JP2005246855A - Processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a processor which can effectively utilize a component member made unnecessary when the component member is replaced. <P>SOLUTION: Each image forming apparatus outputs data on the built-in component members to a network, and outputs data on the component members after replacement, when any one of the component members is replaced with another component member. The processor stores data on each of the component members in a memory, searches for the possibility of the replacement of the corresponding component member of another image forming apparatus with the component member made unnecessary, with reference to the data on the component members, stored in the memory, depending on the input of the data on the component members made unnecessary, displays the result of that search, and updates the data in the memory in accordance with the data on the component member after the replacement. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a processing apparatus, and for example, relates to a processing apparatus in which a multi-function machine including a hard disk device (HDD), a copier incorporating a CPU, a printer, and the like is connected to a network.

  Image forming apparatuses such as copying machines are equipped with various electronic equipment units such as CPUs, HDDs and memory modules, and mechanical parts. Recently, from the viewpoint of environmental protection, image forming apparatuses such as copying machines Playback is being performed. When regenerating the image forming apparatus, it is necessary to disassemble the image forming apparatus collected from the user's hand, sort the parts, and determine whether or not replacement is necessary.

  For this reason, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 09-062152 (Patent Document 1) discriminates a consumable part that needs to be replaced and a consumable part that can be regenerated in an electronic device having a large number of consumable parts mounted on the apparatus body. It describes electronic devices that can be used.

On the other hand, in the image forming apparatus, depending on the customer's request, the CPU can be replaced with a high-speed one, or a large-capacity HDD or memory module can be replaced to increase the capacity of the HDD or memory module. May be upgraded.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 09-062152 (paragraph numbers 0023 to 0024, FIG. 5)

  However, the replaced HDD or the like that has been used up to that point may include a usable HDD that has no failure and has a long service life. Therefore, effective reuse is required from the viewpoint of environmental conservation.

  Then, this invention is providing the processing apparatus which can utilize effectively the structural member which became unnecessary, when a structural member is replaced | exchanged.

  The present invention relates to a plurality of image forming apparatuses connected to a communication line and a processing apparatus that manages each of the image processing apparatuses, and each image forming apparatus outputs data relating to a component contained therein to the communication line. The processing apparatus includes an input means for inputting data relating to a constituent member that is no longer necessary after the constituent member built in the image forming apparatus is replaced, a storage means for storing the data, and each image forming unit input from the input means Reference is made to the data relating to the structural member stored in the storage means in response to the input of the data relating to the unnecessary structural member from the input means and the control means for storing the data relating to the structural member of the apparatus in the storage means. Thus, there is provided search means for searching whether or not the corresponding constituent member of another image forming apparatus can be replaced with a constituent member that is no longer needed.

  Therefore, when the constituent member is replaced with a new constituent member, the search for reusing the unnecessary constituent member for another image forming apparatus can be easily performed. Effective reuse is possible.

  Preferably, when the component member is replaced, the image forming apparatus outputs data relating to the new component member to the communication line, the input unit inputs data relating to the new component member from the communication line, and the control unit replaces the component member. In response to the input of data relating to a new component member, the data relating to the component member before replacement stored in the storage means is updated to data relating to the component member after replacement. Therefore, the storage means can continuously manage the latest data of the constituent members.

  Preferably, the information on the constituent member includes the lifetime of the constituent member, the search means calculates the remaining life of the constituent member that is no longer needed, and refers to the life stored in the storage means to calculate the remaining life A search is performed to replace the corresponding constituent member of another image forming apparatus with a shorter remaining life with a constituent member that is no longer needed. Therefore, the lifetime of the entire apparatus can be extended by replacing the constituent members.

  Preferably, the constituent member is a memory unit having a predetermined storage capacity, and the information relating to the constituent member includes the predetermined storage capacity, and the search means stores in the storage means based on the storage capacity of the memory unit that is no longer needed. By referring to the stored storage capacity, a search for replacing the memory unit of another image forming apparatus having a storage capacity smaller than the storage capacity of the unnecessary memory unit with the unnecessary memory unit is performed. Therefore, the data storage capacity can be increased by replacing the memory unit with a memory unit having a large storage capacity.

  Preferably, the constituent member is an arithmetic processing unit having a predetermined processing speed, the data relating to the constituent member includes the predetermined processing speed, and the search means is based on the processing speed of the arithmetic processing unit that is no longer necessary. In order to replace an arithmetic processing unit of another image forming apparatus, which has a processing speed slower than that of the arithmetic processing unit that is no longer needed, with an arithmetic processing unit that is no longer needed by referring to the processing speed stored in Search for. Therefore, the data processing speed can be increased by replacing the arithmetic processing unit with an arithmetic processing unit having a high processing speed.

