JP2006173852A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of reporting a state thereof without causing a delay even when the image forming apparatus fails to make communication with a management center. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus is provided with: a first communication means for making communication with the management center; an apparatus monitor section for monitoring a fault thereof; and a control means which uses the first communication means to inform the management center about fault contents when the apparatus monitor section detects a fault, and the image forming apparatus is also provided with an administrator information registration means for registering in advance administrator information to a storage section, and a second communication means using a communication path different from that of the first communication means, and the control means uses the first communication means to inform the management center about the fault contents when the apparatus monitor section detects a fault, and the control means reads the administrator information registered in advance in the storage section when the report of the fault contents is failed, and uses the second communication means to inform the management center about the information fault on the basis of the read administrator information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet by, for example, electrophotography.

  Conventionally, the photosensitive layer of a uniformly charged photoreceptor is exposed to light to form a latent image and developed by attaching toner to the photosensitive layer on which the latent image is formed. 2. Description of the Related Art An electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as a digital copying machine that forms an image by transferring it to a sheet is well known.

  When using such an image forming apparatus, there is a possibility that a paper jam (jam) at a position that can be removed by the user or a position that cannot be removed by the user or various other problems may occur. Depending on the situation, it is necessary to request a service person to respond.

  Therefore, it is conventionally known that an image forming apparatus is connected to a public line network, and the occurrence of a failure can be reported to the management center via the public line network.

  In the invention described in Patent Document 1, when a failure occurs in the information processing apparatus, the failure is reported to the center, and when the failure occurs, the log information is recorded and re-reported. I have to.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-113909

  However, the invention that repeats re-reporting as in the invention described in Patent Document 1 is effective when the cause of the communication failure is naturally solved and the communication environment is restored, but is managed unless the communication environment is restored. There is a problem that communication with the center cannot be performed, and a failure occurring in the image forming apparatus cannot be removed, and there is a problem that a delay occurs before the image forming apparatus is restored.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points. An image forming apparatus that can report the status of an image forming apparatus without causing a delay even when communication from the image forming apparatus to the management center fails. The purpose is to provide.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image reading unit that reads an original image and obtains image data, an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet based on the image data, and a control that controls the operation of the image forming apparatus. Means for receiving input from the user, a storage unit, a first communication unit for communicating with the management center, and a device monitoring unit for monitoring a failure of the image forming apparatus, the control unit comprising: In an image forming apparatus that reports a failure content to a management center using the first communication unit when a failure is detected by the device monitoring unit, an administrator information registration unit that registers administrator information in the storage unit in advance And a second communication unit that uses a communication path different from the first communication unit, and the control unit detects the first when the device monitoring unit detects a failure. The failure content is notified to the management center using a communication means, and when the failure content notification fails, the administrator information registered in advance in the storage unit is read, and the second information is read based on the read administrator information. The communication means is used to notify the failure of the notification.

  According to the present invention, in the invention described in claim 1, when the manager information has a mail address of the manager's e-mail and the control means detects a failure by the device monitoring unit, the first information The failure content is reported to the management center using the communication means, and when the failure content notification fails, the administrator information registered in advance in the storage unit is read, and the mail address in the read administrator information is read out In contrast, the second communication means is used to send an e-mail indicating the failure of the notification.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus capable of reporting the state of the image forming apparatus without causing a delay even when communication from the image forming apparatus to the management center fails.

  In other words, according to the present invention, in addition to the communication means for communication from the image forming apparatus to the management center, means for transmitting an e-mail to a pre-registered apparatus administrator is provided. If the device manager who has received the e-mail contacts the management center directly to that effect, the management center can know the status of the image forming apparatus and can immediately arrange for repair.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing the configuration of an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. In this embodiment, an electrophotographic copying machine will be described as an example of an image forming apparatus.

  Here, the configuration and basic operation of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  In this embodiment, an image forming apparatus capable of forming a color image will be described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to an image forming apparatus capable of forming only a monochrome image. Needless to say.

