JP2003186652A - Lifetime management and order management of service parts for printer connected to network line, and production management system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lifetime management, an order management, and a production management system which stabilize the quality of a printer by notifying users of the replacement time of parts, to urge the replacement for service parts of the printer connected to a network line and to facilitate forecast on the demand of the parts. <P>SOLUTION: The system is provided with a printer connected to a network line, a means of detecting the characteristic values involving the lifetime of service parts, a means of collecting the detected characteristic values via the network line, a means of comparing with threshold of the predefined characteristic value of the parts, a means of estimating the lifetime of the parts from the comparied result, a means of notifying the users of the lifetime of the parts via the network line, a means of making demand forecast of the parts by analyzing the collected data, and a means which performs adjustment of production from the demand forecast. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to life management and order management of parts having a life (hereinafter referred to as service parts) in a printer connected to a network line,
And it is about the production control system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a technique related to this type of system, for example, the remaining amount of a consumable item such as toner used in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus is detected,
There is known a technique in which a display or the like is displayed on the operator panel when the time for replacement is approaching to prompt the user for replacement.

[0003]

However, the service parts such as the fixing device and the transfer roller, which have no clear criteria such as the image disappears when the consumables such as toner disappears, need to be replaced by the user. It was difficult to inform, and it was difficult for the aftermarket to make demand forecasts, and it was difficult to adjust production.

Further, the continuous use of service parts beyond the service life often causes a serviceman call because it causes deterioration of image quality.

Therefore, the present invention is to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to inform a user of the replacement time of service parts of a printer connected to a network line, and encourage replacement and purchase. , To provide a life management, order management, and production management system that makes it easy to forecast demand for parts.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is a system for managing a life of a part having a life in a printer connected to a network line, in which a characteristic value relating to the life of the part is set. A means for detecting, a means for comparing with a threshold value of a characteristic value set in advance for a part, a means for judging whether or not the life is reached from the comparison result, and information is collected through a network line at the time of the life determination. And a means for notifying the user.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in a life management system for a part having a life in a printer connected to a network line, a means for detecting a characteristic value relating to the life of the part, and the detected characteristic value for the network line. Via the network, a means for comparing with a threshold value of a characteristic value set in advance for the part, a means for estimating the life time of the part from the comparison result, and a network line for the life time of the part. And a means for notifying the user via the.

Further, the invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that the characteristic information of the parts is also collected at the time of collecting the information at the time of the life judgment or at the time of collecting the characteristic values.

Further, the invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that the characteristic value is information on the number of passed sheets in the component.

The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that the notification means to the user is a notification to a computer connected to the printer.

The invention according to claim 6 is characterized in that when the user is notified of the life of the component, a sales advertisement of the component is also notified.

Further, in the invention according to claim 7, when notifying the user of the life of the part, the sales advertisement of the part and the contact information, and also the time of replacement of the part or the remaining number of prints until the end of the life are notified together. It is characterized by doing.

The invention according to claim 8 is characterized in that parts can be ordered through a network line.

Further, the invention according to claim 9 is characterized in that in the case of ordering parts through the network line, the price is lower than the normal selling price.

Further, the invention according to claim 10 is characterized in that when the user does not receive an order even after a certain period of time has passed since the notification of the life of the parts, a reminder for the replacement of the parts is given through the network line. There is.

Further, the invention according to claim 11 is characterized in that, when an order for a part due to a failure of the part is given before the notification of the life of the part, the part is sold at a discounted price.

According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, means for collecting data relating to the life management system via a network line, means for analyzing the collected data to make a demand forecast of parts, and production from the demand forecast. And means for performing adjustment.

[0018]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) ○ Outline of Printer FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an electrophotographic printer 1 to which a life management and order management system according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

In FIG. 1, a photosensitive drum 2 which is an image carrier.
1 is configured by forming a photosensitive material such as OPC on a cylindrical substrate such as aluminum.

First, the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 is uniformly charged by the charging roller 22 as a charging device. Next, the laser beam 11 which is the exposure means is ON / OFF controlled according to image information to perform scanning exposure, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 21. This electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing device 23 with the toner T and visualized. As a developing method, a jumping developing method or the like is used, and it is often used in combination with image exposure and reversal developing.