  Preferably, the constituent member is an electronic component having a predetermined constant, the data relating to the constituent member includes the predetermined constant, and the search unit is stored in the storage unit based on the predetermined constant of the electronic component that is no longer necessary. For replacing a corresponding electronic component of the same constant in another image forming apparatus with a life shorter than the remaining life of the electronic component that is no longer needed with reference to the predetermined constant that is no longer needed Perform a search. Accordingly, since the electronic component can be replaced with a long remaining life, the life of the entire image forming apparatus can be extended.

  Preferably, the constituent member is a mechanism part, and the search means replaces the mechanism part that is no longer needed by referring to the life stored in the storage means based on the remaining life of the mechanism part that is no longer needed. A search is performed to replace a corresponding mechanical component in another image forming apparatus having a lifetime shorter than the remaining lifetime with a mechanical component that is no longer necessary. Accordingly, since the mechanical part with severe wear can be replaced with a mechanical part having a long remaining life, the life of the entire image forming apparatus can be extended.

  Preferably, a display means for displaying the name of the replaceable constituent member when the replaceable constituent member is searched for by the searching means is included. By observing this display, it is possible to easily know the constituent members to be replaced.

  Another aspect of the present invention is a processing device that manages a plurality of image forming apparatuses that output data related to the constituent members incorporated therein to a communication line, and the constituent members incorporated in the image forming apparatus are replaced. An input means for inputting data relating to components that are no longer needed, a storage means for storing data, a control means for storing data relating to the constituent members of each image forming apparatus input by the input means in the storage means, In response to the input of the data regarding the constituent member that is no longer required from the input unit, the data regarding the constituent member stored in the storage unit is referred to, and the corresponding constituent member of the other image forming apparatus is unnecessary. A search means for searching whether the replaced component can be replaced is provided.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the input data relating to the constituent members of each image forming apparatus is stored, and the constituent members stored in response to the input of the data relating to the constituent members that are no longer necessary are stored. With reference to the data related to the above, the corresponding structural member of the other image forming apparatus is searched for whether it can be replaced with the unnecessary structural member. Search for reuse in the apparatus can be easily performed, and resources can be effectively reused from the viewpoint of environmental conservation.

  1 is a schematic block diagram of an image forming apparatus system according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an image forming apparatus included in the system shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the processing apparatus. FIG.

  In FIG. 1, a processing apparatus 10 and a plurality of image forming apparatuses 11, 12,... 1n are connected to a network 20 as a communication line. The image forming apparatuses 11, 12,..., 1n are multifunction devices having functions such as copiers and printers, and include CPUs, HDDs, memory elements, electronic parts such as resistors and capacitors, mechanical parts such as clutches, and the like. Built in as a component.

  Each of the image forming apparatuses 11, 12,... 1n is configured as shown in FIG. 2, and is replaced with a CPU 111, a display unit 112, an operation unit 113, a memory 114, a printing unit 115, and a network interface 116. A detector 117 and a scanner unit 118 are included. The scanner unit 118 reads an image of a document, and the printing unit 115 prints the image. The display unit 112 displays the size of the paper selected by the operation unit 113, the reading magnification, and the like, and the memory 114 stores the read image data and also stores data related to the built-in components.

  The exchange detector 117 is described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 06-051585. When the constituent members built in the image forming apparatuses 11, 12,. Data relating to the structural member is detected and output to the CPU 111. The CPU 111 controls the entire operation and outputs data to the network 20 via the network interface 116 as necessary. In this embodiment, the CPU 111 outputs data related to the structural members stored in the memory 114 to the network 20 and, when the replacement detector 117 detects that the structural members have been replaced, The data regarding is output to the network 20.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the processing device 10 includes a CPU 101 as a control unit and a search unit, a display unit 102, an operation unit 103, a memory 104 as a storage unit, a printing unit 105, and a network interface 106. . When the CPU 101 replaces the data regarding the constituent members output from the image forming apparatuses 11, 12... 1 n via the network 20 and the constituent members, the CPU 101 transmits the data regarding the constituent members after the replacement via the network interface 106. Receive.

