JP2005341340A - Information display system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information display system in which various kinds of work to be performed on an image forming device are facilitated and work efficiency can be improved by displaying, on a display means of a display terminal device, various kinds of information such as maintenance information for a fault that occurs in the image forming device, or the like. <P>SOLUTION: An information display system includes an image forming device which performs image forming processing in accordance with inputted image data, a storage device (first related information storage means) for storing predetermined information and a display terminal device including a display means, the storage device being adapted to store component related information relating to one or more components in accordance with identification information for identifying the components comprising the image forming device, and is configured to display, on the display means of the display terminal device, the component related information relating to the read identification information when the identification information is read out. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an information display system for displaying information such as maintenance guidance such as a paper jam clearing method and a toner replenishment method on a liquid crystal display and the like, and in particular, displays a maintenance guidance according to a place where maintenance is required. The present invention relates to an output information display system.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a facsimile machine, when a paper jam (JAM) occurs inside the apparatus, a paper jam has occurred on the operation display panel of the apparatus, and a paper jam has occurred. Is displayed or illustrated (hereinafter referred to as the prior art). The user can quickly identify the location where the paper jam has occurred according to the displayed content, and can quickly clear the paper jam.

By the way, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique related to a copying machine in which an operation unit is detachably supported from the copying machine main body. According to the document, when the operation unit is removed from the copying machine main body, the copying is performed from the operation unit via a wired or infrared ray such as a flexible cord connecting the copying machine main body and the operation unit. A signal is transmitted to the machine body.
Patent Documents 2 and 3 also disclose an image forming apparatus in which an operation unit is detachably provided to improve operability. Further, the image forming apparatus of Patent Document 2 is configured such that the image forming apparatus can be remotely controlled by infrared rays from an operation unit removed from the image forming apparatus.
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 62-63747 JP-A-5-19551 JP-A-8-146688

If there is a paper jam in the image forming apparatus, open the doors on the front, back, or both sides of the apparatus, or pull out the paper cassette or developing unit to remove the jammed paper. There must be removal. When a paper jam occurrence location is displayed on the display unit according to the above-described conventional technology, the user follows the paper jam occurrence location with reference to the displayed information. Normally, the user displays the paper jam occurrence location on the display unit. Identify the location of the paper jam while reconfirming the information many times. However, particularly in the case of a medium-sized or large-sized image forming apparatus, the display unit is often disposed on the upper surface of the apparatus, and the opening / closing door, the paper feed cassette, etc. are disposed in the middle or lower part of the apparatus. Even if a paper jam occurrence point is displayed on the display unit according to the above-described conventional technique, it is necessary to go to the display unit on the upper surface of the apparatus in order to confirm the contents of the display unit, which is very complicated and troublesome. Met.
In addition, since the inside of the image forming apparatus is extremely complicated, even if a general user who is not familiar with the internal configuration can identify the location where the paper jam has occurred, the user can remove the paper. I often don't know the technique. For this reason, inadvertently pulling out the paper may lead to a major problem of tearing of a jammed document or failure of the device due to a piece of paper that is torn off and remains inside the device. In addition, paper removal can be resolved by referring to the paper removal method described in the service manual or the like, but the work efficiency has been extremely poor.
On the other hand, the techniques described in the above-mentioned known documents are limited to remote control of the image forming apparatus, and even if a paper jam or the like occurs in the apparatus, it is not possible to specify or know the solution location or solution method.
Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to display various information such as maintenance information such as a failure occurring in the image forming apparatus on the display means of the display terminal device. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an information display system capable of facilitating various operations performed on an image forming apparatus and improving the work efficiency.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus that performs image forming processing according to input image data, a storage device (first related information storage means) that stores predetermined information, and display means. And a display terminal device including the display terminal device, and the storage device is associated with identification information for identifying the constituent elements of the image forming device in association with one or more. The component-related information related to the component is stored, and when the identification information is read, the component-related information related to the read identification information is displayed on the display means of the display terminal device. It is configured to be.
By configuring the information processing system of the present invention in this way, for example, when the identification information of the component subject to maintenance is read, the maintenance guidance for the component requiring the maintenance, etc. Since the component-related information is displayed on the display unit, the user can easily perform maintenance work on the component while referring to the maintenance guidance displayed on the display unit with the display terminal device at hand. It becomes possible.
Note that the first related information storage unit may be configured as a storage device provided in the image forming apparatus or the display terminal device. Further, it may be configured as an independent storage device different from the image forming device and the display terminal device, or a storage device such as an HDD installed in another information processing device or server.

