JP2005301134A - Electronic equipment and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve a problem that the manufacturer of electronic equipment including an image forming apparatus such as a facsimile device can hardly grasp information related to trouble when trouble to such an extent that a user can eliminate for himself or trouble which the user should eliminate for himself is caused in the electronic equipment manufactured and sold by the manufacturer such as the time required to eliminate the trouble, and the occurrence frequency and the occurrence part of the trouble. <P>SOLUTION: The electronic equipment is equipped with a reading part state detection part 151 and a recording part state detection part 171 for detecting the states of a reading part 15 and a recording part 17, a timer part 21 for measuring required time taken until eliminating the trouble, for example, when paper jamming or the like occurs, and a state information storage part 22 for storing the result of detection by both state detection parts 151 and 171 and a time measured value by the timer part 21 so as to correspond to each other, and the content stored in the state information storage part 22 is periodically transmitted to a control server 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as an electronic apparatus, for example, a facsimile machine, and more particularly, to an electronic apparatus in which various error conditions that are normally designated by a user to be canceled by the user are generated. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus as an electronic apparatus.

  Various problems occur in electronic equipment, but it is basically unavoidable. However, in the case of a facsimile machine as an electronic equipment, for example, when reading a manuscript, it is necessary to inspect and repair by an expert. If a trouble such as a paper jam that often occurs during the recording output on the paper after receiving the facsimile communication or the copy output of the original read by the user, it is usually canceled by the user himself / herself. In order to make the user release the service by himself / herself, the release method is described in the manual. However, if an expert takes action when trouble occurs in an electronic device, the manufacturer can grasp information on the cause of the trouble, the place where the trouble occurred, and the time required for cancellation, but the user himself When a trouble is canceled, the manufacturer cannot grasp the cause of the trouble, the location where the trouble occurred, the time required for the cancellation, and the like.

  Under such circumstances, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for notifying an error occurring in a printer to a notification destination such as a host computer. However, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, the notification destination of the generated error is the host computer that instructs the printer to perform print processing, and thus the manufacturer cannot recognize the error occurrence status.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a maintenance system for notifying emergency abnormality information from a facsimile apparatus to a maintenance center. However, emergency abnormality information notified to the center requires repair by an expert and is routinely performed. A state that the user himself should deal with, such as a paper jam, is not targeted for emergency abnormality information.

For this reason, for example, when paper jams occur frequently in a facsimile machine or the like, it may be caused by a design error, a component manufacturing error, or the like. In the past, such information was rarely reported to the manufacturer, and the user side was sometimes dissatisfied. In addition, the problem is not limited to the cancellation of the trouble. For example, in the printer, etc., the paper supply, the replacement of the toner unit, the drum unit, etc. are basically performed by the user himself. Regarding the time required, it is difficult for a general user to grasp information such as how much time is required for a general user.
JP-A-8-202509 JP 2001-238027 A

  Due to the circumstances described above, manufacturers of electronic devices including image forming apparatuses such as facsimile machines are able to cancel the electronic devices that they can manufacture or sell themselves, or the users can cancel them themselves. It is difficult to understand information about the time it takes to resolve the trouble, the frequency of occurrence of the trouble, the location of the trouble, etc. In addition, it was a factor that missed the opportunity to improve the product and close the trust of users.

  The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances as described above. For example, in an electronic apparatus such as a facsimile apparatus in which various troubles that should be dealt with by the user themselves occur, such troubles are solved. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic apparatus, specifically an image forming apparatus such as a facsimile machine, which allows the manufacturer to grasp the time required for canceling, the type of trouble, and the like.