  The display unit 102 displays data such as the name and life of the searched component. The operation unit 103 is used to input search information and the like, and the memory 104 stores data related to components sent from the image forming apparatuses 11, 12,. The printing unit 106 prints information on replaceable constituent members.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing data relating to the components stored in the memory. 4, the memory 104 includes storage areas 41, 42,... 4n corresponding to the respective image forming apparatuses 11, 12,... 1n, and each storage area 41, 42. Data such as component names or unit names, specifications, remaining life, physical properties, etc. are stored. For example, a hard disk (HDD) as an example of a memory unit is stored as a part name or a unit name, a storage capacity of 40 GB is stored as a specification, and a lifetime of 5 years is stored as a CPU corresponding to a processing speed as an example of an arithmetic processing unit. A frequency of 2 MHz and a remaining life of 3 years are stored, and other data related to the memory is also stored. In addition, data such as ceramic capacitors and resistors as examples of electronic components, capacitance, resistance value, withstand voltage, lifetime of 10 years, etc. are stored as specifications, and data such as clutches and lifetime of 3 years as examples of mechanical components are stored. Is also remembered.

  In this way, by enumerating and storing the constituent members built in each image forming apparatus, it becomes possible to centrally manage the remaining life of each constituent member.

  In FIG. 4, the data relating to the constituent members is stored for each image forming apparatus. However, for example, the specification, the remaining life, and the name of the used image forming apparatus are stored for each HDD or CPU. May be.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the embodiment of the present invention. Each image forming apparatus 11, 12,... 1n outputs data relating to a built-in component to the network 20 when the power is turned on, for example. Yes.

  The CPU 101 of the processing apparatus 10 determines whether or not data is input from the network 20 via the network interface 106 at step SP1 (abbreviated as SP in the drawing) when the power is turned on, for example. When it is determined that data relating to the structural member has been input from the image forming apparatus 11, the data relating to the structural member is tabulated in step SP2 and stored in the storage area 41 of the memory 104 in the manner shown in FIG.

  In step SP3, it is determined whether or not the data is aggregated for the image forming apparatuses 11 to 1n. If the aggregation is not completed, the process returns to step SP1 and the next image forming apparatus 12 data is input. The data is totaled at SP2. Steps SP1 to SP3 are repeated to collect data relating to the constituent members of the image forming apparatuses 11, 12,... 1n and store them in the storage areas 41, 42,. The stored data regarding the constituent members is displayed on the display unit 102 by operating the operation unit 105 as necessary.

  When the constituent member is replaced with a new constituent member in any one of the image forming apparatuses 11, 12,... 1 n, the replacement detector 117 detects the constituent member, so that data regarding each constituent member after replacement is output to the network 20. . At this time, data relating to the constituent members that are no longer needed after being exchanged is input from the operation unit 113 of the processing apparatus 10.

  In the processing apparatus 10, in step SP4, it is determined whether or not the structural member has been replaced. When it is determined that the data regarding each structural member before and after replacement has been input, the data is input in step SP5. Based on the data on the component before replacement, that is, the data on the component that has become unnecessary after the replacement, the list of the component stored in the memory 104 shown in FIG. Find the corresponding component that can be replaced with.

  For example, if an HDD built in the image forming apparatus 11 has a storage capacity of 40 GB and is replaced with an 80 GB HDD, the original 40 GB HDD becomes unnecessary. If the storage area 42 of the memory 4 stores, for example, that the HDD of the image forming apparatus 12 is 20 GB, the CPU 1 searches for this, determines that there is a replaceable HDD, and in step SP6 the search result Is displayed. At this time, the remaining lifetime of the component after replacement is also calculated and displayed.

  The user sees the display, determines whether or not to replace the unnecessary 40 GB HDD with the corresponding 20 GB HDD of the image forming apparatus 12, and replaces the unnecessary 40 GB HDD as necessary. To do. When the constituent members are replaced, the storage contents of the storage areas 41 and 42 of the memory 4 are updated to the data after replacement based on the data related to the constituent members after replacement.

  The replaced original 20 GB HDD may be used for other devices.

  As described above, when the HDD of the image forming apparatus 11 is replaced with, for example, 40 GB to 80 GB, the original 40 GB HDD becomes unnecessary, but this is replaced with the 20 GB HDD built in the other image forming apparatus 12. If replaced and replaced, the storage capacity of the image forming apparatus 12 can be greatly increased without increasing the cost, and the storage capacity can be enhanced, and the unnecessary 40 GB HDD can be effectively utilized without being disposed of.

  Further, when the CPU of the image forming apparatus 11 is replaced with a CPU of 2 MHz from a CPU having a clock signal of 1 MHz, if there is a CPU having a clock signal of, for example, 500 kHz in another image forming apparatus as a result of the search, that CPU If the clock signal that is no longer needed is replaced with a 1 MHz CPU, the CPU that is no longer needed can be used effectively, and the processing speed of the image forming apparatus can be improved.

  Furthermore, when a new electronic part such as a ceramic capacitor or a mechanical part such as a clutch of the image forming apparatus 11 is newly replaced, the remaining life of the electronic part or the mechanical part that is no longer necessary is calculated. If there is an electronic component or mechanism component having the same constant and a short remaining life in the forming apparatus, the lifetime of the entire apparatus can be extended by replacing it with an electronic component or mechanism component that is no longer needed.

