JP3019348B2 - Image forming device management system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus management system in which an image forming apparatus and a management apparatus are connected via a communication line.

[Conventional technology]

Generally, when an image forming apparatus such as a copier, a facsimile, or an optical printer that forms a hard copy image using an electrophotographic process encounters various troubles that make it impossible to form an image, that fact is notified. A display means is provided for notifying the user (operator). In the case of a shortage of consumables such as paper and toner, or a minor trouble such as paper jam (jam), the operator himself can replenish the consumables. The image formation can be restarted by removing the jammed paper.

In addition, when troubles that cannot be dealt with by the operator, including troubles that significantly deteriorate the image quality,
That is, when the operation state of the image forming apparatus becomes an abnormal state, a so-called serviceman call for requesting communication with a serviceman is displayed.

Conventionally, as shown in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 59-142559, in order to centrally manage a plurality of copying machines, a communication line is established between each copying machine and a management device (host). 2. Description of the Related Art There are known management systems connected via a personal computer.

A copying machine constituting such a management system has means for storing data corresponding to a management item, and is configured to transmit data to the host in accordance with a command from the host.

Conventional management items are mainly for ascertaining the operation (use) status of the copying machine, and include, for example, the number of copies for each user, the size of used paper, and the like.

In other words, the conventional management system can be used by a user who has a plurality of copiers, such as a government office or a company, for rational operation of each copier, for example, the beneficiary burden of maintenance costs and the use between each user. It is constructed for the purpose of easily compiling data for equalizing amounts and the like.

By the way, in recent years, in order to improve the efficiency of maintenance (maintenance) of the image forming apparatus, a host is installed at a service base (service station) where a service person stands by, and a plurality of images installed under the host and each user are installed. Construction of a maintenance management system that connects each of the forming apparatuses online has been advanced.

In the present specification, the maintenance means all the activities for keeping the operation state (condition) of the image forming apparatus normal, and is performed by a service person at a user site such as a periodic inspection and repair of a trouble (failure or malfunction). This includes work (on-site work) and activities for supporting on-site work, that is, activities for totalizing and analyzing the occurrence of troubles, improving work manuals, and the like.

In the maintenance management system, the management items mainly relate to the condition of the image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus has a function of transmitting state data corresponding to the condition indicated by an output signal of a sensor of each unit to the host. Will be prepared.

By managing the condition of each image forming apparatus at the service station, for example, when a trouble corresponding to the above-mentioned service man call occurs, the service man estimates the contents of the trouble based on the status data and performs necessary repairs. You can go to the user after preparing the parts.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, in managing the condition of the image forming apparatus, as described above, when the preparation for the on-site work is started after the condition becomes abnormal and the serviceman call is displayed, the time required for the on-site work is required. It is said that the time including the time until the service man arrives at the user's destination becomes a period (downtime) during which the image forming apparatus cannot be used (machine down), and the user is greatly hindered by the unexpected machine down. There's a problem.

In particular, in rare cases where the repair parts (replacement parts) necessary for the service station are not in stock, the downtime is prolonged by the time required for the serviceman to obtain the repair parts.

Further, the display of the serviceman call is recognized by the user as a failure of the image forming apparatus. For this reason,
The user's trust in the image forming apparatus may be lost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to prevent the occurrence of a machine down due to an abnormality in an image forming apparatus, and to reduce troubles for a user.

[Means for solving the problem]

According to an aspect of the present invention, in order to solve the above-described problem, in an image forming apparatus management system in which an image forming apparatus and a management apparatus are connected via a communication line, the image forming apparatus includes state data related to an operation state of the image forming apparatus. Means for transmitting the status data, wherein the management device is configured to receive the status data, and that the operation state of the image forming apparatus falls into an abnormal state requiring maintenance work by a serviceman based on the received status data. Is provided with abnormality prediction means for determining whether or not an inevitable abnormal imminent state is provided, so that a service person can confirm that the operation state of the image forming apparatus is in an abnormal imminent state via the management device. It is characterized by being done.

[Action]

The abnormality prediction unit determines whether the operation state of the image forming apparatus is an abnormal imminent state in which it is inevitable to fall into an abnormal state that requires maintenance work by a serviceman.

The serviceman can confirm, via the management device, that the operation state of the image forming apparatus is in an abnormal imminent state.

〔Example〕

 Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

 FIG. 3 is a front sectional view showing a main part of the copying machine 1.

