JPH11237812A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an image forming apparatus capable of replacing a control program while reducing communication costs and equipment costs. A digital copier A includes an external communication device 131.
, And the digital copier B is connected to the communication control device 133 via the external communication device 132. The communication control device 133 is connected to a service center via a public line 138. The digital copying machines A and B are connected by a connection interface 139. Then, the external communication units 131 and 132 receive a part of the control program of the apparatus or the control information, and activate / enable a specific image forming function.
Has a function to invalidate.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus (for example, a network printer) having external communication means, and more particularly to a control program change.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A network system in which a large number of image forming apparatuses (digital copiers, printers, etc.) having external communication means are distributed at remote locations and connected by a network is widely known. In such a system,
Print data created by the host computer is printed out by a predetermined image forming apparatus. In such an image forming apparatus, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 4-70768 proposes a technique in which a control program is transmitted from a public line by serial communication means and is written in a nonvolatile memory to change the control program.

[0003]

The main function of the external communication means is to report the occurrence of a failure to a service center. Using this external communication means, it is possible to replace the control program of the image forming apparatus. In this case, since the signal passes through a public line, there is a problem that the line may be disconnected due to a line accident or the like, and communication costs may occur. Further, there is a problem that a large amount of temporary storage area is required on the image forming apparatus side in order to rewrite the entire control program.

An object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the conventional system and to provide an image forming apparatus capable of replacing a control program while reducing communication costs and equipment costs.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a reading unit for reading an original, a printing unit for printing a read image, and various information of the apparatus being transmitted to a public line. In an image forming apparatus including an external communication unit that communicates with the outside by, for example, the external communication unit receives a part of a control program of the apparatus or control information, and activates / invalidates a specific image forming function. It is characterized by having.

[0006] To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a second aspect.
According to the invention described in the first aspect, the external communication means has a function of notifying the host computer of the current valid / invalid state of the image forming apparatus.

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, a third aspect is provided.
According to the invention described in claim 1, in the invention according to claim 1, the setting contents are collated with the host computer at regular intervals, and in the case of an incorrect setting, the corresponding function is disabled or the host computer side Control for enabling the functions that are set to be valid.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a digital copying machine. This apparatus comprises an apparatus body 1, an automatic document feeder (ADF) 2, and a sheet post-processing apparatus 3. The apparatus main body 1 includes a contact glass 4, an image reading unit 5, an image writing unit 6, a laser output unit 7, a photoconductor 8, a developing unit 9, and a transport belt 1.
0, fixing unit 11, paper discharging unit 12, double-sided paper feeding unit 13, first tray 14, second tray 15, third tray 16, first paper feeding device 17, second paper feeding device 18, third paper feeding device
A paper feed device 19, a vertical transport unit 20, and the like are provided.

The reading unit 5 includes an exposure lamp 21,
A first mirror 22, a second mirror 23, a third mirror 24, a lens 25, and a CCD image sensor 26 are provided. The writing unit 6 includes, in addition to the laser output unit 7,
An imaging lens 27 and a mirror 28 are provided. Paper output unit 1
2 has a branch claw 29.

The ADF 2 includes a document table 41, a feeding belt 42,
Etc. are provided. The sheet post-processing device 3 includes a stapler 5
1, a stacker tray 52, a staple tray 53, and the like. When a start key on an operation unit, which will be described later, is pressed, the document bundle placed on the document table 41 of the ADF 2 with the image side of the document facing upward is fed from the lowermost document to the feeding roller 43.
The sheet is fed to a predetermined position on the contact glass 4 by the feeding belt 42.

After reading the image data of the document on the contact glass 4 by the reading unit 5, the document that has been read is discharged by the feed belt 42 and the discharge roller 44. Further, when the document set detection 45 detects that the next document is present on the document table 41, the document is fed onto the contact glass 4 similarly to the previous document. Feed roller 43, feed belt 42, discharge roller 44
Is driven by a motor.

