JP2006279177A - Image forming apparatus and control system thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress occurrence of an execution order sequence violation in a series of task groups whose execution order is limited, and when the execution order sequence violation occurs, to inform a user of it so as to avoid occurrence of an estimated fault. <P>SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus is provided with a sensor for acquiring information associated with an operating state of each mechanism, and a control section 10 for controlling execution of a job. The control section 10 includes: a task execution control section 13 for executing respective tasks configuring the job on the basis of the information obtained from the sensor; a task management section 11 for managing an execution state of each task and determining whether the operation of a series of the task groups whose execution order is limited violates the execution order sequence; and a violation analysis section 12 that specifies a fault whose occurrence is predicted on the basis of contents of the violation when a task operated in violation of the execution order sequence is detected, and informs the user of the fault. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a printer or a copying machine, and more particularly to operation control of the image forming apparatus.

In an image forming apparatus, a number of mechanisms mounted in the apparatus cooperate to execute a job for printing an image on a recording medium such as paper. The operation of each mechanism during job execution is controlled by a microcomputer.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the image forming apparatus. This image forming apparatus is a so-called tandem type digital color machine employing an electrophotographic system. As shown in FIG. 7, the image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit 110 that forms an image, an exposure device 113 that forms an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive drum 111 of the image forming unit 110, and a photosensitive function. A transfer belt 121 is provided as an intermediate transfer member that carries the toner image carried on the body drum 111 in a superimposed manner. The image forming unit 110 is provided corresponding to each color of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). Further, a primary transfer roll 123 for carrying an image on the transfer belt 121 is provided at a position facing the photosensitive drum 111 of each image forming unit 110 inside the transfer belt 121. Further, a secondary transfer roll 124 and a counter roll 125 provided inside the transfer belt 121 are arranged at a so-called secondary transfer position where the toner image carried on the transfer belt 121 is transferred to a sheet. Furthermore, a paper feed cassette 127 that stores paper as a recording medium and a fixing device 128 for fixing the transferred paper are provided. The image forming apparatus includes a control unit 131 that controls operations of these mechanisms and processes such as correction in image formation. Although not particularly illustrated, the image forming apparatus is provided with a number of sensors and counters for acquiring information related to the operation state and the in-machine environment necessary for the control unit 131 to control the operation of each mechanism.

  The control unit 131 is realized by a program-controlled microcomputer, acquires information from a number of sensors and counters provided in the image forming apparatus, and executes control according to the acquired information. The control unit 131 includes a nonvolatile ROM (Read Only Memory) or a readable / writable RAM (Random Access Memory) as a memory. The ROM stores a software program for controlling operation control of each mechanism, image data correction operation, and the like, data necessary for control, and the like. The RAM stores various types of information acquired along with the operation of the image forming apparatus, such as information acquired from various sensors, counter values, the number of job executions, and execution information (time information, etc.) of the previous correction process. The

  Particularly in recent years, so-called composite image forming apparatuses (multifunction copying apparatuses) having a plurality of functions such as a copying function, a facsimile function, and a printer function have become widespread, and the control by the control unit 131 is extremely complicated. For this reason, various control systems have been proposed for the purpose of efficient job control and appropriate response in the event of a failure (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 10-164284 A

  As described above, in the operation of the image forming apparatus, the microcomputer executes complex operation control and processing control of various mechanisms. By the way, these controls are divided into fine tasks and executed. Each task is set, for example, at the level of processing for monitoring on / off of one sensor and processing for updating the count value of one counter. Many tasks are executed in parallel by multitask processing of a microcomputer, but there are task groups in which the order of execution is limited in part. For example, a series of tasks for individually monitoring on / off of sensors (sensors that detect that a sheet has passed) scattered in a conveyance path of a recording medium, which is a recording medium, and a series of processes in a printing process are common. A group of tasks executed using resources. In such a task group, each task is sequentially executed according to a predetermined execution order sequence.