In FIG. 1, a photosensitive drum 5 is rotatably arranged in a direction of an arrow Ma at a constant peripheral speed v. Inside the heater, a heater 5a for heating the photosensitive drum 5 and a temperature sensor are provided.
51 are provided. On / off control of the heater 5a is performed based on the output signal of the temperature sensor 51, whereby the temperature of the photosensitive drum 5 is kept constant.

Around the photosensitive drum 5, a charger 6, an inter-image eraser 10, a developing device 7,
A transfer charger 28, a separation charger 29, a cleaning device 9, and a main eraser 8 are provided. The charging charger 6 is a scorotron charger having a mesh grid 63.

A surface voltmeter (V0 sensor) 90 for measuring the surface potential (V0) of the photosensitive drum 5 is provided between the exposure position X2 and the inter-image eraser 10, and the separation charger 29 and the cleaning device 9 are provided. Between them, a reflection type photo sensor (AIDC sensor) 19 including a light emitting element 19a and a light receiving element 19b is provided for measuring the density of the reference toner image.

The surface of the photosensitive drum 5 is uniformly charged by passing through the charging charger 6, and the optical system 20 is exposed at the exposure position X2.
Exposure. The surface charge of the photosensitive drum 5 is partially removed by the exposure, and the original D
Is formed. Surface charges other than the latent image are erased by the inter-image eraser 10.

The optical system 20 includes an exposure lamp 21 for irradiating the original D placed on the original table glass 11, mirrors 22a to 22d for guiding the reflected light B from the original D to the exposure position X2, and a projection lens 23. In the vicinity of the projection lens 23, an AE sensor 25 for detecting the amount of reflected light from the document D is provided.

At the time of exposure scanning of the document D, the exposure lamp 21 and the mirror 22a move at a speed v / m (m is a copy magnification) in the direction of the arrow Mb, and the mirrors 22b and 22c can move at a speed v / 2m.

The latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 5 is developed by the developing device 7 and is visualized as a toner image.

The developing device 7 uses a developer consisting of a mixture of a magnetic carrier and an insulating toner, and attaches the toner to a latent image (charge existing portion, that is, a non-exposed portion) passing through the developing position X3 by a known magnetic brush method. , So-called regular development. Inside the developing tank 70, a developing sleeve 71 having a built-in magnetic roller 72, an ear height regulating plate 73, a bucket roller 74,
A screw roller 75 is provided, and a toner density sensor (ATDC sensor) 80 is disposed below the screw roller 75.

When the bucket roller 74 rotates in the direction of arrow Mc, the developer is attracted to the outer peripheral surface of the developing sleeve 71 by the magnetic force of the magnetic roller 72, and is transported to the developing position X3 based on the rotation of the developing sleeve 71 in the direction of arrow Md. Is done. Toner density sensor 80
Is for measuring the weight ratio T / C [wt%] of the toner to the whole developer from the magnetic permeability of the developer.

A toner tank 76 is provided at an upper portion of the developing tank 70, and a toner supply roller 77 is provided at a bottom portion thereof. When the toner supply roller 77 is driven to rotate by the supply motor 78, toner is supplied from the toner tank 76 to the screw roller 75. The replenished toner is supplied to the screw roller 75
The developer is stirred and mixed with the developer already existing inside the developing tank 70 by the rotation of the developer tank 70 and sent to the bucket roller 74. The frictional charging occurs due to the stirring and mixing here, and the magnetic carrier and the toner are charged with polarities different from each other. The negative toner adheres to the surface of the photosensitive drum 5 by electrostatic attraction with the surface charge of the photosensitive drum 5 at the developing position X3. At this time, a developing bias VB of a predetermined voltage is applied to the developing sleeve 71 in order to prevent toner from adhering due to residual charges on the surface of the photosensitive drum 5 (charges remaining on the exposed portion).

On the other hand, the paper P is fed out one by one by the paper feed roller 31 from the detachable paper
The toner image is transferred to the paper P by the transfer charger 28 at a transfer position X4 at a timing synchronized with the rotation of the photosensitive drum 5 by the transfer roller 30. The paper P to which the toner image has been transferred is separated from the photosensitive drum 5 by the separation charger 29, sent to the fixing device 15 by the conveyor belt 14, and discharged out of the copying machine 1 after the toner image is fixed.

