causing uniform fatigue on the photosensitive member prior to the process.
Also 36 is a pulse generator composed of a disc rotated in connection with the drum and an unrepresented optical detector for detecting light pulses passing through’the openings provided on said disc.
Figure 2 shows the relationships between the operational periods of the more important devices necessary for the process performance The aforementioned pulse generator releases one pulse for each rotation of 10 of the photosensitive drum.
Now there will be given an explanation, with reference to Figures 3 and 4, on the timing signal generation by means of a computer not provided with an interruption ability.
Figure 3 shows an example of program for connecting a clock pulse generator to the input terminal of a computer and counting the clock pulses associated with the drum rotation thereby generating timing signals The execution of the abovementioned program is described in detail in UK Patent specification No 1576825.
Figure 4 shows the comparison, on a common time axis, between the clock pulses CP’ of the computer and the clock pulses CP generated by the rotation of photosensitive drum The step 1-1 in Figure 3 is performed during the clock pulses from the time t, to t 2 in Figure 4 The minimum instruction step for performing each step in Figure 3 is to be executed during one clock pulse CP’.
By the execution of STEP 1-I the pulse number for determining the process timing, for example 250 pulses for the timing of activating paper feed plunger, is read from a read-only-memory ROM and stored in a processing memory At the timing t 2 the process proceeds to the STEP 1-2 and, CP being 0, further to the STEP 1-3, which is repeated during the period t,
The ports IA and IB are structured to be triggered beyond a certain input level This 120 property is effectively utilized in the present invention, whereby the detecting operations can be achieved by direct input of analog voltage from a thermistor Th as shown in Figure 6 if the related resistors are suitable 125 selected, thus avoiding the conversion to digital values A similar result is obtainable by connecting a known optical detector for detecting toner concentration to this port, thus allowing to control the toner 130 1,603,734 replenishment Similarly it is possible to maintain the temperature of fixing heater constant by controlling the current thereto through detection of voltage change at the port IA resulting from the temperature decrease of the thermister Furthermore it is possible to maintain a constant surface potential on a constant concentration by connecting a surface potential meter to said port IA and controlling the chargers HVI, HV 2 or the developing bias potential in response to the change in the surface potential of the photosensitive member.
As explained in the foregoing, the port IA is connected to the detectors of higher priority while the port IB is connected to the detectors for example for the absence of paper or toner, which in general allow relatively slow reaction In case there are provided three or more interrupt ports, a further effective connection is realizable by suitable distribution of these detectors.
Reference is hereby directed to copending Patent Application No 41525/80 Serial No 1603735 which is divided from this application.
Claims (1)
WHAT WE CLAIM IS:-
1 A copying or printing apparatus, comprising:
means for forming an image on a recording member; means for detecting a predetermined state of the apparatus; and computer means operable to control the operation of the image forming means and having a stored main program comprising instructions for the operation of said image forming means, a stored interrupt program to be executed upon interruption of the execution of the stored main program, input means for receiving an input instruction issued by said detecting means upon said detection of a predetermined state, for causing execution of said interrupt pxogram, and means for enabling said interrupt program to be executed upon issue of said input instruction only under a predetermined condition.
2 An apparatus according to claim I wherein said detecting means comprises means for detecting a fault in the apparatus.
3 An apparatus according to claim 2 including isplay means, and wherein said interrupt program is such that upon detection of said fault by said detecting means the computer means causes the display means to indicate that a fault has occurred.
4 An apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said interrupt program is such that upon detection of said fault by said detection means operation of the apparatus is terminated.
An apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein said detecting 65 means comprises means for generating a train of pulses and wherein said computer means is so arranged that said control of the operation of the image forming means involves counting said pulses 70 6 An apparatus according to claim I wherein said computer means comprises a plurality of interrupt programs and a plurality of said input means, a first one of said input means being coupled to receive a 75 said input instruction issued by said detection means upon detection thereby of a fault in the apparatus and a second one of said input means being coupled to receive timing pulses, and wherein said computer 80 means is arranged to respond with higher priority given to said instruction on the first input means than to the said pulses on the second input means.
7 An apparatus according to any 85 preceding claim wherein said enabling means is arranged so that said predetermined condition, upon which the execution of the interrupt program is dependent, is met when a predetermined 90 operational state of an element of said image forming means is reached.
8 An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said element of said image forming means is movable, and wherein said 95 predetermined operational state of said element comprises a predetermined position thereof.
9 An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said movable element is arranged 100 to stop at a rest position, and wherein said predetermined position is said rest position.
An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said element of said image forming means is an input element operable for the 105 input of instructions concerning an image forming operation to be performed by the image forming means into the computer means and wherein said predetermined operational state is an inputting state of said 110 input element.
11 An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said input element is a manually operable element for starting the execution of an image forming operation 115 12 An apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein said input means comprises a flip-flop circuit arranged to be controlled by said detecting means, and wherein said computer means is operable to 120 interrupt the execution of the main program and to execute the interrupt program in accordance with the state of the flip-flop circuit.
13 An apparatus according to claim 5 or 125 any claim dependent thereon wherein said image forming means is operable to convey said recording member along a path defined in the apparatus and wherein said computer 9 1 ‘-, means is operable to monitor the jamming of said recording member in said path in accordance with a count of said pulses.
14 An apparatus according to claim 5 or any claim dependent thereon wherein said computer means is operable to store in a memory thereof numbers corresponding to the periods of operation of respective operative elements of said image forming means, and to control the operation of each said element by counting said pulses and performing a control operation when the respective stored number is reached.
