Testing device for electrophotographic imaging apparatus

Claim 2

A combination of: an electrophotographic imaging apparatus having an engine driver and a controller that is electrically connectable to said engine driver, said engine driver controlling a driving of functional units of said electrophotographic imaging apparatus, said controller supplying data relating to an image to be provided to said engine driver; and a testing device that is connectable to said engine driver, said testing device being capable of communicating with said engine driver, and of at least testing or monitoring an operational function of said electrophotographic imaging apparatus by communicating with said engine driver, said combination comprising: means for electrically disconnecting said controller from said engine driver when said testing device is connected to said engine driver for testing said engine driver; and means for disabling said disconnecting means when said testing device is connected to said engine driver for monitoring an operational function, so as to display an operational condition of said imaging apparatus without performing said testing of said engine driver.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1, wherein said testing device is capable of being actuated in a first mode, in which both said testing and monitoring operations are executed, and in a second mode, in which only said monitoring operation is executed, and wherein said testing device comprises means for selecting at least one of said first and second modes.

Claim 4

The combination of claim 2, wherein said testing device comprises means for outputting data indicating which one of said at least first and second modes has been selected, and wherein said electrophotographic imaging apparatus comprises means for receiving data that is outputted by said outputting means of said testing device.

Claim 5

The combination of claim 3, wherein said testing device comprises: means for determining an item to be monitored; and means for sending a request signal to said engine driver in order to request data corresponding to said item determined by said determining means, wherein said imaging apparatus comprises means for receiving said request signal; and means for outputting said data upon receipt of said request signal.

Claim 6

The combination of claim 1, wherein said testing device comprises means for displaying condition information corresponding to said data received from said engine driver.

Claim 7

The combination of claim 1, wherein said disconnecting means is provided with said imaging apparatus.

Claim 8

A testing device that is connectable to an electrophotographic imaging apparatus, and which is capable of performing at least one of a testing or monitoring operation for testing or monitoring an operational condition of said electrophotographic imaging apparatus, said electrophotographic imaging apparatus comprising an engine driver that controls a driving of functional units of said electrophotographic imaging apparatus and a controller that supplies data relating to an image to be printed to said engine driver, said imaging apparatus executing a printing operation in accordance with a data exchange between said engine driver and said controller, said testing device comprising: means for selecting at least one of said testing and monitoring operations, in which said controller is electrically disconnected from said engine driver when said selecting means selects said testing operation so that said testing device can test said functional units; means for receiving data exchanged between said engine driver and said controller when said monitoring operation is selected; and means for displaying information corresponding to said data received by said receiving means.

Claim 9

A testing device that is connectable to an electrophotographic imaging apparatus, and which is capable of performing at least one of a testing or monitoring operation for testing or monitoring an operational condition of said electrophotographic imaging apparatus, said electrophotographic imaging apparatus comprising an engine driver that controls a driving of functional units of said electrophotographic imaging apparatus and a controller that supplies data relating to an image to be printed to said engine driver, said imaging apparatus executing a printing operation in accordance with a data exchange between said engine driver and said controller, said testing device comprising: means for selecting at least one of said testing and monitoring operations, in which said controller is electrically disconnected from said engine driver when said selecting means selects said testing operation so that said testing device can test said functional units; means for receiving data exchanged between said engine driver and said controller when said monitoring operation is selected; and means for displaying information corresponding to said data received by said receiving means.

Claim 10

The testing device of claim 7, wherein said testing device is capable of selectively requiring one of a plurality of kinds of information to be displayed, and wherein said testing device further comprises means for determining one of said plurality of kinds of information, and means for requiring said electrophotographic imaging apparatus to output data corresponding to a selected one of said plurality of kinds of information.

Claim 11

The testing device of claim 7, wherein said testing device is connected to said engine driver.

Claim 12

The testing device of claim 7, wherein said testing device comprises: means for determining an item to be monitored; and means for sending a request signal to said engine driver to request data corresponding to said item determined to be monitored.

Claim 13

The testing device of claim 10, wherein said imaging apparatus outputs said data upon receiving said request signal.

Claim 14

The testing device of claim 7, further comprising means for displaying condition information corresponding to said data received from said engine driver.

Claim 15

An imaging apparatus, comprising an engine driver that controls an operational function of said imaging apparatus and a controller that supplies data relating to an image to be provided to said engine driver, said imaging apparatus performing a printing operation in accordance with data that is exchanged between said engine driver and said controller, said imaging apparatus further comprising: means for externally outputting said data exchanged between said engine driver and said controller when said printing operation is performed so as to display an operational function of said imaging apparatus; and means for electrically disconnecting said controller from said engine driver to enable a testing of at least one functional unit of said imaging apparatus.

Claim 16

An imaging apparatus, comprising an engine driver that controls an operational function of said imaging apparatus and a controller that supplies data relating to an image to be provided to said engine driver, said imaging apparatus performing a printing operation in accordance with data that is exchanged between said engine driver and said controller, said imaging apparatus further comprising: means for externally outputting said data exchanged between said engine driver and said controller when said printing operation is performed so as to display an operational function of said imaging apparatus; and means for electrically disconnecting said controller from said engine driver to enable a testing of at least one functional unit of said imaging apparatus.

Claim 19

The device of claim 14, further comprising: means for determining an item to be tested; and means for sending a request signal to said engine driver to request data corresponding to said item to be tested determined by said determining means.

Claim 20

The device of claim 15, wherein said imaging apparatus outputs said data corresponding to said item to be tested upon receipt of said request signal.

Claim 21

The device of claim 16, further comprising a display that displays condition information corresponding to said data received from said imaging apparatus.