The transfer sheets (sheets) stacked on the first tray 14, the second tray 15, and the third tray 16 are respectively fed by a first sheet feeding device 17, a second sheet feeding device 18, and a third sheet feeding device 19. The paper is fed and transported by the vertical transport unit 20 to a position where it comes into contact with the photoconductor 8. The image data read by the reading unit 5 is written on the photoconductor 8 by the laser from the writing unit 6 and passes through the developing unit 9 to form a toner image. And
The toner image on the photoconductor 8 is transferred while the transfer paper is being conveyed by the conveyance belt 10 at the same speed as the rotation of the photoconductor 8. Thereafter, the image is fixed by the fixing unit 11, and the image is discharged to the post-processing device 3 by the sheet discharging unit 12.

The post-processing device 3 includes a paper discharge unit 1 of the main body 1.
The transfer paper conveyed by 2 can be guided to the direction of the stacker tray 52 and the stapling section. By switching the switching plate 54 upward, the transfer paper is
The sheet is discharged to the stacker discharge tray 52 via the stacker transport roller 55 and the stacker discharge roller 56. Also, by switching the switching plate 54 downward, the transfer paper is
The staple tray 5 is transported via the transport rollers 57 and 58.
3 is carried.

The transfer sheets stacked on the staple tray 53 are aligned by a jogger 59 for sheet alignment each time one sheet is discharged, and are stapled by the stapler 51 when a part of the copy is completed. The transfer paper group bound by the stapler 51 is stored in the stapling completed paper discharge tray (fall tray) 60 by its own weight.

On the other hand, a stacker tray 52, which is a normal discharge tray, is a discharge tray that can move back and forth. The stacker tray 52, which can be moved back and forth, moves back and forth for each original or for each copy unit sorted by the image memory, and sorts the copy paper that is easily discharged.

When an image is formed on both sides of the transfer paper, the transfer paper fed from each of the paper feed trays 14 to 16 and formed is not guided to the stacker tray 52 side, but is branched for path switching. By setting the claws 29 on the upper side, the stock is temporarily stored in the double-sided paper feeding unit 13. Thereafter, the transfer paper stocked in the duplex paper supply unit 13 is again transferred to the photoconductor 8.
In order to transfer the formed toner image, the sheet is re-fed from the double-sided paper feeding unit 13, the branching claw 29 for switching the path is set on the lower side, and is guided to the stacker tray 52.
As described above, the double-sided paper feeding unit 13 is used when forming images on both sides of the transfer paper.

Photoreceptor 8, developing unit 9, transport belt 1
The fixing unit 11, the paper discharging unit 12, the paper feeding devices 17 to 19, and the vertical transport unit 20 are driven by a main motor.

FIG. 2 is a layout diagram of the operation unit. The operation unit 70 has a liquid crystal touch panel 71, a numeric keypad 72, a clear / stop key 73, a print key 74, a mode clear key 75, and an initial setting key 76. The liquid crystal touch panel 71 has various function keys (staple, stack, 77, a message indicating the number of copies, the status of the image forming apparatus, and the like.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display example of the liquid crystal touch panel of the operation unit. When the operator touches the key displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 71, the key indicating the selected function is inverted to black. Also, when you need to specify the details of the function (for example, if you change the magnification, change the magnification value, etc.)
, A detailed function setting screen is displayed by touching the key. As described above, since the liquid crystal touch panel 71 uses the dot display, it is possible to graphically perform an optimal display at that time.

In FIG. 3, the upper left is a message area 71a for displaying a message such as "Ready to copy" or "Please wait", and the right is a copy number display 71b for displaying the set number of sheets. An automatic density key 71c for automatically adjusting the image density, an automatic paper selection key 71d for automatically selecting the transfer paper, a sort key 71e for designating a process for aligning copies one by one in a page order,
A stack key 71f for specifying the process of sorting the copies for each page, a staple key 71g for specifying the process of binding the sorted copies one by one, a one-to-one key 71h for setting the magnification to the same size, and a magnification / reduction ratio. A scaling key 71i to set, a double-sided key 71j to set a double-sided mode,
Erase / move key 71k for setting binding margin mode, etc., and print key 71l for setting printing of stamp, date, page, etc.
There is. The selected mode is indicated by shaded keys.