In addition, the present invention is applied to an information display system including an image forming apparatus that performs an image forming process according to input image data and a display terminal device having a display unit. The component related information related to one or more of the components constituting the image forming apparatus may be displayed on the display unit of the display terminal device. That is, the image forming apparatus is provided with second related information storage means for storing the constituent element related information, while the display terminal apparatus receives the constituent element related information from the second related information storage means. , And the read component-related information is output to the display means of the display terminal device.
Even if the present invention is configured as described above, it is possible to easily perform the maintenance work of the constituent elements while referring to the constituent element related information such as the maintenance guidance displayed on the display means.

The identification information storage means or the second related information storage means may be an HDD, a contact type memory, or the like, and in particular, a wireless non-contact type storage medium called a so-called wireless IC tag or RFID tag. It is desirable that Since the wireless IC tag is very small, the use of the wireless IC tag can save space inside the image forming apparatus. In addition, since the data in the wireless IC tag is transmitted and received via wireless communication, there is a great advantage in terms of space saving by reducing wiring.
When a non-contact storage medium such as the wireless IC tag is used as the identification information storage means or the second related information storage means, when the display terminal device is brought close to the non-contact storage medium In order to read out the identification information and the component related information stored in the non-contact type storage medium, for example, an identification information reading means or a wireless IC tag reader which is an example of related information reading means is used in the display terminal device. It is preferable to provide it.

  Further, as a specific example of the constituent element related information, it is conceivable that the maintenance guidance is for the constituent elements constituting the image forming apparatus. Further, when displaying the component-related information such as the maintenance guidance on the display means of the display terminal device, the component-related information may be displayed as one or more of moving images, still images, and sounds. desirable. This is because it may be difficult for the user to understand only textual information such as characters. In addition, when performing maintenance and maintenance in a small space in the device, it may be difficult to even see the displayed information. Therefore, it is particularly important to output the above-mentioned component-related information by voice together with moving images and still images. Work efficiency such as maintenance can be significantly improved.

Here, it is desirable that the display terminal device constituting the information display system is configured to be detachable from the image forming apparatus. When the display terminal device is not used, it is not disturbed by being attached to the image forming apparatus.
Further, it is conceivable that the display terminal device is an information processing device or an operation display device of the image forming device connected to the image forming device so as to be capable of data communication by wire or wireless. For example, when an information processing apparatus is used as the display terminal apparatus, bidirectional data communication can be performed with the image forming apparatus. Further, when an operation display device is used as the display terminal device, there is no need to provide a separate display terminal device, and space saving and cost reduction can be achieved.

Further, the image forming apparatus constituting the information processing system of the present invention detects a component requiring maintenance from one or more components constituting the image forming apparatus, and transmits the detection result to the display terminal device. The display terminal device receives the detection result transmitted from the image forming apparatus, and outputs the component-related information to the display unit of the display terminal device based on the received detection result. It is configured as follows.
Thus, for example, component-related information such as maintenance guidance corresponding to the component requiring maintenance is displayed on the display means, or when no trouble such as a paper jam has occurred, the maintenance guidance is displayed on the display means. Display control such as interlocking so as not to display the component related information such as is possible, and the degree of freedom of display control of the component related information can be increased.

