JP2007130905A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a continuous service, to guarantee to prevent important data from being lost, and to prevent HDD resources from being wasted. <P>SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus equipped with one hard disk drive providing a specified function by operating during providing the service, at least one other hard disk drive capable of providing the same function as that for one hard disk drive and to which electric power supply is stopped during non-operating, an integrating means for integrating at least one of the number of supplying/stopping of the electric power to the hard disk drive and the energizing time thereof, a storing means storing an integrated value and a time interval in cope with each other in advance, and a back-up means for copying information stored in one hard disk at the time interval corresponding to the integrated value to other hard disk based on the integrated value calculated by the integrating means and the storing means, is provided. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus including a plurality of hard disks.

  A program for controlling the image forming apparatus or data when a document is scanned is stored in a storage area in the image forming apparatus. As the storage area, a small-sized image forming apparatus uses a nonvolatile memory or a volatile memory according to data as the storage area. However, in a large image forming apparatus, programs and data to be managed are enlarged according to the provided functions. Therefore, in such a large image forming apparatus, a hard disk drive (hereinafter referred to as HDD) is used as a storage area.

  Unlike a RAM (Random Access Memory) or a ROM (Read Only Memory), the HDD has a physical drive location, so its usable period (life) is limited. In the HDD, it is known that the lifetime is affected by (1) energization time and (2) disk start / stop based on power supply / stop.

  HDDs that store important programs and data must be unable to provide services due to their failure, or loss of important data must be avoided. Therefore, by providing multiple HDDs and configuring them to function in a complementary manner in case of failure, it is possible to guarantee continuous service provision and prevention of important data loss.

Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for counting the activation / deactivation of HDD disks and controlling the power supply time in accordance with the activation / deactivation of HDD disks, for example, in order to ensure a sufficient HDD life. This prevents the HDD from failing in a period shorter than the usable period guaranteed by the HDD.
JP 2004-157961 A

  However, the lifetime of the HDD differs depending on factors such as temperature, stability of the power supply, presence of dust and dust, etc., in addition to the energization time and power supply / stop. Naturally, if the HDDs are of different manufacturers and types, the lifespan varies depending on the performance of the HDD itself. Also, even for the same type of HDD, it varies depending on individual differences due to differences in manufacturing lots. Therefore, manufacturers recommend setting a shorter usable period based on all situations and replacing it before the end of its service life.

  Therefore, even if the HDD is replaced until after the period that is considered to be usable or immediately after the period has elapsed, the replaced HDD is often operable for a longer period of time, that is, important data. Due to the importance of preventing loss of HDDs, HDD resources (HDD itself) are being wasted.

  The present invention has been proposed based on the above-described conventional circumstances, and provides an image forming apparatus that enables continuous service provision, guarantees prevention of loss of important data, and prevents waste of HDD resources. It is for the purpose.

  The present invention employs the following means in order to achieve the above object. That is, according to the present invention, one hard disk drive that provides a predetermined function by operating at the time of service provision, and the same function as one hard disk drive can be provided, and power supply is stopped when not in operation. The above-mentioned other hard disk drive, the integration means for integrating at least one of the number of times of supplying / stopping power to the hard disk drive, the energization time, and the storage means for storing the integrated value and the time interval in association with each other in advance And backup means for copying information stored in one hard disk at time intervals corresponding to the integrated value based on the integrated value calculated by the integrating means and the storage means.

  In this configuration, the number of times of power supply / stop to the HDD, the energization time, etc. are integrated, and the risk of the HDD being damaged is predicted based on the integrated value. If the risk increases, the frequency of backups is increased to efficiently guarantee information in the event of a HDD failure. In addition, by suspending other HDDs, it is possible to use up the life of multiple HDDs at the same time as guaranteeing information.

  Further, there is a configuration including a switching unit that switches operation of the one hard disk and another hard disk that is a copy destination after the copy process by the backup unit. After switching, power supply to other hard disks not related to service provision is stopped to guarantee the information stored in the HDD. At the same time, when two HDDs are used, the life of each HDD is reduced. The HDD can be used for the period just added. That is, normally, even when two HDDs are used, the HDD data is guaranteed by operating them simultaneously, so that only the lifetime of one HDD (for example, three years) can be used. However, in this configuration, when two HDDs are used, it is possible to use the life of two (for example, six years). Of course, even in this case, the information stored in the HDD is guaranteed. In addition, when the risk of HDD damage is increasing, the backup frequency is increased to ensure further guarantee.