  The image forming apparatus main body 100 includes a plurality of sets of document writing units 153Y, 153M, and 153C for color image forming means, and a document writing unit 154K for monochrome image forming means. The document writing unit 153Y can form a yellow color, the document writing unit 153M can form a magenta color, the document writing unit 153C can form a cyan image, and the document writing unit 154K can form a black image.

  Corresponding to the document writing units 153Y, 153M, 153C, and 154K, respectively, photoreceptors 6Y, 6M, 6C, and 6K, charging units 7Y, 7M, 7C, and 7K, and developing units 8Y, 8M, 8C, and 8K are provided. . Further, an intermediate transfer unit 9 that is common to the color image forming unit and the monochrome image forming unit is provided. The intermediate transfer unit 9 is wound around a plurality of rollers and is rotatably supported so that the photoconductors 6Y and 6M are provided. , 6C, 6K, an endless belt-shaped intermediate transfer member 9a, and primary transfer means 9Y, 9M for transferring the image by bringing the intermediate transfer member 9a into contact with the photosensitive members 6Y, 6M, 6C, 6K. , 9C, 9K.

  Next, another configuration will be described. On the upper side of the image forming apparatus 100, a document reading unit 1 that functions as a scanner unit is provided. A document is set on a platen on a glass surface, and scanned by the document reading unit 1. And read. In the original reading unit 1, a CCD 131 to which the reflected light obtained by the scanning is input is disposed. It is desirable that an ADF (automatic document feeder) 1a is connected to the document reading unit 1 so that both sides of the document can be read.

  In addition, at the lower part of the image forming apparatus 100, sheet feeding trays 2, 3, and 4 are arranged, and sheet feeding units 2a, 3a, and 4a are respectively provided. Further, a manual feed tray 5 is provided on the lateral outer wall portion of the image forming apparatus 100, and a paper feeding unit 5 a for the manual feed tray 5 is provided. As described above, since a plurality of paper feed trays and manual feed trays are provided, a plurality of types of sheets having different sizes can be used.

  A registration roller 15 is disposed on the paper feeding side of the paper feeding means 2a to 5a, and a secondary transfer roller 16 capable of pressing the paper against the intermediate transfer body 9a is further disposed on the paper roller side. A fixing unit 17 is provided at the end of the secondary transfer roller 16, and a paper discharge roller 18 is provided at the end of the fixing unit 17.

  In the image forming apparatus 100, in the case of printing in color according to the image forming command, images formed as necessary by the document writing units 153Y, 153M, 153C, and 154K are displayed on the photoreceptors 6Y, 6M, 6C, 6K, charging means 7Y, 7M, 7C, 7K, developing means 8Y, 8M, 8C, 8K and primary transfer means 9Y, 9M, 9C, 9K are transferred to the intermediate transfer member 9a. On the other hand, during monochrome printing, the image formed by the original writing unit 154K is transferred to the intermediate transfer member 9a by the photosensitive member 6K, the charging unit 7K, the developing unit 8K, and the primary transfer unit 9K.

  On the other hand, the paper necessary for image formation is fed from either the paper feed tray 2, 3, 4 or the manual feed tray 5 by the paper feed means 2a, 3a, 4a or 5a according to the paper size or the like, and the registration roller 15 Then, the secondary transfer roller 16 is reached. The sheet is pressed against the intermediate transfer member 9a by the secondary transfer roller 16, and the image on the intermediate transfer member 9a is transferred to the sheet. The sheet on which the image has been transferred is fixed by the fixing unit 17 and is discharged to the outside of the image forming apparatus 100 via the paper discharge roller 18.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a system for reporting a failure that has occurred in the image forming apparatus 100 illustrated in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the system of this example includes an image forming apparatus 100, a public network 200, a server 300 provided in a management center for maintenance diagnosis that accepts a failure of the image forming apparatus 100, a LAN 400, an email. The image forming apparatus 100 and the server 300 are connected via a public network 200, and the LAN 400 is connected to the image forming apparatus 100 and the mail server 500. A terminal device 600 is connected.