Returning to FIG. 1, the operation of the image reading means of the present invention and the operation up to the formation of a latent image on a recording surface will be described. A latent image is a potential distribution generated by converting an image into optical information and irradiating the image on the photoreceptor surface. The reading unit 5 includes a contact glass 4 on which a document is placed.
The optical scanning system comprises an exposure lamp 21, a first mirror 22, a lens 25, a CCD image sensor 26, and the like. The exposure lamp 21 and the first mirror 22 are fixed on a first carriage (not shown), and the second mirror 23 and the third mirror 24 are fixed on a second carriage (not shown).

When reading an original image, the first carriage and the second carriage are moved by two so that the optical path length does not change.
It is mechanically scanned at a relative speed of one to one. This optical scanning system is driven by a scanner drive motor (not shown). The original image is read by the CCD image sensor 26, converted into an electric signal, and processed. By moving the lens 25 and the CCD image sensor 26 in the horizontal direction in FIG. 1, the image magnification changes. That is, the positions of the lens 25 and the CCD image sensor 26 in the left-right direction are set corresponding to the designated magnification.

As described above, the writing unit 6
It comprises a laser output unit 7, an imaging lens 27, and a mirror 28. Inside the laser output unit 7, there is provided a rotating polygon mirror (polygon mirror) that rotates at a constant high speed by a motor and a laser diode as a laser light source. I have. The laser light emitted from the laser output unit 7 is
An imaging lens 2 polarized by a polygon mirror that rotates at a constant speed
7, the light is turned back by the mirror 28, and condensed and imaged on the surface of the photoreceptor.

The polarized laser light is exposed and scanned in a direction (main scanning direction) orthogonal to the direction in which the photoconductor 8 rotates.
The image signal output from the selector of the image processing unit described later is recorded in units of lines. An image (electrostatic latent image) is formed on the photoconductor surface by repeating main scanning at a predetermined cycle corresponding to the rotation speed of the photoconductor 8 and the recording density.

As described above, the laser beam output from the writing unit 6 is applied to the photosensitive member 8 of the image forming system. Although not shown, a beam sensor that generates a main scanning synchronization signal is disposed at a position near one end of the photoconductor 8 where the laser beam is irradiated. Based on this main scanning synchronization signal,
Control of image recording start timing in the main scanning direction and generation of a control signal for inputting / outputting an image signal described later are performed.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the image processing apparatus (image reading unit and image writing unit). The light emitted from the exposure lamp 21 irradiates the original surface, and the reflected light from the original surface is imaged and received by the imaging lens by the CCD image sensor 26, photoelectrically converted, and converted by the A / D converter 81. Convert to digital signal. The image signal converted into the digital signal is subjected to shading correction by a shading correction unit 82,
F correction, γ correction, and the like are performed.

In the selector 84, the destination of the image signal is
The switching to the scaling unit 85 or the image memory controller 86 is performed. The image signal that has passed through the scaling unit 85 is scaled according to the scaling factor and sent to the writing unit 6. The image memory controller 86 and the selector 84 are configured to be able to input and output image signals in both directions.

Although not specifically shown in FIG. 4, the image processing apparatus may include, in addition to the image data input from the reading unit 5, image data supplied from the outside (for example, a data processing apparatus such as a personal computer). It has a function of selecting input / output of a plurality of data so that the output data (data output) can also be processed (printing unit 93, print combining units 94 and 95). A CPU 87 for setting the image memory controller 86 and the like, and controlling the image reading unit 5 and the writing unit 6, and a ROM 88 and a RAM 89 for storing programs and data thereof are provided. Further, the CPU 87 writes and reads data in the image memory 90 via the memory controller 86. Reference numeral 91 denotes an I / O port, and 92 denotes a SCSI driver.

FIG. 5 is an internal block diagram of the memory controller and the image memory. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an image signal for one page in the selector. In FIG.
The frame gate signal indicates an effective period of one page of image data in the sub-scanning direction. The main scanning synchronization signal is a signal for each line, and an image signal becomes valid at a predetermined clock after this signal rises. A signal indicating that the image signal in the main scanning direction is valid is a line gate signal. These signals are synchronized with the pixel clock VCLK, and data of one pixel is sent for one cycle of VCLK. The image processing device has a separate frame gate signal, main scan synchronization signal, line gate signal, and VCLK generation mechanism for each of image input and output, enabling various image input / output combinations to be realized. Become.

