JPH0877321A - Document counter - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide the document counter which is electronic for exactly counting the number of documents up to a large numerical value at a certain degree with high reliability. CONSTITUTION: A CPU 43 in a main substrate 41 counts the number of completely copied documents while using the detected output of a sensor inputted from an input port 49, stores the result in a first NVM 46 backing up a RAM with a backup circuit 54 and successively similarly stores the count result in a second NVM 55 in a sub-substrate 42 connected through a connector 53. The second NVM 55 is composed of a RAM backed up by another backup circuit 56. When any error is generated in one of NVM 46 and 55, the count value on the other side can be copied. Besides, since the RAM is used, the number of times of write is not limited but the result can be stored up to the large count value.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet number counting device for counting the number of sheets copied or recorded, such as a copying machine or a printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in a copying machine, it is necessary to perform maintenance according to the number of copies and to collect a usage fee according to the number of copies. Therefore, a number counting device for counting the number of copies is provided. Further, some apparatuses are equipped with a sheet number counting apparatus for managing the number of sheets used for each color to be copied or recorded (hereinafter, simply referred to as copy), or for controlling the number of sheets used by distinguishing double-sided copying from single-sided copying.

Conventionally, such a sheet number counting device has been constituted by a mechanical counter and a drive circuit which gives a pulse signal to the sheet in response to copying of a sheet to perform a counting operation. However, as the functions of image processing apparatuses such as copiers, printers, and facsimile machines have become more complicated and more compact, it has become difficult to secure a space for arranging such a mechanical number counting device. Further, in the case of a mechanical type number counting device, although the count value is visually displayed, it is generally extremely difficult for the image processing device side to read the currently displayed numerical value, and accordingly, depending on the numerical value. It has been difficult for the device side to change the control and to make the device configuration such that the numerical value is reported to the administrator side such as a copy center.

Therefore, electronic counters have been introduced which store such a count value electronically in a memory. The count value needs to be held even when the image processing apparatus is powered off. Therefore, the count value is a RAM (random
It is designed to be stored in a non-volatile memory such as an access memory) or an E ² PROM (non-volatile write only memory). In such an electronic counter, every time copying is performed, the content is read and incremented by 1, and a new count value is stored again in the same area.

Unlike a RAM backed up by a battery, the E ² PROM has an excellent feature that it can hold the stored count value even when the power supply is cut off. However, the guarantee of the number of times of rewriting of the E ² PROM is said to be 10,000 to 100,000 times. Therefore, for example, even if the total number of copies is counted and used in a copying machine, the count value is no longer guaranteed when 10,000 or 100,000 copies are taken, and the subsequent count value becomes unreliable. is there. Many copiers make more copies during their working life, so using the E ² PROM will make a copy 1.
Counting for each sheet becomes practically impossible.

Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-50787 discloses E ² P.
The storage area of the ROM is divided into a plurality of areas, and the areas for storing the count values are made different, so that the number of times of rewriting is significantly increased.

Further, in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 4-6032, in order to prevent a large abnormality in the count value in the memory due to noise or program runaway, the count value is written in an EPROM (write-only read only memory). There has been proposed a sheet number counting device for writing the data in bit units.

[0008]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, E ² P
When using a ROM, the number of times of rewriting is specified for each element. Therefore, Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-5078
Even if the storage area of the E ² PROM is divided into a plurality of areas using the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7, unless the method of making the storage areas different for each element is adopted, rewriting is simply performed by making the areas different. The number of times cannot be increased.

Therefore, when the count value is stored in the E ² PROM, for example, 100 sheets or 500 sheets are stored.
The circuit configuration is such that each time a copy is made, the count is incremented by one so that counting up to 1 million or 5 million sheets is possible. However, in this case, the unit for managing the number of copies becomes a rough amount of 100 or 500, which causes the user of the image processing apparatus to feel distrust of the number of copies and the charge collection. Therefore, in order to guarantee a highly accurate counting operation in which the count value is incremented by one each time a copy is made, it is unavoidable to use a mechanical counter together with an electronic counter using an E ² PROM. .