After that, the remaining toner is removed from the surface of the photosensitive drum 5 by the cleaning blade 9a of the cleaning device 9, and the remaining charge is removed by the main eraser 8 to prepare for the next exposure. The light amount of the main eraser 8 is controlled to a constant value based on the output of a light amount sensor (not shown).

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the control circuit 200 of the copying machine 1.

The control circuit 200 is a CPU 20 for performing overall control of the copying machine 1.
1, a program memory 211 storing a control program, a memory 21 capable of writing and reading various data used for controlling the electrophotographic process and managing the copier 1, and the like.
0, a communication interface 223 for communicating with the management device 2 described later, and the like.

CPU 201 has AE sensor 25, ATDC sensor 80, V0
Signals from sensors in each section such as the sensor 90 and the AIDC sensor 19 are input. Further, an exposure lamp power supply 50 for lighting the exposure lamp 21, a power supply 208 for driving the supply motor 78, an output circuit 202 for setting the surface potential V0 of the photosensitive drum 5, and a developing bias VB are applied. A control signal is applied from the CPU 201 to the high-voltage power supply 40 and the like.

The CPU 201 controls communication for transmitting data in the memory 210 to the external device in response to a command from the external device and controls the operation panel 100, in addition to controlling the electrophotographic process.

The communication interface 223 incorporates a modem for performing data communication using the telephone line 230. The communication interface 223 is provided as an additional device outside the main body of the copying machine 1, and the driving power is supplied from the copying machine 1.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a part of the operation panel 100 of the copying machine 1.

The operation panel 100 includes a print key 101 for starting a copying operation, a numeric keypad group 104 including keys corresponding to numerical values of 1, 2,. Clear stop key 103,
A message display section 117 composed of a liquid crystal display, a cursor key 131, an ENTER key 132 and the like are arranged.

A message display unit (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as a “display unit”) 117 usually displays a copy condition such as the number of copies and a copy magnification, and a selection screen for various copy modes such as enlargement / reduction and double-sided copy. You.

The cursor key 131 is a key for moving a cursor to a position of a desired option on the screen of the display unit 117. When the ENTER key 132 is pressed, a process corresponding to the option of the cursor position is executed.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the management network system 500.

The management network system 500 is a system in which five identical copying machines 1a to 1e installed at the user and the management device 2 of the service station SS are brought online using a telephone line 230. 1c is installed in a building B1 in which an extension network is configured by an automatic exchange 225a and internal lines 229a to 229c, and the copying machines 1d and 1e are installed in buildings B2 and B3, respectively, and the automatic exchanges 225b and 225c Telephone line 230 through
It is connected to the.

On the other hand, the management device 2 is connected to a telephone line 230 via an exchange 226 and an internal line 231 in the service station SS.

Note that the copiers 1a to 1e can be directly connected to the management device 2 without going through the exchanges 225a to 225c.

 FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the management device 2.

The management device 2 includes a host computer 301 that executes various processes according to software, a display 3 for display.
02, keyboard 303 as operation input means, printer 304 for printing, each copier 1a to 1 installed at each user
modem 305 for communicating with e via telephone line 230,
And a telephone 306 for a telephone call between a serviceman and the user. The host computer 301 has a user stock table for centrally managing the stock of consumables (toner and paper P) under the user of each of the copying machines 1a to 1e.
A storage device 301a provided with a UST is incorporated. In the following, the user stock table UST may be simply referred to as “table UST”.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the contents of communication in the management network system 500.

Each of the copying machines 1a to 1e transmits the maintenance data MD at an appropriate time (for example, when the power is turned on or at a predetermined time).

The maintenance data MD includes a machine number Mn for specifying any one of the copying machines 1a to 1e, operation data OD indicating the consumption status of consumables, status data CD indicating a condition, and the like.

On the other hand, based on the maintenance data MD sent from each of the copying machines 1a to 1e, the host computer 301 of the management device 2 performs an automatic diagnosis process for detecting the condition of each of the copying machines 1a to 1e, as described later, and The copier 1a to 1e executes an inventory management process for preventing the consumables from running out of stock at the user site, and stores the after-service data AD including the remote control signal SF and the stock shortage warning signal SA.
Send to In the following, of the copying machines 1a to 1e, the one in which the maintenance data MD and the after-service data AD are transmitted and received is referred to as "copier 1."

Next, as a specific example, a state of detecting a condition relating to the sheet feeding roller 31 will be described.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the automatic diagnosis process.