As described above, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus that performs image forming processing in accordance with input image data, a first related information storage unit that stores component related information, and a display terminal having a display unit. An information display system for displaying the component related information on the display means of the display terminal device, wherein the image forming apparatus stores identification information for identifying the component Storage means is provided, and the display terminal device reads the identification information from the identification information storage means, and the component related information stored in the first related information storage means based on the read identification information Since information is configured to be output to the display means, for example, component-related information such as maintenance guidance for components that require maintenance is displayed on the display means and used. , In hand the display terminal device, it is possible to easily carry out maintenance work of the components with reference to the maintenance guidance or the like displayed on the display unit.
The present invention also relates to one or more of the above-described components that comprise an image forming apparatus that performs image forming processing in accordance with input image data and a display terminal device having a display unit, and that constitute the image forming apparatus. An information display system for displaying component-related information on display means of the display terminal device, wherein the image forming apparatus is provided with second related information storage means for storing the component-related information. The terminal device is configured to read the component element related information from the second related information storage means and output the read component element related information to the display means of the display terminal device. It is possible to easily perform the maintenance work of the above-described constituent elements while referring to the constituent element related information such as maintenance guidance displayed on the means.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings so that the present invention can be understood. The following embodiment is an example embodying the present invention, and does not limit the technical scope of the present invention.
FIG. 1 is an overall schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of a digital multi-function peripheral X constituting an information display system according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an overall perspective view of the digital multi-function peripheral X, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a mounting position of a wireless IC tag provided in the digital multifunction machine X. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an operation display panel constituting the information display system according to the embodiment of the present invention. Is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of a wireless IC tag, FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an example of a procedure of information display processing executed in the information display system according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. It is a flowchart explaining another example of the procedure of the information display process performed in the information display system concerning 3rd Embodiment of this.

<< First Embodiment >>
First, a schematic configuration of a digital multi-function peripheral X (hereinafter abbreviated as “multi-function peripheral X”) constituting the information display system according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The multifunction machine X according to the first embodiment of the present invention is an example of an image forming apparatus that performs image forming processing according to input image data, and includes a copy function, a facsimile function, a print function, and a scanner. Although described as a device having functions and the like, it is not intended to be limited to this.
As shown in the overall schematic diagram of FIG. 1, the multifunction machine X is roughly divided into an operation display panel 20 (an example of a display terminal device) having an operation unit 23 and a liquid crystal display unit 22 (an example of display means), and the operation. An automatic document feeder 10 (hereinafter referred to as “ADF 10”) having a display panel 20 detachably, an image forming unit 15 disposed below the ADF 10, and further disposed below the image forming unit 15. And a plurality of sheet feeding devices 16 (16a to 16d).
Also, in this multifunction machine X, maintenance guidance (an example of component-related information) corresponding to each component indicating a procedure for clearing a paper jam and a procedure for supplying toner is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 22 of the operation display panel 20. A plurality of wireless IC tags A to G (an example of identification information storage means, hereinafter abbreviated as IC tags) used for information display processing (a processing procedure will be described later with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 6). As shown in FIG. 3, it is attached as appropriate. In the first embodiment, one or more IC tags are attached to each component of the multifunction machine X, and the component to which the IC tag is attached is identified to the IC tag. Identification information is stored for this purpose. Hereinafter, each component of the ADF 10, the image forming unit 15, the paper feeding device 16, and the like constituting the multifunction machine X and the attachment position of the IC tag attached to the component will be described. The constituent elements are not limited to the ADF 10, the image forming unit 15, the paper feeding device 16, and the like, but are used in the sense of details and parts that constitute the ADF 10, the image forming unit 15, and the paper feeding device 16. There is also. In the first embodiment, the IC tag, which is a wireless non-contact storage medium, is used as an example of the identification information storage means. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a contact-type memory is used. Etc.

  Note that the IC tags A to G transmit data such as identification information stored therein to the IC tag reader 25 by performing wireless communication with an IC tag reader 25 (see FIG. 4) described later. It is a contact-type storage medium. These IC tags A to G do not have a battery, for example, and use an electromotive force induced by electromagnetic induction as a power source. As shown in FIGS. While receiving a radio wave transmitted from the IC chip reader 25 and the IC chip (integrated circuit) 32 composed of a storage circuit 32-1, including a storage medium, a rectifier circuit 32-2, a data transmission circuit 32-3, and the like. It is schematically configured with a coil antenna 31 and the like for transmitting radio waves propagating data stored in the storage circuit 32-1 to the reader / writer 20 (see FIG. 4). When the radio wave transmitted from the IC tag reader 25 is received by the coil antenna 31, an electromotive force is induced in the coil antenna 31, and power is supplied to the IC chip 33 and the like. The wireless communication area of the IC tag can be set in the range of several centimeters to several meters around the IC tag, but in this embodiment, there is no overlapping communication area with other adjacent IC tags. The electric field strength is set to a degree. Therefore, when reading data in the IC tag, it is necessary to bring the operation display panel 20 having the IC tag reader 25 (see FIG. 4) close to the IC tag.

