Abstract: An equipment controlling apparatus is composed of a counter for counting the operational number of the equipment, memories for storing data indicating the state of the equipment, a communication device for communicating on the stored data with a centralized control apparatus, which controls the communicated data intensively, and a controlling device for causing the stored data to be transmitted to the centralized control apparatus when the counter has counted a predetermined value.

Abstract: An equipment control unit is composed of equipment control means for controlling the operation of an equipment, communication control means for controlling the transmission and reception of data to and from an external device, and transfer means for transferring the data between the equipment control means and the communication control means.

Abstract: A method of managing an image forming apparatus by a remote computer comprises the steps of detecting an abnormal state in the image forming apparatus, transferring an error code corresponding to the kind of the detected abnormal state to the computer, selecting a predetermined program according to the transferred error code by the computer, transferring the selected predetermined program to the image forming apparatus by the computer, and executing the transferred predetermined program by the image forming apparatus. The predetermined program is a diagnosing program to examine the causes of a failure in the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus utilizing an ink jet recording head and including a plurality of processing devices for forming the image; a detector which detects a quantity of a state, i.e. temperature, humidity, idle time, suspened dust, etc., related to a control of the image processing devices; and an inferrence computer which uses fuzzy logic in analizing the detected quantity of state to control the processing devices.

Abstract: A machine monitoring apparatus includes an input device for receiving data from a machine, the data being indicative of a condition of the machine, a storage device for storing the received data, a communication device for communicating between the storage device and an external apparatus installed at a position separate from the machine, and a control device for inhibiting the communication device from transmitting the data stored in the storage device when a power supply for supplying the machine with electric power is turned off while the data is being received by the input device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus such as copying apparatus or laser beam printer in which each section of the apparatus is controlled by using a fuzzy inference. The apparatus comprises: processors to form an image; a detector to detect at least one state amount regarding the control of the processors; an inference operation unit to infer a control amount which is used in the control of the processors on the basis of the state amount; and a correction circuit to correct the delay amount of the control system in the inference. The processors include at least one of the charging device, exposing device, developing device, copy transfer device, paper feeding device, conveying device, fixing device, and image forming mode setting device. A predetermined value is added to or subtracted from the value obtained by the fuzzy inference so as to suppress the influence by the delay amount of the control system.

Abstract: An equipment controlling apparatus is composed of a counter for counting the operational number of the equipment, memories for storing data indicating the state of the equipment, a communication device for communicating on the stored data with a centralized control apparatus, which controls the communicated data intensively, and a controlling device for causing the stored data to be transmitted to the centralized control apparatus when the counter has counted a predetermined value.

Abstract: A power supply control apparatus includes an input device for receiving data from a machine, the data being indicative of a condition of a malfunction occurring in the machine; a communication device for communicating between the input device and an external apparatus installed at a position separate from the machine; and a power supply control device for controlling a supply of electric power to the machine. The communication device transmits the received data to the external apparatus, and based on the malfunction condition indicated by the data, the external apparatus transmits an instruction to the communication device to interrupt the supply of power to the machine. The power supply control device interrupts the supply of power to the machine in accordance with the instruction from the external apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an original circulation unit for feeding originals placed on an original mounting unit one by one to an exposure site and after the exposure, returning the original to the original mounting unit; a copying unit for copying an original image to a recording sheet through exposure of the original at the exposure site; a first transport unit for feeding the recording sheet to a copy site; a first control unit for performing the original circulation by the original circulation unit for a set number of times to obtain the set number of copies; a second transport unit for feeding a specific sheet for each circulation of the originals; and a second control unit for controlling the first and second transport units to pre-feed the recording sheet and the specific sheet to be next supplied during a copy operation; wherein the second control unit does not perform the pre-feed of the recording sheet and the specific sheet during the first circulation of the originals by the original ci

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an original circulation unit for feeding originals placed on an original mounting unit one by one to an exposure site and after the exposure, returning the original to the original mounting unit; a copying unit for copying an original image to a recording sheet through exposure of the original at the exposure site; a first transport unit for feeding the recording sheet to a copy site; a first control unit for performing the original circulation by the original circulation unit for a set number of times to obtain the set number of copies; a second transport unit for feeding a specific sheet for each circulation of the originals; and a second control unit for controlling the first and second transport units to pre-feed the recording sheet and the specific sheet to be next supplied during a copy operation; wherein the second control unit does not perform the pre-feed of the recording sheet and the specific sheet during the first circulation of the originals by the original ci