First, in step # 1, data DPFn is selected from the state data CD. The data DPFn indicates a time T1 from the start of feeding of the sheet P by the sheet feeding roller 31 to the end of the sheet P reaching the transport roller 30.

The value of the data DPFn increases as the abrasion of the paper feed roller 31 progresses and the transport speed of the paper P decreases.

Next, in step # 2, based on the data DPFn received in the previous communication and the data DPFn received in the current communication stored in the storage device 301a, the following expression (1) is used. The rate of change EDPFn of the data DPFn is determined.

In the following step # 3, a separation rate Y represented by the following equation (2) is obtained.

In Expression (2), the reference value of DPFn is predetermined according to the model of the copying machine 1.

In step # 4, the separation rate Y does not exceed 0.1 (Y
Check whether <0.1). If the answer is YES in step # 4, the condition of the copying machine 1 can be considered to be in an appropriate state, and the adjustment of the sheet feeding is not necessary.

If the separation rate Y is 0.1 or more, the process proceeds to step # 5, and it is checked whether the separation rate Y does not exceed 0.2 (Y <0.2).

If the answer is yes in step # 5, an automatic adjustment process is performed in step # 6 to compensate for the inconvenience caused by the fluctuation of the time table 1.

In the automatic adjustment process, control is performed to increase the press-contact force between the paper feed roller 31 and the paper P by raising the paper push-up plate at the bottom of the paper cassette 95, or to extend the time T1 for judging a paper feed error to the time T1. A remote control signal SF for causing the CPU 201 to execute the control to be set together is transmitted to the copying machine 1. Also,
As an automatic adjustment process, in order to prevent a decrease in the number of copies per minute in continuous copying (multi-copy), it is possible to execute a process of shortening the time measured by a paper feed interval timer that determines a paper feed cycle.

If NO in step # 5, the process proceeds to step # 7, and it is checked whether the separation rate Y does not exceed 0.3 (Y <0.3).

If yes in step # 7, it is checked in next step # 8 whether the change rate EDPFn exceeds 0.3. If the change rate EDPFn exceeds 0.3, the degree of wear of the paper feed roller 31 is within the allowable range at present, but the wear of the paper feed roller 31 is rapidly progressing, and the paper This is a state in which it is inevitable to fall into an abnormal state where P feeding failure (feed error) frequently occurs, that is, an abnormal imminent state. So in this case step #
Then, the process proceeds to 9 to execute after-service processing for the purpose of preventing an abnormal state from occurring.

If no in step # 7, that is, if the separation rate Y is
If it exceeds 0.3, since the copying machine 1 is already in an abnormal state, the after-service processing of step # 9 is immediately executed.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the after-service processing.

First, in step # 11, it is checked whether component replacement is necessary.

If yes in step # 11, a part to be replaced is extracted (step # 12), and the display 302 or the printer 3
Instruct the service technician to replace parts by outputting a maintenance work target list by step 04 (step # 13).

This allows the serviceman to prepare the necessary repair parts, go to the user, and replace the parts, thereby preventing occurrence of an abnormal state.

If the service station SS does not have the necessary parts in stock, or if the parts are stored at a location other than the service station SS (for example, a part manufacturer), the parts are stored in step # 13. Notification (automatic parts ordering) for ordering to service station SS is performed. In this case, the serviceman goes to the user after the arrival of the parts.

In step # 14, it is checked whether the stock of consumables is insufficient for each user. That is, the consumption amount of the consumable is estimated based on the operation data OD, and it is determined whether or not the remaining amount of the stock is less than the minimum stock reference amount.
The minimum stock reference amount is determined in advance for each user and consumable in consideration of the user's actual usage (average consumption per day) and the number of days (hours) required to supply the consumable.
The remaining amount of stock can also be estimated based on the user's usage record and the number of days elapsed since the last supply of the consumables.

In step # 15, the name of the user having a shortage of stock and the shortage of consumables are extracted.

Next, in step # 16, it is checked whether supply of consumables is possible. That is, based on the judgment of the service station SS, it is checked whether or not so-called automatic delivery for supplying consumables without requesting the user's consent may be performed each time. Whether or not automatic delivery is possible is determined in advance by a maintenance contract with each user, and data indicating the result of the determination is stored in the user stock table UST.

