JP2007266924A - Image forming apparatus and method for information communicating of same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of easily diagnosing and solving the cause of trouble without increasing kinds and the number of sensors. <P>SOLUTION: When trouble occurs, the apparatus is able to input a comment related to the trouble from an operating section 4 operated by the user, to transmit or store the user comment corresponding to the trouble to a management terminal equipment 16 or in an HD device 12, and to accumulate historic information of the user comment and trouble in the management terminal equipment 16 and HD device 12. Therefore, the historic information of the user comment and trouble can be referred, thereby the diagnosing and solving the cause of the trouble can be easily carried out. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a trouble detection function and an information communication method for the image forming apparatus.

  In image forming apparatuses such as copying machines, printers, and facsimile machines, troubles such as jamming of the recording paper may occur when an image is recorded on the recording paper, and thus a trouble detection function is provided.

In the case of a high-functional model, the inside of the apparatus becomes complicated, the contents of troubles are diversified, and it is difficult for the user side to solve all the troubles. For this reason, when trouble is detected and detected, the contents of the trouble are stored, and when the number of troubles reaches a predetermined number, the trouble contents are transmitted and received from the device to the service center through the telephone line network or network. The trouble history is managed on the center side. For troubles that can be remotely controlled from the service center, the device settings are changed through the telephone network or network. For troubles that cannot be remotely controlled, the trouble is notified to the service person. I was trying to deal with the trouble. This type of apparatus is disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example.
JP 2001-338133 A

  Incidentally, the trouble of the apparatus is detected by a sensor. Therefore, the information indicating the trouble is based on the detection output of the sensor.

  However, such trouble information is not always sufficient to elucidate the cause of the trouble. For this reason, even if the trouble history is managed, the cause of the trouble may not be elucidated. This is because even if the sensor detects the trouble itself, it does not detect the cause of the trouble such as the installation environment of the apparatus or the operation status of the user. For this reason, in many cases, a service person goes on a business trip to check the installation environment and operation status, investigate the cause of the trouble, and solve the trouble.

  In addition, it is conceivable to increase the type and number of sensors to make the information indicating the trouble more detailed, but an increase in cost and complexity of processing cannot be avoided.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems, and an image forming apparatus and an image that can easily investigate and solve the cause of a trouble without increasing the type and number of sensors. An object is to provide an information communication method for a forming apparatus.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, an apparatus according to the present invention is an image forming apparatus having a trouble detection function of the apparatus, and an information input unit that inputs information by a user's operation and the information input unit. Transmitting means for transmitting information to a prescribed communication partner.

  Further, when a trouble of the apparatus is detected, the transmission means transmits the detected trouble to a prescribed communication partner together with information input by the information input means.

  Furthermore, a history information storage unit is provided for storing and storing the detected trouble each time a trouble of the apparatus is detected.

  The history information storage means stores the detected trouble together with information input by the information input means.

  Further, the information input means inputs information written in a fixed form on the display screen by a user operation.

  In addition, the information input by the information input means includes any one of the status of the device, the operation content, and the user's feeling when a trouble occurs.

  Further, the transmission means communicates with a prescribed communication partner through at least one of a telephone line network or a network.

  On the other hand, the method of the present invention is an information input method of an image forming apparatus having a trouble detection function of the apparatus, an information input step for inputting information instructed by a user's operation, and the information input step. A transmission step of transmitting the received information to a prescribed communication partner.

  In such an image forming apparatus of the present invention, information can be input by a user operation, and the input user information can be transmitted to a prescribed communication partner. For this reason, when trouble occurs, it is possible to input information such as an event that may cause the trouble noticed by the user, and send this user information to the specified communication partner. The cause of the trouble can be investigated based on the user information. Therefore, it is possible to easily investigate and solve the cause of the trouble without increasing the type and number of sensors.

  Events and the like that can cause a trouble are the operation contents of the image forming apparatus, the contents noticed by the user, the detailed situation of the trouble, and the like.

  In addition, when a trouble with the device is detected, the detected trouble is transmitted to the specified communication partner together with the user information, so the trouble and the user information can be associated with each other, and the cause of the trouble can be investigated. Becomes easier.

  In addition, every time a trouble is detected in the device, the detected trouble is stored and accumulated, and history information is stored, so that troubles with a high occurrence frequency can be known, and the trouble can be solved early. Can be achieved.