Further, when using the EPROM, it is necessary to separately prepare a ROM writer for writing, which causes a problem of increasing the overall cost of the device. Furthermore, the technique disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 4-6032 requires a sequence circuit for writing data, which complicates the circuit configuration. Further, it is necessary to check how far the count value has progressed in a predetermined procedure, which causes a problem that a CPU (central processing unit) is burdened.

Further, the electronic number counting device has a problem that the count value can be rewritten other than the count-up operation and the reliability of the displayed count value is low.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic type and number counting device capable of accurately counting up to a relatively large numerical value.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electronic type number counting device which is less susceptible to noise.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a sheet counting device capable of displaying an error in the count value when the error occurs.

[0015]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, (a) a detecting means for detecting one sheet of image-processed paper at the end of each processing, and (b) detection of this detecting means. It corresponds to the counting processing means having a plurality of counting processing units for independently inputting the results and calculating the total number of sheets for which image processing has been completed at different times, and (c) the plurality of counting processing units described above. The number counting device is provided with a storage unit that is arranged as a random access memory and is backed up by a battery that stores the counting result of the corresponding counting processing unit.

That is, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the detection means detects the papers for which image processing has been completed one by one, counts them separately at different times, and stores the respective counting results in the corresponding storage means. I'm going to store it. Since the storage means is composed of a random access memory backed up by a battery, it is possible to store the count value up to one million sheets or more without any problem, and further, it is possible to obtain the count values by different calculations. Since the counting results are stored separately, the reliability can be improved. The storage unit may be configured by one storage element or different storage elements for each count value. In the former case, the area may be set in units of a plurality of bytes, for example.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, (a) a detecting means for detecting one sheet of the image-processed sheet at the end of each processing, and (b) an image processing by inputting the detection result of the detecting means. Of the first and second counting processing units for independently performing the calculation of the total number of finished sheets and the first storage unit for storing the counting result processed by the first counting processing unit. A substrate, and (c) a second substrate which is connected to the first substrate by a connector and has a second storage means for storing the counting result processed by the second counting processing section, and (d) The number counting device is provided with a count value copy means for transferring the count value from one of the first storage means and the second storage means to the other under predetermined conditions.

That is, according to the second aspect of the present invention, the detecting means detects the sheets for which the image processing has been completed one by one, and two types of count values independently calculated based on the detected sheets are used as the first substrate and the second substrate. The data is stored in the storage means of the board. Since these boards are connected by a connector, if an error occurs in the count value stored in the storage means of one board, remove the connector and replace the failed side with a new board to ensure normal storage. The count value can be restored by copying the count value stored in the means to the other.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, (a) a detecting means for detecting one sheet of the image-processed paper at the end of each processing, and (b) inputting the detection result of this detecting means. Counting means having a plurality of count processing parts for independently calculating the total number of sheets for which image processing has been completed, and (c) corresponding count processing means, which are arranged corresponding to the plurality of count processing parts. The number counting device is equipped with a storage means for storing the counting result of the set and (d) an error display means for collating the counting results stored in the storage means and displaying an error when they do not match.

That is, according to the third aspect of the present invention, the detection means detects the sheets for which image processing has been completed one by one, and the respective count values calculated independently based on this are stored in the corresponding storage means. Check whether or not the count values of are matched. If they do not match, it means that an error has occurred in the count value, so this is displayed by the error display means.

[0021]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to embodiments.

