JPH0678083A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To eliminate wasted space and save space, and to provide a device of an appropriate size or a device with an appropriate layout corresponding to the function desired by the user. And, it is intended that the function can be easily expanded according to the user's request. [Structure] A plurality of step-by-step units obtained by dividing each means related to the image forming step for each step into a unit, an image forming apparatus main body having a unit housing portion for housing the plurality of step-by-step units, and a step-by-step unit Unit control means incorporated in the image forming apparatus for controlling individual process units, main control means incorporated in the image forming apparatus main body for controlling the unit control means, and connection means connecting the main control means and the unit control means The main control means gives a basic command relating to the image forming operation to the unit control means without directly controlling the process-specific unit, and the unit control means controls each process-specific unit based on the basic command.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a copying machine, a printer,
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a facsimile machine, and more particularly, to a cabinet type image forming apparatus that saves space.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, image forming apparatuses such as copiers and printers, which have been widely spread, have respective units for forming respective steps such as paper feeding, image formation, double-sided, and sheet discharge, which are provided in a predetermined unit of the image forming apparatus main body. It is arranged at a position and fixed. Also,
There is no layout compatibility among the units, and therefore there is no freedom in the layout of each unit. For example, the image forming unit is fixedly attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus and cannot be moved to another position.

Similarly, the sheet feeding unit for feeding the sheet to the image forming unit is also preset with the layout and the number of mountable stages with respect to the main body of the image forming apparatus. Therefore, when the required number of paper feeding units is less than the settable number of paper feeding units, there is an empty space in the unmounted portion.

Further, in the conventional image forming apparatus, when a mode such as double-sided copying or two-color combining is used, a double-sided reversing tray or a sub-developing unit for two-color combining mode is provided at a predetermined position of the image forming apparatus main body. It is configured to be used by mounting. Therefore, it is necessary to previously provide a space for mounting inside the device. If the mounting space is not secured inside the apparatus in advance, image formation cannot be performed using the above mode.

Further, the options such as a sorter do not have a space for mounting them inside the image forming apparatus main body, and when the options are added, they are generally attached externally to the image forming apparatus main body. In other words, when installing the option, a new space for that is required.

As one form of the image forming apparatus,
An office desk with a copy machine built into the drawer has been developed. Specifically, for example, JP-A-60-4937
As shown in Japanese Patent Publication, the process of the image forming device is built in the drawer part of the office desk, the optical system unit is arranged in the upper stage, the image forming unit is arranged in the middle stage, and the paper feeding unit is arranged in the lower stage. As described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 55-6986, a copying machine has a built-in copying machine, and only an image forming section and a document exposing section or a document exposing section are provided. Desk with built-in copier that can be pulled out to the front and can perform operations such as paper replenishment, insertion of manually fed sheets, removal of ejected paper, and feeding of sheet originals using ADF from the front of the machine There is.

[0007]

However, the conventional image forming apparatus has the following problems (1) to (5).

(1) Since each unit forming each process is arranged and fixed at a predetermined position of the image forming apparatus main body, and there is no layout compatibility between the units, there is a certain problem. There is a problem that the unit cannot be moved to another position and used, and even if there is an empty space inside the image forming apparatus, it cannot be effectively used. For example, even if there are unused paper feed units among the paper feed units with multiple stages,
Since other units cannot be attached and used in that space, a wasteful space is generated in the limited space inside the image forming apparatus.

(2) In order to be able to support modes such as double-sided copying and two-color composition, it is necessary to secure a space for an additional device inside the image forming apparatus in advance. There was a problem that it wasted space when not used, and it hindered space saving of the device.

(3) Since the option such as a sorter is externally attached to the image forming apparatus main body, it is not necessary to secure a space inside the apparatus in advance, but the additional area of the image forming apparatus increases the area occupied by the addition of the option. For,
There is a problem that it hinders space saving.

(4) Although it is possible to provide a device having a function desired by the user by adding options, etc., due to the problems (1) to (3) above,
There is a possibility that useless space will be generated in the image forming apparatus as a whole, and an apparatus of an appropriate size that necessarily corresponds to the function,
Alternatively, there is a problem that it is not possible to provide a device having an appropriate layout.