The recording material P is taken out from the cassette 12 by the paper feed roller 13 and sent to the registration roller 14. The recording material P is synchronized with the toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 by the registration roller 14 and is supplied to the transfer nip portion formed by the photosensitive drum 21 and the transfer roller 15. At the transfer nip portion, the photosensitive drum 2
The toner image on 1 is transferred to the recording material P by the action of a transfer bias by a power source (not shown). The recording material P holding the toner image is conveyed to the fixing device 16, heated and pressed in the nip portion of the fixing device 16 so that the toner image is fixed on the recording material P and becomes a permanent image and is discharged out of the apparatus. . On the other hand, the transfer residual toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 21 after the transfer is removed from the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 by the cleaning device 24.

Further, in order to simplify the replenishment of the toner T, which is a consumable item, the toner T, the photosensitive drum 21, the charging roller 2
2, the developing device 23 and the cleaning device 24 are often configured as an integrated toner cartridge 2.

Service Parts and Life In the printer 1 configured as described above, for example, the transfer roller 15, the fixing device 16 and the like have a shorter life than the main body, and are supplied as service parts for the following reasons. Often. Of course, if the printer does not use an integrated toner cartridge, the photosensitive drum, the developing device, and the like are also included in the service parts.

Transfer roller 15 Since the transfer roller 15 transfers the recording material P such as paper by bringing the conductive elastic layer on the surface into contact with the transfer roller 15, adhesion of paper powder or the like to the surface or oxidation of the conductive material may occur. The resistance value of the conductive elastic layer gradually increases. When it reaches the end of its life, an appropriate transfer bias cannot be applied, and image quality defects such as scattering occur.

Fixing device 16 The fixing device 16 gradually slides the fixing roller 16a by a rubbing between a fixing claw 16a and a separation claw (not shown) installed to prevent the recording material P passing through the fixing nip from winding. The release layer on the surface is worn. When the toner reaches the end of its life, the toner releasability of the release layer deteriorates, and image quality defects such as offset occur.

Characteristic Value Related to Service Parts Lifespan In the service parts shown above, the characteristic value peculiar to each part is gradually decreased due to wear between objects, and the time when a failure occurs is defined as the lifespan. There is. Therefore, when accurately determining the life of a part, it is preferable to detect a characteristic value specific to each part and compare it with a predetermined threshold value for determination. However, in order to cover all of these unique characteristic values, various detection functions must be provided, and life management becomes a very complicated mechanism.

Therefore, in the present invention, a case will be described in which the information on the number of passed sheets in each service part is selected as the characteristic value that affects the service life of many service parts. Of course, a characteristic value may be set for each service part.

Life Service Management System for Service Parts FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of this system, and FIG. 3 shows an information transmission route.

The printer is connected to a network line and is in a state where it can communicate with the user's computer and the manufacturer's host computer. Further, the printer can individually manage the number of passed sheets of each service part constituting the printer, and also has threshold information of the number of passed sheets for judging that each service part has reached the end of its life. There is. As shown in FIG. 3, the host computer of the manufacturer is connected to the printers of many users in the market via network lines.

The user prints X sheets on the printer (S
-1) and the number of sheets passed through for each service part in the printer are individually added as follows (S-2).

Formula 1 Number of sheets passed by transfer roller: A (n) = A (n-1) + X Number of sheets passed by fixing device: B (n) = B (n-1) + X Here, in parentheses, (n-1) is information on the number of sheets passed before printing, (n) is information on the number of sheets passed after printing, and the number of sheets passed by the service part and the sheet passing determined that the service part has reached the end of its life. The number of sheets is compared with the threshold value as follows (S-3), and if the number of passed sheets has not reached, the printing operation is continued as it is. The service part determines that it has reached the end of its life, and notifies the host computer of the manufacturer of the end of life through the network line (S-4). Of course, the display on the operator panel of the printer and the notification to the user's computer may be performed at the same time.