  In a task group in which this kind of execution order is restricted, the actual task execution order may be contrary to the execution order sequence due to the sensor detecting noise or a specific process being delayed. In this case, depending on the type of task executed in an order different from the execution order sequence, appropriate operation control cannot be performed, and there is a possibility that a malfunction in the job may occur. Depending on the content of the malfunction, the image forming apparatus may be damaged, such as a broken motor.

  The present invention has been made to solve the technical problems as described above, and the object of the present invention is to control task activation timing in a series of tasks in which the execution order is limited. This is to make it difficult for the execution order sequence violation to occur. Another object of the present invention is to avoid occurrence of an expected failure by notifying the user and prompting an appropriate response when an execution order sequence violation occurs in such a task group. is there.

  In order to achieve this object, the present invention is realized as the following image forming apparatus. This apparatus includes information acquisition means for acquiring information related to the operation status of each mechanism, and control means for controlling job execution. This control means manages a task execution control means for executing individual tasks constituting a job based on information obtained from the information acquisition means, a series of tasks for managing the execution status of the tasks, and limiting the execution order. When a task management means for determining whether the operation of the task group violates a predetermined execution order sequence and a task that operates in violation of the execution order sequence are detected, the occurrence is based on the content of the violation. Violation analysis means for identifying a predicted failure and notifying the user.

  Here, as a more detailed example, the information acquisition unit is a sensor that is provided at a plurality of locations on the conveyance path of the recording medium in the image forming apparatus and detects the position of the recording medium, and the task management unit is a sensor monitoring unit. It is determined whether or not the task has violated the execution sequence based on the recording medium conveyance process. Preferably, the task execution control means terminates the first task at the start time of the second task with respect to the second task started on condition that the first task has ended. If not, the second task is started again after a predetermined time. Further, the operation timing of tasks executed after the second task is corrected based on the difference between the theoretical second task activation time and the actual second task activation time based on the execution order sequence.

  According to the present invention configured as described above, when an execution order sequence violation occurs in a series of tasks in which the execution order is limited, a failure that is predicted to occur is identified and notified to the user. Therefore, it is possible to take an appropriate response promptly, contribute to avoiding the occurrence of a failure, and improve the reliability of the apparatus. Also, for execution order sequence violations that can be corrected by task execution control, it is possible to improve work efficiency by avoiding invalidation of the entire job by executing correction control. is there.

The best mode for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as an embodiment) will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The present embodiment is provided as a control unit that executes operation control and data processing of the image forming apparatus as shown in the configuration example of FIG. The control unit is realized by a microcomputer and includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a memory such as a RAM or a ROM. A software program is stored in the ROM, and the CPU is controlled by this program to realize the functions of the present embodiment described later. The RAM also stores information used in control, such as information acquired from various sensors provided in the image forming apparatus, counter values, and the number of job executions.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating functions of the control unit of the present embodiment.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the control unit 10 according to the present exemplary embodiment includes a task management unit 11 that manages each task of a job in the image forming apparatus, and a violation that occurs when the task execution order violates the execution order sequence. A violation analysis unit 12 for analyzing and notifying a user and a task execution control unit 13 for controlling task execution timing are provided.

  The task management unit 11 acquires the sensing information of various sensors and the value of the counter, and includes the image forming unit 110 and a sheet as a recording medium (in addition to paper, various sheet-like transfer targets such as an OHP sheet. The same applies hereinafter). The execution state of each task in the operation of the transport system, the drive system such as various rollers and motors, etc. is managed. This management information is used by the violation analysis unit 12 and the task execution control unit 13. The task management unit 11 also manages whether a series of task groups whose execution order is restricted is operating according to a preset execution order sequence. When there is a task that operates in violation of the execution order sequence (that is, when another task that should be started after the predetermined task ends is started before or during execution of the predetermined task) Then, the processing is transferred to the violation analysis unit 12.

