JP2001034120A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible to reduce the load with which is burdened on a user at the time of occurrence of a fault of the device, to perform secure repair by the exact information and to shorten the downtime of the device by providing a means which informs the user of detailed information required for dealing with the fault after detection of the fault. SOLUTION: A reader part 1 reads an original picture and outputs picture data corresponding to the original picture to a printer part 2 and a picture input/output control part 3. The printer part 2 records a picture corresponding to the picture data from the reader part 1 the picture input/output control part 3 on recording paper. When a fault occurs, the information useful for diagnosis of the fault content such as states of respective parts, constitution and identification number of the device and states of past usage are collected, and the detailed information required for the dealing with the fault is transmitted to a manager of the device and a service man via a telephone line and a network by means of electronic mail. Therefore, the manager, etc., can surely perform the repair and shorten the downtime of the device based on the exact information.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having at least one function such as a printer, a copier, and a facsimile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional image forming apparatus, when a failure is detected and the occurrence of a failure is displayed on the apparatus, a user has to deal with the failure by reading a manual or contacting a service person. .

[0003]

However, such a measure places a burden on the user. In addition, users are unfamiliar with the device and have difficulty collecting accurate information about the failure. As a result, there is a possibility that the user may waste time and labor without being able to perform appropriate repairs with accurate information.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems. It is provided with means for informing the user of information. Further, it is provided with a means for transmitting the occurrence of a failure and detailed information to a device manager, a service person, or the like via a telephone line or a network. In addition to the means for transmitting the detailed information, a means for selecting whether or not to transmit the detailed information to an administrator or the like is provided.

[0005]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment.

[0007] The reader unit 1 reads an image of a document, and outputs image data corresponding to the document image to the printer unit 2 and the image input / output control unit 3. The printer unit 2 records an image corresponding to image data from the reader unit 1 and the image input / output control unit 3 on recording paper. The image input / output control unit 3 includes the reader unit 1
And a fax unit 4, a computer interface unit 5, a formatter unit 6, a hard disk 7, an image memory unit 8, a core unit 9, and the like.

The fax unit 4 expands the compressed image data received via the telephone line, transfers the expanded image data to the core unit 9, compresses the image data transferred from the core unit 9, and compresses the compressed image data. The compressed image data is transmitted via a telephone line.

The computer interface unit 5 includes a personal computer or a workstation (PC)
/ WS) 10 and the core unit 9. The formatter unit 6 expands code data representing an image transferred from the PC / WS 10 into image data that can be recorded by the printer unit 2. Hard disk 7
Is connected to the formatter unit 6 and stores programs and data. The formatter unit 6 is also used for temporarily storing expanded image data and the like.
The image memory unit 8 temporarily stores data transferred from the PC / WS 10.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the structure of the reader unit 1 and the printer unit 2.

Documents stacked on the document feeder 101 are sequentially conveyed one by one onto a glass platen glass surface 102. When the document is conveyed, the lamp 103 of the reader unit 1 is turned on, and the scanner unit 104 moves to irradiate the document. The reflected light of the original is reflected by mirrors 105, 106, and 10.
7 sequentially pass through a lens 108, and thereafter are input to a CCD image sensor unit 109 (hereinafter, referred to as CCD). The image information input to the CCD 109 is input to an image processing unit, subjected to various processes, and output to the printer unit 2.

A laser emitting section 201 of the printer section 2 emits a laser beam corresponding to the image data output from the reader section 1. The laser beam is applied to the photosensitive drum 202, and a latent image corresponding to the laser beam is formed on the photosensitive drum 202.

The latent image portion of the photosensitive drum 202 includes
The developer adheres by the developing device 203. Photosensitive drum 2
02 attached to the paper cassette 204 or the paper cassette 2 at a timing synchronized with the start of laser beam irradiation.
05, and is transferred to a recording sheet conveyed to the transfer unit 206. The recording paper on which the developer is loaded is conveyed to the fixing unit 207, and the developer is fixed on the recording paper by the heat and pressure of the fixing unit 207.