The ADF 10 sequentially conveys the document S set on the document setting unit 11 one by one through a plurality of conveyance rollers 10R1 to 10R3. The document conveyance path 101 provided in the ADF 10 is largely curved (approximately 360 °) at a curved portion 101a in the drawing. Therefore, in the ADF 10, a paper jam (JAM) of the document S is likely to occur in the curved portion 101a, particularly in the conveyance roller 10R1 provided around the curved portion 101a. When a paper jam occurs in the roller 10R1, it is necessary to open the left side door (not shown) provided on the left side (left side in FIG. 1) when viewed from the front of the ADF 10, and take out the jammed document S. Depending on the state of the paper jam, when taking out the jammed document S, a complicated operation such as removing the roller R1 may be involved.
As shown in FIG. 3, the IC tag A described above is attached to the inner surface or the outer surface of the frame 100 of the ADF 10, for example, in the vicinity of the bending portion 101a. The IC tag A stores identification information for identifying the ADF 10, particularly identification information indicating the bending portion 101a (or the vicinity thereof). The identification information in the IC tag A is read in an information display process described later, whereby the bending portion 101a is specified, and maintenance guidance for the bending portion 101a is displayed on the operation display panel 20.

  The ADF 10 is configured to detachably support the operation display panel 20 as shown in the schematic diagram of FIG. Such a detachable mechanism includes, for example, a rail member on a groove long in the direction of arrow P in the figure provided on the step portion 111 on the upper surface of the ADF 10, and the surface on the step portion 111 side of the operation display panel 20. A member that can be engaged with the rail member provided at a position corresponding to the rail member on the back surface (that is, the back surface), and a protruding rail engaging member that is slidable by engaging with the rail member. What is configured is conceivable. As a result, the operation display panel 20 can be attached by inserting the rail engaging member of the removed operation display panel 20 into engagement with the rail member and sliding it in the direction opposite to the arrow P direction. . Further, the operation display panel 20 can be removed by pulling out the operation display panel 20 in the arrow P direction by the reverse method. Such a detachable mechanism of the operation display panel 20 is not limited to the above-described rail member and rail engaging member, and uses a hinge, an engaging pin, or the like as described in Patent Document 2. It is also possible to adopt a configuration that can be detached.

  When the operation display panel 20 is attached to the ADF 10, the operation display panel 20 and the multifunction device X are connected to each other by the direct communication connection between the operation display panel 20 and the multifunction device X. Communication (communication) is performed between them. On the other hand, when the operation display panel 20 is removed from the ADF 10, the operation display panel 20 and the multi-function device X are connected so as to be able to perform data communication via a wired or wireless LAN network such as a LAN cable. . Therefore, the multifunction device X is provided with a communication device (not shown) such as a known wireless communication device such as a wireless LAN adapter (wireless LAN card) or a known wired communication device such as a wired LAN adapter (wired LAN card). As will be described later, the operation display panel 20 is provided with a communication device 26 (see FIG. 4) similar to the multifunction machine X.

  A close-up image sensor 102 such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or a CIS (Contact Image Sensor) that reads image data on the printing surface of the document S being conveyed is provided in the document conveyance path 101 that conveys the document S in the ADF 10. Is arranged. The image data of the document S read by the image sensor 102 is converted into an electric signal by the image sensor 102 and then input to the image processing unit 103. In this image processing unit 103, image data recognized based on the input electrical signal is included in the image processing unit 103 in accordance with a printing condition or the like previously input from the operation display panel 20 by the user. Image processing by a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) or the like is executed, and thereafter converted into laser light including processed image data.