FIG. 1 shows an outline of the construction of a copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. This copying machine is a device capable of copying with a total of two colors of black and one chromatic color (color), and a black developing device 12 around the photoconductor drum 11 for forming an electrostatic latent image. And a developing device 13 for one color. In this embodiment, red is used as one color. In addition, around the photosensitive drum 11, a charge corotron 14 for initially uniformly charging the drum surface, and black formed by two developing devices 12 and 13 having different developing potentials, A transfer corotron 16 that transfers the toner images of the two red colors onto the paper 15 and a cleaning device 17 that cleans the drum surface after the transfer are arranged.
The exposure lamp 2 arranged just below the platen glass 19
The light emitted from the first plate 1 is the original 2 on the platen glass 19.
2 and the reflected light is reflected by the mirror 23 and the optical lens 24.
Further, an optical image is formed on the exposure position 26 of the photoconductor drum 11 through the other mirror 25 in order.
The photoconductor drum 11 rotates at a constant speed in the direction of arrow 27, and the exposure lamp 21 and the optical lens 24
The optical image of the document 22 is formed on the drum surface by moving the optical scanning parts such as the left and right in the figure.

The sheets 15 are stacked on the cassette tray 28, and are fed one by one into the inside of the copying machine by the rotation of the feed roller 29. The sheet 15 that has been sent out is temporarily stopped from being conveyed by the registration rollers 31.
The image is sent again at a predetermined timing so that it coincides with the leading edge of the image when the leading edge passes immediately above the position 6. The toner image is transferred to the fed-out paper 15 when passing directly above the transfer corotron 16, and the toner image is fixed when passing through a fixing device 33 including a heat roll and a pressure roll. Then, it is discharged onto the discharge tray 35 outside the machine by the discharge roll 34.

A discharge detection sensor 36 including an optical sensor for detecting the discharge of the paper 15 sheet by sheet is disposed near the discharge roll 34. The detection output of the discharge detection sensor 36 is input to the control device 37. The control device 37 controls each part of the copying machine and also has a function as a number counting device for managing the number of discharged sheets 15 using the output of the discharge detection sensor 36. Information about the number of mark copies output from the controller 37 is
It is displayed on a liquid crystal display (not shown) on the operation panel 38 arranged at the top of the copying machine.

A stamp 39 is arranged above the conveying path between the fixing device 33 and the discharge roll 34. The stamp 39 is provided with a print surface and an ink supply mechanism that supplies ink to the print surface. When a solenoid (not shown) is excited, the print surface comes into pressure contact with the paper 15 being conveyed, and a predetermined mark is impressed. It is supposed to be done.

FIG. 2 shows a main part of a circuit configuration of a control device which constitutes the number counting device of this embodiment. The control device 37 includes a main board 41 and a sub-board 42. A CPU 43 having a central function for controlling each part of the copying machine is mounted on the main board 41. The CPU 43 has an internal bus 44 such as a data bus. The internal bus 44 has a ROM 4
5, RAM 46, E ² PROM 47, panel control circuit 4
8, an input port 49, and an output port 50 are connected. The internal bus 44 is the extension bus 52 of the sub-board 42.
And a connector 53.

The ROM 45 stores programs for performing various controls of this copying machine and the number counting device arranged inside the copying machine. The RAM 46 is divided into a part that functions as a working memory necessary for these controls and a part that stores a count value and other predetermined fixed data. The latter part is backed up by the backup circuit 54 in order to save the stored contents even when the power is off. This backed up storage area is designated as the first non-volatile storage area (NV
M). The E ² PROM 47 is a non-volatile memory for storing the number-of-sheets count value, and constitutes a third non-volatile storage area.

The panel control circuit 48 is adapted to visually display necessary data on the operation panel 38 and to take in these input data when various switches on the panel are pressed. The input port 49 is a port that receives input data from various sensors, switches, etc., which are not shown. The detection output from the discharge detection sensor 36 is also input to this input port 49. Although different from the present embodiment, when the image is digitally read, the read image signal is also input to the input port 49. The output port 50 is for outputting a control signal to a motor, a clutch, a solenoid, etc. (not shown). The stamp 39 is impressed by exciting a predetermined solenoid.