If YES in step # 16, in step # 17, the supply of the consumables is instructed to the serviceman. If the supply base of the consumables is provided separately from the service station SS, a notification requesting the supply base to supply a predetermined amount of consumables (automatic consumable supply order) is performed.

If no in step # 16, proceed to step # 18,
A stock shortage warning signal SA is transmitted to the copying machine 1. In this case, as shown in FIG. 5B, a message Z1 is displayed on the display unit 117 of the copying machine 1, for example, informing the user that the stock of the A4 size paper P is running low.

9 (a) and 9 (b) show the user stock table UST
And FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the contents of the user stock table UST.

As shown in Figure 10, user inventory table UST
Is the storage area ME1, ME2 corresponding to each user
Are stored in each of the storage areas ME1, ME2,... For each consumable item, the data indicating the stock amount and the minimum stock reference amount.

In FIG. 9 (a), first, in step # 21, the presence or absence of supply (delivery) of consumables is checked. If the delivery has been made, an operation of inputting the type and quantity of the delivered consumable using the keyboard 303 is performed in step # 22.

In step # 23, the input consumable quantity is added to the stock quantity before the input, and the current stock quantity is calculated. For example,
When 20,000 sheets of A4 size paper P are delivered, if the stock amount of the A4 sheet stock data is 512 sheets, the stock amount after the addition is 20512 sheets.

Then, in step # 24, the stock amount (20512 sheets) obtained in step # 23 is stored as the latest stock amount.

In FIG. 9 (b), the operation data OD is set in the step well 31.
To check the presence or absence of image formation.

If image formation has been performed, the type and quantity of the consumables used are extracted (step # 32), and the extracted quantity is subtracted from the stock quantity of the consumables read from the user stock table UST to obtain the current stock. Calculate the amount (step #
33), and store the calculated current stock amount in the user stock table UST as the latest stock information (step # 3).
Four).

In the above embodiment, the host computer 301 executes the automatic diagnosis processing for detecting whether or not the condition of the copying machine 1 is in an abnormal imminent state based on the status data CD. CPU 201 executes an automatic diagnosis process, and reports the result of the process to the host computer 30.
Notification may be sent to 1.

〔The invention's effect〕

According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a machine down due to an abnormality of the image forming apparatus, and to reduce troubles for the user.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a management network system, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a management device, FIG. 3 is a front sectional view showing a main part of the copying machine, and FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a control circuit of the copying machine. FIG. 5, FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a part of the operation panel, and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the contents of communication in the management network system. 7 to 9 are flowcharts showing the processing in the management network system, and FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the contents of the user stock table. 1. Copier (image forming apparatus), 2. Management device, 301. Host computer (abnormality predicting means).

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Deyama 2-3-13 Azuchicho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Inside Osaka International Building Minolta Camera Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Togaku Uetama Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi 2nd-13-13 Azuchicho Osaka International Building Minolta Camera Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Montaro Nishimori 2-3-13 Azuchicho Chuo-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Osaka International Building Minolta Camera Co., Ltd. (72) Invention Person Yoshihiko Hatta 2-3-13 Azuchicho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Osaka International Building Minolta Camera Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Masazumi Ito 2-3-13-Azuchicho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Osaka International Building Minolta (72) Inventor Tsutomu Yoshiyama 2-3-13 Azuchicho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Large Kokusai Building Minolta Camera Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Satoshi Shibata 2-3-13 Azuchicho, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture Osaka Kokusai Building Minolta Camera Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yoshiaki Hata, Azuchi, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Osaka No. 2-313, Osaka-cho Kokusai Building Minolta Camera Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-54-44522 (JP, A) JP-A-60-263162 (JP, A) JP-A 62-280771 (JP) JP-A-58-221409 (JP, A) JP-A-3-1611763 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03G 15/00 303 G03G 15/36 G03G 21/00 370-540 G03G 21/02-21/04 G03G 21/14 G03G 21/20 H04M 11/00-11/10

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus management system in which an image forming apparatus and a management apparatus are connected via a communication line, wherein the image forming apparatus includes means for transmitting state data relating to an operation state of the image forming apparatus. The management device is a means for receiving the status data, and the operation status of the image forming apparatus is based on the received status data in an abnormal imminent state in which it is inevitable that the operation state of the image forming apparatus falls into an abnormal state requiring maintenance work by a serviceman. Abnormality predicting means for determining whether or not there is, and through the management device, a service person can confirm that the operation state of the image forming apparatus is in an abnormal imminent state. Image forming apparatus management system.