Optional device monitoring apparatus, image forming apparatus and monitoring method

Abstract

The invention relates to an optional device monitoring apparatus, an image forming apparatus and a monitoring method. The optional device monitoring apparatus is provided with optional devices, sensors and a central processing unit, wherein there are m optional devices and m sensors, and the central processing unit executes a monitoring main program to monitor all of the m optional devices. The cycle to the end of the monitoring for all of the m optional devices includes multiple monitoring periods, and the monitoring main program includes a monitoring sub-program. In the monitoring sub-program, the central processing unit monitors n optional devices including at least one unmonitored optional device in one monitoring period, m is an integer which is greater than or equal to 2, and n is an integer which is greater than 1 and less than m. Even if the machine main body is equipped with multiple paper supply boxes, the optional device monitoring apparatus can still communicate information of the paper supply boxes with the machine main body in real time without being limited by the processing capacity of the CPU.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to an optional device monitoring device, an image forming apparatus, and a monitoring method, and particularly relates to the ability to communicate the information of the paper feeding cassettes with the machine body in real time even when a plurality of paper feeding cassettes are installed in the machine body, An optional device monitoring device, an image forming device, and a monitoring method that are not limited by the processing capability of the CPU. Background technique [0002] In the prior art, when a plurality of paper feeding cassettes are installed, the control section of the image forming apparatus needs to communicate with each paper feeding cassette to monitor its status, because the processing capability of the CPU of the control section is limited, and The communication time required for each paper feeding cassette is also the same, so the number of paper feeding cassettes that can be processed within a...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, switching between broadcast and unicast mode will lead to complex communication methods, and the broadcast mode is not conducive to information security

In addition, the asynchronous communication method cannot obtain information in real time, which will cause the main body of the machine to lag behind the information of the paper feeding box

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