Expression 2 Threshold of transfer roller: A (e) = A (n) → lifetime → notification fixing device threshold: B (e)> B (n) → normal Here, in parentheses ( e) indicates a threshold value for judging the service part to be the end of life. ○ The order management system manufacturer for the service part receives the service part's end of life (S-5), and then the service part life information and the service part. The user's advertisement information and contact information of the manufacturer are notified to the user via the network line (S-6). By receiving this information (S-7), the user can surely recognize that the service part has reached the end of its life, and can order the service part from the manufacturer via the network line (S-8). . Specifically, this information is
It is preferable to send and receive electronic mail between the manufacturer and the user's computer, since the user's operation at the time of ordering is only the reply to the mail. In addition, setting the selling price of service parts with a network line at a lower price than the normal selling price can promote the introduction of this system to many users, and it is cost effective due to indirect cost reduction such as dealers and service personnel. It is also preferable because it has consistency.

The manufacturer (S-9), which has received an order for service parts from the user, arranges service parts for replacement and sends them to the user (S-10). The user who has obtained the replacement service parts (S-11) replaces the service parts in the printer (S-12). At the time of replacement, in order to maintain the consistency of the information on the number of passed sheets of the printer,
Information on the number of passed sheets of the replacement service part is reset (S-13). As a method of resetting, it is simple and preferable to use an operator panel provided in the printer or a computer connected to the printer.

Here, as shown in the flow chart of FIG. 4, after notifying the user of the service part service life information, the advertisement of the service part, and the contact information of the manufacturer, no order is placed by the user even after a certain period of time has passed. In this case, the system (S-
By constructing 7 '), more reliable exchange can be expected.

Further, at the time of notifying the service life of the service part from the printer (S-4), the unique information of the service part, such as the name of the factory where the service was manufactured, the model, etc., are also notified so that the user can After receiving the order, without needing to investigate the specific information of the service parts again,
You can arrange service parts quickly and expect an effect of shortening delivery time. In addition, the unique information of each service part, such as writing to the printer main body memory before shipping,
Can be recorded on the printer body.

Further, service life information notification of service parts from the manufacturer to the user via the network line (S
-6) If the need for replacement has arisen due to a defect or failure of the service part, calculate the amount of life lost by the user from the information on the number of sheets passed at the time of failure, It is preferable to sell at a price after deducting the cost of the lost life because the user can purchase at a proper price.

By constructing the service parts life management and order management system as described above, it is possible to reliably inform the user of the replacement time of the service parts, which is difficult to judge the life, and to maintain the stable quality of the printer. can do.

(Second Embodiment) Next, as a second embodiment, another example of the service parts life management system will be described. In addition,
Since the configuration of the printer and the characteristic values of the service parts are the same as those in the first embodiment, the description will be omitted.

Service Parts Lifetime Management System FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of this system, and FIG. 6 shows an information transmission route.

The printer is connected to the network line and is in a state of being able to communicate with the user's computer and the manufacturer's host computer. Further, the printer can individually manage the number-of-sheets passing information in each service part constituting the printer, and can notify the number-of-passing sheets information to the host computer of the manufacturer via the network at a predetermined timing. it can. As shown in FIG. 6, the host computer of the manufacturer is connected to a factory that manufactures each service part together with printers of many users in the market via a network line.

The user prints X sheets on the printer (S
-1) and the number of sheets passed through for each service part in the printer are individually added as follows (S-2).

Formula 3 Number of sheets passed by transfer roller: A (n) = A (n-1) + X Number of sheets passed by fixing device: B (n) = B (n-1) + X Here, (in parentheses) (n-1) is the number of sheets passed before printing, (n) is the number of sheets passed after printing, and the printer notifies the manufacturer of the number of sheets passed for each service part at a predetermined timing. (S-
3). The predetermined timing may be a point in time when the number of sheets of service parts passed reaches a predetermined number such as every 1000 sheets, or a fixed period such as every week.
The printing operation is continued as it is except at the predetermined timing.

The manufacturer receives the information about the number of passed sheets (S-
4) After that, the manufacturer estimates the end-of-life time of each service part by comparing it with the threshold value of the number of sheets of paper which is judged to have reached the end of service life (S-5). An example of the transfer roller will be described below.