(5) According to the devices disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 60-4937 and Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 55-6986, a copier is built in the drawer portion of the desk to improve the efficiency of office work centered on desk work. Although it can be improved, each unit is located at a fixed position with respect to the main unit and cannot be moved to another position for use.
For example, there is a problem in that there is no space for mounting a device compatible with the double-sided mode, the two-color composition mode, etc., and the expandability is lacking.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and it is a first object of the present invention to eliminate wasteful space and save space.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and it is a second object of the present invention to provide an apparatus having an appropriate size or an apparatus having an appropriate layout corresponding to a function desired by a user. To do.

Further, the present invention has been made in view of the above, and a third object thereof is that the function can be easily expanded in response to a user's request.

[0016]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a plurality of process units in which each unit related to an image forming process is divided into respective units, and a plurality of process units. An image forming apparatus main body having a unit storing section for storing a unit, a unit control means incorporated in a process-specific unit for controlling individual process-specific units, and an image forming apparatus main body incorporated in the image forming apparatus main body to control the unit control means The main control means and the connection means for connecting the main control means and the unit control means are provided, and the main control means gives a basic command relating to the image forming operation to the unit control means without directly controlling the process-specific unit, The control means provides an image forming apparatus that controls each process unit based on a basic command.

[0017]

The image forming apparatus of the present invention divides each unit related to the image forming process into units and divides each unit into a plurality of units for each process, and selects the number of units required to execute the desired image forming mode. The unit for each process is selected and connected and stored in the unit storage section of the image forming apparatus main body to form the image forming apparatus.

Further, the control of each process unit is independently controlled by the unit control means incorporated therein, and the main control means controls the status, timing, etc. as a basic command for controlling the entire apparatus. Send to unit control means.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A case where the image forming apparatus of the present invention is applied to a copying machine is taken as an example, and will be described in detail in the order of [a schematic structure of an apparatus main body] and [a structure of a control system] with reference to the drawings.

[Schematic Configuration of Apparatus Main Body] FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a cabinet copying machine 10 of the present embodiment. The cabinet copying machine 10 according to the present embodiment has a configuration in which a plurality of units obtained by dividing each unit related to an image forming process into a unit and storing the plurality of units in a unit storage portion of the copying machine main body.
As the units, as shown in the figure, a scanner unit 101 for reading original images, a sorter / paper discharge unit 102 for sorting and discharging recording sheets, an image forming unit 103 for forming images on the recording sheets, and a recording unit. A reversing unit 104 for reversing the paper and paper feeding units 105, 106 for feeding the recording paper are provided. In addition, the main control box 1 is provided on the back side of the cabinet copying machine 10.
07 are provided.

The height of each unit is the same as that of the reversing unit 104.
Is 50 mm, the image forming unit 103 and the paper feeding unit 10
5, 106 is 100 mm, and the scanner unit 101 and the sorter / paper discharge unit 102 are 150 mm. Further, the cabinet of the cabinet copying machine 10 that houses these units has a dimension from the top surface of the apparatus to the bottom plate that is a common multiple of the height of each unit, 650 mm.
Is configured to be. Although not shown,
Instead of the sorter / paper discharge unit 102, only the paper discharge unit may be configured with a height of 50 mm.

Further, the cabinet copying machine 10 can be set to a height of about 700 mm with casters attached, which is equal to the height of a general office desk, and can be laid out on the desk side. I am trying.

The width of each unit is less than a certain size, and the unit is inserted from the front of the cabinet copying machine 10 and set. The other units except the scanner unit 101 have a depth less than a certain size, and the cabinet copying machine 1
A sufficient space for accommodating the main control box 107 is secured in the rear part of 0.

FIG. 2 shows the structure of the main body structure 20 of the cabinet copying machine 10. The main body structure 20 is the left side plate 20.
1, a rear side plate 202, a right side plate 203, a middle side plate 204 is composed of a box-shaped frame structure having four side plates. The left and right side plates 201, 203 have 12 to 13 unit guides 201a at 50 mm intervals, 203a is provided. Here, the inner side plate 204 and the unit guides 201a, 203
The space formed by a serves as a unit storage portion.

