JP2002084388A - Image forming apparatus and management method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide an image forming apparatus capable of easily performing service management by acquiring and displaying information about an image forming apparatus from an external information processing apparatus, and a management method thereof. SOLUTION: The information processing apparatus is connected to an external server or a host computer via a communication line, acquires information (contents of a manual, troubleshooting) on the image forming apparatus from the connected external server or the host computer, and acquires the acquired information. LCD panel of operation unit or C
The maintenance is performed on the image forming apparatus by displaying the image on an RT display.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus connected to an external information processing apparatus via a communication line to receive information about the image forming apparatus, and a method of managing the image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image reading unit which includes a light source such as a halogen lamp or a fluorescent lamp and an image pickup device such as a CCD and reads an image of a document or the like, and records the read image by an electrostatic latent image process or an ink jet method. An image forming apparatus including an image forming unit that records an image on a medium is provided with an operation unit for setting the number of recordings, image density, and other editing information.

In recent years, diversification and complexity of functions, MMI
With the improvement of (man-machine interface), many products equipped with a large-screen liquid crystal panel or a CRT display as an information display unit on this operation unit are on the market.

Some touch buttons are provided on the surface to serve also as functions of various setting buttons. In normal use, the display unit displays a copy progress status and a setting status of an editing function. When an abnormality such as the above occurs, the location is graphically displayed to notify the operator.

On the other hand, in recent years, the time required for maintenance of an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer installed at a customer has been shortened, and information relating to billing such as the number of copies and the number of jams has not been sent to the customer. An information collection terminal is attached to the image forming apparatus so that the information can be managed by a server or a host computer installed at a base such as a remote dealer, and a system for collecting such information via a communication line is being constructed. is there.

[0006]

In such a situation, when a service technician usually goes to a customer for maintenance or the like, he or she must bring a document such as a service manual prepared separately for each model and look at it. In the meantime, replacement of parts, investigation of defects, or maintenance was performed.

[0007] For this reason, it is very likely that an inexperienced service technician takes time to perform a job or an operation error occurs. Even an experienced service person requires a great deal of labor to cope with the increasingly sophisticated and complicated copying machine in recent years.

On the other hand, an information collecting terminal attached to a copying machine merely collects data such as the number of jams in addition to the number of copies and the number of jams, and there is hardly any other effective use. Was.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an image forming apparatus capable of easily performing service management by acquiring and displaying information about an image forming apparatus from an external information processing apparatus. The purpose is to provide a management method.

[0010]

According to the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus which is connected to an external information processing apparatus via a communication line and receives information on the image forming apparatus. A connection unit configured to connect to an external information processing apparatus via a communication line; an acquisition unit configured to acquire information on the image forming apparatus from the connected external information processing apparatus; and a display unit configured to display the acquired information on a display unit. And control means for controlling.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus connected to an external information processing apparatus via a communication line.
An image forming apparatus management method for receiving information about an image forming apparatus, the method comprising connecting to an external information processing apparatus via a communication line, and acquiring information about the image forming apparatus from the connected external information processing apparatus. The acquired information is displayed on a display unit to manage the image forming apparatus.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment,
A digital color copying machine will be described as an example of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view (a front view) showing the structure of a digital color copying machine according to this embodiment. In the digital color copying machine, the image scanner section and the printer section can be applied to either independent or integrated configurations.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an image scanner section, which optically reads a document image and outputs a color image signal converted into a digital signal. Reference numeral 2 denotes a printer unit, which performs an operation for recording a digital color image signal output from the image scanner unit 1 on recording paper.

In the image scanner section 1, reference numeral 3 denotes a document pressing plate for bringing a document into close contact with a platen glass 4. Reference numeral 5 denotes a CCD, and reference numeral 6 denotes a substrate on which the CCD 5 is mounted. Reference numeral 8 denotes an image processing unit which samples and holds an analog image signal converted into an electric signal by the CCD 5,
Processing such as amplification and A / D conversion is performed.
The image signal is converted into a bit digital signal, subjected to various processing such as masking processing and γ correction, and transmitted to the laser scanning unit. 9 is a fluorescent lamp for irradiating the original, 10 is a reflector for condensing the light of the fluorescent lamp 9 on the original, 11 to 13 are mirrors, 14 is a lens for condensing reflected light or projected light from the original on the CCD 5, Reference numeral 15 denotes a carriage (hereinafter, referred to as a first mirror base) that accommodates the fluorescent lamp 9, the reflecting umbrella 10, and the mirror 11, and reference numeral 16 denotes a carriage (hereinafter, referred to as second mirror base) that accommodates the mirrors 12, 13.

Reference numeral 17 denotes a fluorescent lamp control circuit, which generates a variable duty PWM pulse signal at a constant cycle in accordance with a lighting control signal from the image processing unit 8 and supplies the PWM pulse signal to a fluorescent lamp driving circuit described later. A fluorescent lamp driving circuit 18 turns on the fluorescent lamp based on the above-mentioned PWM pulse signal. 19
Reference numeral denotes a light amount sensor, which measures the light amount of the fluorescent lamp 9 turned on by a driving signal from the fluorescent lamp driving circuit 18. Here, the fluorescent lamp control circuit 17 looks at the output from the light amount sensor 19 and controls the light amount by changing the duty of the PWM pulse signal so that the output value becomes a certain value.