The sub-board 42 has an extension bus 52 and a RAM.
55 is connected. This RAM 55 is composed of a static RAM, and other backup circuit 56.
Backed up by. This backed up storage area will be referred to as a second non-volatile storage area.

That is, in this embodiment, the first NVM4
6, three non-volatile storage areas of the second NVM 55 and the third NVM 47 are prepared, and the count value of the number of copies is stored in the first NVM 46 and the second NVM 55 among them. . The third NVM 47, which is an E ² PROM, stores adjustment data for the copying machine, but does not store the count value itself of the number of copies. Operation panel 38
The count value displayed in is the first NVM4
The one stored in 6 is used. Since the second NVM 55 is arranged on a board different from that of the first NVM 46, even if the main board 41 fails and is replaced, the second NVM 55 can be replaced with a new NVM.
The count value of 55 and other data stored in this second NVM 55 can be populated.

The copying machine of this embodiment is provided with two mechanical counters (not shown). One of these counters is designed to count the number of sheets when copying is performed in monochrome, and the other is for color 1
The number of sheets to be copied when two colors, that is, one color and two colors in total, are copied is counted. These mechanical counters are preliminary and are not necessarily provided, but are arranged to ensure higher reliability.

FIG. 3 concretely shows the first NVM and its backup circuit. Since the configuration of the backup circuit 56 for the RAM 55 shown in FIG. 2 is the same as this, its illustration is omitted.

In FIG. 3, the backup circuit 54 includes a first transistor 62 having an emitter connected to a + 5V power supply line 61, and a grounded second transistor 64 having a collector connected to the base of the transistor 62 via a resistor 63. It has two transistors. To the collector of the first transistor 62, the + side of the super capacitor 66 having a capacitance of 1F (farad) and the anode side of the first diode 67 are connected. The negative side of the supercapacitor 66 is grounded, and the first diode 6
The cathode side of 7 is connected to the cathode side of the second diode 68 and the power supply terminal of the first NVM (RAM) 46. The + side of the lithium battery 71 is connected to the anode side of the second diode 68 via the resistor 69. The negative side of the lithium battery 71 is grounded. A control terminal 73 is connected to the base of the second transistor 64 via a resistor 72.

The backup circuit 54 having the above configuration
Then, when power is supplied to the main board (CPU board) 41 shown in FIG. 2, a control signal of H (high) level is input to the control terminal 73, and the second transistor 64 is turned on. As a result, the first transistor 62 is also turned on, and + 5V power is supplied from the power supply line 61 to the first NVM 46 via the first diode 67. As a result, the first NVM 46 is brought into a state of being operated by power supply from the power supply line 61. The supercapacitor 66 is charged by the + 5V power source. Even in the initial state, the supercapacitor 66 can complete charging within a few minutes.

It is assumed that the copying machine operates in this state, but the power supply is cut off for some reason and the power supply line 61 becomes zero volt. In this embodiment, the output of the lithium battery 71 is 3 V, which is lower than the output voltage of the supercapacitor 66. Therefore, until the output voltage of the supercapacitor 66 becomes equal to or lower than the output voltage of the lithium battery 71, the first NVM is passed from the supercapacitor 66 through the first diode 67.
Power is supplied to 46. In this embodiment, since the supercapacitor 66 has a capacity of 1F, the lithium battery 71 is not used in a normal state, and the power is supplied for about 3 weeks or more. During this period, if the power supply line 61 is restored for a relatively short time, the supercapacitor 66 is charged as described above.

When the voltage of the supercapacitor 66 drops below that of the lithium battery 71, power supply from the lithium battery 71 to the first NVM 46 is started via the second diode 68. As a result, the data stored in the first NVM 46 will be held similarly.
The lithium battery 71 has a considerable capacity, but as described above, power supply from the supercapacitor 66 is usually sufficient. Therefore, the lithium battery 71 is not powered on to the copying machine when the supercapacitor 66 is damaged for some reason or for a very long time, and the supercapacitor 66 is not supplied.
Will only be used when the capacity of the is significantly reduced. When the lithium battery 71 has reached the end of its life, the supercapacitor 66 is normally sufficiently charged, and therefore the lithium battery 71 can be replaced with the first NVM 46 kept powered. it can.