  In addition, since the detected trouble is stored with the user's information as history information, not only can the trouble that occurs frequently be known, but also the events that can cause the trouble can be known in detail. This makes it easier to investigate the cause of troubles that occur frequently.

  Furthermore, since the information written in the fixed form on the display screen is input by the user's operation, the input operation becomes easy.

  The user information includes any one of the status of the device at the time of the trouble occurrence, the operation content, and the user's feeling. This makes it possible to accurately determine the cause of the trouble using the user information.

  Furthermore, since communication is performed with a specified communication partner via a telephone line network or network, communication over a wide range is possible, and troubles of a large number of image forming apparatuses can be managed collectively.

  On the other hand, the method of the present invention can achieve the same operations and effects as those of the apparatus of the present invention.

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

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a digital multi-function peripheral which is an embodiment of an image forming apparatus of the present invention. In the digital multi-function peripheral 1 according to the present embodiment, a copy mode in which an image of a document is read and printed on a recording paper, a printer mode in which an image from a terminal device is received and recorded on a recording paper, and an image of the document is read into the terminal device. A scanner mode for transmission and a facsimile mode for reading and transmitting a document image, receiving a document image and printing it on a recording sheet, and the like can be selectively performed.

  The digital multi-function peripheral 1 is roughly divided into an image reading unit 2, an operation unit 4, an image forming unit 6, a device control unit 8, a communication unit 10, an HD (hard disk) device 12, a management unit 14, and the like. I have.

  In such a digital multi-function peripheral 1, the device control unit 8 performs integrated control, and monitors input instructions by operating the input unit (tablet, key group, etc.) 4 a of the operation unit 4, In response to these input instructions, one of various modes is appropriately executed, and the image reading unit 2, the image forming unit 6, the communication unit 10, and the like are monitored. To control. In addition, when the mode is executed, the device control unit 8 accurately displays information related to the state of the digital multi-function peripheral 1, information to be notified to the user, and the like on the display unit 4 b of the operation unit 4. The management unit 14 manages information about each unit controlled by the device control unit 8, and the device control unit 8 controls the operation of the entire digital multi-function peripheral 1 based on the information.

  FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the operation unit 4. The operation unit 4 is provided with an input unit 4a and a display unit 4b. The input unit 4a includes a key 41 for setting a copy mode, a printer mode, a scanner mode, a facsimile mode, and the like, a user setting key 42, a ten key 43, a clear key 44, a start key 45, and the like. The input unit 4a includes a transparent touch panel (not shown) provided to overlap the display unit 4b. It is also possible to selectively operate the keys 46 displayed on the display unit 4b by operating the touch panel. An input instruction by operating these keys is notified to the device control unit 8. Further, the display content of the display unit 4b in FIG. 2 is in an initial state.

  In the copying mode in which the digital multifunction peripheral 1 is used as a copying machine, the image reading unit 2 reads an image of an original, and the image data indicating the image is transferred to the image forming unit 6 via the memory 6a and the HD device 12 or the like. And the image forming unit 6 prints the image on recording paper to form a copy of the original.

  The image reading unit 2 includes a CCD 2a, a document detection sensor 2b, and a signal generation circuit 2c, reads a document image, and outputs image data indicating the image. The document detection sensor 2b detects the document set at the reading position. When a document is detected by the document detection sensor 2b, the CCD 2a operates in synchronization with a signal from the signal generation circuit 2c to read an image of the document and outputs image data indicating the image.

  This image data is temporarily stored in the volatile memory 6a, subjected to encoding processing, and then stored in the HD device 12. When there are a plurality of documents, reading of the number of documents is repeatedly performed, and respective image data indicating images of the plurality of documents are stored in the HD device 12.

  Thereafter, the image data stored in the HD device 12 is read at an appropriate timing in accordance with the processing content instructed from the operation unit 4 and subjected to decoding processing, and then stored in the memory 6a. The image data is transferred from the memory 6a to the printing unit 6b in accordance with the writing timing of the LSU (laser scanning unit) of the printing unit 6b in the image forming unit 6. Similarly, when there are a plurality of originals, the image data for the number of sheets is sequentially transferred from the HD device 12 to the memory 6a according to the processing contents, and the image data is repeatedly printed in accordance with the LSU writing timing of the printing unit 6b. The data is sequentially transferred to the unit 6b.