The first mirror base 15 is moved at a speed V and the second mirror base 16 is moved at a speed V / 2 by mechanically moving the CCD 5 in a direction perpendicular to the electrical scanning (main scanning) direction. Then, the entire surface of the document is scanned (sub-scan).

On the other hand, in the printer section 2, a printer control section 7 is provided with a circuit for driving loads such as various motors of the printer section 2. Reference numeral 20 denotes a photosensitive drum,
It is driven at a predetermined peripheral speed (process speed) in the direction of the arrow. A charging roller 21 charges the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 20 to a predetermined polarity and potential. Reference numeral 22 denotes a laser scanning unit, which scans and exposes the charged surface of the photosensitive drum 20 with laser light 23 pulse-width-modulated according to the digital image signal input from the image processing unit 8 to thereby electrostatically image information. Form a latent image. Reference numeral 24 denotes a laser light reflecting mirror that deflects the laser light 23 from the laser scanning unit 22 with respect to the photosensitive drum 20. 25 is a developing device,
A rotation-switchable color developing device including a yellow toner developing device 25Y, a magenta toner developing device 25M, and a cyan toner developing device 25C; and a black toner developing device 2 for black.
5BK.

Reference numeral 26 denotes an intermediate transfer drum, which is disposed in contact with or close to the photosensitive drum 20, and is driven to rotate in the forward direction of the rotation of the photosensitive drum 20 at substantially the same peripheral speed as the photosensitive drum 20. . Then, the formation of an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the color separation image of the target full-color image on the rotating photosensitive drum 20 and the toner development of the electrostatic latent image are sequentially performed, and the Superimposition transfer is sequentially performed on the intermediate transfer drum 26, and a full-color toner image corresponding to a mirror image of a target full-color image is synthesized and formed on the surface of the intermediate transfer drum 26.

Reference numeral 27 denotes a cleaner for cleaning the surface of the intermediate transfer drum 26 after the transfer of the toner image onto the transfer material. 2
Reference numerals 8 and 29 denote paper feed cassettes, and the intermediate transfer drum 2
The transfer material P as a recording material is fed to the feed roller 30
Or, one sheet is fed by 31. Reference numeral 32 denotes a transfer roller, which is an intermediate transfer drum 26 for the fed transfer material P.
The mirror image full-color toner image on the side is transferred to the surface of the transfer material P to form a full-color toner image. Incidentally, the transfer roller 32 is
The toner image is transferred from the intermediate transfer drum 26 to the transfer material P by supplying a charge having a polarity opposite to that of the toner from the back surface of the transfer material P. Reference numeral 33 denotes a fixing device, and the intermediate transfer drum 2
The fixing is performed on the transfer material P separated from the transfer material 6 and transferred with the full-color toner image. 34 and 35 are paper discharge trays for discharging the transfer material P on which the toner image is fixed.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a general operation unit having a liquid crystal panel. In the figure, reference numeral 201 denotes a large-sized liquid crystal panel with a built-in touch panel;
Numeral 203 is a copy start key, and numeral 204 is a stop key for interrupting continuous copying.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a connection between the information collecting terminal and an external information processing device. In the figure, reference numeral 301 denotes an information collecting terminal, which is connected to the printer control unit 7 of the printer unit 2. Reference numeral 302 denotes an information processing device (hereinafter, “server”) such as a server or a host computer installed at a dealer or the like located at a remote place.
The communication with the information collection terminal 301 is performed via the communication terminal 03.

In the server 302, a CPU 311 executes a predetermined application under the control of a server OS loaded on a hard disk or the like.
Controls the entire server. A communication control unit 312 exchanges information with the information collection terminal 301 via the communication line 303. A memory 313 includes a work RAM, a program storage ROM, a hard disk, and the like. 314 is a database, and in this embodiment,
It manages the service manual of the digital color copier and information related to charging such as the number of copies and the number of jams.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the information collection terminal 301 shown in FIG. In FIG.
Reference numeral 1 denotes a CPU which controls the entire information collection terminal 301 and exchanges information with the printer control unit 7.
Reference numeral 402 denotes a communication control unit which includes a modem for communicating with the server 302 and the like. A memory 403 is composed of a working RAM and a ROM for storing programs.

Note that the information collecting terminal 301 sends information relating to charging such as the number of copies and the number of jams to the printer control unit 7.
And sends it to the server 302 via the communication line 303.

Next, a description will be given of a procedure in which the service person calls the information of the service manual on the liquid crystal panel in the above configuration.