  In addition, the integration means integrates both the number of times of power supply / stop and the energization time, converts one integrated value corresponding to the other integrated value, and calculates the total integrated value consisting of the sum of both integrated values. There is a configuration in which the integrated value is integrated by the integrating means.

  With this configuration, it is possible to calculate an accurate HDD life in consideration of both the number of times of power supply / stop and the energization time.

  Accumulate at least one of the number of times of power supply / stop to HDD or energization time, and predict the risk of HDD failure based on the integrated value. If the risk increases, the frequency of backups is increased to efficiently guarantee information in the event of a HDD failure.

  In addition, after switching HDDs, by stopping the supply of power to other hard disks that are not related to service provision, it is possible to use up the life of multiple HDDs at the same time as guaranteeing information.

  In addition, the integration means integrates both the number of times of power supply / stop and the energization time, converts one integrated value corresponding to the other integrated value, and calculates the total integrated value consisting of the sum of both integrated values. By using as an integrated value, it is possible to calculate the exact HDD life in consideration of both the number of times of power supply / stop and the energization time.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings for understanding of the present invention. In addition, the following embodiment is an example which actualized this invention, Comprising: It is not the thing of the character which limits the technical scope of this invention.

  The present invention can be applied to an image forming apparatus as a multifunction machine including, for example, a scanner, a facsimile, a printer, and a copy. As an example, the operation of the image forming apparatus when using a copy will be briefly described with reference to FIGS.

For example, when a user prints a document using the image forming apparatus, the document is placed on the document table 103 or the mounting table 105 shown in FIG. 1, and the operation panel 201 (FIG. 2) provided near the document table is placed. A print instruction is issued to the user. The instruction is transmitted from the operation panel 201 to the printer engine control unit 202, and the printer engine control unit 202 transmits a command to each service providing unit shown below. Printing is performed by the service providing units operating in accordance with the commands.
That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment includes a main body 101 and a platen cover 102 attached above the main body 101. A document table 103 is provided on the upper surface of the main body 101, and the document table 103 is opened and closed by a platen cover 102. The platen cover 102 is provided with an automatic document feeder 104, a placing table 105, and a sheet discharging table 109.

  The automatic document feeder 104 includes a document conveyance path 108 formed inside the platen cover 102, a pickup roller 106 and a conveyance roller 107 provided inside the platen cover 102, and the like. The document conveyance path 108 is a document conveyance path that leads from the placement table 105 to the sheet discharge table 109 via a reading position P where reading is performed by the reading unit 110 provided in the main body 101.

  The automatic document feeder 104 pulls out each document placed on the placing table 105 to the inside of the conveyance path 108 by the pickup roller 107 and passes the document drawn out by the conveyance roller 106 and the like through the reading position P. The paper is discharged onto the paper base 109. When the document passes the reading position P, the document is read by the reading unit 110.

  The reading unit 110 is provided below the document table 103. The reading unit 110 includes a light source 111 that illuminates the document table 103 in the main scanning direction, mirrors 112, 113, and 114 that guide light from the document table, and an image sensor 115 that images light guided by the mirror. Has been.

  When the automatic document feeder 104 conveys a document, the light source 111 moves to a position where the reading position P can be irradiated and emits light. Light from the light source 111 is reflected by a document that passes through the document table 103 and passes through the reading position P, and is guided to the image sensor 115 by mirrors 112, 113, and 114. The image sensor 115 captures received light to generate image data of the original. The generated image data is temporarily stored in, for example, the currently operating HDD 203 among the plurality of hard disk drives (HDD) 203 and 204.

  The reading unit 110 can read not only the document conveyed by the automatic document feeder 104 but also the document placed on the document table 103. When reading a document placed on the document table 103, the reading unit 110 moves the light source 111 in the sub-scanning direction while emitting light, and irradiates the entire document table 103. In order to guide the reflected light from the document table 103 to the image sensor 115, the mirror 112 moves together with the light source 111, and in order to make the optical path length from the light source 111 to the image sensor 115 constant, the mirrors 113 and 114 The mirror 112 moves at half the speed.