  In the printing unit 6b, electrophotographic recording is performed, image data is input to the LSU, the surface of the photoconductor is scanned by the laser light of the LSU, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photoconductor, and the toner As a result, the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor is developed, a toner image is formed on the photoconductor, the toner image is transferred from the photoconductor to the recording paper, the recording paper is heated and pressurized, and the toner image is recorded. The recording sheet is fixed on the sheet, and the recording sheet is discharged to the tray 23. The recording paper is supplied from the paper feed cassette 24 or the manual feed tray 25.

  The image processing unit 20 performs various image processing on the image data in the memory 6a in a timely manner. The erasure unit 22 is for executing erasure of data in the HD device 12.

  In the printer mode in which the digital multi-function peripheral 1 is used as a printer, image data from an external terminal device is received by the communication unit 10, and the image data is transferred to the image forming unit 6 via the memory 6 a and the HD device 12. The image forming unit 6 prints an image on a recording sheet.

  The communication unit 10 is connected to a network NW or the Internet IN via a communication cable or the like, and further connected to a terminal device PC1 or PC2 such as a personal computer (PC) via the network NW or the like, and receives image data from the terminal device. Receive via the network NW or the like. The image data received by the communication unit 10 is transferred to the memory 6a page by page and temporarily stored.

  Thereafter, as in the case of the copy mode, the image data is encoded and stored in the HD device 12, and thereafter read out from the HD device 12 and subjected to the decoding process before being stored in the memory 6a. And is further transferred to the printing unit 6b in accordance with the LSU writing timing of the printing unit 6b. Then, the image indicated by the image data is printed on the recording paper by the printing unit 6b, and the recording paper is discharged.

  Further, in the scanner mode in which the digital multi-function peripheral 1 is used as a scanner, an image of a document is read by the image reading unit 2, and image data indicating the image is input to the communication unit 10 via the memory 6a and the HD device 12 or the like. The image data is transmitted from the communication unit 10 to a terminal device at a desired destination via the network NW or the like.

  Also in this case, the image data is transferred to the memory 6a, temporarily stored, subjected to encoding processing, stored in the HD device 12, and thereafter read out from the HD device 12 and subjected to decoding processing. And then transferred to the memory 6a. Then, the communication unit 10 establishes a communication line with the destination terminal device instructed by the operation of the operation unit 4, and then receives the image data from the memory 6a and transmits the image data to the destination terminal device.

  In the facsimile mode in which the digital multifunction machine 1 is used as a facsimile apparatus, an image of the original is read by the image reading unit 2, and image data indicating the image is input to the communication unit 10 via the memory 6a, the HD device 12, and the like. Let

  The communication unit 10 includes a facsimile modem 10a connected to the telephone line network TW, establishes a communication line with a destination terminal device instructed by an operation of the operation unit 4, and stores image data in a memory. 6a and input to the facsimile modem 10a. The image data is encoded by the facsimile modem 10a and then transmitted to the destination terminal device.

  Further, when receiving an incoming call, the communication unit 10 establishes a communication line with the terminal device on the calling side, receives image data from the terminal device, decodes it with the facsimile modem 10a, and decodes the image data. Is transferred and stored in the memory 6a. This image data is stored in the HD device 12 after being encoded, read out from the HD device 12 and decoded, and then transferred to the memory 6a. The data is transferred to the printing unit 6b in accordance with the writing timing of the LSU. Then, the image indicated by the image data is printed on the recording paper by the printing unit 6b, and the recording paper is discharged.

  In the digital multi-function peripheral 1 of the present embodiment, the HD device 12 is provided as a storage unit for temporarily storing image data. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and image data can be stored and accumulated. The same operation can be performed even if a non-volatile memory, a memory with a backup function, and other storage devices (medium) using a magnetic storage medium are provided.

  By the way, in such a digital multi-function peripheral 1, troubles such as jamming of recording paper occur when an image is recorded on the recording paper. Therefore, a plurality of sensors (not shown) for detecting these troubles are generated. ). When a trouble is detected by at least one sensor, the trouble is displayed on the display unit 4b and notified, or the trouble is transmitted to the management terminal device 16 of the service center via the communication unit 10.