  When each device is connected to the public network 200 or the LAN 400, it may be connected only by a wired network, or may be via a wireless network (for example, a wireless LAN) in the middle.

  Further, the server 300 and the mail server 500 are not limited to a desktop personal computer or a workstation, and a larger or smaller device can be used.

  Further, as the terminal device 600, a PDA or a mobile phone can be used in addition to a personal computer.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the image forming apparatus 100 includes a public network connection unit 101 that is an interface with the public network 200 shown in FIG. 2, a LAN connection unit 102 that is an interface with the LAN 400 shown in FIG. A control unit 103 that controls the operation of the entire image forming apparatus 100, a document reading unit 1, an image reading unit 104 that reads an image from a document, and document writing units 153Y, 153M, 153C, and 154K. The image forming unit 105 for forming an image on an image forming sheet, the image data read by the image reading unit 104, other software programs executed by the control unit 103, parameters necessary for the operation of the image forming apparatus 100, which will be described later Storage means for storing administrator information and communication contents when communication fails And 06, configured to have user operates the image forming apparatus 100, an input unit 107 for inputting an instruction or the like, and a display unit 108 for displaying various information to a user. Note that the input unit 107 and the display unit 108 may be configured by an integrated operation screen such as a touch panel.

  Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration relating to control of the image forming apparatus main body 100 shown in FIG.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process flow relating to a notification when a failure occurs in the image forming apparatus 100 illustrated in FIG.

  4, the operation unit 110 corresponds to the input unit 107 and the display unit 108 shown in FIG. 3, the device manager information 111 corresponds to the storage unit 106 shown in FIG. 3, and the control unit 113 shown in FIG. The communication content storage unit 114 corresponds to the storage unit 106 shown in FIG. 3, the communication control unit 115 corresponds to the control unit 103 shown in FIG. 3, and the modem 116 shown in FIG. The network interface card (NIC) 117 corresponds to the public network connection unit 101, and the LAN connection unit 102 shown in FIG. In addition, the apparatus monitoring unit 112 monitors failures such as a jam of the image forming apparatus 100 and a failure of the apparatus.

  First, in using the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, the user registers information on the administrator of the image forming apparatus 100 in the storage unit 106 as apparatus administrator information 111 using the operation unit 110. (Procedure 1 in FIG. 4). As information to be registered as the administrator information, the affiliation and name of the administrator or the e-mail address of the e-mail may be used, or only the e-mail address may be registered.

  As an event for sending a notification to the management center, for example, an abnormality notification that is an automatic notification when the device monitoring unit 112 detects a failure of the image forming apparatus 100, or an automatic notification that notifies predetermined information at a predetermined date and time Periodic transmission, re-transmission transmission which is automatic notification when communication fails, and user instruction transmission which is manual notification when the user instructs transmission using the operation unit 110 (step 2 in FIG. 4). .

  Examples of abnormal occurrence notifications and user instruction transmissions include notifying that a jam-related trouble has occurred, that a mechanical failure-related trouble has occurred, and that toner replenishment is required, and that periodic transmission is For example, notification that the number of printed sheets has reached a predetermined number, notification of predetermined information every week, every month, every day, or a set date and time.

  If the transmission event of the notification to the management center is a retransmission transmission, the communication content to be retransmitted stored in the communication content storage unit 114 when the previous notification failed is acquired from the communication content storage unit 114 (step 3 in FIG. 4). . In the case of other outgoing events, the communication content predetermined for each outgoing event (for example, the failure status of the image forming apparatus) is used.

  The control unit 113 receives a notification transmission event to the management center (step (A-1) in FIG. 5), passes the communication content to the communication control unit 115, and outputs a communication instruction to the management center (FIG. 4). Procedure 4).