  When there is an execution order sequence violation regarding a series of tasks in which the execution order is restricted, the violation analysis unit 12 analyzes the content of the violation and notifies the user of the result. A job of the image forming apparatus is executed by a combination of various types of tasks. For this reason, depending on the location where the execution sequence sequence violation has occurred, there may be a case where printing results and image quality defects are generated in the output result, or serious damage such as motor breakage in the drive system may occur. Therefore, the violation analysis unit 12 analyzes the contents of the execution order sequence violation, identifies a predicted failure, and gives a notification for prompting the user to take a response according to the analysis result. The notification to the user can be performed, for example, by displaying a message on the display device provided in the housing of the image forming apparatus or generating a warning sound. Further, depending on the content of the execution order sequence violation, the task execution control unit 13 is instructed to perform control for correcting the execution order sequence violation.

  The task execution control unit 13 performs execution control on a series of task groups in which the execution order is limited so as to operate according to a preset execution order sequence. Also, when the task management unit 11 detects an execution order sequence violation, the task (task) being executed is temporarily stopped. Then, based on an instruction from the violation analysis unit 12, execution control is performed to correct the execution order sequence violation. In other words, when the processing of a predetermined task is delayed and the subsequent task cannot be executed, control is performed so that the subsequent task is executed with a delay of the preceding task. Specifically, for example, the preceding task is task A, the subsequent head task is task B, and the processing of task A is not completed at the theoretical task B start timing based on the execution sequence. Suppose that Task B could not be started. At this time, the task execution control unit 13 activates the task B again after a certain period of time, and if it can be activated, how much the actual activation timing is delayed with respect to the theoretical activation timing based on the execution sequence. Check out. Based on the obtained delay time (difference with respect to the theoretical start timing), the start timings of all the tasks subsequent to the task B are changed.

Hereinafter, the operation of this embodiment will be described with a specific example.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control unit 10.
As a specific situation, let us consider a case where sensors X, Y, and Z are installed on the conveyance path in order to recognize that the sheet is correctly conveyed in conveying the sheet inside the image forming apparatus.
FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating a conveyance path in which sensors X, Y, and Z are installed.
In a normal job, when a sheet is conveyed on the conveyance path, the sheet is sensed and turned on in the order of sensor X, sensor Y, and sensor Z. In addition, it is assumed that tasks A, B, and C for monitoring on / off of the sensors X, Y, and Z are defined.

  In this case, if the job is properly executed, the sheets are detected in the order of sensor X, sensor Y, and sensor Z, and therefore task A, task B, and task C are activated in this order. Therefore, it is defined in the execution order sequence that tasks A, B, and C are activated in this order. Here, before the sensor Y senses the paper and the task B is started, the sensor Z picks up the signal noise, or the previously conveyed paper has stopped at the position of the sensor Z, so the sensor Z senses this. May cause task C to start. In such a case, since the execution order of task B and task C is contrary to the execution order sequence, the task management unit 11 detects an execution order sequence violation (step 201).

  When the task management unit 11 detects an execution order sequence violation, the violation analysis unit 12 next examines the location where the execution order sequence violation occurred and the content of the violation to identify a predicted failure (step 202). . For example, if the execution sequence sequence is violated in the processing of the image forming unit 110 or the exposure apparatus 113, the effect appears in many cases in the formed image. Can be considered. On the other hand, in the case of an execution order sequence violation on the conveyance path as in the example under consideration, it is possible that a paper jam occurs on the conveyance path. Furthermore, when a paper jam occurs near the driving roller on the conveyance path, it is conceivable that the driving roller and the motor are damaged by the caught paper. As a specific method for identifying a failure, for example, a table in which an assumed execution sequence sequence violation and a failure are associated with each other is prepared and stored in a memory (ROM), and the analyzed execution sequence sequence violation content is a key. A method for identifying the corresponding failure can be considered.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a correspondence table between execution order sequence violations and failures.
In the example shown in FIG. 4, the types of failures are classified into three levels, the lightest level 1 is a paper jam, the level 2 is a printing failure, and the most serious level 3 is a motor breakage. This leveling is made according to the types of correspondence that the user can take. Level 1 is a failure that can be recovered by the user's own work, such as the user opening the housing of the image forming apparatus and removing the stuck paper. Level 2 is a failure that requires adjustment work by a service engineer and simple parts replacement. Level 3 is a failure that requires extensive repairs, such as replacing a damaged motor. In the example shown in the figure, each level of failure is defined one by one, but actually more types of failures are assumed, and each level is appropriately classified based on the contents of necessary countermeasures. Of course, levels other than the three shown can be set. For example, it is possible to define a failure that does not require a recovery operation and can obtain an appropriate output by re-executing the same job.