  When a trouble is detected, a comment indicating an event or the like that may cause the trouble is input to the user by operating the operation unit 4, and the user's comment is managed together with the trouble via the communication unit 10 in the service center management. It is transmitted to the terminal device 16. Further, troubles and user comments are accumulated in the HD device 12, and history information of these troubles and comments is created and held.

  The management terminal device 16 receives and stores troubles detected by the sensors and user comments, accumulates history information of these troubles and comments, displays the history information on a display device, and the operator records history information. To determine the cause of the problem. For troubles that can be remotely controlled from the service center, the settings of the digital multifunction device 1 are changed via the Internet IN or the network NW. For troubles that cannot be remotely controlled, the trouble is notified to the service person. deal with.

  Further, trouble and comment history information accumulated in the HD device 12 can be read from the HD device 12 and displayed on the display unit 4b by operating the input unit 4a. The service person looks at the history information displayed on the display unit 4b, quickly elucidates the cause of the trouble, and performs repairs.

  Next, a processing process by the digital multi-function peripheral 1 when a trouble occurs will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  First, in the digital multi-function peripheral 1, the device control unit 8 performs image processing in the copy mode, printer mode, scanner mode, facsimile mode, and the like as described above (step S101), while detecting each trouble. The detection output of the sensor is monitored to determine whether any trouble has occurred (step S102).

  At this time, if no trouble occurs (“No” in step S102), the device control unit 8 continues the image processing (step S103). If there is image processing such as reading or printing of the next document image (“Yes” in step S104), the process returns to step S101, and if there is no image processing of the next document (“No” in step S104). The process of FIG. 3 is terminated.

  If the device control unit 8 determines that some trouble has occurred (“Yes” in step S102), the device control unit 8 temporarily stops the image processing (step S105). For example, the operations of the image reading unit 2 and the image forming unit 6 are temporarily stopped to interrupt reading or printing of a document image.

  In this state, the device control unit 8 determines the trouble detected by the sensor (step S106), creates trouble date and time, an error code indicating the trouble, and trouble data indicating the trouble occurrence position. Data is stored in the HD device 12 (step S107).

  In addition, the device control unit 8 displays the trouble situation on the display unit 4b (step S108). For example, if a recording paper jam occurs and this trouble is detected by the sensor, a screen 51 as shown in FIG. 4 is displayed on the display unit 4b. On this screen 51, the reduced model 1A of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 is displayed, and the location where the jam occurs is indicated and displayed.

  When the operation guide key 51a on the screen 51 is pressed, another screen showing a procedure for releasing the jam is displayed on the display unit 4b instead of the screen 51.

  Next, the device control unit 8 determines whether or not the user setting key 42 of the input unit 4a in FIG. 2 has been pressed (step S109), and when a certain time elapses without being pressed (“No” in step S109). ]), Calls the management terminal device 16 of the service center on the Internet IN via the communication unit 10, establishes a communication line with the management terminal device 16, and then manages the trouble data created in step S106 as a management terminal. It transmits to the apparatus 16 (step S110). Thereafter, the device control unit 8 waits for the user to clear the trouble (“No” in step S111), and when the trouble is cleared (“Yes” in step S111), the device control unit 8 returns to step S101. Then, the interrupted image processing is resumed.

  When the management terminal device 16 receives the trouble data of the digital multifunction device 1, the management terminal device 16 stores and manages the trouble data of the digital multifunction device 1.

  When the user setting key 42 of the operation unit 4 in FIG. 2 is pressed (“Yes” in step S109), the device control unit 8 displays a screen 52 as shown in FIG. 5 instead of the screen 51 in the display unit 4b. To display. On this screen 52, keys for instructing a plurality of processes that can be arbitrarily performed by the user are displayed. Among these keys, there are a key 52 a for instructing “send comment” and a key 52 b for instructing “comment display”.

  When the key 52 a for instructing “send comment” on this screen 52 is pressed, the device control unit 8 responds to this by displaying the screen 53 as shown in FIG. 4b. On this screen 53, a key 53a for indicating a comment input screen, an OK key 53b, a column 53c for displaying trouble data created in step S106, and a column 53d for displaying user comments are displayed. Yes.