In addition, the middle side plate 204 is provided with a connector mounting hole 204a for electrically connecting the main control box 107 to each unit and a common connector for supplying power to each unit. Are provided at predetermined intervals. In addition, the notch portion on the upper side of the inner side plate 204 is the scanner unit 1 arranged here.
This is because the depth dimension of 01 is larger than other units.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the structure of the unit housing 30 which is the outer frame of each unit and the method of attaching the unit housing 30 to the main body structure 20 will be described. The height of the unit housing 30 differs depending on the unit as described above, but the unit housing 30 will be described here in common.

As shown in FIG. 3, the unit housing 30 is
A rectangular unit tray 302 containing the components necessary for the operation of the unit inside, and the unit guide 2 described above.
Outer housing 3 fixedly attached to 01a and 203a and holding the unit tray 302 so that it can be pulled out
It consists of 01 and.

In the outer casing 301, as shown in FIG.
A conveyance path hole 301a is provided to secure a paper conveyance path. The attachment to the main body structure 20 is performed by inserting the unit guides 201a and 203a at desired positions, and mechanically fixing the screws through the screw holes 301b and 205. In addition, the unit tray 302 is the outer housing 3
By fitting the rail fitting member 302b into the rail member 301c of No. 01, the rail fitting member 302c can be pulled out.
Reference numeral 302a denotes a tray handle portion when the unit tray 302 is pulled out. A transport path hole (not shown) is also provided on the unit tray 302 side.

The common connector may be installed in all of the connector installation holes 204a described above, or may be installed in the necessary connector installation holes 204a. On the other hand, a unit side common connector is arranged at the rear part of the unit tray 302 facing the common connector, and is connected to the common connector by a sliding operation for accommodating the unit tray 302 in the main body structure 20.

In the present embodiment, each unit has a built-in independent drive source. The drive source is also controlled for each unit. Therefore, it is desirable to slightly increase the linear velocity of the downstream unit in order to stabilize the sheet conveyance. However, the paper feeding units 105, 1
Regarding No. 06, since a plurality of paper feeding units do not feed paper at the same time, one paper feeding unit 105 has a built-in drive source and the other paper feeding unit 106 does not have a built-in drive source. Drive is supplied from the paper feeding unit 105 to the paper feeding unit 106. In this case, the switching of the sheet feeding stage may be performed by turning on / off the drive source by the electromagnetic clutch, or by releasing the pressure between the sheet and the pickup roller. [Configuration of Control System] Cabinet copier 10 of this embodiment
Is a combination of the main control unit 107a (master unit) arranged in the main control box 107 and each unit such as the scanner unit 101 and the scanner unit 101 (hereinafter referred to as a slave unit with respect to the master unit). , Various functions (copy, FA
X, Printer, etc. ) Can be realized.

The control system of the cabinet copying machine 10 will be described below in the order of the overall control system block diagram, the configuration and control operation of the main control unit, the ID response and the mounting position detecting method.

Overall Control System Block Diagram FIG. 4 shows an overall control block diagram. As described above, the slave unit can be attached to any stage of the unit accommodating portion of the main body structure 20, so it is preferable to minimize the signal lines passing through the connector. Therefore, the main control unit 107a is installed in the main control box 107 on the main body side.
And each slave unit will have a sub-control unit that controls each unit.

As the sub-control unit, as shown in the figure, the ADF
There are a control unit 108a, a scan control unit 108b, a sorter control unit 108c, a reversing unit control unit 108d, an image forming control unit 108e, and a paper feed control unit 108f.

By fitting the connector part mounted on the main control box 107 and the connector part mounted on the slave unit, a communication signal for communicating between the main control part 107a and each sub-control part and a paper A common signal bus 109 used for a carrier synchronization signal and the like, and a video signal necessary for operating in real time between slave units,
The dedicated signal bus 110 used for the video synchronization signal and the wiring for supplying power from the main power supply unit 107c to the slave unit are simultaneously formed. Although detailed description is omitted, the control signals of the main control unit 107a and each sub control unit are serially communicated by optical fibers to facilitate electrical connection.

