JP2002002067A - Printer system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer system capable of quickly notifying a user of information of occurrence of a malfunction. SOLUTION: This printer system which is so constituted that computers 1-4 used by a plurality of users A, B, C, D and a print server 5 are electrically connected by a network comprises an interface section that enables of bi- directional transmission to the computers, a temperature monitoring means that monitors a temperature of a unit becoming a high temperature in each printer and a temperature of the outside of the unit in the printer and a control means for controlling the temperature monitoring means. When the predetermined printer in the network detects the over-rising of the temperature in a predetermined quantity, the detected information is transmitted to all the users and the print server. As the temperature of the outside of the unit that becomes in an abnormal temperature is monitored and the users are immediately notified of the influence of the abnormal temperature in the whole printer, it is possible to quickly respond to the malfunction of the machine.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer system, and more particularly to a printer system having an abnormally high temperature control function in an image forming apparatus such as a printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a printer system is constructed by, for example, interconnecting a plurality of computers and a printer, etc., and taking care to improve the operation efficiency.

The conventional image forming apparatuses, such as printers and copiers, which have been considered above, generally incorporate a high-temperature unit such as fixing. For this reason, an abnormal temperature detecting unit and a power supply interrupting unit when the temperature control becomes impossible are provided. For example, the abnormal temperature detecting means is a thermistor, and the power supply interrupting means is a temperature fuse or a thermostat.

However, the above-described mechanism is mainly provided only in the fixing unit, and is not provided much in other high-temperature parts which may be a source of ignition. Also, the detection accuracy for abnormal temperatures is low, and the state of the machine cannot be monitored.

As examples of prior applications in which the technical field is related to these improvement measures, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 5-88142 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.
No. 12065 and the like.

[0006] In Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 5-88142 of Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 5-88142, a mechanism is adopted in which a temperature difference at a predetermined location in an apparatus is measured, and when a temperature difference equal to or greater than a predetermined temperature difference is detected, the power is cut off. Particularly, it is characterized by a temperature difference measurement circuit. The prior application example 1 discloses a technique for accurately detecting a temperature difference at a predetermined portion of an electronic device and, when detecting a temperature exceeding a preset temperature difference, shutting off a power supply of the electronic device.

Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. HEI 5-1120065 of the prior application 2
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. H11-157873 discloses a technique for improving the safety of an apparatus by controlling a plurality of temperature detecting elements and detecting an abnormal temperature. In the prior application example 2, a plurality of temperature detecting elements are provided on the electric heating element, and the detection accuracy of the abnormal temperature is increased based on the detection result. When the abnormal temperature is detected, the relay on the power supply line to the electric heating element is turned off. Things.

The purpose of these systems is to enhance the detection accuracy of abnormal temperatures, and when an abnormal temperature is detected, a relay is turned off to shut off power supply.

[0009]

However, in the above-mentioned prior art, although the detection accuracy of abnormal temperature is increased, the temperature rise time of the high temperature portion is too early due to a component failure or a control failure, so that the power supply is cut off. Even so, the temperature may rise to a level that causes smoke or ignition. In particular, if measures are taken against abnormal temperatures only in the machine, there is a problem that the user may be left unattended for a long time until he or she notices it.

[0010] The present invention eliminates these weaknesses of the remedies,
An object of the present invention is to provide a printer system capable of promptly informing a user of information.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, a printer system according to the present invention is a printer system electrically connected to a computer and a print server used by a plurality of users via a network. An interface unit capable of bidirectional transmission and reception with a computer, a temperature monitoring unit for monitoring the internal temperature inside and outside the high-temperature unit in each printer, and a control unit for monitoring and controlling the temperature monitoring unit. When a predetermined printer in the network detects a predetermined excessively high temperature, the detected information is transmitted to all users and the print server.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the first aspect.
The printer system described above is characterized in that the printer that has detected the excessively high temperature together with the information to be transmitted to all users and the print server further includes means for immediately shutting off the input power.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the printer system according to the first or second aspect, the temperature monitoring means is provided at a plurality of different positions in the apparatus.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an embodiment of a printer system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
1 to 3 show an embodiment of the printer system according to the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of the present invention. Computers 1-4 used by the four users A, B, C, and D as input devices, respectively, and a print server 5 that manages interfaces between the computers 1-4 and the printers 6 and 7 according to the present invention. And two printers E and F are electrically connected to each other. In this configuration, each of the users A, B, C, and D can output to the printer E or the printer F via the print server 5, and each of them is connected by a generally used I / F cable. Is done.

