JP2007025254A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To store fault information relating to an image forming apparatus, into a memory of consumables or a replacement unit to use the information for fault repair and future product design of an apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: In the image forming apparatus including attachable/detachable consumables, a readable/writable memory mounted on the consumables, and a table (fault information correspondence table) associating type of faults with information to be stored, the fault information correspondence table is referred to pick up recorded information in response to the occurrence of a fault, and then the recorded information is stored into the memory mounted on the consumables. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer having a detachable consumable or replacement unit.

  Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a remote diagnostic apparatus is used, and the image forming apparatus used in the market and the remote diagnostic apparatus are connected by a communication means such as a network or a telephone line. Obtaining failure information and error information has been put into practical use. This makes it possible for manufacturers of equipment to obtain useful data necessary for failure relatively easily, and to collect valuable data for future product development based on these market data. It is also possible to make use of it.

  On the other hand, in an image forming apparatus such as a laser printer, since the apparatus system is comparatively inexpensive, remote diagnosis using a communication means using a network or a telephone line is hardly performed at present.

  In such an image forming apparatus, when a repair is necessary due to a failure or the like, the customer needs to contact a repair counter such as a call center of a manufacturer that manufactures the device to convey information regarding the failure. However, in such a form of information collection, it is difficult for device manufacturers to obtain information on the inside of the device related to the failure, proper repair is not performed, and effective market information for future device development cannot be obtained. .

  In general, if repair of a device is not completed by support at a call center, a customer engineer (repair engineer) will go to the customer for repairs on site, or the device itself from the customer to the manufacturer or dealer It takes the form of a bench repair where it is sent to a repair center and repaired there.

  In the case of on-site repair, there is a problem that it requires a very large labor cost because it is necessary for the customer engineer to go to the customer site. In addition, since repairs are actually carried out for a long time since the failure occurred, the failure claimed by the customer is often not reproduced and cannot be repaired.

  On the other hand, in the case of bench repair, due to the problem of equipment failure or damage during transportation when the equipment body is sent to the repair center, and the difference between the operating environment at the repair center and the operating environment at the customer site, In many cases, the failure is not reproduced.

  In order to solve the problems described above, at the moment when a failure or error actually occurs in the device body, obtaining as detailed information as possible inside the device related to the failure or error is necessary to repair the device at an early stage. Indispensable from the viewpoint of doing.

  In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-29602, failure history information is stored in a non-volatile memory installed in a process cartridge that is a consumable part of an image forming apparatus, and when the process cartridge is used and collected by the manufacturer, the apparatus manufacturer Proposals have been made to collect this information and use it for future design information and fault repair.

  However, in the present invention, it is very difficult to repair the apparatus.

  In order for a device manufacturer to collect a process cartridge containing failure history information from a customer and use it for failure repair, detailed information inside the device is required. However, when repairing a device using the present invention, since it is impossible to predict in advance what kind of failure will occur, a huge amount of failure-related information is stored assuming all types of failure that can occur in the device. There is a need to do.

However, the internal capacity of the non-volatile memory installed in the consumables needs to be contradictory to make it as small as possible from the viewpoint of cost, and it is impossible to repair the failure by the above method from the viewpoint of cost.
JP 2003-29602 A

  The present invention has been made to solve the problems of the conventional image forming apparatus described above. In other words, the problem is to effectively use the failure-related information in the memory for repairing the main body of the device without enlarging the internal capacity of the non-volatile memory installed in the consumables or replacement parts. .

In order to achieve the above object, a first aspect of the present invention is directed to a consumable or replacement part mounted in an attachable / detachable manner to an image forming apparatus, and a non-volatile storage unit readable / writable from the image forming apparatus,
In an image forming apparatus having storage information comparison means for comparing individual failure types occurring in the image forming apparatus and storage information for the individual failures,
An image forming apparatus characterized in that, when a failure occurs, storage information to be written to the storage means is selected by the storage information comparison means, and then the storage information is stored in the storage means.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the consumable part or the replacement part has the storage unit.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first and second aspects, the stored information comparison means is provided in an image forming apparatus.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the consumable part or the replacement part has the stored information comparison means.

  5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the consumable is a toner cartridge or a process cartridge.

The invention according to claim 6 monitors the state of the consumables or the replacement unit, the storage means readable / writable from the image forming apparatus mounted on the consumables or the replacement unit, and the state of the image forming apparatus. In an image forming apparatus having a monitor condition storage means describing conditions for
An image forming apparatus, wherein the state of the image forming apparatus is monitored, and the result is written in the storage means based on information in the monitor condition storage means.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the sixth aspect, the monitor condition storage means is mounted on the consumable or the replacement unit.

  The invention according to claim 8 is characterized in that the monitor condition storage means includes contents of information to be monitored, monitor start timing, monitor end timing, and storage execution timing. The image forming apparatus described in 1.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, after selecting information necessary for failure repair using the failure type / stored information content comparison table in the apparatus main body at the time of failure occurrence, the selected failure related information is replaced with consumables and replacement units. By storing them in the memory, it is possible to efficiently store device failure information in a limited space in the memory. By recovering the process cartridge from the customer when a failure occurs, the device manufacturer can not only obtain an effective means for repairing the device but also obtain useful information for future product development.

  According to the second invention, the failure information / stored information content comparison table is mounted on the consumables and the replacement unit, so that the stored information content can be changed or updated, and the stored information content can be changed depending on the destination. It can be easily changed.

  According to the third aspect of the invention, the device manufacturer writes the internal device information to the EEPROM mounted on the consumable item or replacement unit at a prescribed timing based on the information mounted on the consumable item or replacement unit. Market information can be easily obtained.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on examples.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a tandem color image forming apparatus which is an electrophotographic color image forming apparatus.

  The color image forming apparatus forms an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member 2 based on the image input data, develops a single color toner on the electrostatic latent image, forms a single color toner image, and intermediates the single color toner image. A multiple toner image is formed by superimposing on the transfer body 8, the multiple toner image is transferred to a transfer material 20, and the multiple toner image on the transfer material is fixed by a fixing device 21.

  Each color image forming unit includes exposure apparatuses 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d, toner cartridges 6a, 6b, 6c, and 6d, and process cartridges 13a, 13b, 13c, and 13d.

  The process cartridges 13a, 13b, 13c, and 13d include charging rollers 7a, 7b, 7c, and 7d as primary charging means, developing devices 3a, 3b, 3c, and 3d that constitute the developing means, and photosensitive drum cleaning devices 5a, 5b, and 5c. 5d, and EEPROMs 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d that store failure information and the like.

  Each color photosensitive drum 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d is an organic photoconductor in the present embodiment and has an OPC photosensitive layer on an aluminum drum base (not shown), and a predetermined process is performed by a driving device (not shown). Driven by speed.

  Under the respective color photosensitive drums 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d, the surface is covered with an elastic body such as foam rubber through an endless intermediate transfer belt 8 as a second image carrier at each primary transfer nip. The primary transfer rollers 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4d are in contact with each other. The intermediate transfer belt 8 is stretched by a driving roller 10, a tension roller 9, and a secondary transfer counter roller 24, and is rotated in the direction of the arrow by driving the driving roller 10.

  The transfer material 20 such as paper conveyed from the paper feed cassette is abutted against the nip portion between the registration roller 18 and the registration roller counter roller 17 in a stopped state, and forms a loop by the stiffness of the paper so that the front end of the paper is inclined. By correcting the line and taking the timing with the registration sensor 16 signal, power is transmitted to the registration roller via a registration clutch (not shown), and the paper is fed again.

  The sheet re-feeded from the registration roller 18 is guided along the conveyance guide 19 to the nip portion formed by the secondary transfer roller 15 and the intermediate transfer belt 8, and the toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 8 is transferred. It is possible to obtain a toner image transferred onto the paper and fixed by applying pressure and heating with the fixing device 21.

