Recorder for monitoring copiers

• US 3,893,175 A
• Filed: 03/26/1973
• Issued: 07/01/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Abby R. Solomon
• Original Assignee: Abby R. Solomon
• Inventors: Solomon, Abby R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Canney, Vincent P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lucas, Jay P.
• Application Number:
  US05/344,781
• Time in Patent Office: 827 Days
• Field of Search: 346/33M,50,74M 355/112 340/172.5 360/6
• US Class Current: 360/6
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/50 Machine control of apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern, e.g. regulating differents parts of the machine, multimode copiers, microprocessor control sequencing control G03G21/14

Abstract

An automatic recorder for copiers adapted to monitor certain selected functions and components of the copier, and, in response to certain occurrences within the copier and/or the recorder, to record certain of the data accumulated from such monitoring. The recorder includes clock means for pinpointing the time at which the event prompting the recording of data occurred, together with counting means for tolling certain operational functions within the copier. To prevent unwarranted shutdown of the recorder, an auxiliary power source is provided. And where the recorder is capable of recording plural blocks of data in response to the occurrence of divergent events in the copier, there is included means to inhibit simultaneous recording of more than one data block at a time.

Claims

1. Recording apparatus for use in collecting information about customer copier usage patterns and copier failure and operational patterns for subsequent analysis, comprising:

an on-line recorder including a magnetic tape and a recording head for recording real time operating characteristics of the copier on said tape;

means to monitor certain of said copier operating characteristics in real time sequence, the monitor means providing recordable data identifying the copier operating characteristics being monitored as they occur;

data storage means for storing said data pending recording thereof; and

control means adapted on the occurrence of a predetermined recording event in said copier to release at least a block-like portion of the data stored in said data storage means to said recorder head for recording thereof on said tape.

2. The recorder according to claim 1 including means to clear the portion of said data storage means in which said block of data was stored following recording thereof.

3. The recorder according to claim 1 including clock means to toll real time operation of said recorder, and clock control means adapted on the occurrence of said predetermined copier event to actuate said clock means and provide timing data identifying the time at which said predetermined recording event occurred.

4. The recorder according to claim 1 in which said control means includeS means to prevent simultaneous recording of more than one block of data at a time.

5. The recorder according to claim 1 in which said recorder includes means to generate data identifying the specific block of data being recorded.

6. The recorder according to claim 1 in which said monitor means includes at least one counter, said counter being adapted on reaching a preset count to actuate said control means.

7. The recorder according to claim 1 in which said monitor means includes signal generating means for identifying data recorded during servicing of said copier.

8. The recorder according to claim 7 including means to actuate said control means in response to starting or terminating of servicing of said copier.

9. The recorder according to claim 1 including means responsive to termination of each copying cycle to actuate said control means.

10. The recorder according to claim 1 including means responsive to a change in power input to said copier to actuate said control means.

11. The recorder according to claim 1 in which said monitoring means includes elapsed time clock means to provide data indicative of the length of each copying cycle in said copier.