First, a special function is set by using the ten keys 202, for example, by simultaneously pressing the ♯ key and some other keys, and the service mode is called. Thereby, for example, the menu shown in FIG. 5A is displayed, and “2. Manual call” in the figure is selected by touching the touch panel or the like. Here, the printer control unit 7 instructs the information collection terminal 301 to acquire manual table of contents information from the server 302. As a result, the CPU 401 of the information collection terminal 301 communicates with the database 31 in the server 302 via the communication control unit 402 and the communication line 303.
4, the table of contents information of the manual is acquired by the information collection terminal 301 and sent to the printer control unit 7. Then, the printer control unit 7 displays manual table of contents information on the liquid crystal panel 201 as shown in FIG. Then, the serviceman selects and displays desired contents from the displayed table of contents, and performs replacement of parts, investigation of defects, maintenance, or the like while viewing the contents.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the serviceman does not need to bother to bring the manual and turn the pages, and the labor can be greatly reduced.

In the case where the manual is a document, a time lag occurs due to the printing of the information, and a difference occurs between the state of the actual machine and the contents described in the manual. It is possible to always refer to the latest information by only partially modifying the database 314 on the 302.

Next, a procedure when a service person performs troubleshooting will be described.

For some reason, for example, “E *
If an error code "**" is displayed and operation becomes impossible, the system first shifts to the service mode as described above. (Generally, even if an error code is displayed, it is possible to shift to the service mode. Has been). Then, “3. Troubleshooting” is selected from the table of contents of (b) shown in FIG. As a result, typical symptoms are displayed on the list as shown in (c) of FIG. And, the serviceman, from this display,
When "1. Error code appears" is selected, a screen for inputting an error code is displayed as shown in (d) of FIG.
Here, when an error code is input using the numeric keypad 202, an error code is sent from the printer control unit 7 to the information collection terminal 301, and the error code is transmitted to the information collection terminal 3
01 to the communication control unit 402, the communication line 30
3 to the server 302.

Thus, the server 302 searches the database 314 for the content of the transmitted error code, and returns the content and the coping method to the information collection terminal 301. Then, the content and the coping method are sent from the CPU 401 of the information collection terminal 301 to the printer control unit 7 and displayed on the liquid crystal panel 201.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, even inexperienced service personnel can easily cope with troubles in an interactive manner.

In this embodiment, the case where the liquid crystal panel 201 is used as the operation unit has been described as an example. However, it goes without saying that a similar effect can be obtained even when a CRT display is used.

According to the above-described embodiment, the contents of the service manual and information on troubleshooting are displayed on the display device using the display device such as a liquid crystal panel or a CRT display provided in the image forming apparatus and the information collecting terminal. By doing so, maintenance and troubleshooting performed by a service person can be easily and visually performed.

The present invention can be applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), but can be applied to a single device (for example, a copier, a facsimile). Device).

An object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium storing a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or an apparatus, and to provide a computer (CPU or MP) of the system or apparatus.
It goes without saying that U) can also be achieved by reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk,
Hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-
A ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, and the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) May perform some or all of the actual processing, and the processing may realize the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, It goes without saying that the CPU included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

[0042]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By acquiring and displaying information about the image forming apparatus from an external information processing apparatus, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that can easily perform service management and a management method thereof.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view (a front view) illustrating a structure of a digital color copying machine according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a general operation unit including a liquid crystal panel.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a connection between an information collection terminal and an external information processing device.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the information collecting terminal 301 shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing contents displayed on a display panel of the operation unit.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G03G 21/00 396 G03G 21/00 396 510 510 G06F 3/12 G06F 3/12 K H04M 11/00 301 H04M 11/00 301 (72) Inventor Narichi Hamano 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Michiko Watanabe 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Katsuyuki Yama ▲ saki ▼ 3-2-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Mitsuo Shiraishi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko 3-chome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. Terms (reference) 2C061 AP03 AP04 AR01 CQ24 CQ25 CQ41 CQ43 HJ07 HJ08 HK15 HQ17 HV09 HV33 HV60 2H027 EJ06 EJ13 EJ15 GA23 GA26 GA56 GB09 GB19 ZA07 5B021 AA01 AA21 BB01 BB10 CC05 5C062 AA02 AA05 AA13 AB24 AB25 AB41 AB42 AC05 AC60 AC69 AE03 AF07 AF14 BA00 5K101 KK11 MM07 NN18 VV04

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus connected to an external information processing apparatus via a communication line and receiving information about the image forming apparatus, comprising: a connection unit connected to the external information processing apparatus via the communication line; An image forming apparatus comprising: an obtaining unit that obtains information about the image forming apparatus from a connected external information processing apparatus; and a control unit that controls the display unit to display the obtained information. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information on the image forming apparatus is information on contents of a service manual or information on troubleshooting. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the acquisition unit is an information collecting terminal connected to the image forming apparatus. 4. The display means is a liquid crystal panel or a CRT.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is a display. 5. A method for managing an image forming apparatus connected to an external information processing apparatus via a communication line and receiving information about the image forming apparatus, the method comprising: connecting to the external information processing apparatus via the communication line. A method for managing an image forming apparatus, comprising: acquiring information on the image forming apparatus from a connected external information processing apparatus; displaying the acquired information on a display unit; and managing the image forming apparatus.