Claims
- 1. A method of controlling data communication in a copying system which is provided with a copying machine and a plurality of peripheral units cooperating with said copying machine, said copy machine having a single serial transmitting port, said method comprising the steps of:
- transmitting data from said copying machine to one peripheral unit of said plurality of peripheral units through said serial transmitting port;
- electrically switching a connection between said serial transmitting port and said one peripheral unit to a connection between said serial transmitting port and another peripheral unit which is different from said one peripheral unit in type and kind after a predetermined time from a data transmission to said one peripheral unit is started, said predetermined time being longer than a period for transmitting said data from said copying machine to said one peripheral unit wherein said electrical switching includes providing a single central processing unit in the copying machine and providing an interface circuit responsive to said central processing unit and connected to said serial transmitting port wherein the providing of said interface circuit includes the providing of a plurality of logic gates responsive to a control signal from said central processing unit in order to provide said connection between said serial transmitting port and a selected one of said peripheral units for said predetermined time; and
- transmitting data from said copying machine to said another peripheral unit directly through said serial transmitting port after said switching step.
- 2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said peripheral units are an automatic document feeder and a sorter.
- 3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said peripheral units are an automatic document feeder and at least two sorters.
- 4. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said one peripheral unit is one of said sorters and said another peripheral unit is said automatic document feeder.
- 5. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said one of said sorters has a single serial receiving port, and wherein said method further comprises the steps of:
- receiving the data from said copying machine directly through said serial receiving port;
- electrically switching a connection between said serial receiving port and said serial transmitting port of said copying machine to a connection between said serial receiving port and the other sorter; and
- receiving data from the other sorter through said serial receiving port in a period of transmission of data from said copying machine to said document feeder.
- 6. A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said one of the sorters has a single serial transmitting port, and wherein said method further comprises the steps of:
- transmitting data from said one of the sorters to said copying machine directly through said serial transmitting port of said sorter;
- electrically switching a connection between said serial transmitting port and said copying machine to a connection between said serial transmitting port of said sorter and the other sorter; and
- transmitting data from said sorter to the other sorter through said serial transmitting port in a period of transmission of data from said copying machine to said document feeder.
- 7. A method of controlling data communication in a copying machine system which is provided with a copying machine and a plurality of peripheral units cooperating with said copying machine, said copying machine having a single serial transmitting port, said method comprising steps of:
- receiving data from one peripheral unit of said plurality of peripheral units directly through said serial receiving port;
- electrically switching a connection between said serial transmitting port and said one peripheral unit to a connection between said serial transmitting port and another peripheral unit which is different from said one peripheral unit in type and kind after a predetermined time from data receipt from said one peripheral unit is started, said predetermined time being longer than a period for receiving data from said one peripheral unit wherein said electrical switching includes providing a single central processing unit in the copying machine and providing an interface circuit responsive to said central processing unit and connected to said serial transmitting port wherein the providing of said interface circuit includes the providing of a plurality of logic gates responsive to a control signal from said central processing unit in order to provide said connection between said serial transmitting port and a selected one of said peripheral units for said predetermined time; and
- receiving data from said another peripheral unit directly through said serial receiving port after said switching step.
- 8. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein said peripheral units are an automatic document feeder and a sorter.
- 9. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein said peripheral units are an automatic document feeder and at least two sorters.
- 10. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein said one unit is one of said sorters and said another peripheral unit is said automatic feeder.
- 11. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said one of said sorters has a single serial receiving port, and wherein said method further comprises the steps of:
- receiving data from said copying machine directly through said serial receiving port of said sorter;
- electrically switching a connection between said serial receiving port of said sorter and said copying machine to a connection between said serial receiving port of said sorter and the other sorter; and
- receiving data from the other sorter through said serial receiving port of said sorter in a period of receiving data from said document feeder through said serial receiving port of said copying machine.
- 12. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said one of the sorters has a single serial transmitting port, and wherein said method further comprises the steps of:
- transmitting data from said one of the sorters to said copying machine directly through said serial transmitting port;
- electrically switching a connection between said serial transmitting port and said copying machine to a connection between said serial transmitting port and the other sorter; and
- transmitting data from said sorter to the other sorter through said serial transmitting port in a period of receiving data from said document feeder through said serial receiving port of said copying machine.