  In the electronic device according to the present invention, when an electronic device that executes a predetermined process in accordance with control by the control unit has a predetermined state in which the process cannot be continued during the execution of the predetermined process, the electronic device A state detecting means for detecting the occurrence of the predetermined state and the release of the predetermined state and detecting the type and location of the generated predetermined state, and the state detecting means generates the predetermined state. A timing unit that starts timing when it detects that it has been detected, and ends timing when it is detected that the predetermined state has been released, and a type and occurrence site of the predetermined state detected by the state detection unit Storage means for storing information in association with the time value of the time measuring means is provided.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a reading unit that reads a document as image data, an image data input unit that inputs image data from the outside, and image data read by the reading unit or input by the image data input unit. In an image forming apparatus including a recording unit that prints and records image data on a record carrier, when a predetermined state in which processing cannot be continued during execution of processing by the reading unit and recording unit occurs, A state detecting means for detecting that a predetermined state has occurred and that the predetermined state has been released, and detecting the type and location of the generated predetermined state, and the state detecting means A timing means for starting timing when it has been detected and ending timing when it has been detected that the predetermined state has been released; There characterized by comprising the information on the type and generation sites in a given state detected, and storage means for storing in association with timing value of the clock means.

  In the electronic apparatus and the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, when a predetermined state in which processing cannot be continued occurs during execution of the predetermined processing, the predetermined state has occurred and the predetermined It is detected that the state has been released and the required time is counted, and the type and location of the predetermined state that has occurred are detected and stored in association with each other.

  The electronic apparatus and the image forming apparatus according to the present invention are characterized in that, in each of the above-described inventions, the electronic device and the image forming apparatus further include a transmission unit that transmits the storage contents of the storage unit to the outside at predetermined time intervals.

  In such an electronic apparatus and an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, in each of the above-described inventions, the time required until the predetermined state stored in association with each other is canceled and the predetermined Since the type of state and the site of occurrence are transmitted to the outside, information from a large number of electronic devices and image forming apparatuses is collected in one place.

  According to the electronic apparatus and the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, information such as the time required for release when a predetermined state occurs in the electronic apparatus and the image forming apparatus is accumulated. Information such as the frequency of occurrence of the malfunction of the apparatus and its part can be obtained.

  Further, according to the electronic apparatus and the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, in each of the above-described inventions, it becomes possible to collect information from a large number of electronic apparatuses and image forming apparatuses at one place. Information about the frequency of occurrence and the location of the error can be obtained, allowing the manufacturer to respond quickly to a design error, the presence of defective parts, etc. As a result, it is possible to obtain materials for improving the product efficiently.

  Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus as an electronic apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings when applied to a facsimile apparatus as an embodiment thereof. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration example of a facsimile apparatus 1 as an embodiment of an electronic apparatus according to the present invention.

  The facsimile apparatus 1 includes a control unit 10 constituted by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or an MPU (Micro Processor Unit). The control unit 10 includes, via a bus, a ROM 11, a RAM 12, an NCU (Network Control Unit) 13, a modem 14, a reading unit 15, and a reading unit state detection unit 151 that detects occurrence and cancellation of errors in the reading unit 15. Image memory 16, recording unit 17, recording unit state detection unit 171 that detects the occurrence and cancellation of errors in this recording unit 17, operation unit 18, display unit 19, codec that performs encoding / decoding processing of image data ( CODEC) 20, timing unit 21, state information storage unit 22, and the like.

  The control unit 10 controls each part of the hardware as described above, and implements various software functions according to a control program stored in advance in the ROM 11. The control program stored in the ROM 11 includes various programs necessary for general operation as the facsimile apparatus 1, that is, facsimile communication for performing facsimile communication with the external facsimile apparatus 3 via the modem 14. In addition to a program, a program necessary for operation as an image forming apparatus which is an electronic apparatus according to the present invention is also included. The RAM 12 is configured by SRAM, flash memory, or the like, and temporarily stores data generated when the control unit 10 executes the program. Note that it is desirable to use a rewritable nonvolatile storage medium for the RAM 12 so that the stored contents are not lost in the event of a power failure or when the power supply for maintenance and inspection is cut off.

  The modem 14 is a fax modem capable of facsimile communication, and is directly connected to the NCU 13. The NCU 13 is connected to the public switched telephone network PSTN. If necessary, the NCU 13 connects the modem 14 to the public switched telephone network PSTN and performs facsimile communication with the external facsimile apparatus 3 via the public switched telephone network PSTN. It is possible. Note that a management server 2 installed in the management center is connected to the public switched telephone network PSTN so that at least information transmitted from the facsimile machine 1 can be received.