The image forming unit 15 includes a process unit 150 that forms a toner image on a recording paper, a fixing device 156 that fixes the image on the recording paper on which the toner image is transferred, and a recording paper from the paper feeding device 16 to the process unit 150. A registration roller 158 and the like for conveyance are provided.
The process unit 150 includes a photosensitive drum 151 that holds an electrostatic latent image formed by irradiation with the laser beam converted by the image processing unit 103, and a charging device that uniformly charges the photosensitive drum 151. 152, a developing device 153 for developing the toner by attaching toner to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 151, a transfer device 154 for transferring the developed toner image onto the recording paper conveyed from the paper feed cassette 16; A cleaning device 155 for removing toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 151 is provided.
Each of the process unit 150 and the fixing device 156 transfers and fixes a toner image so as to sandwich the recording paper fed and conveyed from the paper feeding device 16 disposed in the lower part of the multifunction machine X. In the unit 150 and the fixing device 156, the recording paper is easily jammed. This paper jam can be resolved by opening a front opening / closing door (not shown) provided in front of the image forming unit 15 and taking out the jammed recording paper. However, in this case as well, the recording paper is jammed. Depending on the case, it may be necessary to perform complicated operations such as removing the photoreceptor 151 and the transfer device 154 or removing the fixing device 156. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, an IC tag B storing identification information for identifying the process unit 150 (or its vicinity) is attached at a position corresponding to the process unit 150, At a position corresponding to the fixing device 156, an IC tag C in which identification information for identifying the fixing device 156 (or its vicinity) is stored is attached.

  Each of the plurality of paper feeders 16 (16a to 16d) disposed in the lower part of the multi-function machine X has a paper feed cassette 161 on which a plurality of recording papers are stacked, and recording paper in the paper feed cassette 161. A pickup roller 162 that picks up one sheet at a time, and a conveyance roller 16R that conveys the recording paper picked up by the pickup roller 162 to the image forming unit 15 are provided. In the paper feeding device 16, the recording paper is easily jammed when the recording paper is taken out by the pickup roller 162 or when the paper is sent to the conveyance path 163 by the conveyance roller 16 </ b> R. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 3, an IC tag in which identification information for identifying each of the paper feeding devices 16a to 16b (or the vicinity thereof) is stored at a position corresponding to each of the paper feeding devices 16a to 16b. D to G are attached.

Next, the operation display panel 20 as an example of the display terminal device constituting the information display system according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. In this example, the operation display panel 20 will be described as an example of a display terminal device. However, for example, a mobile phone, a mobile terminal, a personal computer, etc. having a liquid crystal display unit can be applied to the present invention. Is possible.
As shown in FIG. 4, the operation display panel 20 has a liquid crystal display unit 22 (an example of a display unit) on which predetermined information is displayed and a reading setting condition of the original image and the number of copies for the multifunction machine X. Alternatively, an operation unit 23 in which pushbutton switches such as a numeric keypad for inputting printing conditions such as a printing magnification and a start key for instructing a copy start are arranged, a data storage unit 24 (an example of a first related information storage unit), At least the IC tag reader 25 (an example of identification information reading means), a communication device 26 connected to the multi-function device X in a wired or wireless manner so as to be able to perform data communication, and a control unit 21 that comprehensively controls the above-described units. It is configured.
The control unit 21 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, other peripheral devices, and the like. The ROM stores a program for executing an information display process, which will be described later, and the information display process is realized by reading and executing the program by the CPU.
In the data storage unit 24, information displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 22 of the operation display panel 20 by information display processing by the control unit 21, that is, maintenance guidance on one or more components of the multifunction machine X, etc. The component related information is stored. In the first embodiment, the maintenance guidance is exemplified and described as the component-related information. However, the present invention is not particularly limited to this. The maintenance guidance stored in the data storage unit 24 is preferably not a simple text information (message information) but a video such as a moving image or a still image, and a video such as a moving image or a still image. It is more desirable that the voice guidance information be displayed and output together.
In the data storage unit 24, a storage area for each component is allocated, and maintenance guidance corresponding to each component is stored in the allocated storage area for each component. It is stored in association with the identification information. In the first embodiment, as described above, an example in which the maintenance guidance is stored in the data storage unit 24 of the operation display panel 20 will be described. The MFP X and the operation display panel 20 may be stored in an independent storage device. That is, the information display system according to the first embodiment may have a system configuration including the multifunction machine X, the operation display panel 20, and the storage device. The storage device corresponds to, for example, an HDD provided in an information processing device such as a personal computer connected to the operation display panel 20 so as to be able to perform data communication.
The IC tag reader 25 reads identification information stored in an IC tag (see FIG. 3) attached to the multifunction machine X. For example, a device that reads data stored in the IC tags A to G by performing wireless communication with the IC tags A to G, for example, a radio wave for propagating data to the IC tags A to G Is a well-known reader device that receives the identification information transmitted from the IC tags A to G by being placed on the radio wave. As described above, in order to receive the identification information transmitted from the IC tags A to G and read the identification information, the operation display panel 20 needs to be brought close to the IC tag.