  In addition, the present apparatus includes an environmental sensor 22 that can measure the temperature and humidity of the atmosphere in which the apparatus is installed, and the high-pressure control of the transfer is optimized based on the result.

  The above is the schematic configuration description regarding the first embodiment of the present invention.

  FIG. 2 shows functional blocks for controlling each component of the image forming apparatus described above. A function 201 expands image data from the host computer into dot information for turning on the laser, supplies the laser to the laser, a function for requesting printing to the printer engine, and a state of the engine at the time of printing. This is a printer controller having a function of instructing and a function of checking the state in the engine. The printer controller 201 transmits / receives information to / from a host computer via an interface (not shown). Reference numeral 202 denotes an engine control unit that controls each part of the printer engine, which will be described later, according to a command sent from the printer controller 201. On the other hand, a status sent from the printer engine is received, and printer engine information is sent to the printer controller 201. Inform. The engine control unit 202 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like that control the printer engine.

  Reference numerals 203 to 208 denote elements constituting each part of the printer engine. A sheet conveyance control unit 203 executes drive control for conveying the sheet based on an instruction from the engine control unit 202. An optical system control unit 204 executes control of a scanner motor and a laser based on an instruction from the engine control unit 202. Reference numeral 205 denotes a high voltage control unit that executes various high voltage outputs of charging, development, and transfer based on instructions from the engine control unit 202. A fixing device temperature control unit 206 adjusts the temperature of the fixing device to a predetermined temperature based on an instruction from the engine control unit 202. Reference numeral 207 denotes a toner-free detection unit that monitors the remaining amount of toner in the cartridge and notifies the engine control unit 202 of the absence of toner when the amount falls below a predetermined amount. Reference numeral 209 denotes a sensor input unit that inputs detection signals from the registration sensor 16 and the environment sensor 22 and outputs the detection signals to the engine control unit 202.

  Reference numeral 12 denotes an EEPROM mounted on the process cartridge 13.

  FIG. 3 shows an electrical connection configuration between the engine control unit 202 in FIG. 2 and the process cartridge 6.

  The process cartridge 13 has an EEPROM 12 as a non-volatile memory. The EEPROM 12 includes a power supply (+ 3.3V) and a ground (GND) from the CPU 302A in the engine control unit 302, a chip select signal (CS), a serial clock. A signal (CLK) and a serial data output signal (DO) are input. Further, a serial data input signal (DI) is output to the CPU 302A. In order to exchange these signals, the CPU 302A in the engine control unit 302 and the EEPROM 12 in the cartridge 13 are connected through a contact (not shown). That is, the contact functions as a receiving unit and a transmitting unit for transmitting and receiving information.

  Next, information stored in the memory will be described with reference to the memory map in the initial state shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the inside of the memory is divided into three areas: area A, area B, and area C.

  The area A is an area in which information such as a manufacturing number, a manufacturing date, a process parameter, and a life threshold value is written, and is written when the process cartridge is manufactured. The area B is an area where prescribed information such as the total number of pages to be printed, print pixel count, process cartridge life count and the like is written, and is updated as needed when the apparatus is used. Area C is an area in which internal information of the apparatus is stored when an apparatus error or failure occurs.

  The present invention intends to efficiently use the area in the EEPROM 12 by storing the area C in the EEPROM 12 only for the device internal information necessary for various fault repairs.

  With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, it will be described how failure and error information is recorded in the EEPROM 12 by processing.

  When it is determined that a failure has occurred in the apparatus (S501), the type of failure is determined (S502). Thereafter, the failure type / stored information content comparison table (FIG. 6) stored in the ROM or the like of the engine control unit of the apparatus main body is referred to, and whether or not the failure information regarding the type of failure that occurred is stored in the EEPROM 12 is determined. The necessity is determined (S503). With respect to a failure that needs to be stored, the stored information is written and stored in the EEPROM 12 based on the content of the failure type / stored information content comparison table (FIG. 6). If no storage is required, writing to the EEPROM 12 is not performed. When the failure is released, the apparatus can be returned to the normal state.

