Copying or printing apparatus

Claim 2

A reproduction system, comprising: plural operable means for image reproduction, which includes key means for instruction and display means; first one chip computer means provided with a data memory, a processor and a memory storing a program for operation control of some of said operable means; second one chip computer means provided with a data memory, a processor and a memory storing a program for operation control of some other of said operable means; a data line coupled between said first and second computer means; and means adapted for transferring, one of said computer means to the other, the data necessary for operation control by said other computer means, wherein said transferred data is in a form of serial pulses, and wherein said serial pulses are transferred through said data line coupled between said first and second computer means.

Claim 3

A reproduction system according to claim 1, wherein said operable means comprises means for displaying the reproduction state, means for entering instruction for reproduction and means for executing a reproduction process; wherein said first one chip computer means is adapted to effect operation control of said display means and entry control of said entering means, while said second one chip computer means is adapted to effect sequence control of said process executing means.

Claim 4

A reproduction system according to claim 1, wherein said transferring means is adapted to transfer plural data in serial manner to said other computer means.

Claim 5

A reproduction system according to the claim 1, wherein said transferring means is adapted to transfer said data to an interrupt port or an event counter port of said computer means.

Claim 6

A reproduction system, comprising: plural operable means for image reproduction, which includes a display means and a key means for instruction; first computer means provided with a memory storing a program for operation control of some of said operable means; second computer means provided with a memory storing a program for operation control of some other of said operable means; third computer means provided with a memory storing a program for operation control of still some other of said operable means; and means adapted for transferring data necessary for the operation control from said first computer means to said third computer means through said second computer means.

Claim 7

A reproduction system, comprising: plural operable means for image reproduction, which includes a display means and a key means for instruction; first computer means provided with a memory storing a program for operation control of some of said operable means; second computer means provided with a memory storing a program for operation control of some other of said operable means; third computer means provided with a memory storing a program for operation control of still some other of said operable means; and means adapted for transferring data necessary for the operation control from said first computer means to said third computer means through said second computer means.

Claim 8

A reproduction system according to claim 5, wherein said transferring means is adapted to serially transfer plural data among said computer means.

Claim 9

A reproduction system, comprising: plural operable means for image reproduction, which includes a display means and a key means for instruction; first computer means provided with a memory storing a program for operation control of some of said operable means; second computer means provided with a memory storing a program for operation control of some other of said operable means; third computer means provided with a memory storing a program for operation control of still some other of said operable means; and means adapted for connecting said second and third computer means in parallel to a particular data output line of said first computer means, wherein said first, second and third computer means have a common channel connected therebetween through which data are transferred therebetween.

Claim 10

A reproduction system, comprising: plural operable means for image reproduction, which includes a display means and a key means for instruction; first computer means provided with a memory storing a program for operation control of some of said operable means; second computer means provided with a memory storing a program for operation control of some other of said operable means; third computer means provided with a memory storing a program for operation control of still some other of said operable means; and means adapted for connecting said second and third computer means in parallel to a particular data output line of said first computer means, wherein said first, second and third computer means have a common channel connected therebetween through which data are transferred therebetween.

Claim 11

A reproduction system according to the claim 7, wherein said transferring means is adapted to serially transfer plural data among said computer means.

Claim 12

A reproduction system according to claim 5, wherein said first computer means is adapted to effect at least the display control of the copy number, and said second and third computer means are adapted to respectively effect the process sequence control of the reproduction process, automatic feed control originals and sorting of copy sheets.

Claim 13

A reproduction system according to claim 7, wherein said first computer means is adapted to effect at least the display control of the copy number, and said second and third computer means are adapted to respectively effect the process sequence control of the reproduction process, automatic feed control originals and sorting of copy sheets.

Claim 14

A reproduction system comprising: plural copy-process operation means for image reproduction each of which includes a display means and a key means for instruction; first computer means provided with a memory storing a program for control of at least one of said operation means; second computer means provided with a memory storing a program for control of at least one other of said operation means; and means for transferring to said first computer means from said second computer means the data necessary for operation control by said first computer means in a form of serial pulses; wherein said first computer means identifies an improper state of one of said plural copy-process operation means, and said second computer means provides a data signal based on said serial pulses transmitted under the improper state.

Claim 15

A reproduction system comprising: plural copy-process operation means for image reproduction each of which includes a display means and a key means for instruction; first computer means provided with a memory storing a program for control of at least one of said operation means; second computer means provided with a memory storing a program for control of at least one other of said operation means; and means for transferring to said first computer means from said second computer means the data necessary for operation control by said first computer means in a form of serial pulses; wherein said first computer means identifies an improper state of one of said plural copy-process operation means, and said second computer means provides a data signal based on said serial pulses transmitted under the improper state.

