US4417350A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Counter control in electrophotographic copier
Assignee: Minolta Co Ltd
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Filing: 1981-03-23
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Granted: 1983-11-22
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Expires: 2001-03-23
Abstract
Abstract A counter control device for an electrophotographic copying machine of a type having a preset counter device is selectively operable in one of a multi-copy mode wherein a copying operation is repeated to produce a plurality of copies while copying papers which are to have an image affixed thereto are automatically fed one at a time and a manual feed mode wherein the copying operation is carried out by the use of copying papers which are to have an image affixed thereto and which are fed manually one at a time. The counter control device includes a counter for counting the number of copies being made or left unfinished each time one cycle of the copying operation is completed. The counted value is displayed by a display unit which is also operable even when the machine is set to operate in the multi-copy mode.
Inventors
- 👤 Hideo Ito
- 👤 Masazumi Ito
- 👤 Kenzo Nagata
- 👤 Yutaka Irie
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 05:58
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/50; G03G21/00; G03G21/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
281 words
In an electrophotographic copying machine comprising a preset counter device and which is selectively operable in one of a multi-copy mode wherein a copying operation is repeated to produce a plurality of copies while copying papers which are to have an image affixed thereto are automatically fed one at a time and a manual feed mode wherein said copying operation is carried out by the use of copying papers which are to have an image affixed thereto and which are fed manually one at a time, a counter control device which comprises: a counter means for adding or subtracting "1" each time one cycle of copying operation in the multi-copy mode is completed for displaying one of either the number of copies actually made or the number of copies left unfinished; a display means for displaying count contents of said counter means; a means for storing said count contents of said counter means; a means for determining whether the machine is switched over to said multi-copy mode or said manual feed mode; a display control means for causing said display means to display "0" and for transferring said count contents of said counter means to said storing means when said determining means determines that the machine is switched over to said manual feed mode and for adding "1" to the figure displayed by said display means each time one cycle of copying operation in said manual feed mode is completed; and a means for retrieving said count contents stored in said storing means, and for causing said display means to display the thus retrieved count contents when said machine is switched over from said manual feed mode to said multi-copy mode.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
281 words
In an electrophotographic copying machine comprising a preset counter device and which is selectively operable in one of a multi-copy mode wherein a copying operation is repeated to produce a plurality of copies while copying papers which are to have an image affixed thereto are automatically fed one at a time and a manual feed mode wherein said copying operation is carried out by the use of copying papers which are to have an image affixed thereto and which are fed manually one at a time, a counter control device which comprises: a counter means for adding or subtracting "1" each time one cycle of copying operation in the multi-copy mode is completed for displaying one of either the number of copies actually made or the number of copies left unfinished; a display means for displaying count contents of said counter means; a means for storing said count contents of said counter means; a means for determining whether the machine is switched over to said multi-copy mode or said manual feed mode; a display control means for causing said display means to display "0" and for transferring said count contents of said counter means to said storing means when said determining means determines that the machine is switched over to said manual feed mode and for adding "1" to the figure displayed by said display means each time one cycle of copying operation in said manual feed mode is completed; and a means for retrieving said count contents stored in said storing means, and for causing said display means to display the thus retrieved count contents when said machine is switched over from said manual feed mode to said multi-copy mode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
71 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a timer means which is operable when said machine is in said manual feed mode for detecting the length of time during which the copying operation in said manual feed mode is interrupted, and further comprising an auto-clear means for automatically resetting the figure displayed by said display means to "0" upon the lapse of a preset time of the timer means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a manipulatable clear means which is operable during said manual feed mode for resetting the figure displayed by said display means to "0".
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said counter means and said display control means comprise a micro-computer, said counting operation being performed according to a program stored therein.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
58 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said counter means performs said counting operation to subtract "1" from a predetermined preset value each time one cycle of copying operation is completed and wherein said display control means performs its counting operation to add "1" to said preset value each time one cycle of copying operation is completed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
251 words
In an electrophotographic copying machine which is selectively operable in one of a multi-copy mode wherein a copying operation is repeated to produce a plurality of copies while copying papers which are to have an image affixed thereto are automatically fed one at a time and a manual feed mode wherein said copying operation is carried out by the use of copying papers which are to have an image affixed thereto and which are fed manually one at a time, a counter control device which comprises: a counter means for performing a counting operation each time one cycle of copying operation in said multi-copy mode is completed; a display means for displaying a numerical figure in association with count contents of said counter means; a means for determining whether the machine is switched over the said multi-copy mode or said manual feed mode; a display control means for clearing said display means when said determining means determines that the machine is switched over to said manual feed mode and for causing said display means to display a numerical figure corresponding to the number of copying papers which have been manually fed into the machine during said manual feed mode; and a means for clearing the figure displayed by said display means during said manual feed mode when said manual feed mode is cancelled and for displaying the contents of said counter means at the time in which said machine is switched over from said multi-copy mode to said manual feed mode.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
251 words
In an electrophotographic copying machine which is selectively operable in one of a multi-copy mode wherein a copying operation is repeated to produce a plurality of copies while copying papers which are to have an image affixed thereto are automatically fed one at a time and a manual feed mode wherein said copying operation is carried out by the use of copying papers which are to have an image affixed thereto and which are fed manually one at a time, a counter control device which comprises: a counter means for performing a counting operation each time one cycle of copying operation in said multi-copy mode is completed; a display means for displaying a numerical figure in association with count contents of said counter means; a means for determining whether the machine is switched over the said multi-copy mode or said manual feed mode; a display control means for clearing said display means when said determining means determines that the machine is switched over to said manual feed mode and for causing said display means to display a numerical figure corresponding to the number of copying papers which have been manually fed into the machine during said manual feed mode; and a means for clearing the figure displayed by said display means during said manual feed mode when said manual feed mode is cancelled and for displaying the contents of said counter means at the time in which said machine is switched over from said multi-copy mode to said manual feed mode.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said display control means causes said display means to display "0" when the machine is set to operate in said manual feed mode.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
70 words
A device as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a means for storing said count contents of the counter means, the switching over of the machine from said manual feed mode to said multi-copy mode resulting both in clearing of the numerical figure displayed during said manual feed mode and in displaying of a numerical figure corresponding to the contents of said counter means as stored in said storing means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said counter means and said display control means comprise a micro-computer, said counting operation being performed according to a program stored therein.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
60 words
A device as claimed in claims 6 or 9, wherein said counter means performs said counting operation to subtract "1" from a predetermined preset value each time one cycle of copying operation is completed and wherein said display control means performs its counting operation to add "1" to said preset value each time one cycle of copying operation is completed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
71 words
A device as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a time means which is operable when said machine is in said manual feed mode for detecting the length of time during which the copying operation in said manual feed mode is interrupted, and further comprising an auto-clear means for automatically resetting the figure displayed by "said" display means to "0" upon the lapse of a preset time of the timer means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
A device as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a manipulatable clear means which is operable during said manual feed mode for resetting the figure displayed by said display means to "0".
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-11-21 | 1987-05-23 | 1987-11-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-11-21 | 1991-05-23 | 1991-11-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-11-21 | 1995-05-23 | 1995-11-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |