JP2005292673A - Using environment monitoring device for image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a using environment monitoring device for an image forming device which can take economical measures quickly by detecting the setting environment of a device accurately, and avoid the breakage of the device. <P>SOLUTION: An environment detecting means 4A to detect a setting environment conditions such as an environmental temperature and a power supply noise in a place where a copying machine is located, and an environment abnormality warning means 4B to warn that the environment is in abnormal condition when the environmental conditions detected by the environment detecting means 4A deviate from a normal operation environment of the copying machine are provided. Also, an operation stopping means 4C to stop the copying machine is provided. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a use environment monitoring device for an image forming apparatus.

  Image forming apparatuses such as printers, facsimiles, and copiers are based on various standards in order to ensure that the apparatus operates normally under a certain environment where the apparatus is installed, such as power supply noise, radiation noise, and environmental temperature. Tests are conducted and various measures are taken.

An example of such a standard is the AC line noise standard. In the Electrical Appliance and Material Safety Law, devices may cause abnormal operation due to various power fluctuation tests such as a surge test (applying instantaneous high-voltage noise to the power line). Designed for various measures, such as mounting a noise filter to prevent damage. (Patent Document 1)
The above-mentioned standards differ depending on the country or region where the device is used, and are designed to satisfy the corresponding standards.
JP-A-8-14339

  However, even a device that satisfies such a standard has various usage environments. For example, in an area where power supply conditions are poor, the device may not operate normally and may malfunction. In such a case, the service personnel cannot easily identify the cause, so not only will it take time for mischief, but there are also cases where more expensive countermeasure parts are installed than necessary, and management costs and maintenance costs are increased. There was an inconvenience of rising.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-described conventional drawbacks, the present invention provides a use environment monitoring device for an image forming apparatus that can accurately detect an installation environment of an apparatus, take an economic measure quickly, and avoid damage to the apparatus. In the point.

  In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the first characteristic configuration of the use environment monitoring device of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is that the installation environment condition of the image forming apparatus is set as described in claim 1 of the claims. An environmental detection means for detecting, and an environmental abnormality alarm means for issuing a warning that the environment is abnormal when the environmental condition detected by the environment detection means deviates from the normal operating environment of the image forming apparatus. is there.

  The environmental detection means detects, for example, a power supply environment or a temperature / humidity environment, and issues an alarm when it is determined that the environmental abnormality alarm means deviates from the environmental conditions set as the environmental normal range in advance based on the detected environmental conditions. Thus, even when there is a complaint from the user who purchased the device, the cause can be accurately and quickly grasped based on the alarm.

  Further, it is preferable that the environmental abnormality detection means warns the abnormal environment in a plurality of stages based on the environmental condition detected by the environment detection means, and based on the degree of the abnormality, The most appropriate measure can be selected and dealt with, and the management cost and maintenance cost can be reduced to appropriate values.

  In the above-described configuration, it is preferable that the environment detection unit is for detecting the line noise level of the supply power supply voltage, which is particularly effective when the apparatus is installed in an environment where power supply conditions are poor.

  Similarly, the environment detecting means detects an instantaneous voltage stop time of the power supply voltage, detects an instantaneous voltage fluctuation of the power supply voltage, or detects a voltage level of the power supply voltage. It is preferable that appropriate measures can be taken quickly.

  Furthermore, if the environment detection means detects the environmental temperature or humidity in which the image forming apparatus is installed, the user can not only install appropriate countermeasure parts such as a heater and a fan, but also improve the environment. There is an advantage that can be taught.

  It is preferable that the environment detection unit detects an electromagnetic wave noise level in an environment where the image forming apparatus is installed. In this case, a noise shield is applied to a main part of the apparatus or a noise generation source. Appropriate measures such as taking measures on the equipment become possible.

  It is preferable to provide an operation stop means for prohibiting the operation of the image forming apparatus when the environmental condition detected by the environment detection means deviates from an allowable environmental condition, and the apparatus is intentionally operated in a poor environment. By doing so, it is possible to prevent the breakdown and destruction of the device in advance.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an operating environment monitoring device for an image forming apparatus that can accurately detect an installation environment of an apparatus, take an economic measure quickly, and avoid damage to the apparatus. I was able to do it.

  Embodiments of an operating environment monitoring apparatus for an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described below. As shown in FIG. 1, in a power supply circuit of a copying machine which is an example of an image forming apparatus, a noise filter NF, a breaker BK, and a transformer TR are sequentially arranged on AC lines L1 and L2 connected to a commercial AC power supply line. A control including a first DC power supply circuit 1 having a high voltage level for supplying DC 24V DC power from a secondary output stepped down by the transformer TR to a load of a driving system such as a motor and a solenoid, and a CPU for controlling the copying machine A second DC power supply circuit 2 having a low voltage level for supplying DC power of DC 5V to the substrate 3 is provided.

  The control board 3 is provided with a usage environment monitoring device 4 including a piezoelectric buzzer 4b as shown in FIG. 2 and a transistor switch circuit 4a for driving the piezoelectric buzzer 4b. The use environment monitoring device 4 is controlled so that the transistor switch circuit 4a is turned off by a control voltage from the output port of the CPU in a normal state, but high level noise that cannot be removed by the noise filter NF is detected from the AC lines L1 and L2. When flowing in, the noise is applied to the base line of the transistor switch circuit 4a, and the piezoelectric buzzer 4b is sounded.

  Accordingly, when the piezoelectric buzzer 4b rings at the place where the copying machine is installed, it can be determined on the spot that the level of line noise from the power line exceeds the allowable range where the copying machine can operate normally. Based on the situation, by attaching another noise filter having a high noise removing effect to the AC lines L1 and L2, it is possible to take measures so as to operate normally.

  That is, the transistor switch circuit 4a becomes the environment detection means 4A for detecting the installation environment condition of the copying machine, and the environment abnormality alarm means 4B for issuing a warning that the piezoelectric buzzer 4b is in an abnormal environment.

  Further, the temperature sensor TS and the humidity sensor HS are arranged inside the outer cover of the copying machine at a position that is relatively close to the atmosphere of the installation place, and the values are input to the control board 3. The CPU of the board determines whether or not it deviates from the preset operable temperature range and humidity range based on the input temperature signal and humidity signal, and connects the result to the output port of the CPU. A pair of display elements LED1 and LED2 corresponding to the temperature and humidity is displayed. For example, if both the temperature and humidity are within the allowable range, both the display elements LED1 and LED2 are turned off. If they deviate upward, they are turned on. If they deviate downward, they are blinked. It is.

  Therefore, if the temperature and humidity environment at the installation site of the copying machine can be grasped and the display element can grasp that the humidity is abnormally high, the service person can take measures such as a panel heater on the paper cassette or the photosensitive drum. Take appropriate measures such as attaching a cooling fan, which is a countermeasure component, to the specified mounting position of the device when the display element can grasp that the environment is abnormally high by attaching the Will be able to.

  That is, the temperature sensor TS and the humidity sensor HS serve as environment detection means 4A that detects the installation environment conditions of the copying machine, and serve as environment abnormality alarm means 4B that issues a warning that the display elements LED1 and LED2 are in an abnormal environment.

  In this way, by using inexpensive parts that are not directly related to the control of the copier and configuring the operating environment monitoring device, even if there is a complaint from the user who purchased the device, the cause can be accurately identified based on the alarm. In addition, the copying machine can be operated normally by grasping it quickly and attaching appropriate countermeasure parts.

  In the above-described embodiment, it has been explained that the sounding or display output of whether or not to deviate from the permissible range, it is possible to identify the level of noise level and temperature and humidity relative to the permissible range in multiple stages You may comprise so that it may output. As a result, when the countermeasure parts differ depending on the degree of abnormality in the installation environment, it becomes possible to quickly select and mount an appropriate countermeasure part based on which stage of the plurality of stages.

  Furthermore, an operation stop unit 4C for prohibiting the operation of the copying machine when the environmental condition detected by the environment detection unit 4A deviates from the allowable environmental condition may be provided. As the operation stopping means 4C, for example, a one-shot multivibrator for detecting a noise signal applied to a base voltage of the transistor switch circuit 4a and a driving signal for the display elements LED1 and LED2, and a switch for cutting the breaker BK by its output signal It can be configured by a circuit or the like. As a result, it is possible to prevent the copying machine from operating and being damaged under poor environmental conditions.