  The failure type / stored information content comparison table shown in FIG. 6 is an example, and differs depending on the apparatus configuration, failure detection method, and the like. In FIG. 6, only the apparatus main body serial number, abnormal fixing low temperature, abnormal fixing high temperature, paper feed delay paper jam, paper size mismatch, and no toner are shown. By recording the device body serial number along with the failure information, not only can the failed device body be identified reliably, but also inspection and assembly data can be collated at the time of device body manufacturing, which is useful data for future product design. .

  In addition, when the above failure type / stored information content comparison table is actually applied to the device, only the information content that needs to be created or recorded for all failures and errors. A comparison table may be created, and it may be determined that recording is not necessary for items not included in the comparison table.

  In the failure type / stored information content comparison table shown in FIG. 6, for each failure or error, whether or not information related to the failure or error should be recorded in the EEPROM 12 is indicated by Y (recording required) and N (recording required). The contents of information to be recorded are listed for failures determined as Y (recording required).

  The information content recorded in the EEPROM 12 is written into the EEPROM 12 from the CPU 102A in the engine control unit 102 via the serial data output signal (DO) line.

  As described above, by storing information related to failures and errors in the image forming apparatus in the EEPROM of the process cartridge, the failure information of the apparatus can be efficiently stored in a limited space of the EEPROM. By collecting the process cartridge from the customer at the time of occurrence, not only an effective means for repairing the apparatus can be obtained, but also information useful for future product development can be obtained.

  In this embodiment, the EEPROM as the recording means is installed in the process cartridge, but the same effect can be obtained by installing it in other consumables and replacement parts such as a toner cartridge, a fixing device, an intermediate transfer unit, and a waste toner container. Can be obtained.

(Second embodiment)
The second embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the failure type / stored information content comparison table is mounted in a memory of a consumable or a replacement part. Hereinafter, the embodiment will be described.

  In the first embodiment, after determining the type of failure when a failure occurs, the recorded information content is referred to by referring to the failure type / stored information content comparison table stored in the ROM or RAM of the engine control unit of the apparatus body. Selected.

  On the other hand, in the second embodiment, except that the failure type / stored information content comparison table is mounted in a memory such as an EEPROM, a ROM, or a RAM of a consumable or replacement unit, This is the same as the embodiment. If the failure type / stored information content comparison table is installed in the engine control unit of the main unit, it is extremely difficult to change the content of the comparison table at the customer site. In some cases, the engine control unit itself is replaced. There is a need to do.

  It is difficult to determine the information content required at the time of device design or device shipment. The stored information selected from the failure type / stored information content comparison table installed in the engine control unit is useful for repairing failures. There may be insufficiency.

  Therefore, it is possible not only to easily update the comparison table by installing the failure type / stored information content comparison table in the consumables that are regularly supplied to customers and the memory in the replacement unit, It is also possible to change the comparison table depending on the destination.

  However, if a failure type / stored information content comparison table for all failures and errors is mounted on a consumable EEPROM, there is a problem that the memory capacity increases and the cost increases. For this reason, when the failure type / stored information content comparison table is mounted on the consumable or the memory in the replacement unit, it is necessary to limit the failure to the minimum necessary.

  In particular, from the viewpoint of failure analysis, it is very important to ship consumables and replacement units equipped with a specific type of failure / stored information comparison table to customers or destinations where the same problem occurs repeatedly. It is valid.

  It is also possible to install the type / stored information content comparison table in both the main unit and consumables / exchange unit, compare both comparison tables, and update the comparison table installed in the main unit. It is.

  As described in the above embodiment, by installing the failure type / stored information content comparison table in consumables and replacement units, not only can the stored information content be changed or updated, but also the stored information content depending on the destination. Can be easily changed.