Counting operation

By the way, the number counting device of this embodiment is
A black counter that counts the number of sheets when using monochrome black, a color counter that counts the number of sheets when using color (red) (black and color, or only color), and whether it is copied with one color or two colors. Regardless of the number of stamps stamped, the stamp counter has three types of counters. For these, the first NVM
46 and the second NVM 55 will store the count value respectively.

4 and 5 show the flow of the counting operation performed by the control of the CPU based on the program stored in the ROM. Of these, FIG. 4 shows the control at the first stage of the counting operation. When the power of this copying machine is turned on, the CPU 43 shown in FIG. 2 refers to a dip switch (not shown) to determine whether or not the adjustment at the time of factory shipment is about to be performed (step S101). If so (Y), the copier is set to a diagnostic mode (not shown), and the first and second NVM4s are set.
All the count values of 6 and 55 are initialized to "0" (step S102). Then, the process proceeds to step S103.
If it is not the factory adjustment (N), the process immediately proceeds to step S103.

In step S103, it is checked whether or not the lithium batteries 71 of the first and second NVMs 46 and 55 have reached the end of their lives. If either of them has reached the end of its life (Y), the error history is set to the third NVM.
47 (step S104) and step S10.
Go to 5.

In step S105, it is determined whether or not the copying machine is set to the diagnostic mode. If the diagnosis mode is set (Y), the self-diagnosis mode described later is executed (step S106). Then, after this, the copy operation is performed (step S107). If it is not the diagnosis mode (step S105; N), the copy operation is immediately performed (step S107).

When the copying operation is completed, it is judged whether or not the discharge of the paper is normally completed (step S).
108). When the ejection detection sensor 36 shown in FIG. 1 detects the passage of the trailing edge of the sheet, it is determined that the sheet has been ejected normally (Y). In this case, the count value for each mode is calculated (step S109).
These are calculations for each mode such as whether it is monochrome or a copy including one red color. Depending on the device,
For example, a calculation corresponding to each paper size or paper quality may be performed. When it is determined in step S108 that the paper is not normally discharged (N), a corresponding process such as a jam (paper jam) process is performed (step S110), and the process returns to step S105.

On the other hand, when the count value is calculated in step S109, the count-up operation is performed on the corresponding mechanical counter (step S1).
11). However, as described above, in this embodiment, the count-up operation is performed in either the monochrome mode or the mode in which one color is used.

FIG. 5 shows the counting operation after step S111 shown in FIG. When the corresponding one of the mechanical counters is counted up in step S111 of FIG. 4, the count value is loaded into the first NVM 46 (step S11).
2). Next, it is checked whether or not there is an error in the loaded data (step S113), and if an error is found (Y), the error history is stored in the third NVM 47 (step S114). The content of this error is displayed on the operation panel 38 (step S11).
5).

If no error is found in the loaded data (step S113; Y), the count value is added (step S116), and the value is added to the first NVM 46.
(Step S117). Then the second NVM
Similarly, the count value is loaded into 55 (step S11).
8) Similarly, it is checked whether or not there is a data error (step S119). If it exists (Y),
Similarly, the error history is stored in the third NVM 47 (step S120), and the error content is displayed on the operation panel 38 (step S121). The operation panel 38
The display of such an error due to may be performed when the self-diagnosis is executed.

If no data error is found in step S119 (N), the count value is added (step S122), and the value is stored in the second NVM 55 (step S123). When the count values are stored in the first and second NVMs 46 and 55 in this way, the count values are compared (step S).
124). As a result, if they do not match, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred and the process of step S120 is performed.