As shown in FIG. 5, the memory controller 8
6 is an input data selector 101, an image synthesizing unit 102,
A primary compression / decompression unit 103, an output data selector 104,
The secondary compression / decompression unit 105 has a block. The setting of control data in each block is performed by the CPU 87. Addresses and data in FIG. 4 indicate image data, and data and addresses connected to the CPU 87 are not shown.

The image memory 90 includes primary and secondary storage devices 106 and 107. The primary storage device 106 is, for example, a DRA so that the data can be written to the memory 90 substantially in synchronization with the transfer speed of the input image data or the data can be read from the memory 90 at the time of image output at a high speed.
A memory that can be accessed at high speed, such as M, is used.

The primary storage device 106 has a configuration (an interface unit with a memory controller) that can be divided into a plurality of areas according to the size of image data to be processed and can simultaneously execute input / output of image data. I have. In order to enable input and output of image data to each divided area in parallel, the interface with the memory controller is connected to two sets of address and data lines for reading and writing. Thus, an operation of outputting (reading) an image from the area 2 while inputting (writing) the image to the area 1 becomes possible.

The secondary storage device 107 is a large-capacity memory for storing data for synthesizing and sorting input images. Primary and secondary storage devices 106, 1
07 is 1 if an element that can be accessed at high speed is used.
Data processing can be performed without discrimination between secondary and secondary, and control is relatively simple. However, since elements such as DRAMs are expensive, access speed to secondary storage devices is not so fast, but they are inexpensive and have a large capacity. It is configured to use a recording medium and to process input / output data via a primary storage device.

By employing the configuration of the image memory 90 as described above, an image forming apparatus capable of inputting / outputting, storing, and processing a large amount of image data can be realized with a low-cost and relatively simple configuration. It becomes possible to do.

Next, an outline of the operation of the memory controller 86 will be described. First, image input (storage in the image memory 90) will be described. The input data selector 101
Primary storage device 1 of image memory from among a plurality of data
The selection of the image data to be written to 06 is performed. The image data selected by the input data selector 101 is supplied to the image synthesizing unit 102, and is already stored in the image memory 90.
Combines with the data stored in. Image synthesis unit 1
02 is compressed by the primary compression / decompression unit 103, and the compressed data is written to the primary storage device 106. The data written in the primary storage device 106 is further compressed by the secondary compression / decompression unit 105 as necessary, and then stored in the secondary storage device 107.

Next, image output (reading from the image memory 90) will be described. At the time of image output, the image data stored in the primary storage device 106 is read.
When the image to be output is stored in the primary storage device 106, the image data in the primary storage device 106 is decompressed by the primary compression / decompression unit 103, and the decompressed data or the decompressed data is decompressed. The data after the image synthesis of the data and the input data is selected by the output data selector 104 and output. The image synthesizing unit 102 synthesizes the data of the primary storage device 106 with the input data (has a function of adjusting the phase of the image data), selects the output destination of the synthesized data (outputs the image to the primary storage device 106). Such as write-back and simultaneous output to both output destinations).

The image to be output is the primary storage device 106
, The output target image data stored in the secondary storage device 107 is decompressed by the secondary compression / decompression unit 105, and the decompressed data is written to the primary storage device 106. After that, the above-described image output operation is performed. Further, in order to share work, it is necessary to transmit and receive commands and image data to and from another digital copying machine. In this embodiment, this is realized using a SCSI interface. Memory controller 8 of FIG.
6 implements it via a SCSI driver 92.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a first hardware configuration example of a digital copying machine, and FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a second hardware configuration example. In the present invention, the system includes the image reading unit 5, the image writing unit 6, the system controller 111, the memory unit 112, the user restriction device 113, the human body detection sensor 114, the remote diagnosis device (CSS) 115, and the clock 116. But
The memory unit 112 is necessary only when realizing a memory function, and is not necessary when only realizing a normal copy function is considered. In addition, the clock 116
It is only needed to implement a weekly timer function that boots or shuts down the machine at a certain time.

Further, the human body detection sensor 114 is necessary only when a function of automatically canceling the residual heat mode when a user approaches the machine in the residual heat mode. The CSS 115 is a function for remote diagnosis, that is, a function for automatically notifying a service center when a machine error occurs and for monitoring the execution state / use state of the machine from a remote place. It only needs to be mounted in this case.

The D of the memory unit 112 in FIGS.
The RAM block stores an image signal read from the image reading unit 5 and can transfer image data stored in the image writing unit 6 in response to a request from the system controller 111. The compression block has a compression function such as the MH, MR, and MMR methods, and can compress a once-read image to improve the use efficiency of a memory (DRAM). The rotation of the image is realized by changing the address read from the image writing unit 6 and its direction.

In the example of the hardware configuration shown in FIG. 7, the image reading unit 5, the image writing unit 6, the memory unit 1
12. The CSS 115 is controlled by the system controller 1
The control is performed only by the eleven CPUs. On the other hand, in the hardware configuration example of FIG. 8, the image reading unit 5, the image writing unit 6, and the memory
A system hardware configuration can be freely configured such that a command signal from the system controller 111 to each controller is transmitted through a control signal line.

Here, the user restriction refers to specifying, restricting, and managing the user when the user does not want to permit unlimited use. As means for this, a coin rack, a key counter, a key card, a prepaid There are user-restricted devices such as cards and passwords.

The weekly timer function is a function for turning on / off the power supply in accordance with the on / off time set for each day of the week. For this function, an operation for adjusting the time of the clock module and an operation for setting the on / off time for each day of the week are required.

The remaining heat mode is a mode in which power is saved by controlling the fixing temperature by lowering it by a certain temperature (for example, 10 ° C.) and turning off the display of the operation section. The setting of this mode is performed by a key input on the operation unit, and is automatically set after a certain period of time after the operation and the operation are lost depending on the machine setting. This mode is canceled when a human body detection sensor detects that a person stands in front of the machine by key input on the operation unit or machine setting.

FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram of a network system of a digital copying machine. In this example, eight digital copying machines A to H are connected by a network interface, but it goes without saying that the number of digital copying machines is not limited to this.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of two connected digital copying machines. For example, each of the digital copying machines A and B has a hardware configuration shown in FIG. 10, and transfers a read image to an external network or stores image data from the network in the memory unit 112. D in
The SCSI 117 and the SCSI controller 11 are used as network means to save the data in the RAM block.
8 is used.

As a matter of course, for example, Ethernet is used as the physical means for the network communication means, and OSI (Open System Inter
various means such as using TCP / IP communication of the reference model. In addition, by using the configuration as shown in the figure, as described above, not only the image data transfer, but also the in-machine status notification of each machine existing on the network and the control command such as a remote output command described later. , And also transfer setting commands.

Next, the image read by the hardware configuration shown in FIG. 7 is replaced with the image writing unit 6 having the hardware configuration shown in FIG.
(Hereinafter, remote output) will be described. FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram of software of two connected digital copying machines. Copy application 121 shown in the figure
Is an application that executes a copy sequence for executing a copying operation, the input / output control 122 is a layer (device driver) that performs logical / physical conversion of data, and the operation unit controller 123 is an MMI (Man Machi).
Layer (LCD) that executes ne Interface
Display, LED on / off, key input scan, etc. at a logical level).
Is a layer for executing, at a logical level, control of peripheral machines attached to the copying machine such as an automatic duplex unit, a sorter, and an ADF.
The image reading device controller 126 is a controller of the image writing unit 6 and the image reading unit 5, respectively.

The memory unit 118 is as described above. The daemon process 127 is an application that reads image data stored in the memory unit 118 and transfers the image data to the image forming apparatus when a print request is requested from another machine on the network. Existing. Of course, before the daemon process 127 can read an image from the memory unit 118 and perform a print operation, image transfers from other machines on the network must be terminated.

Here, the operation unit, peripheral equipment, image forming apparatus,
The image reading device and the memory unit are handled as resources (resources) held by the respective copying machines. The resource is a unit of a functional unit shared by a plurality of applications. The system controller 111 performs system control on a resource basis.