Claim 16

A reproduction system comprising: plural copy-process operation means for image reproduction; first computer means provided with a memory storing a program for control of at least one of said operation means; second computer means provided with a memory storing a program for control of at least one other of said operation means; and means for transferring to said first computer means from said second computer means the data necessary for operation control by said first computer means in a form of serial pulses; wherein said transferring means has a serial pulse data line and a pre-communication line independent from said serial pulse data line, and said first and second computer means perform a transference of said serial pulses through said data line therebetween after transmitting and receiving predetermined signals through said pre-communication line for data transfer preparation.

Claim 17

A reproduction system comprising: plural copy-process operation means for image reproduction; first computer means provided with a memory storing a program for control of at least one of said operation means; second computer means provided with a memory storing a program for control of at least one other of said operation means; and means for transferring to said first computer means from said second computer means the data necessary for operation control by said first computer means in a form of serial pulses; wherein said transferring means has a serial pulse data line and a pre-communication line independent from said serial pulse data line, and said first and second computer means perform a transference of said serial pulses through said data line therebetween after transmitting and receiving predetermined signals through said pre-communication line for data transfer preparation.

Claim 18

A reproduction system comprising: plural copy-process operation means for image reproduction; first one-chip computer means provided with a memory storing a program for control of at least one of said operation means; second one-chip computer means provided with a memory storing a program for control of at least one other of said operation means; and means for transferring to said first one-chip computer means from said second one-chip computer means the data necessary for operation control by said first one-chip computer means in a form of serial pulses; wherein said first and second one-chip computer means store said serial pulses transferred from each other and identify the pulse data to form a data signal.

Claim 19

A reproduction system comprising: plural copy-process operation means for image reproduction; first one-chip computer means provided with a memory storing a program for control of at least one of said operation means; second one-chip computer means provided with a memory storing a program for control of at least one other of said operation means; and means for transferring to said first one-chip computer means from said second one-chip computer means the data necessary for operation control by said first one-chip computer means in a form of serial pulses; wherein said first and second one-chip computer means store said serial pulses transferred from each other and identify the pulse data to form a data signal.

Claim 20

A reproduction system comprising: plural copy-process operation means for image reproduction; first computer means provided with a memory storing a program for control of at least one of said operation means; second computer means provided with a memory storing a program for control of at least one other of said operation means; and means for transferring to said first computer means from said second computer means the data necessary for operation control by said first computer means in a form of serial pulses; wherein said first and second computer means count pulses relating to transference of said data to form a data signal.

Claim 21

A reproduction system comprising: plural copy-process operation means for image reproduction; first computer means provided with a memory storing a program for control of at least one of said operation means; second computer means provided with a memory storing a program for control of at least one other of said operation means; and means for transferring to said first computer means from said second computer means the data necessary for operation control by said first computer means in a form of serial pulses; wherein said first and second computer means count pulses relating to transference of said data to form a data signal.

Claim 22

An image forming system comprising: a plurality of computers, one of which effects an image forming operation; and transfer means for transferring date for image processing or system control from a first one of said computers through a second said computer to a third said computer, and for transferring the data from said third computer to said first computer while bypassing said second computer, wherein said second computer identifies whether or not the data from said first computer relates to itself.

Claim 23

An image forming system comprising: a plurality of computers, one of which effects an image forming operation; and transfer means for transferring date for image processing or system control from a first one of said computers through a second said computer to a third said computer, and for transferring the data from said third computer to said first computer while bypassing said second computer, wherein said second computer identifies whether or not the data from said first computer relates to itself.

Claim 24

An image forming system comprising: a plurality of computers one of which effects an image forming operation; and transfer means for transferring data from a first one of said computers to a second said computer in a form of serial pulses to effect an image formation operation, and for transferring data representative of a machine condition from said second computer to said first computer in a form of serial pulses.

Claim 25

An image forming system comprising: a plurality of computers one of which effects an image forming operation; and transfer means for transferring data from a first one of said computers to a second said computer in a form of serial pulses to effect an image formation operation, and for transferring data representative of a machine condition from said second computer to said first computer in a form of serial pulses.

Claim 26

An image forming system comprising: two micro-computers; and means for transferring data for image formation control in the form of serial pulses from one of said computers to the other computer to effect an image forming operation by said other computer, wherein said transferring means performs a signal exchange between the computers; one of said computers includes a means for performing a check, in accordance with said signal exchange, as to whether or not the other of said computers is ready for receiving; and, after the signal exchange, the data pulses are transferred; and, said other computer includes means for identifying the number of said serial pulses or the arrangement thereof to form a data signal.

Claim 27

An image forming system comprising: two micro-computers; and means for transferring data for image formation control in the form of serial pulses from one of said computers to the other computer to effect an image forming operation by said other computer, wherein said transferring means performs a signal exchange between the computers; one of said computers includes a means for performing a check, in accordance with said signal exchange, as to whether or not the other of said computers is ready for receiving; and, after the signal exchange, the data pulses are transferred; and, said other computer includes means for identifying the number of said serial pulses or the arrangement thereof to form a data signal.