Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha

Minolta Camera Co., Ltd.

Minolta Camera Co. Kabushiki Kaisha

Syuzi Maruta

Masazumi Ito

Tadashi Ohira

Tomokazu Kato

Kazuhiro Araki

Yoichi Kawabuchi

Keiichi Nomura

Yoshikazu Ikenoue

Yoshiaki Takano

Kentaro Nagatani

Kadotaro Nishimori

Hirokazu Yamada

Kaoru Hashimoto

Takashi Noda

Kimihiko Higashio

Hiroyuki Ideyama

Kenzo Nagata

Minoru Nakamura

Toru Okatani

Hiroyuki Kishimoto

Toru Kasamatsu

A program replacement device is incorporated in a computer system having a CPU and a program memory in which first programs to be executed by the CPU are stored. The program replacement device includes a RAM employed as the program memory and having a write enable terminal, and a protection circuit interposed between the write enable terminal of the program memory and a write signal outputted from the CPU. The protection circuit includes a push switch for instructing program replacement with respect to the program memory, a pulse generating circuit for generating a pulse signal having a given time interval in response to an instruction from the push switch, and a gate circuit for making, only when the pulse signal is generated, the write signal outputted from the CPU valid with respect to the write enable terminal of the program memory. The program replacement device further includes an interruption generating circuit for generating in the CPU an interruption required to write second programs in the program memory in response to the instruction from the instruction section, thereby replacing the first programs by the second programs.

Computer apparatus and method for replacing programs between memories by

A control circuit changes a sorting mode of a sorter corresponding to a state whether an original is both-sided or not, or whether or not a plurality of originals are simultaneously reproduced in one round of copying process when images of a plurality of originals are distributively reproduced on the same side of a transfer sheet, or whether a mode of the number of sheets of original and copy mode are for both sides mode or composite mode. With such a control, a sorting mode process is prohibited when a required transfer sheet is one irrespective of whether the number of sheets of original is one or not.

Copying apparatus which can prohibit the sorting process

A copying machine has an automatic document handling device including a document tray, first transport member for feeding original documents placed on said document tray to a predetermined position located between said document tray and an image reading position, second transport member for further feeding original documents fed to the predetermined position by the first transport member to the image reading position, a sensor detecting means for detecting the presence of original documents placed on the document tray and feeding member for feeding a copy paper to a fixed position within a copy paper feeding path before the original document is fed to the image reading position by the second transport member. When the presence of said third original document disposed on the document tray is detected by said sensor after a second original document has been fed from said document tray to the predetermined position via said first transport member during the copying operation for a first original document fed to the image reading position via said second transport member, the feeding member feeds the copy paper corresponding to a third original document.

Copying apparatus with automatic document handling device

A copying machine capable of correctly counting the number of printed copying papers, more specifically, capable of interrupting the counting task when some copying papers stored in the intermediate storage unit or marking papers for classifying printed copying papers are discharged without forming any image thereon.

Copying machine capable of discharging paper without forming image

An image processing system having operating and stand-by modes of operation which are to be selectively put into effect, including a plurality of slave data processors each operative to execute a set of predetermined functions assigned thereto, a master data processor for controlling the operation of each data processor, the master data processor being operative to output a data processing command requesting any of the slave data processors to execute any of the predetermined functions assigned to the slave data processor and a control command predominant over the communication of data dictating the operation of each slave data processor, and an interface bus providing connection between the master data processor and each slave data processor for allowing transmission therethrough of the data processing command and the control command to any of the slave data processors, the master data processor being operative to detect a state in which the master data processor is currently coupled to any one of the slave data processors through the interface bus to allow transmission of the data processing command or the communication control command to the particular one of the slave data processor, wherein, in an operating mode of operation of the system, the data processing command or the control command is distributed through the interface bus exclusively to the particular slave data processor which is detected to be currently coupled to the master data processor.

Image processing system having slave processors for controlling standard

An image forming apparatus having a document transporting mechanism which transports documents one by one from a document feed tray, to the exposure location on a platen and which prefeeds the next document to a position before the platen, and a control mechanism which in response to an instruction of stopping the image form operation controls the operation of the document transporting mechanism so as to transport a document prefed to the position before the platen, in a predetermined direction. When a trouble occurs in the main body of the image forming apparatus during the image forming operation and the stop instruction is issued, a document on the platen is immediately transported to a document discharge tray, and also a document which has been prefed to the position before the platen is transported to a predetermined position (onto the platen, the document discharge tray or the document feed tray). The prefed document is not left stand in a loop state for a long period of time, thereby preventing a document from having a tendency to curl and a document jam from occurring.