  Further, when the key 53a for instructing the comment input screen on the screen 53 is pressed, in response to this, the device control unit 8 replaces the screen 53 with a standard for comment input as shown in FIG. The form screen 54 is displayed on the display unit 4b. On this screen 54, a keyboard 54a for inputting characters, a cancel key 54b, an OK key 54c, an input field 54d, and the like are displayed.

  When the user operates the keyboard 54a to input a comment while the screen 54 is displayed, the user's comment is displayed in the input field 54d. Thereafter, when the OK key 54c is pressed, in response to this, the device control unit 8 displays a screen 53 as shown in FIG. 8 on the display unit 4b instead of the screen 54 (step S112). The screen 53 of FIG. 8 is obtained by inserting the user's comment displayed in the input field 54d of the screen 54 of FIG. 7 into the field 53d of the screen 53 of FIG.

  Accordingly, when the key 52a for instructing "Send comment" on the screen 52 in FIG. 5 and the key 53a for instructing the comment input screen on the screen 53 in FIG. 6 are sequentially pressed, the screen 54 in FIG. 7 is displayed. Then, the user's comment can be entered in the input field 54d on this screen 54. Subsequently, when the OK key 54c on the screen 54 is pressed, the screen 53 in FIG. 8 is displayed, and the field 53d in this screen 53 is displayed. The user's comment is inserted in

  The user's comments include the situation of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 at the time of trouble occurrence, operation details, user's feelings, and the like. The situation of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 when a trouble occurs is, for example, temperature, humidity, weather, and the like. Depending on the level of temperature or humidity, the surface of the recording paper becomes better or worse, and the occurrence frequency of jam changes. Also, depending on humidity or weather, transfer of toner from the photoconductor to the recording paper tends to occur. For this reason, it is meaningful to comment on the status of the digital multi-function peripheral 1.

  The operation contents include printing of one recording sheet, continuous printing of a plurality of recording sheets, printing of plain paper, printing of thick paper, printing of recording paper fed from a paper cassette, and manual feed tray Printing of the recording paper fed from the printer, and the size of the recording paper. Depending on such operation. It becomes possible to quickly investigate the cause of the trouble.

  Furthermore, the user's feelings include a request for quick response to a trouble and designation of a visit date and time of a service person. The service can be improved by such user's feeling.

  Next, when inputting such a comment, the device control unit 8 determines whether or not the comment input operation has been completed (step S113). Then, when the user's comment is inserted in the field 53d in the screen 53 of FIG. 8 and then the OK key 53b in the screen 53 is pressed, in response to this, the device control unit 8 performs the user's comment input operation. Is completed (“Yes” in step S113), and the user's comment is stored in the HD device 12 in association with the trouble data stored in step S107.

  Subsequently, the device control unit 8 calls the management terminal device 16 of the service center on the Internet IN via the communication unit 10, establishes a communication line with the management terminal device 16, and then creates in step S106. The trouble data and the user comment input in step S112 are transmitted to the management terminal device 16 (step S110). Thereafter, the device control unit 8 waits for the user to clear the trouble (“No” in step S111), and when the trouble is cleared (“Yes” in step S111), the device control unit 8 returns to step S101. Then, the interrupted image processing is resumed.

  When receiving the trouble data and the user's comment from the digital multi-function peripheral 1, the management terminal device 16 stores and manages the trouble data of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 and the user's comment.

  3 is performed at the time of image processing in each mode, and when a trouble occurs in the digital multi-function peripheral 1 (“Yes” in step S102), the processing in steps S105 to S113 is performed each time. The processing is repeated, and trouble data or user comments are stored in the HD device 12 or transmitted to the management terminal device 16 for storage management. As a result, the trouble data of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 or the history information of user comments is accumulated in the HD device 12 and the management terminal device 16.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating trouble data of the digital multifunction peripheral 1 or history information of user comments. The history information 61 is stored in association with the occurrence date and time of trouble, an error code indicating the trouble, the trouble occurrence position, and the user's comment. If the user's comment is not entered, the user's comment field is empty.

  In the management terminal device 16, the operator refers to the history information 61 to investigate the cause of the trouble, and for troubles that can be remotely controlled, the setting of the digital multifunction device 1 is changed via the Internet IN, the network NW, etc. For troubles that cannot be controlled, the trouble is notified to the service person.