In the main control box 107,
An operation panel control unit 107b is arranged, and it is possible to add an optional controller such as a printer controller control unit 107d and a FAX controller control unit 107e.

The main controller 107a executes sequence control, communication control, various mode controls in the copy mode, and serviceman mode control.

The sequence control is a control for giving a command to each sub-control unit so that the sequence becomes a sequence corresponding to each image forming mode. At this time, the sub control unit that has received the command operates based on the video synchronization signal and the paper conveyance synchronization signal at a predetermined timing. The communication control is control for exchanging commands and statuses with the sub control unit. In addition, in each operation mode,
Arbitration between each control unit. The various mode controls in the copy mode are performed so as to operate according to each copy mode. At this time, necessary commands are transmitted to each sub-control unit so that the slave unit can perform the necessary operations. In serviceman mode control, control is performed so that the operation is necessary for inspection, repair, etc. In addition, FIG.
6 and 7 show a list of functions of the main controller 107a.

Configuration and Control Operation of Main Control Unit FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the main control unit 107a. The main control unit 107a includes a CPU that performs overall control, a ROM that stores various programs, a RAM (program memory), an NVRAM (memory switch) that stores mode settings, a RAM (image memory) that stores image information,
Timer, interrupt controller, communication controller,
It is equipped with a video signal controller and a paper transport controller.

The control operation of the main control section 107a in the above-mentioned configuration will be described with reference to the main control schematic flowchart of FIG. When the power of the cabinet copying machine 10 is turned on, the CPU mounted in the main control unit 107a initializes the CPU internal register and the IO control register (S101, S102).

Next, a memory read / write test is performed as a memory check (S103). At this time, if there is an error, the process proceeds to S108, and a self-diagnosis error occurrence control routine is executed as control of occurrence of an abnormality.

Next, an IO (timer or the like) operation test is performed (S104). At this time, if there is an error, the process proceeds to S108.

Next, the mode set by the switch (memory switch, mechanical switch, etc.) is checked,
The memory and IO register are set so as to correspond to the mode (S105, S106).

Next, in order to check the mounting state of the slave unit required for the above mode, an ID request is sent to each sub-control unit, and the presence or absence of the necessary unit and mounting are determined by the ID response from the sub-control unit. The position is checked (S107). At this time, if there is an error, the process proceeds to S108. Here, similarly, the mounting state of the controller necessary for the above mode is checked.

When the processing up to this point is completed normally, the main control section 107a determines the copy mode control routine (S109), the FAX mode control routine (S110), the printer mode control routine (S111), and the service man according to the set mode. Mode control routine (S1
Proceed to 12) and execute the operation according to the mode.

Next, with reference to the flow chart of the copy mode control routine of FIG. 10, a concrete operation example will be shown. Here, a case where one sheet of one-sided original is copied onto one side of a sheet will be described as an example. Necessary units are a scanner unit 101, a sorter / paper discharge unit 102, an image forming unit 103, and a paper feed unit 105 (one stage).

When the copy mode is set in the copy mode (S201), the main control section 107a sends a status request command (command for receiving the current state of the slave unit) to each sub control section. It is transmitted (S202). Next, the status from the sub-control unit is received (S203) and mode comparison is performed (S20).
4) If the state of the slave unit does not match the operation mode, a status request command indicating a change request is transmitted to the changeable sub control unit (S20).
5, S206).

If the mode cannot be changed, an error display request command is transmitted to the operation panel control unit 107b and the error is released (S205, S207, S20).
8).

The above-mentioned processing of S202 to S208 is executed for each sub-control unit. The details are shown below. First, the paper feed control unit 108f is requested to obtain information such as the current paper size and the number of paper feed stages. However, the paper feed controller 1 has already been
If you don't need to change the information you got from 08f,
Not limited to this. If there is a paper feed tray (paper feed unit) whose information obtained from the paper feed control unit 108f matches the paper size requested by the operation panel control unit 107b, the paper feed tray is selected. At this time, if there is no requested paper size (including no paper), an error display request command including error contents is transmitted to the operation panel control unit 107b, and the error cancellation is waited.