  The image sensor 115 reads the image data of the document placed on the document table 103 based on the light guided to the mirrors 112, 113, 114 in the same way as the document conveyed to the automatic document feeder 104. Generate.

  A printing unit 120 that prints image data is provided below the reading unit 110 of the main body 101. Image data that can be printed by the printing unit 120 is generated by the image sensor 115 as described above, or transmitted from a terminal such as a personal computer connected to the image forming apparatus 100 and a network such as a LAN.

  As a printing method performed by the printing unit 120, an electrophotographic method is used. That is, the photosensitive drum 121 is uniformly charged by the charger 122, and then the photosensitive drum 121 is irradiated by the laser 123 to form a latent image based on the image data on the photosensitive drum 121, and the latent image is formed by the developing device 124. Printing is performed by a method in which a visible image is formed by attaching toner, and the visible image is transferred to a recording sheet by a transfer roller 125.

  The recording paper (transfer material) on which the visible image is printed is placed on a paper feed tray such as the manual feed tray 131 and the paper feed cassettes 132, 133, and 134.

  When performing printing, the printing unit 120 pulls out one sheet of recording paper from any one of the paper feed trays using the pickup roller 135, and transfers the pulled-out recording paper to the photosensitive drum 121 by the transport roller 137 or the registration roller 138. Feed between rollers 125.

  When the printing unit 120 transfers the visible image to the recording sheet fed between the photosensitive drum 121 and the transfer roller 125 as described above, the recording unit 120 uses the conveyance belt 126 to fix the visible image to the fixing device 127 in order to fix the visible image. Send. The fixing device 127 includes a heating roller 128 with a built-in heater and a pressure roller 129 pressed against the heating roller 128 with a predetermined pressure. When the recording paper passes between the heating roller 128 and the pressure roller 129, the visible image is fixed on the recording paper by heat and pressing force on the recording paper. The printing unit 120 discharges the recording sheet that has passed through the fixing device 127 to the discharge tray 130.

  The basic image forming process in the image forming apparatus 100 has been described above.

  Here, the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present invention is provided with a plurality of HDDs 203 and 204 as described above. That is, as shown in the schematic configuration diagram of FIG. 3, the image forming apparatus 100 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 301, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 302, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 303, and two HDDs (Hard Disk Drives). 203 and 204 are connected via an internal bus 306. The CPU 301 uses, for example, the RAM 302 as a work area and executes a program stored in the ROM 303, the HDD 304, or the like, whereby each service providing unit shown in FIG. 1 (the service providing unit 304 shown integrally in FIG. 3). The service providing unit 304 operates as described above.

  Next, processing related to the HDDs 203 and 204 of the printer engine control unit 202 provided in the image processing apparatus 100 of the present invention will be described.

  The HDD control unit 402 is connected to the HDDs 203 and 204 and controls supply / stop of power to the HDDs 203 and 204, data writing, reading, and the like. Here, the HDD 203 is currently receiving power, that is, operating. Also, the HDD 204 is powered off, that is, not operating. In such a state, the CPU 301 of the image forming apparatus 100 provides various services by reading the program from the program storage area 601A of the HDD 203 shown in FIG. In the work area 602A of the HDD 203, for example, image data obtained when a document is scanned is temporarily stored, or information regarding various settings when using the image forming apparatus 100 is stored. The various settings include, for example, address book data registered by the user, document templates read and registered by the scan function, and the like.

  The number of times that the HDD control unit 402 supplies / stops power to the HDDs 203 and 204 (according to the integrated value A) or the time during which the power is supplied (energization time: integrated value B) is, for example, HDD Each or a plurality of HDDs are integrated by the integration means 401. Here, it is assumed that a plurality of HDDs are integrated together. In addition, 1 is accumulated for one start of power supply, and 1 is accumulated for one supply stop. Note that the value accumulated by the accumulation unit 401 is stored in, for example, a non-volatile memory, and is not erased when the main power supply of the image forming apparatus 100 is turned on / off.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the storage means 403 stores the power supply / stop count 501 (referred to as integrated value A ′), energization time 502 (referred to as integrated value B ′), converted value 503 (integrated value C). ') Is stored as correspondence information in association with the backup interval 504. The backup interval 504 is shown as a time interval, for example.