An apparatus according to claim 5 or any claim dependent thereon wherein the computer means is operable during the execution of the interrupt program to decrement a number which is stored in a memory of the computer control and which 2 ( determines the operation of an element of the image forming means and thereafter to resume execution of the main program from the point of interruption.
16 An apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein said computer means comprises a semi-conductor microcomputer which includes said stored main and interrupt programs and said input means.
17 An apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein said computer means is operable to cause the execution of the main program to proceed upon occurrence of a first change in state of the apparatus with the interrupt program disabled, to enable the interrupt program upon detection of a second change in state of the apparatus, resulting in said predetermined condition being met, and to cause the image forming means to perform an image forming process including the execution of said interrupt program.
18 A copying or printing apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to any of the accompanying drawings.
R G C JENKINS & CO, Chartered Patent Agents, Chancery House, 53/64 Chancery Lane, London, WC 2 A IQU.
Agents for the Applicants.
Printed for Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, by the Courier Press, Leamington Spa, 1981 Published by The Patent Office 25 Southampton Buildings, London WC 2 A IAY, from which copies may be obtained.
1 Ans 71
GB13149/78A
1977-04-06
1978-04-06
Copying or printing apparatus
Expired
GB1603734A
(en)
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number
Priority Date
Filing Date
Title
JP3985777A
JPS53124437A
(en)
1977-04-06
1977-04-06
Image former having computer
JP3985877A
JPS53124438A
(en)
1977-04-06
1977-04-06
Image former having computer
Publications (1)
Publication Number
Publication Date
GB1603734A
true
GB1603734A
(en)
1981-11-25
Family
ID=26379263
Family Applications (2)
Application Number
Title
Priority Date
Filing Date
GB13149/78A
Expired
GB1603734A
(en)
1977-04-06
1978-04-06
Copying or printing apparatus
GB41525/80A
Expired
GB1603735A
(en)
1977-04-06
1978-04-06
Copying or printing apparatus
Family Applications After (1)
Application Number
Title
Priority Date
Filing Date
GB41525/80A
Expired
GB1603735A
(en)
1977-04-06
1978-04-06
Copying or printing apparatus
Country Status (4)
Country
Link
US
(2)
US4202622A
(en)
FR
(1)
FR2386848A1
(en)
GB
(2)
GB1603734A
(en)
HK
(1)
HK92786A
(en)
Families Citing this family (12)
* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number
Priority date
Publication date
Assignee
Title
JPS52134732A
(en)
*
1976-05-06
1977-11-11
Sharp Corp
Electrophotographic copier
GB1605094A
(en)
*
1977-05-31
1981-12-16
Canon Kk
Copying or printing apparatus
US4343547A
(en)
*
1979-09-26
1982-08-10
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Image forming apparatus
US4310235A
(en)
*
1980-03-13
1982-01-12
Xerox Corporation
Job programming
JPS56144445A
(en)
*
1980-04-11
1981-11-10
Toshiba Corp
Copying machine
US4453821A
(en)
*
1982-04-01
1984-06-12
Eastman Kodak Company
Set-up recall apparatus
JPS60130759A
(en)
*
1983-12-20
1985-07-12
Toshiba Corp
Copying machine
GB2163704B
(en)
*
1984-07-10
1989-06-01
Canon Kk
Image processing apparatus
JPS6163861A
(en)
*
1984-09-04
1986-04-02
Sharp Corp
Copying process timing control system
US4857960A
(en)
*
1985-08-09
1989-08-15
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Control device for image processing or forming apparatus
JP3496439B2
(en)
*
1997-03-12
2004-02-09
ミノルタ株式会社
Image forming device
JP2005051743A
(en)
*
2003-07-15
2005-02-24
Canon Inc
Original reading apparatus
Family Cites Families (3)
* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number
Priority date
Publication date
Assignee
Title
US3940210A
(en)
*
1974-08-12
1976-02-24
Xerox Corporation
Programmable controller for controlling reproduction machines
US4035072A
(en)
*
1974-08-12
1977-07-12
Xerox Corporation
Programmable controller for controlling reproduction machines
US4062061A
(en)
*
1976-04-15
1977-12-06
Xerox Corporation
Error log for electrostatographic machines
1978
1978-03-30
US
US05/891,852
patent/US4202622A/en
not_active
Expired – Lifetime
1978-04-05
FR
FR7810148A
patent/FR2386848A1/en
active
Granted
1978-04-06
GB
GB13149/78A
patent/GB1603734A/en
not_active
Expired
1978-04-06
GB
GB41525/80A
patent/GB1603735A/en
not_active
Expired
1979
1979-05-10
US
US06/037,843
patent/US4299476A/en
not_active
Expired – Lifetime
1986
1986-12-04
HK
HK927/86A
patent/HK92786A/en
not_active
IP Right Cessation
Also Published As
Publication number
Publication date
FR2386848A1
(en)
1978-11-03
GB1603735A
(en)
1981-11-25
HK92786A
(en)
1986-12-12
US4299476A
(en)
1981-11-10
US4202622A
(en)
1980-05-13
FR2386848B1
(en)
1983-09-23
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Legal Events
Date
Code
Title
Description
1982-05-19
PS
Patent sealed [section 19, patents act 1949]
1998-04-29
PE20
Patent expired after termination of 20 years
Effective date:
19980405