Next, FIG. 2 shows a functional block diagram in each unit necessary for the present invention and a data I / F between the units. In the computer A shown in FIG. 2, a video and command I / F unit 11 connected to the print server 5 are provided.
Is installed, and the print server side
/ F part is equipped. Image data, printing conditions, user information, and the like are transmitted from the computer side between these units, and each data is transmitted to the printer I of the print server 5.
The data is transmitted to the printer via the / F control unit.

In the printer, a video, a command I / F unit, an image data storage unit, a CPU for controlling the entire printer, a ROM in which a control program is written, a RAM for storing control data, and the like are connected to the print server. A print output control unit, an arithmetic processing unit for processing and processing data such as image data and control data, an I / O control unit for controlling a drive system and a sensor system in the printer, and an image for controlling image density. Data control unit, operation display control for direct key input and display from the user, the main configuration of this case,
Input power cut-off means mainly using relays and breakers,
It is composed of abnormal temperature monitoring means using a temperature sensor such as a thermistor. In particular, the abnormal temperature monitoring means includes a fixing unit, a motor, and an electric heating element in the printer.
Multiple units are installed near the power supply unit.

The input power cutoff means 61 is provided with a mechanism which can be turned off by remote control by a drive circuit on a line closest to a power cord or the like from which power is input.

Next, FIG. 3 shows a control flowchart for monitoring the abnormal temperature and shutting off the power supply. The control unit of the printer extracts information on the internal temperature from any predetermined abnormal temperature monitoring means (S1), and checks whether the temperature is normal within a predetermined temperature range (S2).

If the temperature is normal (S2 / Yes), the abnormal temperature monitoring means at another location is set (S3), and the flow from step S1 is repeated.

When the internal temperature is out of the normal range (S2 /
No), it is checked whether the temperature is abnormal with respect to the high temperature (S4). If the temperature is not high (S4 / No), continuous monitoring is performed (S4).
5). When an abnormal temperature at a high temperature is detected (S4 / Ye
s) Then, the information that the abnormal temperature has occurred in the printer is transmitted to the server (S6). When the server receives the abnormal temperature information, it sends it to all users registered in the server, and each computer that receives the information from the server displays on the monitor the information that the abnormal temperature has occurred on the printer being used, and notifies the user. The occurrence of an abnormality and danger are prompted (S7). The displayed contents include an instruction to unplug the power cord of the printer in which the abnormal temperature has occurred.

After transmitting the abnormality information in step S6, the printer turns on a drive circuit for turning off a relay or a breaker at a power source to the printer body (S8), and shuts off its own power supply (S9). .

With the above-described control, the power supply is automatically shut down in response to an abnormal condition which may cause a disaster such as an abnormally high temperature inside the printer, and is quickly and reliably transmitted to the user so that an appropriate Treatment can be prompted.

The above embodiment can be variously changed and applied. For example, examples of application fields include transmission of emergency information to a user at the time of detection of an abnormally high temperature in an image forming apparatus, and control for shutting off a power supply.

[0025]

As is clear from the above description, in the printer system according to the first aspect of the present invention, the abnormal temperature monitoring means is provided inside the printer and outside the unit which may be at an abnormal temperature. It is possible to monitor the temperature outside the failed unit and quickly transmit the influence of the abnormal temperature to the user in the entire machine. This allows
It is possible to deal with machine abnormalities as soon as possible.

According to the second aspect, the power supply line is immediately cut off when the abnormal temperature is detected, so that the expansion of the abnormality can be prevented without waiting for the user to take measures.

According to the third aspect, since the abnormal temperature detecting means is provided at a plurality of different positions, it is possible to sensitively detect the abnormal temperature of the entire inside of the apparatus.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a printer system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram in each unit required for the present invention and a diagram showing a data I / F between the units.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a control flowchart of abnormal temperature monitoring and power cutoff.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1-4 computer 5 print server 6 printer E 7 printer F 11 command I / F unit 61 input power cutoff means A, B, C, D 4 users

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A printer system electrically connected to a computer and a print server used by a plurality of users via a network, comprising: an interface unit capable of bidirectional transmission and reception with the computer; A temperature monitoring means for monitoring the inside temperature of the apparatus inside and outside the unit, and a control means for monitoring and controlling the temperature monitoring means, wherein when a predetermined printer in the network detects a predetermined excessive temperature rise, A printer system for transmitting detected information to all users and a print server. 2. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the printer that detects the overheated temperature together with the information to be transmitted to all users and the print server further includes a unit that immediately shuts off input power. Printer system. 3. The printer system according to claim 1, wherein the temperature monitoring unit is provided at a plurality of different positions in the machine.