  In such a state, the backup unit 404 is appropriately updated by the integration unit 404, acquires the stored integration value, and compares it with any of the integration values A ′ to C ′ stored in the storage unit 403. Here, it is assumed that the power supply / stop count (integrated value A) integrated by the integration means 401 is compared with the power supply / stop count 501 (integrated value A ′). For example, it is assumed that the integrated value A of power supply / stop integrated by the integration unit 401 is 800 times. This case corresponds to “1000> A ′” 505. The backup interval 504 corresponding to the “1000> A ′” 505 is “24 hours”. Based on this, the backup unit 404 instructs the HDD control unit 402 to perform backup processing to be described later at 24 hour intervals. That is, if the integrated value A is less than 1000 times, there is almost no possibility that the HDD is broken, that is, the backup is set at 24 hour intervals. Assuming that the integrated value A of the integrating means 401 is 1500, the backup means 404 performs backup processing at 12-hour intervals. For example, if the integrated value A is 2500, it is predicted that the life of the HDD is approaching, and backup processing is performed for each job. Note that “for each job” indicates, for example, a series of service providing processes. For example, in the case of a copy service, it indicates from scanning of a document to output of recording paper.

  As described above, the number of times of power supply / stop to the HDD is integrated, and the risk of damage to the HDD is predicted based on the integrated value. If the risk increases, the frequency of backups is increased to efficiently guarantee information in the event of a HDD failure. Note that the values of the correspondence information stored in the storage unit 403 are all examples, and it can be said that the influence of the power supply / stop and energization time on the HDD varies depending on the HDD, and therefore the value varies depending on the HDD provided.

  In the above, the backup processing interval is determined based on the number of times of power supply / stop (integrated value A). For example, the integration time is calculated by adding the energization time of the HDD, that is, the accumulated time (integrated value B) during which power is supplied. It may be a value. In this case, the backup unit 404 determines the backup time interval by comparing the integrated value B with the energization time 502 (integrated value B ′).

  Further, the backup unit 404 may calculate a conversion value from the number of times of power supply / stop (integrated value A) and energization time (integrated value B). For example, a value corresponding to the energization time is obtained by multiplying a predetermined coefficient by the number of times of power supply / stop (integrated value A) obtained from the integrating means 401. The reverse is also possible. Specifically, when the number of times of power supply / stop is made to correspond to 2 hours of energization time, coefficient = 2. Thereby, the number of times of power supply / stop is converted into the energization time. A converted value is obtained by the sum of this value and the energization time accumulated by the accumulation means 401. The obtained converted value is compared with the converted value 503 (integrated value C ′) of the storage means 403 as the integrated value C, thereby determining the backup interval.

  As described above, it is possible to calculate an accurate HDD life in consideration of both the number of times of power supply / stop and the energization time.

  Next, the HDD 204 energizes the HDD control means 204 according to a command from the backup means 404. Then, the HDD control unit 402 copies (backups) the program from the program storage area 601A of the HDD 203 to the program storage area 601B of the HDD 204. As a result, the various information stored in the program storage area 601A matches the various information stored in the program storage area 601B. Note that the program storage area 601 is used as the area to be copied. For example, when the “re-copy function that temporarily stores the previously scanned document in the work area and can output it again without scanning the next time” is functioning. The work area 602 can also be a backup target. As a result, data that is once stored in the work area and may be used in the next service can be backed up.

  When copying is completed, the switching means 405 is notified to that effect via the HDD control means 402 and the backup means 404, and the switching means 405 switches between the HDD 203 and the HDD 204. The switching here means changing the HDD used as the storage destination and work area of the currently operating program from the HDD 203 to the HDD 204. After the switching, the CPU 301 reads a program for providing a service from the program storage area 601B, and uses the work area 602B as a required work area.

  When the switching is completed, the switching unit 405 transmits a command to stop supplying power to the HDD 203 to the HDD control unit 402, and the HDD control unit 402 stops supplying power to the HDD 203 based on this command.