Image forming apparatus

Image processing system

An image forming apparatus such as a copying machine includes an image forming section for forming an image on a sheet of paper. In the image forming apparatus, a paper supporting member supports a stack of papers, and an elevator is provided for raising and lowering the paper supporting member. Further, a paper feeder feeds a sheet of paper from the paper supporting member to the image forming section. When an operation key is depressed, the image forming section is instructed to start forming an image. A controller controls the image forming section to form an image on a sheet of paper when the paper feeder can feed a sheet of paper if the operation key is depressed during rising of the paper supporting member.

Image forming apparatus having an improved control system for a paper

A multiple color image forming apparatus, wherein colors or kinds of copying paper contained in paper feed cassettes as well as colors of developers contained in a plurality of developing devices are detected to prevent image forming, which is indistinguishable due to mismatching between the color or kind of copying paper and the color of developer, and the developing device containing the developer of suitable color for the color or kind of copying paper is automatically selected in response to the detected result of the color or kind of copying paper and the color of developer to prevent misforming of the image and to improve the operation easiness.

Multiple color copying apparatus having a copy paper color detecting

A data communication control system for an apparatus which may be selectively equipped with two or more functional modules each having predetermined functions, the control system having a plurality of subsidiary control units respectively in control of the functional modules, a main control unit operative to communicate with each of the subsidiary control units and a data transmission network interconnecting the main control unit and each of the subsidiary control units to allow full-duplex communication therebetween, each subsidiary control unit being operative to generate mode data designating any of the functions assigned to the particular subsidiary control unit and transmit the mode data to the main control unit, wherein, when mode data designating any function is generated by one of the subsidiary control units and is sent to the main control unit, the main control unit transmits to each subsidiary control unit data designating the function designated by the mode data if the main control unit determines that the execution of the particular function is allowable, or the function designated by the mode data received prior to the currently received mode data if the main control unit determines that the execution of the function designated by the currently received mode data is not allowable.

Data communication control system

In an image forming apparatus of the type including a plurality of functional modules each having particular functions proper to the unit, a control system having a master control unit and a plurality of subsidiary control units respectively in control of the individual functional modules wherein each of the plurality of subsidiary control units operates principally under the control of the master control unit through a communication network of the common interface bus type but is operable independently of the master control unit when required or preferred by the subsidiary control unit per se. At least one of the functional modules is provided with a standard mode of operation and a local mode of operation. The standard and local modes are incompatible with one another.

Image forming apparatus including control system provided with a master

An image duplicating apparatus having an ordinary copy mode and multiple editing modes of copying operation is provided. Editing information can be inserted directly from a control panel having a display screen or from an external editor. In operation, the last mode of editing which is selected will predominate and will determine the particular editing of the information.

Image duplicating apparatus having multiple editing capacity

A copying machine with an ADF has a 'two-in-one mode' which is a function to copy images of two sheets of a document set side by side on the platen on a surface of a copy paper with a single scanning process. As document sheets are stored on the document tray facing down, the last page of the document is copied first and the first page of the document is copied last. In the case that odd numbers of document sheets are copied, a blank page interrupts between page 1 and page 2 when the copied papers are bound into a book. This invention provides a copying machine by which a user can select the position of the copied image of the first page or the last sheet of a document on a copy paper.

Copying machine providing two-in-one mode copying operation including

An electrophotographic copying machine is provided with a leaf document circulation mode (LDC mode) in which an optical scanner is fixed under a light transmission part of a platen glass and an original is made to pass over the optical scanning mechanism with an automatic document feeder mounted on the platen glass. To prevent the light-fatigue of the photosensitive drum caused by the light passing through the platen glass and incident on a photosensitive drum through an optical system when the automatic document feeder mounted on the platen glass is opened in the LDC mode, the open/close condition of the automatic document feeder is detected with a sensor and when it is opened the optical scanner is moved to a position where the light incident through the platen glass does not strike upon the photosensitive drum.

Movable scanning system responsive to platen cover postion and operation

A copying apparatus includes a circulating type original document feeder for feeding a plurality of originals from a tray, one by one, onto an exposure section. Each original is exposed to light from an optical system and an image of each original is copied onto a sheet. The apparatus also includes a counter for counting the number of originals fed from the feeder, a binding unit for binding sheets, and a controller for inhibiting the operation of the binding unit when the value counted by the counter is over a standard. The feeder may operate in a first feeding mode where each original is fed to the exposure section with only its first side facing the optical system, or in a second feeding mode where each original is fed twice to the exposure section, once with its first side facing the optical system and then once with its other side facing the optical system. The apparatus also operates in a first copying mode where each sheet is subjected to only one copying operation, and a second copying mode where each sheet is subjected to a plurality of copying operations. An operation mode is selected from a combination of one of the two feeding modes and one of two copying modes. A standard is then determined according to the selection of the operation mode in order to prevent the binding unit from receiving a number of sheets in excess of its storage capacity.

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Osaka, Japan

Syuzi Maruta