  The reading unit 15 is composed of a scanner using a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), and reads each of a plurality of documents placed on a document placing table of an ADF (Automatic Document Feeder) (not shown) one by one. The image data of the document in page units is acquired, and the acquired image data is stored in the image memory 16. A document sensor (not shown) is provided on the document placement table of the ADF of the reading unit 15. When a document is placed (set), this is detected and a predetermined signal is sent to the control unit 10. The reading unit 15 is further provided with a state detection unit 151 that detects the state of the reading unit 15.

  The reading unit state detection unit 151 detects the state when the document set on the ADF becomes jammed and the document stops at a position where it does not stop during the reading process by the reading unit 15, and the state is also detected. When is canceled, specifically, when the user removes a paper jammed document, the state is detected. Note that such a reading unit state detection unit 151 is generally provided in a conventional apparatus of this type and is a well-known technique.

  The image memory 16 is configured by a DRAM, and temporarily stores image data received by facsimile communication via the modem 14 and the NCU 13 and image data read by the reading unit 15.

  The recording unit 17 is, for example, an electrophotographic printer, and the image data stored in the image memory 16 is recorded on recording paper of various sizes such as A3 portrait, B4 portrait, A4 portrait, B5 landscape, and A5 landscape, or OHP. (Over Head Projector) Select the optimal size from the sheet and make a hard copy.

  The recording unit 17 is also provided with a recording unit state detection unit 171 that detects the state of the recording unit 17. For example, when the paper is jammed, the recording unit state detection unit 171 detects the position of the paper, for example, an electrophotographic printer device. Whether the paper is jammed in the body drum), the paper is jammed in the fixing unit (heat press roller), or the paper is jammed in the post-processing unit (hole punching, stapling, etc.). When the paper is released, specifically, when the user removes a paper jammed state, the state is detected.

  Further, in addition to the paper jam as described above, the recording unit state detection unit 171 detects the start point and the end point when toner replacement and photoconductor drum unit replacement are performed. Specifically, when the toner or the photoconductive drum unit is replaced, a predetermined part of the apparatus is opened, and after the toner cartridge or the photoconductive drum unit is once removed, a new one is mounted and opened. Since a predetermined part is closed, those series of states can be detected by a sensor. Note that such a recording unit state detection unit 171 is generally provided in this type of conventional apparatus and is a well-known technique.

  The operation unit 18 includes a numeric keypad, speed dial keys, various function keys, and the like necessary for operating the facsimile apparatus 1. The display unit 19 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), and displays the operating state of the facsimile machine 1, characters input from the operation unit 18, information to be notified to the user, and the like. A part of the operation unit 18 is configured as a touch panel that accepts an operation of a soft key displayed on the display unit 19.

  The timekeeping unit 21 is a stopwatch-like timekeeping means that starts and ends timekeeping according to an instruction from the control unit 10, and the control portion 10 can read the timekeeping value when the timekeeping is finished. Although the control unit 10 has a built-in timer that clocks the absolute time, the clocking function by the clocking unit 21 can be substituted based on the time clocked by the built-in timer.

  The state information storage unit 22 counts time when it is detected that a paper jam or toner or photoconductor drum has been replaced based on the detection states of the reading unit state detection unit 151 and the recording unit state detection unit 171. This is a storage means for storing the time measured by the unit 21 and the detection state by the reading unit state detection unit 151 or the recording unit state detection unit 171 in association with each other, and uses a non-volatile recording medium such as a hard disk, a flash memory, or an EEPROM It is desirable to do.

  With the configuration described above, the facsimile apparatus 1 temporarily stores image data obtained by reading a document placed by a user on an ADF document placing table (not shown) by the reading unit 15 in the image memory 16 and then using the codec 20 to perform facsimile processing. The image data is encoded and transmitted via the NCU 13 and the modem 14 to the other facsimile apparatus 3 connected to the public telephone network PSTN, and the facsimile image data transmitted by the external facsimile apparatus 3 by facsimile communication is transmitted. After receiving via the public telephone network PSTN and temporarily storing it in the image memory 16, the codec 20 functions as a facsimile machine that decodes the image data into a format such as normal image data, eg, bitmap, MPEG, TIFF.