- 13. A method of controlling data communication in a copying system which is provided with a copying machine and a plurality of peripheral units cooperating with said copying machine, said copying machine having a single serial transmitting port, said method comprising the steps of:
- transmitting data from said copying machine to one peripheral unit of said plurality of peripheral units directly through said serial transmitting port;
- receiving data from said one peripheral unit directly through said serial receiving port;
- electrically switching a connection between said serial transmitting port and said one peripheral unit and a connection between said serial receiving port and said one peripheral unit to a connection between said serial transmitting port and another peripheral unit which is different from said one peripheral unit in type and kind and a connection between said serial receiving port and said another peripheral unit respectively after an elapse of a predetermine time from a data transmission to said one peripheral unit is started, said predetermined time being longer than a period for transmitting data to and receiving data from said one peripheral unit wherein said electrical switching includes providing a single central processing unit in the conveying machine and providing an interface circuit responsive to said central processing unit and connected to said serial transmitting port wherein the providing of said interface circuit includes the providing of a plurality of logic gates responsive to a control signal from said central processing unit in order to provide said connection between said serial transmitting port and a selected one of said peripheral units for said predetermined time; and
- transmitting data from said copying machine to said another peripheral unit directly through said serial transmitting port; and
- receiving data from said another peripheral unit directly through said serial receiving port.
- 14. A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein said peripheral units are an automatic document feeder and a sorter.
- 15. A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein said peripheral units are an automatic document feeder and at least two sorters.
- 16. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein said one peripheral unit is one of said sorters and another peripheral unit is said automatic document feeder.
- 17. A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said one of said sorters has a single serial receiving port, and wherein said method further comprises the steps of:
- receiving data from said copying machine directly through said receiving port of said sorter;
- electrically switching a connection between said serial receiving port of said sorter and said serial transmitting port of said copying machine to a connection between said serial receiving port of said sorter and the other sorter; and
- receiving data from the other sorter through said serial receiving port of said sorter in period of transmission of data from said copying machine to said document feeder and receiving data from said document feeder.
- 18. A method of claimed in claim 17, wherein said one of the sorters has a single serial transmitting port, and wherein said method further comprises the steps of:
- transmitting data from said sorter to said copying machine directly through said serial transmitting port of said sorter;
- electrically switching a connection between said serial transmitting port of said sorter and said serial receiving port of said copying machine to a connection between said serial transmitting port of said sorter and the other sorter; and
- transmitting data from said sorter to the other sorter through said serial transmitting port of said sorter in a period of transmission of data from said copying machine to said document feeder and receiving data from said document feeder.
- 19. An apparatus for controlling data communication in a copying system which is provided with a copying machine and a plurality of peripheral units cooperating with said copying machine, said copying machine having a single serial transmitting port, said apparatus comprising:
- means for transmitting data from said copying machine to one peripheral unit of said plurality of peripheral units directly through said serial transmitting port;
- means for electrically switching a connection between said serial transmitting port and said one peripheral unit to a connection between said serial transmitting port and another peripheral unit which is different from said one peripheral unit in type and kind after an elapse of a predetermined time from a data transmission to said one peripheral unit is started, said predetermined time being loner than a period for transmitting said data from said copying machine to said one peripheral unit wherein said means for electrically switching includes a single central processing unit in said copying machine and an interface circuit responsive to said central processing unit and connected to said serial transmitting port wherein said interface circuit includes a plurality of logic gates responsive to a control signal from said central processing unit to provide said connection between said serial transmitting Port and a selected one of said peripheral units for said predetermined time; and
- means for transmitting data from said copying machine to said another peripheral unit directly through said serial transmitting port after said switching.
- 20. An apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein said peripheral units are an automatic document feeder and a sorter.
- 21. An apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein said peripheral units are an automatic document feeder and at least two sorters.
- 22. An apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein said one peripheral unit is one of said sorters and said another peripheral unit is said automatic document feeder.
- 23. An apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein said one of said sorters has a single serial receiving port, and wherein said apparatus further comprises:
- means for receiving the data from said copying machine directly through said serial receiving port;
- means for electrically switching a connection between said serial receiving port and said serial transmitting port of said copying machine to a connection between said serial receiving port and the other sorter; and
- means for receiving data from the other sorter through said serial receiving port, after said switching, in a period of transmission of data from said copying machine to said document feeder.
- 24. An apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein said one of the sorters has a single serial transmitting port, and wherein said apparatus comprises:
- means for transmitting data from said one of the sorters to said copying machine directly through said serial transmitting port of said sorter;
- means for electrically switching a connection between said serial transmitting port and said copying machine to a connection between said serial transmitting port of said sorter and the other porter; and
- means for transmitting data from said sorter to the other sorter through said serial transmitting port, after said switching, in a period of transmission of data from said copying machine to said document feeder.
- 25. An apparatus for controlling data communication in a copying system which is provided with a copying machine and a plurality of peripheral units cooperating with said copying machine, said copying machine having a single serial receiving port, said apparatus comprising:
- means for receiving data from one peripheral unit of said plurality of peripheral units directly through said serial receiving port;
- means for electrically switching a connection between said serial receiving port and said one peripheral unit to a connection between said serial receiving port and another peripheral unit which is different from said one peripheral unit in type and kind after an elapse of a predetermined time from data receipt from said one of said peripheral units is started, said predetermined time being longer than a period for receiving data from said one peripheral unit wherein said electrical switching includes providing a single central processing unit in the copying machine and providing an interface unit responsive to said central processing unit and connected to said serial transmitting port wherein the providing of said interface circuit includes the providing of a plurality of logic gates responsive to a control signal from said central processing unit in order to provide said connection between said serial transmitting port and a selected one of said peripheral units for said predetermined time; and
- means for receiving data from said another peripheral unit directly through said serial receiving port after said switching.