If the count values match, it means that the normal storage processing has been performed. Therefore, in this case, as a request for displaying the count value, the operation panel 3 described above is used.
It is checked whether or not the meter confirmation button (not shown) 8 is pressed (step S125). If it is pressed (Y), each count value is displayed on the screen (step S126). Then, control returns to step S105.
Will return to. If the meter confirmation button is not pressed, the control immediately returns to step S105.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the meter confirmation screen. When the meter confirmation button described above is pressed,
Meter confirmation screen 8 on the liquid crystal display of the operation panel 38
1 is displayed. On the meter confirmation screen 81, black,
The number of colors (including color and black) and the number of stamps used are displayed as a total (total) and a total for the last month only. The total for the previous month is displayed by using the result of monthly aggregation by a clock circuit (not shown) inside the copying machine.

The machine number of the copying machine is displayed as a serial number under the place where the display of these count values is voluminous so that it is convenient when reporting the maintenance fee of the copying machine. . In the lower right area of the meter confirmation screen 81, a button 82 having the character "close" is displayed, and when the button 82 is selected, the display of the meter confirmation screen 81 ends.

FIG. 7 shows the control contents in the self-diagnosis mode of the number counting device. Although the copying machine is capable of performing self-diagnosis of various contents, when the mode is set to perform self-diagnosis of the number counting device, the liquid crystal display on which the meter confirmation screen 81 is displayed is displayed. "Clear count operation", "1st → 2nd count value transfer", "2nd → 1st count value transfer", "electronic counter display", "battery error check confirmation" and "close" items are diagnostic menus. Is displayed (step S201).

When the service engineer selects one of these (step S202; Y), if it is a "count clear operation" (step S203; Y), a dedicated sub for clearing the count value of the counter. A mode for inputting a code is set (step S204). When the service engineer inputs a regular subcode in this state, the count values stored in the first and second NVMs 46 and 55 are cleared to "0" (step S20).
5).

The selection of the service engineer is “first → second
If "count value transfer" (step S206; Y),
When a subcode input is requested and a subcode uniquely assigned to this transfer is input (step S20).
7), the count value of the first NVM 46 is read,
This is transferred to the second NVM 55 (step S20).
8).

In contrast to this, the service engineer
→ "First count value transfer" has been selected (step S209; Y), the subcode input is similarly requested, and the subcode uniquely assigned to this transfer is input (step S210). ), The count value of the second NVM 55 is read and transferred to the first NVM 46 (step S211).

If the service engineer has selected "display electronic counter" (step S212;
Y), when a dedicated subcode is input (step S2)
13) The count value is displayed for each mode (step S214). Further, when the service engineer selects “confirm battery error check” (step S215; Y), various error information stored in the third NVM 47 is displayed (step S21).
6). When the service engineer selects the item "close?" (Step S217; Y), the above display operation is terminated, the self-diagnosis mode is canceled, and the normal copy mode is restored (step S218).

As described above, in the sheet counting apparatus of this embodiment, the service engineer selects the mode of "first → second count value transfer" or, conversely, the mode of "second → first count value transfer". By selecting the first N
It is possible to copy the count value between the VM 46 and the second NVM 55, but the service engineer who repairs and maintains the copying machine or the operator of the copying machine clears both values to "0" in this self-diagnosis mode. You cannot do it.
Further, as is apparent from FIGS. 4 and 5, the count values of the first and second NVMs 46 and 55 are reset while the copying machine is powered on and a series of controls are performed. It is limited to the time of shipment (step S101).
Therefore, these first and second NVMs 46, 55
The count value is not reset when the reset is executed.

Of course, the first and second NVMs 46,
If both of the count values of 55 cause an error, a person having a predetermined authority can reset these count values with the consent of the user of the copying machine. Writing to the first and second NVMs 46, 55
A circuit that takes the logical sum of these is arranged so as to be limited to the case where a predetermined enable signal is generated in addition to the normal count-up and the above-mentioned copy, and in other cases, the count value is set to the third value. People cannot change it.