  The service person makes a business trip to the installation location of the digital multi-function peripheral 1, operates the input unit 4a, reads out the history information 61 of FIG. 9 from the HD device 12, and displays it on the display unit 4b. For example, when the user setting key 42 of the input unit 4a is pressed, the screen 52 of FIG. 5 is displayed on the display unit 4b, and the key 52b for instructing “comment display” on this screen 52 is pressed. In response to this, the device control unit 8 reads the history information 61 from the HD device 12 and displays it on the display unit 4b. The service person looks at the history information 61, quickly elucidates the cause of the trouble, and performs repairs.

  As described above, in the digital multifunction peripheral 1 according to the present embodiment, when a trouble occurs, a comment can be input by a user operation, and the trouble and the user comment are associated with each other and transmitted to the management terminal device 16. Or the history information of troubles and user comments can be stored in the management terminal device 16 or the HD device 12. For this reason, it is possible to refer to the history information of the trouble and the comment of the user, so that the cause of the trouble can be easily investigated and solved.

  In addition, by referring to the history information of troubles and user comments, it is possible to know troubles with a high frequency of occurrence and to quickly solve the troubles.

  Further, the fixed form screen 54 of FIG. 7 is displayed on the display unit 4b. On this screen 54, a comment is input by operating the keyboard 54a, and the user's comment is displayed in the input field 54d. The comment input operation is easy.

  The management terminal device 16 can collectively manage a plurality of digital multifunction peripherals 1 and the like via the Internet IN, the network NW, and the like.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, It can deform | transform variously. For example, instead of inputting a comment by operating the keyboard, a plurality of items are displayed according to the situation of the digital multifunction device 1 at the time of trouble, the operation content, the user's feeling, and the like. A corresponding item may be selected from among them, and the selected item may be used as a comment. For example, display each item such as hot, cold, sunny, cloudy, rain, etc., select the appropriate item, display each item such as single print, continuous printing, etc., select the appropriate item Or display each item such as “frequent jams” and “request for quick repair”, select the corresponding item, and comment on the content of each selected item.

  The present invention is not limited to a device such as the digital multi-function peripheral 1 and includes an information communication method for sending and receiving trouble data and user comments between such a device and the management terminal device 16. To do.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a digital multi-function peripheral that is an embodiment of an image forming apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating an operation unit in the digital multifunction peripheral of FIG. 1. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a processing process when a trouble occurs in the digital multifunction peripheral of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a screen when a jam occurs displayed on a display unit in the digital multi-function peripheral of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a screen for arbitrarily instructing a plurality of processes displayed on a display unit in the digital multi-function peripheral of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a screen of trouble data, comments, and the like displayed on a display unit in the digital multifunction peripheral of FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows the screen of the fixed form for the comment input displayed on the display part in the digital multi-functional peripheral of FIG. It is a figure which updates and shows the screen of FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating trouble data of the digital multifunction peripheral of FIG. 1 or history information of user comments.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Digital multifunction device 2 Image reading part 4 Operation part 6 Image formation part 8 Device control part 10 Communication part 12 HD (hard disk) apparatus 14 Management part 16 Management terminal device

Claims (8)

In the image forming apparatus having a trouble detection function of the apparatus,
An information input means for inputting information by a user's operation;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a transmission unit configured to transmit information input by the information input unit to a specified communication partner.   2. The image according to claim 1, wherein when a trouble of the apparatus is detected, the transmission unit transmits the detected trouble to a predetermined communication partner together with information input by the information input unit. Forming equipment.   2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising history information storage means for storing and storing the detected trouble each time a trouble of the apparatus is detected.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the history information storage unit stores the detected trouble together with information input by the information input unit.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information input unit inputs information written in a fixed form on a display screen by a user operation.   The image formation according to claim 1, wherein the information input by the information input unit includes any one of a state of the apparatus at the time of trouble occurrence, an operation content, and a user's feeling. apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission unit performs communication with a predetermined communication partner through at least one of a telephone line network or a network. In the information communication method of the image forming apparatus having the trouble detection function of the apparatus,
An information input step for inputting information instructed by a user operation;
An information communication method for an image forming apparatus, comprising: a transmission step of transmitting the information input in the information input step to a prescribed communication partner.

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