The recording paper that has passed through the fixing unit 207 is discharged by discharge rollers 208, and a sorter 220 sorts the recording paper by storing the discharged recording paper in each bin. When no sorting is set, the sorter 220 stores the recording paper in the uppermost bin. When double-sided recording is set, the recording sheet is conveyed to the discharge roller 208, the rotation direction of the discharge roller 208 is reversed, and the recording paper is guided to the re-feed conveyance path by the flapper 209.

When multiplex recording is set, the flapper 20 is set so that the recording paper is not conveyed to the discharge roller 208.
9 guides the sheet to the re-feeding conveyance path. The recording paper guided to the re-feeding conveyance path is fed to the transfer unit 206 at the above-described timing.

An original feeder 101 feeds paper originals for copy or fax transmission one by one to an original platen 102. The user can also place the document on the document table 102 by raising the document feeder 101 upward.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the reader unit 1. As shown in FIG.

Image data A output from the CCD 109
The analog / digital conversion is performed in the / D · SH unit 110, and shading correction is performed. A / D
The image data processed by the SH unit 110 is transferred to the printer unit 2 via the image processing unit 111 and to the core unit 9 of the image input / output control unit 3 via the interface unit 113.

The CPU 114 controls the image processing unit 111 and the interface 113 in accordance with the settings set by the operation unit 115. For example, when a copy mode in which the trimming process is performed by the operation unit 115 to perform copying is set, the image processing unit 111 performs the trimming process and transfers the image data to the printer unit 2. The operation unit 115
When the fax transmission mode is set in the step S, the image data and a control command corresponding to the set mode are transferred from the interface 113 to the core unit 9.

The control program of the CPU 114 is stored in the memory 116, and the CPU 114
The control is performed with reference to the memory 116. The memory 116 is also used as a work area of the CPU 114.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the core unit 9. As shown in FIG.

The image data from the reader unit 1 is transferred to the data processing unit 121, and the control command from the reader unit 1 is transferred to the CPU 123. The data processing unit 121 performs image processing such as image rotation processing and scaling processing.
The image data transferred to the fax unit 4 and the computer interface unit 5 via the interface 120 according to the control command transferred from the reader unit 1.

The code data representing the image input via the computer interface unit 5 is transferred to the data processing unit 121 and then to the formatter unit 6,
The data is converted into a format called an intermediate code, and the intermediate code is developed into bitmap image data. After the image data is transferred to the data processing unit 121,
The data is transferred to the fax unit 4 and the printer unit 2. The image data from the fax unit 4 is transferred to the data processing unit 121 and then to the printer unit 2, the file unit, and the computer interface unit 5.

The image data from the file section is transferred to the data processing section 121 and then to the printer section 2, the fax section 4, and the computer interface section 5.
The CPU 123 performs such control according to a control program stored in the memory 124 and a control command transferred from the reader unit 1.

The memory 124 is also used as a work area of the CPU 123. As described above, it is possible to perform processing combining functions such as reading of an original image, printing of an image, transmission and reception of an image, storage of an image, input and output of data from a computer, and the like, mainly on the core unit 9. .

Next, the operation of outputting data from the formatter unit 6 will be described.

First, when the formatter unit 6 performs output without storing data in the storage means of the image memory unit 8,
The formatter unit 6 develops the data of the first page into bitmap data, transfers the data to the printer unit 2 via the bus, and performs printing. Similarly, the above operation is repeated until the last page.

When the formatter unit 6 stores data in the storage means of the image memory unit 8 and outputs the data, the formatter unit 6 develops the data of the first page into bitmap data and outputs the data to the image memory via a bus. Transfer to section 8. At this time, information such as the number of output copies and single / double-sided printing is notified to the image memory unit 8.

Since the image memory unit 8 is designated for each job, it only performs processing for storing the bitmap data received from the formatter unit 6 in the storage means. Similarly, the above operation is performed up to the last page, and the formatter unit 6 develops the data of the last page into bitmap data and transfers it to the image memory unit 8 via the bus.
Notify that this is the last page of the job.

The image memory unit 8 includes a formatter unit 6
Storing the bitmap data received from the storage means,
Since it is the last page, the bitmap data of each page is transferred to the printer unit 2 and printed.

Next, the hard disk 7 connected to the formatter unit 6 will be described.

The hard disk 7 stores in advance programs and data necessary for processing in the formatter unit 6, and these are read out at the time of initialization or in accordance with job processing. It is also used for temporarily storing job data received by the computer interface unit 5, storing temporary data at the time of image development, and storing images generated after image development.

Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus having the above configuration will be described. In the first embodiment, a case will be described as an example where information is transmitted to the PC / WS 10 as electronic mail via a network.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing in the first embodiment. In S501, initialization is performed. The setting contents include an e-mail server name, an account name, an e-mail address of a transmission destination, and the like. S50
In step 2, the occurrence of a failure is examined. If a failure has occurred, information is collected in S503. The information to be collected is information useful for diagnosing failure contents, such as the status of each unit, the configuration and identification number of the device, and the past use status. S
In step 504, the operation unit 115 displays that a failure has occurred. S
At 505, an e-mail is sent according to the contents set at S501. The content of the e-mail is S5
03 is the content collected.

FIG. 6 shows a screen displayed on the operation unit 115 at the time of the initial setting in S501. Reference numeral 601 denotes an area for inputting an e-mail transmission server name. Reference numeral 602 denotes an area for inputting an e-mail account name of the apparatus. Reference numeral 603 denotes an area for setting an e-mail address of a transmission destination of the e-mail indicating the failure content. A button 604 is used to confirm the set contents, and a button 605 is used to cancel the setting screen.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

As in the first embodiment, sending an e-mail is effective when a failure diagnosis and repair are required immediately. However, when diagnosing a failure or the like, it may not be necessary to send an e-mail.

Therefore, in the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, in addition to the case where information is transmitted to the PC / WS 10 as an e-mail via a network, whether or not the user transmits the e-mail An example will be described in which is selected.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing in the second embodiment. Steps S701 to S703 are the same as in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will not be repeated.

In step S704, the fact that a failure has occurred is displayed on the operation unit 115, and a button for selecting whether or not to transmit an e-mail is displayed. In S705, it is checked which button the user has pressed, and if "No" is pressed, the process ends without transmitting the e-mail. If "yes" is pressed, an e-mail is transmitted in step S706 as in the first embodiment, and the process ends.

FIG. 8 shows the operation unit 115 in step S704.
It is a figure showing the contents displayed above. A screen 801 indicates that a failure has occurred. Reference numeral 802 denotes a screen for asking the user whether to send the failure content by e-mail. The e-mail address of the transmission destination set in S701 is displayed to clarify the transmission destination. A button 803 is pressed by the user when sending an e-mail immediately. A button 804 is used when an e-mail is not transmitted.

[0042]

As described above, according to the present invention,
With the configuration as described above, it is possible to reduce the burden on the user in the event of a device failure, and to perform more reliable repairs with accurate information.
Downtime can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a reader unit and a printer unit in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a reader unit in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a core unit in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a process according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an input screen at the time of initial setting in the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a process according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a screen displayed on an operation unit when a failure occurs in the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 reader unit 2 printer unit 3 image input / output control unit 4 fax unit 5 computer interface unit 6 formatter unit 7 hard disk unit 8 image memory unit 109 CCD 111 image processing unit 114, 123 CPU 115 operating unit 121 data processing unit 124 memory

Continued on the front page F-term (reference) 2C061 AP01 AP03 AP04 AP07 AQ06 AR03 HK14 HV35 2H027 GA42 ZA07 5C062 AA02 AA05 AA29 AA35 AB20 AB21 AB22 AB38 AC40 AC42 AC58 AF00 AF02 BA04 9A001 BB02 BB03 BB04 CC02 DD10 JJ04H KK60 LL05 LL09

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A detecting means for detecting a failure of an apparatus, a means for collecting detailed information of the contents of a failure, an output means for outputting detailed information, and a setting means for presetting an output destination and an output method by the output means An image forming apparatus comprising: an output unit that outputs information collected by the collection unit in response to a failure detected by the detection unit. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising printing means for printing characters on paper, and wherein said output means is means for printing on paper by printing means. 3. A printing apparatus for printing characters on paper and a facsimile function, the output means is means for printing on paper by printing means, and the setting means is means for setting a facsimile transmission destination. Claim 1 characterized by the following:
The image forming apparatus as described in the above. 4. A system comprising a network interface,
2. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said output means is means for transmitting information through a network, and said setting means is means for setting a network address. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a selection unit for selecting whether or not to output by said output unit.