  Further, the facsimile machine 1 also functions as a copying machine that copies the image data obtained by reading the document by the reading unit 15 by making a hard copy on a recording sheet by the recording unit 17. Furthermore, by providing the LAN interface, the facsimile apparatus 1 also functions as a printer that receives print data from another personal computer and outputs a hard copy at the recording unit.

  While the facsimile apparatus 1 performs a general operation as a facsimile apparatus as described above, the control unit 10 associates the detection results by both the state detection units 151 and 171 with the time measurement value by the time measurement unit 21. The state information is stored in the state information storage unit 22 as state information.

  Next, the operation of the facsimile apparatus 1 as an image forming apparatus which is an electronic apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to a flowchart. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when an error occurs in the facsimile apparatus 1 as the image forming apparatus in the electronic apparatus according to the present invention, and is executed by the control unit 10 according to a program stored in the ROM 11 in advance.

  The control unit 10 always determines whether or not the clocking time of the built-in timer is a predetermined time set by the user in advance (for example, 1:00 am in the middle of the night) (step S11), and is not the predetermined time (NO in step S11), whether the document reading process by the reading unit 15 or the recording process by the recording unit 17 is performed (step S12), or the toner or the photosensitive drum of the recording unit 17 is replaced. (S21 in the case of NO in step S12) is monitored. The predetermined time is preferably set to a time when the facsimile apparatus 1 is not used. Therefore, it may be set at a midnight time zone in a general home or office, but may be set appropriately according to the business form in the office. Further, as described above, it may be set once a week instead of once a day, for example, on the day of the week when the business is closed.

  When the document reading process by the reading unit 15 or the recording process by the recording unit 17 is performed (YES in step S12), the control unit 10 determines that the reading unit state detection unit 151 or the recording unit state detection unit 171 reads the reading unit 15. Alternatively, it is monitored whether or not an error has occurred in the recording unit 17, specifically, whether or not a document or paper jam has been detected (step S13). At this time, if a paper jam is not detected (NO in step S13), the control unit 10 returns the process to step S11. On the other hand, when a paper jam is detected (YES in step S13), the control unit 10 causes the timer unit 21 to start measuring time (step S14). The time counting by the time measuring unit 21 is continued until the paper jam is released (NO in step S15). When the paper jam is released (YES in step S15), the control unit 10 ends the time counting by the time measuring unit 21. (Step S16).

  When the time measurement by the time measuring unit 21 is completed, the control unit 10 determines whether the time measured by the time measuring unit 21 and the part where the paper jam occurs, that is, the part of the reading part 15 or the recording part 17 where the paper jam occurs. It is specified based on the detection state by the state detection unit 151 or the recording unit state detection unit 171 and is stored in the state information storage unit 22 as state information (step S17). Thereafter, the control unit 10 returns the process to step S11.

  If the recording unit state detection unit 171 detects that the toner or the photosensitive drum has been replaced in step S12 (YES in step S21), the control unit 10 causes the timer unit 21 to start measuring time (step S21). S22). The time counting by the time measuring unit 21 is continued until the replacement work of the toner or the photosensitive drum is completed (NO in step S23). When the replacement work is completed (YES in step S23), the control unit 10 measures the time by the time measuring unit 21. Is terminated (step S24). If neither toner nor photosensitive drum is exchanged in step S21 (NO in step S21), the control unit 10 executes other processing to be performed at that time, for example, facsimile communication or the like. (Step S31), the process is returned to Step S11.

  When the time measurement by the time measurement unit 21 is completed, the control unit 10 replaces the time value obtained by the time measurement unit 21 (toner or photoconductor drum, but what color toner or photoconductor if the recording unit 17 is a color system). Whether the drum has been replaced) is specified based on the detection state by the recording unit state detection unit 171 and stored in the state information storage unit 22 as state information (step S25). Thereafter, the control unit 10 returns the process to step S11.