  For example, a noise level detection circuit for detecting line noise, an abnormality alarm circuit having a display unit and a buzzer for notifying the degree according to the detected noise level, and a cutting circuit for cutting the breaker BK of the copier according to the detection level As shown in FIG. 3, it is possible to display the degree according to the noise level and to operate the cutting circuit to stop the apparatus when the allowable range is exceeded. In the example shown in FIG. 3, when power supply to the apparatus is started (step S1), the noise level is detected by a noise level detection circuit that detects line noise (step S2), and the line noise is 3 KV or less (YES in step S3). ) Is displayed as normal (step S7), and when the noise level is higher than 3 KV and lower than 5 KV (YES in step S4), it is displayed that the limit of the noise level at which the apparatus can operate normally is approached ( In step S8), when the noise level is larger than 5 KV and smaller than 7 KV (NO in step S5), since the apparatus may cause an abnormal operation, an abnormal display is performed and a buzzer is sounded (step S9). When the noise level is higher than 7 KV (YES in step S5), the breaker is cut and the apparatus is stopped (step S6).

  In the above-described embodiment, the copying machine including the use environment monitoring device 4 is described. However, the use environment monitoring device 4 may be configured separately from the copying machine. For example, it is configured to include a control circuit that can process a noise level signal and a temperature / humidity signal driven by a battery and that operates as the environment detection unit 4A, and a display unit that includes liquid crystal as the environmental abnormality alarm unit 4B driven by the control circuit. However, it is a device that can be carried by a service person. The use environment monitoring device 4 is provided with a transmission means and the copying machine is provided with a reception means so that a transmission signal is output from the transmission means when an environmental abnormality is detected, and the reception means receives the transmission signal. The operation stop means 4C can be configured by providing a switch circuit for cutting the breaker BK.

  As the environment detection means 4A, in addition to detecting the line noise level and temperature / humidity of the power supply, detecting the instantaneous voltage stop time of the supply power supply voltage, detecting the instantaneous voltage fluctuation of the supply power supply voltage, supply What detects the voltage level of a power supply voltage, Furthermore, what detects the electromagnetic wave noise level may be used. These detection circuits are appropriately configured by known detection circuits. Appropriate surge absorbers are added when power surges are severe, uninterruptible power supplies are used when power sag is severe, and control is performed when electromagnetic noise is severe. By installing countermeasure parts that are set in advance according to the abnormal environment and its level, such as shielding the board, the most appropriate countermeasure can be selected and promptly handled, and management and maintenance costs are appropriate. It can be reduced to a proper value.

Power supply circuit diagram of image forming apparatus Circuit diagram of the main part for explaining an example of the usage environment monitoring device Flow chart showing an example of the operation of the usage environment monitoring device

Explanation of symbols

1: First DC power supply circuit 2: Second DC power supply circuit 3: Control board 4: Use environment monitoring device 4A: Environment detection means 4B: Environmental abnormality alarm means 4C: Operation stop means L1, L2: AC line

Claims (9)

An environment detection unit that detects an installation environment condition of the image forming apparatus, and an environment that issues a warning that the environment is abnormal when the environmental condition detected by the environment detection unit deviates from a normal operating environment of the image forming apparatus An operating environment monitoring device for an image forming apparatus provided with an abnormality alarm means. The use environment monitoring device for an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the environmental abnormality detection unit warns the abnormal environment in a plurality of stages based on an environmental condition detected by the environment detection unit. The use environment monitoring device for an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the environment detection unit detects a line noise level of a supply power supply voltage. The use environment monitoring device for an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the environment detection unit detects an instantaneous voltage stop time of a supply power supply voltage. 3. The use environment monitoring device for an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the environment detecting means detects an instantaneous voltage fluctuation of a supply power supply voltage. The use environment monitoring device for an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the environment detection unit detects a voltage level of a supply power supply voltage. The use environment monitoring device for an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the environment detecting unit detects an environmental temperature or humidity in which the image forming apparatus is installed. The use environment monitoring device for an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the environment detecting unit detects an electromagnetic wave noise level of an environment where the image forming apparatus is installed. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an operation stop unit that prohibits the operation of the image forming apparatus when an environmental condition detected by the environment detecting unit deviates from an allowable environmental condition. Use environment monitoring device.

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