Next, referring to the flowchart of FIG. 6 for a procedure for clearing a paper jam that is performed by the user when a paper jam of the document S occurs in the curved portion 101a of the ADF 10 (FIG. 1) and the multifunction machine X stops, for example. While explaining. FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a procedure of information display processing executed by the control unit 21 (CPU) of the operation display panel 20, and S10, S20,... In the figure are processing procedures (steps). Indicates the number. Needless to say, the same processing is performed when a paper jam or the like occurs in a portion other than the curved portion 101a.
Even if a trouble such as a paper jam occurs in the multifunction device X, the user cannot usually immediately identify the cause of the trouble. Therefore, conventionally, the “paper jam” that is the cause of the trouble and the “curved portion 101a of the ADF 10” that is the trouble occurrence point are displayed on the operation display panel 20.
When the user recognizes the paper jam occurrence location with reference to the information displayed on the operation display panel 20, the user brings the operation display panel 20 close to the IC tag A corresponding to the bending portion 101a. When the operation display panel 20 is moved to the communication area of the IC tag A in this way, information display processing by the control unit 20 is executed on the operation display panel 20.
Specifically, this information display processing is performed according to the procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG. That is, first, the controller 21 determines whether or not the identification information of the bending portion 101a of the ADF 10 has been read from the IC tag 20 (S10). As described above, the identification information is read by transmitting and receiving data between the IC tag A and the IC tag reader 25 via radio waves. If it is determined in step S10 that the identification information of the bending portion 101a has been read, then the maintenance guidance stored in the data storage unit 24 based on the read identification information is executed by the control unit 21. A process of extracting (extracting process) is performed (S20), and subsequently, a process of displaying the extracted maintenance guidance on the liquid crystal display unit 22 of the operation display panel 20 (display output process) is performed. At this time, when the voice guidance is output together with the maintenance guidance, the voice data of the voice guidance is output to a speaker (not shown) provided on the operation display panel 20. When the maintenance guidance is output, the maintenance guidance is switched from the information indicating the trouble occurrence location where the display content of the liquid crystal display unit 22 has already been displayed. Of course, the information indicating the trouble location and the maintenance guidance may be displayed on two screens. If the maintenance guidance is stored in another storage device that is connected so as to be capable of data communication or in the storage device inside the multi-function device X, the maintenance guidance extraction process described above by communicating with the storage device ( S20) is executed. Thus, the control part 21 which performs the extraction process of said step S20 and the display output process of step S30 corresponds to a related information output means.
In this way, the maintenance guidance corresponding to the curved portion 101a is displayed on the operation display panel 20, so that the user can perform the work of removing the paper jam while referring to the displayed maintenance guidance. Further, since the operation display panel 20 is removed from the ADF 10, the user can work while referring to the maintenance guidance displayed on the operation display panel 20 at hand, and the paper jam is removed. Work efficiency of work is improved.

<< Second Embodiment >>
Next, an information display system according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The information display system according to the second embodiment is configured in substantially the same manner as the information display system according to the first embodiment, and includes the multifunction machine X and the operation display panel 20. It is configured. Both the MFP X and the operation display panel 20 are not significantly different from those in the first embodiment described above, but the maintenance guidance corresponding to each component described above is the data of the operation display panel 20. The difference is that it is stored in the IC tags A to G, not the storage unit 24, and the identification information is not stored in the IC tags A to G. Thus, the IC tags A to G when the maintenance guidance, which is an example of the component related information, is stored correspond to the second related information storage unit.
In recent years, wireless non-contact storage media such as IC tags distributed in the market have a storage capacity (about 8 to 2000 bytes) that is a storage capacity (several hundred megabytes to several gigabytes) of contact type storage media. ), But the technology related to the IC tag has advanced rapidly in recent years, and a dramatic expansion of memory capacity is expected in the future. Therefore, at the present stage, even if only small data such as identification information can be stored in the IC tag, it is considered that heavy data such as the maintenance guidance can be stored due to technological progress.
By configuring the information display system according to the second embodiment as described above, when the operation display panel 20 is brought close to the IC tag A corresponding to the curved portion 101a of the ADF 10 that is a paper jam occurrence location, Maintenance guidance corresponding to the curved portion 101a is directly read from the IC tag A and displayed on the liquid crystal display portion 22 of the operation display panel 20.