  The control unit 10 normally performs the control as described above, but at a predetermined time (YES in step S11), the control unit 10 manages the state information stored in the state information storage unit 22 from the outside, for example. The data is transmitted to the center management server 2 (step S41), and the process returns to step S11. At this time, the status information can be transmitted by an appropriate communication method such as facsimile communication, electronic mail communication, or data communication.

  As described above, the management server 2 of the management center receives error information from the facsimile apparatus 1 periodically (in this example, once a day). Therefore, by analyzing this information on the management center side, for example, the ADF of the reading unit 15 of the facsimile machine 1, the frequency of paper jams at each part of the recording unit 17, the time required for the user to release, the toner of the recording unit 17, the photosensitive It becomes possible to grasp the replacement frequency of the body drum unit, the time required for the replacement, and the like.

  Needless to say, the management server 2 of the management center receives similar information not only from the facsimile machine 1 but also from many facsimile machines such as the facsimile machine 2 shown in FIG. . Therefore, for example, when there are frequent paper jams in a specific part of a specific model, for example, it has been the first time by individual reports from users or reports by maintenance management specialists or sales staff. A situation that becomes clear will be quickly found in the management center. Accordingly, when such information obtained at the management center is estimated to be a design error, a component defect, etc., it is possible to immediately recall and not lose the user's trust.

  In this type of device, paper jams are a fatal problem and cannot be eliminated at all. However, it is more efficient by statistically analyzing the time required for the user to clear paper jams. In addition, materials for improving the configuration of the apparatus for clearing a paper jam, for example, the dividing position of the panel of the apparatus opened to clear the paper jam, the opening procedure, and the like are obtained.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the image forming apparatus as the electronic apparatus according to the invention is applied to a facsimile apparatus has been described. However, the image forming apparatus has only a copy function and a print function. The present invention can also be applied to a printer apparatus. Also, as an electronic device, only a device for which a user is supposed to cancel errors and replenish and replace consumables, for example, only a document reading function. Applicable to scanner devices that have a printer, a register device that the user exchanges receipt paper by himself / herself, and a register device that must be released by the user himself / herself, or an automatic ticket gate at a station where tickets and commuter passes are often jammed It is.

1 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of a facsimile apparatus as an embodiment of an electronic apparatus according to the present invention. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when an error occurs in a facsimile apparatus as an image forming apparatus in an electronic apparatus according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Facsimile device 2 Management server 10 Control part 15 Reading part 151 Reading part State detection part 17 Recording part 171 Recording part state detection part 21 Time measuring part 22 Status information storage part

Claims (4)

In an electronic device that executes a predetermined process according to control by a control means,
When a predetermined state in which processing cannot be continued during the execution of the predetermined process has occurred, it has been detected that the predetermined state has occurred and that the predetermined state has been canceled. State detection means for detecting the type and occurrence site of the predetermined state;
Timing means that starts timing when the state detection means detects that the predetermined state has occurred, and ends time measurement when it is detected that the predetermined state has been released;
An electronic apparatus comprising: storage means for storing information relating to a type and occurrence site of a predetermined state detected by the state detection means and a time value of the time measurement means in association with each other.   The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a transmission unit that transmits the storage contents of the storage unit to the outside at predetermined time intervals. Reading means for reading a document as image data, image data input means for inputting image data from the outside, and recording for printing and recording image data read by the reading means or image data inputted by the image data input means on a record carrier An image forming apparatus comprising:
When a predetermined state in which processing cannot be continued occurs during execution of processing by the reading unit and recording unit, it is detected that the predetermined state has occurred and that the predetermined state has been canceled. A state detection means for detecting the type and location of the predetermined state that has occurred,
Timing means that starts timing when the state detection means detects that the predetermined state has occurred, and ends time measurement when it is detected that the predetermined state has been released;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a storage unit that stores information relating to a type and occurrence site of a predetermined state detected by the state detection unit and a time value of the time measurement unit in association with each other.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a transmission unit configured to transmit the contents stored in the storage unit to the outside at predetermined time intervals.

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