Electronic machine having time measuring function

• US 4,882,604 A
• Filed: 08/11/1988
• Issued: 11/21/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha 2-30 Azuchi-Machi Higashi-Ku Osaka-Shi Osaka-Fu Japan
• Original Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Ito, Hideo, Kato, Akio, Hamano, Hiroaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Prescott, A. C.
• Application Number:
  US07/230,886
• Time in Patent Office: 467 Days
• Field of Search: 355/201, 355/202, 368/1, 368/8, 368/9, 368/10, 368/11, 368/184, 368/278, 368/327
• US Class Current: 399/88
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/5066 by using information from an external support, e.g. magnetic card
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/127 Shopping or accessing services according to a time-limitation
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/12 in which metering is on a time basis
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0014 for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00

Abstract

An electronic machine and a timepiece for removably mounting in the machine as an auxiliary device. The timepiece supplies current time information to the machine, and the machine includes a device for inputting desired time information. A control system is provided in the machine for stopping or starting an operation of the machine when the current time information agrees with the desired time information.

Claims

1. An electronic machine having a main body and an auxiliary device removably attachable to the main body, comprising:

timepiece means disposed in said auxiliary device and including a timer for supplying current time information to said main body when mounted in said main body; and

control means for controlling said main body in response to said current time information.

2. An electronic machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said main body includes power feed means and a power switch for switching said power feed means on and off, said control means being operable to switch said power feed means on and off in response to said current time information.

3. An electronic machine having a main body and an auxiliary device removably attachable to the main body, comprising:

timepiece means disposed in said auxiliary device for supplying current time information;

time information input means provided on said main body for inputting desired time information; and

control means for stopping or starting an operation of said main body when said current time information agrees with said desired time information.

4. An electronic machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein said auxiliary device includes memory means for storing additionally input desired time information.

5. An electronic machine having a main body and an auxiliary device removably attachable to the main body, comprising:

power feed means mounted in said main body;

a power switch for switching said power feed means on and off;

timer means disposed in said auxiliary device for supplying current time information;

memory means disposed in said auxiliary device for storing desired time information; and

control means for switching said power feed means on or off regardless of a state of said power switch when said auxiliary device is mounted in said main body and said current time information agrees with said desired time information.

6. A card device removably attachable to an electronic machine, comprising:

timer means for producing current time information; and

connector means for electrically connecting said card device to said electronic device when said card device is mounted in said electronic device, for allowing said current time information to be supplied to said electronic machine.

7. A copying machine comprising:

a main body;

power feed means;

timer means for starting or stopping said power feed means at a selected time; and

input means including a numeric input device, a magnification varying device for identifying a numerical value input or displayed by said numeric input device as a copying magnification to be input, and a time varying device for identifying the numerical value input or displayed by said numeric input device as time information to be input.

8. A copying machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein said timer means includes a current time information supply unit, a desired time information storing unit, and a control unit for comparing current time information and desired time information and for starting or stopping said power feed means when said current time information agrees with said desired time information.

9. A copying machine as claimed in claim 8, wherein at least said current time information supply unit is removably attached to said main body.

10. A copying machine as claimed in claim 7 wherein said time varying device is switchable between a first mode for setting current time information and a second mode for setting desired time information, and has a function to set the time information numerically input by the numeric input device as information corresponding to selected one of the first and second modes, said function being performed by selecting between a current time setting mode key and a time writing mode key.

11. A copying machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein said numeric input device includes up and down keys for inputting numerical values.

12. A copying machine as claimed in claim 11, wherein said time varying device puts a value of time information forward in response to an operation of one of said up and down keys and backward in response to an operation of the other of said up and down keys.

13. A copying machine as claimed in claim 11, wherein said time varying device puts a value of time information fast forward in response to an operation of one of said up and down keys and slowly forward in response to an operation of the other of said up and down keys.

14. A copying machine as claimed in claim 11, wherein said time varyng device puts the "hour" of time information forward in response to an operation of one of said up and down keys and the "minute" of the time information forward in response to an operation of the other of said up and down keys.

15. A copying machine as claimed in claim 11, wherein said time varying device is selectively operable in a first mode for putting a value of time information forward in response to an operation of one of said up and down keys and backward in response to an operation of the other of said up and down keys, a second mode for putting the "hour" of time information forward in response to the operation of one of said up and down keys and the "minute" of the time information forward in response to the operation of the other of said up and down keys, and a third mode for putting the value of time information fast forward in response to the operation of one of said up and down keys and slowly forward in response to the operation of the other of said up and down keys.