In the case where the digital copying machine A shown in FIG. 3 executes a copying operation using its own resources (when the print start key is pressed), the system controller 111 sends an image forming apparatus, an image reading apparatus, Alternatively, if necessary, each resource of the peripheral device and the memory unit is requested from the system control unit. The system control unit arbitrates the right to use the resource in response to the request from the copy application 121, and sends the arbitration result (usability) to the copy application 121.
Notify. When the digital copying machine A is used in a stand-alone mode (in a state where the network is not connected),
All resources owned by the system are copy applications 121
Is in the occupiable state, the copying operation is immediately executed.

On the other hand, as in the present invention, a resource is transmitted to a system controller 111 of a remote digital copying machine which executes a printing operation using resources of another machine (hereinafter, referred to as a remote digital copying machine) existing on a network. Request the right to use.

The system controller 111 of the remote digital copying machine arbitrates resources according to the request, and notifies the result to the application of the requesting machine. If the right of use is granted, the application executes image reading, and when the image storage in its own memory unit 118 is completed, via the external interface (SCSI 117 in this embodiment), the machine to which the remote output is performed is output. The image is transferred to the memory unit 118 of FIG.

When the image transfer is completed, each condition for executing printing to the daemon process 127 of the remote output destination machine (paper feed port, paper discharge port, number of prints, etc.)
Is transmitted, and then a print start command is transmitted. Upon receiving the print start command, the remote output destination daemon process 127 requests the system controller 111 of itself (the machine that executes remote output) to start printing, and the remote output is sent to the system controller 1.
11 is performed.

When the memory unit 118 of the digital copying machine B is used by the digital copying machine A, the memory unit 118 of the digital copying machine B is stored in the digital copying machine B (or a plurality of digital copying machines as shown in FIG. 9). When the machine is connected to the network, the use of applications of digital copiers other than digital copier A is disabled.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a linked copy system composed of two units. The data flow of input / output information of the external communication device in the linked copy system will be described.
In the digital copier A, the external communication device 131 communicates with the system controller 111 and the external communication interface 1.
The information is input to the external communication device 131 from the communication controller 133 and transmitted to the system controller 111. Further, the system controller 111 sends information via the external communication device 131 and the external communication interface 134.

Similarly, for the digital copying machine B, the system controller 111 and the external communication device 132 are connected via the external communication interface 135 and exchange input / output information. The external communication devices 131 and 132
It is connected to the communication control device 133 through the serial interfaces 136 and 137, and
It is connected to the service center via 38.

The digital copying machines A and B are connected by a connection interface 139. The system controller 111 of the digital copying machine A can obtain the input information of the external communication device 132 of the digital copying machine B via the interface 139 and instruct the external communication device 132 of the digital copying machine B to transmit data. . Similarly, the system controller 111 of the digital copying machine B obtains input information of the external communication device 131 of the digital copying machine A via the connection interface 139 and transmits information to the external communication device 131 of the digital copying machine A. Can be instructed.

A first control example will be described. FIG. 13 is a flowchart at the start of the first control example, and FIG.
FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an example of display of an unusable message when the operator instructs a special function in the control example of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 13, when the CSS 115 (see FIGS. 8 and 10) receives the special function setting ON message from the host computer of the service center (Y in S1), the CSS 115 activates the special function in the nonvolatile memory. A flag is set (S2). As the special functions, black-and-white inversion, a special aggregation function, and the like are assumed.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 14, when a special function is designated by the operator, the CSS 115 replies to the copy application whether the function is valid or invalid (S
11). If it is valid, the copy application performs the processing of the function (S12).

If invalid, the invalidity is returned to the copy application, and the corresponding function invalidation message is displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 7 of the operation display unit 70 on the copy application side.
1 (Y in S13, S14). However, since the setting of the special function valid / invalid is based on the connection of the remote diagnostic system (CSS), this message is not displayed when the remote diagnostic system is not used (N in S13).

As the unusable message, as shown in FIG. 15, for example, "this function is not currently available ..." is displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 71.