Next, the image forming control section 108e is similarly requested to obtain information indicating the current remaining amount of toner and the state of the photosensitive member. If the information obtained from the image forming control unit 108e has no problem in the requested copy mode (single-sided original, single-sided copy), the process proceeds to the next sub-control unit. At this time, if there is a problem, an error display request command including the error content is transmitted to the operation panel control unit 107b, and the error cancellation is waited.

Similarly, the scanner controller 108b,
It communicates with the sorter control unit 108c and sets each sub-control unit to a predetermined operation mode.

S202 to S2 for all sub-control units
When the process of 08 is completed, the process is completed (S20).
9). After that, the main control unit 107a waits for an externally received data as an interrupt.

When the main control unit 107a receives the mode change data from the operation panel control unit 107b in the standby state, it again sends the operation mode command to each sub control unit.

On the other hand, in the standby state, when a copy star key input is received from the operation panel control unit 107b, after confirming that each sub control unit is in the ready state, FIG.
Execute the start key reception interrupt routine shown in 1,
An operation start command is transmitted to each sub control unit (S30
1).

On the other hand, each sub-control unit that receives the operation start command carries the paper in synchronization with the paper sync signal, and at the same time reads and writes the image in sync with the video sync signal. First, the sheet feeding control unit 107f drives the sheet feeding mode in synchronization with the sheet feeding timing, conveys the recording sheet to the registration roller of the image forming unit 103, and temporarily stops.

The scanner controller 108b starts reading the original document in synchronization with the video synchronization signal. Upon receiving the image reading data from the scanner control unit 108b, the image formation control unit 108e writes an image on the photoconductor in synchronization with the video synchronization signal. The paper feed timing synchronization signal gives the paper feed control unit 108f a signal for restarting paper transport in synchronization with this writing.

The image forming control unit 108e takes over the recording paper received from the paper feed control unit 108f in parallel with the image writing by driving the motors for the registration roller and the transfer roller.

The image written on the photoconductor is transferred onto the recording paper by the transfer roller section. Finally, the sorter control unit 10
8c drives the motor for conveyance in synchronization with the paper conveyance synchronization signal and conveys it to a predetermined bin in the sorter.

Each sub-control unit transmits an end status when the paper conveyance is completed within a predetermined time, and an error status when the paper conveyance is not completed.

The main control unit 107a uses S302 to S3.
In 05, the status from each sub-control unit is received, and it is determined whether or not the end is normal. Here, in the case of the error status, an error display request command is transmitted to the operation panel control unit 107b. Regarding the mode change request and the like during this period, only the processing in the main control unit 107a is performed, and the request to the sub control unit is stored in the buffer. When all the operation end statuses from each sub control unit are received, the operation panel control unit 107b displays an operation end display.
Send to. After that, the operation continues according to the next operation mode.

ID Response and Mounting Position Detection Method Next, the ID response, which is a feature of the control of this embodiment, will be described in detail. 12 shows the ID No. & ID information list, and FIG. 13 shows a command / status list between the main controller and the paper feed controller. In this embodiment, the ID response is used as one of means for checking the presence / absence of a necessary unit and the mounting position, and the presence / absence of a necessary option controller and the self-diagnosis result.

The ID used here handles the unique address of the slave unit and the mounting position of the unit as information. It is assumed that the data width that can be transmitted / received at one time is 8 bits (1 word). The data has the following structure.

1. Command 1word data only: ID No. (Upper 4 bits) +
Command (lower 4 bits) 2. Status 1word only: ID No. (Upper 4 bits) + Status (Lower 4 bits) 1word + When ID information continues: IDNo. (Higher 4 bits) + Status (Lower 4 bits: 0000) ↓ Continuation mark (Higher 1 bit) + ID information (Lower 7 bits) ↓ When the continuation mark is 1, the next data follows 1word + When other information continues: ID No. (Upper 4 bits) + Status (Lower 4 bits: 1110) ↓ When the continuation mark is 1, the next data continues. Further, the main control unit 107a sends the next data to issue an ID request. ID No. (Upper 4 bits: 0000) + Command (Lower 4 bits: 0000) When the next data is received as an ID response corresponding to this, ID No. (Higher 4 bits: 1000) + Status (Lower 4 bits: 0000) ↓ Continuation mark (Higher 1 bit: 0) + ID information (Lower 7 bits: 0000001) These data have the following meanings. ID No.
It can be seen that it was the sorter control unit that transmitted from (1000). From the status (0000), this information is the ID response, and the ID information follows the next data. At this time, other sub-control units using the common communication line should not send the next data except for exception processing. In case of the continuation mark (0), the data from the sorter control unit is this 1w.
It ends with ord. From the ID information (0000001), the mounting position of the sorter / paper discharge unit 102 is the second stage from the top.