  As described above, after the information stored in one HDD is backed up to another HDD and the HDD is switched, the supply of power to the one HDD is stopped. As a result, the information stored in the HDD is guaranteed, and at the same time, when two HDDs are used, the HDDs can be used for a period that is the sum of the lifetimes of the HDDs. That is, normally, even when two HDDs are used, the HDD data is guaranteed by operating them simultaneously, so that only the lifetime of one HDD (for example, three years) can be used. However, in the present application, when two HDDs are used, it is possible to use the lifetime of two HDDs (for example, six years). Of course, even in this case, the information stored in the HDD is guaranteed. In addition, when the risk of HDD damage is increasing, the backup frequency is increased to ensure further guarantee. In particular, in the case of an image processing apparatus, unlike a database system or the like, environment settings and the like are not changed so much during normal use, so that information can be sufficiently guaranteed in the processing.

  When the HDD fails, the service guarantee unit 407 detects a failure of the HDD and switches to another HDD to operate, thereby providing a continuous service.

  Also, by replacing multiple HDDs with the same type of HDD and replacing one HDD when both are damaged, all HDDs can be used up without leaving their lifetimes. That is, when the same type of HDD is used in the same environment, the lifetimes of the plurality of HDDs are close to each other. For this reason, when one HDD is used until it breaks down, it can be said that the other HDDs are also almost at the end of life, so it is possible to eliminate waste in terms of the life of the HDD. Naturally, even in the event of a failure, information is guaranteed by the above-described mechanism.

  The above-described embodiment is an example, and various applications are possible. For example, when the integrated value integrated by the integrating unit 401 satisfies a predetermined condition, that is, for example, any integrated value or all the integrated values A, B, and C are values corresponding to “each job” in the storage unit 403. In such a case, the replacement time output means 406 may output information indicating that the HDD is to be replaced to the operation panel 201 when the HDD replacement time is near or when the service assurance means detects a failure of the HDD. it can. Thereby, the user of the image forming apparatus can grasp the replacement timing of the HDD. Of course, such information may be notified via a network to a support center or the like that maintains the image forming apparatus.

  In the above embodiment, two HDDs have been described. However, the number of HDDs is not limited to two, and a plurality of HDDs can be used. In this case, the HDD is switched by sequentially specifying a plurality of units by the backup means.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention is useful as an image forming apparatus that enables continuous service provision, ensures prevention of important data from being lost, and prevents waste of HDD resources.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an outline of a configuration of each unit of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating details of a printer engine in the image forming apparatus. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a command system of an image forming apparatus. FIG. 3 is a schematic functional block diagram of a printer engine control unit. The figure which shows an example of correspondence information. The figure which shows a backup object area.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Image forming apparatus 201 Operation panel 202 Printer engine control part 203 One HDD
204 Other HDD
401 Accumulating means 402 HDD control means 403 Storage means 404 Backup means 405 Switching means 406 Replacement time output means 407 Service guarantee means

Claims (8)

One hard disk drive that provides a specified function by operating at the time of service provision,
One or more other hard disk drives that can provide the same function as the one hard disk drive and are powered off when not in operation;
Accumulating means for integrating at least one of the number of times of supplying / stopping power to the hard disk drive and energizing time;
Storage means for storing the integrated value and the time interval in association with each other;
Backup means for copying information stored in the one hard disk to the other hard disk at time intervals corresponding to the integrated value based on the integrated value calculated by the integrating means and the storage means;
An image forming apparatus comprising: The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a switching unit that switches operation of the one hard disk and another hard disk that is the copy destination after the copy process by the backup unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein after the hard disk is switched by the switching unit, power supply to other hard disks not related to service provision is stopped. The integration means integrates both the number of times of power supply / stop and the energization time, converts one integrated value corresponding to the other integrated value, and has a total integrated value consisting of the sum of both integrated values. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the integrated value is integrated by the integrating unit. The hard disk drive includes a program storage area for storing the program for providing the service and a work area for providing the service,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the copy by the backup unit copies only the program storage area. When the service provides a re-copy function, which is a function that can be output without scanning again by storing the previously scanned document in the work area.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the copy by the backup unit includes the work area for each service provision. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising service assurance means for operating another hard disk drive when a failure of one hard disk drive is detected. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a replacement time output unit that outputs a hard disk replacement time based on the integrated value.

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