Modification

In the copying machine of the previous embodiment, the optical system is used to directly form the image information of the original as an optical image on the photosensitive drum. However, an image sensor such as a one-dimensional image sensor is used. Alternatively, an image may be read by using a printer to create an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum, or the read digital signal may be used to directly print with a printer such as a thermal transfer system. Even in such a case, the number counting device is used to count the number of sheets to be recorded or copied.

FIG. 8 shows the connection relationship between the control CPUs of the copying machine that electronically reads an image as described above. The system control unit CPU 91 that controls the entire copying machine is an image input control unit C that controls the input of images.
The PU 92 and the image output control unit CP that controls the output of the image
It is connected to the U93 and an operation display control unit CPU94 which controls the operation and display of the apparatus, and performs serial communication between them. Therefore, the number counting device controls writing and reading of the count value by this serial communication.

[0060]

As described above, according to the invention described in claim 1, since the storage means is a random access memory backed up by a battery, for example, up to 1 million sheets or more. The count value can be stored without any problem in reliability. Moreover, since the counting results obtained by the calculations performed at different times are stored separately, it is possible to easily detect and recover when an error occurs.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the two types of count values are stored in the storage means of the first and second substrates connected by the connector, respectively. Even if a failure occurs, replace it,
The failure can be easily recovered by transferring the count value stored in the board in which the failure has not occurred.

Further, according to the invention described in claim 3, the respective independently calculated count values are stored in the corresponding storage means, and the matching work is performed by checking whether or not these count values match each other. If not, we decided to display an error as an error in the count value. Therefore, the occurrence of an error can be detected with a simple circuit, the reliability of the apparatus can be improved, and the economic benefits of the user of the copying machine or the like can be protected.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an outline of a configuration of a copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main part of a circuit configuration of a control device that constitutes the number counting device of the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a first embodiment of the number counting device of this embodiment.
2 is a circuit diagram specifically showing the NVM and its backup circuit.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the first half of the counting operation in this embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the latter half of the counting operation in this embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing an example of a meter confirmation screen used in the number-of-papers counting device of the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the control contents in the self-diagnosis mode of the sheet counting device of the present embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a relationship between control units of a copying machine according to a modification of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

15 ... Paper, 36 ... Ejection detection sensor, 37 ... Control device,
38 ... Operation panel, 41 ... Main board, 42 ... Sub board, 43 ... CPU, 45 ... ROM, 46 ... RAM, 49
... input port, 53 ... connector, 54, 56 ... backup circuit, 55 ... second NVM

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A detection means for detecting one sheet of paper for which image processing has been completed at the end of each processing, and a total number of sheets for which image processing has been completed at different times by inputting the detection result of this detection means. A counting processing unit having a plurality of counting processing units for independently performing the calculation of, and a random number backed up by a battery arranged corresponding to each of the plurality of counting processing units and storing the counting result of the corresponding counting processing unit. A number counting device, comprising: a storage unit composed of an access memory. 2. A detecting means for detecting one sheet of paper which has been subjected to image processing at the end of each processing, and a calculation of the total number of sheets of which image processing has been completed by inputting a detection result of this detecting means. A first board provided with first and second counting processing units to be performed and a first storage unit for storing the counting result processed by the first counting processing unit, and the first board is connected with a connector. And the second
A second substrate having a second storage means for storing the counting result processed by the counting processing part of the first storage means, and a count value from one of the first storage means and the second storage means to the other under predetermined conditions. A number counting device, comprising: a count value copying means for transferring. 3. A detection means for detecting one sheet of image-processed sheets at the end of each processing, and a calculation of the total number of sheets of which image processing has been completed by inputting the detection result of this detection means. A counting processing unit having a plurality of counting processing units, a storage unit arranged corresponding to each of the plurality of counting processing units and storing a counting result of the corresponding counting processing unit; and a counting unit stored in the storage unit. An apparatus for counting the number of sheets, comprising: an error display means for collating the results and displaying an error when they do not match.