  The violation analysis unit 12 notifies the user according to the type (level) of the failure specified as described above (steps 203 and 204). As described above, the specified failure level is divided based on the necessary countermeasures, so that a message prompting the user to implement the countermeasures may be displayed on the display device to notify the user. it can. With reference to this notification, the user can take specific and appropriate countermeasures such as re-execution of the job, performing necessary recovery work, or contacting the service center to request repair.

  If the violation analysis unit 12 determines that the execution order sequence violation detected by the task management unit 11 is such that the failure can be avoided by task control without notifying the user, The execution control unit 13 is instructed to perform correction control (steps 203 and 205).

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of an execution order sequence violation that can be corrected by the task execution control unit 13.
Task A, task B, and task C shown in FIG. 5 are started after a predetermined time has elapsed since the occurrence of events a, b, and c serving as triggers, respectively. Also, it is assumed that task B is always executed after task A ends, and task C is always executed after task B ends. In the example shown in FIG. 5, task B is executed after task A ends, and does not violate the execution sequence. However, because the processing of task B is delayed, task B has not yet ended at the time when task C is started (a certain time has elapsed since the occurrence of event c). Accordingly, task C cannot be executed as it is, and the entire job including tasks A, B, and C becomes invalid. Therefore, the task execution control unit 13 performs correction control to execute tasks after task C.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of correction control by the task execution control unit 13.
As a premise, the task execution control unit 13 executes the tasks A and B in the normal job execution, and then tries to execute the task C. However, since the task B has not ended as described above, the task C is not executed. Cannot execute. At this point, the task management unit 11 detects an execution order sequence violation, receives an instruction from the violation analysis unit 12, and starts correction control by the task execution control unit 13.

  The task execution control unit 13 activates the task C again after a predetermined time has elapsed from the activation time of the first task C (step 601). At this time, if the task B has not yet ended and the task C cannot be activated, the task C is activated again after a predetermined time (steps 602 and 601). If task B is completed and task C can be started, task execution control unit 13 obtains the time required from task C start time to task C actually starting (step S1). 603). This time can be obtained by calculating the difference between the time when the task C is actually started and the time when the first task C is started.

  Next, the task execution control unit 13 corrects the operation timing in all tasks after the task C based on the delay time obtained in step 603 (step 604), and continues the task execution control in the job (step 604). Step 605). The task execution control unit 13 stores the timing correction history in a memory. By collecting the history of timing correction, it is possible to take into account the individual characteristics of the image forming apparatus when the image forming apparatus is adjusted later.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when an execution order sequence violation occurs in a series of tasks in which the execution order is limited, a failure that is predicted to occur is identified and notified to the user. This makes it possible to take an appropriate response promptly and contribute to avoiding the occurrence of a failure. Also, for execution order sequence violations that can be corrected by task execution control, it is possible to improve work efficiency by avoiding invalidation of the entire job by executing correction control. is there.

It is a figure which shows the function of the control part of this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the control part of this embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating a sheet conveyance path inside an image forming apparatus to which task management and control according to the present embodiment is applied. It is a figure which shows the example of the correspondence table of the execution order sequence violation used in this embodiment, and a failure. It is a figure which shows the example of the execution order sequence violation in which correction | amendment control by the task execution control part of this embodiment is possible. It is a figure which shows the example of the execution order sequence violation in which correction | amendment control by the task execution control part of this embodiment is possible. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image forming apparatus that is an object of the present exemplary embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Control part, 11 ... Task management part, 12 ... Violation analysis part, 13 ... Task execution control part

Claims (10)

In an image forming apparatus for inputting image data and forming an image based on the image data on a recording medium,
Information acquisition means for acquiring information relating to the operation status of a mechanism constituting the image forming apparatus;
Control means for controlling the execution of the job,
The control means manages the execution status of individual tasks constituting the job, and based on the information obtained by the information acquisition means, the operation of a series of task groups whose execution order is limited is a predetermined execution order. An image forming apparatus, characterized in that, when it is determined that a sequence has been violated, a failure that is predicted to occur is identified based on the content of the violation and notified to a user. The information acquisition means is a sensor provided at a plurality of locations on a conveyance path of a recording medium in the image forming apparatus,
The control means acquires information indicating the position of the recording medium from the sensor, and executes an execution order sequence related to the monitoring task with respect to the monitoring task of the sensor that is executed in a predetermined order according to the transporting process of the recording medium. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus determines whether or not the information is violated.   When the first task is not finished at the start time of the second task with respect to the second task that is started on the condition that the first task is finished, the control means performs a certain period of time. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second task is activated again after the elapse of time.   The control means determines a task executed after the second task based on a difference between a theoretical start time of the second task based on the execution order sequence and an actual start time of the second task. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the operation timing is corrected. In an image forming apparatus for inputting image data and forming an image based on the image data on a recording medium,
Sensors provided at a plurality of locations on the conveyance path of the recording medium in the image forming apparatus for detecting the position of the recording medium;
A controller that controls execution of a task for monitoring the sensor, which is executed in a predetermined order according to the transporting process of the recording medium,
When the first task is not completed at the activation time of the second task with respect to the second task activated on the condition that the first task is terminated, the control unit performs a certain period of time. The second task is started again after the elapse of time, and the second task is based on the difference between the theoretical start time of the second task based on the execution sequence and the actual start time of the second task. An image forming apparatus that corrects an operation timing of a task to be executed thereafter. Information acquisition means for acquiring information on the operating status of the mechanisms constituting the image forming apparatus;
Based on information obtained from the information acquisition means, task execution control means for executing individual tasks constituting the job;
Task management means for managing the execution status of the task, and determining whether or not the operation of a series of task groups whose execution order is restricted violates a predetermined execution order sequence;
When a task that operates in violation of the execution order sequence is detected, a violation analysis unit that identifies a failure that is predicted to occur based on the content of the violation and notifies the user of the failure is provided. A control system for an image forming apparatus. The information acquisition unit is a sensor that is provided at a plurality of locations on a conveyance path of a recording medium in the image forming apparatus and detects the position of the recording medium.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the task management unit determines whether an execution order sequence based on a conveyance process of the recording medium is violated with respect to the monitoring task of the sensor. Control system.   The task execution control means relates to a second task that is started on the condition that the first task has ended, when the first task has not ended at the start time of the second task. 7. The control system for an image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the second task is started again after a predetermined time has elapsed.   The task execution control means is executed after the second task based on the difference between the theoretical start time of the second task based on the execution order sequence and the actual start time of the second task. 9. The control system for an image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the operation timing of the task is corrected. A sensor for detecting the position of the recording medium provided at a plurality of locations in the conveyance path of the recording medium in the image forming apparatus;
A task execution control unit that controls execution of a task for monitoring the sensor, which is executed in a predetermined order according to the recording medium conveyance process;
A task management unit that manages an execution status of the task and determines whether or not an operation of a series of task groups in which the execution order is restricted violates a predetermined execution order sequence;
The task management unit determines that the first task has not ended at the start time of the second task with respect to the second task started on condition that the first task has ended. If
The task execution control unit activates the second task again after a certain period of time, and calculates a theoretical start time of the second task based on an execution order sequence and an actual start time of the second task. A control system for an image forming apparatus, wherein operation timing of a task executed after the second task is corrected based on the difference.

Images