<< Third Embodiment >>
Next, an information display system according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. The information display system according to the third embodiment is configured in substantially the same manner as the information display system according to the first embodiment described above, and includes the multifunction device X and the operation display panel 20. System configuration. However, the MFP X detects a component requiring maintenance from one or more components (ADF 10, the image forming unit 15, the paper feeder 16, etc.) constituting the MFP X. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the information display processing executed by the control unit 21 of the operation display panel 20 is performed based on the flowchart shown in FIG.
As the maintenance element detection means, for example, an existing conveyance sensor appropriately provided in each conveyance path (101, 163, etc.) through which the document S or recording paper is conveyed can be considered. The conveyance sensor is provided to detect whether a sheet such as a document to be conveyed or a storage sheet has passed, and normally the sheet does not stay in the conveyance path. Does not detect the paper for a long time. However, if the transport sensor detects the paper for a predetermined time or longer, it can be determined that a paper jam has occurred at that location, and maintenance is required to clear the paper jam. . Further, as the maintenance element detecting means, for example, a toner sensor for detecting a toner out of a toner cartridge or the like for supplying toner to the developing device 153 can be considered. Even when the toner runs out, the developing device 153 needs to be maintained (toner replenishment).

Next, another example of the procedure of the information display process executed by the control unit 21 (CPU) of the operation display panel 20 will be described using the flowchart of FIG. The process starts from S110. Also in this example, it is assumed that a paper jam of the document S has occurred in the curved portion 101a of the ADF 10 (FIG. 1).
First, in the multifunction machine X, when a paper jam in the curved portion 101a is detected by a conveyance sensor (not shown) disposed in the document conveyance path 101 near the curved portion 101a (S110), the detection result, that is, A maintenance required signal indicating that a paper jam has occurred in the curved portion 101a, in other words, that maintenance is required in the curved portion 101a is transmitted to the operation display panel 20 (S120). This transmission processing is transmitted to the operation display panel 20 by a communication device (an example of detection result transmission means) such as a wireless communication device or a wired communication device (not shown).
On the operation display panel 20 side, when the maintenance required signal transmitted from the multifunction device X is received by the communication device 26 (see FIG. 4) as an example of the communication result receiving means (S130), Information indicating the location where the paper jam has occurred, that is, information indicating the curved portion 101a, and an instruction to bring the operation display panel 20 close to the IC tag A corresponding to the curved portion 101a by the control unit 21 of the investigation display panel 20 Information is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 22 (FIG. 4) (S140). Thereafter, when the operation display panel 20 is brought close to the IC tag A by the user, the identification information of the curved portion 101a of the ADF 10 is read from the IC tag 20 by the control unit 21 (S150). Maintenance guidance stored in the data storage unit 24 is extracted (extraction process) based on the identified information (S160), and then the extracted maintenance guidance is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 22 of the operation display panel 20 ( Display output processing) (S170). Until the maintenance required signal is received in step S130, even if the operation display panel 20 is brought close to the IC tag A, the maintenance guidance is based on the information read from the IC tag 20. It is not displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 22.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the wireless communication areas of the IC tags A to G are set to such an electric field intensity that does not cause overlapping communication areas with other adjacent IC tags has been described. However, it is assumed that a relatively large number of IC tags are used in the multi-function device X, and their mounting positions are different from each other. Therefore, it may be difficult to set so that an overlapping communication area does not occur between adjacent IC tags. Therefore, in a situation where overlapping communication areas occur, the identification information read from a plurality of IC tags is output to the liquid crystal display unit 22 of the operation display panel 20, and the output identification information is selected by the user. It is desirable to configure the operation display panel 20 as possible. As a selectable configuration, for example, when the liquid crystal display panel 22 is a touch panel capable of touch key input, touch key input is performed by a user touch key input from among a plurality of displayed identification information. A configuration for selecting the identification information displayed, or a configuration for selecting any one of the displayed plurality of identification information using a cross key or the like provided on the operation unit 23 is conceivable. If maintenance guidance corresponding to the identification information selected from the plurality of identification information is extracted from the data storage unit 24 and output to the liquid crystal display unit 22, an overlapping communication area is generated between adjacent IC tags. Even in such a case, the maintenance guidance desired by the user can be accurately displayed.