- 26. An apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein said peripheral units are an automatic document feeder and a sorter.
- 27. An apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein said peripheral units are an automatic document feeder and at least two sorters.
- 28. An apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein said one peripheral unit is one of said sorters and said another peripheral unit is said automatic document feeder.
- 29. An apparatus as claimed in claim 28, wherein said one of said sorters has a single serial receiving port, and wherein said apparatus further comprises:
- means for receiving data from said copying machine directly through said serial receiving port of said sorter;
- means for electrically switching a connection between said serial receiving port of said sorter and said copying machine to a connection between said serial receiving port of said sorter and the other sorter; and
- means for receiving data from the other sorter through said serial receiving port of said sorter, after said switching, in a period of receiving data from said document feeder through said serial receiving port of said copying machine.
- 30. An apparatus as claimed in claim 29, wherein said one of the sorters has a single serial transmitting port, and wherein said apparatus further comprises:
- means for transmitting data from said one of the sorters to said copying machine directly through said serial transmitting port;
- means for electrically switching a connection between said serial transmitting pot and said copying machine to a connection between said serial transmitting port and the other sorter; and
- means for transmitting data from said sorter to the other sorter through said serial transmitting port, after said switching, in a period of receiving data from said document feeder through said serial receiving port of said copying machine.
- 31. An apparatus for controlling data communication in a copying system which is provided with a copying machine and a plurality of peripheral units cooperating with said copying machine, said copying machine having a single serial transmitting port and a single serial receiving port, said apparatus comprising:
- means for transmitting data from said copying machine to one peripheral unit of said plurality of peripheral units directly through said serial transmitting port;
- means for receiving data from said one peripheral unit directly through said serial receiving port;
- means for electrically switching a connection between said serial transmitting port and said one peripheral unit and a connection between said serial receiving port and said one peripheral unit to a connection between said serial transmitting port and another peripheral unit which is different from said one peripheral unit in type and kind and a connection between said serial receiving port and said another peripheral unit respectively after an elapse of a predetermined time longer than a period for transmitting data to and receiving data from said one peripheral unit wherein said electrical switching includes providing a single central processing unit in the copying machine and providing an interface circuit responsive to said central processing unit and connected to said serial transmitting port wherein the providing of said interface circuit includes the providing of a plurality of logic gates responsive to a control signal from said central processing unit in order to provide said connection between said serial transmitting port and a peripheral units from said peripheral units for said predetermined time;
- means for transmitting data from said copying machine to said another peripheral unit directly through said serial transmitting port after said switching; and
- means for receiving data from said another peripheral unit directly through said serial receiving port after said switching.
- 32. An apparatus as claimed in claim 31, wherein said peripheral units are an automatic document feeder and a sorter.
- 33. An apparatus as claimed in claim 31, wherein said peripheral units are an automatic document feeder and at least two sorters.
- 34. An apparatus as claimed in claim 33, wherein said one peripheral unit is one of said sorters and said another peripheral unit is said automatic document feeder.
- 35. An apparatus as claimed in claim 34, wherein said one of said sorters has a single serial receiving port, and wherein said apparatus further comprises:
- means for receiving the data from said copying machine directly through said receiving port of said sorter;
- means for electrically switching a connection between said serial receiving port of said sorter and said serial transmitting port of said copying machine to a connection between said serial receiving port of said sorter and the other sorter; and
- means for receiving data from the other sorter through said serial receiving port of said sorter, after said switching, in a period of transmission of data from said copying machine to said document feeder and for receiving data from said document feeder.
- 36. An apparatus as claimed in claim 32, wherein said one of the sorters has a single serial transmitting port, and wherein said apparatus further comprises:
- means for transmitting data from said sorter to said copying machine directly through said serial transmitting port of said porter;
- means for electrically switching a connection between said serial transmitting port of said sorter and said serial receiving port of said copying machine to a connection between said serial transmitting port of said sorter and the other sorter; and
- means for transmitting data from said sorter to the other sorter through said serial transmitting port of said sorter, after said switching, in a period of transmission data from said copying machine to said document feeder and for receiving data from said document feeder.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
63-156324 |
Jun 1988 |
JPX |
|
Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/370,738, filed on Jun. 23, 1989, now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
4698772 |
Carter et al. |
Oct 1987 |
|
4750731 |
Dei et al. |
Jun 1988 |
|
Continuations (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
370738 |
Jun 1989 |
|