  In addition, any component or the like built in the image forming apparatus as a constituent member may be used.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described with reference to drawings, this invention is not limited to the thing of embodiment shown in figure. Various modifications and variations can be made to the illustrated embodiment within the same range or equivalent range as the present invention.

1 is a schematic block diagram of an image forming apparatus system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the image forming apparatus apparatus shown in FIG. 1. It is a block diagram of the processing apparatus shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the data of the component stored in the memory shown in FIG. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the operation | movement in one Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

101, 111 CPU, 102, 112 Display unit, 103, 113 Operation unit, 104, 114 Memory, 105, 115 Printing unit, 106, 116 Network interface, 11, 12,... 1n Image forming device, 10 processing device, 20 network, 41, 42... 4n storage area.

Claims (9)

A processing apparatus including a plurality of image forming apparatuses connected to a communication line and a management apparatus that manages the plurality of image forming apparatuses,
Each of the image forming apparatuses outputs data relating to the components contained therein to the communication line,
The management device
An input means for inputting data relating to a constituent member that has become unnecessary after the constituent member included in the image forming apparatus has been replaced;
Storage means for storing data;
Control means for storing in the storage means data relating to the constituent members of the image forming apparatuses input by the input means;
In response to the input of data relating to the constituent members that are no longer required from the input means, the corresponding constituent members of the other image forming apparatuses are referred to by referring to the data relating to the constituent members stored in the storage means. The processing apparatus provided with the search means which searches whether it can replace | exchange for the said structural member which became unnecessary. When the image forming apparatus replaces a constituent member, it outputs data relating to the new constituent member to the communication line,
The input means inputs data relating to a new component from the communication line,
The control means relates to the constituent member after the exchange of the data relating to the constituent member before replacement stored in the storage means in response to the input of data relating to the new constituent member when the constituent member is exchanged. The processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing apparatus is updated to data. The data on the component includes the lifetime of the component,
In response to the input of the data regarding the unnecessary component, the search unit calculates the remaining life of the unnecessary component, and refers to the lifetime stored in the storage unit The processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a search is performed to replace a corresponding constituent member of another image forming apparatus having a shorter remaining life than the calculated remaining life with the unnecessary constituent member. . The component is a memory unit having a predetermined storage capacity,
The data relating to the constituent member includes the predetermined storage capacity,
The search means refers to the storage capacity stored in the storage means based on the storage capacity of the memory unit that is no longer needed, and has a storage capacity that is smaller than the storage capacity of the memory unit that is no longer needed. The processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a search for exchanging the memory unit of the image forming apparatus with the memory unit that is no longer needed is performed. The component is an arithmetic processing unit having a predetermined processing speed,
The data relating to the component includes the predetermined processing speed,
The search means refers to the processing speed stored in the storage means based on the processing speed of the arithmetic processing unit that is no longer needed, and has a processing speed higher than the processing speed of the arithmetic processing unit that is no longer needed. The processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a search is performed to replace an arithmetic processing unit of another slow image forming apparatus with the unnecessary arithmetic processing unit. The component member is an electronic component having a predetermined constant,
Information about the component includes the predetermined constant,
The search means refers to a predetermined constant stored in the storage means based on a predetermined constant of the electronic component that is no longer needed, and has a life shorter than the remaining life of the electronic component that is no longer needed. The processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a search for exchanging electronic components having the same constant in another image forming apparatus with the electronic parts that are no longer necessary is performed. The component member is a mechanical component,
The search means refers to the life stored in the storage means based on the remaining life of the mechanism parts that are no longer needed after replacement, and has a life shorter than the remaining life of the mechanism parts that are no longer needed. The processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a search for exchanging a mechanical part in another image forming apparatus with the unnecessary mechanical part is performed.   The processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising display means for displaying a name of the replaceable constituent member in response to a search for a replaceable constituent member by the searching means. A processing apparatus that manages a plurality of image forming apparatuses that output data relating to components contained therein to a communication line,
An input means for inputting data relating to a constituent member that has become unnecessary after the constituent member included in the image forming apparatus has been replaced;
Storage means for storing data;
Control means for storing in the storage means data relating to the constituent members of the image forming apparatuses input by the input means;
In response to the input of the data regarding the constituent member that is no longer necessary from the input unit, the corresponding constituent member of the other image forming apparatus is referred to by referring to the data regarding the constituent member stored in the storage unit. The processing apparatus provided with the search means which searches whether it can replace | exchange for the said structural member which became unnecessary.

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