Equation 4 Estimated timing for reaching the life of the transfer roller: A (t) = (A (e) -A (n)) / [(A (n)-
A '(n)) / (t (A) -t (A'))] Here, A (t) is a life reaching estimation time (life expectancy prediction from the estimation time), and A (e) is a service part life. A (n) is the threshold value for judging that
(N) is the number of sheets passed during the previous reception, t (A) -t (A ')
Indicates the time from the previous reception to the current reception.

Of course, this life estimation method is an example,
It may be estimated by another method.

Order Management System for Service Parts Next, when the service part life estimation time (life expectancy prediction from the estimation time point) becomes equal to a certain period Y as described below, the life expiration time is near. Then, the user is notified of the information that the service parts are about to reach the end of life, the advertisement of the service parts and the contact information of the manufacturer through the network line (S-8). In addition to the notification, it is preferable to notify when, or how many more prints the service parts will reach the end of their service life.

Equation 5 Estimated timing for reaching the life of the transfer roller: A (t) = Y →
Life → Notification Notification Fixing Device Life Expected Timing: B (t) ＞ Y →
Normal Here, (t) in parentheses indicates a life reaching estimated time (life expectancy prediction from the estimated time).

Upon receipt of this information (S-9), the user recognizes that the service parts are about to reach the end of their service life, and orders the service parts from the manufacturer via the network line before reaching the end of their service life. Can (S
-10). Specifically, it is preferable that such information is exchanged by e-mail between the maker and the user's computer, since the user's operation at the time of ordering is merely a mail reply. In addition, setting the selling price of service parts by network line to be lower than the normal selling price can promote the introduction of this system to many users,
In addition, it is preferable because cost reduction can be achieved by indirect cost reduction such as at a store or a service person.

The manufacturer (S-11), which has received the order for the service parts from the user, arranges the service parts for replacement and sends them to the user (S-12). The user who obtains the replacement service parts (S-13) replaces the service parts in the printer when they reach the end of their life (S-14). The determination that the service life of the service part has been reached may be calculated by the user based on the estimated time of the notification that the service life is approaching, the manufacturer may notify the service life again via the network line, or from the printer. The service life may be notified to the operator panel or the like. At the time of exchanging the service parts, in order to maintain the consistency of the information on the number of passed sheets of the printer, the information on the number of passed sheets of the replaced service parts is reset (S-15). As a method of resetting, it is simple and preferable to use an operator panel provided in the printer or a computer connected to the printer.

Further, when the printer notifies the manufacturer of the number of passed sheets (S-3), the unique information of the service parts, for example, the name of the factory where the service is manufactured, the model, etc. are also notified so that the user can After receiving the order, it is possible to arrange service parts quickly without having to re-examine the unique information of the service parts and to expect an effect of shortening the delivery time. The unique information of each service part can be recorded in the printer main body by writing in the printer main body memory before shipment.

Further, service life information notification of service parts from the manufacturer to the user via the network line (S
-8) If the service part needs to be replaced due to a defect or failure of the service part, the service life lost by the user is calculated from the information about the number of sheets passed at the time of failure, It is preferable to sell at a price after deducting the cost of the lost life because the user can purchase at a proper price.

Service Parts Production Management System On the other hand, the manufacturer collects the life estimation time (life expectancy prediction from the estimation time) of each service part from the market, thereby making a demand prediction for each service part (S −
6). Further, production adjustment (S-7) for each service part based on this demand forecast data becomes possible. By adjusting production based on this demand forecast, highly accurate inventory management can be expected.

As an example, a transfer roller as a service part will be shown below.

<Example of Conventional Production Adjustment Method> Since the demand for the transfer roller as a service part could not be predicted in the past, a certain amount (25 k units in this case) as shown below.
It was often the case that the production quantity for the current month was decided by supplementing the quantity shipped in the previous month on the premise of securing the inventory quantity.

[0056]

[Table 1]

FIG. 7 is a graph of this production plan example. From this graph, it can be seen that the excess inventory quantity that cannot be shipped in the current month and is carried over to the next month will vary considerably due to fluctuations in monthly shipments. In this way, if the demand for transfer rollers as service parts could not be predicted, the manufacturer had to hold more inventory than necessary in order to stabilize the supply to users.