(Third embodiment)
In the third embodiment, internal information of the apparatus main body is recorded in a consumable or a memory in the replacement unit at a designated timing. In the first and second embodiments, when a failure or error occurs in a device, failure-related information immediately after that is acquired. In this third embodiment, regardless of a failure or error in the device. The internal device information is recorded in a memory in the replacement unit based on a monitor condition table stored in advance in the consumables.

  The operation will be described using the flowchart of FIG. 7 and the monitor condition table of FIG.

  If it is determined that the power supply is turned on or the process cartridge is inserted (S701), the monitor condition table (FIG. 8) in the process cartridge is referred to (S702). FIG. 8 shows whether there is information to be monitored (S703). When there is no monitor information, the normal operation is started as it is, but when there is monitor information, the monitor information is processed from the CPU at a specified timing based on the information described in the monitor condition table (FIG. 8). Write to the memory on the cartridge.

  FIG. 8 shows an example of the monitor condition table. In this example, the temperature and humidity in the machine and the recording date and time are written to the EEPROM in the process cartridge every hour after the apparatus power is turned on, but the scope of the present invention is not limited to this example, It is possible to write to the EEPROM at a designated timing with respect to any device internal information that can be acquired via the CPU 302A in the engine control unit 302.

  In this embodiment, the monitor condition table may be mounted on the apparatus main body. However, by mounting the monitor condition table on consumables and replacement units that are continuously supplied to customers, the monitor condition table can be installed even after the apparatus main body is shipped. Information to be monitored can be easily changed, and the contents of the monitor condition table can be changed depending on the destination.

  As described in the above embodiment, the device manufacturer writes the internal information of the device to the EEPROM mounted on the consumable or replacement unit at a specified timing based on the information mounted on the consumable or replacement unit. Market information can be easily obtained, and this information can be used for future product design.

Configuration schematic diagram of Example 1 Explanation of device control of embodiment 1 Electrical connection configuration of engine controller and process cartridge Memory map in EEPROM Processing flow of Example 1 Failure type / memory information comparison table Processing flow of Example 2 Monitor condition table

Explanation of symbols

1 Image exposure (exposure means)
2 Photosensitive drum (image carrier)
3 Developer (Developing means)
4 Primary transfer roller 5 Photosensitive drum cleaning blade 6 Toner cartridge 7 Charging roller (charging means)
8 Intermediate transfer belt (intermediate transfer member)
9 Tension roller 10 Drive roller (intermediate transfer belt drive roller)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Intermediate transfer cleaner 12 Waste toner moving means 13 Primary transfer nip part 14 Waste toner container 15 Secondary transfer roller (secondary transfer member)
16 Registration sensor 17 Registration opposite roller 18 Registration roller (skew correction means)
19 Transport guide 20 Paper (transfer material)
21 Fixing device 22 Environmental sensor

Claims (8)

A consumable or replacement unit mounted in a detachable manner on the image forming apparatus, and a non-volatile storage means readable and writable from the image forming apparatus,
In an image forming apparatus comprising: a type of failure that occurs in the image forming apparatus; and a stored information comparison unit that compares stored information against the type of failure.
An image forming apparatus, wherein, when a failure occurs, the storage information is stored in the storage unit after selecting the storage information to be written into the storage unit by the storage information comparison unit.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit is included in the consumable or the replacement part.   3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus has the stored information comparison unit.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the consumable item or the replacement part has the stored information comparison unit.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the consumable is a toner cartridge or a process cartridge. The consumable item or the replacement unit, the storage means readable and writable from the image forming apparatus mounted on the consumable item or the replacement unit, and a monitor describing conditions for monitoring the state of the image forming apparatus In an image forming apparatus having a condition storage unit,
An image forming apparatus, wherein the state of the image forming apparatus is monitored, and the result is written in the storage means based on information in the monitor condition storage means.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the monitor condition storage unit is mounted on the consumable or the replacement unit.   8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the monitor condition storage means includes contents of information to be monitored, monitor start timing, monitor end timing, and storage execution timing.

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