1 is an overall schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of a digital multi-function peripheral X that constitutes an information display system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an overall perspective view of the digital multifunction machine X. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a mounting position of a wireless IC tag provided in the digital multifunction machine X. The block diagram which shows schematic structure of the operation display panel which comprises the information display system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The schematic diagram which shows schematic structure of a wireless IC tag. The flowchart explaining an example of the procedure of the information display process performed in the information display system concerning the 1st Embodiment of this invention. The flowchart explaining other examples of the procedure of the information display process performed in the information display system concerning the 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

A to G ... IC tag X ... MFP 10 ... Automatic document feeder 15 ... Image forming unit 16 ... Paper feeder 20 ... Operation display panel (display terminal device)
21: Control unit 22 ... Liquid crystal display unit 23 ... Operation unit 24 ... Data storage unit (an example of a first related information storage unit)
25... IC tag reader (an example of identification information reading means and related information reading means)
26. Communication device (an example of a detection result receiving device)

Claims (10)

An image forming apparatus that performs an image forming process according to input image data, and identification information for identifying a component that constitutes the image forming apparatus are stored in association with component information related to one or more of the components. An information display system having a first related information storage means and a display terminal device having a display means, and displaying the component related information on the display means of the display terminal device,
The image forming apparatus
Comprising identification information storage means for storing identification information for identifying the component,
The display terminal device
Identification information reading means for reading the identification information stored in the identification information storage means;
Related information output means for outputting the component related information stored in the first related information storage means to the display means of the display terminal device based on the identification information read by the identification information reading means; An information display system comprising: Component-related information relating to one or more of the above-described components constituting the image forming apparatus, including an image forming apparatus that performs image forming processing in accordance with input image data, and a display terminal device having display means. An information display system for displaying on the display means of the display terminal device,
The image forming apparatus
Comprising second related information storage means for storing the component related information;
The display terminal device
Related information reading means for reading out the component related information stored in the second related information storage means;
An information display system comprising: related information output means for outputting the component related information read by the related information reading means to the display means of the display terminal device.   3. The information display system according to claim 1, wherein the identification information storage unit or the second related information storage unit is a wireless non-contact storage medium.   4. The information display according to claim 1, wherein the identification information reading means reads out the identification information stored in the identification information storage means when the display terminal device is brought close to the identification information storage means. system.   The related information reading means reads the component related information stored in the second related information storage means when the display terminal device is brought close to the second related information storage means. 2. The information display system according to 2 or 3.   The information display system according to claim 1, wherein the component-related information is maintenance guidance for the component.   The said related information output means outputs the said component related information to the display means of the said display terminal device by any one or more of a moving image, a still image, or an audio | voice. Information display system.   The information display system according to claim 1, wherein the display terminal device is configured to be detachable from the image forming apparatus.   The information display system according to claim 1, wherein the display terminal device is an information processing device or an operation display device of the image forming device that is connected to the image forming device in a wired or wireless manner so that data communication is possible. The image forming apparatus
Maintenance element detecting means for detecting a component requiring maintenance from one or more components constituting the image forming apparatus;
Detection result transmission means for transmitting the detection result by the maintenance element detection means to the display terminal device;
The display terminal device
A detection result receiving means for receiving the detection result transmitted by the detection result transmitting means;
10. The information display system according to claim 9, wherein the related information output means outputs the component related information to the display means of the display terminal device based on the detection result received by the detection result receiving means. .

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