It should be noted that the paper feed control units (units 1 to 3) can be installed from the paper feed unit selected by the main control unit 107a even when the number of paper feed units is one, even if the number of paper feed control units is one. Different address so that it can be identified by the status of.

Next, a method for detecting the mounting position of the slave unit will be described. Here, the number of slave unit mounting connectors is 16 (CN1 to CN16), and the number of option controller connecting expansion slots is 8 (CN21 to CN28).

As shown in the slave unit mounting connector address list of FIG. 14, each connector (CN1
To CN16), a unique 4-bit address is supplied as a signal to each slot (CN21 to CN28).
Is supplied with a unique 3-bit address as a signal. Each sub-control unit and option controller control unit reads this signal and detects its own mounting position.
Figure 15 (a) shows the master unit side connector circuit diagram,
FIG. 15B shows a connector circuit diagram of the slave unit and the option controller side.

With the above-mentioned configuration, even if each slave unit is installed in any position of the cabinet copying machine 10, a consistent control can be achieved by exchanging control signals between the main control unit 107a and the sub control unit. Can be performed easily.

[0067]

As described above, the image forming apparatus of the present invention accommodates a plurality of step-by-step units in which each means related to the image forming step is divided into steps and is unitized. An image forming apparatus main body having a unit accommodating portion, a unit control means incorporated in a process-specific unit for controlling individual process-specific units, and a main control means incorporated in the image forming apparatus main body for controlling the unit control means And a connecting means for connecting the main control means and the unit control means. The main control means gives a basic command relating to the image forming operation to the unit control means without directly controlling the process-specific unit, and the unit control means Since each process unit is controlled based on the basic command, it is possible to eliminate unnecessary space and save space. Can. Further, it is possible to provide a device having an appropriate size or a device having an appropriate layout corresponding to the function desired by the user. In addition, it is possible to easily expand the function according to the user's request.

Further, since the control signals between the unit control means and the main control means can be simplified, it is possible to perform consistent control corresponding to various layouts.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a cabinet copying machine of this embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a main body structure of a cabinet copying machine.

FIG. 3 is a configuration of a unit casing that is an outer frame of each unit,
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a method of attaching the unit housing to the main body structure.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an overall control block diagram.

FIG. 5 is a function list of a main control unit.

FIG. 6 is a function list of a main control unit.

FIG. 7 is a function list of a main control unit.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a main control unit.

FIG. 9 is a schematic flowchart of main control.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a copy mode control routine.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a start key reception interrupt routine.

FIG. 12 shows an ID No. 3 is a & ID information list.

FIG. 13 is a command / status list between the main control unit and the paper feed control unit.

FIG. 14 is a slave unit mounting connector address list.

15A is a master unit side connector circuit diagram, and FIG. 15B is a slave unit and option controller side connector circuit diagram.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Cabinet copier 20
Main body structure 101 Scanner unit 102 Sorter / paper discharge unit 103 Image forming unit 104 Reversing unit 105 106 Paper feeding unit 107 Main control box 107a Main control unit

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Genichi Yasui 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Hiromi Ogiyama 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo In Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Masaru Shiina 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo In Ricoh Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus main body having a plurality of step-by-step units obtained by dividing each means related to the image forming step for each step into a unit, and a unit accommodating portion for accommodating the plurality of step-by-step units, Unit control means incorporated in the process-specific unit for controlling each process-specific unit, main control means incorporated in the image forming apparatus main body for controlling the unit control means, the main control means and the unit The main control means provides a basic command relating to an image forming operation to the unit control means without directly controlling the unit for each process, and the unit control means supplies the basic command to the basic command. An image forming apparatus, characterized in that each unit is controlled based on each process.