Reproduction machines

Claim 2

A reproduction machine including a central processing unit (19) connected by a shared data communication channel (25) with a plurality of remote modules (9, 11, 13, 15, 17) each controlling the operation of at least one component or group of components of the machine, in which each module includes means (124, 126, 127) for transmitting addressed messages to the channel, and means (120, 122, 123) for receiving from the channel messages addressed to the module.

Claim 3

A reproduction machine for producing copies in accordance with a copy run including: a xerographic system including a photoreceptor (10) on which latent electrostatic images of originals being copied are produced; a marking and imaging section including exposure means (20, 21) for producing latent electrostatic images of said originals on said photoreceptor; a xerographic processing section including developer means (26, 28) for developling said latent electrostatic images on said photoreceptor; a paper handling section including transport means (35) for bringing copy sheets into transfer relation with said photoreceptor for transfer of the images developed on said photoreceptor to said copy sheets; a control section (38) including means to permit input of the copy run instructions; plural control modules (9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19) for operating said machine sections in response to the copy run instructions to produce copies, and a shared data communication line (25) linking each of said control modules together for randomly transmitting said operating instructions from and between selected ones of said control modules, whereby said control modules operate said machine sections in cooperation to produce said copies.

Claim 4

A reproduction machine for producing copies in accordance with a copy run including: a xerographic system including a photoreceptor (10) on which latent electrostatic images of originals being copied are produced; a marking and imaging section including exposure means (20, 21) for producing latent electrostatic images of said originals on said photoreceptor; a xerographic processing section including developer means (26, 28) for developling said latent electrostatic images on said photoreceptor; a paper handling section including transport means (35) for bringing copy sheets into transfer relation with said photoreceptor for transfer of the images developed on said photoreceptor to said copy sheets; a control section (38) including means to permit input of the copy run instructions; plural control modules (9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19) for operating said machine sections in response to the copy run instructions to produce copies, and a shared data communication line (25) linking each of said control modules together for randomly transmitting said operating instructions from and between selected ones of said control modules, whereby said control modules operate said machine sections in cooperation to produce said copies.

Claim 5

The reproduction machine according to claim 1 or 2, including means (64) for generating machine clock signals for transmitting said operating instructions in timed relation over said shared line to operate said machine sections in synchronism.

Claim 6

The reproduction machine according to claim 2 or 3, in which each of the control modules has means (120) for receiving instructions from time to time from another one of the control modules through the shared line for operating the machine section associated therewith; and including means (124) for transmitting instructions from time to time to at least one othe of said control modules through said shared line.

Claim 7

The reproduction machine according to any of the preceding claims, in which the control section has memory means (164) for storing said operating instructions fro performing said copy run, the control module for said control section addressing said operating instructions for selected ones of said control modules and phase encoding said addressed operating instructions with said clock signals for transmission along said shared line to all of said other control modules, said operating instructions being intercepted by the control module to which said operating instructions are addressed whereby to operate the machine section associated therewith in accordance with said operating instructions.

Claim 10

The method according to claim 6 including the step of: transmitting said operating instructions at a preset clock rate to synchronize operation of said copier sub-sections.