  In response to this, the communication control unit 115 starts transmission via the public network 200 using the modem 116 to the telephone number to which the server 300 of the management center registered in advance in the storage means 106 is connected, for example. If the connection with 300 is established, predetermined communication contents are transmitted (procedure 5 in FIG. 4) (step (A-2) in FIG. 5).

  The communication control unit 115 determines a communication result with the server 300 and notifies the control unit 113 of the communication result (step 6 in FIG. 4) (step (A-3) in FIG. 5).

  When the communication result notified from the communication control unit 115 is “communication failure”, the control unit 113 stores the communication content of the “communication failure” in the communication content storage unit 114 (FIG. 4). Procedure 7) (Step (A-5) in FIG. 5).

  The control unit 113 reads the administrator information from the device administrator information 111, acquires the administrator's e-mail address (step 8 in FIG. 4), and sends an e-mail indicating “communication failure” to the e-mail address. A communication instruction is output to the communication control unit 115 so as to do this (step 9 in FIG. 4).

  Receiving this, the communication control unit 115 transmits an email indicating “communication failure” to the mail address via the LAN 400 using the NIC 117 (step (A-4) in FIG. 5). The transmitted e-mail is stored in the mail server 500 in charge of the mail address, and is viewed by an administrator who operates the terminal device 600.

  Needless to say, steps (A-4) and (A-5) in FIG. 5 may be executed in the reverse order.

1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a system for reporting a failure that has occurred in the image forming apparatus 100 illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration relating to control of the image forming apparatus main body 100 illustrated in FIG. 1. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of processing related to a notification when a failure occurs in the image forming apparatus 100 illustrated in FIG. 1.

Explanation of symbols

1 Document reading unit 1a ADF
2, 3, 4 Paper feed tray 2a, 3a, 4a Paper feed means 5 Manual feed tray 5a Paper feed means 6Y, 6M, 6C, 6K Photoconductor 7Y, 7M, 7C, 7K Charging means 8Y, 8M, 8C, 8K Developing means 9 Intermediate transfer unit 9a Intermediate transfer body 9Y, 9M, 9C, 9K Primary transfer means 15 Registration roller 16 Secondary transfer roller 17 Fixing means 18 Paper discharge roller 131 CCD
153Y, 153M, 153C Document writing unit 154K Document writing unit 100 Image forming apparatus main body 101 Public network connection means 102 LAN connection means 103 Control means 104 Image reading means 105 Image forming means 106 Storage means 107 Input means 108 Display means 110 Operation section 111 Device manager information 112 Device monitoring unit 113 Control unit 114 Communication content storage unit 115 Communication control unit 116 Modem 117 NIC
200 public network 300 server 400 LAN
500 Mail server 600 Terminal device

Claims (2)

An image reading unit that reads a document image and obtains image data, an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet based on the image data, a control unit that controls the operation of the image forming apparatus, and an input unit that receives input from a user A storage unit, a first communication unit that communicates with the management center, and a device monitoring unit that monitors a failure of the image forming apparatus, and the control unit detects the failure when the device monitoring unit detects the failure. In the image forming apparatus for reporting the failure content to the management center using the first communication means,
Administrator information registration means for registering administrator information in the storage unit in advance, and second communication means using a communication path different from the first communication means,
When the control unit detects a failure by the device monitoring unit, the control unit notifies the management center of the failure content using the first communication unit, and registers in advance in the storage unit when the failure content notification fails. An image forming apparatus characterized in that the administrator information read out is read and the failure of the notification is notified using the second communication means based on the read administrator information. The manager information includes the email address of the manager's email;
When the control unit detects a failure by the device monitoring unit, the control unit notifies the management center of the failure content using the first communication unit, and registers in advance in the storage unit when the failure content notification fails. 2. The administrator information being read is read out, and the failure of the notification is sent by e-mail to the mail address in the read administrator information using the second communication means. Image forming apparatus.

Images