<Example of Production Adjustment Method According to the Present Invention> According to the present invention, when it becomes possible to predict the demand for transfer rollers as service parts, it is possible to produce a number of units based on life prediction as described below. Here, the demand (shipment) forecast has a precision of ± 2k units of the actual number of shipped units, and shows a production plan table when it is set so as to always secure an inventory of 1k units or more.

[0059]

[Table 2]

FIG. 8 is a graph of this production plan example. From this graph, it can be seen that the number of excess inventory units has decreased dramatically compared to the conventional example, and the variation due to the increase or decrease in monthly shipments has also decreased significantly. In this way, by predicting the demand for the transfer roller as a service part, it has become possible for the manufacturer to meet the minimum required inventory while maintaining stable supply to users.

By the service parts life management, order management, and production management system construction as described above,
It is expected to stabilize the quality of the printer by surely notifying the user of the replacement time of service parts, which is difficult to judge the service life, and it is expected to improve the inventory management of service parts and reduce the inventory by production adjustment based on the demand forecast it can.

[0062]

As described above, according to the present invention, by notifying the user of the replacement time of service parts and urging the user to purchase the service parts, the user can reduce the service part purchase load and reduce the printer quality without the intervention of a service person. In addition to being able to stabilize, by adjusting production by forecasting demand for service parts, it is possible to improve parts inventory management and reduce inventory at the manufacturer.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a service parts life management and order management system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an information transmission path of a service parts life management and order management system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is another example of the flowchart of the service parts life management and order management system shown in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a service parts life management, order management, and production management system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a service part life management and order management, and an information transmission path of a production management system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a graph showing a transition of the excess inventory quantity by the conventional service parts production adjustment method.

FIG. 8 is a graph showing a change in the number of surplus inventories by the production adjustment method of the service parts production management system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 printer 2 toner cartridge 11 laser beam 12 cassettes 13 Paper feed roller 14 Registration roller 15 Transfer roller 16 Fixing device 21 Photosensitive drum 22 Charging roller 23 Developing device 24 Cleaning device

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Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. In a life management system for a part having a life in a printer connected to a network line, a means for detecting a characteristic value relating to the life of the part is compared with a threshold value of the characteristic value preset for the part. And a means for determining whether or not the life has expired based on the comparison result, and a means for collecting the information via the network line and notifying the user when the life is determined, . 2. A life management system for a component having a life in a printer connected to a network line, means for detecting a characteristic value relating to the life of the component, and means for collecting the detected characteristic value via the network line. Means for comparing with the threshold value of the characteristic value set in advance for the parts, means for estimating the life time of the parts from the comparison result, means for notifying the user of the life time of the parts via the network line A life management system comprising: 3. The life management system according to claim 1, further comprising collecting unique information of the component when collecting the information at the time of determining the life or collecting the characteristic value. 4. The life management system according to claim 1, wherein the characteristic value is information on the number of passed sheets of the component. 5. The life management system according to claim 1, wherein the notification means to the user is a notification to a computer connected to the printer. 6. The life management and order management system according to claim 1, wherein when the user is notified of the life of the part, the sales advertisement of the part and the contact information are also notified. 7. When the user is notified of the life of the part, the sales advertisement of the part, contact information, and the number of prints remaining until the time when the part is replaced or the life is reached are also notified. The life management and order management system according to item 2. 8. The life management and order management system according to claim 1, wherein parts can be ordered via a network line. 9. The life management and order management system according to claim 8, wherein when ordering parts through the network line, the price is lower than the normal selling price. 10. The notification according to claim 8, wherein if the user does not receive an order even after a certain period of time has passed since the notification of the life of the component, a reminder for component replacement is given via a network line. Life management and order management system. 11. The method according to claim 1, wherein when a part is ordered due to a failure of the part before notification of the life of the part, the part is sold at a price less a loss due to the life of the part. Life management and order management system. 12. A means for collecting data relating to the life management system via a network line, a means for analyzing the collected data to make a demand forecast for parts, and a means for adjusting production based on the demand forecast. The life management and production management system according to claim 2, characterized by having.