Next, a second control example will be described. When receiving a read request for the special function setting content from the host computer of the service center, the external communication devices 131 and 132 convert the content of the special function setting valid / invalid flag held in the non-volatile memory into communication data, and immediately convert the content. Return to host computer. The host computer stores the flag data received from the image forming apparatus in a database,
Use as management data.

When an abnormality occurs in the nonvolatile memory, all the device management information including the charging counter becomes abnormal. At that time, the copier automatically notifies the service center of the occurrence of the failure by the remote diagnosis function. In order to handle the service section, the failed nonvolatile memory is replaced with a nonvolatile memory in which a default value is written. At this time, the special function information is cleared. At this time, the serviceman executes the special function information reset in the serviceman program mode, writes the special function setting contents of the corresponding device from the host computer of the service center, and returns to the same state as before the replacement.

In order to refer to the special function information of the device on the host computer side, it is necessary to use a unique serial number assigned to the device at the time of product shipment. Need to set.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an overall control procedure of the second control example. When the nonvolatile memory is replaced, as described above, the nonvolatile memory is replaced manually by the serviceman (S21), the serial number of the device is input by the serviceman setting (S22), and the special function in the serviceman setting is reset. Is executed (S23). When the image forming apparatus sends a special function reset request report to the host computer, the host computer sends a reset request report confirmation OK and special function reset signal to the image forming apparatus. In response to this, a special function reset result is transmitted from the image forming apparatus.

A third control example will be described. FIG. 17 is a flowchart of the third control example. In order to prevent a problem that the enabled function is disabled for a long time when the special function is enabled by means other than legitimate means or due to some accident, the monthly charging counter At the time of meter reading (S31), the special function setting held in the database inside the host computer is received, and the current setting is overwritten (S32).

[0069]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the special copying function is disabled at the time of product shipment, and the function is enabled only when the function is required. Therefore, custom-made correspondence can be performed more easily than in the conventional ROM exchange performed by a visit of a service person. Further, when the function is unnecessary, by not displaying the function, the support cost for the special function can be reduced. Also enable special functions /
Since the invalidation can be performed by transmitting the on / off flag or a part of the control program, the communication cost can be reduced as compared with the case of completely replacing the control program.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the setting contents of the special function held in the host computer of the service center at the time of replacement of the non-volatile memory holding the internal information when the non-volatile memory is destroyed due to an electrical failure. By resetting, it is possible to easily return to the setting contents before replacement.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the setting contents of the special function are overwritten with the setting contents held in the host computer at regular intervals, so that the setting of the corresponding function is performed in the case of setting by an illegal means. Since the setting can be made unusable, it is possible to prevent setting by unauthorized means.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a digital copying machine.

FIG. 2 is a layout diagram of an operation unit.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a liquid crystal touch panel of an operation unit.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an image processing apparatus.

FIG. 5 is an internal block diagram of a memory controller and an image memory.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an image signal for one page in a selector.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a first hardware configuration example of the digital copying machine.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a second hardware configuration example of the digital copying machine.

FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram of a network system of the digital copying machine.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of two connected digital copying machines.

FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram of software of two connected digital copying machines.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a linked copy system composed of two units.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart at the start in the first control example.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart when a special function is instructed by an operator in the first control example.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a display of an unusable message.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an overall control procedure of a second control example.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart of a third control example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 5 Image reading unit 6 Image writing unit 111 System controller 112 Memory unit 117 Network 131, 132 External communication device 133 Communication control device 138 Public line 139 Connection interface

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI H04N 1/00 H04N 1/00 107Z 107 G03G 21/00 390

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus comprising: reading means for reading a document; printing means for printing a read image; and external communication means for communicating various information of the apparatus to the outside via a public line or the like. The image forming apparatus has a function of receiving a part of a control program of the apparatus or control information, and enabling / disabling a specific image forming function. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the external communication unit has a function of notifying a current valid / invalid state of the image forming apparatus to a host computer. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the setting is collated with the host computer at regular intervals, and if the setting is incorrect, the corresponding function is disabled or the host computer is enabled. An image forming apparatus that performs control to enable a set function.